FREE FLIGHT OLD-TIMERS
Bill Baker, 1902 Peter Pan, Norman OK 73072
Obituary: Ken Sykora
I don't usually do obituaries in this column, but it is my sad duty to report the passing of Ken Sykora, who was the owner and operator of Old Timer Model Supply. His friends filled orders until the business was transferred to Al Heinrich. Al also owns Aerodyne Models, R/N Models, and Schlueter Models; his business address is 1924 Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 92705. The good news is the baton has been passed, and the valuable items available only from cottage industry will continue.
Thanks to Mike Myers for this information, and also for sending me volumes two and three of Flying Aces magazine. The columns are paperbound, about 190 pages each. They are reprints of Flying Aces construction articles, and the intent is to republish all of the construction articles in five volumes.
Flying Aces reprints
The original magazine was published from the early 1930s to the early 1940s—the period generally meant by Old-Timer models—and many of the designs of gas, rubber, scale (and solid) models are still of interest to the Old-Timer model flier of today. Of course there is the flavor of the times with selected old ads and the immortal Phineas Pinkham fiction.
This republication project is the work of David Baker—the sparkplug of the Old-Timer movement in England. The intent is to use the funds generated by the sale of the books toward the purchase of a permanent model-flying site in England.
Where to buy
The books are available via Old Timer Model Supply (at the new address) or from Hannan's Runway at $19.95 each plus postage. Postage on the two volumes Mike sent me was $3 for both, Priority Mail.
- Old Timer Model Supply (now handled by Al Heinrich): 1924 Edinger, Santa Ana, CA 92705
- Hannan's Runway: Box 210, Magalia, CA 95954
I don't think David Baker is any kin to me. I suspect my ancestors were debtors' prison releases; he had jobs.
Personal notes and photos
Twenty years ago Mitch Poling and his wife Sandra came to Norman, OK (where I live) because Mitch had a research-grant-type job at the University of Oklahoma. Mitch was then in the pioneer years of flying models with electric motors. We flew a lot of RC gliders and electrics together, and some indoor free flight. Before he left town he became the electric model columnist for Model Builder, and so he is known by many modelers for that.
Twenty years later, I got to go flying again with Mitch and Sandra, and meet their children, Andrew and Victoria. I am using the photo of Victoria and myself because of the delighted expression on her face as I offer my transmitter to let her fly one of my slope soarers (after I got it "two mistakes high").
We tend to forget how much delight it can bring to others of any age to share our flying activities, regardless of what sort of activity it is. One phenomenon, new to me, is the retired person who is a rank beginner to model flying. We tend to think of young people like Victoria, but there are lots of older folks looking for something creative, who would like to be invited to participate. Look at Victoria's face, and feel inspired to include someone you know in doing what you do.
Notes on Zipper photos and vintage engines
The point of interest in the photo of the front end of a Zipper is the homemade engine mounts, made by gluing some hardwood engine-mount stock to two sides of a triangle of plywood. The mount is bolted to the firewall through the vertical hardwood piece. I have copied this style mount several times. It looks properly old when varnished, is strong, and especially looks keen if a few brass screws are added for show. With aluminum paint, they would resemble those old stamped aluminum mounts.
Note the rubber hooks that retain the engine, and its ignition system, which is attached on a sort of rail that passes down the fuselage to a suitable keyed slot in the aft end of the central fuselage area.
Also of interest is the 12 x 6 prop on that .29! Modern folk seldom know what big props the old engines used. I often used 11-inch props on Ohlsson .23s; .19s used mostly 10 inches; for a .60, maybe 14 inches (or even larger).
- Typical old-engine prop examples:
- .19 engines → ~10" prop
- .23 engines → ~11" prop
- .29 engines → 12" x 6"
- .60 engines → ~14" or larger
The old engines were not high in rpm; they were mostly long-stroke designs and had a lot of torque. If you convert a modern glow engine to ignition, do not automatically use a larger-than-normal prop, as the engines still develop power efficiently at the design rpm. In other words, use the same size propeller you would for glow.
Many Old-Timer fliers would not bother with the ignition tray style anymore, because they no longer need easy or frequent access to batteries. With Ni-Cd batteries, you can glue them in somewhere, and if the model lasts for several years and the battery needs replacement, it is minor surgery and can be done on an outpatient basis.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
