July issue of MA

July issue of MA
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July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 12:02:03 AM

Stickbuilder

Posts: 5410
Joined: 11/20/2005
From: leesburg, FL, USA
Status: online

Okay, I took the advice of several and read through the July issue. Once again, not much there to interest me. When I got to the District V report, it was Deja Vu all over again (to quote the great Yogi). The report began with, "I attended". Nothing much about Top Gun, except a small blurb about Grame Mears' F-16 and the Thunderbird pilots looking at the model. Greg Hahn made a passing comment about finding a fix for an air flow problem on his gas engine at Top Gun.

If you like the magazine, then fine. I don't feel that it meets my needs, so into the trash can it went, and will be followed by the August issue as well. I did give it a try, and .....Oh-Well

Bill, AMA 4720

_____________________________

It's easy, just glue all the pieces together, and sand off everything that doesn't look like an airplane.

Post #: 1

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 1:35:51 AM

vertical grimmace

Posts: 1145
Joined: 3/13/2004
From: ft collins , CO, USA
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I haven't received my issue yet but I always read mine cover to cover. I read all of the special interest columns, contest calendar, and especially any construction articles. I have always like how diverse the magazine has been and find the only people that ever complained about it, wanted it to be very narrowly focused.
There is a great big aeromodeling world out there. You either choose to embrace it or stay secluded in your narrow corner. Maybe try a free flight plane or pylon racing or scale or any of the other fascinating aspects this hobby has to offer.
Or just continue to throw away your magazine and remain in your world. I think a better idea would be to hand it to the next little boy you see running through your neighborhood. You may just light a spark in a future pilot. Then you can feel slightly better about what happens to your magazine.

(in reply to Stickbuilder)

Post #: 2

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 1:49:18 AM

Stickbuilder

Posts: 5410
Joined: 11/20/2005
From: leesburg, FL, USA
Status: online

Lemme see.....

I flew free flight up until around 1960, I flew control line well into the early 70's (carrier, stunt, combat, rat race, proto speed, and speed), I have been flying R/C since 1957. Now which narrow corner of the hobby would you suggest that I stay in? There are no little boys running through my neighborhood. This area is a 55+ part of the world (you have to be at least 55 years young to live here). Maybe I can find a 59 year old kid to give it to.

I only wish that the magazine mentioned the area of the hobby in which I'm interested (for more than one page). I did notice that the majority of the advertizements were for electric. Yeah I know, there were a few ads for wet power models, but you will have to agree that the majority is electric oriented. The parkies do have their own magazine now.

Bill, AMA 4720

ps....I first flew rubber power, and still occasionally do.

_____________________________

It's easy, just glue all the pieces together, and sand off everything that doesn't look like an airplane.

(in reply to vertical grimmace)

Post #: 3

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 3:34:52 AM

vertical grimmace

Posts: 1145
Joined: 3/13/2004
From: ft collins , CO, USA
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So what aspect of the hobby are you interested in? It sounds like you have a good resume but not much in the current events category. My point is that in reading all of the various articles you can learn a great deal of info about what you may be interested in.
I have learned immensely from the Free Flight Duration articles about engine setup. I too am involved in modern Cl combat and these articles are helpful.
I do not have much interest in electrics myself but it does not bother me that the advertising is there.
It may be unfortunate that you do not have an option to lower your dues and not receive the magazine. I thought this was an option, I can not remember if it still is.
I am impressed by your low AMA number by the way. I was offered a lower number as well when I became a CD but chose to keep my original as it was a part of so many of my current competition racers and combat models. Radio control and Control line.

(in reply to Stickbuilder)

Post #: 4

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 10:35:35 AM

da Rock

Posts: 6731
Joined: 10/11/2005
From: western, NC, USA
Status: online

Magazines are like the RCU forums. Good magazines are, that is.

We've got lots of forums, right. Do you come here for all of them? We're providing a service for "all modelers". All that we can, that is. And we get tens of thousands of people every hour. And provide for every major interest.

