I grew up in a small town of about 200 people in northeast Wyoming between two larger towns about 15 miles away. My first venture into model building was when a close friend and I began building from 3-views in comic books, using toothpicks and matches with Lepages glue. We would hang these in our bedroom.
During World War II, military planes were the main topic. There were profile models and Strombecker pine wood kits with a block of wood to carve. As skills advanced, Joe Ott kits became available, with formers aligned on cardboard tubes and spruce stringers. Very few completions. I was 14 in eighth grade, and we had a teacher who wanted to start us building models. We chose to buy Wakefield models, which I think I built including a balsa folding prop. A major accomplishment.
Two adults moved into our area from California, and they actually had a model engine which would on ignition. They flew a Control Line model to our amazement and invited a couple of students from South Dakota School of Mines from Rapid City, South Dakota, who could really fly and put on a show for us. I had joined the AMA at age 15; I think I was number 10660. We were on our way with Testors Trainers and O&R 21 Glow engines. Several other kits were built, and we learned to do a loop. I continued to build through high school and then went to COLO School of Mines where there was little time to fly. I was able to build an Airtrails AD-4 in what little spare time I had. It had an O&R 61 with 2-speed ignition.
Following school, I went into the US Army and was sent to Iran for a year. I did not pay membership for two years and received number 10665 when I returned. I started RC with escapements in a Berkley Seamaster, learned left and right, and had a Reed control briefly, until RCM kitted the Digitrio and World Engines kitted the parts. I read about single-stick units, designed my own, and proceeded to fly single stick until present, when I am learning two stick at age 92. Over the years, I have built numerous 1/4-scale models, mostly from golden age planes. My main achievement has been a 1/6-scale Ford Trimotor with three Technopower radial engines. I knew the pilot who took the plane from the factory and built it over a period of about 20 years. I was able to build a roller to corrugate sheets of 0.004 aluminum, which was a necessary part for scale. Running three engines presented problems, so a conversion was made to electric power.
I have lived in an isolated part of the country from the modeling standpoint and have had to innovate may things but have met many friends in my travels. I knew Bob Carpenter, an inventor of timed ignition; Bob Upton; Jack Stafford; Jerry Nelson; Dave Lane; Cliff Weirwick; and others. I have participated in all Byron Original Flyins, 20 QSAA meets, maintained an all-season flyer for three consecutive years in Wyoming, and kept a small club (754) chartered for about 40 years.
My 75 years of membership in AMA has been very rewarding, and I have donated $2,000 to the Foundation so far. I am a Life Member, L433, of 33 years and still flying at age 92.
