Vintage Stunt Championships

28 MODEL AVIATION
■ Bob Hunt
A FEW YEARS back I visited my longtime
and dear friends Dave and Marie Rees at
their beautiful home in North Carolina,
where we were shooting a modeling video.
As a surprise, Dave and Marie treated me to
a night out at a concert. The concert, it
turned out, was a performance by the Glen
Miller Orchestra. Dave and Marie had no
way of knowing that I was a big band fan,
and especially a fan of Glen Miller’s music.
What a treat!
The orchestra members are all new
musicians now; none of the originals are left
Tom Luper launches Charlie Reeves’ long-tail Victory in the Old Time Stunt event. Tom
built one just like it, and both aircraft were beautiful.
Bob English’s Quasar won the coveted Best I-Beam
model award that is sponsored by Fred Carnes.
Cholla
Choppers
take the VSC
reigns at
its 15-year
celebration
from the group’s heyday in the late 1930s
and early 1940s. However, the band itself
has not stopped performing since Glen
originally formed it.
Somewhere during the wonderful
performance I heard that evening, the
realization came to me: I was hearing a
living legacy—a direct link to the past—and
the thought sent shivers through me. I could
sense Glen’s spirit that evening, and it was a
feeling I’ll never forget.
This year I got a similar feeling as I
watched the Vintage Stunt Championships
(VSC) change hands from its originators
Mike and JoAnn Keville to the capable
stewardship of the Tucson, Arizona-based
Cholla Choppers club.
Mike and JoAnn started this contest in
1989 while they were living in Southern
California. As I’ve mentioned in previous
VSC coverage articles, Mike wanted to
bring famous model-airplane fliers and
famous Control Line Precision Aerobatics
(Stunt) models to his back yard, and this
seemed like a good idea.
Mike confided in me years later that he
was sure it wouldn’t work! But work it did,
and now, 15 years later, and after a venue
move in 1990 to match a move of the
Keville family to Arizona, the VSC has
become a revered institution, much like
Glen’s famous band.
Last year Mike and JoAnn reluctantly
shared the news that they had decided to
move to Maine to be near family. After
much soul-searching, they decided to pass
the torch of running the VSC to the Cholla
Choppers, confident in every respect that
this group would continue on in the best
September 2003 29
The father-and-son team of Mike (L) and Scott Condon seem to be enjoying VSC.
Mike flew a Wooley-designed Cobra and Scott flew a colorful Gieseke Nobler.
Check out the dragon graphic on John “Doc”
Holliday’s Yates Dragon. It’s powered by the
venerable Fox .35.
The appearance-point judges for the Classic division look at Bob
Whitely’s Shoestring: a Bill Simons design.
Roy DeCamara
showed up with
this gorgeous
Pegasus. Bob
Howard designed
the model in the
1960s and won a
Senior Nationals
crown with it.
Charlie Reeves’ Victory performs steady inverted flight in Old
Time Stunt. It’s powered by a Fox Eagle .60 engine.
Photos by the author and Elwyn Aud Graphic Design by Carla KunzMike Pratt (L) borrowed Ted Fancher’s veteran Mathis Chizzler;
Ted flew his stunning new Nobler in Classic—and OTS!
Perennial VSC winner Jim Lee flew his Ted Snow-designed
Humongous to a win in Ignition OTS. It’s a popular model at VSC.
Roy DeCamara is holding his Concours-award-winning Pegasus.
The finish is close to perfect on this model.
30 MODEL AVIATION
VSC Contest Director Lou Wolgast flew this clean semiscale
Warburton Tony, powered by an O.S. .46 LA, in Classic.
September 2003 31
Appearance-point judging area for the Classic event from above
at the Rodeway Inn motel. There were many gorgeous models!
Don Hutchinson was first to show up at a VSC with Lew
McFarland’s Vega, strikingly finished in fictitious Navy scheme.
Gerry Phelps’s two-time world-team design: the Patriot. It is the
subject of a future MA construction article.
Phil Granderson’s flawless Gialdini-designed Olympic Mk VII
was second in Concours voting. AeroTiger .36 pulls it nicely!
Robert Demkov finished his Firecat in trim scheme that was
originally used on AJ Interceptor 74 glider. Nice job!
Bill Werwage (L) won Classic with 1962 Ares; Bob Hunt was
second with 1967 Caprice. Both had AeroTiger .36 engines.
32 MODEL AVIATION
John Ashford is a big Bob Palmer fan too, and he flies this well-finished version of
Bob’s Hurricane design. The model was kitted by TopFlite.
The old master himself—Bob Palmer (L)—just autographed Bob Brookins’ beautiful
rendition of his Smoothie. Bob Palmer is a legend in the Stunt event.
This was a surprise! Charlie Bruce built a replica of Don Yearout’s 1947 Flying Star and
flew it in Ignition OTS. It won Most Unusual model award.
traditions that this contest has become
known for throughout the world.
This decision was made easier, no doubt,
by the fact that the Choppers had hosted and
helped with the operation of this meet since
the Kevilles made the move to Tucson.
Each year the enthusiastic club members
have brilliantly handled the field
preparations and much of the event staffing.
Mike gave an emotional and deeply
moving speech at the banquet this year,
thanking all who had a hand in making this
contest the living thing it has become in its
first 15 years. It’s fitting that we who have
come to love this gathering take a moment
to thank Mike and JoAnn for their vision,
commitment, hard work, and friendship.
Here’s hoping that they can visit the
VSC often and reap the well-deserved
rewards of gratitude from their adopted
family of Stunt fliers. Hey Mike! Build a
new Old Time Stunt model and fly a bit;
you’ve earned it!
Now we look forward to the next generation
of VSC family gatherings, which was
kicked off this year with VSC XV. It was
contested March 21-23 at Christopher
Columbus Park in Tucson, Arizona.
This was a big one. There were 167
entrants in the three Vintage events: 78 in
Old Time, 10 in Ignition Old Time, and 79
in Classic. I’m not sure if that’s a record,
but it sure felt like a lot!
As in any family, there will be heartache
and grief caused by loss from time to time.
It seems that the CL Stunt family has been
hit especially hard of late in this respect.
The passing in recent years of many Stunt
greats serves to underscore the importance
of these gatherings; as often as possible we
must embrace and acknowledge those who
made this event what it is today because
they will not be with us here forever.
This past year we lost two more great
Charlie with his Flying Star. Note the gun
turret near the back (bottom?) of the star.
He’s having a great time.
