Now that is when modeling was done by modelers! Damn kids were smart as well as talented back then. Of course they never heard of self esteem

Hey Mode One-

You pretty well answered your own question. What AMA needs DESPERATELY is a change in leadership at the top. That is going to happen in this election cycle however people vote - the incumbent isn't in the running; either of the candidates posting here would be a vast change for the better; the 3rd candidate selected by whatever occult criteria was applied by the nominating committee and who isn't posting here is a shoo in for Also Ran, somewhere behind a write-in that has declared his non-candidacy (buying a dandy new bass boat makes that statement rather affirmatively).
Hard to get worked up about AMA issues at a time when the key requisite to moving toward addressing/resolving them is virtually a done deal awaiting the formality of a ballot count.

Abel

Right on Abel. The AMA is in good shape in IMHO, especially with the fact they decided to push through a parkflyer program, a little late, but better then never.

As far as leadership at the top, they'll come and go, but you can never take away what Muncie has to offer no matter how much the drama queens rant and rave. These guys at the top, the EC are not the AMA, they are just elected members who work for free. I respect what they do, but I don't reflect any of their bad decisions on where the AMA stands as a whole. But of course give them lots of credit for their good decisions, which I see more thnn bad. But this was the office they chose to run for so either bad or good falls on them, they wanted it.

I once said that Dave Brown is not the AMA, he's just an elected official and got a whole bunch of hissing for it. But it's no different then saying GWB is America, which we know is not true.

The AMA isn't going anywhere and obviously it's not in as bad as shape as most here WANT it to be.

Hey Red! They had all kinds of self-esteem. They may not have known what it was, but they had it. When a kid wanted something, he/she went out and EARNED it. Selling papers, mowing lawns, and whatever it took to save that $3.00 for a kit that had glue and lacquer in it. Then that $12.00 motor was something else but it was well cared for while it operated.

Building a FF or CL model on a worktable of a large cardboard box side, while sitting on the floor in one's bedroom, and then sliding it under the bed when not working on it, using the most basic tools -- did you ever "drill" motor mounts using a wire heated on the stove burners -- and cutting the fingers with that razor blade used for cutting balsa parts, and many things that either you and I could not now do, but we did them back then. That was self esteem at its best. Kids did what needed to be done to get the things they wanted. Mom and Dad had other things to take care of, like earning a living.

OTOH, I wonder just how "smart" some of us were.

What the AMA needs are more parents like we had that gave us the tools we needed for birthdays and Christmas. Of course the single edge razor blade cache was discovered in a house reconstruction in the bathroom wall. Enough for every kid I knew and built models with. I think I got this one on my 10th birthday so I wouldn't have to borrow my mothers drill each time I needed a hole made.

Horrace:

You are so right. Back when I was a kid, we were coming out of the worst recession this country had ever experienced. Nobody had any money, my family included. When we kids wanted something that cost a dollar - we went out and earned it. In 1941 my two brothers and I started a paper route over a three mile section of country road, that had about thirty houses. We earned one penny for each paper delivered, and we either rode bikes to deliver - or in the wintertime we had to walk. A round trip was six miles. That translated into ten cents per day, or seventy cents per week for each of us. Besides that we mowed lawns with a push mower (reel type) for a quarter, and we picked blackberries to sell. We did whatever we could to earn additional pennies to keep us in the hobby. Back then, a penny was worth something, believe it or not. A 10 x 4 prop cost 35 cents, so we learned to splice two broken ones into one good one; it was a matter necessity.

I saved the pennies and bought my first gas model kit in 1941 - the Comet Zipper, for $3.95. My parents scrimped to buy me an Ohlsson 23 engine for $16.95 to put in it.

We cut rubber-bands from old innertubes. As you say, we drilled holes in wooden engine mounts by bending a nail to 90 deg., then holding it with a pair of pliers in the gas cooking stove to heat it red hot, and burned the holes through the wood. The only cutting tool we ever had was a single edge razorblade, because back then, every part of the model was printed on wood that needed to be cut out, exactly on the line. There wasn't any room for error, as the parts were printed very close together. X-acto knives hadn't been invented yet. The sandpaper was of extremely poor quality, but it was all we had.

We only use airplane glue, Ambroid, Testors, or Comet for everything, which came in 5 cent and ten cent sizes. Epoxies were non-existent. So were the white and yellow glues. Our smaller models were covered with Jap tissue and coated with bananna oil. Does anybody else remember bananna oil? Bigger models were covered with silkspan or bamboo paper. Anybody remember bamboo paper? It was heavy and hard to work with.

Compared to the models I build today, those olden models must have looked like they were built with a hatchet and a cross-cut saw. Even so, we marveled at the workmanship, and the way they flew. Back then, there was nothing to compare to, so a finished model was considered a job well done, no matter how it looked.

