That's also a delusion. Insurance and lawsuits were part of the landscape back THEN, too. Did you know Comet got sued out of business FOUR times? Just as one example? People often pine for the "good old days", but they are only seeing the fun parts they WANT to remember.

I might not be remembering right, but it seems to me like I have seen AMA ads in other RC Mags before, but don't hold me to that. Most airplane Manuals, at least Sig and Great Planes that I know of have always had a little AMA advertising included in them basically telling the kit builder to check out the AMA. I am not sure about some of these foreign ARF's that are comming in whether they include a little AMA ad in their Manuals or not. I would guess not, since alot of these Planes are World Wide distribution, but I guess Great Planes and Sig stuff comes and goes overseas to. Anyway, IMO a little AMA ad planted in every kit or boxed ARF that is sold within the US whether it is an import or not would not hurt anything. Especially in those Park Flyer kits where the person buying may have never even heard of the AMA. They may not join, but at least they know its there!

I was not stating that as a fact, but more as a guess ET! I was born in 1970! I just read alot of old Mags and stuff like air trails Hobbies for Young Men, and stuff like that. I have alot of old 50's, 60's and 70's hobby mags, and it just seems like peoples attitudes and the things they wrote about were different then they are today. I an just sitting here reading through a June 1955 issue of Air Trail Hobbies. This article I am reading is about a Control Line Summer Camp for kids, and boy you should see all the kids! IMO you would have better luck hosting a Summer Camp for 40 year olds and up then you would for young kids today. I realize that law suits and such probally existed even then, but I doubt all those young kids at that Summer Camp were talking about it. You should see there faces in these pics grinning from ear to ear holding their CL Models. If I could travel in time to show somebody what Model Aviation is about to me, I would go right there where them kids are at that summer camp in June 1955. I figure this young bunch of kids probally still fly to this day, and I figure they was probally in the heigth of there glory in the 60's. Like I said, it was just a guess!

Not to bore everyone to tears, but I would like to share a piece of this article. I think it is good reading!

Written by
Fred Schelter

Air Trails Hobbies
June 1955

Going away to camp for the summer might put some model builders out of business for a couple months, but not these fortunate fellows who attend Camp Nissokone located near Oscoda, Michigan. These campers pack up their models and supplies and take them along.
Since model airplane and model boat building were introduced to the camp's Craft Shop program four years ago, the number of boys who work away in the Craft Shop has more than doubled. Last summer 140 out of 160 boys in camp participated, with model airplane building being the most popular activity.
"Camp has proved to be an ideal place for model building," reports Douglas Salisbury, Camp Director.

skip

Each Summer finds more and more young fellows bringing their models to camp. Sometimes it is a kit that someone could never get around to build or a motor that would never seem to run right. At other times it is a plane almost finished with just a few bugs to be worked out before it is ready for a test hop. Other boys see how much fun the model builders have and join up.
END


Maybe I spend to much time looking at the past, and not enough time looking towards the future, but IMO the world has gone to hell in a handbasket, and I just can't see any real future for Model Aviation or alot of other things for that matter. I guess I am the type of person that , just because something is new, don't mean it is always improved! I think there are alot of good things that were done in the past that would make a good model of how I would like to see things done in the future! If people would just slow down for 10 seconds to actually think about where things are heading, they might come to a similar conclusion!

Easy,
RE: Glory days. I guess that was sort of a sucker punch to some. I have know idea when that is but certainly must have been a time when the AMA members thought that. Does anyone out there have a clue?
Changaroo70.
There is AMA info in every arf and kit I have gotten, foriegn or otherwise. Same thing with my TX's. I have heard of only one add from the AMA in an electric flying mag and outside of membership info it had a nice picture of a plane. A Slow Stick. Zero imagine equals zero results. Why not put someting that looks intriguing to fly? How about a good ole Made In The USA plane?
When was the last time an MA mag didn't have adds catering to the electric flyers in it? Seems that they'll take add money and neglect to see the benefits of advertising in a place flyers would see their add.

