Modeling Spoken Here
Bob Hunt Aeromodeling Editor
Leon seemed to excel in every facet of the hobby/sport.
IN MY YOUTH I spent a great deal of time reading model airplane magazines. I was well and truly smitten with a love for this hobby/sport, long before I knew what smitten meant! In those days I had no particular preference for a type of modeling, and I experimented as best I could with FF and CL types; radio was just not a viable fiscal option, given my allowance situation at the time.
My dad James A. Hunt did dabble quite a bit with early RC and was a member of what I’m told was the first RC club in New Jersey, the Guided Missiles. I still have some great color slides of him at meetings in our living room with such legends as Fran McElwee and the legendary—even iconic—Leon Shulman.
At that time Leon was already a well-known, championship-caliber designer, builder, and flier, and he was often seen in photos in those magazines I read. Even early on, I understood that he was someone special and that my dad was very proud to know him. I guess you could say he was the first celebrity I knew.
Leon seemed to excel in every facet of the hobby/sport. He was already an established pro at FF, and he was also adept at designing, building, and flying CL models. Many of his CL designs have become classics, and many were kitted in the late 1940s.
Leon designed the well-known Drone diesel engine, and he went on to be a moving force in the world of modern RC. A complete listing here of his myriad accomplishments in our hobby/sport would be impossible.
I have asked Leon to help me in producing an article about his life in modeling. This will be the first of what I hope will be many personality profiles of famous, groundbreaking modelers. Hopefully we can begin to paint a picture of the contributions that so many have made throughout the years that have brought this hobby/sport to the place it is today.
The sad part is that we are beginning to lose many of these iconic figures. I’m afraid that we have already lost the opportunity to get the complete picture of their combined accomplishments.
In this issue we are presenting one of Leon’s classic FF models that he has adapted to RC operation. His Super Zomby design has recently been accepted as legal by SAM (the Society of Antique Modelers) for use in its Nostalgia and Post-1942 events. It is also now eligible for RC Assist competition.
Leon actually built the model shown in this article in the late 1940s, and it was originally covered with silk and model dope. He resurrected it and modified it for RC operation and re-covered it with MonoKote. If it looks a little bit “beat” in the photos, that’s why! It’s an authentic model.
This design was ahead of its time in many ways, and I won’t steal any of Leon’s thunder by listing the innovations here. I encourage you to read this piece, however, to get a better understanding of the type of thinking being done by the leaders in design in the formative years of aeromodeling. Their adventurous and creative spirit is something we could all stand to emulate now to ensure an equally bright future for our pastime.
Competition Fun Fly: That sounds a bit like another famous oxymoron: jumbo shrimp. How can fun-flying be a competition category all unto itself? Is that possible?
Those who participate in the National Competition Fun Fly Association, or NCFFA, events will tell you that it is, and they will do their best to get you to give it a try.
In this issue we are featuring another “State of the Sport” article. This time it’s about the world of competition fun-flying, where it started, where it is today, and how you can get involved.
This is basically another Aerobatics discipline, only with lots of interesting and inventive variations. If you are looking for something to spice up your flying sessions, or if your club is looking for something fun to get involved with, Chuck Andraka’s
Continued on page 191
Modeling Spoken Here
Bob Hunt
By the way, it’s okay—even encouraged—to smile while you are competing!
On the very day I’m writing this, MA’s new associate editor has reported for work. I’ll take this opportunity to welcome Michael Ramsey aboard and give you a little of his history.
Michael’s interest in modeling originally stems from his father David A. Ramsey. As a child, Michael went to many modeling functions with his dad. His first hands-on experience with models came via flying 1/2A CL types with dad’s help.
By his mid-teens, Michael was heavily involved in RC flying activities. An interest in full-scale aviation was also kindled within him, and he took flight instruction at the Princeton Cessna Pilot Training Center while he was attending Middlesex County College.
Michael moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, to attend Northern Arizona University and continued his modeling by building sport aerobatic aircraft in his dorm room and in the workshops of members of the local modeling club. After graduating, he moved back to New Jersey and continued flying precision Aerobatics models. He also became a certified Pattern judge.
Michael’s dad influenced him again by teaching him how to fly model helicopters, and he now enjoys glow- and electric-powered helicopters. He says he’s not really 3-D-capable yet, but he can do a loop here and there.
Lately Michael has developed an interest in RC Scale Aerobatics and has moved up to the Advanced class in that type of flying. He is also a certified Scale Aerobatics judge.
Another of his recent interests is electric modeling. He has been busy designing and building profile 3-D foamie models as well as enjoying reviewing many of the new ARF electric kits on the market.
On the professional side of life, Michael was the associate editor of Flying Models magazine since 1996, and he has written many review, construction, and contest-coverage articles for that publication. He is also an accomplished graphic artist and will no doubt have an impact on the look and feel of MA for years to come. I’m delighted that he’s with us.
I can be reached via telephone at <REDACTED> or via E-mail at <REDACTED>. My address is <REDACTED>. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
