Letters to the Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie, IN 47302
Scale at the Outdoor Nats
Attendance at the last three Outdoor Nats has been extremely poor. This year there was one entry in Gas Flying Scale, two in Rubber Flying Scale, and three in Peanut Scale. We know there are still plenty of Scale fliers in the United States, as evidenced by the 100+ entries at the FAC [Flying Aces Club] Nats.
I would like to address the discrepancy in interest between AMA Outdoor Scale and FAC Outdoor Scale.
Is it monetary? The entry fee for the 1994 FAC Nats was $20. This fee allowed a contestant to fly in 25 events over a three-day period, if he had the time. If a contestant wanted to fly in the three Scale events at the 1995 AMA Nats, the cost was $55. It's easy to see that for the cost of one AMA Nats a contestant could almost enter three FAC Nats.
Is it the AMA Scale rules? Rubber Flying Scale and Peanut Scale rules discourage the average Scale modeler. Many are not willing to build to the exacting standards required by these rules. Furthermore, Peanut Scale rules have a bonus system that favors the exotic model to the point where it is impossible to compete with a nice-looking, good-flying high-wing model. (I must admit that the FAC rules also favor exotic-type models but attempts are made periodically to lessen that favoritism. As of the time of this letter, it hasn't discouraged too many modelers—they flock to Geneseo, NY like bees to sugar water.)
These are two of the obvious problems that I have discovered in discussions with fellow modelers. If there are other areas that need to be brought forth, let's get them out in the open.
I welcome comments concerning this topic. I am willing to correlate all points of view and maintain contact with any who show enough interest to correspond. The problem can and should be solved by as many Scale flyers as possible in order to achieve a consensus. Your input is essential.
Let's not let Rubber Flying Scale and Peanut Scale die at the Outdoor Nats.
James Miller 107 Lorelei Dr. Fayetteville, Ohio 45118
Dust Removal
I enjoyed the article in the September issue by Windy Urtnowski on his Dust Removal System — I just hope that his friend, George Ventrini, pictured on page 52 in the bottom right corner, is still okay.
Anyone with any sense of safety knows that you never, never, never lean over an open belt drive anytime, especially when wearing a loose-fitting, sloppy shirt. A fractional motor running at 1,750 rpm will eat you alive if you are unfortunate enough to get caught in the pulley or the belt.
Windy seemed to be concerned about his lungs; he should be more concerned about his hands, stomach, guts, and everything else that could become entangled in a moving belt and pulley.
I know from experience: I once got caught by a quarter-inch drill that snagged my jeans and drilled a hole in my leg. I couldn't get my finger off the switch fast enough, and the drill seemed to "coast" forever.
The dust collector is great, but please, Windy, make a cover for the belt and pulleys on your sander.
Tell George hi, if he is still okay.
Jack Allnutt Greeley, Colorado
Suggestions
I would like to suggest that Model Aviation list the E‑mail addresses of each author or correspondent when an article, letter, or other information is published. This would make communications between readers and authors so much faster and easier.
I would imagine that many of your readers and most of your contributors already have access to Internet E‑mail through online services or BBS membership and could exchange their information at high speed and at almost no cost compared to using U.S. mail.
My address is: melhart@slacc.com
Melvon G. Hart Des Peres, Missouri
You want suggestions? How about being certain that writeups on the various events always give the date and location of the event right up front. Sometimes it is buried in the text somewhere, or in an inset, and sometimes it never appears.
Also, there are a great many initials and acronyms that newcomers to the hobby are not familiar with. Would it be too much to ask that whenever one of your writers says FIC or FAC, etc., to have one of your editors insert the meaning of these initials? I finally learned (from a phone call to a vendor) that FAI means Federation Aeronautique Internationale, but I still haven't the faintest idea what the F1s are all about. And Texaco is an oil company, but what does it mean in aeromodelling? Stalls, spins, rolls, yaw, pitch, incidence, etc., are all technical terms often defined in various instruction books. But all the acronyms you insiders use are Greek jargon to the outsider trying to break in.
Not a criticism, mind you, just a suggestion.
Howard L. Sosbee Scotts Valley, California
Helping Hands Appreciated
As far as I am concerned, the response by Jeff Troy of Coverite to Scott Kruizes' problem is not an isolated case. My problem with a 21st Century product wasn't the same as Scott's, but when Mr. Troy called in answer to my letter I was extremely pleased.
Then came a small problem with a product from Tower Hobbies. In reply to my letter to Tower, Kevin Hise, VP and manager of sales and marketing, called and was very helpful. Another unexpected and sincerely appreciated response.
After I purchased an electric sailplane from Perry Studios, New Orleans, I had some questions regarding the LASOAR they produce, and in no time Paul Perry called and chatted at length with me. Very accommodating, to say the least.
These cases indicate a new turn in public relations, as a letter usually sufficed in the past. Perhaps the industry sees the need for such responses as prices continue to climb, AMA membership is in a small decline, and customers are more demanding of a product for the money spent.
We should all applaud their efforts to accommodate our needs.
Robert Balsdon Tequesta, Florida
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
