Help needed - proof of age of Ringmaster - MAN March 1952

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hey guys,

I need to get a copy of the 'first' Sterling Ringmaster advertisement in the March 1952 edition of Model Airplane News. 

Note: There is apparently a digital copy of this page already kicking around, but it doesn't have the bottom of the page showing the Magazine name and Date.

I NEED IT TO SHOW THE MAGAZINE NAME AND DATE.  This will be used for proof of age of the Ringmaster for MAAA Vintage Stunt.  I will also be using Matt Kanias Bio from the AMA Museum. 

If anyone knows of any physical evidence (ie magazine article, plan or advert) to prove that the Ringmaster was designed in 1950 I would sure appreciate it. Otherwise I can only prove that it was 1952. Matt Kanias bio is not sufficient evidence to "prove" it was designed in 1950 as it is his own recollection written years later and therefore not proven fact.

Any help would be appreciated. I would be happy to purchase said material.

Regards
Warren

[Alan Hahn]

Somehow this proof stuff seems to be getting out of hand for a "fun" event!

[George]

...I NEED IT TO SHOW THE MAGAZINE NAME AND DATE.  This will be used for proof of age of the Ringmaster for MAAA Vintage Stunt.  I will also be using Matt Kanias Bio from the AMA Museum. 

Regards
Warren

Warren, here is a copy of the Sterling ad from MAN August 1952. It lists the Ringmaster as an available kit. Sorry, don't have the issue you need. Is the cutoff for MAAA Vintage Stunt 1950?

Have you tried "Brotherhood of the Ring?

George

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi George,

Thanks very much for that. This proves that the Ringmaster _was_ available in 1952. A lot of people say it was designed in 1950 but the only proof of that is Matt Kania's Autobiography (which would be questionable, because it is a recollection by an individual and could be incorrect)  This article proves it was around in 1952.  The March 1952 is the first reported advert for the Ringmaster Kit, which is not to say the design/plan wasn't around earlier, but I just cant prove it.

Ok here's how MAAA Vintage Stunt Static Judging works:

====
VINTAGE STUNT
STATIC JUDGING

a) Construction Points.
Construction points are to be given for workmanship and building the model in the same manner and using the same materials as were used in the original. Internal construction may be changed to improve strength but external dimensions must remain as per the original.

Points For Construction
Building Workmanship Max 20 points
Finish Max 20 points
Use of original materials Max 20 points
Adherence to original plan Max 20 points

b) Age of Models
Points are awarded on a sliding scale as follows:
1945 - 16 1949 - 12 1953 - 8 1957 - 4
1946 - 15 1950 - 11 1954 - 7 1958 - 3
1947 - 14 1951 - 10 1955 - 6 1959 - 2
1948 - 13 1952 - 9 1956 - 5 1960 - 1

Bonus for biplanes 5 points
Bonus for fixed flaps 5 points

c) Documentation
Competitors must provide proof of age. Points shall be awarded as follows:

Excellent proof: Date and authenticity of evidence is beyond doubt
(e.g. dated plan or magazine published plan)..............10 points
Good proof: Supporting evidence indicating likelihood of
authenticity (e.g. magazine article giving dated
reference) ...........................................7 points.
Fair proof: e.g. published list of old time designs plus undated
plan.....................................................5 points
Poor proof: e.g. undated plan alone or no proof
presented)...........................................3 points
Note: photocopies of original documents are acceptable.

d) Age of engines - Add progressive points for increasing age of engines in the following scale, with age validated by suitable documentation.
1944 - 27   1945 - 25    1946 - 23    1947 - 21    1948 - 20
1949 - 19   1950 - 18    1951 - 17    1952 - 16    1953 - 15
1954 - 14   1955 - 13    1956 - 12    1957 - 11    1958 - 10
1959 - 9     1960 - 8     1961 - 7      1962 - 6      1963 - 5
1964 - 4     1965 - 3     1966 - 2      1967 - 1      1968 - 0

Full points, relevant to the particular year, shall be awarded for reproduction engines.
Bonus for spark ignition ............................................. 10 points
Bonus for models powered by engine 2.5 cc or less ... 10 points

Note:
1. Reproduction engines shall qualify if constructed to the original design. Modifications to allow fitting of mufflers shall not prejudice engine points.
2. Spark ignition bonus is awarded only when the engine was originally sold as a spark ignition engine.
3. To qualify for engine points, competitors must provide at least fair proof of engine age. No points will be given if no proof is given.

FLYING
There shall be two official flights

a) Starting and Takeoff (within two minutes).................... Max 10 points (10)
b) Level flight (2 laps at 2 metres).......................per lap Max 10points (20)
c) Climb (at least 3 metres)............................................. Max 10 points (10)
d) Dive (at least 3 metres)............................................... Max 10 points (10)
e) Wingover (1 overhead arc, recovery to upright flight) Max 10 points (10)
f) Inside loops (3 consecutive within 60o )............each @ Max 10 points (30)
g) Inverted flight (2 laps at 2 metres).....................per lap Max 10 points (entry from and recovery to normal flight is not judged) (20)
h) Outside loops (3 consecutive within 60o)..........each @ Max 10 points (30)
i) Lazy eights (2 consecutive within 60o)..............each @ Max 10 points (20)
j) Two consecutive vertical eights. .......................each @ Max 10 points (entered via a half-inside (lower) loop leading into the second (upper) outside loop) (20)
k) Two consecutive overhead eights ......................each @ Max 10 points (20)
l) Two consecutive inside square loops ............... each @ Max 10 points (20)
m) Landing...................................................................... Max 10 points (10)
[Note: No K factors - Max 230 points]
The total points scored shall be the aggregate of the static points and the points scored in the best official flight, each inclusive of all bonus points.
====

So with the evidence I have, my Ringmaster, which was built from the kit, and has a 1951 Sandcast Fox 35 can earn a maximum of 121 points assuming it was designed in 1952.  If I can provide excellent proof for 1950 I can earn a maximum of 123, but at the moment with the proof I have for 1950 I can only earn a maximum of 118.

This score is then added to the best flight of two, which can be a max score of 230 but more likely to be somewhere around 150-160.

I hope this explains it. 

[builditright]

try this link

http://home.mindspring.com/~jeff.coons/vintagesterlingmodels/id24.html

[George]

Walter, thanks for the link. I especially enjoyed the testimonials.

Warren, perhaps these will whet your appetite for future projects. They are from 1947 "The Model Craftsman" magazines:

George

[Don Hutchinson AMA5402]

I have the full size plan for the SE5. It would be a reasonable OTS model built light but not as good as the "Moitle" which is a really good flying OTS model and designed around 1944. I built one as I wanted the oldest OTS model design I could find that would do a competitive pattern. Now in the AMA museum (along with a great running OS 35 FP)!
Don

[Jim Thomerson]

I was really pleased to see this.  I have the article somewhere but have not been able to find it for several years.  I sent the plans to Don, and was frustrated not to be able to send him the article.  I am pretty sure the article says it is OK to use a thicker symmetrical wing section.

I had thought, at one time, the Yak and Mustang preceded the Ringmaster, but I was mistaken.  They are both 1952 airplanes.  There is also a 1952 'Space Kaydet", later changed to "Space Master", which is a really pretty OTS legal 1/2A.  Barry Baxter has excellent plans.

[dale gleason]

I think it was Dee who sent me a copy of a set of S1 planes that at first glance look the same as all the others, however, this set of plans shows and recommends the Victor Stanzel "Thum-it" system. I'm thinking perhaps this was during the time when Jim Walker's patent was being challenged. Kits couldn't feature the "U-Control" bellcrank system unless they paid the fee due Jim Walker. I think that's about how it went down, my apologies if in error. So anyway, there's a set of plans that pre-date the Ringmaster plans with the usual bellcrank, platform, etc. I don't don't know when Sterling changed the plans to the U-control system, but it would seem like well-prior to 1952.

FWIW,

dg

[Ward Van Duzer]

You might also look up Bob Smurthwaite's Firecat memo on Frank Macy's AJ site. Don't know if it'll help, but could add to the flame! It worked for the Firecat!   


W.