Author: Dave Mathewson
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/02
Page Numbers: 161

AMA News: District II-2007/02

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.

Mid-Hudson RC Society — 40th RC Scale Jamboree (Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Sept. 9–10, 2006)

The Mid-Hudson RC Society celebrated its 40th successful year running the well-known 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 Morane-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, 1/4-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 1/4-scale Bristol Scout models. As if this wasn't enough, they outdid themselves the following year when they brought an entire squadron of 1/4-scale Fokker D.VIIs. These 1/4-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 served 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. Examples of 1/3-scale models at the event included:

  • 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

At Rhinebeck, 1/3-scale is the new 1/4-scale.

Bill Setzler didn't stop there, though. He went a step further and brought along a finely crafted Pietenpol that appeared to be at least 1/2-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 Pietenpol. 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. We also send thanks to 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:

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.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.