So, You Think That You are a Modeller!

In these days of ARTF and in some cases RTF the art of modelling has gone, in the truest sense of the word.  Who can blame us for buying ARTF models, time is of the essence these days, and everybody is busy.  But what happens when that ARTF has a prang?  Do we go out and spend another £60-£120 on a new one because the front bulkhead has fallen off?  Or, do we repair it ourselves?  It seems that new modellers do the latter as they have not developed the skills through building to know about structures and strength points.  It has also become apparent that the only adhesive that newcomers know of is ‘cyano’ and perhaps epoxy.  Perhaps because these are ‘instant’ bonding agents.

Fortunately, the senior modellers amongst us are there with all the information at hand for the newcomers, but will they learn enough to pass on?  Recently, Colin Waite and I bullied (?) nee, coerced one of our junior members to build a glider from a plan for slope soaring.  He took some convincing that it could be done.  With my supervision and guidance, and there were many questions like wood selection and what sort where etc, he came up with the goods; and a very nice model it is.  The icing on the cake was when he launched it from the slope and it flew; he admitted that he had a great sense of satisfaction and pride that he, and not a distant oriental person, had made that model.

I read in the model press recently that buying kits and also plans is on the up-turn…hallelujah.  Yes, I have a number of ARTF models, simply because I lead a busy life and sometimes I want instant flight.  Additionally, I know that I can buy an ARTF cheaper that I can build the equivalent kit.  However, I am also building a scale kit and have recently finished and flown a Peanut model.  So what I say to the plastic fantastic modellers is forget your 6ft X 3ft X 2ft boxes and your 91 pumper supercharged four stroke with tuned pipe.  Get yourself down to the model shop and pick up a real kit and show us your skills in modelling.  You do not have to spend much, about £10-£20 will buy you a good Peanut scale or larger rubber kit, it can be built on a tea tray in front of the telly.  You do not have to use epoxy or cyano, you can use ‘old fashioned’ glues like balsa cement and cover it in tissue shrunk with water and dope.  Yes, I know that you have swept up more wood off the garage floor than is in a rubber-powered model but, seize it as a challenge.  Aero-modelling is much more than fancy flying with a huge model; it is a science and art form so lets get back to basics and promise yourself to build a kit or plan this year.

The accompanying pictures are of my Peanut, Nesmith Cougar built over 2 weekends and flown at the recent Digby Indoor competition.  After lots of trimming and trying different rubber motors I got a 40 second flight out of it; that is total satisfaction! Have fun!

Ian Nelson