Model Aviation, Model Airplane News... disappointed
#76
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Agreed, and please understand, my comments were not directed at you specifically, just the inappropriate subject matter for RCU, I didn't mean to single you out if it sounded that way.
Now lets talk magazines... ;-)
Now lets talk magazines... ;-)
#77
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MAN is nothing but a cheering section for every product they advertise. When was the last time they printed an honest review in which every problem was documented, rather than ommitted, glossed over, or minimized? Cases in point: They just reviewed the new Great Planes 30cc Escapade. The reviewer claimed that there was NO EFFECT ON PITCH when the flaps were deployed. I just finished this airplane, balanced right on the CG, and found that flaps cause a MAJOR pitch correction. This is NOT a problem as the correct amount of down elevator will cancel it out, but DON'T tell me flaps have no effect on pitch as though this new airplane is SO good it defies the laws of aerodynamics! Another case in point: Every 3D plane they review, the reviewer gushes about how EASY it makes 3D; how it "locks into a hover," etc. Puleease don't insult my intelligence! 3D, properly executed, is EXTREMELY difficult and NO PLANE "locks" into a hover.
This is all HYPE designed to make the rest of us believe that IF ONLY we could get one these new Wizbang planes, radios, or powerplants, WE TOO could be kings of the flight line...
Bottom line? Honesty in reviews will not discourage me from purchasing most products, but it would HELP in alleviating disappointments or surprises and provide tips on how to resolve. As most have said, RC Reports was probably the last honest magazine. The old RC Modeler reviews were also helpful. And let's not forget the IMAA magazine, HIGH FLIGHT - also honest.
MAN is nothing but manufacturer propaganda, which is very unfortunate for the hobby.
This is all HYPE designed to make the rest of us believe that IF ONLY we could get one these new Wizbang planes, radios, or powerplants, WE TOO could be kings of the flight line...
Bottom line? Honesty in reviews will not discourage me from purchasing most products, but it would HELP in alleviating disappointments or surprises and provide tips on how to resolve. As most have said, RC Reports was probably the last honest magazine. The old RC Modeler reviews were also helpful. And let's not forget the IMAA magazine, HIGH FLIGHT - also honest.
MAN is nothing but manufacturer propaganda, which is very unfortunate for the hobby.
#81
Senior Member
Like I said, My post was about " Education" not racism. I also said nothing about salaries and the people working there. There is nothing wrong with advertising in MA either, but the article's today are totally different than they were 25 years ago. Its more advertising about a product, rather on how to do something. Let me ask you something. What do you know about the By-Laws written for the AMA organization? There very explanatory from the first day they were written. I agree with you, nobody there is getting wealthy, not yet anyway.
And btw, I was born and raised elsewhere but educated myself here, in the States. I've felt my share of the sting of prejudice. My answer was to simply learn as much as possible and beat the likes of you at your own game. I didn't find the education lacking in anything. I'll put my wits against the likes of you any time.
#83
As to the topic , someone here rightly said that the "reviews" are really just extended commercials , due to the nature of the review . If a company is paying for the review , and sees anything critical about their products , the right thing to do would be to correct the discovered issue if possible . It seems far too many companies these days would rather squash the negative review (and reviewer !) than address the product deficiency . I understand it's not possible in every instance but it's a goal that should be aimed for , by any company looking to build a reputation for quality . Funny , I remember well what happened to Fliton (hope I spelled that right) who built my 'inspire 60" . They build some wonderful 3D planes , like the inspire , right up till they seemed to learn just how little structure might hold them together , and then when the wings began folding their reputation took such a hit that they went under . To see reviews that gloss over flaws seriously throws doubt on all reviews , and that does none of us any justice when you can't trust a supposed truthful assessment of the good & bad of a new product , the very reason for the review's existence ....