When we went to a free-flight contest, there was a "builder of the model rule". You built what you flew. If you didn't build it, you were not allowed to fly it in competition. Even as a junior, eleven years old, I not only had to build the model, I had to start my own engines, adjust the needle valve and spark acvance, and launch the model. All you helper was allowed to do was to hold the model while you worked on it.

Those were the days. Kids were never in trouble, for they were too busy earning pennies to satisfy their thirst for things they wanted, knowing that was the only way they would get it. It's a different world today, and I'm not sure it is all for the better.

Gee, I thought they looked pretty good.

Red,
I am not as old as you but one of my first introductions to aeromodeling was by the father of one of my friends in school. He built the huge (at least to me) rubber powered models which he covered with dope and tissue. He had one of the hand drills like you show in the previous post, and he had a hook on the end of it. He used the drill to turn his rubber bands. For some reason that stuck in my memory and when I saw your picture I remember thinking how cool that was. My friend and I would carry his large models to the top of the fire tower in our county and turn them loose to watch them circle around in the field, sometimes not to successfully. The dad and younger brother would stay on the ground and chase the big plane as it circled the field. Good times for sure. If I ever run up on Mr. McMurrin again, I will have to tell him what an impact he made in my life.
Tommy

Great Post Jim. I very much enjoyed it.

That didn't happen to be a paper called "Grit" or something like that, did it? I did that for a year way back when. I seem to recall it was just after the war. There was still "Open Range" back in the country of East TX then, and dogs with a few rather mean BULL cattle out along that road. Can you even think of a mom allowing a 9 year old out in the country on a bike on dirt roads doing such. I couldn't imagine it or allow it now. But we did learn a lot about life that school books ignore today.

Maybe that is why so many young people expect a pristine flying field, cared for those Old Flarts that "....can't fly anymore."!!

Now Jim you and I have to watch this fellow Red! He is probably a "snob" 'cause he had a drill when he was 10. Dad-burn city slicker he is.

Hey Doc, such a drill used for winding rubber models is a rather expensive drill. Most had the big gear wheel with just gear on it. After a bit of winding the gears would loosen up and slip off the outside of the wheel. The only ones that worked well for any time had a ridge around the gear wheel. They were expensive. (OTOH I found one in a garage sale some years ago and got it for a few bucks, but don't have anything to use it for.) Funny how little things like that I can remember but now where did I lay my electric drill down? [:-]

Anyone really remember what AMA really needs?

It prolly was expensive, he had migrated down to the South from Ohio (my dad always thought he was just another funny Yankee).
And I too sold Grit when I was kid, along with Rosebud salve and Christmas cards. Sold enough salve one summer to get a model rocket set. I was king for a day....

Funny when you think about all the things AMA needs, it is really hard to put a finger on what got us interested in these things to start with. It really was a different time, I mean remember when we were kids (some of us) everything stopped so we could watch the moon shots, and now they hardly even show the shuttle launchs on TV. Society becomes desensitized to some things, not that that is bad, but in reality times do change and sometimes we have to change along with them or we will get left behind.
Tommy

Seeing that you only see great pics like you guys have shown in MA magazine, they at the very least, need to keep MA chugging right along and continue to deliver the only magazine that keeps it's roots right in their members faces every month. I'm 100% opposed to anyone who thinks that MA should change any kind of course which they hold now. If MA needs membership dues in lieu of advertising dollars ... so be it, even if it was fully funded by AMA members by the dues it would still cost each of us less then any other rag out there. If they can improve their current "situation" then god bless them, if not, keep moving forward.

We didn't have the Rosebud salve, but we did have Clover Brand salve, along with Grit newspapers, and the all occasion cards whose company would send you a catalog so that you could select the prize that you wanted for selling an entire carton of boxes of cards. I remember picking a P-40 model airplane for selling a carton of 24 boxes of cards. Clover brand salve let you win prizes as well, but nothing as good as a glow engined plane. I mowed lawns with a homemade power mower (used a Maytag twin cylinder 2 stroke washing machine engine) that used a belt drive to a spindle that had a blade made from a car spring. The damn thing must have weighed 100 pounds, but it was better than a reel push mower. I picked up bottles and returned them for the deposit, collected scrap metal and most anything a kid could do to earn a little money to spend on model airplanes. I bought so many, that I'm surprised that Comet and Megow went out of business. I ordered tons of kits from America's Hobby Center in New York, and when I could get to Nashville (one hour on the bus), I would always go to Burk's which had a hobby shop on the second floor. No, kids today, don't know what it means to scrimp and save to be able to pursue this hobby. Most of them haven't a clue what a longeron is, much less what it does. Sad to say.

Bill, AMA 4720

You modern kids. In the early 40's everything stopped when an airplane flew over so we could consult our pocket aircraft ID guide and make sure it wasn't German or Japanese - and this was in rural upstate NY, not exactly a target of significance. Once in a while someone from the area in pilots training would buzz the town in a B-25 or something equally impressive.

