Flying for Fun

DB Mathews UyL1iy 1L7 ZtL1oIz1 r1 Eu F11iU f Way Tom Brokaws best-selling book Greatest Generation has created interest lives civilians during WW II thought might fun readers share little modeling modelers same time period Building model airplanes during WW II extremely challenging fraught frustrations Only obsessed driven nearly impossible dreams found reason pursue activity know because born 1932 stroke good fortune did have enough success building model airplanes become addicted Christmas 1942 mother somehow located prewar Comet AYA Air Youth America beginner set large box containing five models ranging simple hand-launch glider stick-and-tissue rubber-power Phantom concept step-by-step progression complexity acquire building skills Included illustrated booklet model building adhesives corked bottles dope Most important kits contained balsa parts Most imported materialsfrom sugar coffee balsawere short supply because German U-boat threat merchant ships literature hundreds accounts people standing blacked-out Atlantic coast beaches Florida Maine no onshore lights allowed avoid silhouetting ships watching merchant ships burn sink just off shore Since severe shortage items ration coupons used civilian population strategic materials ranging meat gasoline As child Saturday jobs grandfathers grocery paste ration stamps onto sheets deposit special drawing account hank also paper route during war years fill out forms ration board get new replacement tires bike Newspaper delivery considered essential supply balsa severely limited shipping problems what did make country used life rafts war effort no balsa available model airplane kits Kits substituted poster board formers ribs attempted position strips roughly cut pine adhere overnight-drying cellulose cement very little structure hold pins top nitrocellulose cement Abroad Testors Comet Le Pages etc provided poor adhesion between paper pine However did save tubes scrap drives instructions kits notoriously vague frequently providing no idea wings attached fuselage carve band-sawn prop blank orheaven forbid would May1999 67 During WW II civilians got monthly ration books red stamps meat green canned foods others sugar coffee Comet Speed-O-Matic clever building method four main stringers cut pine fuselage formers thin paper Designed Pine Dick Everett wing ribs actually cut knife thin white pine sheet have cover thing wrapping tissue provided dope banana oil Fly chance available rubber apparently rejects before war some synthetic stuff stretched would act like taffy lack adequate information materials compounded fact fathers uncles older males might have able help active duty military breakfast cereal manufacturer WheatiesTM packaged boxes fold-up paper gliders resembled fighters day creased edges folded flat parts model airplane held together slots tabs nose weight penny ScotchTM-taped place things actually flew provided endless hours fun Also available limited quantities Jim Walkers A-J Models A-J Interceptor gliders balsa featured spring device allowed wing folded back along fuselage sides during launch pop open apogee climb gliders launched catapult could obtain great deal height wings popped open glided rather well Walker produced gliders thousands gunnery targets military trainees fired shotguns few trickled civilian sector great fun good model-trimming learning tool although difficult keep out trees fairness manufacturers did develop some rather innovative approaches building materials available odel Aviation built models top foot lockers such indicating youthfulness much fault kits Control Line flying its infancy model engine manufacturers building precision components war effort new engines available leftover junk used ones hopelessly expensive relative incomes Radio Control its infancy illegal Modeling war years rubber-powered stick-and-tissue solid models carved chunks pine Id speculate 99% kits became unfinished closet projects eventually trashed continued buy attempt build models kits puzzling Could obsessive/compulsive personalities simply resilience youthful spirit say building model aircraft easier 1940s massive understatement might bit difficult appreciate unless youve tried building cement cutting parts out print wood paper used razor blade sanding doping pine covering Christmas tissue figuring out bare basics plans However US soon won war everything got much better sounds rather grim depressing everyone sharing experience As nation attitude together can get over save world democracy spite obstacles faced building models wonderful hours days spent just trying magazines catalogs period worn dog-eared indicating countless hours spent looking through dreaming better times come Joe Ott Company designed system light paper formers slid along paper tube stringers attachedTestor produced first solid models super-secret B-29 several other solid kits werent bad DIO SOUTH INC PRODRIVER Contains 4 1300 mah battery cells senses plug fouled & boosts power LED bar garaph meter display plug condition Supports Futaba J chargers Sale Price Pap iiPa PRO-DRIVER MARK. auto shut downa Pape Sale Price $5800PRO-HINGES _______Easiest Hinge Install use cyanocrylate adhesives 3702 N Pace Pensacola FL 32505RC- $2 49Ipkg 18 Scale $27gIpkg 24 Toll Free Order Line Orders Only Please800-962-7802II available local hobby shop order Repair formation 850-434-0909 visit website http//wwwwtpnet/DBEST/radiosouth/RSI htmldirect DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED