Model Builder: August 1975

STRICTLY SAIL Interview: Bob Harris A candid conversation with the President of the American Model Yachting Association. After a two year lull, AMYA was suddenly faced with coping with a new dynamism at its head. Fresh from assign- ments as East Coast 12-meter class Secretary and AMYA Director, Bob Harris took office in August of 1974, and the ball has been rolling faster with each passing month, Bob’s association with model yachting commenced in 1969, when he traded ina healthy interest in electric scale for Washington, D.C., and took part in the first AMY A sanctioned regatta series, the C.H. Black Trophy sailed during the 1970 season, and finished a creditable second. His interest prompted him to journey to Memphis, Tennessee for the first AMYA sanctioned Annual Class Championship for the East Coast 12meter… to place in the top five of that event. Since then, he has spread his com- a try at EC/12 competition. He joined the Capital R/C Model Boat Club, of petition interests into the 50/800 and S/B classes, winning Divisional Championships in both as well as a number of STRICTLY SAIL: invitational contests. Those of us who have to sail against him applauded his election to the AMYA presidency, thinking that this would distract him from the realities of the race course. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. He remains as formidable on the course as he is affable away from it. Having assisted at an operation on the keel of his new 36/600 Equation, we paused for a cup of coffee and engaged him in the following uncensored discussion: What are the most have not changed in two or three years. people as it did last year. | think that pressing problems which the American The officers have spent a lot of time we’re coming close Model Yachting Association faces today? looking for means to keep the dues where they are. We are quite aware of the fact kinds of questions that I’m asking my- HARRIS: The most pressing right now is simply growth. Growth brings with it complexities, which we are only now beginning to face up to. The physical growth of the newsletter, the increase in the activity of each class and its demands for space in the newsletter, all are causing a serious problem, as is the question of funds required to handle the rise in membership. The number of volunteer officers now required to meet the demand placed on the organization by the members is under serious discussion. We still have a long way to go to properly define the roles of the Directors and Class Secretaries. | have always felt that class business should be left largely in the hands of each class secretary, but there is an obvious limit to what one man can do alone as the size of the individual class enlarges. STRICTLY SAIL: Will an increase tn dues be required in the forseeable future? HARRIS: | don’t think so. Our dues at present are probably the lowest of any national hobby organization and they that anyone who gets into this hobby, who can afford the costs of the vehicle and control system, could well afford the cost of an increase in dues. We have chosen instead to accept paid advertising in the newsletter, and | would hope that a dues increase would not be required until we have exhausted our ability to utilize the advertising program. Also, any dues increase should be directly related to increased services to the members, such as the services of experienced regatta directors for new clubs, counsel for the organization of new clubs, and other things of this nature. STRICTLY SAIL: What provisions can be madé to meet the continued increase in size and cost of the Quarterly Newsletter? HARRIS: Clearly, there has to be some limit to the size of the Quarterly News- letter, based on the capability of Rich Matt, our editor, to meet the logistics involved in publishing a Newsletter, which now goes to about twice as many – to the limit. The self have to do with the need of report- ing on such things as club-only regatta results, and perhaps whether class business in the next two or three years will have to be reported in separate publica- tions. There is a real possibility that Rich Matt will wish to retire from his position having produced 19 issues over the last5 years completely singlehandedly, I’ve never thought that he got the appreciation he deserved for the work that he has put into this, for the work is largely invisible. But at the present time, | know of no individual capable of handling the job as Rich has, though I’d like to take this opportunity to ask the AMYA general membership; if any- one has suggestions or would like to help, please contact me. Here is an area where an increased cost in the form of a salaried editor for the Newsletter would have an effect on the