Classic Stunt
Place/Name Score
1. Bill Werwage 1118.0
2. Bob Hunt 1106.5
3. Ted Fancher 1106.0
4. Keith Trostle 1077.0
5. Gordan Delaney 1070.5
6. Gerald Phelps 1063.0
7. Robert McDonald 1057.5
8. Phil Granderson 1055.5
9. Dave Sabon 1047.5
10. Bill Byles 1045.0
11. Bob Whitely 1042.5
12. Don McClave 1034.0
13. Lou Wolgast 1033.0
14. Larry Foster 1015.0
15. John Simpson 1011.0
16. Bill Wilson 1007.5
17. Larry Oakley 1006.5
18. LeRoy Black 1002.0
19. Randy Cuberly 995.50
20. Kevin Capitanelli 989.00
21. Jim Hoffman 980.00
22. Mike Pratt 979.50
23. John Wright 965.00
24. Carl Lovins 965.00
25. Warren Tiahrt 954.50
26. Gary Akers 948.50
27. Peter Peterson 939.00
28. Roy DeCamara 936.00
29. Joe Bowman 935.00
30. Bob English 932.00
31. Mike Condon 932.00
32. Don Hutchinson 931.00
33. Bob Brooks 931.00
34. Dale Gleason 917.50
35. Bud Burroughs 912.00
36. Scott Condon 899.50
37. Marvin Denny 889.50
38. Jim Goss 879.00
39. John Ashford 878.00
40. Chris Brainard 860.00
41. Glen Allison 859.00
42. Jerry Chambers 851.00
43. Mark Smith 837.00
44. Mark Gerber 831.00
45. Bill Netzeband 821.50
46. Eric Rule 818.00
47. John Callentine 815.50
48. Tom Chambers 799.50
49. David Ek 771.00
50. Bick Brannen 770.50
51. Al Shorey 748.50
52. John (Doc) Holliday 723.50
53. James Kraft 711.00
54. Richard Oliver 691.50
55. Dick Wolsey 687.00
56. Josh Condon 686.50
57. Mike Danford 665.50
58. Jim Tichy 589.50
59. Dee Rice 457.50
60. Lew Woolard 443.00
61. Arlie Prezler 432.50
62. Bill Ledden 431.50
63. Nick Trifilio 424.50
64. Nick Lemak 417.50
65. Lou Crane 336.50
66. Gerald Arana 329.00
67. Stan Haugarth 319.50
68. Pete Moskel 300.50
69. Shayne Craven 121.50
70. Robert Brookins 88.000
71. Rusty Brown
72. Floyd Layton
73. Dennis Ford
74. Robin Sizemore
75. Tyrone Marcucci
76. Jim Renkar
77. Dan Gates
78. Percy Attfield
79. Jerry Silver
Old Time Ignition
Place/Name Score
1. Jim Lee 274.50
2. Roy DeCamara 263.75
3. Don Hutchinson 260.50
4. Floyd Carter 253.05
5. James Ogg 226.80
6. Bill Netzeband 226.75
7. Lou Crane 210.25
8. Lew Woolard 79.250
9. Ed Kunaschk 77.750
10. Charlie Bruce 42.500
Old Time Stunt
Place/Name Score
1. Bart Klapinski 564.5
2. John Wright 562.0
3. Larry Foster 558.5
4. Keith Trostle 545.5
5. Robin Sizemore 538.5
6. Jim Hoffman 535.0
7. Bob Whitely 530.0
8. Charles Reeves 521.0
9. Lou Wolgast 519.5
10. Jim Lee 517.0
11. Bob Emmett 512.0
12. Bill Byles 506.0
13. Dee Rice 503.5
14. Ted Fancher 503.0
15. Dick Byron 494.5
16. Marvin Denny 493.0
17. Dennis Choate 488.0
18. Chris Brainard 482.0
19. Mike Ostella 481.5
20. Robert Lipscomb 480.0
21. Larry Scarinzi 472.5
22. Josh Condon 469.5
23. René Berger 465.0
24. Dale Gleason 465.0
25. Tom Luper 463.5
26. Rusty Brown 458.0
27. James Kraft 455.5
28. Bud Burroughs 452.5
29. Mike Pratt 452.0
30. Roy DeCamara 451.5
31. Jim Thomerson 437.0
32. Bill Netzeband 436.0
33. Jim Goss 425.5
34. Lew Woolard 424.0
35. Gene Hempel 417.5
36. Nick Lemak 410.5
37. Stan Haugarth 408.5
38. Glen Allison 408.5
39. Jerry Chambers 402.5
40. Eric Rule 399.5
41. Gaylord Elling 394.5
42. Thom Ryan 378.0
43. Floyd Carter 373.5
44. Bick Brannen 327.0
45. Jim Rhoades 320.0
46. Bill Ledden 306.0
47. Robert Brookins 305.5
48. John (Doc) Holliday 302.0
49. James Ogg 302.0
50. Tom Chambers 296.5
51. David Ek 283.5
52. Lou Crane 253.5
53. Scott Condon 239.5
54. De Hill 220.0
55. Gerald Arana 196.5
56. Tyrone Marcucci 184.0
57. Jerry Neafus 182.5
58. Gerald Chaney 179.5
59. Dennis Coleman 178.0
60. Vic Carpenter 177.0
61. Ed Capitanelli 156.5
62. Richard Kirk 151.5
63. Charlie Bruce 123.0
64. Gerald Boyd 117.5
65. Scott Danford 85.50
66. Frank Martin 73.50
67. Riley Wooten
68. Bruce Duncan
69. James Mears
70. Carl Lovins
71. Bill Dahlgren
72. Phillip Dunlap
73. Jerry Price
74. Pete Steinmeyer
75. Jerry Silver
76. Dale Marlin
77. Dick Wolsey
78. Floyd Layton
September 2003 33
34 MODEL AVIATION
spirits in the sport of Stunt, with the passing
of J.C. “Madman” Yates and Ed Southwick.
J.C. was perhaps most well known for his
Madman and Dragon Stunt designs. He is
generally credited with bringing the modern
look to Stunt-model design. His Madman
was years ahead of anything else on the
scene in aesthetics and craftsmanship and
finish when it was debuted at the 1947
Nationals.
A more complete piece about J.C. Yates’
many contributions and achievements was
written by Charles Mackey and published in
Curt Contrata’s Control Line Aerobatics
column in the February 2003 Model
Aviation. Consider it required reading if you
have an interest in Stunt’s history.
In fitting tribute to J.C., Bart Klapinski
flew Don Hutchinson’s fabulous replica of
J.C.’s Madman in the Old Time Stunt (OTS)
event this year. The model was built before
the first VSC in 1989, and it is still in great
shape. The pair won the OTS event,
underscoring that it, and Bart, still fly well!
At the banquet, Bart presented the first-place
trophy to Don in appreciation. I think J.C.
would have liked that.
Perhaps a more acutely felt loss was the
untimely passing of Ed and Helen
Southwick, who both died in an automobile
collision this past year. Ed and Helen had
become fixtures at these events, and their
absence left a void that can never be filled.
We will miss them terribly.
This loss hit Bill Byles especially hard
since Ed and Helen were among his closest
friends. Ed was Bill’s flying buddy, and it
was evident that there was a close bond
between them. In tribute to his missing
friend, Bill flew a memorial flight between
rounds of Classic on Sunday. Before the
flight, the entire VSC family lined up to take
turns holding the handle that was attached to
one of Ed’s legendary Skylark models. It was
a dramatic and touching moment.
J.C., Ed, and Helen are now among the
spirits whose presences are felt when
attending a VSC.
Giving a flight-by-flight description of the
VSC here is impossible; there’s too much
happening at the contest to cover it all in any
sort of detail. What I will do is pass on some
impressions and tell you about some of the
neat things I experienced and witnessed.
For me, the VSC has been about the
people and the airplanes; competition is an
important element, but it’s secondary in my
mind. Early in the VSC saga, it was fairly
easy to be the first to show up with an obscure
OTS or Classic Stunt design. It is becoming a
real research project to come up with
something to bring that will surprise everyone.
The big winner this year in that category
was Charlie Bruce, who showed up with a
beautiful version of Don Yearout’s 1947
Flying Star for the Ignition OTS event. This
model’s planform is a five-pointed star. For
his efforts, Charlie captured the coveted Most
Unusual model trophy.
Another unique airplane that had not been
brought to a VSC until this year was Bob
Howard’s Senior Stunt Nationals-winning
Pegasus. This high-aspect-ratio Stunter
features a stylish swept-back fin. It was on
many lists of “someday”s, but Roy DeCamara
beat us all to the punch with his outstanding
model.
Roy’s replica Pegasus is about as perfectly
finished a model as I have seen at any VSC,
and it captured the prestigious Classic
Concours trophy, which the fliers vote on. To
be recognized as the best by your peers is by
far the most satisfying reward of all.
Another model that many of us have on
our “must-build” lists for VSC is Bill Simon’s
Shoestring. Bob Whitely scooped us all with
his gorgeous rendition of Bill’s famous
design. This model has special meaning for
me; Bill was my mentor in Stunt flying, and I
vividly remember when he built and flew the
“Shoe.”
In 1969 Bill and I attended the Nationals in
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and stayed for
the week with Stunt legend Red Rhinehart at
his home in Doylestown. Bill flew the
Shoestring that year, then he gave the model
to me as a practice airplane because I had lost
my only Stunter just before the contest.
I flew the Shoestring until I finished a new
model, then I returned it to Bill, who flew it in
competition on the East Coast for another two
seasons. It was a wonderful model then, and
Bob’s version flew just as well at the contest.
Bob’s Shoestring was powered by an Aero
Products’ AeroTiger .36.
Another different Classic design was Don
Hutchinson’s gorgeous rendition of Lew
McFarland’s Vega. This semiscale design was
featured in the June 1962 American Modeler
magazine. Don’s self-tuned O.S. .40 FPpowered
model was perfectly crafted and
bright in its fictitious yellow Navy-trainer
color scheme.
A not-so-obscure model was Ted
Fancher’s Aldrich Nobler. It is a popular
airplane at the VSC, but Ted’s version is
worthy of special note because it was
exemplary in craftsmanship, color scheme,
and finish. It featured a mint-green paint job
with dark green, red, and black trim.
The Nobler was powered by the new
Merco Rustler engine that is being imported
by RSM Distribution. The package looked
great and flew outstandingly well to finish a
credible third in Classic.
However, Ted’s Nobler was accidentally
run over in his driveway after his return home
from the VSC. I don’t know all of the details
of the tragedy, but I can only hope that Ted
will build another one just like it.
