Free Flight: Old-Timers
Clarence Haught
NO CONTROVERSIES WANTED: In our December column I mentioned my concern over certain designs dominating the Antique events in Old Timer Competition. I suggested that rule change proposals be sent to Gene Wallock. Although it is not the intent of this column to reproduce letters, Gene asked that I print his thoughts. For those of you who do not know Gene, I would mention that he is a dedicated mainstay in the Old Timer movement. His many contributions to the hobby include the production of a fine line of semi kits, as well as unselfish volunteering of time and resources to further the Society of Antique Modelers and Old Timer events.
"Dear Clarence: After reading your column in Model Aviation, I almost cut my hand off trying to cut out parts.
"In the last year and a half we've had tons of verbage on the 'Great Engine Controversy,' and now you've launched a new one: the 'Let's Eliminate The Performance Models.' Undoubtedly, other publications will pick this up and we'll have another black eye for SAM. Seeing as you printed my name and address for all the world to see, please be kind enough to print this letter in your next column, starting with 'Dear Clarence.'
"To start with, models don't win contests — modelers do. The modeler builds the models, trims them, enters them, picks the air and launches them. Then, if the modeler has done his homework, he will probably end up in the winners' circle because his creations, the models, have performed as he planned.
"A contestant is competing against another contestant. If his competitor is better, does it make sense to penalize the competitor, or does it make sense for the contestant who isn't in the winners' circle to get off his dead end and start getting his own act together to become competitive? If any modeler (old timer or modern) is so spineless that he'd rather legislate his ability to win, rather than improve his own performance, he should get out of the hobby.
"An individual who wishes to compete in a contest is a darn fool if he doesn't put himself in a competitive posture before he competes. An individual who wishes to sport fly has unlimited opportunities. He doesn't compete with anyone. He may build and fly what and when he chooses, and more power to him.
"My excitement in competition is trying to beat the best flier and the field, not his model. Undoubtedly, I'll be getting letters proposing the elimination of various models in various events and I'll treat them all objectively — I will not consider them valid proposals.
"You made mention that Antique should be for Classic and Parasols. Per Section 1 of the SAM Rules, Paragraph 2 C, a Parasol would be considered a Pylon Model because it doesn't have a cabin enclosure similar to that of a full-scale aircraft. I know a Parasol isn't a Pylon model, and so do you, but that's where they compete in Old Timer, so they end up non-competitive in 30-Second Antique. They're very competitive in Fuel Allotment Fields, but, if it's Free Flight, you have a model for a contest that might be held once or twice a year. They become a lousy investment for a competitor, but a lot of fun for a sport flier.
"In conclusion, let the competitors compete to the best of their ability, and let the sport fliers do their thing, on their schedule. The modelers have a choice, let them make it for themselves. Thermals, Gene Wallock.
P.S. Bill Daniels sponsored an Ohlsson 23 Cabin Model-only contest in 1976. I won the event (prize — brand-new Cameron .23), and promptly offered the same prize for the contest in 1977. I won it again. In 1978 the contest will be held in October at Lake Elsinore for the same prize. The contest is open to anyone with an Ohlsson- or Cameron .23-powered cabin model, hand-launched 25-second engine run, 5-minute MAX (3-flights). Maybe in 1978 we'll have more than 7 entries.
Old-Timer Event of the Month:
OLD RULERS
At least in the crowds I travel in I don't hear many complaints about old-timer activity. When I do hear one it's usually the reluctance to build another person's design. This attitude, of course, has been a tremendous asset to free flight over the years.
The founders of SAM had a marvellous idea as expressed in the preamble, but they also had a great insight in the creation of a special event for those people who just have to design their own.
Basically, the event is for original designs built to 1941 AMA rules. This means that the fuselage must have a minimum cross sectional area equal to the fuselage length times 2, divided by 100; have a wing loading of 8 oz./sq. ft., and a power loading of 80 oz./cu. in. of engine displacement. Some contest directors will let Old Rulers fly in the regular categories, others only allow Old Rulers to fly in special events. At any rate, this event does allow that creative urge to prevail.
Most of us couldn't build all the models on our construction list if we live to be 100 years old. But to each his own.
Odds and Ends: After reading the idea of joining your booster batteries with plastic six-pack beverage binders, Don Jenkins of Indianapolis, sent an actual example of his solution to the problem. Don solders two pork and bean cans and one soup can together in a triangle fashion. To this is soldered a wire carrying handle. Just drop a booster in each pork and bean can, and your fuel and spare prop, etc., into the soup can, and head for the launch area.
Clarence Haught, Rt. 5, Box 16, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
