Building from a kit
View from HQ by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
I recently talked with a buddy on the phone. He told me he was looking for a building project to keep him busy during the long, cold winter months in the Northeast. He was looking for a good semiscale kit in the .60 to .90 engine displacement range—something that would be relatively easy to transport. He was also looking for something slightly unusual, not the typical P-51 type model that is so popular amongst many modelers.
I didn’t have a good answer for him. I know there are manufacturers that produce good kits, but let’s face it; they are few and far between. And we really can’t place any “blame” on the manufacturers for this because they can’t be expected to invest in producing a product that they know will not sell in the numbers they need to be profitable.
So what has led us to where we are today? First, ARFs have become incredibly popular among those who have limited time to invest in the hobby as we focus on priorities such as careers and family. ARFs are an easy way to quickly get into the air.
I believe that there are modelers out there who would like to tackle a building project, but might be intimidated by the prospect of the challenge of building. The selection of kits is limited as a result of what was previously mentioned, and of course, it is becoming more difficult to walk into a hobby shop and find a wide selection of kit options. There are hobby shops out there that do carry a good selection of kits, but they are becoming hard to find.
Are there other solutions to encourage more modelers to take a stab at building? There are a number of good, quality companies that produce a wide range of “short kits.” Short kits usually consist of the major parts provided in laser-cut or hand-cut form and are light-years ahead of the old method of die-cutting parts.
A builder usually has to provide some of the other necessary parts to complete the project, but I can tell you from experience that these kits are of such high quality that they literally fall together. I recently built a small, 26-inch Cub just for fun, and completed the framework on a Saturday.
I come from an era when there were no such things as ARFs. There was no iron-on covering or instant glue. You built a component and then left it on the building board to allow the glue to dry overnight. If you wanted to fly, you built a model and covered and finished it with silk and dope (covering, primer, and paint), and spent the better part of a winter completing your project.
I’ve been modeling since my preteen days, thanks to my dad. We spent almost every evening during the winters in the shop building something. That experience taught me how to use my hands, how to interpret plans, the importance of accuracy in building, and doing the best you can do and taking pride in your work. These lessons have served me well throughout my life and it created a great bonding experience between my dad and me that has lasted a lifetime.
As builders, maybe we could do a little more to encourage our peers to take a shot at building. I think that many would find the experience enjoyable once they got started. And what a great way to create parent-child experiences that can be taken from the building board to the field.
The outdoor flying season is winding down in many parts of the country. Despite some challenging weather we experienced at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, over the summer, we had a good season.
The annual AMA Nats had a good year and it appears that moving the RC Precision Nats to Arkansas was a success. The intent was to make participating in the Nats more convenient for those in other parts of the country and to expose members to the experience in an attempt to spark an interest in some to try their hands at competing.
By the time this issue of Model Aviation reaches you, AMA’s annual elections will likely have been decided. I hope you took advantage of the opportunity to cast your vote for the candidate of your choice. AMA is unique in the association world because our members each have an individual voice in whom they believe can best lead our association.
Thank you to the candidates who have stepped up and are willing to serve. These are challenging times for model aviation and it is a huge commitment made by our candidates who come onboard.
See you next time …