I’ve always thought that it is neat to see
models at the VSC that the original designers
have built and flown. In the past few years
there have been several, and certainly the most
successful has been Bill Werwage. He has
flown three of his original designs to a total of
seven wins in Classic Stunt. He used his
original 1959 Ares to win one VSC crown, his
Vulcan to win four others, and his 1962 Ares
to win the last two. That’s a record that will be
hard to beat!
Bob English flew a stunning version of his
original I-Beam-winged Quasar this year, then
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September 2003 35
he captured the seventh presentation of the
Best I-Beam award, which is sponsored by
Fred Carnes. Bob’s gold Stunter really shows
up in the air!
Gerry Phelps brought his outstanding
Patriot again. Last year was the first outing for
this replica of his two-time world-team model,
and it continues to fly better and better. If
Gerry gets some practice time with this
AeroTiger .36-powered aircraft, he’ll be hard
to beat!
A popular model at the VSC these days is
John Simpson’s original-design Cavalier. Tom
Morris’s Tom’s Building Service kit and
Almost Ready-to-Fly versions of this design
have enabled many to have a great-flying
Classic design in a short amount of bench
time.
John attended this year and flew his own
replica of his sleek Stunter. An AeroTiger .36
did the pulling.
“Wild Bill” Netzeband flew his originaldesign
Gold Brick, and Dee Rice flew his
popular Oriental.
For the last couple of years I’ve attended
this gathering without an airplane with which
to compete, and although I’ve had lots of fun,
I’ve missed flying dearly. This year I
remedied that by building a replica of my
Caprice design from 1967.
In the past I’ve taken advantage of the
opportunity the VSC has presented to pay
tribute to some of my Stunt heroes by building
replicas of their famous models, but this time I
decided to try one of my own Classic-legal
designs.
To give credit where due, the Caprice is
really just a slightly modified version of one
of Gene Schaffer’s original Blackbirds from
the mid-1960s. I had always liked Gene’s
sense of styling, and I simply changed the
wingtip, rudder, and wheel-spat shapes to
suit myself. I flew the Caprice for three
years on the Eastern Senior Stunt circuit,
competing mainly against 1965 Junior
Nationals Champion Dawn Cosmillo. I
didn’t win a lot ...
Gene had come up with a set of moments
and areas and a wing design that produced a
good-flying and aggressive airplane, at least to
my way of thinking. I used those same
moments and airfoils for many years,
culminating in my last 35-size design: the
Genesis. So the Caprice has some history!
Although the original had an O.S. .35S for
power, it is pulled around these days by the
potent AeroTiger .36 and is flown on 63 feet
of .012 solid lines. My plan is to present the
Caprice and Gene’s original Blackbird from
which it was derived in a future Model
Aviation construction article.
The competition-flying results from this
year’s VSC are in an accompanying table. The
special awards are, to me at least, the most
interesting. They are awarded at the banquet
with great fanfare.
This year’s Best Appearing Old Time
model was Roy DeCamara’s version of Floyd
Carter’s original Wildman 60. (See the
construction article in the April 2003 Model
Aviation.) James Ogg walked off with the
Spirit of ’46 trophy for his outstanding Go
Devil Plus.
The Spirit of ’52 trophy went to Jim Kraft
for his beautiful version of J.C. Yates’
Dragon. The Spirit of ’64 award went to Bill
Byles for his flawless Southwick Skylark.
Stan Holcomb captured the coveted George
Aldrich Memorial award.
As I mentioned, Roy DeCamara won the
Classic Concours award, Bob English won the
I-Beam trophy, and Charlie Bruce earned the
Most Unusual model prize. Scott Danford
received recognition as the Most Deserving
Young Modeler, and Gary Akers was
presented the Tom Lay-sponsored Most Fun
award for his dead-stick wind-flying
exhibition.
There are also two more serious awards
given out each year. The Bob Gialdini
Sportsmanship trophy is awarded each year by
vote of those who have received it in the past.
This honor recognizes outstanding
contributions to the sport behind the scenes.
This year’s Gialdini Sportsmanship winner
was Warren Tiahrt for his countless
contributions of time and talent as many-time
director of the Nationals Stunt program and of
the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
F2B Team Selection programs. I can’t think of
a more deserving person.
The most coveted of all of the special
awards at the VSC is the Keeper of the Flame
trophy. It goes to the person who best
personifies the spirit of the event. This year it
went to “Dr. Spark,” Floyd Carter. Floyd, who
is a bit shy, accepted the award with simple
thanks and started to leave the stage. He
stopped and went back to the microphone and
said, “Oh, and by the way, I’m not really a
doctor.”
It was a delight to be present at this year’s
banquet for Riley Wooten’s induction into
AMA’s prestigious Model Aviation Hall of
Fame. Riley is well known for his
involvement in Control Line Combat flying,
but he was also an accomplished Stunt flier.
His Lone Star Models company has supplied
many of us with high-quality balsa for many
years. This was a popular induction, and
congratulations go out to Riley.
John Ashford asked for a few minutes of
“mike” time, and he delivered a short speech
that was the most moving thing I’ve ever
heard at a model-airplane affair.
John told us that he had been diagnosed
with cancer a few years ago and that he was
told he would not survive it. He said he
wanted to experience a VSC before leaving
this orb and went to one that year.
John has come back for several more, I’m
thankful to report, and in his speech he
credited the VSC in specific and the Stunt
family in general for keeping him alive. He’s
planning on making it to many more! I can’t
think of a better note on which to end this
report.
If you want to know more about VSC and
experience the spirit for yourself, please join
the Stunt family next year in March in Tucson.
It’s something you will never forget! MA
Bob Hunt

28 MODEL AVIATION
■ Bob Hunt
A FEW YEARS back I visited my longtime
and dear friends Dave and Marie Rees at
their beautiful home in North Carolina,
where we were shooting a modeling video.
As a surprise, Dave and Marie treated me to
a night out at a concert. The concert, it
turned out, was a performance by the Glen
Miller Orchestra. Dave and Marie had no
way of knowing that I was a big band fan,
and especially a fan of Glen Miller’s music.
What a treat!
The orchestra members are all new
musicians now; none of the originals are left
Tom Luper launches Charlie Reeves’ long-tail Victory in the Old Time Stunt event. Tom
built one just like it, and both aircraft were beautiful.
Bob English’s Quasar won the coveted Best I-Beam
model award that is sponsored by Fred Carnes.
Cholla
Choppers
take the VSC
reigns at
its 15-year
celebration
from the group’s heyday in the late 1930s
and early 1940s. However, the band itself
has not stopped performing since Glen
originally formed it.
Somewhere during the wonderful
performance I heard that evening, the
realization came to me: I was hearing a
living legacy—a direct link to the past—and
the thought sent shivers through me. I could
sense Glen’s spirit that evening, and it was a
feeling I’ll never forget.
This year I got a similar feeling as I
watched the Vintage Stunt Championships
(VSC) change hands from its originators
Mike and JoAnn Keville to the capable
stewardship of the Tucson, Arizona-based
Cholla Choppers club.
Mike and JoAnn started this contest in
1989 while they were living in Southern
California. As I’ve mentioned in previous
VSC coverage articles, Mike wanted to
bring famous model-airplane fliers and
famous Control Line Precision Aerobatics
(Stunt) models to his back yard, and this
seemed like a good idea.
Mike confided in me years later that he
was sure it wouldn’t work! But work it did,
and now, 15 years later, and after a venue
move in 1990 to match a move of the
Keville family to Arizona, the VSC has
become a revered institution, much like
Glen’s famous band.
Last year Mike and JoAnn reluctantly
shared the news that they had decided to
move to Maine to be near family. After
much soul-searching, they decided to pass
the torch of running the VSC to the Cholla
Choppers, confident in every respect that
this group would continue on in the best
September 2003 29
The father-and-son team of Mike (L) and Scott Condon seem to be enjoying VSC.
Mike flew a Wooley-designed Cobra and Scott flew a colorful Gieseke Nobler.
Check out the dragon graphic on John “Doc”
Holliday’s Yates Dragon. It’s powered by the
venerable Fox .35.
The appearance-point judges for the Classic division look at Bob
Whitely’s Shoestring: a Bill Simons design.
Roy DeCamara
showed up with
this gorgeous
Pegasus. Bob
Howard designed
the model in the
1960s and won a
Senior Nationals
crown with it.
