I whole heartedly agree Ty! Tons of stuff in the old mags that is still very relevant, not to mention all the neat models of all kinds that you can build or dream of building. You can read about all the great NATS , team trials and world champs in the past and talk to some of those guys here on the list! I try to drive the point across to guys to read EVERYTHING that they can get their hands on, and that includes the computer forums. It's gotten so easy for guys to get lazy and just ask a question and not use their brains to look for the answer. There really isn't much new under the sun with few exceptions. You will always find a few other tid bits of information while you are looking for what info you want. A guy stopped by our field a couple of weeks ago and mentioned he had some stuff stashed from back in the day and was thinking about getting back into it but didn't think his engines and kits would be useable. He was surprised when I told him unless they have been under water all this time, they most certainly could be used and would save him a ton of money by doing so. That old Fox .35, McCoy, or Torp green head engine and Ringmaster will serve a guy just as well now as it would in 1960, maybe even better with the things we know now and have learned since then. I hope the guy comes to a meeting so we can coach him along.
If there is anyone out there interested in obtaining old magazines, contact me off list. I have one of the largest and most complete model magazine collections in the country, and I have a bunch of spares and another whole collection I would like to find a good home for. Everyone complains about what a lousy rag Model Aviation is, but in the early years it was QUITE a good publication. Back issues are available on line but if you are not an AMA member you can't access them. Flying Models, M.A.N and Air Trails either. And with some organization, they don't take up as much room as one might think. You younger guys out there should take this into consideration and you would be helping to preserve model aviation history.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee