Awesome! That's really cool, thanks for posting those. I like your story and you got a great addition to your collection.
Its surprising to me that most people don't take that same approach of just honestly asking straight-forwardly for something like that. I find people to more timid and bashful about this kind of stuff and that if they weren't then they'd find that other people are willing to kindly let you have or do some really cool things.
It irks me when friends are all: "Hrm, I dunno. They probably don't want us to." Well, it doesn't hurt to just go ask!