And members go to the forums they like and catch up on what's happening. Sometimes you learn something new. Most times even the stuff you already know is interesting. Sometimes you can help people in the forums. Good thing is that you can find stuff about what you're interested in.

Model Aviation provides for the major interests. They got lots of members. They provide one heck of a service for those members. Just like RCU provides.

(in reply to KidEpoxy)

Post #: 5

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 10:38:53 AM

Stickbuilder

Posts: 5410
Joined: 11/20/2005
From: leesburg, FL, USA
Status: online

No, Normally I don't pay too much attention to advertizing copy. My local Hobby Shop carries a full line of materials (still), and so I buy what I can see, touch, smell etc. Also, I happen to believe in supporting those who remain here for us. Why would I want to wait for several days to recieve a shipment from a jobber that is out of state, when I can take an enjoyable drive to the LHS, mingle and commune with those who have a like interest, chew the fat with the shop owner, and take my purchases with me when I leave? Oh, he does meet any advertized prices. All that, plus he's open extended hours Monday through Saturday. He carries virtually anything and everything that you would wish to have for the hobby.

What part of the hobby drives my interest? Scale modelling Golden Age planes. Attending Top Gun, and Flying my Scratch and Plans built models. I don't ride a bicycle any longer, and the free flight models can quickly get away further than I want to jog to get them. I get dizzy when I try control-line. So R/C is where my main interest lies. I don't build a flying cross type of model, so Scale it is.

Bill, AMA 4720

_____________________________

It's easy, just glue all the pieces together, and sand off everything that doesn't look like an airplane.

(in reply to KidEpoxy)

Post #: 6

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 11:09:43 AM

da Rock

Posts: 6731
Joined: 10/11/2005
From: western, NC, USA
Status: online

You know, the July issue has some pretty good stuff.

I always find something in Frequently Asked Questions. Aberle has years of experience in lots of different aspects of modeling, and always comes up with some new way to solve a problem. But thats a given.

I've got a buddy who flies off water a lot. I haven't ever. And wondered what it'd take to do. The issue had sort of a "flying off water" theme and darned if a lot of articles didn't give a lot of different perspectives on it.

Another buddy wanted to buy a model hanging up in our best LHS in the area. We didn't know what the kit sold for and the owner and all the clerks were busy (they almost always are) so didn't ask. It ain't easy to leave that place but when we were checking out, the buddy asked the owner about the model and what the seller might take etc..... and the owner got on the phone etc etc....... recorded message....... and we forgot to ask about the kit price....... on the way home, he pulled out his July copy (he'd brought it with to show us something) and looked in the Tower ad. Got the price right there. BTW, the owner called my buddy at home later. Did the negotiation over the phone and we're going down to pick it up tomorrow or the next day. That LHS helps modeling as much as AMA and Model Aviation does, just on a more personal level. BTW, it's KC Hobbies in Archdale NC. Just below High Point. And they're awesome.

Focal Point was kewl as always. As always, lots of coverage of scratch built stuff. The B-24 piece showed me what might work for me if I ever do one like I want to some day. My favorite uncle's squadron was one that did Ploesti. And that Fiesler Storch piece........ and that huge Dyke Delta was amazing. That huge thing is pulled by an OS1.20? amazing.

The plans for the SpectraII were educational. Plans always are. Don't remember what the other plane was that had plans, but this one showed me how to do something I'd never considered to make a float plane amphibious. Amazing what you can learn just reading plans.

And there was another trick to learn in the column that had the scratch built Polikarpov I-16 pictures. You know, when MA stops publishing, all that scratch building knowledge won't be available to the thousands of modelers who come into the hobby every year. They'll all think what they find at the LHS is all there is to the hobby. Unless they have a good LHS that is.

Did you see the clever trick to get the right angle on wing tips that have an angle? Or the somewhat new technique for skinning wings a bit lighter?

