MA's "CL Scale" columnist for 30 years - 2012/08

JS: How did you get involved in model aviation?
BB: As a youngster, I was always interested in fl ight. I was
fascinated with the early Buck Rogers serials, which depicted
space fl ight, and the movies of the great biplanes of World War I.
During the 1930s, my family lived in Brooklyn, New York,
and during school vacation time we spent many summers with
my grandmothers in Springfi eld Gardens, New
York, which, in those days, was almost all
farm land. It was there that I made my
fi rst real fl ying model of the Ryan ST.
Those were the fun days.
JS: How has model aviation impacted
your life and/or career?
BB: I believe that life and career
went hand in hand. For many years,
my wife, Jan, and I, along with several
close friends, traveled together to many
contests providing many good times.
As for my career, college, and my
employment at AT&T for
31-plus years provided
the knowledge,
technical know-how,
and managerial
experience used
in my modeling
career.
JS: In what
disciplines
of modeling
do you
currently
participate?
Bill Boss MA’s “CL Scale” columnist for 30 years
BB: My current modeling participation has, for a number of
years, been dedicated to the Control Line Scale category of
modeling as a contributor to Model Aviation as the “CL Scale”
columnist. Navy Carrier was my other most competitive event
from the early 1960s to the 1980s.
JS: What are your other hobbies?
BB: Other hobbies I enjoy are photography and gardening,
which I believe complement each other. I enjoy growing roses
and fi nd great satisfaction in photographing them.
JS: Who (or what) has in uenced you most?
BB: As an associate vice president of the Academy from
1969 to 1972, I had discussions with John Worth, Academy
president at the time, about the need for creating a guide book
for Executive Council members.
I brought together all information and documents a council
member might need as an aid to his duties. The fi rst draft of
the guideline book was submitted February 1971 and a fi nal
version was given to all council members in March 1972.
JS: How did you get your start writing for model aircraft
magazines?
BB: My writing started in 1969. Edward Sweeny, editor of
American Aircraft Modeler, asked if I would like to try my hand
at covering the Control Line events at the 39th annual National
Aeromodeling Championships at Glenview Naval Station.
I started that column with these words: “Armed with a
portable tape recorder, a borrowed Nikon camera, a small
notebook, an offi cial-looking blue helmet, a blue-ribboned
name plate, and a lot of guts, I set out to cover the Control
Line events.”
I went on to write for the magazine until 1974. It wasn’t
until in 1982 that I was approached to write once again. This
time Carl Wheeley of Model Aviation asked if I would do a
column on Control Line Scale. The rest is history.
Here I am in 2012, on the 30th anniversary of the column,
retiring and ready to turn it over to another for continuation.
It has been a most pleasurable and rewarding experience.
Memorable Moments
• Winning the CL Scale event at the 15th New York Mirror