78 MODEL AVIATION
accelerator and Super-Gold odorless CA to the ever-expanding line of
aeromodeling goods.
As has the glue, the accelerator has undergone changes to make it
better; most important is that it’s safe to use on any surface. In addition,
the sped-up cure time was slowed from 4 seconds to 8 seconds; that cut
down on the heat produced and provided for a stronger bond.
While we were on the phone discussing adhesives, I eagerly asked
Charlee some questions about epoxy and CA. He shared with me that
the key to a good epoxy bond is ensuring that
the temperature in which it is used stays above
70° throughout the curing time. A temperature
of 85° is optimum for obtaining the best bond.
If your work area is colder than 70°, you can
use a lamp inside a cardboard box to generate
heat.
Charlee also provided information about
storing CA to ensure freshness. The refrigerator
is the best place if the glue will not be used for
a while. However, refrigeration alone is not the
answer, because moisture can be a problem. He
recommends using either a steel or glass
airtight container with a couple of silica gel
IF YOU’VE EVER
shopped for CA or epoxy at
your local hobby shop,
you’ve probably seen and
purchased adhesives
labeled with the store
name. This private
branding was Bob Smith’s
idea.
He and his brother,
Charlee, along with 11
other employees, are the
driving force behind Bob
Smith Industries (BSI),
which got its start in 1983.
The Smith brothers
were exposed to aviation at
an early age; their father
was a tail gunner on a B-17
during World War II and a
private pilot. It seemed
natural for the two to get
involved in aeromodeling;
they were drawn to RC in
their early teens. Bob went
on to become a National
Senior Aerobatics (Pattern)
Champion and a National
Pylon Racing Champion.
In 1973 Bob and
Charlee started Smith
Brothers Hobby Center.
Also at that time Bob began
producing model kits, first
under the name of P.B.
Products and then Bob
Smith R/C Aircraft. Some of the designs included the Miss BS and the
Miss DARA. That effort evolved into making Pattern designs such as
the T-2A and the Patricia.
When Bob traded eight bottles of glue for one of his kits, he began
thinking that he had the ability to manufacture adhesives that could
rival any that were available—and that it would be much easier than
making kits.
The first release under the BSI name was epoxy sold in 9-ounce
bottles that was available in 5-, 15-, and 30-minute working times. Bob
started the glue business in his garage,
and before long he moved it into its
own facility, which now comprises
10,000 square feet.
In 1984 BSI added CA to its lineup.
With business increasing, the decision
was made to sell Smith Brothers Hobby
Center in 1985. Charlee transitioned to
the newer company as the sales
manager.
Between 1984 and 1992 Bob
brought all of their products in-house so
they could attain more control over them.
Within this time, they added Insta-Set
by Jay Smith
“”
I know I am
selling the best,
and that is very
satisfying; it’s an
ideal job.
The Smith brothers in the BSI office. Charlee, the sales manager, is on the left and Bob, the president, is
on the right.
Bob Smith Industries
November 2010 79
Win a Glue Assortment From MA and BSI!
packets thrown in with the glue, just to be safe.
I had an important question to ask regarding CA:
How much strength do you lose on a glue joint
when using accelerator? According to Charlee, only
approximately 10% if you use Insta-Set. That is still
plenty strong, he assured me.
Today BSI has a network of 1,700 dealers
worldwide and bottles tens of thousands of
adhesives each month. The hobby industry accounts
for approximately 80% of those consumers, while
the other 20% includes dental labs, shoe repair
shops, and aquariums.
Freshness is the BSI secret. Since the adhesives
are bottled in California, it is possible for
consumers to obtain them a week after they are put
into containers.
The best-selling adhesive in the company’s
lineup is gap-filling CA. Thin CA is a close second.
And CA, as a whole, outsells epoxy four-to-one.
To conclude our interview, I asked Charlee what
part of his participation in BSI has been the most
rewarding.
