Model Aviation magazine....June 2011...a good article to read

[Steve Helmick]

Our intrepid Amp forum moderator, Dean Pappas did a nice article on p.71 dealing with hingeline sealing, and model balance that is good stuff.  Don't heave it out until you read or file his article for future reference.    Steve

[john e. holliday]

I think some pitch it without even opening the cover.   I have yet to find an issue that didn't have something I could use.

[BillLee]

Bob, a question......

If I write an article and send it to Model Aviation and it is accepted for publication but is never used, can I send the article to any other publication for their use? What rights do I retain when I submit an article to MA?

Bill

[Ward Van Duzer]

Hear, Hear, Bob!

I have been published in all three magazines and I'm here to say you don't need to be a "Hot Shoe" to contribute to your hobby.

Look around your shop, I'll bet youv'e created some little tool (or tools) worthy of our interest...


Ward Van Duzer

[Randy Powell]

While Model Aviation doesn't usually thrill me, I never just pitch it out. As noted, there's usually something worthwhile for us in it. If nothing else, I've gotten ideas for paint scheme and stuff just paging through. I miss Bob as the editor, but the replacements haven't been bad. They are, after all, catering to the bulk of the membership. Can't blame them for that. Face it, CL is the red-headed step child at this point. Any attention by Model Aviation is nice to have.

[Mark Scarborough]

I read MA pretty thourgoughly, I find stuff in most every issue of interest.
there is a LOT of technology and techniques out there that apply either directly, or with a bit of modification.
How bad can it be, its all about model airplanes!

[BillLee]

Hi Bill:

In that case I would contact the Editor. Perhaps it has been misplaced (There was a recent changover in editors...), or perhaps there are other reasons why it hasn't been used (yet...). I would ask these questions of Jay Smith. If they are not going to use it, I would ask permission to have it used elsewhere. If you have been paid (And it is policy at MA to pay on acceptance, not on publication...), you may have to return the amount you were paid - maybe not.

Later - Bob

(Bob, this is just a hypothetical discussion.....   There is no actual article, I'm just trying to see how the system works )

So: if I write an article and send it to MA and they pay me for it but never publish it, then the article is no longer mine and I can't use it for some other purpose.  AMA now owns my work? Is that about right? If I change a few lines or a picture or something, is this new version mine, or does it still belong to AMA?

Bill

[Howard Rush]

I've kept quiet on this forum when people have badmouthed both AMA and Model Aviation magazine. It seems that many feel that AMA is at best ignoring CL fliers, or, at worst, has a vendetta against them. As a former full-time AMA employee and former Editor of Model Aviation magazine I'm here to tell you that those who feel that way are just plain nuts.

The fact is that Model Aviation publishes more pages per capita for CL and FF than it does for RC! I did several studies on this during my tenure. We are a small percentage (3 percent) of AMA membership. There are actually more Free Flight fliers than CL fliers. Still, MA keeps bimonthly columns for all of the FF and CL disciplines. The truth is that most of the RC disciplines also get only bimonthly, too!

Steve appears to be one of the few who read the magazine from cover to cover. He found that writers, such as Dean Pappas, cover issues that relate to all model airplanes and that there is much to be gleaned from all articles and columns. I know that I have learned a lot from the RC columnists and from RC construction features. Just because something is not entirely aimed at the CL segment of the sport, it doesn't mean that there is no value for us in it. If you scan the magazine each month for only CL features and/or columns and then throw it out if none are found, than you are cheating yourself out of much useful information.

I'm very proud and happy that, while at the helm of Model Aviation, I invited/coerced/cajoled/ brow-beat/ and blackmailed Dean into writing a column called "If it Flies" (He came up with the name of the column...). The idea was to have him write a unifying piece that would show how much we all (RC, CL and FF) have in common. Sometimes his column is dedicated to only RC stuff, and sometimes he uses CL and/or FF technology to make a point. The result is (or at least is supposed to be) a column that brings us all together in the spirit and physics of model flight. I think that thought has succeeded nicely, and I'm very proud of my buddy, Dean for all his work.