dues. STRICTLY SAIL: What qualifications will the next generation of AMYA leadership need? I’m specifically referring to the President and Directors to be elected i ». wu “The founding fathers and present officers would like for it {AMY A) to remain an organization of people…” 54 “| have always felt that class business should be left largely in the hands of the class secretary…” “| would like to say that … vane sailors … represent an untapped source of technical expertise…” MODEL BUILDER \ e e tMS itJN“NG wy os I) \ “IVY” a radical new 50/800 built by Dave Forsman, of Maryland. in 1976. HARRIS: It has been a tradition within AMYA that each Director had a specific job to do assigned by the President, In the past we have looked at the directors who were elected, taken stock of their interests and abilities, and assigned duties accordingly. Luckily, the newsletter has been handled extremely competently by Rich Matt; the job of treasurer has been steadied by the able hand of Dick Hein. Other jobs which are presently assigned are the Director for Manufacturer Relations and Advertising … Ron Schoder, Director for Technical Research and In- “IVY” certainly wins the all-time Big Jib Award for an M-Class yacht! of individuals. He needs a willingness to act as a central point of reference from which a basic foundation of policy can be built, always with the good of the individuals who make up the hobby, uppermost in his mind. STRICTLY SAIL: Some rumors have circulated that AMY A might go the route of USYRU (a big boat organization) and become merely a capstone organi- for Club Activities and Regatta Schedule Coordinator… Buddy Black, Director Dennis Eason has been handling the required communication with the international sailing community, and so on. The talents needed are essentially administrative and technical. It doesn’t follow at all that because a fellow is a championship skipper, he is going to make a good Director. People who have such skills as are required for a Director, and who enjoy the hobby, have something of a moral obligation to pay their dues ina tary disappears under a pile of member- ship renewals each winter and is often not seen or heard from for months. We must find means of cutting such jobs down to a reasonable size or else foot the bill for having them professionally handled. in that tion and leadership that members have become used to from the parent organization. This is as much the responsibility country to the other. AUGUST 1975 We have a problem many of AMYA’s classes do not show a strong Class Secretary who would be able to provide the kinds of communica- manner more than just money… by giving of themselves. Such gifts are invaluable, and summed to the present day, are represented by the full regatta schedule, over 45 sanctioned clubs, and sailing activity from one end of the which inevitably arise in any collection reason. AMYA, as you know, has always been an organization of people. The founding fathers and the present officers would like for it to remain an organization of people rather than an organiza- tion of clubs. After all, that is what the hobby is about, people to people. It will remain that way because so many of our members are not club members, since there are no clubs in the areas where they live. Nonetheless it is a fact, that the sheer growth of AMYA is forcing serious rethinking of means of handling the paper work which seems to accompany any group. Our AMY A Secre- formation …Tom Protheroe, Director The President needs to knowa Jittle bit about everything that is going on, and to have the responsible nature that will require him to expend his time at the typewriter and mailbox, straightening out the kinds of misunderstandings zation which would sanction classes and clubs, handle a small bulletin for them, but leave the bulk of the work in the hands of class associations. What substance can be found in these reports? HARRIS: Yes, there has been such talk, and there has been such talk with some Central Park’s Be Goodrich sailed last one‘s 2nd place Boomer into 10thin this year’s Col- onial 50/800 Regatta. Number system, as weil as the sails are surely food for thought. of the Class Secretary as it is of the class members who elected him. The diversity of the problems within AMYA do require a decentralization of the administrative functions. A strong class secretary, backed up with a Technical Committee and a class membership Continued on page 59 55 If this class catches on the way | think it will, we can add it to the na- tionwide agenda at a later date. | would also think it would be appropriate to outlaw anything that is considered to give a car an “unfair advantage”’ based on experience. Rules may change from year to year, but a basic car would