Wish I could help ya out there Gary. That wasn't a magazine I had. I found that here on RCU someplace!

Ken

It wasn't mentioned by anyone because it stopped operations except for the plan service over three years ago.

If you like the slick shiny magazines that have all the ads, and the models are tested by writers who never met a model airplane that they did not like, then why not save the money, and order the latest Horizon, or Tower Hobbies catalog. That is about all that you are getting anyway. If you want the unvarnished truth (with one notable exception) then get a subscription to R/C Report. You will (for the most part) get the plain truth about a model. There is one reviewer who has fallen in love with the ARF's and even when he does post the problems of the model, he kind of glosses over the issue, and in the end, it is a good plane. I know that It's hard to bite the hand etc....But that's why you wind up with ARF planes that have marginal glue joints, and crappy covering. If there were more outlets who would write the truth, you might see some of the problems corrected.

I guess, if you want to know what's really going on in the R/C world, sites such as this one is the place to go. Bear in mind that normally people who make negative posts here on RCU seem to have an axe to grind. There are some sacred cows here too, and if you speak of them in anything but a positive manner, you will be called to task by the others who think that they are the greatest. You pays your money, and you takes your choice.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

I've been around some guys who work in the magazine business and I can tell you that there are those who are straight up and those who play the game. I say that planes are like computer programs, let them be out long enough and everyone else will find the problems for you. I bought an Ultra R/C Giles and I knew EVERYTHING about the plane that could be a problem and even some things that aren't. Example, guys put a heavy gasser on the nose of the thing and then grouse about the landing gear breaking. Agreed, it is fragile but placing an anchor on the front of the thing only encourages the inevitable. Read as much as you can in both the magazines and the forums but don't believe everything you read. The truth is there in due time... for those who will listen to it.

You are correct. Now how do these magazines remain in publication, while other (maybe better) magazines bite the dust? Look at Scale R/C Models. Great magazine, even if we did have to put up with Norm's tirades, and it's gone. I guess it's the almighty advertizing buck at work again. Tell outright lies to your readership to preserve the advertizers account. Never mind what it does to the hobby. As I said before, if your magazine never met a model airplane that they didn't like, it's time to move on to another publication.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

Stickbuilder,

I've wondered that sooo many times. But look around you, why do companies that turn out less than stellar product remain in business and even thrive when guys who go the extra mile can't seem to make it. I'm not saying that if a company has a good year, then something must be suspect, but many times I've seen great opportunities for customer satisfaction go down in flames. Truth is, there are two sides to business, the store front and the accounting room. If both don't succeed, the business can't succeed. BUT (and I HATE this part) the truth is, if you're gonna have one part as the red-headed step-child that gets neglected, make it the storefront.

I've seen some great magazines hit the dirt simply because the accounting books couldn't keep up. Let's face it, we read 'em for fun/entertainment, they do it as a business. Now, if everyone that is producing the magazine is equally passionate about the subject, it can be great but, again, if the pencil pushers can't make a case for it, no matter how passionate THEY are, it won't survive for long.

Enough of my banter, let's go out flying!

Is it the way that picture was taken, or is she cross-eyed??? Personally I use the free mags they send me to mix epoxy on!!

Magazines come and go, but R/C Report keeps on chugging along. Gordon does accept advertizing, but I don't think that the ads are what drives the publication. May be why it has been so successful, when others have become nothing more than another Tower/Hangar 9 catalog.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

R/C Report magazine

I would like to thank everyone who spoke up in favor of R/C Report. We, who write for R/C Report, like to think that we are the magazine that people read, as opposed to just looking at the pretty pictures. We do have some color photos.

Kit Reviews: Most of the reviews are done by Gordon Banks, the owner, editor and publisher, Dick Petit and myself. Dick does the giants and scale planes. Gordon picks the planes he likes. I do most of the acro type plane kit reviews. This is my 8th year of writing for R/C Report and doing kit reviews, and not once has Gordon ever told me what to write or how to shade a review. He does say things like, “spell out your numbers,” and, “use more commas,” but that’s what editors do.

As Gordon has reported in his editorial column, the three of us each have our own style and emphasis for our reviews. As I recall, Dick is very concerned on the construction, as befits a scale flier. Gordon really checks the instructions as an editor should. Me, I report a lot of how the plane flies. I figure if you are going to fly an acro plane, sticking an ARF together is a snap. The reader probably is most concerned on how it performs in the air. Certainly is the instructions are poor or there is a problem in assembly, I do report that. Each of us has our biases. For example, I fly planes fairly hard, so I like good hardware and I do not normally use clevices with plastic pins. In my RC lifetime, I have broken too many. I invariable replace them.

Fun Aerobatics Column: In my column, I cover a single acro maneuver every month. It is definitely not a pattern column. Included is the R/C Report Aerobatics card, a section, printer front to back that you can cut out, laminate and take to the field. The card summarizes what you need to teach yourself the maneuver along with common errors and airplane set-up.

The second half of my column is a monthly feature and may be aerodynamics explained for the novice, a mini kit review of a plane I bought myself, an experiment I have conducted or some other item of interest.

My column is slanted toward the beginning to intermediate pilot. I occasionally put in a 3D maneuver, but most maneuvers are what the regular flier can learn with a Stick or other sport plane. Many can be done with a trainer. I have just started the maneuver list over again with a basic loop and aileron roll for trainers. I run a list of maneuvers and features in every December issue. Back issues are available from www.rcreport.ws.

Ed,

Thanks for all your years of effort. I have a very good friend who does a column in R/C Report. Dick Watz, is as good a scale competitor as has ever taken pen to paper. I can't wait to see how he comes out with the C-195. I have wanted to do this one for years. The guy who used to do the flight sequences for the old Sky King TV show grew up next door to me, and was the Chief Pilot for Cessna. He would fly in to see his Mom about twice a month, and used to fly in with a 195 a lot. Then the 310 came along, and he would land one of those in our pasture as well. I never did like the 310 as much as the 195. I guess that was the last Cessna with a soul. The pilot's name? Bill Fergueson. Still alive and kicking, and lives half the year Down Under, and the other half in Nashville.

By the way, thank you for your extended service to our Country. And thanks for your column in the best magazine out there. I wouldn't own up to it in front of Gordon, but he is an asset to our hobby as well. Hope to see you at Top Gun this coming year.

Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1

Take a close look at her bikini bottoms. It looks like its falling off