I'm getting very tired of those who sit back and take pot shots at AMA and Model Aviation for their lack of interest in CL. If you are a CL flier/builder and are reading this, let me ask you a question: When was the last time that you submitted something to Model Aviation for publication? Many berate MA for not publishing more CL features, and yet hardly anyone ever actually submits something for publication. Until you do, please stop complaining about the lack of CL coverage. Recently, Ron Heckler submitted his profile Apache CL electric model for publication... and it was published! Get the picture? If you don't supply some articles for publication, then none will be published.

The folks at AMA are very, very nice people, and I have never felt that they were anything but totally supportive of all aspects of Model Aviation - including CL! Let’s make a vow to not take shots at AMA until we've all done all we can to help them supply the information that we desire. If you have a thought for an article, then contact Jay Smith (Current Editor of MA) and let him know about it.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way. I have little regard for those who take pot shots at AMA and /or MA while at the same time sit and do nothing to help improve it.

Thanks, Steve, for letting everyone know about Dean's contributions; perhaps it will get some people reading a bit further into each issue of MA to find the many gems of wisdom and useful information that are contained therein each month.

Bob Hunt
AMA 1114 HOF
PAMPA HOF
Editor Emeritus Model Aviation
Editor Stunt News

Heed what Bob says (not about the BOM, of course).  The first time I ran a Nats event cured me of thoughts of rebellion against the AMA.  The staff folks and other volunteers were very supportive.  I learned how much a minority we are when I got an AMA mailing list about 1980 to promote a contest.  We were 2% then. 

Howard Rush
AMA 18230 JCT
HOKC
former Editee, Stunt News

[PJ Rowland]

I concur - We have a monthly magazine Dad was the Editor for a number of years - there was also alot of stunt related articles written.
I used to write many of the stunt comp articles for State Champs, Nats, and Local comps. I no longer do this - and hear people complain at the lack of stunt support.

Its tough not enough time to write - but just enough time to complain - but bob's advice is sound - be part of the solution not a voice to the problem.

[Dean Pappas]

Thanks a bunch, Steve!

  Dean P.

[Steve Helmick]

Thanks a bunch, Steve!

  Dean P.

You's welcome. But you do realize that we'll be watching for the next article, and will expect it to be 70+% related to CL? You know...hang it from the leadouts to bench trim the LO position, measure the CG from the flap hingeline, etc....  Steve

[Will Hinton]

As an aviation nut, I read every issue cover to cover.  Why should I whine and snivel like a spoiled child just because I'm not being catered to?  If you're a modeler, it must be because of an interest in airplanes, MA is all about airplanes.  So what's the problem?  No one stroking your fur?  Get over it and enjoy the magazine.

[john e. holliday]

As stated by Will if you are a modeller you must love airplanes.   I started out with the rubber power stick and tissue as that was all I could afford at the time.   Even back then I read all the articles pertaining to airplanes.  I never trusted my skills to a gas powered free flight and they amazed me.  Finally watched a couple of classmates try to fly their little control line plane.  They never got the engine to run and would not let me look at it.  At the time I was getting fairly good at starting the Cox Thimble Drome .049 Space Bug.  My first control line was ready to fly A J Firebaby.  Got good at 1/2A's.   Then on to bigger planes, .35 size.  Then when my son was old enough my son and I got into radio as with the work schedule couldn't get to many contests.   I am appalled at how many flying radio know diddly squat about setting up their planes, let alone run the engines.  I was the engine man in our club for a while as well as instructor.  The son tired of radio as well as myself.   I just wonder how many in all of modelling could build, trim and fly an indoor rubber plane.  I still remember the movie camera man that turned on his lights to film one.   Plane rose 4 feet before the people got a hold of him and doused the lights. 

So many facets of modelling and it still amazes me that there a a few that still think their part of modellin is the ultimate.  Of course big money is changing things, as it always has.   

[Dean Pappas]

Y'know, Steve ...
what bugs me is that I don't manage to weave as much free-flight lore as CL stuff into my "aimed at the RC toy buyers" column. I'd be happier if I could sneak a whole lot more traditional modelling in there!

sigh ...
  Dean P.

[Steve Helmick]

Yes! There are some weird things that happen with free flights. Done that a lot, but the legs and neck went TU. Steve