Control Line: Speed
RULES UPDATE: It appears from the results of the first round of voting on the Speed proposals that not enough of you wrote to your district Control Line Contest Board members and expressed your thoughts. This round of voting only proves that Speed is set up for the professional modeler with lots and lots of dollars. From my past experience with Speed, you need machine shop capability-or access to one-to fly Speed. Let's face reality: Nobody wants to give up his pet event for fear of losing the only accomplishment in his entire life span! As my law professor told me one day as I tried to stay awake: "Only a fool lives in the past, for he fears the future." Well, so much for the philosophizing.
Control Line: Speed
I HAVE FOUND from past experience that individuals like to criticize how and what another person does-but never offer any help to solve the problems. This Speed column is for your reading, and I need your help in trying to make it informative and enjoyable. I enlist information from all aspects of the hobby. There are ideas hiding in your workshop just waiting to be mailed here so that they can be enjoyed by others. New products: New modelers' table allows you to stand in an upright position while working on your model; also, the handy stool can be used a lot of ways-which include sitting on it. I had the opportunity to meet Jerry Bailey at the flying field, and he was showing me his new product. The table's top is constructed from Luan mahogany. The legs are of Douglas fir, and hardware is 1/4-28 steel bolts with locking nuts.
Gathering
A full-scale B-17, thrilled spectators with a flyby at the fifth annual B-17 Gathering at Bomber Field in Monoville, Texas. The event was held September 17-19, 1993. Where else could a modeler see five B-17 models flying in formation? A crowd of thousands and a host of manufacturers witnessed the events that made up this three-day extravaganza. There were 175 pilots with more than 275 models who participated in the 1993 B-17 Gathering. There were bombers from all parts of the United States and Canada.
The Big Bird Fly in Texas
WHERE ELSE could a modeler see five B-17 models flying in formation? The Bomber Field organization did an outstanding job of promoting its fourth annual Big Bird Fly-In. From September 18 to September 20, 1992, B-17s from Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, and all parts of Texas converged at Bomber Field in Monaville, Texas. The 150 pilots from 10 different states entered approximately 225 aircraft.
Control Line: Speed
DAVID BREWIN of England is the author of this month's column. He reports on the Speed event at the 1989 European Control Line Championships held at Wigan, England on July 28-30. The national teams of the European nations gather at the end of July on every second year to determine a new European champion in each of the FAI Control Line classes: F2A/B/C/D. These championships are held on odd years and are interleaved with the CL World Championships. Whilst naturally being of no less importance to the competitors, the Euro Champs do tend to have a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, if only because the smaller entry permits less stringent flying schedules and more time for furthering international friendships.
