Kenny's Old Time Model Airplane Magazine:
August/September 2002
Editorial
Hey Gang, you know how sometimes you let goofy things like your hobby get outrageously out of control? I'm feeling that way right now. Don't get me wrong, outrageously out of control can be a good thing, and I am having a great time, but I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to take care of some of the real things in my life at the expense of this page. Don't worry too hard, it's not like this will be the final issue or anything, but I'm going to have to cut down for a bit. There will continue to be a new issue bi-monthly, and I hope to have the odd special issue in between. Perhaps nine a year will be a goal going into the next issue. Check back any time the desire hits, and I'll keep announcing new issues through the usual grape-vines.
As a kid, my father used to tell me of his childhood days and of the fun he would have with spotter cards, memorizing the silhouette of every plane in the deck. During the war, being able to identify an aircraft by its shape and size became an international past time, with every nation getting into the game.The Americans, sponsored by the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, took this game to an elevated level by instituting a program by which high school students would be recruited to carve these Identification/Spotter models for training purposes. A whole nation of teenagers carving 500,000 model airplanes for the cause: I find this concept to be absolutely enthralling. Soon, I'll be adding a section to the Archives expressly to explore this amazing time in modeling history. In the mean time, if any of you can help me out in my search for documentation or better yet, personal memories of the program, please drop me a line at khorne@ualberta.ca
In the mean time, pull out a sharp blade, a scrap of sandpaper and some pieces of balsa. Transplant yourself 60 years into the past and check out what you would have no doubt been up to as a young teenager in that tumultuous time of 1942 . Please enjoy Vol. 3 No. 3.
The Story
Of this magazine's readers, I'd say that the most enthusiastic fan of the stories has been Daisy MacDonald, a lovely lady from up the street who, amongst other things, is my Granny. Born on the northern shores of Scotland early in the First World War, she has been witness to all but the first decade of manned flight. Not that airplanes were top on her list of priorities, but she is a flesh and blood reminder of all that has happened in such a short time. And throughout this history, arguably the most exciting time of all was the decade between 1935 and 1945. I still find it a thrill just to play, and read, and think about it.
So I dedicate this story to my great friend, Daisy. And oh ya, Granny, sorry about the fate of the poor lady in the story, but it's the only story I have with an auld woman. Perhaps her fate was due to her being Irish :-)
I hope you all will enjoy Keen, Barney, Lang and and the rest the crew as the Griffon battles the, Scourge of the Sky Brood.
Scourge of the Sky Brood
The Rubber Powered Model Airplane Plans
This month's scale model, though published in '42, had been winning contests for a couple of years previous. Walter Eggert built a couple of these models of the Air Transport P2 to great success, both indoors and out. From the May, 1942 issue of Model Airplane News check out this large 40" parasol.
This month, to take the guilts away for the whole bi-monthly thing, I've got not just one, heck not even two or three, but FOUR sport models for you! Designed 60 years ago by former AMA Technical Director, Frank Ehling, this series of Tiny models are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Oh ya, did I mention that this guy is also responsible for the most built FF model of all time...? The Delta Dart!
Thermals.
Walter Eggert's Air Transport P-2
Frank Ehling's Tiny Models
The Solid Model Airplane Plan
This month we'll return to the spotter models as presented in Model Airplane News. For you charter members of the gang, remember the P-40 solid ID model from the first issue? Well here is the next in the series, the Brewster Buffalo!
Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo Spotter
All The News...
This month's All The News... / How-To article, Sanctioned by Uncle Sam, from the June, 1942 issue of Air Trails gives a good introduction to the program. As a side, it also reprints an instructional series of drawings originally published by the Government to guide the eager carvers on their way.Here's some good news, the article points out that "with the thoroughly worked out template system it is virtually impossible to make mistakes!" I've built a few. I've somehow made it possible ;-)
Sanctioned by Uncle Sam
How-To Chart jpg
How-To Chart PDF
The Advertisement
This month's ad introduces the Comet line of Identification Models. Comet, and at least Megow, were contracted to produce these models for distribution to the schools. I believe that most if not all of these models were supplied with bass wood rather than balsa, bass being up to the physical demands of the job and not required for the war effort as was balsa. From the inside back cover of the April, 1939 Model Airplane News check out...
Comet's ID Model Series
Many of the documents I will be sharing will be in .pdf format
PDF files are to be read using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is a free download from Adobe and is a simple tool from which these documents can be viewed and printed. To print, under print options select "print as image." This should result in a printed copy equal in size to the original.
Please e-mail me at khorne@ualberta.ca if you have any comments or suggestions for my website!
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