The Haught Corner
Column, as we see 'em: The lack of a CL Aerobatics column in the March issue and the on-again, off-again appearance of the RC Soaring column has generated quite a bit of communication.
We have received letters, phone calls, faxes, Internet and CompuServe messages, and copies of newsletter items relating to the columns. While we appreciate the concern, a number of persons have reached inaccurate conclusions about the columns and their future.
The "missing" CL Aerobatics column was due to a scheduling mixup—nothing more. It has returned to its normal monthly frequency.
The RC Soaring column has suffered in recent months with missed deadlines. Whenever the column did not appear, it was because of a lack of incoming material.
There is no intent by the MA staff to reduce the frequency of either column.
By mutual agreement, Daryl Perkins has stepped down as Contributing Editor for RC Soaring. As this is written (early March) we are interviewing potential replacements, and we hope to have a qualified person in place by the time this issue comes out (late April).
The deadline issue is quite real, and a brief explanation of how the magazine is assembled and produced might help explain the constraints under which we operate:
We produce an issue every 20 working days. Deadline for columnists is the 10th of the month prior to publication. For example, columns for this issue (June) were due February 10.
During that 20-day period, we must lay out and edit a dozen or so columns; six to eight features; 14 officer columns; the rest of the "AMA News" section; and other odds & ends such as "Letters to the Editor," and "Modeler's Mall."
At a given moment there will be an issue at the printer, an issue in the mail to the members, and another issue we're editing and formatting. It can truly be a three-ring circus.
When a column arrives, the steps are roughly as follows:
- The column must be entered into our system via disk, electronic download, or manual input.
- Photos must be reviewed, selected, and halftones made.
- A layout must be designed to fit the text and photos.
- Captions must be written or edited.
- The text and photos must be placed and "flowed" so everything fits properly.
- Each page is proofread, corrections are made and checked, and the magazine is prepared for shipment to the printer.
The printer then prepares a full proof of the magazine ("blueline"), which gives a final look at everything, with ad copy in place. The blueline is shipped to us via UPS Red Label, and we have less than one working day to review it and send any last-minute corrections back to the printer via modem. After that, we don't see the issue until it's complete and ready to mail.
That's quite a bit of work for a small staff. While it may not seem like a lot for any one column or feature, multiply this by 15 or 20 and you can see what a late-arriving column does to this carefully planned procedure.
Building Blocks
A two-part how-to I wrote on free flight hand-launched gliders (HLGs) concludes in this issue.
The genesis for the how-to was a "help wanted" letter for the NewComers column, where the writer wanted to know how to trim a HLG for flight. Bob Underwood asked me to write a brief description, but the more I pondered what to write, I realized that all the instruction in the world would do no good if the flier's glider was improperly constructed—which was quite likely if the beginner/NewComer had no frame of reference.
How could we help the "lone wolf" modeler, or the kid struggling along on his own? I kept thinking: I want everyone to have success building and flying these models. We don't want anyone to be frustrated and possibly lose interest. What to do?
We expanded the concept to include a section with tips on proper construction and a separate piece on flight trimming. I recalled the struggle faced by my son as he wanted to build good, competitive models, and I decided to show how he was able to build his first really good model with a set of simple jigs.
It was a challenge to express something like how to hand-glide a model in terms a novice could easily comprehend ("it's a little like throwing a dart"). But the old "hand glide out over tall grass" just doesn't communicate the "feel" required to get some meaningful results.
The FF HLG is one of modeling's true building blocks. No matter what modeling discipline a flier eventually chooses, he or she can learn a tremendous amount about "how airplanes work" from the construction and flight of these seemingly simple airplanes. With a dollar's worth of material and a couple of evenings' work, you can create a model that will teach as much about adjustment for flight as any other.
What we want from any trainer-level model is success. We want the NewComer to experience the joy we get from successful flight. It is my hope that the how-to will help someone get started on a long series of successes—regardless of which modeling "path" they eventually take.
"It can truly be a three-ring circus."
No Free Lunches
Graham Hicks wrote to discuss the problems faced by manufacturers who are inundated by requests for donations from contest directors. Single-product or cottage-industry suppliers are in an especially difficult position: "How long could they stay in business if they sent even one product to each club? They would be gone in a minute," wrote Graham.
But he has an answer: Don't ask for anything free. Instead, ask for a discount, or "buy one, receive one for a prize" setup. "This lets them almost break even; it provides a prize for the club's contest; and there are two products in the hands of modelers . . . Don't ask them to go broke for you."
I have rarely asked suppliers' help with the Excellent Adventure contest I CD each year; while nice merchandise helps, I feel guilty about asking for aid. The contest flier states that "merchandise priority will go to Junior events," so that helps my conscience a little. But I think Graham's approach is better. Readers?
Jim Haught Managing Editor
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
