148 MODEL AVIATION
THE ECONOMY has slowed many of our
activities but most of us are still finding
ways to enjoy our hobby. I have seen
numerous people at swap meets and not
everyone is selling, so many are out
looking for good deals to help make their
hobby easier on the budget.
I recall the early 1970s when I had a
wife, two kids, two car payments, and
there were lines at the gas stations. I ended
up building airplanes for people to earn the
money to enjoy my own hobby. I thought I
might share some ideas that could help you
stretch your hobby dollar or even make a
buck to spend.
Check with the local hobby shop and
see if they have people wanting airplanes
built or rebuilt. Not everyone is feeling the
pinch and there may be some money there.
The store might even need help
assembling ARFs for display or other work
done to keep the store afloat. There could
be a chance to barter or get a reduced price
on your purchases. You might even sell
some items on consignment in the shop to
get that new whatchamacallit.
Use some of your stored covering to
spruce up an old model so that it looks and
feels like a new airplane. Take the time to
rebuild a crash that you thought was a
goner. It just might be your next “Flight of
the Phoenix.”
Usually crashes don’t look nearly as
bad a week or month later.
If you are an RC pilot, get out your old
CL stuff and rekindle an old friendship and
really “feel” your airplane when you fly it.
I have even recently gone back to building
some rubber-powered airplanes that take
time and patience, but not nearly as much
money as my other projects.
If you are an RCer and you specialize
in ARF airplanes, try building from a kit. It
doesn’t really save you any money, but
you can spread the cost of the airplane
across several weeks or months. You
might be surprised how much you can
enjoy it and what a thrill it is to fly
something that you built.
I had a friend in El Paso during the ’70s
who stood by the trash at the field and took
home parts of crashed airplanes and brought
back flying machines that were made from
three or four other people’s crashes. They
weren’t particularly attractive but I must
admit they flew pretty well.
Be sure to put all your efforts into the
AMA Membership Drive Bringing
Modelers Together Challenge.
Have fun and fly safely. See you on the
flightline.
District VIII
Jim Rice, District VIII Vice President; [email protected]
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Jim Rice
Vice President
118 E. Wright Blvd.,
Universal City TX 78148
Tel.: (210) 213-0299
(evenings)
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Lester L. Barry, Bethany OK;
(405) 789-5373
Pete Boudreaux, Franklin LA;
(337) 836-5478
Jack Hogan, Chandler TX;
(903) 849-4193 (Evenings)
Mark S. Johnston, Albuquerque
NM; (505) 823-0158
Jim D. Marshall, Mission TX;
(956) 585-6446
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348
Randy Ritch, Magnolia TX;
(281) 701-3121
Doug Staines, Belton TX;
(254) 780-3512
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
Pat Willcox, Kingwood TX;
(281) 358-1750
Frequency Coordinator
Gene Kent, Tomball TX;
(281) 255-4805
AMA Display Coordinator
David Johns, Deer Park TX;
(281) 476-4820
Safety Coordinator
Chuck Waller, Canyon Lake TX;
(210) 563-4246
RC Contest Coordinator
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348;
[email protected]
CL/FF Contest Coordinator
Bill Lee, Chandler TX;
(903) 852-5599 [email protected]
District VIII Volunteers
The Texas RC Indoor Club (TRIC) has been without an indoor facility for more than
nine months. Recently the club received permission to fly in the gym of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help
school in Selma,
Texas. Thirteen
modelers and many
spectators turned out
for the first night.
Although we
scattered some foam
on the floor,
everyone had a great
time and was glad to
be indoor flying
again.
TRIC participants in
bleachers before the
first night in the new
gym.
Former District VP George Aldrich in early
years with his destroyed original Nobler.
Above right: George’s Nobler was restored
after he died so it could be placed in the
National Model Aviation Museum. Great
save of a nice airplane!
05amanews:11amanews.qxd 3/24/2009 9:12 AM Page 148
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/05
Page Numbers: 148