Charlie Reeves’ Victory performs steady inverted flight in Old
Time Stunt. It’s powered by a Fox Eagle .60 engine.
Photos by the author and Elwyn Aud Graphic Design by Carla KunzMike Pratt (L) borrowed Ted Fancher’s veteran Mathis Chizzler;
Ted flew his stunning new Nobler in Classic—and OTS!
Perennial VSC winner Jim Lee flew his Ted Snow-designed
Humongous to a win in Ignition OTS. It’s a popular model at VSC.
Roy DeCamara is holding his Concours-award-winning Pegasus.
The finish is close to perfect on this model.
30 MODEL AVIATION
VSC Contest Director Lou Wolgast flew this clean semiscale
Warburton Tony, powered by an O.S. .46 LA, in Classic.
September 2003 31
Appearance-point judging area for the Classic event from above
at the Rodeway Inn motel. There were many gorgeous models!
Don Hutchinson was first to show up at a VSC with Lew
McFarland’s Vega, strikingly finished in fictitious Navy scheme.
Gerry Phelps’s two-time world-team design: the Patriot. It is the
subject of a future MA construction article.
Phil Granderson’s flawless Gialdini-designed Olympic Mk VII
was second in Concours voting. AeroTiger .36 pulls it nicely!
Robert Demkov finished his Firecat in trim scheme that was
originally used on AJ Interceptor 74 glider. Nice job!
Bill Werwage (L) won Classic with 1962 Ares; Bob Hunt was
second with 1967 Caprice. Both had AeroTiger .36 engines.
32 MODEL AVIATION
John Ashford is a big Bob Palmer fan too, and he flies this well-finished version of
Bob’s Hurricane design. The model was kitted by TopFlite.
The old master himself—Bob Palmer (L)—just autographed Bob Brookins’ beautiful
rendition of his Smoothie. Bob Palmer is a legend in the Stunt event.
This was a surprise! Charlie Bruce built a replica of Don Yearout’s 1947 Flying Star and
flew it in Ignition OTS. It won Most Unusual model award.
traditions that this contest has become
known for throughout the world.
This decision was made easier, no doubt,
by the fact that the Choppers had hosted and
helped with the operation of this meet since
the Kevilles made the move to Tucson.
Each year the enthusiastic club members
have brilliantly handled the field
preparations and much of the event staffing.
Mike gave an emotional and deeply
moving speech at the banquet this year,
thanking all who had a hand in making this
contest the living thing it has become in its
first 15 years. It’s fitting that we who have
come to love this gathering take a moment
to thank Mike and JoAnn for their vision,
commitment, hard work, and friendship.
Here’s hoping that they can visit the
VSC often and reap the well-deserved
rewards of gratitude from their adopted
family of Stunt fliers. Hey Mike! Build a
new Old Time Stunt model and fly a bit;
you’ve earned it!
Now we look forward to the next generation
of VSC family gatherings, which was
kicked off this year with VSC XV. It was
contested March 21-23 at Christopher
Columbus Park in Tucson, Arizona.
This was a big one. There were 167
entrants in the three Vintage events: 78 in
Old Time, 10 in Ignition Old Time, and 79
in Classic. I’m not sure if that’s a record,
but it sure felt like a lot!
As in any family, there will be heartache
and grief caused by loss from time to time.
It seems that the CL Stunt family has been
hit especially hard of late in this respect.
The passing in recent years of many Stunt
greats serves to underscore the importance
of these gatherings; as often as possible we
must embrace and acknowledge those who
made this event what it is today because
they will not be with us here forever.
This past year we lost two more great
Charlie with his Flying Star. Note the gun
turret near the back (bottom?) of the star.
He’s having a great time.
Classic Stunt
Place/Name Score
1. Bill Werwage 1118.0
2. Bob Hunt 1106.5
3. Ted Fancher 1106.0
4. Keith Trostle 1077.0
5. Gordan Delaney 1070.5
6. Gerald Phelps 1063.0
7. Robert McDonald 1057.5
8. Phil Granderson 1055.5
9. Dave Sabon 1047.5
10. Bill Byles 1045.0
11. Bob Whitely 1042.5
12. Don McClave 1034.0
13. Lou Wolgast 1033.0
14. Larry Foster 1015.0
15. John Simpson 1011.0
16. Bill Wilson 1007.5
17. Larry Oakley 1006.5
18. LeRoy Black 1002.0
19. Randy Cuberly 995.50
20. Kevin Capitanelli 989.00
21. Jim Hoffman 980.00
22. Mike Pratt 979.50
23. John Wright 965.00
24. Carl Lovins 965.00
25. Warren Tiahrt 954.50
26. Gary Akers 948.50
27. Peter Peterson 939.00
28. Roy DeCamara 936.00
29. Joe Bowman 935.00
30. Bob English 932.00
31. Mike Condon 932.00
32. Don Hutchinson 931.00
33. Bob Brooks 931.00
34. Dale Gleason 917.50
35. Bud Burroughs 912.00
36. Scott Condon 899.50
37. Marvin Denny 889.50
38. Jim Goss 879.00
39. John Ashford 878.00
40. Chris Brainard 860.00
41. Glen Allison 859.00
42. Jerry Chambers 851.00
43. Mark Smith 837.00
44. Mark Gerber 831.00
45. Bill Netzeband 821.50
46. Eric Rule 818.00
47. John Callentine 815.50
48. Tom Chambers 799.50
49. David Ek 771.00
50. Bick Brannen 770.50
51. Al Shorey 748.50
52. John (Doc) Holliday 723.50
53. James Kraft 711.00
54. Richard Oliver 691.50
55. Dick Wolsey 687.00
56. Josh Condon 686.50
57. Mike Danford 665.50
58. Jim Tichy 589.50
59. Dee Rice 457.50
60. Lew Woolard 443.00
61. Arlie Prezler 432.50
62. Bill Ledden 431.50
63. Nick Trifilio 424.50
64. Nick Lemak 417.50
65. Lou Crane 336.50
66. Gerald Arana 329.00
67. Stan Haugarth 319.50
68. Pete Moskel 300.50
69. Shayne Craven 121.50
70. Robert Brookins 88.000
71. Rusty Brown
72. Floyd Layton
73. Dennis Ford
74. Robin Sizemore
75. Tyrone Marcucci
76. Jim Renkar
77. Dan Gates
78. Percy Attfield
79. Jerry Silver
Old Time Ignition
Place/Name Score
1. Jim Lee 274.50
2. Roy DeCamara 263.75
3. Don Hutchinson 260.50
4. Floyd Carter 253.05
5. James Ogg 226.80
6. Bill Netzeband 226.75
7. Lou Crane 210.25
8. Lew Woolard 79.250
9. Ed Kunaschk 77.750
10. Charlie Bruce 42.500
Old Time Stunt
Place/Name Score
1. Bart Klapinski 564.5
2. John Wright 562.0
3. Larry Foster 558.5
4. Keith Trostle 545.5
5. Robin Sizemore 538.5
6. Jim Hoffman 535.0
7. Bob Whitely 530.0
8. Charles Reeves 521.0
9. Lou Wolgast 519.5
10. Jim Lee 517.0
11. Bob Emmett 512.0
12. Bill Byles 506.0
13. Dee Rice 503.5
14. Ted Fancher 503.0
15. Dick Byron 494.5
16. Marvin Denny 493.0
17. Dennis Choate 488.0
18. Chris Brainard 482.0
19. Mike Ostella 481.5
20. Robert Lipscomb 480.0
21. Larry Scarinzi 472.5
22. Josh Condon 469.5
23. René Berger 465.0
24. Dale Gleason 465.0
25. Tom Luper 463.5
26. Rusty Brown 458.0
27. James Kraft 455.5
28. Bud Burroughs 452.5
29. Mike Pratt 452.0
30. Roy DeCamara 451.5
31. Jim Thomerson 437.0
32. Bill Netzeband 436.0
33. Jim Goss 425.5
34. Lew Woolard 424.0
35. Gene Hempel 417.5
36. Nick Lemak 410.5
37. Stan Haugarth 408.5
38. Glen Allison 408.5
39. Jerry Chambers 402.5
40. Eric Rule 399.5
41. Gaylord Elling 394.5
42. Thom Ryan 378.0
43. Floyd Carter 373.5
44. Bick Brannen 327.0
45. Jim Rhoades 320.0
46. Bill Ledden 306.0
47. Robert Brookins 305.5
48. John (Doc) Holliday 302.0
49. James Ogg 302.0
50. Tom Chambers 296.5
51. David Ek 283.5
52. Lou Crane 253.5
53. Scott Condon 239.5
54. De Hill 220.0
55. Gerald Arana 196.5
56. Tyrone Marcucci 184.0
57. Jerry Neafus 182.5
58. Gerald Chaney 179.5
59. Dennis Coleman 178.0
60. Vic Carpenter 177.0
61. Ed Capitanelli 156.5
62. Richard Kirk 151.5
63. Charlie Bruce 123.0
64. Gerald Boyd 117.5
65. Scott Danford 85.50
66. Frank Martin 73.50
67. Riley Wooten
68. Bruce Duncan
69. James Mears
70. Carl Lovins
71. Bill Dahlgren
72. Phillip Dunlap
73. Jerry Price
74. Pete Steinmeyer
75. Jerry Silver
76. Dale Marlin
77. Dick Wolsey
78. Floyd Layton
September 2003 33
34 MODEL AVIATION
spirits in the sport of Stunt, with the passing
of J.C. “Madman” Yates and Ed Southwick.