Anybody who has ever read through alot of old mags will see that some manufacturer was always hosting a design competition with a cash award. Has AMA ever tried to do this? Have young kids design there own Planes on paper, and submit them to be judged for the chance at a cash award? This must have been a good tool in the past to get kids interested, because this strategy was used in other mags besides those relating to Model Aircraft. In one magazine I can find 3 ads alone that offer a 1st 2nd and 3rd prize for kids to design an aircraft on paper and submit it to be judged for the chance at a small cash award. So what about the AMA placing an ad like this in a non Airplane related magazine that a kid might pick up off the news stand. If AMA is going to do any magazine advertising, I think it should be in Magazines that have absolutely nothing to do with Model Aviation in an attempt to attact new blood, and not just trying to keep recycling the same crowd over and over. Those allready with a love of Model Aviation will get onboard whether there is an ad in Model Airplane News or not. Most people reading these types of mags are fully aware the AMA is there, and throwing all the ads in the world at them is not going to make them join. Reaching out to the unknown is where IMO you will find new members. Retirement Mags, Young Boys and Girls mags, etc.

ckangaroo,
Ya got a point there. Many colleges and Universities do these things. Cars, planes, you name it. Even a Non-Government spaceship. USA got that prize not long ago.
The AMA had recently paid a group to figure out for the AMA what to put in their mag and even what direction the AMA should take. I took it to mean that the AMA has lost their way.

Actually I have to agree with that, but I really don't put any blame on the AMA. I think things are just moving to fast in todays world for the AMA to keep pace. The Hobby is sprouting new roots in various types of airplane construction, a whole encyclopedia's worth of all kinds of various electronic devices going in all different directions. Todays big thing will be replaced by tommorrows big thing. I think the AMA is just in the process of trying to figure out which baskets they should put their eggs in. Things seemed to keep at a nice walking pace within the hobby for years. It was easy for the AMA to keep track of where there Members interest was at. Kit Building and scratch building had been a staple for many years. Radios advanced, but at a steady pace. Electronic technology has always gotten better, but at a steady pace. Now things are changing fast and it seems huge changes are happening almost daily. I think it is a wait and see game right now to see where peoples hearts are finally going to rest in this hobby. Is this new Radio Tech going to be the technology for the next 10 years or so, or will something different be out next year? Are all these people buying Park Flyers going to stick with the hobby, or get bored quickly and call it quits? Will people rekindle a love for kit building, or are ARf's going to continue to always dominate the hobby? There are alot of questions that I, and I am sure those heading the AMA would like to know. I could tell you where I think the hobby is going, but it would only be a guess, and I think right now a guess is the only answer anyone has!

ck,
Things do move fast but it appears to me that the AMA doesn't wish to move as quickly as technology does. If regular folks can keep up the AMA should to. Especially if this is their main reason for existence. Can't promote things you know nothing about. I have been a Park flyer for almost 2 years now. Most of the stuff I buy is arf. I have built stick planes and am currently modifying a Guillows rubber band model to full house controls. Very time consuming and something I'm not great at. But I do find it fun. I like arfs because of that. My building skills aren't very good and arfs have come a long way. Radios are going to change very quickly in the near future while the AMA is still talking about the dangers of Lipos. Waay behind the times. Those that enjoy building their own planes seem to have a good selection out there. I wouldn't know one way or the other. One thing is for certain, a lot of Hobby Shops don't carry many kits. I still think the AMA is lost and also think they had better not roam the desert for too long. As for the new guys buying the RTF's, if just 10% hang in there, the number is staggering.
We may find out in just a year or two which way the AMA went and if they made the right choice.

Hi,
It was completely different back in the 50's and 60's. You could fly almost anywhere. I made up saddlebags for my bike with my model stuff in it and ride to the school yard, holding my plane in one hand. Used a stooge, and never was chased, and these were the days before mufflers. In fact people were interested and asked questions. Flew in grocery store parking lots on Sunday, since the blue laws back then forced the stores to be closed.
Flew free flight in almost any field or park that was big enough, and most of them were, since the planes were powered by either .020 Pee Wee's or .049 Holland Hornet. In fact, I was flying a High Thrust Viking in a lot that was part of the city park's department and it flew away. After about an 1/2 hour, the phone rang and it was from a person who found my model: he was cutting his lawn and the model glided down in his front yard, almost at his feet. My dad drove me over to get it and the man wouldn't take any reward for calling me, in fact I explained the model and the hobby to him as he was interested. No talk of a lawsuit, filing a police report against me, or anything else that would happen to me if it happened today.
Funny you should mention Air Trails, hobbies for young men (imagine having a title like that today) that's where I learned to put silkspan on wet, instead of dry and shrinking it with water from an atomizer (old perfume bottle). My mom LOVED that bit of knowledge!
People can say what they want, but the hobby was completely different than it is today.
BRG,
Jon

