April 2001 7
SOME OF My earliest recollections are
of looking through model airplane
magazines. Notice I didn’t say reading
them! I began this process long before I
could understand what joys the text
portion of those publications offered.
My father, like most modelers, never
threw out anything that had to do with
model—or even full-scale—aviation. He
wanted a reference library he could turn to
for ideas and inspiration. That he kept it
intact for me and my brother was a blessing.
Practically all of my engineering skills
were learned by reading those magazines from
cover to cover, over and over. And it didn’t
matter to me what type of model was in a
particular article; I didn’t stop to consider that
there was even a difference between types.
Even today, I can simply look at an old
modeling magazine cover (if it’s still attached!)
and tell you what features are in that issue.
Ironically, most of my literary education
came from reading modeling magazines.
During my high school years, I would stuff
my notebook with them and read them at
every chance during the school day. I
became used to how modelers
communicated with each other.
The lexicon of modeling is a very
interesting one, indeed. Some of the words
we are used to can easily be misconstrued
by “outsiders.” It was not unusual to read an
article and be instructed to “buy some
dope.” Oh, how times have changed!
I truly believe that modeling is a
deterrent to unacceptable social behavior,
simply because those who are involved with
it have little or no time to do anything other
than design, build, and/or fly model
airplanes! And modeling magazines are in
large part responsible for that.
When I was about five years old, my father
had a construction article accepted by
Model Airplane News magazine. The
subject of the article was his gorgeous
rendition of the Travel Air sport biplane.
The model was a Scale/Stunt Control
Line design. It was scale enough to place in
competition as a Scale model, but it could
also do a decent job of executing the Stunt
pattern of the time.
When the article appeared in the magazine
in December 1952, dad was an instant celebrity
at our local field! Every modeler read his
article, because every modeler of the time read
every magazine from cover to cover.
From that point on, and even now, I look Continued on page 172
at my father as a sort of special hero because
his design was published in a magazine!
The editor of MAN at that time was the
dean of all modeling magazine editors: Bill
Winter. Bill took a paragraph or two in his
editorial each month to give his personal
thoughts on each of the articles that was
published in that particular issue.
(Something I intend to start doing soon!)
To have Mr. Winter’s personal seal of
approval on a design or how-to was sure and
certain validation of the article’s worth. If Bill
said it was good, it was okay by us! We knew
we were getting something of real value, and
something from which we could learn.
For all of you who are new to the sport, I
heartily recommend that you get a copy of
the May 1999 Model Aviation and read the
piece written about the late Mr. Winter by
Randall Trumbull and Jim Haught. It’s
entitled, “Bill Winter: Simply the Best.”
After reading that article, you will
understand the well-deserved reverence we
longtime modelers have for Bill. His
positive impact on the sport and, perhaps
more important, his methods and standards
of reporting on the sport serve as a beacon
for us all.
I guess that’s why I have such reverence
for the content of modeling magazines. I have
always thought that only the best should be
put into print for the modeling masses.
Through the years, as I’ve been at the
helm of a magazine, I’ve tried very hard to
ensure that each article that I accepted for
publication would pass muster by Mr. Winter.
In my position as Aeromodeling Editor
of Model Aviation, I have the responsibility
to present content that will cover all
aspects of the modeling sport/hobby.
That’s a tall order; modeling has grown up
and out in myriad directions, and keeping
track of each aspect of it is becoming more
and more challenging.
Still, that’s the job. Some of my
decisions are easy, and some are tough. It is
never easy to tell someone who has labored
hard in producing what he or she thinks is a
Bob Hunt Aeromodeling Editor
We want to encourage
everyone to do his
or her very best.
Photo by Paul Vliet
Modeling Spoken Here
172 M ODEL AVIATION
Continued from page 7
Aeromodeling Editor
relevant article that it “doesn’t suit our current
editorial needs.”
Everyone likes to think that his or her
thoughts on a particular subject are relevant and
publication-worthy. If we had unlimited
magazine space, and unlimited funds, that would
be the case. But we don’t, so a line has to be
drawn at some point.
As much as it pains me to say this, not every
article we receive is up to the standards
established by the likes of Bill Winter. And I will
not lower those standards for Model Aviation.
I receive quite a lot of mail each day, and
most of it is in the form of article submissions.
