I HOPE everyone had a nice holiday season
and that 2007 is off to a good start for you.
Most of this month’s column will be
devoted to providing you with a report
submitted by Bill Poythress, District II
associate vice president, and written by Tom
Polapink. It highlights a milestone event
hosted by one of our district’s premier clubs.
“The Mid-Hudson RC Society celebrated
its 40th successful year running the wellknown
RC Scale Jamboree at the Rhinebeck
Aerodrome on September 9-10, 2006. The
turnout of models was impressive as always.
“The event officially runs for two days,
but eager participants have developed a
tradition of arriving up to a day early so the
sky was filled with World War I- and Golden
Age-era RC Scale models all day Friday, too.
“When looking at the history of the
Jamboree, it’s easy to see that certain trends
have presented themselves. In the early years
of the event, Nick Ziroli’s .40-sized Eindecker
and Moraine Saulnier sport-scale models
dominated the flightline, followed closely by
models built from Vern Krehbiel’s 1/6-scale
Nieuport 17 and Fokker Triplane kits.
Sterling’s Fokker
D.VIII kits were also in
great abundance at the
Jamborees held from
the late 1960s and
throughout the 1970s.
(The Jamboree was
exclusively for World
War I-era models up
until somewhere in the
1990s.)
“In the early 1970s,
¼-scale models made
their first appearances
at Rhinebeck and Lou
Perretti led the way
with his then
‘enormous’ Siemens
Schuckert and Fokker
Triplane models that
were powered by O&R
.80 engines—the
biggest model airplane
engines available then.
“A few short years later, members of the
Southern Tier Aero Radio Society from
Olean, New York, captured everyone’s
attention when they arrived with an entire
squadron of ¼-scale Bristol Scout models. As
if this wasn’t enough, they outdid themselves
the following year when they brought an
entire squadron of ¼-scale Fokker D.VIIIs.
These ¼-scale models seemed huge at the
time. Little did we know that they would
become small in comparison to what has
become the ‘normal-size’ model flown at
Rhinebeck today.
“Walt Moucha was likely the first to debut
a 1/3-scale model at Rhinebeck in the form of
a Sopwith Pup. This model became the
prototype for the Balsa USA kit. Twenty
years after its first appearance at Rhinebeck,
the fine people at Balsa USA generously
donated the model to the Rhinebeck
Aerodrome Museum where it hangs today.
Walt followed up his 1/3-scale Pup with a 1/3-
scale Morane-Saulnier AI, which also severed
as a prototype for a Balsa USA kit. Recently
Balsa USA put the kit back into production.
“At the 2006 event, 1/3-scale models of all
types made their presence well-known and
proved that this scale for World War I
subjects is continuing to gain popularity with
modelers. This year, 1/3-scale models included
several different examples of the Albatros
D.Va, de Havilland D.H.2, Fokker Triplane,
Fokker D.VI, Fokker D.VII, Fokker D.VIII,
Morane-Saulnier AI, Sopwith Pup, Bleriot,
S.E.5a, and probably a few that I missed. At
Rhinebeck, 1/3-scale is the new ¼-scale.
“Bill Setzler didn’t stop there, though.
He went a step further and brought along a
finely crafted Pietenpol which appeared to
be at least ½-scale. The model was exhibited
in its bare bones and will likely be back and
flying at the 2007 Jamboree. It is already a
winner as Bill was awarded the Spirit of
Rhinebeck for his efforts on the Piet. The
award was sponsored by Glenn Torrance
Models.
“The event ran smoothly thanks to the
well-coordinated efforts of the Mid-Hudson
RC Society club members under the
direction of George Buso. It was a treat to
see George as CD of the 40th annual event as
he, along with Dick Allen (who was also
present this year), was instrumental in
making the first-ever World War I Jamboree
at Rhinebeck take place.
“I think I can speak for all of us who have
participated in any of the Rhinebeck
Jamborees over the years in sending out a big
thank you to these two gentlemen, and of
course, the late, great Cole Palen for making
40 fun-filled and memorable years of World
War I and Golden Age scale RC flying at
Rhinebeck possible.
“On Saturday and Sunday the model
flying was capped off with a scaled-down
version of the famous full-scale air show that
has been held at Rhinebeck for the last several
decades. The Aerodrome’s announcer Jim
Hare, the ground crew, and the pilots did an
admirable job considering the shortage of
flying aircraft as compared to previous years.
We all hope that things improve in this regard
in the future at Rhinebeck.
“On Saturday night, the traditional dinner
banquet was held at the Red Hook Fire
Department complete with delicious food and
an interesting talk presented by guest speaker
Stanley Segalla. Stan, now in his eighties, is
the Aerodrome’s famous Flying Farmer. He
has been performing his routine at the
Jamboree for as long as anyone can
remember.
“For additional information about the Mid-
Hudson RC Club and to learn more about
future Jamborees visit www.mhrcs.com. For
more information about the Old Rhinebeck
Aerodrome, visit www.oldrhinebeck.org or
www.oldrhinebeckaerodrome.org.”
Thanks Bill and Tom. As someone who
has attended several Rhinebeck Jamborees,
this must-see event should be on everyone’s
calendar at least once.
See you next time.
(L-R) Dick Allen, Steve Buso, George Buso, and Harry Braunlich were
all present at the first Rhinebeck Jamboree and at the 40th reunion of
this long-running event.
Each year a full-scale air show is one of the
highlights of the Rhinebeck Jamboree.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/02
Page Numbers: 161