Interesting past

[Mel Santmyers]

On RC UNIVERSE under the "forum" where it says "airplanes" Then go down to "RC SCALE". Then down to the video of the 1987 Scale Masters in Las Vegas that is very well done some 25 years ago. Some interesting stuff.      Mel.

[j_whitney]

It is actually on youtube - here is the link 1987 scale masters - thanks for the tip Mel!

[Randy Warkentin]

That was some great coverage best Scale Masters movie I have ever seen. I liked the fact that there were several interviews. I think that it would cool to have another Masters at Vegas again someday.

[Skymaster]

I watched that video while I was off. They build awesome airplanes back then. You know what should happen?? Toss out the smart phones, computer social media, and ALL video games, and take a young person to your shop and BUILD something!!!!! I'll stop my rant there!

[Skymaster]

I've been thinking...........
Back in 1987 there wasn't the instant internet access, or smart phones, web sites, forum pages, multiple committees to hash out rule changes. There wasn't the availabilty of scale stuff like we have today. I wasn't a competitor back then, but I couldn't wait to see the Masters coverage...... It was in many respects a simpler time.
I wonder, has the influx of technology changed us from a group of guys that loved building scale airplanes into an organization that posts about minute details of rules and how rules are not fair and most everything else one reads on this site.......
In some's attempts of "keeping the dream alive" are we realling doing that? Guys, lets get back to building!!!!!!

[Mitchell Baker]

It was simpler.  USSMA was "owned" by Harris.  One, man, his money, his rules.  If you wanted to play, you played by his rules. Yes, he did ask advice from folks, but he was the final word.  Once you make it a "group decision" by forming any type of publicly "owned" organization, in our case a non-profit (not saying it is all bad) but you then have to answer to "members" of the non-profit, the good of the product usually suffers.  That is a major reason why Top Gun is what it is.  One man, his rules, you play by them or don't play.  The only reason we have the many of the rules we have are human nature. A few people try to "game the game" so rules are put into place to try to eliminate that issue.  And it keeps going.

If USSMA were ran and mostly funded by one person, who kept the vision, I don't think you would have many of the issues you have today.   Just MHO...

See-ya
Mitch

[Roly]

Interesting concept, "Lets get back to building" - If we all did that would there be organizations, clubs and contests to belong to or go to?

We need leadership, judges and clubs to provide the direction for these contests - if we were all building & flying what would we have - for that matter would we even have the nice flying fields to go to.

I agree we need to keep it simple however nothing no where no how stays the same if it does it does not survive - the Studebaker car company is a prime example.

Skymaster - John - your point is well made the System should not over ride the Process (Building and Flying) the new Scale Masters leadership is doing there best to support the building and flying. What are you doing to help Keep the Dream alive? I hope you have volunteered at a club event or help by thanking a local CD for the Building time he has missed helping others enjoy their building time, flying or just watching a event.

The people putting forth a system for Scale Builders and Flyer's miss one hell of a lot of Building/Flying time.

Someone has to put the effort forward to provide the the building and flying guidelines for 2013. Forums like this help us to prepare.

[Randy Warkentin]

Well I think it all comes down to we has a nation have have become one of instant gratification. We talk about ARF's taking over but at my own field even an ARF is to much to assemble. I say assemble because unlike what some people think, no you are not building it. Now most want to just buy a Foamie that has everything installed and then just bind and fly. Yes some look kind of cool for what they are but it is what it is. Most fail not too long after because the parts are junk mainly the servos are the first to go but yet they will go out and buy another of some kind or another. They see what I bring to the field and basically feel that I am crazy for investing the time to build something. Not the money just the time. Now part of this is that many are not that good of pilots. There having a hard time with a very lightly loaded plane much less something scale. I guess where I am going with this is we have a huge hurtle to get over that is much worse than organizational problems as far as contestants go. To be honest I do not know how to fix it. I have tried very hard (Like all of us) and will continue to show the value of building and competing and always will but it is hard to get it across in this day and age. As I stated before still a cool movie and fun to see a lot of guys when they were younger.

