Originally Posted by
buzzard bait
The loss of builders certainly is disappointing, isn't it, Michael? I used to look forward to our Mall Show every year because you'd see what people built during the winter to fly the coming summer. Now it just looks like a trade show. I still enjoy building, but in our club it's mostly ARFs now, and most of those are electrics, which sound awful to me. Looking back, the 70s to the 90s was a real golden age for RC as a hobby. I never imagined how quickly those days would disappear. I have to say that some members have gotten into some pretty amazing electronics, but that's not what attracted me to the hobby; I'll keep doing what I do.
So enjoy your Kav, show us photos, and we'll just share online.
Jim
Jim, you are so right and when you ask Tower Hobbies/Hobbico where did all the great kits they have no answer for you. I called Great Planes when I found out they swallowed up Andrews and asked if they where going to continue making Lous kits and I was told "No, we threw all of the die cutting machines in the trash."I couldn't believe that they would do that then I thought this Hobbico! I know they kept the Aero Master Biplane and updated it but it was not the same airplane. They just act like nothing has happened to this hobby and are happy when I give them my cash. they also have hurt the hobby shops nation wide due to fact that they don't support these shops. I've heard this from several hobby shop owners that I used to knew over the years.
I purchased my Kavalier from Sig back in June of this year. I have several kits to build and an Andrew's A-Ray which is almost ready to cover! When I get this Kavalier done and my A-Ray covered I am going to start a Tower Hobbies Kaos 40 build. I am currently flying a N.E A Trainaire 20 that I got at an AMA club swap meet back in 1995. Its a very cool little airplane to fly with my 20 year old OS 25 sf glow engine. It has a lot of hanger rash from being moved all over the country the last 20 year. But it still flys pretty darn good for 22 year old airplane. My old mentor used to tell me to see an model RC airplane that you built with your own hands fly straight off the board with out having to trim it out or adding something to make it fly was the great thrill to him! I still agree with him even though he is not with us anymore.
I love the new technology that is being offered in radio controls now. its nice to have one radio to fly up to 20 model airplanes one at time. In the old days if you wanted to fly more than one airplane you had to buy a complete new radio setup. Now you just buy a receiver and a battery and servos for each aircraft and bind it to your TX. I am one of three to four guys that still builds where I fly. The rest of them fly drones, ARFs and other things that doe not intrest me at all!. Two months ago I took off for the first time in 11 years and it was so cool to see it fly after all this time. I get a lot of complements at my field about my trainer. I hope to get some more people interested in building.
Take Care
Michael