FF Scale
Dennis Norman
2005 FAC Non-Nats results and highlights
YOU MAY NOTICE that this column is a month later than usual. No, I am not tardy; I wanted to give you the results of the Flying Aces Club (FAC) “Non-Nats” contest as quickly as possible. Since the event was not held until July 16 and 17, 2005 (roughly a month after my deadline), MA’s editors graciously consented to moving my deadline back so I could get this information in the soonest possible issue following the event.
The Non-Nats events and winners are presented in list form at the end of the column. This gives you information but still leaves room for me to share event highlights and some of the latest goodies from my mailbag.
I have received a complimentary sample of Peck-Polymers’ latest gem: a 24-inch-span version of the charming J-3 Kitten ultralight from the 1990s. This may be just what you would want for rubber-powered FF or small electric Power Scale.
Thayer Syme designed the kit, and it comes with laser-cut wood, tissue-paper covering, and the hardware needed for a rubber-powered version. It retails for $29.99 and is highly recommended. You can order the Kitten from Peck-Polymers at Box 710399, Santee CA 92072; Tel.: (619) 448-1818; Fax: (619) 448-1833.
Ed Sims of Wetumpka, Alabama, has been flying RC for the past 12 years, but he wrote to me that he has recently become interested in small FF Scale. After reading my June 2005 column, he asked for my recommendation for basic FF information.
There are numerous books, magazine articles, videos, etc. about the basics of FF Scale (all of you are invited to send me your suggestions), but one of the best resources I know of is Bill Warner’s 14-part series “Hey Kid … Ya Wanna Build a Model Airplane?” published in the now-defunct Model Builder magazine between November 1987 and December 1988.
If you have access to a Model Builder magazine collection, these well-written and extensively illustrated articles are a wealth of information. If you do not have access to these articles, I am pleased to tell you that Bill has consented to my making softbound copies of the entire series (82 pages), available for educational needs. Contact me for further details.
I sent Ed a copy, and he wrote back about how pleased he was and that he was "off and running in the right direction."
School teacher Mary K. Lange found my Web site—www.airracemodels.com—while looking for help to teach a group of gifted seventh-graders in a summer session at Oberlin College. She lives roughly a half-hour away, so we were able to get together and assemble the tools and materials needed for her class.
She also obtained a copy of "Hey Kid ..." to guide her students and says that several of them built Bill Warner's Sky Bunny (from full-size, foldout plans) included in the booklet. I have invited Mary K. and her students to our Cleveland Free Flight Society Flying Meets. It is important that we welcome youth to our hobby.
Speaking of youth, among the most charming visitors to the "Non-Nats" this year were Bill Maecker and his children Zach (12) and Grace (10). Bill is active in helping youth learn about aeronautics and has created two CDs for NASA (The Aero CD and The Aero LP), to assist teachers of fifth through eighth grades by presenting aeronautics in a user-friendly way.
For more information, contact Bill through www.makertoys.com or call (888) 501-6784. These products are excellent for teaching aeronautics to today's youngsters.
One of the most touching moments of this year's FAC Non-Nats, held in Geneseo,
FF Scale
Dennis Norman
New York, was the final-tribute ceremony for 14 recently departed members of the FF Scale community: Hurst Bowers, Vic Diedol, Ted Dock, Doug Gray, Tom Groening, Dick Howard, John Korda, Ted Langley, Doug Morrow, Burt Phillips, Clark Smiley, Ted Wales, Doug Wilkey, and Frank Zaic.
All were toasted, and a ceremonial, balloon-launched Embryo model soared away to music played in their honor. All these modelers helped make FF Scale modeling the enjoyable, healthy, and growing activity it is today. Let us honor their memory by taking time to encourage newcomers and to teach youngsters of all generations.
Rocky Russo (aka Professor Fate) of Salt Lake City, Utah, stopped by during the contest to share several hilarious stories with me about the Flying Aces contests held in Utah. Conditions there are usually ideal, and the only concern is picking which 15 square miles of desert in which to fly!