Jon

I am always on the lookout for those old hobby mags. I like to build and they just have some of the best articles you can't find anywhere else. As a matter of fact I am thinking of ordering this Guillows Trixy out of the 1956 issue of Air Trails. Its only $4.95. I just need to find a 1956 Postage Stamp. Make em think my order has been lost in the mail for 50 years!LOL

Thanks guys for a pleasant discussion. I truely hope that some good comes from this one and other discussions where the name calling isn't over whelming. I gotta tell ya as a park flyer I get rather insensed by some posters that referr to us as fads or worse.
Thanks again.
Lou

Some random thoughts:
I was born in 68, and read Fifties Air Trails same as you!
I built a flew a trixter pixy, too bad, I had a case of them a few years ago, you missed out!
Check out the Super Cub in my gallery, it's another Andrews/Guillows kit, from the same series as the trixter pixy...
Summer camp(in the seventies) did a TON of modelling, we did all the guillows rubber jobs, plus all the great Goldberg 1/2a CL jobs...and rockets...LOTS of rockets...

Lou

In my eyes Models are Models, and the fact that you fly a Park Flyer is no different than any other type of Flying. I have actually enjoyed them all from building Free Flight Planes, then onto Rubber Band Power which I thought was just awesome. Me and my Brother had a Rubber Band powered plane that used to take about a half hour to whind up by hand. We then got smart and started using a drill. Gentle Lady Gliders were the thing for awhile, and I loved those old plastic Cox control line Planes I had. Those were a ball! I know fly mainly RC, but I own everything from small electrics up to 1/4 scale nitros! I just enjoy them all, and at different points in time each was just as important to me as the other. Model Aviation in any form is all about enjoyment and doing what you enjoy doing!

I never noticed that Cub in your gallery the other day. I think I built one almost like that years ago, but mine was the Guilllows Super Cub Rubber Band Power, and the wingspan was somewhere between 3-4ft if I remember right. I remember the plans also had an option to make a working door, and I didn't do it and wished I had of. It was a neat Plane, and wished I still had it. Would make a fun electric conversion, or small nitro project. I have a 1/4 scale sig cub in my hangar, and a 40 size cub in my hangar(gallery) that I probally wouldn't miss as much as I miss that little guillows cub I had. Had a lot of fun with that thing! Not to wonder to far off topic, but I am curious as to what yours is covered with? Is yours done with tissue and dope, or is it fabric or plastic? Looks neat regardless, and for some reason planes like that impress me more than any ole 40% gas giant arf 3d machine!

Yours was the famous Comet kit(taylorcraft or aeronca) with the opening doors...

This one was silk and dope. Big mistake on this plane, too much weight. Great finish, though, has the real sensuous silk and many coats of dope feel. It won't fly, and is about to get stripped out and become a wall hanger. Was designed for the Infant 02 and FF or CL, 30" span, about two-and-a-half ounce weight.

Hi guys, I just found this post and I do realize this is an old posting but if anyone is intersted in getting a Trixy kit; We will be offering laser cut Trixy Kits with updated cad plans for only $92.10 plus $15.00 shipping

WING SPAN 46"
WING AREA 445 sq. in
FUSELAGE LENGTH: 28.29" (MINUS RUDDER)
ENGINE SIZE .25-.35


*comes with a 1/8" split wire gear not aluminum gear.


our website is: http://www.builtrightflyright.com/

I bought my first Model Airplane News in 1945, and still have it. There has indeed been a change in society over the years. I have, a few years past, been involved with groups of kids and Delta Darts. There are kids whose parents will not allow them to use a knife. We also did some control line trainer flying, with parent or responsible person required. Got a few of the parents to fly as well. I don't know that we produced any modelers, but at least some people who had had some exposure.