#84
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I remember doing a review a very long time ago for a plane that exhibited NO bad habits....then a couple of years later the plane didn't fly as it used to (and was being sold by a big name distributor at the time) and everyone said I lied - WRONG - they changed the ARF, but everyone thought I was sugar coating the plane. Just wasn't the same plane! Also I frequently have 3-4 other pilots also fly my review planes and get their input and it is funny because one will say the plane can't do this or that maneuver well and the next day another pilot LOVES the way that maneuver is executed. I just have a hard time saying the plane (ARF or kit) doesn't have anything wrong with it. I guess writing for RCR MADE me look for deficiencies.
Jerry
Jerry
#85
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" I didn't find the education lacking in anything."
I too was educated a l o n g time ago and as a retired teacher, things just aren't the same as they used to be - and let's leave it there and get back to a topic we all love and cherish.....model aviation - so whatyaall fly'n these days?
I too was educated a l o n g time ago and as a retired teacher, things just aren't the same as they used to be - and let's leave it there and get back to a topic we all love and cherish.....model aviation - so whatyaall fly'n these days?
#86
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I remember doing a review a very long time ago for a plane that exhibited NO bad habits....then a couple of years later the plane didn't fly as it used to (and was being sold by a big name distributor at the time) and everyone said I lied - WRONG - they changed the ARF, but everyone thought I was sugar coating the plane. Just wasn't the same plane! Also I frequently have 3-4 other pilots also fly my review planes and get their input and it is funny because one will say the plane can't do this or that maneuver well and the next day another pilot LOVES the way that maneuver is executed. I just have a hard time saying the plane (ARF or kit) doesn't have anything wrong with it. I guess writing for RCR MADE me look for deficiencies.
Jerry
Jerry
#87
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MAN is nothing but a cheering section for every product they advertise. When was the last time they printed an honest review in which every problem was documented, rather than ommitted, glossed over, or minimized? Cases in point: They just reviewed the new Great Planes 30cc Escapade. The reviewer claimed that there was NO EFFECT ON PITCH when the flaps were deployed. I just finished this airplane, balanced right on the CG, and found that flaps cause a MAJOR pitch correction. This is NOT a problem as the correct amount of down elevator will cancel it out, but DON'T tell me flaps have no effect on pitch as though this new airplane is SO good it defies the laws of aerodynamics! Another case in point: Every 3D plane they review, the reviewer gushes about how EASY it makes 3D; how it "locks into a hover," etc. Puleease don't insult my intelligence! 3D, properly executed, is EXTREMELY difficult and NO PLANE "locks" into a hover.
This is all HYPE designed to make the rest of us believe that IF ONLY we could get one these new Wizbang planes, radios, or powerplants, WE TOO could be kings of the flight line...
Bottom line? Honesty in reviews will not discourage me from purchasing most products, but it would HELP in alleviating disappointments or surprises and provide tips on how to resolve. As most have said, RC Reports was probably the last honest magazine. The old RC Modeler reviews were also helpful. And let's not forget the IMAA magazine, HIGH FLIGHT - also honest.
MAN is nothing but manufacturer propaganda, which is very unfortunate for the hobby.
This is all HYPE designed to make the rest of us believe that IF ONLY we could get one these new Wizbang planes, radios, or powerplants, WE TOO could be kings of the flight line...
Bottom line? Honesty in reviews will not discourage me from purchasing most products, but it would HELP in alleviating disappointments or surprises and provide tips on how to resolve. As most have said, RC Reports was probably the last honest magazine. The old RC Modeler reviews were also helpful. And let's not forget the IMAA magazine, HIGH FLIGHT - also honest.
MAN is nothing but manufacturer propaganda, which is very unfortunate for the hobby.
But..have you actually read through the magazine, lately at least? If you're talking about some of the other mags out there, they might be closer to that characterization, but I don't see that with MA. Lots more than just product reviews.
But even so...does anyone really base their purchasing decision on the views of ONE person? Do people have that much faith in a singular point of view? I guess so, but I'd rather read reviews from here, RCG, and then hopefully get my hands on something at the local hobby shop or even see if at the field. I look at the reviews of products like I do a Yelp or Trip Advisor review...it's one persons view, typically of one instance.