al- NEW Grand Banks Dory All colors preprinted on coated heavy paper. All die-cut cardboard parts. Easy assembly, in 6-8 hours. with illustrated step-by-step instructions. ways remain competitive. My first guess on an appropriate car- @ buretor bore is .156 in. diameter (an original 19 carb bore). A slotted or forked (preferable to check out-ofround bores) no-go gage is all that is of the Grand Banks Dory is an exciting learning experience for teenagers and adults. The construction technique involved ts required. If you believe we should start a ‘‘Stan- similar to that of full scale boals Learn of the dory’s historical dard” car class as described above, please send a postcard to: Chuck Hallum, P.O. Box 4658, Irvine, CA. 92664 or: use and development. The Grand Sanks Dory’s measurements are: LOA 10%” R.O.A.R., 755 Ash St., Flossmoor, IN. 60422. Give us your name, ROAR number Beam 3-1/16″. The complete kit price is $2.49 Available through hobby dealers (if any), and indicate that you are in favor of starting a ‘‘Standard” Bullding an authentic scale model and distribulors only car class. Sailing…… Continued from page 55 which is serious about its own well being, may weil be the surviving format that model yachting evolves to in the future. {t is not going to happen this year, nor next, but in the forseeable future, most probably. STRICTLY SAIL: There is R/C yachting activity in Australia, Argentina, England, Canada, Japan and South Africa as well as on the Continent. Considering the problems special to R/C yachting, has there been any discussion of the pos- sibility of an all R/C international sailing organization which would be parallel to IMYRU (International Model Yacht Racing Union)? HARRIS: Yes, there has been discussion and most of it has ended up with the feeling on the part of the AMYA officers that the last thing in the world that we need is more administrative problems, or more, if you’ll pardon the expression, politics. We have quite enough to do to develop AMYA, keep the members happy and make our competitions meaningful, and keep the hobby fun, which is after all what the whole thing is supposed to be. { personally have had some contact with people in other countries, who are exclusively R/C sailors. | understand that there are two organizations in Aus- tralia, a vane and an R/C group, which diverged much in the same way that the American I’d like to point out that we have been sailing with the Canadians for years. We share a rule structure, and having given priority to sailing instead of sitting, have developed a very healthy set of large trans-border regattas that draw people from all over both countries. | would suppose that the success of the hobby will one day dictate the formation of a Canadian Model Yachting Association, but doubt highly that it will in any way influence the scores of skippers who travel to regattas on either side of the border during each season. The only difference between this situation and that with any other country would seem to be the farge question of travel funds. As the opportunity to AUGUST 1975 STRICTLY SAIL: There is a report that you are considering a temporary program that would provide a place in AMYA for vane sailors who still wish to sail, as well as an AMYA director charged with responsibility for their well being. Would you care to comment? HARRIS: As far as I know, the number of active vane sailors in the US must be on the order of 100 or less. A number of these who are MYRAA members also hold memberships in AMYA, indicating their interest in R/C sailing. | can also MAKE SURE YOU GET A HOME WITH A MODEL WORKSHOP ! ! FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS, CONTACT: ANITA NORTHROP “SE HABLA ESPANOL!” sail with skippers from other countries, we’ll find a way together to meet the requirements of the body holding the event, as opposed to going through the agony of building yet another layer of paperwork to oversee what is basically a very simplistic situation, t.e., more than two boats and one lake!!!! cessful ambassadorship from our lakes to theirs for the benefit of all included. MOVING TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA? vane group (MYRAA) and AMYA. | suspect that there will be more of this in other countries. Frankly, I’m not for forming associations. If we have long as this is handled by the individual skipper himself, 1 see nothing but suc- SPECIALIZING IN: RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL LAND Crt a REAL * ESTATE (714) 979-1050 (714) 538-9625 Office at: 688 W. Baker St., Costa Mesa, Ca., 92626 eeeeeeveeeteneaee WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS, TELL ’EM MODEL BUILDER SENT YOU! 59 can get. The prime requisite should probably be a good previous competition record. As you step down toward the Divisional level, I’m willing to ameliorate that a bit, since there must be the opportunity for new skippers to gain experience in larger regattas. | have designated Director Cas Woodbridge to collect the techniques experimented with during this season, and to report this winter on a suggested prequalification code for the approval of the Directors and membership. 