Radio Control: Old-Timers
OLD-TIMER of the month. While the Mercury IV is not an Old-Timer by SAM definition, it certainly exemplifies the "looks like a real airplane" school of Free Flight design. Bob Wischer describes the photo model as "the most beautiful plane at Old Warden in 1978." The English chapter of SAM (SAME, get it?) has a broader era-base to encourage its members to build and fly these beautiful examples of the model designer's art. Our own magazines of the post-1942 era are replete with equally appealing models, one of which we plan to feature in our next column. Since Old Warden is a social event as opposed to a contest, lovely works such as the Mercury IV can be flown in a low-key setting-to the very considerable delight of those present. Our flight photo illustrates this phenomenon rather well. Old Warden is more oriented to "OHHs and AHHs" than to "Gotcha!"
Radio Control: Old-Timers
I LOVE A MYSTERY. Our July '81 column featured a three-view and photos of Harold Carlson's Berkeley Cavalier. Bill Effinger had mentioned in a letter that Carlson had "won" Texaco at the 1938 Nationals, only to end up second to a last-minute "mystery" flight. To quote Effinger's letter of June 4, 1980: ". . . at the last minute after everyone had left the field, a mystery plane beat him out. No witnesses, no idea of what the plane looked like, but Carlson had to be satisfied with second place." Those comments set us off on a search to try to determine who that winner was, and what he had flown. We wrote many of the still-living participants in that Nationals of 43 years ago, checked through our magazine collection, inquired if anything was in the AMA Archives (what archives?), and pursured several promising leads, all to no avail. All efforts to solve the mystery were fruitless.
Quick and Easy Radial Cowls
SCRATCH-BUILDERS often reject a potential Scale subject solely because the engine cowling seems beyond their building skills. This is particularly true of those prototypes with exposed radial engines. We, like you, have a long list of Scale subjects we would love to scratch-build, since no kits are available for them. Invariably in the past, the complexity of carving a cowling from a balsa block-coupled with the frequently substandard appearance of dummy cylinders-discouraged us from any real efforts in constructing those dream ships.
Radio Control: Old-Timers
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE? Danny Sheelds (Mr. Personality of the Old-Timer movement) has done it again! Given to calling folks after midnight to save on phone rates, the affable radio and TV personality has somehow acquired the original prototype of the Avion Oriole. Not content to relegate this extraordinary piece of model aviation history to the display shelf, Danny is in the process of restoring it competely, powering it with an equally rare Avion Mercury, and flying it for all the world to see at the SAM Champs, 1982! If any reader happens to have one 6-in. M&M airwheel they would like to see become part of this rather historic restoration, please contact Danny at 3 Cinnamon Circle, Apt. 1-C, Randallstown, MD 21133.
Radio Control: Old-Timer
FOR ENJOYMENT ONLY! We chose to feature Joe Weathers' Winged Victory and the Fred Campos story this month as a way to lead into what we see as a rather alarming trend in Old-Timer modeling. We seem to be splitting into two groups: those who enjoy competition and those who don't. We fail to understand why this rather natural difference should be the source of unhappiness within the Old-Timer movement. We would suggest that there is plenty of room for everyone; that understanding and good will should prevail; and that the whole concept is predicated on having fun!
