ORIGINAL: allanflowers

For me there were two big barriers. First, having a plane that - although maybe not really competitive - won't embarrass me in front of the other scale builders. Second, being able to fly the thing successfully - again without looking like a moron.
Now that I have attended a few events I realize that both barriers were bogus. A lot of people show up with slightly modified ARFs which they can fly and have a ball. They really aren't competing for the awards but they are still enjoying themselves and learning a lot. The ARFs usually fly fairly well, depending on the plane (In WW-I events, SE-5's are good flyers, DR-I's not).
I wish I had realized this a lot earlier.

Now I have been taking my little Sopwith Pup to a couple of recent scale events. It is not going to win but it is good enough to have some pride in. I am finding that it is more competitive than I would have thought - and that many of the pilots really aren't much better than I am. I should have participated much earlier. It is a lot of fun.
The Pup even got some award (I haven't got it yet because I left the event too early - a friend picked it up for me) at the One Eight Air Force meet in Arizona a few weeks back. Then, last Saturday, it got a second at the Gilman Springs Dawn Patrol (California) with my friend Curtis flying it.
You will be seeing me at every scale event I can get to now!