nostalgia

[john vlna]

This does not have much to do with anything important, but in researching some info for something I posted on another board, I ran across this.

In 1952, Flying Models, which normally published full size parts with articles, didn't for some reason in this issue, but for the cost of a 3 cent stamp they would send you two full size plans. sorry I don't know the month, I just have a copy of the article, but the offer expired Sept 1952.

[Dan McEntee]

   Hi John;
  Yeah, those were the days! I liked the plans in the magazines back then because they were easy to enlarge all by your self. They taught basic drafting in schools, and some kids actually learned some of the skills and it is easy to draw up a decent plan to build from, then trace over the parts and you are ready to build. I think Flying Models should re-run some of those articles and I have suggested that to the editor. Some are really neat and could be adapted to today's technology very well. Maybe even build and fly them just like they are!
   Type at you later,
      Dan McEntee

[Bill Little]

   Hi John;
  Yeah, those were the days! I liked the plans in the magazines back then because they were easy to enlarge all by your self. They taught basic drafting in schools, and some kids actually learned some of the skills and it is easy to draw up a decent plan to build from, then trace over the parts and you are ready to build. I think Flying Models should re-run some of those articles and I have suggested that to the editor. Some are really neat and could be adapted to today's technology very well. Maybe even build and fly them just like they are!
   Type at you later,
      Dan McEntee

Hi Dan,

I'm with you!  A good while before Eric Rule brought out his Mackey Bluebird kit, I saw the magazine article with full size ribs and a couple other parts.  I drew the plans full size, made templates for the ribs from the full size ones in the magazine and built the model.  Very easy to do.

Bill

[john e. holliday]

I too remember some of the construction articles.   There were the full size ribs on a page.  Then the drawing with the other pertinent details.  I seem to remember building a combat plane in the early 60's from one of the issues.   But, all my Flying Models and other magazines got destroyed when basement flooded during a torrential down pour right after we moved into the house I am still in.

[EddyR]

Bill     How did the Bluebird fly. I have always wondered about it. It has a 25% airfoil but a very small tail.
Ed

[Bill Little]

Bill     How did the Bluebird fly. I have always wondered about it. It has a 25% airfoil but a very small tail.
Ed

HI Ed,

It flies like it has a small tail! LOL!!  Rounds are fine, squares need work.  I am using a '57 Fox .25 (the one in the .19 case).

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[George]

Wasn't the Bluebird created for the AYSC events? I don't think they did the full pattern.

George

[Dan McEntee]

 For the AYSC events, I think the model had to be a profile, but I'm going off a memory of seeing an article on the competition in an old magazine. A local guy here in my area, Ron O'Toole, was  winner in the regional competition and got to go to the finals and got his pictures in the magazines back then. I think Jim Lee may have done the Bluebird and flew it at VSC one year with an OS .15 in it.
  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[EddyR]

Macky's Bluebird had nothing to do with AYSC. He was trying fat airfoils for a few years but later went back to thinner16- 18% wings. Several of his well known planes had thick and thin airfoil version. The power of the Fox .35 was the limiting factor.
Ed

[L0U CRANE]

Dan, to your #7...

Jim Lee did have a Mackey Hummingbird at a VSC several years back. Plans showed two different size wings. Jim told me he'd tried to get an upright mounted PAW .15 to stunt it, but had all kinds of problems. The OS 15 was a great improvement in that regard. (PAWs seem to prefer sidewinder mounting...)

I think Wild Bill Netzeband said he was impressed by the corners Jim's Hummingbird turned...

There've been a few Bluebirds at VSC since Eric started kitting it. That may include LeRoy Black's kit-proto that is now the catalog picture and box-art.

[jim ivey]

my brother won the first Calif aysc 1961. airplanes had to be profile kits. they could be modified  but had to start as kits. he used a cut down shoestring with an ETA 15 diesel got great fuel economy  , was fast and a good stunt engine.

[Norm Furutani]

my brother won the first Calif aysc 1961. airplanes had to be profile kits. they could be modified  but had to start as kits. he used a cut down shoestring with an ETA 15 diesel got great fuel economy  , was fast and a good stunt engine.

Hey Jim!
Should be: "my brother won the first control line ONLY Calif aysc 1961". Do we remember who the 1960 FF/CL Calif. AYSC was?!

- Norm Furutani