J.C. was perhaps most well known for his
Madman and Dragon Stunt designs. He is
generally credited with bringing the modern
look to Stunt-model design. His Madman
was years ahead of anything else on the
scene in aesthetics and craftsmanship and
finish when it was debuted at the 1947
Nationals.
A more complete piece about J.C. Yates’
many contributions and achievements was
written by Charles Mackey and published in
Curt Contrata’s Control Line Aerobatics
column in the February 2003 Model
Aviation. Consider it required reading if you
have an interest in Stunt’s history.
In fitting tribute to J.C., Bart Klapinski
flew Don Hutchinson’s fabulous replica of
J.C.’s Madman in the Old Time Stunt (OTS)
event this year. The model was built before
the first VSC in 1989, and it is still in great
shape. The pair won the OTS event,
underscoring that it, and Bart, still fly well!
At the banquet, Bart presented the first-place
trophy to Don in appreciation. I think J.C.
would have liked that.
Perhaps a more acutely felt loss was the
untimely passing of Ed and Helen
Southwick, who both died in an automobile
collision this past year. Ed and Helen had
become fixtures at these events, and their
absence left a void that can never be filled.
We will miss them terribly.
This loss hit Bill Byles especially hard
since Ed and Helen were among his closest
friends. Ed was Bill’s flying buddy, and it
was evident that there was a close bond
between them. In tribute to his missing
friend, Bill flew a memorial flight between
rounds of Classic on Sunday. Before the
flight, the entire VSC family lined up to take
turns holding the handle that was attached to
one of Ed’s legendary Skylark models. It was
a dramatic and touching moment.
J.C., Ed, and Helen are now among the
spirits whose presences are felt when
attending a VSC.
Giving a flight-by-flight description of the
VSC here is impossible; there’s too much
happening at the contest to cover it all in any
sort of detail. What I will do is pass on some
impressions and tell you about some of the
neat things I experienced and witnessed.
For me, the VSC has been about the
people and the airplanes; competition is an
important element, but it’s secondary in my
mind. Early in the VSC saga, it was fairly
easy to be the first to show up with an obscure
OTS or Classic Stunt design. It is becoming a
real research project to come up with
something to bring that will surprise everyone.
The big winner this year in that category
was Charlie Bruce, who showed up with a
beautiful version of Don Yearout’s 1947
Flying Star for the Ignition OTS event. This
model’s planform is a five-pointed star. For
his efforts, Charlie captured the coveted Most
Unusual model trophy.
Another unique airplane that had not been
brought to a VSC until this year was Bob
Howard’s Senior Stunt Nationals-winning
Pegasus. This high-aspect-ratio Stunter
features a stylish swept-back fin. It was on
many lists of “someday”s, but Roy DeCamara
beat us all to the punch with his outstanding
model.
Roy’s replica Pegasus is about as perfectly
finished a model as I have seen at any VSC,
and it captured the prestigious Classic
Concours trophy, which the fliers vote on. To
be recognized as the best by your peers is by
far the most satisfying reward of all.
Another model that many of us have on
our “must-build” lists for VSC is Bill Simon’s
Shoestring. Bob Whitely scooped us all with
his gorgeous rendition of Bill’s famous
design. This model has special meaning for
me; Bill was my mentor in Stunt flying, and I
vividly remember when he built and flew the
“Shoe.”
In 1969 Bill and I attended the Nationals in
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and stayed for
the week with Stunt legend Red Rhinehart at
his home in Doylestown. Bill flew the
Shoestring that year, then he gave the model
to me as a practice airplane because I had lost
my only Stunter just before the contest.
I flew the Shoestring until I finished a new
model, then I returned it to Bill, who flew it in
competition on the East Coast for another two
seasons. It was a wonderful model then, and
Bob’s version flew just as well at the contest.
Bob’s Shoestring was powered by an Aero
Products’ AeroTiger .36.
Another different Classic design was Don
Hutchinson’s gorgeous rendition of Lew
McFarland’s Vega. This semiscale design was
featured in the June 1962 American Modeler
magazine. Don’s self-tuned O.S. .40 FPpowered
model was perfectly crafted and
bright in its fictitious yellow Navy-trainer
color scheme.
A not-so-obscure model was Ted
Fancher’s Aldrich Nobler. It is a popular
airplane at the VSC, but Ted’s version is
worthy of special note because it was
exemplary in craftsmanship, color scheme,
and finish. It featured a mint-green paint job
with dark green, red, and black trim.
The Nobler was powered by the new
Merco Rustler engine that is being imported
by RSM Distribution. The package looked
great and flew outstandingly well to finish a
credible third in Classic.
However, Ted’s Nobler was accidentally
run over in his driveway after his return home
from the VSC. I don’t know all of the details
of the tragedy, but I can only hope that Ted
will build another one just like it.
I’ve always thought that it is neat to see
models at the VSC that the original designers
have built and flown. In the past few years
there have been several, and certainly the most
successful has been Bill Werwage. He has
flown three of his original designs to a total of
seven wins in Classic Stunt. He used his
original 1959 Ares to win one VSC crown, his
Vulcan to win four others, and his 1962 Ares
to win the last two. That’s a record that will be
hard to beat!
Bob English flew a stunning version of his
original I-Beam-winged Quasar this year, then
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September 2003 35
he captured the seventh presentation of the
Best I-Beam award, which is sponsored by
Fred Carnes. Bob’s gold Stunter really shows
up in the air!
Gerry Phelps brought his outstanding
Patriot again. Last year was the first outing for
this replica of his two-time world-team model,
and it continues to fly better and better. If
Gerry gets some practice time with this
AeroTiger .36-powered aircraft, he’ll be hard
to beat!
A popular model at the VSC these days is
John Simpson’s original-design Cavalier. Tom
Morris’s Tom’s Building Service kit and
Almost Ready-to-Fly versions of this design
have enabled many to have a great-flying
Classic design in a short amount of bench
time.
John attended this year and flew his own
replica of his sleek Stunter. An AeroTiger .36
did the pulling.
“Wild Bill” Netzeband flew his originaldesign
Gold Brick, and Dee Rice flew his
popular Oriental.
For the last couple of years I’ve attended
this gathering without an airplane with which
to compete, and although I’ve had lots of fun,
I’ve missed flying dearly. This year I
remedied that by building a replica of my
Caprice design from 1967.
In the past I’ve taken advantage of the
opportunity the VSC has presented to pay
tribute to some of my Stunt heroes by building
replicas of their famous models, but this time I
decided to try one of my own Classic-legal
designs.
To give credit where due, the Caprice is
really just a slightly modified version of one
of Gene Schaffer’s original Blackbirds from
the mid-1960s. I had always liked Gene’s
sense of styling, and I simply changed the
wingtip, rudder, and wheel-spat shapes to
suit myself. I flew the Caprice for three
years on the Eastern Senior Stunt circuit,
competing mainly against 1965 Junior
Nationals Champion Dawn Cosmillo. I
didn’t win a lot ...
Gene had come up with a set of moments
and areas and a wing design that produced a
good-flying and aggressive airplane, at least to
my way of thinking. I used those same
moments and airfoils for many years,
culminating in my last 35-size design: the
Genesis. So the Caprice has some history!
Although the original had an O.S. .35S for
power, it is pulled around these days by the
potent AeroTiger .36 and is flown on 63 feet
of .012 solid lines. My plan is to present the
Caprice and Gene’s original Blackbird from
which it was derived in a future Model
Aviation construction article.
