Eid

I don't think I have heard or read anyone saying you contravened any of the rules for entry to the WJM.

Through either hard work or good fortune you are in the position of being able to pay the manufacturer of your kit to build you two near perfect examples of the Hawk. I am sure that you are sensitive enough to realise that alone will excite a cetain amount of jealousy among some of those not in your position. I am also sure that David Gladwin is not one of those.

You are quite correct, or course, to state that there were other competitiors in open class who had their builder's with them and I am quite sure some of the models were just as costly as yours just as there may have been models in individual class which were not built by the pilot.

We cannot halt progress, and it is now the way of the world that money buys success in many fields and we should not forget that someone who builds his own model and spends hundreds of hours on it would have also spent a huge sum of money if he was to value his time at a realistic craftsmans rate.

I have to say that I agree with David in lamenting the loss of the builder of the model rule. Unfortunately this is very difficult to police as we are relying on the honesty of the supposed builder. I do believe, however, that the new bonus system goes some way to addressing the issue and, as I have commented in the post prior to yours, models such as Steve's Gloster Whittle will be justly rewarded for their originality and skilled construction.

I hope to see you again at a future WJM.

Best regards

John