Nay, not so. That is at best a cop out, and at the core, just an excuse. We raised 5 children (all stable, productive members of soceity...all with advanced degrees, and none with outstanding college loans) and now enjoy all 8 Grandchildren. I always found a way to get in a few minutes building time every, Repeat, every day. Some days, more, some days less. None of my children enjoy the hobby, but they all do appreciate the hobby. Two of the Grandchildren are showing an interest in building. As long as that happens to a few in each generation, the hobby will survive. What, no kits? What is wrong with building from plans, or better yet, draw your own plans, and build from scratch, or just make a building tree, and don't use any plans. My models? Always Scale, not an Ugly Stick in the bunch. How do they fly? Extremely well. What do they use for power? All Glow, or gasoline. Do I fly in a Public park? Absolutely not, because there is the opportunity for someone who does not recognize the danger of walking into the path of a powered model airplane to do so. I do, and have always flown at a chartered club facility. They are, by design a much safer place to enjoy this hobby, or when in the military, flew at an approved site on base. Never many spectators around? Oh well, I do this for me to enjoy, and I could care less if you watch me fly or not. I personally feel that most who come to watch model airplanes being flown, come with the expectation of seeing someone crash. Not at all unlike those who attend automobile races in order to see the carnage.

Do I really care if you build your own model, or if you fly a BARF, or a model that you bought from your best friend? Absolutely not. As I have previously stated, I do this for my own enjoyment, and I could really care less what you fly, or even if you fly at all. I see a lot of people showing off the latest BARF, and crowing about it. I equate this to borrowing you big brother's Corvette, and showing off for your friends with it. It's not yours, so what are you bragging about? It's kind of like boating. That group can give you guys lessons on propriety. Several years ago, I bought a boat from a fairly famous boat racer. Even though the boat has been through several engine configurations, and a new gel-coat job, and a complete new interior, it is still known as Paul _ _ _ _ _,s old boat. We don't get bent out of shape over it, that's just the way it is. Personalizing a BARF is, to me like, putting a pair of red silk panties on a Holstein heifer and passing her off as a GO-Go girl. It just does not wash. Several years ago, I sold a large scale model to a gentleman. He did not have the experience to fly it, and so it was sold to someone else. The next year I saw the model at a fly-in. I walked over to the group that was oohing, and ahhing over it, only to hear the Bozo who had bought it bragging about how he built it from scratch. You should have seen the look on his face, when I pointed out the signature on a bulkhead (plainly visible) should I say how quickly he left the area, and the next week, the model was hanging in the LHS for sale? I bought it back, and it still hangs in my home.

Please don't use the excuse of not having time to build. Every opportunity has a cost. If you had rather fly than build, then enjoy it. Don't try rationalizing it. Telling people that you fly BARFs because you don't have the time to build is lame. Tell them the truth.

Bill, AMA 4720