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WINE COUNTRY SCALE   2009

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Here is a scattering of SAM (Society of Antique Modelers) airplanes. These are pre-1943 models at SAM 27's Crash and Bash at Schmidt Ranch in 2009. This is the most popular Old Timer club event on the West Coast.

These models are of course hand-built by their owners. Building and craftsmanship are a major part of the SAM culture.

This is a quarter scale building project. This nine-foot three inch span model will be flown as a team scale entry. (See "Projects" on the home page menu.) 

Once the builder was king in our sport. Today many flyers consider it a quaint idea to build your own model. Do you remember there was once a magazine called the Model Builder?

Wine Country Flyers Scale Fly-In

Rules for Judging:        Static 20%, Flying 80%.          Pilot's choice of civilian or military maneuvers.

Six members of Liberty Flyers attended this event, but Merle was the only one of us who flew.

Wine Country Flyers (WCF) 2009 Scale Fly-In. 

WCF is known for the quality of its facilities, the spectacular wine country scenery surrounding it, and a long history of running relaxed and enjoyable events. 

Here is part of the line-up of very high quality planes. But they are all ARF's (Almost Ready to Fly models), factory built parts, quickly assembled with a screwdriver and a dab of glue.

Here are two beautiful P51's off the same production line. 

You cannot argue about the quality and eye appeal of these ARF's. But how do we judge them? By who does the best job of sticking on the decals?

But wait -- this Great Planes SE5a comes with the decals already attached. The prized flame-like nose design is also done at the factory. Even the white outline of the RAF roundels is correct for the period (1918). How do we judge this one? Are we just comparing vendors? 

Here's the real stuff -- with real charisma. And it is the only Builder-of-the-Model entry. 

It is Merle McGregor's distinctive P51D Mustang, complete with flaps, built from a Top Flite Golden Edition kit

Static winner, Adam Clement's Tigger

That's how de Havilland's 1932 DH 82 Tiger Moth is affectionately known in its own country, England. 

This one has a bit more shine than the doped fabric of the original. It qualifies as Giant Scale, yet it appeared to land hardly faster than walking speed.

Flying winner, Steve Cole's 1938 F4U Corsair

Steve didn't know whether he could get it put together in time. But he did and thrilled the crowd with a 100+ mph fearless dash across the field, barely above the deck. 

Would you do this on the first flight of a scratch built plane you had just spent 100's of hours building?

Irony Here

SAM builds and flies pre-1943 models. The two Fly-In winning models (above) are part of today's global economics of offshore manufacturing and distribution. Yet these two planes date back further than the average SAM model. The F4U Corsair originated in 1938, and the Tiger Moth in 1932. Makes SAM look quite modern.