Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
ANNIVERSARY TIME. Another column, but it marks the beginning of my ninth year as a columnist for Model Aviation. I have been with the magazine since the first issue came out in 1975. In those early days, the magazine had only about 80 pages, and the only parts in color were the covers. In truth, Model Aviation couldn't begin to compare with a couple of the other model magazines back then. Old pro Bill Winter (who was then the editor) knew all there was to know about putting out a quality magazine-but many of us had to learn. I was talking to Associate Editor Ross McMullen the other day and told him how delighted I, as a reader, was with the job that the people in the front office (like he and Publisher/Editor Carl Wheeley and Art Director Herb Silbermann) (Editor's note: Let's not forget Andrea Peterson and Johnnie Shipley!) had done in turning Model Aviation into a quality magazine. I'm proud of Model Aviation and if you feel the same way, let those talented, hard-workers in the editorial office hear about it.
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
THOSE of us who have been in RC for a long time often remember our early days in the hobby with nostalgia. Even the things that were frustrating back then can now be recalled with a smile. I was daydreaming one day about my start in RC and realized that many newcomers have no idea of what we went through 20 or so years ago. In that context, I put together a list of topics related to early RC. You're getting old if: 1. You remember when the Arden glow plug first came out. 2. You know what an escapement was (especially if you used one!). 3. You remember why you plugged the venturi of your engine. 4. Your first radio system had vacuum tubes in either the transmitter or receiver. 5. You know what banana oil was used for. 6. You ever bought 1/16 × 3 × 36 balsa sheets for 22¢ each or less. 7. You remember when the nickel-cadmium battery was introduced to RC. 8. You know what the "TD" in TD .049 stands for. 9. Your first airplane was a deBolt Kitten or Trainer. 10. You remember the names of some of the airplanes that Ed Kazmirski and Tom Brett designed. Well, how did you do? An affirmative response to seven or more items means that you're a Certified Old-Timer!
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
SNOWED UNDER! My column in the May 1983 issue had a request for information on the Flat Top Stormer. It precipitated an avalanche of information about Doug Spreng and both versions of the Stormer. Gene Mathis (Daphne, AL) sent a fat envelope stuffed with data and pictures. Nick Zelinka (Coral Gables, FL) sent an even thicker manila envelope with pictures, plans, and a copy of the magazine which contained the original article. I also got letters from all over, including ones from Maurice Franklin (Oceanside, CA) containing recent pictures of Doug Spreng with a Flat Top Stormer and from Al Strickland (Lake Havasu City, AZ), who sent Doug's current address (163 Opossum Dr., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403).
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
CONSTRUCTION TIPS. This has been a heavy building period for me, and a few building suggestions came out of my experiences which should be of general interest. The first resulted from a construction project involving a Quickie 500 Sport Racing event which members of my club started. We decided that it would be a good idea to require a steerable tail wheel on all airplanes to improve ground handling safety. Unfortunately, my airplane (Radio Models Spickler Quickie 500) doesn't feature a tail wheel. In fact, installation of a tail wheel on an otherwise unmodified airplane would have resulted in the tail wheel axis passing through the horizontal tail on the way to the rudder.
Radio Control: Sport/Aerobatics
STORMER TIME, again. A garbled version of what I wrote about the magazine articles and plans related to the Stormer and Flat Top Stormer was published in the August issue. Here's what should have appeared: The article for the original Stormer was published in the April 1961 American Modeler magazine and plans were available from Hobby Helpers on Group Plan 461. The Flat Top Stormer article was published in the May 1962 American Modeler magazine; plans were also available from Hobby Helpers on Group Plan 562. I hope that this clarifies any confusion.
