Topic: Who are the all time aeromodelling greats?

As above. Who would you choose to be in a list of aeromodelling all time greats, and why? Should make for an interesting thread......

My choices are:

1. (Sir) David Boddington. A true modelling icon. He designed about 500 models of the type most of us fly, or have flown in the past. Old Warden just isn't the same anymore. A real gentleman and much missed.

2. Phil Smith.  Yet another icon.The very body and soul of Veron. Designed some true classics, many of which are now quite sought after.

3. Neil Tidey. Designer of the UK produced Laser four stroke engine range. A very unassuming but extremely knowledgeable character. Has forgotten more than most of us will ever know about model engines. Former UK Control Line Champion. Genuinely nice bloke, and a good flyer too.

4. Mick Reeves. What can I say? Former World Scale Champion and producer of his own range of scale and semi-scale kits and accessories. Also equally talented when sat at a piano or organ.

5. John Haytree. What would we have done without him? Often a source of engine parts or spares when they could not be obtained elsewhere.You could always count on JDH.

6.  Anyone got anymore suggestions?

Vic Smeed

Philip Male... 

CM

Ah yes HT, Vic Smeed is a good addition. As would be Chester Lanzo (Record Breaker) or Ray Dunn (Astro Hog/Smog Hog).

P.S. HT/Clive. Give us a bit of background please. Not everyone will know the names, or why you listed them!

P E Norman, Marcus Norman, Gerry Jackman

I see john haytree has died, bless him. I'd nominate harry brookes, jim davis, ali maschinsky snr, not because of their abilities but because they made retail a competitive place making it less expensive for us end users.
I'd also nominate Mick Wilshire for giving us something to talk about when all other topics have failed.

Also Wiz and others like him for giving us somewheres to tap into our mutual databases and also let off steam when necessary

Philip Male, AKA Cactus.... a true online aeromodeling ledgend

CM

You must have a death wish Drone, you've spelled Mr. Mick's name incorrectly......

1. David Vaughan for moving scale modelling up a generation in detail and realism and for writing the immortal line that you don't paint up to a good finish, you rub down to it.

2. Gerry Jackman for persevering and proving that a model jet is possible.

3. Every owner of a model shop or kits and bits manufacturer, for on the whole it must be a poorly paid and thankless business but without them..........

Ah yes, I remember that line Harry. I also liked David Vaughan's dope/salt trick for reproducing rust pitting on exhaust collector rings etc.

for helicopterists  Franz Kavan and John Drake
for a truly versatile model Chris Foss

And what about the great Brian Taylor, awesome range of accurate scale models

Jim Davis should get a special award for the most creative use of combustion in a retail inventory right-sizing context.

Mick Wilshire gets the Special Award for Customer Relations

The Welsh Three-stroke Camel Needler gets mentioned in despatches for discovering the synergies between pro-building and fraud.

And finally PDR gets the Humility Medal, for his well known reluctance to express or impose an opinion.

Maz, for the laughs she gives us. 

The wife for letting me go aeromodelling when there is loads of unfinished jobs around the house and forgoing that new frock or two .....so i can buy some more modelling junk ....so she's says ..........Bless her 

Chris Foss. After all I would expect the vast majority of us have had one of his designs at some point.

Jim Davies for me as my first ever model was the "Slim Jim", and Chris Foss for the Acro Wot and Wot4.

For me its got to be.....

Dave Bishop of DB sounds.....who else can provide 7+hrs of commentary when its rained all day and no-one has flown a thing..

His best quote for me all year was during the Toffee Drop at Hop Farm/Southern Model Show..

Only one of the two toffee bombers was able to fly so DB asked the children to please only pick up one sweet each so they would all get one,
In the event however, in typical child fashion, they continued to just grab what they could.
Dave spotted one child doing so and began to again ask him not to...however his expression of "Look at him...he looks evil!!" had me in stitches...

Shows would not be the same!

Jez

Ben buckle...what about Ben buckle
18  replies and no mention of Ben buckle who among us did not make a mess on mums kitchen table with a
junior 60,southerner etc........

Colonel Bowden and Andy Clancy..

 

Hanno Pretner, has any other model pilot inspired so many others?

For me.....

Eddie Keil


KEILKRAFT.... 

Agree with almost all of the above, additionally for amazing undying efforts over a very long time, on here as Essex BOF or, as we know him locally, Brian Austin.

Apart from many great model designs, he has helped many people into the sport (whether they wanted it or not).

He Silent Flight A Cert tested me, my Father and my Son, I hope he will be willing to test my Grandsons too one day!

Jef   

Modesty forbids.   

Good one Stuey. Completely overlooked Eddie Keil despite building many Keil Kraft jobs. That said, a fair number were designed by an Albert Someone??

Suprised no one has mentioned Tony Nijhuis...

He has made a great contribution to the hobby...

George Aldrich - designer of the Nobler - a seminal moment in C/L stunt
Bob Palmer whose early use of flaps paved the way for George and who inspired a generation of UK fliers with his 1956 demonstration at Woburn,
John O'Donnell for being a leading light in most F/F disciplines in the UK for just on 60 years
Bill Wiesnewski (sp?) for introducing Scneurle ported engines to modellers
Ron Moulton
Henry J Nicholls
John Oliver for the immortal Tiger
Mike

Good one Stuey. Completely overlooked Eddie Keil despite building many Keil Kraft jobs. That said, a fair number were designed by an Albert Someone??

Albert Hatfull
Mike

Thanks Mike.    I felt sure it was Hatfull or bagfull or some such similar name!

Good one Stuey. Completely overlooked Eddie Keil despite building many Keil Kraft jobs. That said, a fair number were designed by an Albert Someone??

All iconic names, but for me Boddo is right up there. I met the man on numerous occasions, I ate an evening meal with him (together with about 40 others too I might add!), I've enjoyed the honour of flying alongside him, plus I've built a fair number of his designs. Not something I can say about the others, despite their considerable aeromodelling stature.

Ron Moulton has to be up near the top.  Without his magazines & books so many of us would have struggled in isolation.

Also this list seems rather UK centric.....  So let's give Hanno Prettner a second vote and add in the Roy Cox.  Surely just about all of us over a certain age once owned a Cox 049?  A thing of beauty.  Particularly when compared to the English engines of the same vintage with their rough castings...

Duke Fox and his absolutely wonderful(?) range of engines........ then again perhaps not. 

Good one Stuey. Completely overlooked Eddie Keil despite building many Keil Kraft jobs. That said, a fair number were designed by an Albert Someone??

A. Hatful ?

Oops, looks like I was too late. 

Don't forget B. Alsa, for without him none of this would be possible. 

Jo Bridi and Phil Kraft- both pioneering in the sport at the time and they designed aerobatic models that flew beautifully iwithout computer radios or even dual rates.

Phil Kraft was also itstrumental in that new-fangled proportional radio control.....

It was Doug Spreng who perfected proportional radio.

True, but he did it whilst employed by Phil Kraft as his Chief Engineer and it was Kraft's total domination of the 1967 World Championships that made the Kraft radio famous. Doug Spreng was one of his team mates that year.

Which got even better once he teamed up with Harry Brooks Ludwig.

Chris Olsen (Uproar, Upset etc) belongs in here too I think........

P.S. Mole Hunter, Phil Kraft definately has to be one of the big hitters from over the pond........ I was once almost tempted to go for a set of Kraft radio when Don Stothers was the UK agent.

I shall correct my earlier mistake. Fred Dunn was responsible for the Smog Hog and Astro Hog designs. Not Ray Dunn (whoever he is). 

I shall correct my earlier mistake. Fred Dunn was responsible for the Smog Hog and Astro Hog designs. Not Ray Dunn (whoever he is). 

And the Foggy Piglet....