“Being involved in the creation of new products
and being able to sell what I had a big part in
developing,” he replied. “I know I am selling the
best, and that is very satisfying; it’s an ideal job.”
It takes only a few minutes on the phone with
Charlee to realize that he is extremely
knowledgeable about BSI products and that he has
a great relationship with his dealers.
The company stands behind its products, with a
three-year guarantee on standard CA and a two-year
guarantee of the foam-safe and toughened variety,
as long as it is kept at room temperature or lower.
So the next time you stop by your local hobby
shop for some privately labeled glue, say that
Charlee sent you. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
Bob Smith Industries
8060 Morro Rd.
Atascadero CA 93422
(805) 466-1717
www.bsi-inc.com
For an opportunity to win one of 10 glue assortments worth
$50, submit your answer to the following question.
What aircraft in the FAA fleet uses BSI IC-2000 glue?
(You can find the answer on the Bob Smith Industries Web
site.)
To submit your entry via e-mail, send your answer, full
name, postal-mail address, and telephone number to MA
Assistant Editor Jay Smith at [email protected]. Please
put “About Us” in the subject line. To enter via postal mail,
send the preceding information to MA at AMA, to Jay Smith’s
attention.
Entries will be accepted through November 30, 2010.
Winners will be selected on or before December 3. One entry
per person is allowed. Those that are lost, late, misdirected,
garbled, or incomplete for any reason will be ineligible.
This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states and
District of Columbia and US military members with APO/FPO
addresses. AMA employees are not eligible to win.
Winners will be selected in random drawings, from among
all eligible entries with the correct answer, by an Academy
employee or employees. Those whose names are drawn will
be notified by telephone or e-mail. Their names and states of
residence will be published in a future issue of MA and on the
AMA Web site. MA
Sources:
AMA
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256
www.modelaircraft.org
Mitch Howe, a lifetime aeromodeler and BSI employee, operates one of the
company’s many bottling machines.
Photos courtesy Bob Smith Industries
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 78,79
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/11
Page Numbers: 78,79
78 MODEL AVIATION
accelerator and Super-Gold odorless CA to the ever-expanding line of
aeromodeling goods.
As has the glue, the accelerator has undergone changes to make it
better; most important is that it’s safe to use on any surface. In addition,
the sped-up cure time was slowed from 4 seconds to 8 seconds; that cut
down on the heat produced and provided for a stronger bond.
While we were on the phone discussing adhesives, I eagerly asked
Charlee some questions about epoxy and CA. He shared with me that
the key to a good epoxy bond is ensuring that
the temperature in which it is used stays above
70° throughout the curing time. A temperature
of 85° is optimum for obtaining the best bond.
If your work area is colder than 70°, you can
use a lamp inside a cardboard box to generate
heat.
Charlee also provided information about
storing CA to ensure freshness. The refrigerator
is the best place if the glue will not be used for
a while. However, refrigeration alone is not the
answer, because moisture can be a problem. He
recommends using either a steel or glass
airtight container with a couple of silica gel
IF YOU’VE EVER
shopped for CA or epoxy at
your local hobby shop,
you’ve probably seen and
purchased adhesives
labeled with the store
name. This private
branding was Bob Smith’s
idea.
He and his brother,
Charlee, along with 11
other employees, are the
driving force behind Bob
Smith Industries (BSI),
which got its start in 1983.
The Smith brothers
were exposed to aviation at
an early age; their father
was a tail gunner on a B-17
during World War II and a
private pilot. It seemed
natural for the two to get
involved in aeromodeling;
they were drawn to RC in
their early teens. Bob went
on to become a National
Senior Aerobatics (Pattern)
Champion and a National
Pylon Racing Champion.
In 1973 Bob and
Charlee started Smith
Brothers Hobby Center.
Also at that time Bob began
producing model kits, first
under the name of P.B.
Products and then Bob
Smith R/C Aircraft. Some of the designs included the Miss BS and the
Miss DARA. That effort evolved into making Pattern designs such as
the T-2A and the Patricia.
