Bob Hunt

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.

FOR THOSe of us who grew up building
and flying model airplanes, the term “hobby”
has been the norm for labeling what we do
when we explain our passion to others.
“My hobby is model airplanes.” We’ve
been using this expression for so long, it
may have never occurred to us that by
today’s standards, the term “hobby” may
have a completely different meaning to
those who are younger and to those who
have never been model-airplane enthusiasts.
We may be doing ourselves a disservice.
I received a letter from John Brodak,
addressing the above with great concern. In
the interest of saving space, I’ll direct you to
Frank McMillan’s “Control Line Aerobatics”
column in this issue; John also sent Frank a
copy. Go ahead and read it; I’ll wait.
I’m pretty much in agreement with John’s
views on this subject. The actual usage of our
models—flying them—is indeed a sport.
Building them is still a hobby. Each term is
correct for the particular activity.
You could substitute “craft” for
“hobby,” but the reality is still a big part of
the whole, which cannot technically be
considered a “sport.”
John’s perspective is that of a Control
Line enthusiast, but his comments open a
much larger door; behind that door are many
different opinions on the subject, relating to
each aspect and discipline of our pastime.