Horrace: Thanks for the compliment. The paper we delivered was the Olean Times Herald on Mon. thru Sat., and the Buffalo Courier Express on Sundays. We got the "Grit" in the mail. It was delivered once a week, and we called it the "Pennsylvania Liar", published in Williamsport, PA.

STL: I agrtee with you on the magazine. I like it a lot. Back in 1976 when I put the Quadra 35 engine on the market in the USA, I advertised it in MAN, RC M, and MA. I paid twice as much for an ad in both MAN and RCM as I did in MA. One day I woke up to the fact that everybody in AMA got the MA magazine, and only about 10% of them in total ponied up for the other two magazines, so I dropped my ads in both MAN and RCM - and my business never slowed down.
I appreciated the lower ad rates in MA, and ran one monthly for eleven years. I too would pay extra if necessary to keep MA magazine coming my way.

RED: As Hoss says - you are probably a snob, because you had a hand drill, but I know that really isn't true. I remember getting one of those later in my modeling career, and using it to wind rubber models. We flew rubber in competition, and my best model was a Clodhopper with a single blade folding prop. Believe it or not, I still have that very same prop hanging with my trophies, but the model is long gone. Attached is a photo of that prop. Note the loop on the front for winding. Also one note - your models look quite professional. Who built them for you?? (joke).

Second photo attached is a Clodhopper, for those of you that aren't familiar.

And finally, an ad and a photo of a model that I am currently building - about 95% complete. Still needs the windshield and wheels. It is a "Sparky" from 1941.

We're way off track with these posts, but to me they are a lot more interesting. I hate to argue. I'd rather tell and read other peoples stories that got them into modeling.

Off track? It couldn't be any more on track. After all the whining and crying the only real problems the AMA has are, well basically none. When we all come together as a group instead of a single agenda the smoke is not so thick. Thanks guys ... keep it coming!!

I still use and love my "Egg Beater" drill! I think they are still available. I have a Black & Decker cordless drill that is all but shot because the battery packs (which are still available) cost almost as much as a new drill motor! I just can bring myself to throw the danged thing away and buy a new one. They make the battery pack so you have to break it to get at, and replace the batteries. Right now, I think I'm going to break into them and see if i can replace the cells! If I can't fix, I'm really not out anything.

People here are claiming Model Aviation is loosing money. Is this true, or just another conjur from the folks that feel $58.00 is just to much money to spend supporting model avaition on a national level? I think MA is the best magazine available! I like to read watching TV or just before going to sleep. I will never want to do all my reading here, on a "vibrating" immobile CRT screen!

Have you looked on e-bay for replacement packs? I found some for my Skill drill that were new and about half the price they were at the local Home Depot.

Great suggetsion Red! Thanks, I'm going there right now!

Mode, just bust that sucker open & put some massive cells in that bad boy....
if it is a 7.2 consider a LiPo conversion to nominal 7.4 [8D]

I couldn't find battery packs for my drill on Ebay. I'm considering opening the packs up and seeing if I can replace the batteries.

My DeWalt finally gave up the ghost yesterday. The battery packs (both of them) would no longer accept a charge. Went to Lowe's and they wanted about $70.00 for each pack. I wound up buying a new Makita with 2 packs and a flashlight to replace the DeWalt. I couldn't see paying more for 2 packs than I originally paid for the drill with 2 packs.

Bill, AMA 4720

They are going on E-Bay for $40-$50 for new Dewalt DC9096 packs.

That's the problem! Why are the battery packs so expensive?

Maybe we can go back to the original idea behind this thread. Here is an unanswered question from above:

Mode One, all you have to do is go to the AMA Web site, Members Only, and read the audit reports. The same info has been partially repeated each month in Doug Holland's EVP column. (Basically Holland takes the easy way out and just copies other people's work each month.)

If you can read an Auditor's report and correlate between all of the separate financial statements, then YOU can ascertain the annual loss of member-funds for MA definitely does exceed $1,000,000.00 mark.

>>>"I think MA is the best magazine available!" <<<
It darn well SHOULD be. As an example, let's say you are producing a commercial item Widget XXX and you stake your daily bread / earning a living for your production. Now Joe Blow starts producing a very similar item and the government starts providing Joe an amount of 1/2+ of his production costs. As you are working in the fair market place, but the competition is totally subsidized as far as turning a large profit, then you, sir, will soon be out of customers, or out of profit.
WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? WOULD YOU HAVE GREAT SYMPATHY FOR JOE?

That is the same scenario being played out as AMA/MA has a captive customer list. Free Market magazines have to devote many more pages to advertising thus cutting their good reading, and definitely cut all AMA support.

The only people that could possibly condone AMA/MA's commercial magazine operation, under member subsidy, just have to be entwined within the Marxists, Socialists, and/or other such restructure vermin that are tearing down our capitalist society.

EDITED: Sentence structure.

Cool down there Hoss ol' buddy!