I remember the Strombecker line of solid models. You glued the parts together and sanded off everything that did not look like an airplane. Had a prop made from aluminum stock, and held to the nose with a wire brad. Then came the Megow's and Comet kits. Testors cement, bannana liquid, and a thin coat of colored dope. 4 strands of rubber, 350 turns and it actually flew, I remember the ground based transmitters (mine was a charley CG, and it cost $250.00 in 1957), and escapements. rudder, elevator and quick blip for throttle. Exhaust gags for the throttle control. I even remember K&B Torpedo Greenheads, Duke Fox's engines, Veco kits, Veco engines, Johnson engines, McCoy redheads for $5.95, Thimble drome engines, Herkimer engines, Holland Hornets, and OK Cubs. I remember Ignition engines with timers run on white gas, 70 weight oil, and broken props. I remember Ambroid, both the glue and the kits. The Ares and the super Whipsaw were neat. I remember Eureka kits, and Bill Effinger's Berkley kits. I remember Jim Martin, Percy Hallock, Chuck Gill, and lots of the others for whom we owe our easy life in this hobby. I remember Sterling kits,Jetco kits, Livewire Champs, Roberts Kits, 3rd line U-Reely's, Magnesium Speed Pans flown from rat traps using Hy Johnson't super tuned engines with pen bladder fuel cells with rubber banded wooden clamps to provide pressure. I remember the Stanzell monoline controls. What I don't remember is becoming an old Fart, remembering this useless stuff. There is still this 14 year old kid inside here that wants a ride to the flying field. Where did the years go?

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1