john stones 1 - Moderator Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 Good read again, sorry the paper copies only gonna be once a year, but understand the decision. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 (edited) Yep, only one hard copy a year gratis from now on. Wrong choice I feel but I also understand why. However £10 for hard copies was it ? I will make do with the digital copy..... Edited January 25 by Rich Griff 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 £25K per edition when posted? - simply not feasible. So far only 1500 members requesting a hard copy so the change should have been made years ago and would have saved a fortune. Well produced as always, but not what most members are interested in and want to read in detail. Having said that I do hope everyone at least reads Ian Pallister's somewhat sobering article. A shame but that's the fact of the matter. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 I was particularly bemused to see an article (page 49) about my old (first) flying field -- a place where I spent a good chunk of my childhood: Croxley Moor. So many good memories. Allow me to add to the article. I started flying there over 60 years ago, and the field had been an active model flying site long before I was born. During the 1960s it was the home site for the Watford Wayfarers Model Flying Club. It was a rough-and-ready site with a patch which was about 40 yards long. If your landing missed the patch, you reached for the glue. . We quickly learnt how to operate on a tight patch. A fair number of "names" cut their teeth on Croxley Moor: Mick Charles.... scale World Champion. Did models for the Battle of Britain film. Roy Yates.... also did models for the Battle of Britain film. Ron Moulton... Modelling author and name in the game in his era. Vago Nordigan... flew models (helis) for James Bond films. Paul Skinner... Fun Fly Champ. Mick Wishire... Super Tigre engines importer, and radio manufacturer. Pete Christy. .. R/C electronics wizard. Steve Roberts.... Heli Champ. An RCM&E editor whose name escapes me... he flew pylon racers. Hundreds of other modellers have enjoyed the place over the years. It's nice to know the site is still active. Maybe we should organise a reunion one day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 Better not wait too long! As I didn’t get to make any inputs on my first attempt at RC flight at Nomansland, I can reasonably claim to be a member of the Croxley Moor teethcutters. For those unaware, Brian was the unlucky person tasked with attempting to wrestle the transmitter from my panic/denial induced iron grip in those pre-buddy lead days. P.S. You missed JG from your list! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Oh yes, John Greenfield too. 👍 Feel free to add to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maurice northcott Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 9 hours ago, Brian Cooper said: An RCM&E editor whose name escapes me... he flew pylon racers. Tony Dowdeswell? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 14 minutes ago, maurice northcott said: Tony Dowdeswell? Yup, I believe he was the chap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Christy Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Reading the article, I was pleased to see Peter Valentine remembered. PV was, of course, the designer of the Lark helicopter. It may not have been the easiest heli to fly, but it was simple and CHEAP! IIRC, when it came out, a rotorshaft for a Schluter or Kavan was around £10-12. A Lark shaft was 75p! And at a pinch, you could straighten it with your bare hands and continue flying - albeit somewhat shakily! I think at one time, nearly every member of the Watford Wayfarers had a Lark, and there must be hundreds of broken Lark bits buried on the moor. I have this vision of archaeologists in a thousand year's time digging them up and wondering what strange rituals were being indulged in the mid 20th century..... 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly Boy 3 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 I too am a bit disappointed with content of BMFA mag in recent times.I understand in Winter it can be difficult to find articles on flying building etc, so other items are printed that to me seem irrelevant. Speaking for my self, flying and building are my requirements. Articles on t/off, landings, cross wind problems, trimming problems etc. Even though I have been flying for over thirty five years, I still want to learn more. Also there seems lack of interest in building these days with few articles on the subject. Please do not think I am running the mag down as every one requires thier own personal preferences. Cheers ps could be off thread. Sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 (edited) Seeing as the publication is called 'BMFA News' I'd expect its main remit to be news of the BMFA, its doings, clubs and associated stuff. Anything else is pretty much covered by RCM&E, Aeromodeller and a few other remaining specialist mags for those that wish to read other general articles. I don't see the need for duplication. Thrice yearly should be plenty to cover it. The single 'free' hard copy idea I dont think is a good idea considering the considerable cost. Perhaps an option to request it at renewal time? Art photography using drones or even conventional models seems an odd thing to include to me. Although I do read and enjoy the Scale content, it's not really news. Edited January 28 by Cuban8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 I suspect that the hard copy version is seen as a positive communication medium to demonstrate the BMFA's commitment to educating the general membership on regulation changes and developments and reinforce the level of professionalism that has contributed to our Article 16 exemptions. The general interest articles may be there in an attempt to make it more attractive and professional than a dry communique about legislation by encouraging the avarage member to at least flick through the magazine. There will always be those who are unwilling to educate themselves...you can lead a horse to water... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Harris Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I always put my copy of the magazine straight in the recycling bin (after removing the plastic film) and I bet I'm not alone. Last year I used to get two copies a day or so apart which was doubly wasteful. It's just adverts and stuff that can be read online if anyone is interested. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 56 minutes ago, Arthur Harris said: I always put my copy of the magazine straight in the recycling bin (after removing the plastic film) and I bet I'm not alone. Last year I used to get two copies a day or so apart which was doubly wasteful. It's just adverts and stuff that can be read online if anyone is interested. Perhaps if you just flicked through the BMFA Magazine before putting it in the bin, you would see that it certainly isn't just adverts and there is even a chance that you might see something interesting, maybe even something important and become better informed about the hobby. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Bowers Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 5 minutes ago, leccyflyer said: Perhaps if you just flicked through the BMFA Magazine before putting it in the bin, you would see that it certainly isn't just adverts and there is even a chance that you might see something interesting, maybe even something important and become better informed about the hobby. I suspect there is some minor teasing going on 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Cooper Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I am just wondering how we will know when future issues of the BMFA News will be available for viewing online. ? If its production is only three or four times a year, it isn't likely to be in the forefront of anyone's mind to go looking for it. A prompt and a link by email could be useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve too Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, leccyflyer said: Perhaps if you just flicked through the BMFA Magazine before putting it in the bin, you would see that it certainly isn't just adverts and there is even a chance that you might see something interesting, maybe even something important and become better informed about the hobby. I do flick through the BMFA News before binning it. The adverts are the best bits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 16 minutes ago, steve too said: I do flick through the BMFA News before binning it. The adverts are the best bits. Probably similar to a lot, I do read it, but then again I'm usually the one explaining what our CAA restrictions/exemptions are so need to keep upto speed. I often say it was explained in the BMFA news, but then am advised that they never bothered to read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve too Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 9 minutes ago, Frank Skilbeck said: Probably similar to a lot, I do read it, but then again I'm usually the one explaining what our CAA restrictions/exemptions are so need to keep upto speed. I often say it was explained in the BMFA news, but then am advised that they never bothered to read it. If I want to know what the regulations, authorisations etc say I read them, not the spin in the BMFA News. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 As has been said many times on this forum, the regulations and authorisations are complex, and difficult to understand for many people. The 'spin' (more accurately called interpretation) is possibly the only information some will take in, so has a purpose which better serves our hobby applauded, not ridiculed. Others will obviously disagree. 11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 To claim that one simply bins the mag without even a cursory glance is, with the greatest respect, rediculous. True, I don't read it all from cover to cover, but following on from my comments regarding 'News', a lot of important stuff that we as members pay the BMFA to act upon on our behalf is covered and needs to be read by everyone. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Harris Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 14 minutes ago, Cuban8 said: To claim that one simply bins the mag without even a cursory glance is, with the greatest respect, rediculous. True, I don't read it all from cover to cover, but following on from my comments regarding 'News', a lot of important stuff that we as members pay the BMFA to act upon on our behalf is covered and needs to be read by everyone. I only said it as a joke. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Arthur Harris said: I only said it as a joke. Fair enough, but from what I've heard from quite a few clubmates, the mag does go completely unread. As for the on-line edition, we get email notifications about renewals and CAA etc so I guess a heads up about the mag will come the same way. Edited January 29 by Cuban8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 45 minutes ago, GrumpyGnome said: As has been said many times on this forum, the regulations and authorisations are complex, and difficult to understand for many people. The 'spin' (more accurately called interpretation) is possibly the only information some will take in, so has a purpose which better serves our hobby applauded, not ridiculed. Others will obviously disagree. There are quite a number of posts on the bmfa Facebook page this morning about giving up the hobby because of regulations, boring forms to fill in, and complex tests to sit. Although on FB, these folks are presumably bmfa members, so quite where they are encountering all their issues I haven't the faintest idea. I loathe the regs that we are saddled with - the rights and wrongs are quite something else - but it's not difficult to jump through the hoops. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Harris - Moderator Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Perhaps these are the people who don’t read the BMFA news and haven’t seen the simplified explanations of the new requirements. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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