If all the mags you mentioned were so great, and the information they provided was so valuable, ya gotta wonder why none of them are around anymore. So many sources of information now with the web. MA has a "captive" audience for the most part, and appeals to the broadest spread of users. Shouldn't stop anyone who is a great builder/writer/techy person from starting and maintaining their own blog, or even site. Pretty cheap and easy to do that now, and it's a great way to preserve something for anyone looking for that type of information. It's amazing how many sites are out there that exist for a very targeted purpose.
#91
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I agree 100%, as a matter of fact I'm getting sick of seeing more and more of this quadrocopter fanfare. I have absolutely nothing against them but they seem to be having a negative impact on this hobby, especially when idiots purchase them and do all the wrong things with them. It seems the innocence of building an rc airplane and learning to fly it has gone by the wayside.
#92
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Perhaps it's your definition of what a model should be. Does it have to be a model of a real airplane before it should be on the cover of MA?
All of these are not replications of scale aircraft but take skill and ability to build and fly, should they be barred from being on the cover or in the magazine?
#93
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Those are all FIXED wing aircraft though. Personally I would vote to keep MA devoted to fixed wing or single-rotor aircraft. There are plenty of publications that are catering to multi-rotor flying now, and like everyone else MA is just trying to jump on that bandwagon. The question is, should they? Do they really think that owners of multi-rotors are the ones that are supporting the AMA? I certainly don't.
#94
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You all complain that there aren't enough young people in our hobby but at the same time have a dedicated anti-drone agenda. If you guys looked around you'd see plenty of young drone enthusiasts around. Why shouldn't MA cater to them? Its better to try to educate new AMA members about drones and regulations concerning them rather than ignore it. Also I never understood the "there are no more scratch builders our hobby is dying" complaint. Get of your high horse and realize the hobby has moved on into the 21st century, and if you want to scratch build then fine, more power to you.
#95
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I would simply ask you how many people you know that own drones, and how many of them (who were not already AMA members prior to owning one) have joined the AMA? Seems to me that they are bending over to please a crowd of people that couldn't care less if they existed, and ostracizing those that do. I have yet to meet a new quad copter owner that sees any value in AMA membership.......
#96
Well lets see, looks like a model of aerobatic quad. Looks pretty clear to me.
Perhaps it's your definition of what a model should be. Does it have to be a model of a real airplane before it should be on the cover of MA?
All of these are not replications of scale aircraft but take skill and ability to build and fly, should they be barred from being on the cover or in the magazine?
Perhaps it's your definition of what a model should be. Does it have to be a model of a real airplane before it should be on the cover of MA?
All of these are not replications of scale aircraft but take skill and ability to build and fly, should they be barred from being on the cover or in the magazine?
#98
Banned
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Those are all FIXED wing aircraft though. Personally I would vote to keep MA devoted to fixed wing or single-rotor aircraft. There are plenty of publications that are catering to multi-rotor flying now, and like everyone else MA is just trying to jump on that bandwagon. The question is, should they? Do they really think that owners of multi-rotors are the ones that are supporting the AMA? I certainly don't.
I would simply ask you how many people you know that own drones, and how many of them (who were not already AMA members prior to owning one) have joined the AMA? Seems to me that they are bending over to please a crowd of people that couldn't care less if they existed, and ostracizing those that do. I have yet to meet a new quad copter owner that sees any value in AMA membership.......
#99
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You all complain that there aren't enough young people in our hobby but at the same time have a dedicated anti-drone agenda. If you guys looked around you'd see plenty of young drone enthusiasts around. Why shouldn't MA cater to them? Its better to try to educate new AMA members about drones and regulations concerning them rather than ignore it. Also I never understood the "there are no more scratch builders our hobby is dying" complaint. Get of your high horse and realize the hobby has moved on into the 21st century, and if you want to scratch build then fine, more power to you.
#100
Banned
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Those are all FIXED wing aircraft though. Personally I would vote to keep MA devoted to fixed wing or single-rotor aircraft. There are plenty of publications that are catering to multi-rotor flying now, and like everyone else MA is just trying to jump on that bandwagon. The question is, should they? Do they really think that owners of multi-rotors are the ones that are supporting the AMA? I certainly don't.