Old Timer Models

Antique models from the 30's and 40's

The SAM 8 flyers have the tough luck of flying on the Ft Lewis reservation in a place known as TA-14. They constantly grumble about the wide open spaces, the incredible view of Mt Raineer and of course those pesky thermals. But after a few wheelies on their Honda Trail 70 they manage to get down to some serious fun.

I particularly like to fly with the SAM 8 Free Flight folks because of the skills, hints and secrets that you pick up even if you just eaves drop on conversations. If you forgot something at home they offer you theirs. If you need someone to stooge a plane, all you have to do is look around with a stupid expression on your face (I do that well). If you lose a plane, some sharp eye probably saw where it went down. They really represent everything that is cool about free flight planes. Besides, where else are you going to see a guy chuck a 5-1/2 pound airplane with an irreplaceable engine howling away on the nose?

Who are these SAM 8 people and how do they multiply? Society of Antique Models, that's who. To most of them, the finest models to take wing were the ones being flown in the 1930's. The category of models is generally known as Old Timers, or OT for short. Since most of the modelers are OT themselves, multiplying is pretty much restricted to attracting new blood to their fine segment of the hobby. They fly designs that date before WW II, many with engines that have spark ignition instead of glow plugs, covering made of doped silk, and components made of bamboo in some cases. These guys think nothing of carving a prop or making up a set of ribs for an eliptical wing. I'd honestly love to own an ignition engine, but the thought of losing it makes me shudder.

Some people feel that OT is dying out. Heck some people feel that Free Flight is dying out. It's up to people like you who are reading this, and people like me who type with glue on my fingers to prove them wrong. Find your local chapter of SAM and visit them at their flying site.

I intend to devote a certain amount of my modeling energy to building and flying things OT. I must preface that over the years I have found OT designs to be as visually appealing as the back end of a corn fed cow. But now that I've seen some of them fly I can tell you that there isn't much they didnt'know about Free Flight in the 1930's. And while some of the designs haven't appealed to me in pictures or even sitting on the ground, they look pretty darn awesome in a tight climbing spiral.

There are probably more designs available to choose from out of the OT category than most others. The designs are all distinctly different in appearance and easy to tell apart when they are in the air. Boy isn't that a contrast to viewing the latest .40 sized plywood creation from Great Planes at the r/c field?