Hal Carstens

[Bob Hunt]

I received the very sad news yesterday evening that Publisher, Hal Carstens passed away at his home in Stillwater, New Jersey.

Hal was 84 years old.

This news devastates me as Hal was not only a good friend, but he also gave me my first "real" job in this world. He hired me when my credentials for the job were virtually nonexistant. He had a knack of being able to see more in a person than that person even knew was there.

I worked at Carstens Publications for 17 years. The best part of working there was the freedom that Hal granted all of his employees. He let them be creative and try things. He rarely questioned any moves that any of his staff made, and he would back them up when they made mistakes.

Hal loved trains and planes. His company produces Railroad Model Craftsman magazine, Railfan magazine and Flying Models magazine as well as many hobby related books. His support of the hobby industry is legendary within the business and he will be missed dearly by all who knew him.

I'll post more about Hal's life here soon. His life story is surprising and very interesting, Hal was a devoted family man, a devout Christian, and a steadfast Patriot.

This news has saddened me greatly, and I ask for all to pray for his family and friends in their grief.


Bob Hunt

[Randy Ryan]

My prayers are with the Carstens family

[Michael Floerchinger]

My condolences to Hal’s family.

I could not wait until the new Flying Models magazine came out, it was a monthly ritual, he will be missed

[John Miller]

Sad news to hear. He and his organization stayed with all disciplines of modeling through the good and bad times. I pray for him and those who loved him. 

[john e. holliday]

Tis sad news.  When I was much younger living on a farm the drug store in town carried Flying Models.  I always seemed to have enought to buy a copy to take home and read.  Even when it went bi-monthly I was still getting it.  My condolences to the Carstens family.  DOC Holliday

[Robert McHam]

This is sad news.
When I was new to the hobby, one of the "must do" actions was to look at all the magazines in the racks. Then to choose just one. Every time it was "Flying Models". Soon I wondered about the Carsten Logo at the end of each article. Why did it have a choo-choo inside a "C"? Never gave it a lot of thought but it should have been an airplane you would think. 'Course it was not too long I came to understood about that logo.

His "Flying Models" magazine influenced me greatly. Mr. Hunt, Your writings always came first every time I got a new issue. FM was my first subscription to a magazine.

Mr. Carstens will be remembered.

Robert

[RandySmith]

Indeed a sad day, we are losing far too many friends

Regards
Randy

[Tom Niebuhr]

This is a sad day. We all owe so much to Hal. Flying Models has always quietly held up the banner for our entire hobby. It seems that the mega bucks have gone to many other publications, but Carstens Publications somehow keeps going.

Our prayers are for Hal and his family.

[Richard Grogan]

I grew up with Flying Models magazine in our household. It truly was and continues to be the only publication that covers ALL disciplines of model aviation. The only rag that never sold out to the big dogs of the industry. My prayers go out to Hal and his family. Seems like all the good guys are checking out at an alarming rate these days...so sad.

[Will Hinton]

My sympathies go out to the Carstens family, but we do have a huge plus to hang on to - Hal, being a devout Christian, is in a place he wouldn't leave if he could; at the foot of the throne of God.  (And that. dear friends, is a forever place!!)
God is so wonderfully good to provide Jesus for us!
Will

[wwwarbird]

 Yes, quite sad news indeed. Carstens has provided me with a lot of my favorite reading since, heck, since I learned to read. I owe countless hours of enjoyment to Hal, his company and it's employees over the years. Hopefully the philosophies will not fade away. Flying Models is by far my favorite "consumer" magazine, the only one out there that still understands what MODELING is all about, including MA.

 Thank you Hal. 

[Larry Cunningham]

Sad news. God bless Harold and thanks to him for his great contributions
to our hobby. FM remains a quality publication, I'll stay subscribed as long
as it and I exist.

L.