Modeling Spoken Here
Bob Hunt Aeromodeling Editor
YOU MAY HAVE noticed some new features in the pages of Model Aviation in the past couple of months. I'm speaking in particular of the addition of product-review articles and our new product-spotlight department entitled "Worth a Closer Look."
It was my plan to introduce these new features when they were first published, but the events of September 11 diverted our thoughts to more serious matters for a while.
The move to review products in these pages may seem out of context to the mission of AMA; we are not here to be the industry's watchdog. For years the subject of reviews wasn't even mentioned in magazine-planning meetings or in Executive Council meetings.
Times change and attitudes change, and a recent rethink of the product-review question at MA brought up some new thinking about the desirability of publishing articles about some of the products our members use.
Just like in anything else, attitude and perspective are extremely important when deciding to strike out on a new heading. We had to carefully examine just what our motives and objectives were before proceeding.
Although we are not supposed to have an "official" opinion about products and services within our hobby/sport, it seems that we should at least acknowledge that these products and services exist. After all, the hardware is the most tangible expression of our pastime.
Imagine how difficult it is to fill up a magazine about modeling, including how-to articles, construction features, contest coverage, and technical pieces, without mentioning how the hardware involved performed.
In reality, we never really had this problem because products were routinely mentioned in those articles. For years there have been numerous minireviews in these pages with the many special-interest columns and departments.
Columnists have always mentioned new products that have performed well for them or for their readers. Without the ability to mention these products, they would be hard-pressed to fill their space each month or to pass on relevant news.
You might say that the columnists' approach to the product-review question was the rough template for our product-review policy. They generally only inform their readers about things that work as advertised.
There is no room in a column to editorialize on products that don't work or are not useful. The premium is on getting out useful information that the readers can put to use instantly.
I guess the thought here is that products that do not perform well will be conspicuous by their absence.
So here it is in a nutshell: We are going to seek out and review products that we feel will benefit our readers. We are looking to inform you about products that work as advertised.
We will not become a sort of consumer advocate always in search of something deficient to report. That is not in any way to suggest that each product will receive a spotless review.
Even the very best products of any kind usually have little quirks that might be of minor annoyance. Our reviewers will mention the things that they feel need improvement or adjustment.
We will allow the manufacturers of reviewed products to see the text of the article before publication. They will not be allowed to change the article in any way, but they will have the opportunity to make comments on the findings.
If they agree that a change is warranted in a product, we will add to the report that the change will be implemented in future releases of that product.
Again, it is not our intent to watchdog the industry and assure that each manufacturer produces perfect products. We all know that there is a wide variety of quality in products for any market, and all we are trying to do is spotlight as many products as we can that have merit for our readers/members.
After reading a review, you will have to decide if a particular product is one that fits your modeling needs.
Because of space limitations, we will only be able to publish solo feature reviews in one issue. This policy may change in the future, but for now that means only 12 products per year will receive the review treatment.
As we all know, there are way more than 12 new products introduced in this industry each month. If you see a review of one of these products in these pages, it doesn't mean the other new items are not "worthy"; it simply means that we chose that particular one for review.
Not every new product released requires a feature-length review. For that reason we have implemented a format called "Worth a Closer Look." This is a two-page department in which interesting new items can be highlighted in shorter "minireviews."
These may be hardware items, book or videos, services that are available, kits, engines, etc.; in short, anything that may be of interest to the modeler. They may be items that were sent in to us unsolicited or items we have used and liked ourselves and wanted to tell you more about.
The distinction between the items published in "Worth a Closer Look" and those featured in our long-standing "Modeler's Mall" section is the fact that someone on our staff, or an enthusiastic reader, has called to our attention something he or she has found extra interesting and something that the rest of our readers might want a special heads-up on.
All of the products discussed in "Modeler's Mall" are of interest to some, if not all, modelers, so we heartily recommend that you look carefully at both departments for items that may enhance your modeling experience.
I encourage everyone out there reading this to let us know about modeling items that you find useful. This really should be an interactive forum that enables us all to tell others about what make modeling easier, better, and more enjoyable!
Products are the tangible expression of modeling ideas and direction. The hardware is what makes all of this possible.
New kits, engines, radios, hardware bits and pieces, field-support equipment, composite materials, etc. are coming on the scene regularly. We feel that we should try to inform you about them as best we can in a fair and unbiased manner.
As always, you can reach me at (610) 614-1747 or by E-mail at [email protected]. If you want to send me an article proposal or reach me by mail for any other reason, my address is Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
