Ernie Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Hi Guys, Aeons ago, when the world was young, I was at the old Abbotsinch airfield near Glasgow. There was an enormous high wing monoplane (A super 60 I think, but maybe it was before they were invented) It was crammed full of valves, elastic bands, with a muckle great petrol engine up front. Slowly, it took off, circled a couple of times, before gracefully descending to obliterate itself on a hanger roof. I was still both gobsmacked and inspired ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Grigg Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Actually none of the suggestions provided.My middle son was doing a bit of dealing of various things on E bay and acquird some cheap Maplin type electric models.They were rejects and i bought a couple but they were underpowered and were unable to do a cicuit.I then visited Modelzone and tried some of there models but again not very good quality.I then made the first correct step and purchased RCM and E magazine and through the more genuine model shops advertising in the mag started to get the correct advise on models anf my hobby started to improve.A chance meeting at my business introduced me to Aldershot model club and I was away with the help of the instructors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Not my Dad it was my son that done it. He started with helis that got me interested and we both moved on to fixed wing and now do both. DB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken Prop Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I got interested through a mate of mine, although quite why I don't know. We seemed to spend all of our time flicking the prop on an ED Baby to no avail. Still, the bug bit somehow and I developed an life long interest in mainstream aviation. After many years and with the usual minor distractions of girls, cars, marriage, kids etc I returned to the hobby. I was instantly hooked by all of the changes in materials, glues, transmitters and building techniques. There is no hope for me now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 As a small child, when staying over with my grandparents, I slept in my Uncle Ivor's room surrounded by models suspended from the picture rail! He was away in foreign parts doing his National Service. I built my first model, a free flight rubber powered Keil Kraft Ajax in 1959, helped by my Uncle Geoff who built beautiful models but who was to die of cancer the following year; he was only in his thirties. It wasn't particularly successful and was followed by a glider. This model was not a success either but my first powered model, a Veron Cardinal powered by a Mills 75 ,was a great success and I was hooked though I didn't realise it at the time of course. Then the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll years intervened but in 1988 I saw a man flying a model in a field in Devon and I've never stopped since. Edited By David Davis on 21/11/2012 18:32:39 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radge Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Flew Cox control line models and built a rubber powered Luscombe Silvair kit about 50 years ago as a nipper and never cut another piece of balsa 'til last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brfc7 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I joined the Air Training Corps at 13 and got into aviation through that, although no one in my squadron did rc so I had to find out about my local club for myself BVRMC (Blyth Valley Radio Model Club) I went along on my push bike every summer night and all day Saturday & Sunday. Straight away getting to know the regular mid week daytime flyers I was offered few flights of various old models an ED Radio Queen for example, and that was it I was hooked. So for my next birthday I asked for money and I bought a full second hand set up. I struggled the first few years to get my planes to the field regular as I relied on lifts as my parents didn't have transport, but to be honest it didn't really bother me if I had my model their as I would still go on my bike and the crack was and still is great. Nearly 20 years on and I still love it. Now I have about 5 ic planes, 3 electric planes, a few gliders an electric glider and an ic Helicopter all geared up and a few models with bits took out of them for newer projects. For me next season can't come quick enough as me and the wife had a baby in January so this season has been a write off so I'm already getting things ready for the new season. baz Edited By brfc7 on 21/11/2012 20:19:58 Edited By brfc7 on 21/11/2012 20:20:39 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 We had a thread a while back. Wonder if the two can be merged... "You started flying models because..." Thread This was the reason why I got interested: Sky Pirates. The video has been removed from Youtube. Shame Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom T Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Bit worrying the way schools promotion efforts are so low... need boosting, that should be number one or atleast near the top. On the other end of the spectrum family being way out in front! Shows its certainly a father to son business...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Posted by Mark Agate on 21/11/2012 10:34:57: What about an option for "Saw a bloke flying at the local field"? In my case it was a friend's 10th birthday party - we were taken to Epsom Downs to play football, but I refused to play because I just wanted to watch the model flying. How long ago was that, Mark? I've "only" been flying there for the past 21 years, but I know people have flown there for a great deal longer than that. MY answer to the poll question is much like that of Ken, Tony & others - it's just something I always seem to have had an interest in. Nothing particularly got me started, other than being just about old enough to actually built something that stood some chance of flying! I took a few years out in the middle for university, starting work, getting arried, etc. etc. but then returned! Actually there was a trigger for my return to aeromodelling. My brother-in-law bought me a Tamiya plastic kit as either a Christmas or a birthday present. It wasn't even a plane, it was the Williams F1 car. I started assembling it and decided I'd make a really good job of finishing it properly - unlike the Airfix kits of many years ago! During the building time the 'bug' bit again, and almost before I knew it I'd dug out my old radio gear and plane and was heading off to the Downs to fly it! As for the Williams F1 car kit, well that is 95% finished. It's sitting in its original box on a shelf behind me where it's been for the past 21 years. I might even finally finish it one day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 "BMFA Event" is rather lacking in progress, as well. "Nil Point", so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFlyingCrust Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I was 9 when my big bro got me involved. Used to love watching him flying combat. Mum and Dad bought me an AM15 for Christmas. Saved Pocket money (with a top-up from M+D) bought a 1/2A Keil Kraft control line team racer and with bro's help I was away. All my pocket money was spent on either new models or fuel (got a local pharmacist to make mine. Much cheaper than the LMS bought stuff. Used to go with him (brother was 5 years older than me - sadly no longer here) and fly in his school playing fields with all his friends. Loved flying with the Big Boys. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Molineux Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 For the last 17 years I've worked on helicopters and never really had any 'interest' in aircraft. About 18 months ago I moved into a desk job and soon felt the need to do something more practical. I saw a model flying display and thought 'I could build one of those'. I built a TN Sky 40 trainer last winter. Joined a local club in about April. Passed my A in July and am nearing completion of a Clean Sweep . I've got a list of 'must build' models as long as my arm and am enjoying flying too. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin Livsey Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 None of the options apply. I've always loved planes, full size or models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Peacock Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 An Airfix Spitfire at 9 years old, followed by a Gladiator, Hurricane, Wellington before (at last) a K-K Cub, then a few chuckies and several small K-K scale models before progressing to a Chatterbox with a D-C Merlin. After that, a 72" span A2 glider from an Aeromodeller plan (can't remember the name, unfortunately) which became firewood on its 2nd flight, then... girls, beer and rock 'n' roll took over. Forty-something years later I found my way back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james nicholson Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I blame a pico-z toy heli that a friend bought me for christmas a few years ago. It opened my eyes to the fact that rc flight had become more affordable.Obviously since then I've spent a fortune Edited By james nicholson on 21/11/2012 22:14:00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Olsen 1 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Well, it was a while back now, and the right choice is not in the survey, since I got started from a book which had flying space models. I still have it somewhere too. The one I built and flew was styled like a rocket, but the fins were big enough to be canard wings, with a smaller wing at the front. It flew quite well from a catapult launch. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max50 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Non of the above. Started with airfix kits,then joining the ATC got me interested in flying . My first kit was a Graupner Dandy glider i bought in an Ellesmere Port model shop. Edited By Max50 on 22/11/2012 08:14:37 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erfolg Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 As with Max, although, I voted a freind. My interest started with a toy, a catapult glider made by Walther of Germany. Toys just do not have the quality of workmanship or durability of these toys. I used to fly it in the fields of my aunties farm in Westphalia. The model would catapulted into the heavens, using a short hand held catapult. The model would zoom up, loop, undertake various aerobatics, before settling into a glide. For a 6 years old child enthralling, what would it do next time, how far, for how long. Then in the UK Woolworths played their part.with Airfix kits at 12p in todays coinage or apparently £2.40 inflated to todays values. This combined with my mates building plastic kits drifted into all sorts of small modes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 If I remember correctly it was a TV program presented by "Bob Syms". "Model Magic" or something similar They produced a magazine which had a plan for a free flight plane, which I built and it all spiralled out of control from there. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I was heavily influenced by my older brother Ron (Now 81). When I was about 4 or 5 years old as I understood it Ron made jet planes at Hawkers in Kingston. ( Also the Sea Fury). Ron built a large rubber powered plane we / he flew at the local cricket ground (Now Streatham Rugby Club) and later when I was nine helped me build a rubber powered Fairy Firefly. I also went through the 'Airfix' and Keil Kraft Rubber powered planes era but at the age of 12 got my first diesel motor a Super Merlin and KK Pirate and 'things really took-off from there'. I had to borrow the money from Ron for the Merlin at about £3.75. This upset Ron's future wife as they were saving up to get married. I had to pay Ron back at about six old pence per week and of course lost the motor about 3 years later in the Southern Dragon! MJE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Whisky Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 No voting option really covers my situation ... A lifelong pal and I had always been interested in aircraft since schooldays and we were chatting over a pint one day when he mentioned that he'd seen an advert for a cheap foam electric RC trainer. We were both then in our mid-fifties (11 years ago!) and we agreed "if we don't do it now, we never will" - so we did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Posted by Mike Etheridge 1 on 22/11/2012 13:30:06: ... and of course lost the motor about 3 years later in the Southern Dragon! What is/was "the Southern Dragon", Mike? I'm intrigued! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingKade Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Where do i go on the forum to see the results of earlier polls? oh, and my dad got me into r/c planes when i was about 13.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Etheridge 1 Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 John, The Southern Dragon was a 42 inch span polyhedral wing free flight model produced in the 1940's by 'The Southern Junior Model Company in Brighton. In 1961 a school colleague (Richard Macey) asked me if I would like to buy the SD kit which I did for 7 shillings and six pence. The kit was unusual in as much as he tissue paste supplied was contained in a glass tube with a cork stopper and the wheels which I still have were made of pressed metal. If you look on the Ben Buckle website a plan of the plane is shown. Ben Buckle suggests the plane would suit up to 2 cc motors which I would disagree with. My nephew had my plan and I must find out if he still has it. I think it would make a super electric RC plane and not only that the construction is designed as I have mentioned before so that you avoid any distortion. Mike Edited By Mike Etheridge 1 on 22/11/2012 21:03:42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.