A modeller of my acquaintance (I hesitate to call him a flyer, for reasons which will become obvious), has spent at least two years learning to fly, using various models. He has now reached the stage where he can fly the model around reasonably well, at great height, but needs someone to land it for him. If subjected to the usual measure of walking off and leaving him to it, he will crash the model every time - usually in a spiral dive.
Now it is very obvious to me that the man is quite incapable of co-ordinating the actions of two controls on one stick. Lets point out here that he flies Mode 2 (left hand throttle). If he tries to steer the model, he forgets the elevator. When he tries to control the elevator, he forgets the rudder/ailerons.
He has several sets of radio gear, all Mode 2, and a suggestion that he tries Mode 1 is met by the reply, "Er, what's that, and how do I do it?" How indeed?
We are talking here about the North London area, where Mode 1 simply does not exist. Try any model shop and every set will be on Mode 2. Try asking for Mode 1 and the reply goes something like, "Yes, Sir, we can get it if you really need it, but are you sure it's advisable?" The trouble is, I can see their point.
Lets go back to the man we started with and visualise what happens if he gets a Mode 1 set, or discovers how to change over his existing equipment. Who is he going to find to land the thing for him? Whats more, can he stand the ridicule of his fellow flyers? "Where did you buy that load of rubbish, why don't you fly the proper way?" And so on. What an understanding cretin the average R/C 'modeller' is?
It's strange really that something so simple should be one of the most contentious issues in modelling today. Even the simple facts about the subject - Mode 1 is throttle right, Mode 2 is throttle left - gives rise to argument.
Now if our modeller lived in the Midlands, the opposite situation would apply and the pressure would be to fly Mode 1. The difference here though is that people are much more reasonable and liberal minded up there and the average model shop will have Mode 2 sets in stock. He may still have trouble finding someone to help him if he flies Mode 2 - but he won't have to put up with the ridicule.
Let's forget all this nonsense about "It's more like flying a real aeroplane." Come down from your ego trip and face up to the fact that you are not flying a real aeroplane - and there is little or no similarity. The simple facts are that some people cannot get on with one set-up and may be perfectly happy with the other. Why not try both and find out?
I don't know whether there is a moral to all this, but how about live and let live?
Those of you who are long enough in the tooth to remember E.L.Whisty in his first incarnation (the latest version has more lines on the face and a different voice), may possibly remember his story of the caveman who invented the Ban-dan-bladder-stiddle. The pay-off was that his mate, Og, invented the same thing last week, but called it the wheel.
If you have a classic modelling background and came later to the particular brand of masochism known as R/C, you will find yourself suppressing the occasional wry smile at some so-called new developments. The smile may become a little more grim, however, if you still read 'Aeromodeller' (and why not?). A recent caption in that journal expressed some surprise at a C/L (sorry - control line) model with a thick wing section and a blunt leading edge. In my day, sir, they were all like that - consult your own plans service!
So, what a surprise it was to read that some authority had discovered that thick rotor blades with a blunt leading edge gave better autorotations when used on helicopters. Any time now I expect someone to make the earth shattering discovery that lighter helicopters - and C/L stunt models - fly better. If you have tried picking up an example of either recently, you will know what I mean.
The same magazine requested details of means of stopping the motor on C/L models - shut- offs to you. Well, I remember in-flight needle valve adjustment being used by a couple of modellers at a World C/L Stunt Championships in the 60's - and thats currently all the rage on various R/C models. Incidentally, a certain aging R/C columnist has been using an electronic shut-off on his C/L models for nearly ten years now!
Come on now fellers, you can't all be rank beginners. How about reading about what the other guy's doing occasionally.
Currently filling the letter columns of a model railway journal is the issue of whether locomotives to a scale of 4mm equals one foot (about one seventy sixth of full size) need suspension to avoid them falling off scale gauge track.
One well respected authority (well, he was), with a good track record (!) recently claimed that it was not necessary. A lot of people wrote in to say how refreshing it was for someone to be honest for a change and not try to impress them with his expertise.
A small minority put pen to paper to demand just who this moron was and what the hell was he trying to do, put modelling back twenty years. Their letters went on at some length in a similar unconstructive and insulting manner.
Strange isn't it how some things don't change, regardless of the branch of modelling involved.
Several of the SMAE's technical committees are currently taking up council time by submitting claims for the new R/C frequencies - they have only been legal for around a year remember!
Everybody wants them - or a 'fair share' - and can put up convincing reasons for getting them. One small voice is requesting that we have a complete rethink on the whole issue and set up a system that will please as many people as possible.
All this is very laudable, of course, but just how much attention did your club pay to the last frequency plan? I know of one club which uses all the frequencies for every possible type of model and does not even use a pegboard!
Is it my imagination, or is the world really full of well meaning people who spend a lot of their time setting things up to help others who really couldn't care less? Small wonder if they should say "To hell with it" and leave Joe Public to their own devices. Trouble is, the world then turns on them and accuses them of the worst possible crimes.
If we all did nothing, who would do the complaining?