Building Survey......

[Scott Richlen]

Many of us value the "building" part of our hobby.  We sort of see it as the "flip-side" of flying.  This doesn't mean we can't value ARFs and it doesn't prevent us from owning one (or more!).  It just means that in addition to flying model airplanes we also enjoy building them.  In fact, for some of us "building" may be the most important part of the hobby.  But, irrespective of whether we find building more or less or just as enjoyable as the flying part of the hobby, we view building as an important part of the hobby, too.
 
But, besides enjoyment, why is the "building" portion of our hobby so important?
   - What difference would it make if no one built model airplanes?
   - How does model airplane building add to the character of a person?
   - How does model airplane building add to the character of a culture or a nation?
   - Why does it matter?

[Rudy Taube]

The FOUR steps to PAIN:   

1. Find Hornets Nest.
2  Hit Nest with stick.
3. RUN.
4. Don't be surprised if you get STUNG!   

(Jr. JCT poet in training ;-)

[wwwarbird]

 Oh boy. It's late and I just caught this before turning in for the night, I've got to get up early for work. Ty has made some great points already. And seriously, is this a loaded question or??? I'll definitely be back on this one.

[Zuriel Armstrong]

I agree with Ty that an art would be lost.  Too many arts have been lost and there aren't many people standing in line to learn them.

Building planes teach a systematic process to achieve a goal.  Nobody took their first plane to the Nats and won.  They had to learn the craft, many from trial and error, many looked to mentors who had success before them.  Most of my mentors are modelers and not all are engineers.  Some are former military, librarians, sales professionals, IT guys...we are from all walks of life and most of the guys I know did this in their youth too.  

I think it matters because it is not instant gratification.  Even an ARF, which I have a couple of, takes time to assemble and trim correctly.  If you are competitive at all, you learn to look and listen to the ones who have had success.  If you listen well, soon your are the one being sought after for guidance.  Fellowship is another thing offered in this hobby that is not always present in other ventures.

Just a few ramblings.

[Matt Colan]

At Brodak's John Simpson and I were talking about this very same thing.  First he told me to stick with this hobby and then he told me why.  He said that he's learned more skills building and flying model airplanes than he learned in college.  He also said that he doesn't use as many of these skills in his actual job.

- What difference would it make if no one built model airplanes?  You don't learn any of the skills in neccessary building an airplane.  My eye has become trained in knowing when something is not straight or if it's warped.  Also building something is like it's own art, you sculpt sheets of balsa, plywood and carbon fiber into shapes of an airplane.  I just received an RSM Trivial Pursuit kit from Eric Viglione, and my brother was saying to me, "why are you looking at wood?  There's nothing there to look at."  He doesn't have a trained eye or knows where some of these things go, and how to shape wood into curves and call it an airplane.
   - How does model airplane building add to the character of a person?   You make something that is your own.  I can tell you, when I had my Oriental Plus finished, I felt a great sense of pride because I built the airplane.  And then when I had the compliments from a great many people about the plane, and it makes me feel like I know what I'm doing.  If I had an ARF, there wouldn't be any real sort of pride in building the plane, because I didn't build it.
   - How does model airplane building add to the character of a culture or a nation?  Derek Barry just built a dreadnought, and he painted it in the colors of the United States, and Dave Fitzgerald's Thundergazer was painted with stars and stripes like the UNited States flag.  You can paint an airplane to honor your country.  Also I've seen that people like PW, and Howard work or have worked for Boeing, Dave Fitz is an airline pilot, and I think Ted Fancher was as well if I'm not mistaken.  I think many people who fly model airplanes, go on to be aviators, or engineers of some sort.
   - Why does it matter?  I enjoy doing this, and I learn many skills that I can put towards something later in life, like what John Simpson said.


I'm glad I got that off my chest 

[john e. holliday]

When I was mucho younger, people would ask my Dad why he let me play with those toy airplanes so much.  Oh I did get to help him when we added on to the house the folks had just bought.  Wish his health hadn't went on him so I could have learned a lot more.  But, back to Dad,  his response to them is as long as I am playing or building my toy airplanes, he knew where I was at and what I was doing.  He was my launcher most of the time.  But most has been stated already.

[Scott Richlen]

Would you agree that for a young person model airplane building can become a self-taught, self-energized preparatory class for many of the highest-value skills in both white collar and blue collar job areas?  Just as Matt sited above, once you begin building, you also begin trying to improve your skills.  Your first airplane build is entry to learning materials science, reading a blue print, science of construction, basic design, engine operation and theory, artistic expression, adhesives, etc.

Consider this: as a model airplane builder you learn to "read" a blueprint which gives you a head start in map reading, understanding construction blueprints, and even circuitry.  Even more important: it teaches you how to visualize in three dimensions from a two dimensional drawing.  This is critical for any kind of construction industry from auto assembly to ship building.

