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"She's a junk dealer's daughter,
but she's given the air to
Lord Rennell's
heir. Explained sultry, blonde Nina Hobbs, 21...'He didn't pay me enough attention.
He was much more interested in model airplanes.'" That line, quoted from the
New York World-Telegram
and The Sun story via Associated Press, was in this April 1962 edition of
American Modeler magazine. I had to look up the phrase "give the air to" -
it means to spurn, jilt, or reject one, especially a lover or romantic interest.
Such a situation is not uncommon even today, and not just regarding model airplanes.
The article includes a few other interesting items, along with plans for the
Spearhead swept-wing free flight model.
Model Progress
By Al Lewis
 After viewing new hobby-model merchandise
at the industry's yearly "trade show" in Chicago we are happy to report that flying-type
balsawood airplane kits are making a come-back! In the works is Secret Operator
#049's report on the affair which we hope to present in the next issue - if he can
spirit it out of the closed-door session...
 By Walter Musciano.
That's the byline on a new book, "Werner Voss, The Fearless Fighter," published
by Hobby Helpers Library. Walt's control line plans for Voss' DR.I World War One
Fokker Triplane appeared in our March 1960 issue (and on Hobby Helper's Group Plan
#360).
In addition to the story of the youthful daredevil pilot, this booklet contains
25 photos with illuminating data on Voss, his family, and the airplanes he flew.
The remarkable Voss was famous for such exploits as fighting singlehanded a flight
of advanced English pilots for ten minutes and putting bullets through every one
of their aircraft.
World War One "buffs," air historians, and scale modelers should be delighted
to know that the following titles by Musciano in addition to "Werner Voss, The Fearless
Fighter" are in production by Hobby Helpers Library: "A. Raymond Brooks, Yankee
Ace, William Barker, World's Greatest Fighter Pilot" (there's a title that should
stir up some real arguments!), and "George Guynemer, Idol of France." $1.50 each.
FLASH from George Harris. George is responsible for that magnificent
radio controlled Spitfire in our February 1962 issue. He spotted a "goof" on the
plans: "The 1/8" ply nose plate is too big for the spinner and should be 3 1/2"-diameter
outside. I thought I had all the drawings of my earlier and larger Spit safely hidden
while I was tracing, but apparently got the old nose plate by mistake. Hope nobody
shoots me!"
Nope, George, we're certain no one will enter a serious complaint...especially
in light of the tremendous interest shown in that R/C Spitfire. Hobby Helpers says
they were (1) swamped with initial orders for the full size plans, and (2) inundated
with complaints when they couldn't ship out same immediately. It wasn't HH's fault,
fans; we were (1) slow in retrieving the drawings from the printer and (2) getting
them to Hobby Helpers.
Harris' model was displayed by Sterling Models at the aforementioned hobby-trade
show (held annually in Chicago in cold-windy February); it drew raves from the most
blasé buyer. We predict a great future for this Sterling kit as well as old friend
George ("Sassy Saucer") Hams.
  Big Doings at AHC. Speaking of
being inundated...America's Hobby Center (146
W. 22nd St., New York 11, N. Y.) has been busy and ever (1) combing through
their vast inventory for special sales items and (2) turning over the printing presses
to produce two booklets small in size
 but big in the info-data department.
AHC's latest "Bargain Bulletin" has interesting price combos on all kinds of
kits and powerplants, supplies and accessories. Lots of illustrations. It's yours
by sending request and unused 4 cent stamp to AHC at address above.
"A-B-C of Model Building and Flying" and "Controline Model Plans Book," both
64-page compendiums offered by AHC, are jam-packed with info. Handy 3 1/2" x 5 1/4"
size fits the pocket. Material was condensed from books originally selling for $2
apiece, so need we say more about value? Two-bits (25 cents) each from AHC.
Tatone's newest; aluminum tube fuselage.
Almost Forgot! One gets so "wound up" over the once-a-year model
industry biz show that it's easy to overlook such mundane items as photo captions.
No excuses, we know.
Anyhoo-o-o, our lead photos introduce John Tatone's latest free flight contest
model. Fuselage is an aluminum tube, highly polished (Gene Pond pix).
Our curmudgeon-type mind, while admiring John's artistry (he's a jeweler's jeweler),
started reflecting on the AMA "builder-of-model" requirement. We found in the Academy's
rule book this: "The Contest Director shall make every reasonable effort to assure
himself that each flyer has completely 'constructed' the model(s) he uses in competition,
including the covering where used, with 'constructed' to be interpreted as the action
required to complete a model starting with no more prefabrication than the amount
used in the average kit."
We're not picking on John, whom we like and whose models we always admire. His
aluminum tube fuselage was preceded by other folks' fiberglass fishing rod towline
glider bodies, anyway. And these were never barred from contests. Looking farther
along in the AMA rules we found the escape clause: "Materials and design may be
obtained from any source, including kits." Okay, I go to a sporting goods store
and get my f-g pole for my glider fuselage, and I go to a building supply firm and
get my aluminum tube for my free flight!
 Al Vela, another West Coaster who builds
beautiful F/F jobs, is pictured with his newest Class C design. It mounts a Torp
35 (Series 61) using a 10/4 prop. Really goes up, reports Dick Everett..."good for
a sure 5 minutes on 15-second motor run."
Goodbye and Thanks to MMFF. Advises Ted Clodius of the New York
(N.Y.) Mirror newspaper: "Because of a dearth of entries from younger contestants,
the New York Mirror announces that the Model Flying Fair, a fixture for 15 years,
has been cancelled for 1962."
Since the MMFF was a part of the Mirror's year-round youth activity promotion,
we can understand why a lack of Junior participants would result in the affair being
dropped. Rather than just say "what a pity," let's give the Mirror and its staff
a rousing cheer for 15 eye-opening meets. Directors have included Leon Shulman and
Art Hasselbach (Consolidated Models). But it was Clodius and his crew that worked
for months each year on meet details, amassing "hardware" and arranging full-scale
airshows.
Second Thought. Press-time note from Howard McEntee concerns
his Double-Bubble (see page 16): "Since my model is fairly heavy - lots of dope
- and the old Pee Wee was getting tired, I tried it with a Tee Dee .02 (and prop
specified in article for T.D.). Much faster climb, could use a little more downthrust
than shown for P.W. So Tee Dee might be considered if weight goes over 11-oz."
Interesting Lead? Headline and opening paragraphs in New York
World-Telegram and Sun story via Associated Press: "Junk Man's Daughter Gives the
Air to Heir. London - She's a junk dealer's daughter, but she's given the air to
Lord Rennell's heir. Explained sultry, blonde Nina Hobbs, 21...'He didn't pay me
enough attention. He was much more interested in model airplanes.'''
Spearhead Free Flight Airplane Plans
Posted January 16, 2023
(updated from original
post on 7/27/2013)
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