When Bob traded eight bottles of glue for one of his kits, he began
thinking that he had the ability to manufacture adhesives that could
rival any that were available—and that it would be much easier than
making kits.
The first release under the BSI name was epoxy sold in 9-ounce
bottles that was available in 5-, 15-, and 30-minute working times. Bob
started the glue business in his garage,
and before long he moved it into its
own facility, which now comprises
10,000 square feet.
In 1984 BSI added CA to its lineup.
With business increasing, the decision
was made to sell Smith Brothers Hobby
Center in 1985. Charlee transitioned to
the newer company as the sales
manager.
Between 1984 and 1992 Bob
brought all of their products in-house so
they could attain more control over them.
Within this time, they added Insta-Set
by Jay Smith
“”
I know I am
selling the best,
and that is very
satisfying; it’s an
ideal job.
The Smith brothers in the BSI office. Charlee, the sales manager, is on the left and Bob, the president, is
on the right.
Bob Smith Industries
November 2010 79
Win a Glue Assortment From MA and BSI!
packets thrown in with the glue, just to be safe.
I had an important question to ask regarding CA:
How much strength do you lose on a glue joint
when using accelerator? According to Charlee, only
approximately 10% if you use Insta-Set. That is still
plenty strong, he assured me.
Today BSI has a network of 1,700 dealers
worldwide and bottles tens of thousands of
adhesives each month. The hobby industry accounts
for approximately 80% of those consumers, while
the other 20% includes dental labs, shoe repair
shops, and aquariums.
Freshness is the BSI secret. Since the adhesives
are bottled in California, it is possible for
consumers to obtain them a week after they are put
into containers.
The best-selling adhesive in the company’s
lineup is gap-filling CA. Thin CA is a close second.
And CA, as a whole, outsells epoxy four-to-one.
To conclude our interview, I asked Charlee what
part of his participation in BSI has been the most
rewarding.
“Being involved in the creation of new products
and being able to sell what I had a big part in
developing,” he replied. “I know I am selling the
best, and that is very satisfying; it’s an ideal job.”
It takes only a few minutes on the phone with
Charlee to realize that he is extremely
knowledgeable about BSI products and that he has
a great relationship with his dealers.
The company stands behind its products, with a
three-year guarantee on standard CA and a two-year
guarantee of the foam-safe and toughened variety,
as long as it is kept at room temperature or lower.
So the next time you stop by your local hobby
shop for some privately labeled glue, say that
Charlee sent you. MA
Jay Smith
[email protected]
Sources:
Bob Smith Industries
8060 Morro Rd.
Atascadero CA 93422
(805) 466-1717
www.bsi-inc.com
For an opportunity to win one of 10 glue assortments worth
$50, submit your answer to the following question.
What aircraft in the FAA fleet uses BSI IC-2000 glue?
(You can find the answer on the Bob Smith Industries Web
site.)
To submit your entry via e-mail, send your answer, full
name, postal-mail address, and telephone number to MA
Assistant Editor Jay Smith at [email protected]. Please
put “About Us” in the subject line. To enter via postal mail,
send the preceding information to MA at AMA, to Jay Smith’s
attention.
Entries will be accepted through November 30, 2010.
Winners will be selected on or before December 3. One entry
per person is allowed. Those that are lost, late, misdirected,
garbled, or incomplete for any reason will be ineligible.
This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 states and
District of Columbia and US military members with APO/FPO
addresses. AMA employees are not eligible to win.
Winners will be selected in random drawings, from among
all eligible entries with the correct answer, by an Academy
employee or employees. Those whose names are drawn will
be notified by telephone or e-mail. Their names and states of
residence will be published in a future issue of MA and on the
AMA Web site. MA
Sources:
AMA
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256
www.modelaircraft.org
Mitch Howe, a lifetime aeromodeler and BSI employee, operates one of the
company’s many bottling machines.
Photos courtesy Bob Smith Industries
