As last winter’s arctic blasts rolled through much of the country, it appeared that Peck-Polymers, a well-known mainstay of Free Flight (FF) Scale kits and supplies, might be closing its doors forever. Fortunately, Chuck Imbergamo (doing business as Wind-it-up Enterprises) stepped in and bought Peck-Polymers.
Chuck has been busy designing a new website, restocking depleted inventory, and planning the creation of new kits for our building pleasure. Chuck’s vigor and enthusiasm bodes well for our hobby. I encourage you to look at his efforts and enthusiastically support them.
A New Beginning
Lee Campbell was a leader in FF and FF Scale activity for decades. Among other things, he was one of the founding fathers of the Cleveland Free Flight Society in the early 1970s. His kit-manufacturing business, Campbell’s Custom Kits, long provided us with high-quality kits and supplies.
Unfortunately, Lee has developed health problems that have forced him to move from the Muncie, Indiana, area to Detroit, and his company was put up for sale. I am happy to report that Campbell’s Custom Kits has been purchased by Mark Freeland of Retro RC, LLC, who intends to continue and expand Lee’s company. Mark’s well-known enthusiasm and the quality of his efforts will provide Campbell’s Custom Kits with ample energy for its new beginning.
Again, I encourage you to follow and support Mark’s efforts.
2014 Dawn Patrol Rendezvous Revisited
Many thanks to all for your warm reception of my feature articles about the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous and the 2014 Flying Aces Nationals (FAC Nats), published in the February 2015 issue of Model Aviation. Both events were spectacular and the photo coverage for each was superb.
Model Aviation could only show a small fraction of the pictures taken. The Dawn Patrol Rendezvous coverage was nicely augmented online, but I am including a few pictures in this column for you to appreciate, in case you do not have online access.
Particularly memorable at the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous was the impeccably uniformed British author, Andrew Robertshaw, who came to enjoy the show and thrill the crowd with historical accounts of World War I aviation.
Frank Scott, widely known for his FAC activities in the Dayton, Ohio, area, stopped by the Air Ace display to visit. Frank has hosted many FAC contests on the field adjacent to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and thoroughly enjoyed the 2014 Dawn Patrol Rendezvous.
Dick Bennett, who currently resides in Illinois, was a longtime member of the Cleveland Free Flight Society and participated in many FAC events. He was also a featured speaker at the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous and contributed much to its success.
Dick looked robust and made a wonderful presentation about WW I aviation. We visited for nearly an hour.
2014 FAC Nats Encore
Although unpublished highlights from the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous were available online, there was no online coverage of the 2014 FAC Nats. To supplement coverage of this event, I thought you might enjoy seeing models such as Richard Zapf’s handsome Canadair CL-215, which was the first aircraft specifically designed for water bombing. Another impressive entry was Walt Farrell’s massive Breda Ba.88, which placed second in FAC Scale.
F.S. Gilbert’s Fairy Swordfish was one of two entered in the D-Day Combat Event and wowed the judges with details such as retractable wings. Ever-bold and creative, Bernard Dion amazed everyone with his massive Giant Scale Voyager. Bernard also took time to assist his son, Benedict, in preparing his original B-8 for flight.
Donald Becker’s 1:35-scale diorama of the fighting on Utah Beach, located in the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum (now known as the National Warplane Museum) visitor’s center in Geneseo, New York, was described in the FAC Nats article, but no pictures accompanied it. A glimpse of Donald’s masterpiece is presented to demonstrate the magnificence of his effort.
If you wish to see more pictures of the 2014 FAC Nats, check the websites of the Flying Ace Club, DC Maxecuters, and Tom Hallman.
