Author: Bob Hunt
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/12
Page Numbers: 7,178,183
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Modeling Spoken Here - 2004/12

Bob Hunt — Aeromodeling Editor

This issue marks the conclusion of my fourth year in the position of aeromodeling editor at MA. My boss, AMA Director of Publications Rob Kurek, reminded me of this a few days back. Since then I’ve been thinking about that milestone and the things that I have tried to accomplish, the things that have worked, the things that have failed, and the things yet to try. I’m sure that not many of you will remember my first editorial (yes, I know, most of my stuff is forgettable in far less than four years), but in that piece I mentioned that I had just built a small hand-launched glider and named it the “MDR.” That stood for “Minimum Daily Requirement.”

I mentioned that I was going to fly it across the office each morning before I began to work so that no matter what else happened or what the prospect was of getting out to fly my normal-interest-area model, I could say that I flew a model airplane that day.

The idea, of course, was to emphasize the thought that we are all brothers and sisters in model-airplane flight. It matters not what the mode or discipline is; we are joined by a single bond: flight! I was hoping that this example would be symbolic enough that we would all begin to have renewed respect for each other’s particular interest area in the hobby/sport and, further than that, have actual enthusiasm for each other’s type of modeling. I’m not too sure that I’ve succeeded completely in this respect.

Each month I receive many notes, letters, e-mails, and phone calls from modelers from across the country. Many express their desire for more coverage of their particular interest area in modeling. Perfectly understandable — we all want more of what we like and what interests us. I usually work the conversation around to asking if they read the articles and columns that don’t cover their particular interest area. Almost without exception, the answer is “No.”

When I was young I read all of the modeling magazines cover to cover. I didn’t care what type of model was being explained in a given construction article, what skill was being imparted by a particular how-to, or even what type of modeling was being highlighted by an event report. I was interested in model airplanes — all model airplanes. In fact, I read the older modeling magazines that my father had collected and kept with as much enthusiasm as the current issues. The fact that the information was old or dated didn’t seem to dampen my interest.

I learned a lot from other types of modeling that I eventually incorporated into my own modeling in either a virtual manner or through abstraction. Sometimes a good idea can be changed or adapted to solve a problem in another area than that for which it was originally conceived. I have come to think of this ability to abstract as a gift. Another gift, I believe, is the ability and willingness to appreciate what others have accomplished, even if I don’t have any desire to accomplish those same things myself. I get a huge kick out of watching anyone do anything extremely well. I guess this is what I meant when I mentioned having enthusiasm for each other’s type of modeling. We don’t have to be totally involved in it to appreciate it and support it.

I’ll have some more thoughts on this subject in upcoming columns and some suggestions for how we can all get to know each other a bit better and interact in some fun ways.

Initiatives and Challenges

A few of the things I wanted to do in this post have been relatively easy. I had a desire to start a program that would impart basic knowledge to new modelers in a manner that would allow them to learn at an accelerated rate. With a few notable exceptions, the “From the Ground Up” series is doing that. The subjects to be covered are almost endless, so that series will continue on a semi-regular basis. Implementing this series was for the most part a painless process.

Finding and presenting unique and interesting original designs as construction features is getting to be a more difficult task than it used to be; there just aren't as many modelers designing and building their own airplanes these days. Still, I think we have managed to get a pretty good mix of types into print.

Our reader survey showed us that many still prefer to build their own models from plans and/or kits. Perhaps we can nudge some of them to the next step of designing their own models and then sharing them with us in the form of construction features.

Deciding what modeling events to cover has been a challenge. We have only a certain number of pages each year to devote to event coverage, and we cannot possibly even begin to provide space for them all.

We have initiated a program that allows the SIGs to suggest events for which they would like to see coverage. With there being more than 25 SIGs, the simple math reveals the problem. We cannot present coverage for each in any given year. We'll continue to try to make this aspect of the magazine better and more equitable.

When I came on board, ARF and RTF models were becoming ever more popular. This trend has continued, and now approximately half of our members fly these types of aircraft exclusively or intermixed with their kit-built or plans-built models. This is an area that took me a bit by surprise. I'm an old-time model-builder type of guy, and it has taken me a while to appreciate this area of the sport. I guess I'll have to take some of my own medicine here.

I'm trying to find more material that will be of interest to the ARF and RTF fliers. Typically, all that is presented for them are product reviews of the latest and greatest new models. I believe that articles devoted to how to get more from these aircraft in terms of flight performance and durability are needed, and that's what I'm researching now.

It's difficult to evaluate my own performance; I'll let you do that instead. I can tell you this much: it's been interesting and, for the most part, fun. I joke with my friends that my job is not to make 170,000 members happy, but rather to make them equally unhappy! I'll keep trying!

Tribute to Gene

If you had ever met the late Gene Hempel, you would certainly not forget him. This man could light up any room with his smile alone. But Gene also had the gift of making people around him feel good with his words. I never met him when he didn't have a kind, uplifting, or encouraging thing to say. That's how I will remember him.

There was an official obituary piece about Gene and his myriad accomplishments and contributions to our hobby/sport in last month's issue. Included there was a heartfelt and touching tribute to Gene by Don Lowe. If you missed it, please take a moment to grab that issue and give it a read.

Just before I wrote this piece, George Hamby contacted me with a request concerning Gene. I normally don't present this sort of thing in this column, but this is a special case and I think it's a good cause. I'll let George tell you about his request in his own words:

"My name is George Hamby. I am a member of the Dallas Model Aircraft Association. I knew Gene Hempel for about 35 years and considered him a good friend.

"I am building two scorecard easels in his memory and would like as many people as possible who knew Gene to sign one of the easels. Obviously not everyone can or will come to Dallas to sign it. Is there some way you could mention in your column that if I receive a copy of a signature, either by USPS or e-mail, I can decal it and put it on the board? Or if they have the means, they can decal it and send it to me.

"Any observations and information you might be able to assist me with will be greatly appreciated."

If you can help George out, please contact him at (972) 247-6230, or you can reach him via mail at 13605 Heartridge Pl., Dallas, TX 75234.

Season's Greetings

With our deadline shift complete, the magazine's cover date is closer to the calendar date. So let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy, peaceful, and secure holiday season. May the end of this year be as bright for you as is your hope for the new year.

As always, you can reach me via:

I appreciate your attention. MA

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.