It’s fun to be able to see what modelers are
thinking about. And virtually every article
submitted has some, if not great, merit. There is
some really good thinking going on out there!
The type of articles that are most cherished
by modeling magazine editors are construction
features and how-to articles. Model Aviation
receives a large number of each, and the vast
majority are rejected for publication.
Why?
Well, there are many reasons why an article
may be turned down, and it’s never easy to tell
an author that his work isn’t up to standards. In
fact, in many cases the work is fine but the
timing is wrong.
We try to keep a backlog of articles for
publication. Nothing is more scary for an editor
than a file that is short on accepted articles of a
given type.
A magazine is like a wood-burning stove. It
consumes a tremendous amount of material each
month. And when it’s used, it’s gone! The
material for the next month has to be ready to
use when the time arrives.
For that reason, when a reasonable article on
a particular subject is submitted, it is accepted
and placed in the file for future use. When a
significant backlog of that type of article is
obtained, we become very picky about accepting
more of the same type.
Sure, if an outstanding article is presented,
we grab it—no matter how much similar
material we have. Conversely, if we are getting
very little of a certain type of article, we may
work closely with an author to bring his or her
work up to standards in order to have some of
that type of material on file.
Yes, it’s a balancing act, and there is no easy
answer to the problem. We just never know from
day to day what is going to be submitted.
In many cases, we will commission an article
to suit a specific need. Proven authors are asked
to work up a special article that is within their
scope of expertise.
I like to get out to club fields and club
meetings whenever I can, and sometimes I will
see a member flying or showing an original
model. If the airplane has merit, I might ask the
designer if he’d be interested in having it
published.
In a similar manner, our columnists keep an
eye out for designs and article ideas that might
make interesting reading. They are, in essence,
design/article liaisons.
I have some suggestions for those of you who
are aspiring authors. These will not guarantee
that your work is accepted, but they may help.
This is a subculture, special-interest
magazine. You need not be a literary master to
write about your modeling.
In fact, most new authors try too hard to
write perfect prose, when they don’t speak using
those same words and phrases in normal life. In
other words, be yourself!
Use words and phrases you are comfortable
with. Look at writing as talking to fellow
modelers as you might if they were visiting you
in your shop.
Try to identify a need for a particular article.
Much of what we receive are remakes of work
that has been published many times. Strive to be
original!
Be honest with yourself about your abilities.
Many of the construction article submissions we
receive are for models that reflect subpar
workmanship and finish.
I don’t expect everyone to be a master
craftsman, but I will not accept articles for models
that exhibit poor workmanship and/or finish. This
is not the message we are trying to send.
We want to encourage everyone to do his or
her very best. Only by presenting well-crafted
and nicely finished models will we help others
build and finish better.
This is not to suggest that we only want hightech
or competition-type models. Even simple
sport models or trainers can exhibit good
craftsmanship and finishing qualities.
If you are not sure if your idea for an
article is a good one, please call or write to us
with a proposal before doing a lot of work.
We may be able to suggest a slightly
different way of preparing your material that
will better fit our needs.
Get a copy of the Model Aviation “Author
Guidelines” and read them thoroughly. Your
work must be prepared to suit the magazine
requirements in a technical manner. The
guidelines will give you that important
information.
The guidelines can be found on AMA’s
Web site (modelaircraft.org). Look for the
Model Aviation link, then click on “Author
Guidelines.” Print these out and keep them
for future reference.
Sharing your thoughts, ideas, designs, and
philosophies with your fellow modelers in a
magazine article can be rewarding in many ways.
You can help shape the future for someone
who is just starting out in modeling. You can add
your input to the collective knowledge of a
particular subject or subjects. And yes, you can
even get paid a bit in the bargain.
Most of the writers with whom I have had
the privilege of working have been visionaries
who have wanted to help spread the word about
modeling. They are not professional writers, for
the most part, but they have a burning desire and
boundless enthusiasm to share what they have
learned with the rest of us.
Does that sound like you? Let’s see what you
have to author!
Send yourModel Aviation article submissions
to me at Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083.
If you’d like to discuss a potential article, or
anything else about the editorial content of
Model Aviation, I can be reached at (610) 614-
1747. My E-mail address is
[email protected]. MA