Rocky admitted that a major FAC event in Utah is unlikely but that local participation and support are high. He made my weekend by purchasing a large order of Air Ace monographs from me for himself and several of his flying buddies. Thanks again, Rocky, for your kindness and enthusiasm.
Michael Boucher of New York City made his first trip to Geneseo this year and was delighted by the hospitality and friendship he found. He works for the New York Transit Authority and said that although the hours are long, he has found happiness and relaxation with the FAC. He hopes to return to Geneseo as a contestant in the near future.
My son Patrick is a junior majoring in video production and filmmaking at Ohio University. He hopes to intern in Los Angeles next year, but I persuaded him to come with me to Geneseo this year to take footage for a new video which I hope to market by Christmas.
Tentatively titled FAC Inspirations, the video will be approximately an hour long and will cover activities at Geneseo and the largest and most magnificent private collection of model-airplane memorabilia I have seen. It will also give viewers an inspirational peek at the 2005 Oshkosh celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. There will be more about this in my next column.
Dave "VTO" Linstrum is one of our most well-known modelers. Although he's in his 60s, he has a youthful exuberance about participating in FAC competition.
Last spring Dave called me and asked if I still had some of the silver Japanese tissue that I marketed more than 20 years ago. He was building a "secret" model to fly in Jumbo Scale and in Golden Age Military Scale at this year's Geneseo gathering. I was able to supply Dave with silver tissue, but he had to cancel his Non-Nats plans at the last minute because of family health concerns. He is now planning to bring his silver masterpiece to the 2006 FAC Nationals, also to be held in Geneseo, during or near the weekend of July 14-16. I'll have more about this as plans are announced.
FAC Non-Nats Awards:
- FAC Peanut Scale: Tom Hallman's Martinsyde Buzzard
- FAC Old Time Stick: Bucky Walter's Sun Spot
- Fairchild 24: Tom Nallen II's Fairchild 24
- Phantom Flash: Jack McGillivray's Phantom Flash
- FAC Old Time Gas Replica: Mark Rzadca's Zipper
- FAC Old Time Rubber: Ted Teach's Double Feature
- Embryo Endurance: Walley Farrell's Go Bird
- Greve Race: Bill Henn's Chambermaid
- Modern Military Scale: Richard Zapf's Ember T-27
- FAC Two Bit Old Time Rubber: John Stott's Flying Aces Moth
- Thompson Trophy Race: Paul Boyanowski's Lockheed Altair
- Golden Age Military Scale: Bill Orphan's Martin MO-1
- Golden Age Civil Scale: Jack McGillivray's Cessna C-38
- World War I Combat: Chris Starleaf's Bristol M1C
- AT-6 Endurance: Jack McGillivray's AT-6
- FAC Dime Scale: Bill Orphan's Cessna Airmaster
- FAC Low Wing Trainer Scale: Walt Ferrell's Miles Magister
- Jimmie Allen: Stu Weckerly's Blue Bird
- Blur Race: Pete Kaiteris's Jackrabbit
- World War II Combat: Chris Starleaf's P-51D
- FAC No-Cal Profile Scale: Frank Rowsome's "Kate"
- FAC Modern Age Civil Scale: Jack McGillivray's Found 100
- FAC Old Time Plan Scale: Tom Hallman's Cessna C-38
- FAC Powder Puff Scale: Juanita Reichel's Piper PA-16
- FAC Contra Prop Scale: Jack McGillivray's Koolhoven F.K.55
- FAC Fiction Flyer Scale: Jack Kacian's Mystery Tailless
- FAC Jumbo Scale: Bill Henn's Arado E.530
- FAC Pioneer Scale: Tom Hallman's Blériot 25
- FAC High Wing Peanut Scale: Tom Hallman's clipped-wing Cub
- FAC Giant Scale: Bill Henn's Reggiane Re 2005
- FAC Power Scale: Tom Hallman: D.H.2
- FAC Rubber Scale (event ended in a draw): Bob Bojanowski's F7F Tigercat
- FAC Rubber Scale (event ended in a draw): Vance Gilbert's Westland Limousine MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
