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To the average Joe model
builder who otherwise has no shot at national recognition, having his model
airplane featured in a magazine like this 1939 issue of Flying Aces was
a major source of pride. Even today with easy access to making yourself known on
the Internet, there is still something special about seeing your self and/or
your model appear in print. The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMAs) has each
month a "Focal Point" section in its Model Aviation magazine consisting
of a collection of photos and descriptions of models submitted by members. Most
seem to be radio control, with an occasional control line or free flight model.
I even managed to have my scratch built 105%
Aquila sailplane in there a
few years ago. As you can see in this "With the Model Builders" page that there
were no R/C models at all. The Good brothers (Walt
and
Bill) were still in the early stages of developing reliable radio systems at
the time.
With the Model Builders
 Hold on there a - moment!
Do our eyes deceive us, or is that really a Hawker "Fury" on the tail of a Polish
PZL-6? Heck, we thought they were allies! But don't get worried, fellows, because
this is just a shot of two of Lowrie McLarty's jobs.
 Arlo Koontz, of Onawa, Iowa, says that he's
been trying to "make" this page for a long time. But he won't have to worry any
more about having his photos published - for this shot of his Curtiss Navy F11C-2
is tops!
 A few weeks ago John Pope, of Durham, N.
C., dropped into the office for a short visit and gave us this view of his "Baby
Cyclone" powered gas job. But don't let the smallness of the photo fool you, for
the model is plenty big - having a 6' span and a 48" length. John says she flies
swell in all types of weather.
 This gas-powered "Mighty Mite" (May, 1938,
F.A.) was built by Jim Shutt, of Columbus, Ohio. The craft is powered with an "Atwood
Phantom." According to Jim, the ship made a full loop and pulled out a bare three
inches above the ground on its first hop.
 Here's a line-up of some of the members
of the Hi-Y Aeronauts, of Fairfield, Iowa. Don Fuqua, who supplies many of our Workbench
Tips, is second from the left. And Claude D. McCullough, who designed the "Cub Coupe"
(October, 1989, F.A.) is third from the left. Looks like the boys have got many
nice models.
 It took Dan Williams, of Gadsden, Texas
a full 160 hours to finish off this "Quaker Flash." And we think that the time he
spent on it - from April 24 to May 22 - was well spent. For she's a honey! The ship's
powered with a "Syncro Ace," has a 5'-7" span, and weighs 3 lbs., 8 oz.
 Now we have the "High Climber" (August,
1989, F.A.). This craft was built by Bob Babskie, of Glen Lyon, Pa., and seems to
be a striking replica of Earl Stahl's original, model. Bob tells us he's had over
31 flights to date without even one serious crack-up!
 We've seen many neat workbenches in our
time, but this one of Charles Glock's really takes the tail-skid! Charley, who lives
in New York, has been building models from F.A. plans for many years, and his pride
is his enlarged "Moth" (August, 1937, F.A.), the up-ended fuselage of which is in
the center of the bench. That's a Stinson there to the left, of course.
Posted October 29, 2022
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