Randy

[Skymaster]

Hey Roly,
I see you point about needing some direction to run organizations. My point is that there has been a change in the culture, both as contestants and the organization.
Your point is well taken, what am I doing? I am very active at the local level mentoring guys wanting to get involved. I've also been on the behind the scenes end of the Masters on 3 occasions and sit as part of the board of both the USMMA
and NASA.
I love being a competitor, and see the need to help as part of leadership nationally and locally.

John

[Michael]

Kudos to you John.  I also understand the points made by Roly and Randy and pretty much agree with what everyone is saying.

I'll throw out something here that may be of interest to the group doing most of the talking and maybe to the apparent frequent "ghost readers" as well.  We are trying a different approach in the Phoenix area to get people interested in building through the One Eighth Air Force organization by hosting some group building projects.  Last year we completed a bashed P-47 ARF which was stripped of plastic covering, glassed with panel lines & rivet detail and painted in the MX-E color scheme.  We put in an air operated retract system and made some changes to the flying surfaces to make them more scale.  There is currently another group of people working on a roughly 130" Lancaster bomber, built from blown up plans.  I may consider putting up the Lancaster info on John's 'lets talk about building' thread with some pics... although it would not be a build-along thread.  Just something to stir some interest and show how this can be done in a group build setting as opposed to one-on-one mentorship like John is doing.

Mike

[Roly]

Hello John, Mike & All,

Points well taken and appreciated. Scale or any RC venue takes effort and coaching/coaxing to help the activity to happen.

Culture for sure has changed, the number of people who pursue the competition venue in each club/area is small however when you put them together across the country there are quite a few. Clubs and modellers in the areas are needed to support the activity.

Recently on Tube I viewed the 1987 Scale Masters Championships in Las Vegas and the 2012 FAI World Championships. (Able to watch them both on our new TV and media set-up, amazing technology) The interviews in the 1987 SM Champs points out that those who pursue to be the Best of the Best are few. At the 2012 World Champs I did not see any American or Canadian teams: I'm wondering why. For sure it's not the lack of talent however it's getting a competitive team together. Looks like maybe a organisational issue?

The Scale Masters program is the only one where competitive Scale Aero-Modellers get together through Area Qualifiers in one program across USA and Canada. The program needs to allow the "Best of the Best" to be selected and represent our Countries on world Championship Teams.

I think Scale Masters needs to "Lobby" AMA/MAAC and get their support by showing them we can get a very competitive team together and "kick some butt" at the Championships. (I know the rules are a little differant however if we know the rules we can play the game)

I believe that the program focus needs to be at the "Fun Scale" level (starting) and at the World Championship Level (top). Group activities should be easy to promote, just need a few who will take the initiative to start them. SM needs to provide the information and support required to run Fun Scale through to Qualifier events using the SM website.

Embracing the new technologies will help to encourage and share the activities mentioned by John and Mike.

In any case we have the people who are willing to step forward and promote Scale Aero-Modelling we just need to focus the program at the "grass roots" level and the end results (Championships) and I believe we will move forward.

A little example is the "British Columbia Scale Classic" started with the support of a couple of Scale Masters judges hopping into a Mooney and flying up from Portland, OR to help guide us through our 1st event.

Off my soap box, I'm taking it to the shop to cut it up for some building material.

Best of the season to you all.

Roly Worsfold - NorthWest Scale Aero-Modellers - Director, B.C. Scale Classic Contest Director, MAAC Scale Committee member and Scale Masters competitor (2002).

[Skymaster]

Roly, I'd love to see us from the US and Canada get back to the world stage. I'm still contemplating on a project.

Mike, I'd love to have some pics on the building threads. I completely agree not to do a build along, just occasional pictures showing progress and something written about the project. It's amazing the interest I got by doing that on my Facebook wall.

Hey, I know there are still guys out there building airplanes. Go to a warbird meet or dawn patrol event, and you'll see well done airplanes. I'll admit they are probably not well documented, but well built. My hope in the building thread is to generate excitement in the building competition level airplanes.

Peace guys!