Glen and Hazel Sigafoose in 1951 was re- cently purchased by Herb Rizzo, David Mar- tin, and Ron Petterec, all successful busi- nessmen and life-long modelers, and will remain in its present location, continuing to provide quality products and expanding its product line. For F/Fers, information that kits, balsa


wood, basswood, dope, paint, fuel products and hardware are currently in stock is espe- cially welcome news. As new items become available, Sig’s web site at www.sigmfg.com will keep us informed. Do check out their web site and buy their good products. We came very close to losing a national model- ing treasure.


The Postal phenomena In this day and age where travel costs


have risen and meets are fewer and further between for competitors, the idea of the postal meet, wherein people fly within a giv- en time frame and send their times to a giv- en location has gained in popularity. Last month we featured the Cloud Tramp world- wide postal contest, and prior to that last year’s postal for the KeilKraft Senator, sponsored by Jim Moseley in Canada. The “20th Annual Worldwide Postal Com- petition 2011/2012” is now in full swing, again sponsored by the above-mentioned Jim Moseley. As Jim notes in his introduc- tory comments posted on the Small Flying Arts web site, “I never dreamed, when I started this, that I’d still be doing it two decades later…” There are 14 events scheduled this year,


all of which can be found on the SFA web site www.smallflyingarts.com. They all con- tinue until June 30, 2012, so if you have a catapult or hand launched glider, P-30, small rubber model, a towline glider, or any- thing up to a 36-inch wingspan with a free- wheeling prop, you can become part of the fun. It’s a great way to spur your building activity. While not part of the above competition,


one of the photos this month is of a Druine Turbulent built by Dohrm Crawford for a NFFS postal contest in this country, spon- sored by WESTFAC sparkplug, Roger Willis. The pilot alone was worth the effort, don’t you think?


Graphics to go Fellow columnist, Pat Tritle, has men-


PHOTO: DOHRM CRAWFORD


Dohrm Crawford took a break from his purely duration flying to build this double-size Mooney Peanut Druine Turbulentfor a NFFS Postal Contest. As intent as the pilot looks, this plane won’t have any choice but to fly well. Nicely done scale details such as the engine cylinders really make the model stand out.


tioned several times one of the graphics sources he uses to dress up his prolific array of models of all sizes and types. I recently needed some specific graphics for a project I was working on, so following Pat’s recom- mendation, I contacted Callie Graphics, in Pat’s home state of New Mexico. To say that I was pleased would be an un- derstatement. The graphics package was reasonably priced, of the highest quality, and arrived at my door just four days after I ordered it. To give readers a sense of the custom work that can be obtained from the firm, I’ve included a picture of Al Pardue’s Old Time Streamliner, as well as a shot of a German Arado AR 96 from Callie’s customer photo file. You can browse some of the stock-offer-


ings Callie has on her web site www.callie- graphics.com or contact her at PO Box 472, Placitas, NM 87043, 505-228-2692 for your custom needs.


FAC’s heritage Tom Hallman recently posted the group


photo included this month of some of the United State’s best scale flyers of the late 1970s. The photo was taken by the late War- ren Shipp and is in Bill Hannan’s collection. Tom presented it as a “can you identify these guys” teaser, to which Tom Arnold gave the


first correct response. From left to right, in the front row are Bobby Haight, Don Srull, and Bill Hannan. In the back row, again left to right, are Clarence Mather, Tom Laurie (deceased), Fernando Ramos, Granger Williams (deceased) and Bill Warner. The photo occasion was actually a spin-off


of the AMA Nats in Riverside, CA in 1977. The events that drew this group together, individual recollections reveal, were supple- mental to the actual Nats events and spon- sored by the local Flightmaster’s Club. Bill Hannan remembers that there were


two different events for racers, one that at- tracted scale models like those shown in the photo, and the other for straight line rubber speed “which attracted non-scale models.” Don Srull’s recollection was that “Since there were lots of AMA scale events and models back then—which have since almost disap- peared—the participation was impressive.” From a historical stance, some of these modelers became part of the early founda- tion of the FAC (Flying Aces Club) and sev- eral still compete in FAC events today. For what it’s worth, the photo is important for several reasons, particularly when many people currently active in the FAC cannot identify many of those who were instrumen- tal to its beginning.


The gifts of the season Once again we come to the close of a tu- multuous year, ever hopeful of improvement in the future. As gifts are given and received during this holiday season, I feel compelled to share a photo with you of a gift my wife, Cel, made for me. She is an avid Hallmark ornament collec-


tor, and each year Hallmark comes out with one miniature historical aircraft ornament. Cel has been buying these for some period of time, but recently put them all together as decorations on a Christmas wreath she made for my model shop door. Each time I enter my shop, I am remind-


PHOTO: WARREN SHIPP


This photo of some of the best freeflight scale modelers in the country was taken at the Riverside AMA Nats in 1977. All were instrumental in the growth and development of the FAC from its infancy to its present status. The identities of these influential modelers are in the text.


FLYING MODELS


ed of the loving support she has for the hob- by that is such an important part of my life—and the fact that I need to keep the door closed to keep the mess inside the shop. Happy Holidays to all and blessings to you


and those you love. May the New Year bring a sense of peace, joy, and fulfillment in all you do—and may you find the time to throw something into the air.


25


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