Letters to the Editor
Send your Letters to the Editor to: Model Aviation, 5151 East Memorial Drive, Muncie IN 47302
Corrections
The correct plan number for Ascender is 856; for Lil' Chugger the correct number is 857. The numbers were listed incorrectly in the July 1998 Full-Size Plans list.
The July 1998 "Newcomers" column listed channel increments as 20 MHz; the correct spacing is 20 kHz.
Buddy Cord Seniors?
Enclosed please find pictures of my neighbor Vito DiNapoli and his new 96-inch Telemaster. Vito is 72 years young, and ever since he served on the aircraft carrier Wasp in 1944, he has had a deep appreciation for airplanes. This need surfaced when I introduced him to the world of RC flying.
At 72, his flying is coming along nicely and he has covered his first airplane, the Telemaster. It has given him a whole new outlook as far as what to do with his spare time. He did a great job on his plane but more importantly, he had a great time getting it ready to fly.
I know our AMA is always working on ways to draw young people into our hobby, and rightfully so, but after watching Vito being consumed by the pleasure of RC, I wonder if any of our members know some senior who would jump at the chance to try flying via a buddy cord if asked.
Not a bad thought?
Jon R. Aurich Las Vegas, Nevada
Thanks!
Had to write this "Thank You" letter. It's not just a "letter to the editor." It's for everyone from the top to the bottom. It's to AMA, its members, and the modeling community in general.
In the June 1998 Model Aviation, page 144, you printed part of my letter asking for help locating a piston ring to repair my old Forster .29. The response has been overwhelming.
So far, 19 letters, including one containing a new gratis ring, and another with four (apparently also gratis) new rings! No request for payment, and they do fit.
Also the following phone call, received before the five rings. The call was from a gentleman who had me give him micrometer measurements so he could make a new ring for me. No charge. Said it's his hobby. No guaranteed delivery date, but beggars can't be fussy.
My modeling reactivation is going slower than desired, in good part due to my confusion selecting an initial project. There are so many choices.
I've also joined SAM (Society of Antique Modelers). I'm beginning to think a SAM-type project is the best bet for this dinosaur!
Modern modeling technology is almost dizzying. There have been so many changes since I was last active. However, one thing has not changed—the big, cooperative hearts of the modelers themselves.
Since Model Aviation printed my letter: so many AMA members responded; I have received five gratis rings; I got an offer to make a free ring; you made me feel so good, I am enclosing a donation for AMA's Museum, Center, Programs, and whatever needed.
I've gotten far more than five new rings from all these responses to my call for help. I intend to make a personal reply to all who contacted me. I hope I'll complete that before this letter is printed. Thanks again!
Rod Joblove Brookville, Ohio
Why Not Model...
Stan Alexander's "Why Not Model..." article in the June 1998 Model Aviation caught my attention as soon as I opened the magazine.
For most of my modeling career I have had an interest in scale model airplanes. In the mid-1960s I began flying control-line stunt, and I wanted a scale-looking stunter instead of the typical futuristic stunt models of the day.
After the usual process of looking through various magazines, books, etc., I found the Hawker Hunter and immediately fell in love with its beautiful lines. Since then I have built three semiscale Hawker Hunter stunters. The first was built around 1965, the second in 1966, and the third (a duplication of the second) in 1998.
As mentioned in the article, the aircraft has several features that make it an ideal modeling subject, and over the years I have often wondered why more modelers didn't build it. Hopefully your article will provide the inspiration.
I would love to see it as an RC model with one of those new jet engines.
My models are what some call semiscale, as their primary purpose is to fly the CL stunt pattern. In my opinion, however, the deviation from true scale required to produce a competition stunt model does not detract from the beauty of the Hunter design.
Models one and two are long gone but number three flies very well. I plan to fly the model at various Classic CL events, as well as at the Nats, this summer.
Jack Sunderland Hilliard, Ohio
Queen Bee
I built the little standard Lazy Bee from a kit supplied by Clancy Aviation, and as a member of the IMAA, I just had to enlarge it. Getting out the yardstick plus a couple of crayons, I drew up a couple of patterns, and with a slight adjustment here and there I came up with an IMAA-legal aeromachine (80-inch span minimum).
The wing actually came out at 80 inches in span with a 24-inch chord, with a thickness of three inches. Because it had to fit into a standard car, I made the wingtips removable and used a plug-in/bolt-on arrangement. The finished aeromachine weighs in at 8.5 pounds, and is powered by a K&B Sportster .65.
Through correspondence with Andy and Suzy Clancy they did show some interest in the project, and I'm sure they would produce something of this size if there was enough interest. Any engine in the .60–.120 size would power this nicely, with a .90 four-stroke being the pick of the litter.
H. G. Evanson St. Paul, Minnesota
Crazy about RC
The photo is of my great-grandson Joe Ruggeri, who is less than two years old. He is just crazy about my RC airplanes and loves to watch me build and fly them.
Believe it or not, he knows how to operate all the controls using both sticks on the transmitter.
I hope to have him flying by the time he is five. I was five when I started building airplanes, but this kid has me beat.
The airplane is a 30% Laser 200, scratch-built from my own drawings. It has a 90-inch wingspan with a 3.7 Sachs engine and includes a smoke system.
Marty Meyer New Rochelle, New York
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
