Radio Control: Old-Timers
Dee B. Mathews
ATTEMPTING TO replace Cmdr. Bolton at the helm of this column is a challenging and dangerous assignment. Without the help of everyone interested in RC Old Timer we may go aground and be lost at sea forever. If everyone will grab an oar and dig in we can stay on the course Jack plotted and enjoy our voyage on the ship R.C.O.T.F.F.
Our voyage will attempt to continue Jack's ongoing coverage of the growing competitive side of our movement. Please, be aware that I live out in the middle of nowhere, making it nearly impossible for me to attend most contests. I must depend on each of you to keep me informed about contests and results. We don't need anything fancy, just a hand-written note will be fine. Any black-and-white photos will also be immensely helpful.
Since my primary activities in RC Old Timer are fun-centered, I also shall address attention to non-competitive aspects. For every modeler flying RC Old Timer competitively, a dozen may fly just for pleasure. I know I do. To these modelers I direct an appeal for comments and reports, and for your black-and-white photos.
I also sense many readers of this column will be free flighters for whom the section roads are getting too far apart, while others will be RC pattern types who are looking for something more relaxing to fly. To these newcomers I will address a series of how-to sections covering such subjects as finishes, structural mods, hinging, fuel shut-offs, flying, thermal hunting, etc. Those readers who have helpful hints and kinks please submit them.
To the reader who is already having a great time building and flying RC Old Timers, we will cover new products, and products that can be adapted to our use. Manufacturers please keep me posted. I will try to develop a directory of manufacturers and suppliers with addresses as quickly as possible.
I am considering featuring a three-view and photo of an Old Timer of the Month, covering the history of the model and its manufacturer if kitted. I'd like to hear some comments pro and con on this idea and any nominations that are your particular favorites.
A Shot Across the Bow:
As most interested parties are aware, whether SAM members or not, a 15-man committee headed by Al Hellman (I am honored to be a member) has developed an engine conversion proposal that has been approved by the SAM membership.
The ratified rule change has received good coverage in the model press, and I will not now go into the engine size and type restrictions. What I have not seen mentioned at the time of writing is any clarification of the term "basic event" as opposed to "special event." (See page 93 of your '76-'77 AMA rule book.)
Section IV covers basic events excluding RC Assist Old Timers. The rules approved for 1978 cover free-flight events but not RC. That means, among other things, that glow engines are still legal in RC events for 1978, just as they are for .020 Replica and Scale. Yep, the rule change was voted in for regular events under sections I through IV.
Whether the SAM leadership will submit another proposal for special events; a proposal to make RCOTFF a basic event, or preserve the status quo, is the next question. My preferences were expressed in Jack's column in the Jan. 77 issue, but are immaterial. The important point is that you do not need to get the Schneurle out of your Powerhouse, just yet!
A Visit to the Desert Kingdom: SAM held its National Championships at Las Vegas late in June. With temperatures reaching 125 degrees, to quote Pene Vano, "Equipment failed, plastic melted, rubber snapped, batteries quit—and that was the first day—and I thought Hell was in the bowels of the earth." Clarence Haught covered the meet in October MA, so I won't repeat them here.
But I'd like to point out a few things. The Glow RC classes had many more entries than ignition. C Glow had 22, while C Ignition only 6; A Glow 14, B Glow 18—which equals 32 as opposed to only three for A-B Ignition combined. This definitely has a message for the rules makers. And if we leave Antique and Texaco out of the count, we find that, of the 33 trophies presented in RC events, 15 went to Playboys, five to Sailplanes, and three to Zippers. So 21 of 27 placings were won by three designs.
At the SAM business meeting an invitation for the 1978 Championships extended by SAM Chapter 7 (East Coast) was accepted. SAM Salt Lake also extended an invitation for 1979.
As the Sun Sets: Now that we've got that out of the way let me close with another plea for photos, hints, kinks, and contest news. Without the help of each and all of you this column will degenerate into a letter to Mom and Dad. Let's make sure it doesn't.
Dr. Dee B. Mathews, 506 S. Walnut, Greensburg, KS 67054.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
