I AM THE AMA
BRIAN MALIN
Owner of BMJR Models
By Jay Smith | jays@modelaircraft.org
Jay Smith: How did you get involved in model aviation?
Brian Malin: My introduction to model aviation was the King Orange model meet in 1954. My father, a Marine at Opa-Locke Naval Air Station in Miami, was asked to organize some GIs and Jeeps to chase models. I joined the base club and concentrated on Control Line (CL). The Opa-Locke Flying Knights flew CL on Wednesday nights. Throughout high school, I flew CL and attempted Free Flight (FF) with less success.
JS: How has model aviation impacted your life and/or career?
BM: In seventh grade, a drafting class was offered. This skill allowed me to draw plans, scaled from the latest issue of Model Airplane News, as well as some original designs.
Seven years later, as I drove from Atlanta to Miami, I saw a sign in Cape Canaveral, Florida, that read, “Draftsmen needed.” I inquired and was hired as a draftsman with Grumman working on the Lunar Module. I retired from Lockheed 47 years later after working on the Apollo and Shuttle programs. Had I not taken that drafting class to draw model airplanes, I would not have had the career that I did.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do you currently participate in?
BM: Grandpa gave Brian Jr. a Guillow’s Cessna 170 kit for Christmas in 1994. We attended the King Orange International in Palm Bay, Florida, and started flying FF. In 2003, we started playing with electric RC park flyers. In 2008, Bob Whitney asked if I would laser cut some wing ribs for a Vintage Stunt Championship contest aircraft.
Since forming BMJR Models in 1996, we have built and flown 81 FF models, 37 RC models, and nine CL aircraft. My interests in a type of model or an event have changed, but I like them all!
JS: What other hobbies do you have?
BM: I started picking guitar when I was 15 and today I still have a 1971 Epiphone acoustic guitar. If I’m not building or picking, I love to cook.
JS: Who or what has influenced you the most?
BM: I credit several special people. Mac McClausky is the Opa-Locke GI who taught me to fly CL. My dad set up a special place in his wood shop for me to build. Grandpa gave me the Guillow’s stick-and-tissue 170. Lee Campbell inspired me, as did Ron Sharpton as we got serious about Gas FF.
I was fortunate to fly with Tom McCoy, and when the Flying Aces Club (FAC) bug bit, Vic Nipper was around. From an RC flying perspective, I was pretty much self-taught and not a great pilot. When it comes to designing and building RC models, I give a lot of credit to Paul Bradley and Harry Stewart. Then there is BMJR Models (Brian Malin Jr.). In 1996, I was working on a proposal for Lockheed and had writer’s block. I decide to take a drive through an industrial complex and saw a Herr Engineering logo that I recognized from a model magazine ad. I stopped and mentioned that I wanted to build a Timers Nightmare for FAC .020 replica. He said, “Draw it in AutoCAD and I’ll laser cut it for you.” With the help of Tom Herr, I drew the parts and cut what would become BMJR’s first kit. I believe that Herr Engineering’s Piper Cub was the first laser-cut kit advertised in Flying Models.
I met Dave Platt in the 1990s. Dave has the ability to watch and keep his opinions to himself, but if you ask him a question, he will respond. I do not think I have ever had a conversation with Dave that I did not learn something about modeling.
JS: What advice do you have for someone new to building?
BM: I took an undergraduate course in statics from Professor Hubler. His opening comment during his first lecture was, “Engineering is like any other sport; you can practice and be good or just play the game.” I see this holding true in modeling. You can play the game and buy a foamie and learn to hover, or you can build a model airplane. Modeling is not about immediate success. Modeling is a rewarding learning experience.
