Flying for Fun
Art and Technology: When reflecting on the evolution of designing, building, and flying model aircraft, it is difficult to separate the continuous changes in sizes and types of models built from the development of new technical devices for them. In a recent column I mentioned that throughout aviation history, the development of power plants has lead to development of new full-scale aircraft. The same "technology followed by suitable aircraft designs" phenomena applies to model aircraft. There is an interrelation between art and technology in aeromodeling. If you doubt that, take a trip back in time through old model magazines. It used to be extremely difficult to tow a model glider in a straight line; it would invariably wander off to one side or the other, and nothing could be done but release the towline. Then a simple device called "auto rudder" came along.
Flying for Fun
Bill Winter: With the passing of my guru, it would seem logical for me to write a eulogy to Bill. Fortunately, I did that before his death-in my April 1998 column. Isn't it a joy to "send flowers to the living"? One of my most-treasured mementos is framed and hangs above this word-processor. It's a letter from Bill Winter dated 12/6/94 in which he reflects on his encouragement of Cal Smith, H.A. Thomas, Paul Plecan, and "perhaps dozens or even hundreds of others." The letter ends with, "Doc, you run with the baton for awhile." That "baton" is far too large for any person, and most certainly for someone as weak as I. The challenge is for each of you to help carry on Bill Winter's baton. Share the fun of creating and flying model airplanes with others. A Problem: Last month we took a quick look at modelers and modeling during WW II. A recent column in another magazine is notable because it ties in with those remembrances.
Flying for Fun
The Way It Was: Tom Brokaw's best-selling book The Greatest Generation has created interest in lives of civilians during WW II. I thought it might be fun for the readers to share a little of modeling and modelers in that same time period. Building model airplanes during WW II was extremely challenging and fraught with frustrations. Only the most obsessed, who were driven by nearly impossible dreams, found any reason to pursue the activity. I know, because I was born in 1932, and only by a stroke of good fortune did I have enough success building model airplanes to become addicted. For Christmas 1942, my mother somehow located a prewar Comet AYA (Air Youth of America) beginner set: a large box containing five models, ranging from a simple hand-launch glider to a stick-and-tissue rubber-power Phantom. The concept was step-by-step progression in complexity to acquire building skills.
Flying for Fun
Let's discuss a part of construction that is a common source of trouble for newcomers, and sometimes for more-experienced builders. Hinging the movable surfaces of Radio Control (RC) models is not too difficult anymore, but many models are seen with huge spaces between the halves (gap), surfaces that bind when moved, surfaces that are not level, and worst of all, surfaces that are inadequately adhered to the model. These hinging problems are not limited to homebuilt models, but are frequently found on the acronym (ARF [Almost-Ready-to-Fly], RTF [Ready-to-Fly], RTC [Ready-to-Cover], ARTC [Almost-Ready-to-Cover], etc.) group of factory-built models. Occasionally the hinge installations are so poor that it's necessary to cut off the hinges and redo them.
Flying for Fun
SAMENESS: Throughout the long history of model airplane building and flying, there has been a tendency for modelers to construct look-alikes. This used to be the result of a design doing well in competition and everyone jumping on its bandwagon. Lately it seems that what you see at the flying fields are cookie-cutter examples of what is available in kit form. Plan-built models are becoming more and more rare, while self-designs are almost unheard of. Some modelers avoid this "sameness" trend by changing the appearance of kit designs, and my hat goes off to them. This "kit-bashing" was illustrated in an article called "Just Imagine" in the June 1993 Model Aviation.