The competition-flying results from this
year’s VSC are in an accompanying table. The
special awards are, to me at least, the most
interesting. They are awarded at the banquet
with great fanfare.
This year’s Best Appearing Old Time
model was Roy DeCamara’s version of Floyd
Carter’s original Wildman 60. (See the
construction article in the April 2003 Model
Aviation.) James Ogg walked off with the
Spirit of ’46 trophy for his outstanding Go
Devil Plus.
The Spirit of ’52 trophy went to Jim Kraft
for his beautiful version of J.C. Yates’
Dragon. The Spirit of ’64 award went to Bill
Byles for his flawless Southwick Skylark.
Stan Holcomb captured the coveted George
Aldrich Memorial award.
As I mentioned, Roy DeCamara won the
Classic Concours award, Bob English won the
I-Beam trophy, and Charlie Bruce earned the
Most Unusual model prize. Scott Danford
received recognition as the Most Deserving
Young Modeler, and Gary Akers was
presented the Tom Lay-sponsored Most Fun
award for his dead-stick wind-flying
exhibition.
There are also two more serious awards
given out each year. The Bob Gialdini
Sportsmanship trophy is awarded each year by
vote of those who have received it in the past.
This honor recognizes outstanding
contributions to the sport behind the scenes.
This year’s Gialdini Sportsmanship winner
was Warren Tiahrt for his countless
contributions of time and talent as many-time
director of the Nationals Stunt program and of
the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
F2B Team Selection programs. I can’t think of
a more deserving person.
The most coveted of all of the special
awards at the VSC is the Keeper of the Flame
trophy. It goes to the person who best
personifies the spirit of the event. This year it
went to “Dr. Spark,” Floyd Carter. Floyd, who
is a bit shy, accepted the award with simple
thanks and started to leave the stage. He
stopped and went back to the microphone and
said, “Oh, and by the way, I’m not really a
doctor.”
It was a delight to be present at this year’s
banquet for Riley Wooten’s induction into
AMA’s prestigious Model Aviation Hall of
Fame. Riley is well known for his
involvement in Control Line Combat flying,
but he was also an accomplished Stunt flier.
His Lone Star Models company has supplied
many of us with high-quality balsa for many
years. This was a popular induction, and
congratulations go out to Riley.
John Ashford asked for a few minutes of
“mike” time, and he delivered a short speech
that was the most moving thing I’ve ever
heard at a model-airplane affair.
John told us that he had been diagnosed
with cancer a few years ago and that he was
told he would not survive it. He said he
wanted to experience a VSC before leaving
this orb and went to one that year.
John has come back for several more, I’m
thankful to report, and in his speech he
credited the VSC in specific and the Stunt
family in general for keeping him alive. He’s
planning on making it to many more! I can’t
think of a better note on which to end this
report.
If you want to know more about VSC and
experience the spirit for yourself, please join
the Stunt family next year in March in Tucson.
It’s something you will never forget! MA
Bob Hunt

28 MODEL AVIATION
■ Bob Hunt
A FEW YEARS back I visited my longtime
and dear friends Dave and Marie Rees at
their beautiful home in North Carolina,
where we were shooting a modeling video.
As a surprise, Dave and Marie treated me to
a night out at a concert. The concert, it
turned out, was a performance by the Glen
Miller Orchestra. Dave and Marie had no
way of knowing that I was a big band fan,
and especially a fan of Glen Miller’s music.
What a treat!
The orchestra members are all new
musicians now; none of the originals are left
Tom Luper launches Charlie Reeves’ long-tail Victory in the Old Time Stunt event. Tom
built one just like it, and both aircraft were beautiful.
Bob English’s Quasar won the coveted Best I-Beam
model award that is sponsored by Fred Carnes.
Cholla
Choppers
take the VSC
reigns at
its 15-year
celebration
from the group’s heyday in the late 1930s
and early 1940s. However, the band itself
has not stopped performing since Glen
originally formed it.
Somewhere during the wonderful
performance I heard that evening, the
realization came to me: I was hearing a
living legacy—a direct link to the past—and
the thought sent shivers through me. I could
sense Glen’s spirit that evening, and it was a
feeling I’ll never forget.
This year I got a similar feeling as I
watched the Vintage Stunt Championships
(VSC) change hands from its originators
Mike and JoAnn Keville to the capable
stewardship of the Tucson, Arizona-based
Cholla Choppers club.
Mike and JoAnn started this contest in
1989 while they were living in Southern
California. As I’ve mentioned in previous
VSC coverage articles, Mike wanted to
bring famous model-airplane fliers and
famous Control Line Precision Aerobatics
(Stunt) models to his back yard, and this
seemed like a good idea.
Mike confided in me years later that he
was sure it wouldn’t work! But work it did,
and now, 15 years later, and after a venue
move in 1990 to match a move of the
Keville family to Arizona, the VSC has
become a revered institution, much like
Glen’s famous band.
Last year Mike and JoAnn reluctantly
shared the news that they had decided to
move to Maine to be near family. After
much soul-searching, they decided to pass
the torch of running the VSC to the Cholla
Choppers, confident in every respect that
this group would continue on in the best
September 2003 29
The father-and-son team of Mike (L) and Scott Condon seem to be enjoying VSC.
Mike flew a Wooley-designed Cobra and Scott flew a colorful Gieseke Nobler.
Check out the dragon graphic on John “Doc”
Holliday’s Yates Dragon. It’s powered by the
venerable Fox .35.
The appearance-point judges for the Classic division look at Bob
Whitely’s Shoestring: a Bill Simons design.
Roy DeCamara
showed up with
this gorgeous
Pegasus. Bob
Howard designed
the model in the
1960s and won a
Senior Nationals
crown with it.
Charlie Reeves’ Victory performs steady inverted flight in Old
Time Stunt. It’s powered by a Fox Eagle .60 engine.
Photos by the author and Elwyn Aud Graphic Design by Carla KunzMike Pratt (L) borrowed Ted Fancher’s veteran Mathis Chizzler;
Ted flew his stunning new Nobler in Classic—and OTS!
Perennial VSC winner Jim Lee flew his Ted Snow-designed
Humongous to a win in Ignition OTS. It’s a popular model at VSC.
Roy DeCamara is holding his Concours-award-winning Pegasus.
The finish is close to perfect on this model.
30 MODEL AVIATION
VSC Contest Director Lou Wolgast flew this clean semiscale
Warburton Tony, powered by an O.S. .46 LA, in Classic.
September 2003 31
Appearance-point judging area for the Classic event from above
at the Rodeway Inn motel. There were many gorgeous models!
Don Hutchinson was first to show up at a VSC with Lew
McFarland’s Vega, strikingly finished in fictitious Navy scheme.
Gerry Phelps’s two-time world-team design: the Patriot. It is the
subject of a future MA construction article.
Phil Granderson’s flawless Gialdini-designed Olympic Mk VII
was second in Concours voting. AeroTiger .36 pulls it nicely!
Robert Demkov finished his Firecat in trim scheme that was
originally used on AJ Interceptor 74 glider. Nice job!
Bill Werwage (L) won Classic with 1962 Ares; Bob Hunt was
second with 1967 Caprice. Both had AeroTiger .36 engines.
32 MODEL AVIATION
John Ashford is a big Bob Palmer fan too, and he flies this well-finished version of
Bob’s Hurricane design. The model was kitted by TopFlite.
The old master himself—Bob Palmer (L)—just autographed Bob Brookins’ beautiful
rendition of his Smoothie. Bob Palmer is a legend in the Stunt event.
This was a surprise! Charlie Bruce built a replica of Don Yearout’s 1947 Flying Star and
flew it in Ignition OTS. It won Most Unusual model award.
traditions that this contest has become
known for throughout the world.
This decision was made easier, no doubt,
by the fact that the Choppers had hosted and
helped with the operation of this meet since
the Kevilles made the move to Tucson.
Each year the enthusiastic club members
have brilliantly handled the field
preparations and much of the event staffing.
Mike gave an emotional and deeply
moving speech at the banquet this year,
thanking all who had a hand in making this
contest the living thing it has become in its
first 15 years. It’s fitting that we who have
come to love this gathering take a moment
to thank Mike and JoAnn for their vision,
commitment, hard work, and friendship.
Here’s hoping that they can visit the
VSC often and reap the well-deserved
rewards of gratitude from their adopted
family of Stunt fliers. Hey Mike! Build a
new Old Time Stunt model and fly a bit;
you’ve earned it!
Now we look forward to the next generation
of VSC family gatherings, which was
kicked off this year with VSC XV. It was
contested March 21-23 at Christopher
Columbus Park in Tucson, Arizona.
