Excited about scale modeling

[Skymaster]

Hi Guys and Gals!!!

I'm John Boyko from the Dayton Ohio area. I'm new to posting in the forums, but have been involved with the Masters since 2002. I served as the site manager when we were at the Air Force Museum in 2003, got hooked and started competing in 2005. I'm an "Area Director" for our East Coast Chair Mike Barbee.

As I have read many of the the topics I ask the question.... Is any body else excited about building and flying scale models? I understand some of the things that have been posted, particularly the lack of participation. I know the leadership has to tighten some things up, but so do we!!

We are the people who are truly capable of making scale modeling a growing part of this hobby. If we are not intentionally going out, finding and mentoring people to the fun and satisfaction of creating a replica of a full scale airplane, the WE, not the BOD are at fault for not growing the "sport". Years ago I was a part of the growth spurt IMAC had. The pilots were out at the club fields talking up how much fun it was and how much better a pilot you'd become. IMAC grew because we made it grow, not necessarily the national leadership. Personally I'd rather write about my next cool project is, how to solve challenges, or where to get stuff needed to build our airplanes!

This year I finally retired my big yellow Pitts S1-S, and started campaigning a 25% Cessna Skymaster. Not only was it my first plans built plane, but I drew the plans myself, learned how to make fiberglass parts, and even developed the landing gear with a TON of help from friends in the hobby. She has had an attitude so far, but as the bugs get worked out, its gonna be a good plane.

Interestingly, as I've flown more scale contest, I get many invites to fly at big bird events and air shows, not because I can do water falls, walls, blenders and all that 3D stuff (cause I can't), but because I'm flying a scale airplane. AND at the end of the day, the public can relate to seeing models of real planes, and not necessarily the 3D planes. We still fly the coolest planes out there, ARF or built by us.

So lets start chatting about the cool exciting stuff that's going on and grow the Scale Masters.  Its up to us.


John Boyko

[Austin]

I hadn't met John prior to the meet last weekend. He is truly a nice guy. He has to be to take my jabbing!! John had a landing gear problem with his Sky Master and it kept him out of the running. The airplane is truly a work of art and it really pains me to say that!! This organization will be a better place with John in it. Welcome aboard.

Austin Goodwin
Mesa, Arizona.

[bwboland]

John Boyko,

We need more posts like this. Love your passion for our hobby. Our sector is struggling in the RC world. Growth will be determinded by us and the weather gods allowing our planes to fly. We can control "US" the gods are a different challenge:-)

Thanks for your very pointed post John, you are the man buddy!!!!!!

Bernie

[semeraro]

Hello,

Yes I am excited about scale modeling. I am a recent (5 years ago) participant in competition and aside from the nervousness I enjoy it. I would like to see scale competition grow. It cant shrink much more. I dont think changes to scoring formulas or to rules governing ARF participation are the whole answer. I think we need to spread the enthusiasm that we have to other prospective pilots and builders.
Dave Johnson has been mentoring me for the past several years. We got started by doing a group (of 2) build of the albatros DV. Dave taught me lots of stuff about building and we had some great times working on models in his basement. Another thing Dave did was to bring me along to contests and have me call for him. This was before my airplane was built (and afterward). This got me to a contest as a participant and not a spectator. That was key in setting the hook. The feeling of being part of the action was great. Asking a buddy who is on the fence to call for you might be a way to get them into competition.
Competing in team scale could be a great way to get more pilots and builders into competition. There are several very good builders out there that dont compete because they feel their flying skills are not up to par. Similarly there are some great pilots out there that dont want to build an airplane. Connecting these guys up could get them involved. The key here too is mentoring. We all know a cub is supposed to fly like a cub and not a pitts. New pilots may not realize that. Mentors are important to bring new people along so that they dont make as many mistakes and dont get discouraged.
Evangelizing about the hobby is another way to generate enthusiasm and possibly participation. We need to get the word out to prospective pilots about upcoming competitions. Showing off our competition models to other modelers might also generate interest. Taking the contest bird to a giant scale fly in might get some guy asking questions and you could cleverly lead them into discussing contest flying. All of this of course takes energy. Something I find myself having less and less of these days. But I am willing to do my part to try to increase interest.
So those are my thoughts on scale. I am going to make an effort to serve the scale community by doing what I can to promote the hobby this year. I think we should all put forth a little extra effort this year and discuss the results of our efforts on the 2013 season at the masters next year.

Thanks for your attention.
Dave Semeraro

[Skymaster]

Dave, I couldn't agree more with you!! The single best way to grow our part of the hobby is the intentional sharing and mentoring that occurs at our local clubs.

I took the idea of Team scale getting guys involved another setp further, and offered a "funscale" plane to a pilot for use at a contest. I'm sure many of us have good planes that are adequate for the lower classes, to allow a new guy to experiance the atmosphere of a contest.

Since there is no BOM rule why not??!!!!