I had to remove my girl [] . But, likewise, Pickupsticks, I always love my RCU brothers, and these little discussions always makes the members more "personal" to me almost puts a face with the names here on RCU. I have really enjoyed are conversation too, can't wait to see everyones future projects.

Talk to everyone later, till then keep the beat goin.

Hi Guys,
I don't often post here on RCU, but I find these forums extremely helpful. On this subject, I couldn't help but give my input.
It is my opinion that those who are trying to be "PC" are bending to a minority. I feel that the majority of RC modelers would prefer for the kits to be historically accurate. However, the few that may be offended yell the loudest, you know the old squeeky wheel thing!
I believe it is up to the majority to start speaking up.
What has happened in the past cannot be changed. If we do not educate, then we are damned to repeat it! As scale modelers, we are in a sense history teachers. Why not use our hobby to educate younger modelers?
Sorry, just had to speak up!
Kevin

Ya have ta admire the enthusiasm (drummer)!

That drummer kills. I think the point has been made.....I for one will keep it real no matter who it hurts , offends, makes smile , crys , laughs or even pees their pants. The joy inour hobby comes froom bring ing something to life...again. We are historians, we are artists, we are hot heads, we are realists. Its a shame when the world or the small minority like the movie says, "You cant handle the truth" but the truth is just that, the truth.I am just glad that this thread has opened our minds and our eyes to the small details which is what we deal in, the details.

I concure Tony.
Happy Holidays all

Hey Burl, I'm from Btown as well!!! Hows the fog by you?

Fog is terrible Kevin! where do you fly at? and what do you fly?

Burl,
Sorry it took me so long to reply, but I had to watch my Dolphins beat the Patriots!
I am just getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus, but I used to fly at Mesa Marin most of the time. I flew at Panama a few times, but it was always too crowded. Right now I have just started building the TF P-40. I sold all my gear a while ago, so i have to start all over again.
I saw on another thread that beautiful 109 of yours. Where do you fly? My guess is Brimhall, but i may be wrong.
It's cool to see someone from the hometown on here.
Merry Christmas!!!
Kevin

Hey guys, we need to tip our hats to SkyShark models. If you check out their add on this list, you can see that they are not being driven by the hot air of the PC crowd. Their Me-109 or is it BF-109 has the swastika on its tail. Any other manufacturers true to the scalle modelers out there? Maybe that is why we dont see as many axis models being produced by the big manufactures......just a thought but not true of course.

I agree!! I am very impressed with their web site, and will be ordering from them after Christmas

Kevin, thanks, the 109 is a PCM 109, 1/4 scale, swastikas and all!
I fly at the Greenfield site (Panama lane). I also just joined the new linited
flying site in Arvin.

drop me a line at [email protected] if you need any help on the P40
or anything.

Thanks Burl, I appreciate that.
My e-mail is [email protected]. Would love to see that big 109 fly! I promise I won't be offended by the swastikas...lol

You know, it's kind of funny we haven't seen one of these threads regarding the nose art on Greg Hahns new C-47 being blurred out in one of the recent magizines.

One of my favorite movies kind of fits into this thread. If one watches Empire of the Sun, we may learn more about a time in world history and much about ourselves, especially us big kid modelers.

The story of Jim and what appears to be just a love for airplanes goes much further. It is obvious from the start that Jim is an airplane fanatic, the Japanese have arrived in China and have brought their cutting edge fighters with them. Jim is thrilled and threatens to join the Japanese Air Force. Of course this does not happen and he is interned.

So where am I going with this.

Yes Jim loves airplanes but the fact that he gives honour and respect to the Japanese as well as the Allied forces throughout the movie is the key. In fact he receives more respect from the Japanese at times then the American ' Bassie ' . Jim has no real clue who is right or wrong in this battle, only that there are brave combatants risking their lives for their beliefs. Chivalry I suppose ?

"You're British Jim" and his response "I know, I've never been there"

I tend to look at modeling like this, It's not the country or it's ways that I see. It's the beauty of the aircraft, the personal human factor and the stories that go with them. In Empire you see the common bond we all have, the love of flight and the respect for bravery regardless of the cause.

When at the field, I always hope that someone ask about my planes. It gives me a chance to share what history I know on the subject and to tell the story that relates the bravery and hounor as well as the tragedy of sacrifice. It kind of brings home the fact that in the end war is a terrible thing.

