OLD-TIMERS
Mike Keville, 6218 E. Evergreen St., Mesa AZ 85205; E-mail: [email protected]
DID YOU READ Dave Brown's and Bob Hunt's columns in the August issue? If not, you might want to stop for a few moments and go do that. You may find that, like me, you are incensed to think our beloved model airplanes have progressed (?) to the point where they could be used as terrorists' tools.
Granted, Old-Time fliers generally don't use turbine engines, autopilots, or global positioning systems. Nonetheless, the nonmodeling public (and, more to the point, lawmakers and politicians) makes no distinction between fast-moving amateur RPVs (Remotely Piloted Vehicles) or UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and what we Old-Timers know as model airplanes. Is the builder of a Korda Wakefield likely to lose flying privileges because of paranoia created by 200 mph missiles under questionable control from the ground?
I will forego printing my personal thoughts on what has become of a once-benign hobby, and instead urge you to read those August columns by the president and aeromodeling editor and to give them some serious thought.
In the July column I featured a photo and some reminiscing about the AJ Firebaby. Surprisingly, that brought the largest volume of letters and E-mail about any subject yet printed in this column. I am not exaggerating when I write that at least two dozen people replied with personal memories of that little trainer.
Typical of those is the letter from Larry Pontious of Watertown, Tennessee, who wrote the following.
"I was about 11 or 12 when we got the Firebaby. My best friend and I pooled our money for it. We first tore out the firewall on landing. Back in the early '50s there was no cyanoacrylate, just some sort of glue in a silver metal tube that cost a nickel. We couldn't wait for the glue to set up, so we added straight pins along with it to hold things in place. That held long enough for me to make about 3 laps, then everything tore loose.
"We didn't know enough about repairing models, so since we couldn't fix it we burned the remains. Thirty-six years later I got back into models, but looking back on the Firebaby I'd have to say what a great day that was. Thanks for the memories!"
Probably the second-most-often-received correspondence is a request for the current status of the late John Pond's plans service. Although most are probably aware of the location by now, "The large selection of plans in the world" (their words, not mine) is in the care of John's grandson Keith. The catalog is $10. Contact Keith at Old Time Plan Service, Box 1492, Marysville WA 98270; Tel.: (360) 653-8875 (evenings, Pacific time); Fax: (360) 651-6272.
I met John at the 1966 Nationals, held aboard Glenview Naval Air Station in Illinois. At that time he was going all-out to promote Old-Time modeling, even as far as dressing in early-1900s period costume. John, Jim Adams, Tim Dannels, and several others had introduced the concept in roughly 1961, and it was rapidly gaining popularity by the time we got to the 1966 Nationals.
They had a large display of models in the workshop hangar there, including a KG-1, a Goldberg Sailplane, a Zipper, and other wonderful, old silk-covered models from the past. I had just returned home from Vietnam and was fortunate to meet a local modeler named Ken Tillou, who brought a nice little Gordon Murray Answer with ignition Bantam .19 power that he used to place in the Cabin event.
A couple years later, having moved to California, I saw John again at a Free Flight meet in Sacramento. He was kind and gracious, introducing me and my wife to several people there and making certain we had a good time.
For many years, during the heyday of Bill Northrop's old-timer magazine, John's "Plug Sparks" column was the first thing I read. He'll be missed—but at least you know where to find the old plans.
We've always had to mail-order plans, whether from magazine publishers or specialty sources. However, we did not always have to mail-order our building supplies as we do today. There are many excellent sources that provide top-notch service at reasonable prices, but let's face it: most of us who've been doing this awhile miss the neighborhood hobby shop.
Awhile back I thought I had found one, but it turned out to be what I call a "adult toy store." Inquiries about kits, plan, Ambroid, and even balsa and wire brought nothing but a blank stare from the proprietor. You'd have thought I was speaking a foreign language.
The shop had plenty of foam and plastic—even a few four-stroke engines on display—but little of real value to model builders. Most people reading this column know exactly what I'm talking about. And like them, I dearly miss the old-fashioned hobby shops.
Some still exist, of course: Tony and Addie Naccarato in California; Orange Blossom in Miami, Florida; G.B.D. in Illinois; and several others, I'm sure. They were places where modelers could congregate, where you could show your latest under-construction project, and where they spoke your language.
I'm not sure when they disappeared because I was inactive for a decade (1976-1986). When I returned to modeling, it was hard to discover that everything had to be ordered from cottage-industry suppliers unless you were fortunate enough to live near the few remaining shops.
I'm not certain what purpose is served by my moaning about this, except that I miss them and I just feel better getting this off my chest. I would be willing to wager that I'm not alone in that regard.
Another unfortunate aspect of Old-Time modeling is the rather increasing number of the names we mention are preceded by the words "the late." Most of us are getting pretty well along in years (I'm on the lower end at relatively youthful 62), and we can expect the natural order of things.
However, what is more difficult to accept is when likable people are suddenly torn from us, as was the case earlier this year with Ed and Helen Southwick. A member of the 1962 Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Control Line Stunt team in Kiev, Ukraine, Ed was traveling home to Kingman, Arizona, with his wife Helen when they died instantly as the result of an auto accident.
They were a very friendly and inseparable couple. Ed overcame a significant vision problem to begin modeling again late in life. I wanted to mention this for those who might have known them and were unaware that this had happened.
I received a nice letter from Dick Tomecich of Cincinnati, Ohio, who noted my affinity for the old Cleveland kits. For those who have the same affection, I wanted to share Dick's words regarding a gentleman who he feels deserves a mention.
"After reviewing your article in the July issue of American Aircraft Modeler, I decided to write you about a longtime friend and superb model builder in the Cleveland area. His name is Rudy Profant. You may have heard of him since his name has come up in several model magazines in the past. Not only is he perhaps the greatest scale modeler I've known, but he's also a serious collector of the old original Cleveland model kits.
Rudy has built most of them that he had duplicate kits of, and I believe he still has many of the completed ones on display for his personal pleasure. Since he doesn't have a computer, here is how to contact him for photo and info:
Rudy Profant 18000 West 158th Street Cleveland, OH 44135 Phone (216) 941-0889."
As I prepare to submit this column I note that parts of it contain a somewhat negative flavor: the demise of neighborhood hobby shops, our own mortality, and the hunting thought of government regulation as it relates to the operation of models. On a more pleasant note, the holidays are drawing near, you might want to start dropping hints for Santa.
Also, I remind you about the 53rd annual Southwest Regionals coming up January 18-20 at Eloy, Arizona. For more information contact Al Linder, 10806 E Baseline, Suite 105-107A, Tempe AZ 85283, or E-mail [email protected].
For the whole Old-Time tastes run to flying on grass, we'll have the 15th annual Vintage Stunt Championships, also in Arizona (Tucson), March 20-25. This contest requires pre-entry by March 15. For more information contact Contest Director Jim McNeile at the address or E-mail in the column header.
I'll wrap up here in two months. Until then, please send your photos and favorite topics to me. If you'd like a reply, an SASE would be appreciated. MH
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