9 SPAN 1/4 AERONCA “CHAMP” SUPERSIZE STAND-OFF SCALE Complete Kit — $99.95 If dealer cannot supply, order direct * ————— Distributed in Canada by Logictro! Canada 200 Bannerman Ave., Winnipeg, Man, ® Super Fast Assembly .60 Engines and up 3or 4 Channel Radio ® Rolled Plans ® ® Hardware 105%” Span ® ® 10 Ibs. All Up Weight 1500 Sq. In. Wing All Wood Construction Machine Cut Parts Designed and Produced by Bud Nosen BUD NOSEN MODELS Box 105 B, Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616 pride to the Central Park MYC and the Marblehead MYC, which are not only MYRAA Clubs, but also AMYA sanctioned clubs at the present time. As far as providing a place for vane sailors within AMYA, the President and the Directors are somewhat limited by the language in the AMYA Constitution, which clearly says that we are in business to foster radio controlled sailing. Nonetheless, | see nothing wrong with the idea that radio controlled sailing would be fostered by providing, at least temporarily, a way for vane sailors to operate a com” or -scture if they cared to, under tt… aegis of AMYA. This is a very different thing ! ought to point out, before anyote starts u. owing rocks at me, than setting up a permanent vane sailing class or classes within AMYA. The idea, as far as the AMYA President is concerned, is to provide a bridge for vane sailors who want to find out more about R/C yachting before they decide whether or not to get into it, and to help them into it if they should so decide. | would like to say that my recent contacts w. /1 vane sailors, most notably when | OD’d the 59th Annual Central Park MYC, ‘ow that they represent an untapped source of technical expertise, which for the lack of a decent commu- nication system with their parent organization, has not reached the wide audience they deserve. 62 Write For Our Illustrated Catalog — .25¢ Phone: (218) 834-4544 point with *« * STRICTLY SAIL: Bob was quite strong in his desire for feedback from our readers. He is interested in your ideas and suggestions, and will field them at 7628 Dunston Street, Springfield, Va. 22151. STRICTLY SAIL: Some of the larger AMYA classes are beginning to experience traffic jams as people attempt to compete in Divisional and Annual Class Championship Regattas. What steps are being taken to insure that the winner of an ACCR is in fact the National Champion? HARRIS: We don’t know now what the right way is to eliminate these traffic jams. | have encouraged the clubs holding major events this year to cooperate with the class secretaries involved and to innovate methods of prequalifying HANDY HINT Every now and then we hear from a skipper with an idea to share. It always brightens a day. Latest in this fairly short list of benefactors is Rolf McPherson, of Los Angeles, who sent us a sample of his favorite kind of sheet guide for use in boat decks. Simply, it consists of the nylon nut and bojt arrangements used to mount auto license plates. He bores out the middle of the bolt, countersinks and dresses the hole at either end, and winds up with a friction free, nonrustable guide of light weight, and without the ability to fray our sheets as we are so used to. Rolf’s were manufactured by Hollywood Accessories and came 4 sets to acard for 49 cents… enough to do two boats. We intend to put them in our new STAR 45 and look forward to watching them and their effect on the sheets. contestants for the larger events. | think that we will eventually need an AMYAwide code for this kind of thing, that can be invoked by a class secretary when he sees the jam developing in his class. | think it only fair to the members that the code be the same for all classes. My own personal view is quality rather than quantity. The ACCR’s should be fought out between the best skippers that we Place 1st Points Skipper 11.0 R. Carr REGATTA NEWS The Colonial 50/800 Regatta was held at Pitman, New Jersey on April 27th. This event opens the M-class season for the Mid-Atlantic skippers and is usually the first opportunity to see what has been abuilding all winter. Twentythree boats entered what was to be a heavy air contest that was run under the able hand of Doug Barry and the TriState MYC. Having shared with you all our secrets as we assembled the YANKEE, I’m happy to say that we managed a consistent set of finishes in the heats | sailed with the boat: 2-2-2-1-1-2-1-1, to win the event and the Hiner Memorial Trophy. This trophy was first given at the Mid-Atlantic Regatta during 1971, and has been reborn as an annual award Hull Sails Winch R/C YANKEE CARR SE-1P Futaba 2nd 125 R. Harris WARRIOR CARR LilHerc Kraft 3rd 18.5 R. Stephanz YANKEE CARR Lil Herc Futaba 4th 205 R.