This was a big one. There were 167
entrants in the three Vintage events: 78 in
Old Time, 10 in Ignition Old Time, and 79
in Classic. I’m not sure if that’s a record,
but it sure felt like a lot!
As in any family, there will be heartache
and grief caused by loss from time to time.
It seems that the CL Stunt family has been
hit especially hard of late in this respect.
The passing in recent years of many Stunt
greats serves to underscore the importance
of these gatherings; as often as possible we
must embrace and acknowledge those who
made this event what it is today because
they will not be with us here forever.
This past year we lost two more great
Charlie with his Flying Star. Note the gun
turret near the back (bottom?) of the star.
He’s having a great time.
Classic Stunt
Place/Name Score
1. Bill Werwage 1118.0
2. Bob Hunt 1106.5
3. Ted Fancher 1106.0
4. Keith Trostle 1077.0
5. Gordan Delaney 1070.5
6. Gerald Phelps 1063.0
7. Robert McDonald 1057.5
8. Phil Granderson 1055.5
9. Dave Sabon 1047.5
10. Bill Byles 1045.0
11. Bob Whitely 1042.5
12. Don McClave 1034.0
13. Lou Wolgast 1033.0
14. Larry Foster 1015.0
15. John Simpson 1011.0
16. Bill Wilson 1007.5
17. Larry Oakley 1006.5
18. LeRoy Black 1002.0
19. Randy Cuberly 995.50
20. Kevin Capitanelli 989.00
21. Jim Hoffman 980.00
22. Mike Pratt 979.50
23. John Wright 965.00
24. Carl Lovins 965.00
25. Warren Tiahrt 954.50
26. Gary Akers 948.50
27. Peter Peterson 939.00
28. Roy DeCamara 936.00
29. Joe Bowman 935.00
30. Bob English 932.00
31. Mike Condon 932.00
32. Don Hutchinson 931.00
33. Bob Brooks 931.00
34. Dale Gleason 917.50
35. Bud Burroughs 912.00
36. Scott Condon 899.50
37. Marvin Denny 889.50
38. Jim Goss 879.00
39. John Ashford 878.00
40. Chris Brainard 860.00
41. Glen Allison 859.00
42. Jerry Chambers 851.00
43. Mark Smith 837.00
44. Mark Gerber 831.00
45. Bill Netzeband 821.50
46. Eric Rule 818.00
47. John Callentine 815.50
48. Tom Chambers 799.50
49. David Ek 771.00
50. Bick Brannen 770.50
51. Al Shorey 748.50
52. John (Doc) Holliday 723.50
53. James Kraft 711.00
54. Richard Oliver 691.50
55. Dick Wolsey 687.00
56. Josh Condon 686.50
57. Mike Danford 665.50
58. Jim Tichy 589.50
59. Dee Rice 457.50
60. Lew Woolard 443.00
61. Arlie Prezler 432.50
62. Bill Ledden 431.50
63. Nick Trifilio 424.50
64. Nick Lemak 417.50
65. Lou Crane 336.50
66. Gerald Arana 329.00
67. Stan Haugarth 319.50
68. Pete Moskel 300.50
69. Shayne Craven 121.50
70. Robert Brookins 88.000
71. Rusty Brown
72. Floyd Layton
73. Dennis Ford
74. Robin Sizemore
75. Tyrone Marcucci
76. Jim Renkar
77. Dan Gates
78. Percy Attfield
79. Jerry Silver
Old Time Ignition
Place/Name Score
1. Jim Lee 274.50
2. Roy DeCamara 263.75
3. Don Hutchinson 260.50
4. Floyd Carter 253.05
5. James Ogg 226.80
6. Bill Netzeband 226.75
7. Lou Crane 210.25
8. Lew Woolard 79.250
9. Ed Kunaschk 77.750
10. Charlie Bruce 42.500
Old Time Stunt
Place/Name Score
1. Bart Klapinski 564.5
2. John Wright 562.0
3. Larry Foster 558.5
4. Keith Trostle 545.5
5. Robin Sizemore 538.5
6. Jim Hoffman 535.0
7. Bob Whitely 530.0
8. Charles Reeves 521.0
9. Lou Wolgast 519.5
10. Jim Lee 517.0
11. Bob Emmett 512.0
12. Bill Byles 506.0
13. Dee Rice 503.5
14. Ted Fancher 503.0
15. Dick Byron 494.5
16. Marvin Denny 493.0
17. Dennis Choate 488.0
18. Chris Brainard 482.0
19. Mike Ostella 481.5
20. Robert Lipscomb 480.0
21. Larry Scarinzi 472.5
22. Josh Condon 469.5
23. René Berger 465.0
24. Dale Gleason 465.0
25. Tom Luper 463.5
26. Rusty Brown 458.0
27. James Kraft 455.5
28. Bud Burroughs 452.5
29. Mike Pratt 452.0
30. Roy DeCamara 451.5
31. Jim Thomerson 437.0
32. Bill Netzeband 436.0
33. Jim Goss 425.5
34. Lew Woolard 424.0
35. Gene Hempel 417.5
36. Nick Lemak 410.5
37. Stan Haugarth 408.5
38. Glen Allison 408.5
39. Jerry Chambers 402.5
40. Eric Rule 399.5
41. Gaylord Elling 394.5
42. Thom Ryan 378.0
43. Floyd Carter 373.5
44. Bick Brannen 327.0
45. Jim Rhoades 320.0
46. Bill Ledden 306.0
47. Robert Brookins 305.5
48. John (Doc) Holliday 302.0
49. James Ogg 302.0
50. Tom Chambers 296.5
51. David Ek 283.5
52. Lou Crane 253.5
53. Scott Condon 239.5
54. De Hill 220.0
55. Gerald Arana 196.5
56. Tyrone Marcucci 184.0
57. Jerry Neafus 182.5
58. Gerald Chaney 179.5
59. Dennis Coleman 178.0
60. Vic Carpenter 177.0
61. Ed Capitanelli 156.5
62. Richard Kirk 151.5
63. Charlie Bruce 123.0
64. Gerald Boyd 117.5
65. Scott Danford 85.50
66. Frank Martin 73.50
67. Riley Wooten
68. Bruce Duncan
69. James Mears
70. Carl Lovins
71. Bill Dahlgren
72. Phillip Dunlap
73. Jerry Price
74. Pete Steinmeyer
75. Jerry Silver
76. Dale Marlin
77. Dick Wolsey
78. Floyd Layton
September 2003 33
34 MODEL AVIATION
spirits in the sport of Stunt, with the passing
of J.C. “Madman” Yates and Ed Southwick.
J.C. was perhaps most well known for his
Madman and Dragon Stunt designs. He is
generally credited with bringing the modern
look to Stunt-model design. His Madman
was years ahead of anything else on the
scene in aesthetics and craftsmanship and
finish when it was debuted at the 1947
Nationals.
A more complete piece about J.C. Yates’
many contributions and achievements was
written by Charles Mackey and published in
Curt Contrata’s Control Line Aerobatics
column in the February 2003 Model
Aviation. Consider it required reading if you
have an interest in Stunt’s history.
In fitting tribute to J.C., Bart Klapinski
flew Don Hutchinson’s fabulous replica of
J.C.’s Madman in the Old Time Stunt (OTS)
event this year. The model was built before
the first VSC in 1989, and it is still in great
shape. The pair won the OTS event,
underscoring that it, and Bart, still fly well!
At the banquet, Bart presented the first-place
trophy to Don in appreciation. I think J.C.
would have liked that.
Perhaps a more acutely felt loss was the
untimely passing of Ed and Helen
Southwick, who both died in an automobile
collision this past year. Ed and Helen had
become fixtures at these events, and their
absence left a void that can never be filled.
We will miss them terribly.
This loss hit Bill Byles especially hard
since Ed and Helen were among his closest
friends. Ed was Bill’s flying buddy, and it
was evident that there was a close bond
between them. In tribute to his missing
friend, Bill flew a memorial flight between
rounds of Classic on Sunday. Before the
flight, the entire VSC family lined up to take
turns holding the handle that was attached to
one of Ed’s legendary Skylark models. It was
a dramatic and touching moment.
J.C., Ed, and Helen are now among the
spirits whose presences are felt when
attending a VSC.
Giving a flight-by-flight description of the
VSC here is impossible; there’s too much
happening at the contest to cover it all in any
sort of detail. What I will do is pass on some
impressions and tell you about some of the
neat things I experienced and witnessed.