I didn't see but one guy I knew in the pictures, so I guess this issue wasn't much value for that. But it sure is worth the time to read. Maybe worth more time than the time I spend in here. Hey, there are other forums here. Think I'll go to one of them.

(in reply to da Rock)

Post #: 7

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 12:53:43 PM

Stickbuilder

Posts: 5410
Joined: 11/20/2005
From: leesburg, FL, USA
Status: online

Yes, I did read the article on wing skinning. It's almost a verbatim copy of the one that Mike Dunphy did several years ago. Wonder why Mike did not receive the credit for the work?

Bill, AMA 4720

_____________________________

It's easy, just glue all the pieces together, and sand off everything that doesn't look like an airplane.

(in reply to da Rock)

Post #: 8

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 1:34:16 PM

STLPilot

Posts: 9222
Joined: 3/12/2003
From: Manhattan, NY, USA
Status: online

Bill, what is so bad about giving those issues you don't like to a child? No grandkids? How about the barber shop?

One more magazine out in the public is one more promotion towards aeromodeling.

_____________________________

Here At The Wall

(in reply to Stickbuilder)

Post #: 9

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 2:15:42 PM

Red Scholefield

Posts: 4981
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: Newberry, FL, USA
Status: online

Speaking as a member and not a moderator . . . .

I leave my model magazines at the local barber shop. Interesting, while there are issues of Sports Illustrated, Field and Stream, American Rifleman etc going back many months, the model magazines seem to disappear. My barber explained to me that kids pick them up and ask if they can keep them to finish reading.

_____________________________

Red S.
AMA 951 Leader Member

(in reply to STLPilot)

Post #: 10

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 2:31:41 PM

BarracudaHockey

Posts: 10815
Joined: 7/13/2003
From: Orange Park, FL, USA
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stickbuilder

Okay, I took the advice of several and read through the July issue. Once again, not much there to interest me. When I got to the District V report, it was Deja Vu all over again (to quote the great Yogi). The report began with, "I attended". Nothing much about Top Gun, except a small blurb about Grame Mears' F-16 and the Thunderbird pilots looking at the model. Greg Hahn made a passing comment about finding a fix for an air flow problem on his gas engine at Top Gun.

If you like the magazine, then fine. I don't feel that it meets my needs, so into the trash can it went, and will be followed by the August issue as well. I did give it a try, and .....Oh-Well

Bill, AMA 4720

I'd rather hear about local issues in Tony's column. I'm sure Top Gun will recieve a full article. Given the latest RC Report just had a full TG feature, and they are the shortest lead time, I would expect MA to be an issue or so behind them.

_____________________________

Andy - Helicopter Forum Moderator
AMA 77227 http://www.jaxrc.com

(in reply to Stickbuilder)

Post #: 11

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 4:18:15 PM

Stickbuilder

Posts: 5410
Joined: 11/20/2005
From: leesburg, FL, USA
Status: online

Possibly, but this issue was reporting on events that were after T/G. I'm not surprised though. The AMA didn't have anyone in attendance to report, other than G.H., and he is too busy to do any reporting. Entrants are as busy as a one armed paper hanger.

Bill, AMA 4720

_____________________________

It's easy, just glue all the pieces together, and sand off everything that doesn't look like an airplane.

(in reply to BarracudaHockey)

Post #: 12

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 4:47:12 PM

carlosponti

Posts: 1049
Joined: 5/14/2003
From: Moore, OK, USA
Status: offline

My only gripe about the district report in my district is that most that is reported on is in Texas. Oklahoma is mentioned maybe once every two or so years and I never see the other states in my district mentioned. if I am going to want to read it they need to spread out to other parts of the district. unfortunately i think that most who run our district live mostly in Texas.

(in reply to Stickbuilder)

Post #: 13

RE: July issue of MA - 6/26/2008 5:12:59 PM

BarracudaHockey

Posts: 10815<