The Inside Loop
I have the benefit of going to trade conventions on a semiregular basis. I go for many reasons, including those that help me find evidence of trends developing in the hobby. Last fall I was in Chicago at the iHobby Expo, and what I saw wasn't just a trend—put more accurately, it was a full-blown outbreak. I never said the word "cool" so many times in my entire life.
Foam park-flyer jets and the "Jetification" trend
Jets were everywhere, but they weren't the traditional high-end, large-turbine models; they were smaller foam, park-flyer–size models that appealed to me, because the possibility of owning one that would fit my budget was much more likely. The rise in popularity of these models is due mostly to the availability of brushless motors and lithium battery technology.
However, motors and batteries alone don't make a model fly well. They have to be the right weight and engineered to fly in a predictable manner. Building small electric models from foam appears to be a blessing: the construction process, whether molded or sheet-constructed, offers the highest power-to-weight ratio.
Whether a modeler wants to buy one from molded parts or cutout sheet foam, everything from the Messerschmitt to the Millennium Falcon can be made to fly as a jet model. Say it with me: "Cool!"
Over my desk are two jets; both are electric and came my way because they were recently released as RTF models. They're inexpensive and, even though I've had almost no practical exposure to jets or the trials and tribulations most jet modelers fought with in the past, I'm having a fantastic jet experience.
I wasn't alone in this discovery. Curtis Mattikow shared the same experience and went on to try not one, but more than a half dozen currently available all-foam jets. Like me, he had nothing but happy thoughts to share.
In the time it took us to decide what jets to write about in the article he coined "Jetification," the number of jets in the same class nearly tripled. Obviously the fun we were having wasn't a fleeting trend; others were being "Jetified" as well.
Instant Jetification
If you've been intimidated by the thought of flying a jet, check out the "Instant Jetification" article to see what we found. Getting into jets has never been easier.
Turbines: learning curve and new ease
Speaking of easy: not long ago, when turbines first started coming out, there was still a whole lot of learning going on. Today, the turbine power plant is smarter and easier to run than ever. The price point might still be a big hill to climb for some—myself included—but now I'm a lot more at ease with the system after reading "Turbine Modeling Made Easy."
Actually, we didn't make it easy, but this thorough article explains all the parts in simple terms that maintain the respect but take the fear out of this type of power system. In fact, I'm now even thinking about a future project.
JetMach 60 — Laser Design Services (LDS)
The JetMach 60 from Laser Design Services (LDS) is a project that puts the "can-do" in a first turbine experience. When we received the kit, the smell of balsa brought a smile and thoughts of pleasant evenings creating a high-performance aircraft. The builder had the model framed up in no time and has since logged many flight hours on it.
Better news still is that LDS is coming out with variations on the successful highwing model and has not only expanded the line, but offers custom design services to customers who are seeking something different. Do I have to say the word again?
A personal note: lessons from my father
My father taught me much of what I know about model building. He could make a 25-size model do more in the sky with just a .15 glow engine than many could with a 40-size model powered by a SuperTigre .61. His minimalist attitudes made sense and often led to the discovery of practical solutions to complex projects. His practice helped me find my own way to make learning fun and rewarding.
Apparently his lessons continue, as you'll see in these pages, as he teaches us how a multiton airliner can be made into a 13-ounce RC experience that's not only relaxing, but totally cool.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