So, it is a lot more than learning about aerodynamics, theory of flight, and aircraft design.

What else does it support?

[Tim Stagg]

Scott,

Like you I have always loved aviation and when we started, if you wanted to enjoy modeling, well building was just a step towards our end goal. Had I started in the hobby today, things might be very different. Do I agree with everything you and others have said above....absolutely. My interest in model building has helped me in my career, my day to day activities, just about every aspect of my life in one fashion or another. I very much enjoy building something unique, and i get much satisfaction when one actually flies well

It seems we live in a disposable society today, when something breaks....throw it away and buy a new one. Do I like this, no not at all, but that is what we live in today. Modeling has followed suite and brought us ARF's and an industry that serves up instant gratification. Had I started today, I would most likely be one of the many people building arfs and not knowing the difference. This is not all bad mind you but I do get the point.

I think the real question is not what building models has done for us as individuals, but what the lack of activities like model building and going outside and playing and building forts etc. is doing to our youth.

[Will Hinton]

There isn't a profession worth having that doesn't require analytical thinking and building certainly develops that.  All the other mentioned skill development is a great benefit as well, but thinking through problems and techniques is, to me, the greatest.
Will

[Jim Thomerson]

Different strokes for different folks.  I think the most fun I can have out of model aviation is designing an airplane, particularly something like the Agile Arrow, building it, and having it work to suit me. Right now I'm concentrating on OTS.  This involves figuring out how to get an airplane built light and strong enough, getting an adequate fuel tank in place, etc.  Basically a bit of own design, hidden inside, and looking like someone built it in 1950.  Particularly satisfying if it is the only one there and I manage to fly a recognizable pattern with it; my Sportwings, for example.   

[Steve Helmick]

1) Learning to follow written instructions is a huge part of it. You'll have to learn to read to do that, what words mean, and then learn technical terms...like a whole new language. 2) With experience gained from following other's instructions, you'll learn to plan the sequences to build your own creations...planning. This applies to about everything in your life, from school to job, home ownership, and building that darned fence...  Steve

[wwwarbird]

 Checking back in here.

 It's difficult for me to try and be short in my thoughts or opinions on this, but this trait is a sore spot more and more everyday with me. It absolutely cannot be argued that building any type of model teaches a person countless things that can be applied in your everday life. However, I feel that our modeling can be looked at and compared as just another example of our typical "modern" society.
Mechanically, our society in general has gotten pretty darn pathetic in my opinion. I'm not talking about everybody, just what has become the majority. The sad thing is, when you really break it down, it's just plain laziness. It is amazing (less and less everyday however) how many people nowadays seriously don't know how to put air in their tires or check their own oil. I work retail in a large Harley-Davidson dealership, so I see a lot of people and get reminded of these things literally everyday.
The true builders here all know our own histories, and how many things we've learned from building our airplane models over the years. DESIGNING and building your own models is even better, but it takes more vision. As a result of this learning from your personal building histories you then instinctively know how things can be applied or related to so many other things you now automatically do for yourself.
Here's a big part of the problem in my opinion. Generationally, video games have ruined most mechanical "hands-on" sense. The current youth generation, and some of the one before it, has grown up with their lazy parents, and schools, using these games as babysitters. That is also the reason more and more people have no patience or attention span. I really think that has a lot to do with the current and growing lack of mechanical knowledge or ability to create things yourself. "WAAH-WAAH-WAAH, I WANT IT NOW!", think of how often you get that vibe all around you wherever you go these days. Too many people think things just happen, you don't actually have to create or perform. If you can't, or don't want do it for yourself, or if you just whine enough, someone else will make whatever the "issue" is either just happen or go away for you. This is pretty common procedure anymore. Again it's just laziness. If people don't suck it up and get off their butts and there heads out of them as well, it will only continue to get worse. If you doubt that, let's review this ten years from now.

With relating all of this to our modeling, I'm not going to say ARF's don't have a place in our hobby, heck I've built and flown some of them myself. I will definitely say though that I'm a #### of a lot more proud showing up at the field with a model that I've built and painted, myself.

Happy 4th of July to all, especially the "Greatest Generation".

[wwwarbird]

 Right on Ty, and yours too.

[Richard Grogan]

Building has kept me out of trouble most of my life!Seriously. A good set of questions and great answers, and Ty summed it up pretty well. Model builders are a very special breed that "speak" a universal language, and a unique sort of kinship amongst us.I honestly beleive it makes us better citizens of society,and that is why I hope this kinship keeps on for generations! Like the old Boy Scout advertising pitch,"Scouting Rounds a Boy Out", can apply to Model Builders as well.We were probably all considered nerds by our peers growing up(lifetime builders), but most of us got the last laugh on that! The reward of creating something with our mind and hands is pure satisfaction.The challenge to ourselves to exceed our expectations towards perfection can be overwhelming!

Great thread topic!