For me, the VSC has been about the
people and the airplanes; competition is an
important element, but it’s secondary in my
mind. Early in the VSC saga, it was fairly
easy to be the first to show up with an obscure
OTS or Classic Stunt design. It is becoming a
real research project to come up with
something to bring that will surprise everyone.
The big winner this year in that category
was Charlie Bruce, who showed up with a
beautiful version of Don Yearout’s 1947
Flying Star for the Ignition OTS event. This
model’s planform is a five-pointed star. For
his efforts, Charlie captured the coveted Most
Unusual model trophy.
Another unique airplane that had not been
brought to a VSC until this year was Bob
Howard’s Senior Stunt Nationals-winning
Pegasus. This high-aspect-ratio Stunter
features a stylish swept-back fin. It was on
many lists of “someday”s, but Roy DeCamara
beat us all to the punch with his outstanding
model.
Roy’s replica Pegasus is about as perfectly
finished a model as I have seen at any VSC,
and it captured the prestigious Classic
Concours trophy, which the fliers vote on. To
be recognized as the best by your peers is by
far the most satisfying reward of all.
Another model that many of us have on
our “must-build” lists for VSC is Bill Simon’s
Shoestring. Bob Whitely scooped us all with
his gorgeous rendition of Bill’s famous
design. This model has special meaning for
me; Bill was my mentor in Stunt flying, and I
vividly remember when he built and flew the
“Shoe.”
In 1969 Bill and I attended the Nationals in
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and stayed for
the week with Stunt legend Red Rhinehart at
his home in Doylestown. Bill flew the
Shoestring that year, then he gave the model
to me as a practice airplane because I had lost
my only Stunter just before the contest.
I flew the Shoestring until I finished a new
model, then I returned it to Bill, who flew it in
competition on the East Coast for another two
seasons. It was a wonderful model then, and
Bob’s version flew just as well at the contest.
Bob’s Shoestring was powered by an Aero
Products’ AeroTiger .36.
Another different Classic design was Don
Hutchinson’s gorgeous rendition of Lew
McFarland’s Vega. This semiscale design was
featured in the June 1962 American Modeler
magazine. Don’s self-tuned O.S. .40 FPpowered
model was perfectly crafted and
bright in its fictitious yellow Navy-trainer
color scheme.
A not-so-obscure model was Ted
Fancher’s Aldrich Nobler. It is a popular
airplane at the VSC, but Ted’s version is
worthy of special note because it was
exemplary in craftsmanship, color scheme,
and finish. It featured a mint-green paint job
with dark green, red, and black trim.
The Nobler was powered by the new
Merco Rustler engine that is being imported
by RSM Distribution. The package looked
great and flew outstandingly well to finish a
credible third in Classic.
However, Ted’s Nobler was accidentally
run over in his driveway after his return home
from the VSC. I don’t know all of the details
of the tragedy, but I can only hope that Ted
will build another one just like it.
I’ve always thought that it is neat to see
models at the VSC that the original designers
have built and flown. In the past few years
there have been several, and certainly the most
successful has been Bill Werwage. He has
flown three of his original designs to a total of
seven wins in Classic Stunt. He used his
original 1959 Ares to win one VSC crown, his
Vulcan to win four others, and his 1962 Ares
to win the last two. That’s a record that will be
hard to beat!
Bob English flew a stunning version of his
original I-Beam-winged Quasar this year, then
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September 2003 35
he captured the seventh presentation of the
Best I-Beam award, which is sponsored by
Fred Carnes. Bob’s gold Stunter really shows
up in the air!
Gerry Phelps brought his outstanding
Patriot again. Last year was the first outing for
this replica of his two-time world-team model,
and it continues to fly better and better. If
Gerry gets some practice time with this
AeroTiger .36-powered aircraft, he’ll be hard
to beat!
A popular model at the VSC these days is
John Simpson’s original-design Cavalier. Tom
Morris’s Tom’s Building Service kit and
Almost Ready-to-Fly versions of this design
have enabled many to have a great-flying
Classic design in a short amount of bench
time.
John attended this year and flew his own
replica of his sleek Stunter. An AeroTiger .36
did the pulling.
“Wild Bill” Netzeband flew his originaldesign
Gold Brick, and Dee Rice flew his
popular Oriental.
For the last couple of years I’ve attended
this gathering without an airplane with which
to compete, and although I’ve had lots of fun,
I’ve missed flying dearly. This year I
remedied that by building a replica of my
Caprice design from 1967.
In the past I’ve taken advantage of the
opportunity the VSC has presented to pay
tribute to some of my Stunt heroes by building
replicas of their famous models, but this time I
decided to try one of my own Classic-legal
designs.
To give credit where due, the Caprice is
really just a slightly modified version of one
of Gene Schaffer’s original Blackbirds from
the mid-1960s. I had always liked Gene’s
sense of styling, and I simply changed the
wingtip, rudder, and wheel-spat shapes to
suit myself. I flew the Caprice for three
years on the Eastern Senior Stunt circuit,
competing mainly against 1965 Junior
Nationals Champion Dawn Cosmillo. I
didn’t win a lot ...
Gene had come up with a set of moments
and areas and a wing design that produced a
good-flying and aggressive airplane, at least to
my way of thinking. I used those same
moments and airfoils for many years,
culminating in my last 35-size design: the
Genesis. So the Caprice has some history!
Although the original had an O.S. .35S for
power, it is pulled around these days by the
potent AeroTiger .36 and is flown on 63 feet
of .012 solid lines. My plan is to present the
Caprice and Gene’s original Blackbird from
which it was derived in a future Model
Aviation construction article.
The competition-flying results from this
year’s VSC are in an accompanying table. The
special awards are, to me at least, the most
interesting. They are awarded at the banquet
with great fanfare.
This year’s Best Appearing Old Time
model was Roy DeCamara’s version of Floyd
Carter’s original Wildman 60. (See the
construction article in the April 2003 Model
Aviation.) James Ogg walked off with the
Spirit of ’46 trophy for his outstanding Go
Devil Plus.
The Spirit of ’52 trophy went to Jim Kraft
for his beautiful version of J.C. Yates’
Dragon. The Spirit of ’64 award went to Bill
Byles for his flawless Southwick Skylark.
Stan Holcomb captured the coveted George
Aldrich Memorial award.
As I mentioned, Roy DeCamara won the
Classic Concours award, Bob English won the
I-Beam trophy, and Charlie Bruce earned the
Most Unusual model prize. Scott Danford
received recognition as the Most Deserving
Young Modeler, and Gary Akers was
presented the Tom Lay-sponsored Most Fun
award for his dead-stick wind-flying
exhibition.
There are also two more serious awards
given out each year. The Bob Gialdini
Sportsmanship trophy is awarded each year by
vote of those who have received it in the past.
This honor recognizes outstanding
contributions to the sport behind the scenes.
This year’s Gialdini Sportsmanship winner
was Warren Tiahrt for his countless
contributions of time and talent as many-time
director of the Nationals Stunt program and of
the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
F2B Team Selection programs. I can’t think of
a more deserving person.
The most coveted of all of the special
awards at the VSC is the Keeper of the Flame
trophy. It goes to the person who best
personifies the spirit of the event. This year it
went to “Dr. Spark,” Floyd Carter. Floyd, who
is a bit shy, accepted the award with simple
thanks and started to leave the stage. He
stopped and went back to the microphone and
said, “Oh, and by the way, I’m not really a
doctor.”
It was a delight to be present at this year’s
banquet for Riley Wooten’s induction into
AMA’s prestigious Model Aviation Hall of
Fame. Riley is well known for his
involvement in Control Line Combat flying,
but he was also an accomplished Stunt flier.
His Lone Star Models company has supplied
many of us with high-quality balsa for many
years. This was a popular induction, and
congratulations go out to Riley.
John Ashford asked for a few minutes of
“mike” time, and he delivered a short speech
that was the most moving thing I’ve ever
heard at a model-airplane affair.
John told us that he had been diagnosed
with cancer a few years ago and that he was
told he would not survive it. He said he
wanted to experience a VSC before leaving
this orb and went to one that year.
John has come back for several more, I’m
thankful to report, and in his speech he
credited the VSC in specific and the Stunt
family in general for keeping him alive. He’s
planning on making it to many more! I can’t
think of a better note on which to end this
report.
If you want to know more about VSC and
experience the spirit for yourself, please join
the Stunt family next year in March in Tucson.
It’s something you will never forget! MA
Bob Hunt