similar design

[Mike Hester]

Amen to that!!!!

I'm working on my own thing right now for just that reason. What I want
really doesn't exist. So instead of just taking something I don't really
want, I decided to do it myself.

I have a lot to learn and a lot of steps between here and there, but if I
don't try I'll never know. I could be a jewel and it could be flying crud,
but until one flies, who knows?

As far as that comment by the judge about "you'd score better flying a
european design", well guess what. I suppose I will never score high in FAI,
because I just won't play that game. If it means I'll never get above 30th
place, then so be it. Part of the fun of pattern to me is building and doing
my own thing.

That doesn't mean I'm slamming someone for flying a ZN job. Those planes are
remarkable works of art. It's just not what I want to fly. Too bad if some
people will hold that against me later on, I'll just deal with it.

-Mike Hester

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Stillman" <tony at radiosouthrc.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2002 10:58 AM
Subject: Re: similar design


> One thing you'll find is that they DON'T HAVE EMPLOYEES!  They do it
> themselves.  There is just not enough market for these types of models to
> really have a thriving kit business.  These people do it because the LOVE
IT
> and enjoy it!  Even at that, there are complaints, problems, kits
destroyed
> and damaged in shipment, people who don't pay their bills, etc., etc......
>
> The reason kit prices are drive so high is due to the low volume of kits
> that will be sold over the life of a design.  If a company sells more than
> 100, it would be a big success!
>
> The other problem is the lack of designers left.  If you look at the top
10
> finishers at our NATS, you will be hard pressed to find ANY that even
build
> their own models, much less design them!
>
> The days of the designers like Dave Von Linsowe, Chris Lakin, Ron Chidgey,
> Geoff Combs, George Asteris, and Ivan Kristensen and the like are passing.
> These guys are not as active as they once were, and so gone is the drive
for
> new designs by them.  We have to look to the new leaders for designs, and
> they just don't do that!  Most take an existing design, or an obscure
> airplane (Angel's Shadow, for instance) and it is quickly associated with
> someone as "their" airplane.
>
> We need new people to step up and bring the new wave of designs to the
> forefront.  These are also the ones that power kit manufacturers.  If no
new
> designs are out there, kit companies will start making other kits besides
> pattern to survive.
>
> By no means am I a designer, but I am making my own airplane this year in
> order to get what I want.  I really don't like sending all of my money
> overseas for everything related to R/C!  The new design may end up being a
> "piece of junk" that gets thrown aside for another model, but at least I'm
> gonna try it once!
>
> Tony Stillman
> Radio South, Inc.
> 3702 N. Pace Blvd.
> Pensacola, Fl 32505
> www.radiosouthrc.com
> 800-962-7802


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