{hlenburg YANKEE CARR SE-1P Kraft 5th 22.5 C. Purdy YANKEE NYLET Drone Kraft 6th 23.0 N. Goodrich ARROW IV Homemade Neptune MRC 7th 26.75 J. McGrath SOLING Vortex — _ 8th 29.75 J. West SOLING Vortex — — 9th 30.75 H. Morris SOLING Vortex 10th 32.75 L. Goodrich BOOMER Homemade WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS, TELL ‘EM MODEL BUILDER SENT YOU! _ o– _ MODEL BUILDER for this M-class event. | am also pleased to note the flair which a number of YANKEES had for the top finishing places, including the original wooden “WMA “Bt prototype sailed by the designer. An abbreviated listing of the top 10 boats is provided. All heats were worked out using the Mark 30 system, and consisted of 7 and 8-boat heats through the day, each boat sailing 8 heats, WRAP UP Our new “formula class” project will be put off one more month, but should be upcoming next time. Remember to send your $5.00 AMYA dues to the Secretary, Bud Salika, 3917 Sunnyside, Brookfield, [ll. 60513. ‘Tis the best money you’ll ever spend. Send your suggestions and questions to Rod Carr, 7608 Gresham St., Springfield, Va. 22151, or in care of MODEL BUILDER. e Plug Sparks … Continued from page 35 and parts, which became the basis for his series of successful Johnson 29, 32, and 35 series of engines. Try converting one to ignition and note the similarity of handling and starting to an Orwick. No question about the ancestry! NEW COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE For a change of pace, try one of Fred Collin’s new compressed air engines that features a nove! “advance” of the throttle. Really works! For those desiring one of these engines, they go for $65.00 ea. As Fred sez, these are a real Jove of labor, hence the price. No discounts. (I know!) If interested, write Fred Col- lins at 29 Stewart St., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15227. OLD TIMER F/F SOLID SCALES Didya ever try to tell a newcomer to the old timer game, or for that matter, your non-modeling friend, what your old timer model looks like? Real frustrating! Well, relax Brenner Ave. men. N.W., CLASSIC ago, Bill LIMITED EDITION: Orders for the 40TH ANNIVERSARY BROWN JA ENGINE will close October 31, 1975, at which time the production limit will be set. Your order date will determine serial number and delivery (production will not be hurried). Herb’s Model Motors reserves the right to limit the ENGINE: Forty years Brown revolutionized powered model aviation with his Brown Jr. engine. To commemorate this event, a limited edition 40TH ANNIVERSARY BROWN JR. ENGINE has been authorized by Bill Brown, and is being built by Ignition Engine Specialist, Herb Wahl. Bill and copgest run prior to October Herb have agreed on every feature PRICE DEPOSIT of this engine. Faithful in every detail to the old fong-stroke Brown Jr., each engine is $150.00 $70.00 2nd Engine 140.00 60.00 to authentically power your old- 3rd Engine 130.00 50.00 HERB’S MODEL MOTORS ist Engine precision hand-fitted and test-run time models, or be a proud ad:dition to your collectors shelf. Featuring both old and new improvements, each engine is extensively engraved, serial num- bered, and registered In the owner’s name, with an authentication certificate signed by Bill | P.O. BOX 31 CRUM LYNNE, PA. 19022 Place my order tor (limit 3), 40th Anniversary Brown Jr. Engina(s) atatotal costoi$ | Deposit of $ ; . is enclosed. NAME | SIGNATURE ADDRESS ORDER DATE (void after Brown. Oct. 31, 1975) John Smith, 960 Massillon, Ohio 44646, is putting out 12” wingspan solid scale kits of those wonderful old birds. What a great idea for your mante! piece. John goes on further to state the kits will look very much like the old Strombecker kits, which featured hard wood fuselages with profile and top views cut out of the block. The wings will be cut to shape, but you gotta put the airfoil in. Some of the real interesting details to be featured in the kits will include instructions on how to simulate the fabric covering, and best of all, brass cast engines patterned after Brown Jr or Ohlsson 60 motors. To top off the finished solid scale of your favorite O/T, scale sized NAA and/or AMA decals will be provided. Now how about that? Smith states that samples of the kits will be available AUGUST 1975 at the Lake Charles oS XAM “He’s never flown it. By the time he gets it together, it’s time to go home!” WHEN CONTACTING ADVERTISERS, TELL ‘EM MODEL BUILDER SENT YOU! 63