S1

We get calls every once in a while from people who are upset that we have swastikas on our pictures. We usually just tell them that since they are decals, they have the option of using them or not. The funny thing is, none of these people have ever purchased a plane!! I know there are quite a few people who are offended by our historical representations - not only of the markings but the planes themselves. They have the right to be offended, just as we have the right to produce the planes with the scale markings. That's the great thing about living in America!

It is illegal to display it in Germany. We do sell quite a few kits to Germany through our distributors but have never had a problem with our packaging. I'm sure the distributors block out the swastika on the box before they sell the kits.

Mike

Mike, you guys just keep doing what your doing. I plan on buying one of your kits real soon. SO Mike, how do you guys decide what kits you are coming out with and how do you do your research on them. I think you guys have taken the .60 size warbird to another level. Your choice of subjects is outstanding and your product is top of the line from what I am reading and hearing. Any hints as to what your next release will be? If you want my opinion it wouldbe something like a Russian bird, perhaps a mig or yak to round out the selections.

An interesting side note, a little off subject but it does make one think.

My boss at the Hobby shop is a proud Welshman, having lived near Bristol during the War as a child. When we had the 9/11 attacks it seemed to stir up memories for him.

Knowing that I am a WWII buff and my beliefs on combatants, he asked me how I felt about my feelings now that I was on the receiving end. I honestly could not provide an answer, I was just stunned. He compared the attacks to the blitz. Cowardly as the 9/11 attacks seem, both sides inflicted the same kind of attacks on civilians durng the war.

It really made me think about my modeling and what I was trying to achieve.

Can you imagine modeling an airliner from that terrible event ? I guess that's how some view luftwaffe aircraft and their markings..........

Makes you really think further.....

S1

I couldn't see a problem with doing one of the airliners. It wasn't the airliners doing, or the flight crews, they didn't have a choice so it would be honorable, IMO, to model the airliner. But I see your point, there are those who just want to focus the bad things that come from a tragic event.

On a side note, We have modeled many of the Japanese flightleaders planes that attacked Pearl Harbor.

The Swastica is baned from many places here in the US. I have displayed my models at schools, but the ones with the Swastica are not allowed. Not allowed also are models from the Civil War that are showing the Confederate Flag. To go one step further, the school system wouldn't allow the British Union Jack on one model because it "looked" like the Confederate Flag and could encourage racism.

These posts are good in that we get to vent our frustration with censurship. We may think we are encouraging the education of history, but there are those out there that want to toot their "goody" horn and make sure that we don't "upset" the minority and the ones who want to remain uneducated, the ones who want to encourage the thought that the world is a horrible place and that we must all hide from our mistakes and not aknowledge the good things, such as advanced technology, that came from war. I can display a B-17 with a naked lady on it, but not a FW190 with a Swastica.

What a strange world we live in.

Scott

I think a naked lady is natural and a thing of beauty, comparing that to a Nazi swastika is really not the same. The censorship of the human form has always baffled me.

I do agree with you that we should not hide history, it should be out in the open so that we have a chance to discuss it and learn from it.

They really banned the Jack ? That's really an uneducated decision. It could have been an opportunity to discuss English history or Civil war and it's reasons.

S1

Let it die, just because someone has different world views than you doesn't mean there "uneducated". FYI the NEO-Nazi group is still alive and going strong, type in Neo Nazi on Google and see what all comes up and they still use the swastika to spread hate, Thats a FACT. No the world is not a horrible place but horrible things happen every day. Asked James Byrd Jr. who was drug to death a few years ago by white supremist in Jasper Tx. I don't think anyone is arguing the technology, thats why there are so many Germany planes available as kits, arfs, and plans, however there is still a lot of controversy with the swastika that is all anyone is saying.

Last night I had to remove a picture of a girl because someone here thought it was offense, (and I didn't complain at all) well I came from a Woman, was breast feed by a woman, and don't think naked chicks should be offensive to anyone. So I am reposting my "girls" pic, and her sister, for Pickupsticks[sm=kiss.gif] , and I'm sure they'll get taken off, but to me its sad that the woman figure can be sensored but everyone cries if someone is offended by a swastika or the confederate flag[:'(].

[

for pickupsticks


and mike, maybe there's a reason all of those people didn't buy kits from you???

Well, I think that's all enough of that, so I am puting this one to bed. And you are correct Muggen, I pulled the pics. Think of the kids that may be viewing this forum. You asked to let it die, I did, I am closing this one. Thx for the PM tho.