Model Aviation Online - Modeling Spoken Here (June 2006)

... sometimes it takes only a small innovation to kick open the door of inspiration

Truth be known, I am far more interested in innovation and new modeling concepts than I am in flying and/or competing. I guess that is something I received in the genes from my father, James A. Hunt, who was an extremely gifted machine designer and automation engineer.

    Dad was always chiding me not only to think outside the box, but to think from every angle and perspective outside the box. Just because something is, or has been, done in one particular manner for years doesn't mean there are not better, faster, more efficient, simpler, and, in our case, lighter methods of doing it.

    Sometimes we don't even think to improve upon something that works well until some innovative person submits a totally new thought on the subject, and then we get kick-started into re-examining it.

    Amazingly we often find a whole new wave of ideas to apply to the heretofore mundane subject, and the result is a "sudden" shift in the paradigm that yields dozens of new concepts and/or designs that shoot creatively from the original thought. Sound familiar?

    Yes, sometimes it takes only a small innovation to kick open the door of inspiration. And, sadly, more often than not the inventions that result are in no way credited to the one who opened the floodgates of new thinking in the first place. Does that sound familiar?

    Fortunately innovators and forward thinkers have their own way of keeping score and find solace and satisfaction in the fact that they were the ones who pointed the way to the new horizons. What's that you say? Yeah, I agree; getting paid a regular royalty check would be far more tangible and practical.

What set me off thinking in this direction this month? There are three articles in this issue that were written by men I consider to be innovators, and I'm going to take this opportunity to comment on the articles and the men.

    The first of these is a construction article about a rather simple-looking RC fun design. My old friend Dick Sarpolus is responsible for this one, and it appears to be just another in a long line of simple-to-build models that he has designed throughout the years.

    He has this uncanny ability to come up with neat-looking models that are also extremely easy to construct. I believe that the simplicity of his designs gave many modelers the courage to try scratch building and contributed greatly to the number of model builders that are alive today.

    Dick's Lotsa Amps design breaks some new ground by being among the first of a new breed of dedicated "40"-size electric sport models to be published. There is an abundance of smaller electric model designs to choose from in plans form, but not too many dedicated larger models. Sure, conversions from glow to electric are the norm now, but this new Sarpolus design is designed from the start for the electric modeler.

    Dick wanted to bring his style of design and construction to the electric field in such a manner that those who might be considering giving model building a try would not be intimidated by techniques that were too advanced. Dick is such a gifted designer/builder that he could have easily produced a much more esoteric model, but the true genius he has is the ability—and willingness—to design models that we all can build and enjoy. Give his design a try!

    Another form of genius is that which takes existing great ideas and makes them even easier to use or understand. The Great Planes Slot Machine is a truly wonderful device in its stock form, allowing modelers to achieve consistent and accurate hinge slots in model surfaces. However, it can be a bit challenging to operate. Without a fixture to hold the parts in precise alignment, there is a component of difficulty to using the tool and a bit of skill required.

    My good friend Dan Rutherford, who is an innovative thinker in his own right, introduced me to Derek Moran, who has submitted several how-to article ideas that show true inspiration and OTBT (Outside The Box Thinking). Many of these ideas are specific to certain modeling disciplines, and therefore will have limited appeal, but a few of his ideas and/or inventions will make modeling easier for all of us.

    A case in point is Derek's Slot Machine Fixture, which allows perfect alignment of the Slot Machine to any surface that has to be inlet for hinges. Simple idea? You bet! But Derek took that one small step from inspiration to perspiration and developed it to improve his modeling. And he took an even more significant step in offering it to the rest of us. Genius is not always in the big things.

    Look for many more innovative Derek Moran how-to features in the coming months and years.

    Last, we are featuring a technical piece by former AMA president and noted RC Aerobatics (Pattern) designer/flier Don Lowe about lateral maneuvering utilizing Direct Side Force (DSF) generators. Don was part of a development group that tested DSF technology for NASA, and his thoughts about the subject make for very interesting reading.

    We are starting to see DSF surfaces used more and more on both Pattern and 3-D-type craft, and there is much more research to be done to optimize their use in our envelope of flight. Don encourages this development and gives some guidelines.

    I'm kicking myself over this one because I have many sketches that I drew as many as 20 years back that depict such devices. The trouble is that I never had the courage to actually try them!

    Innovation is as much a matter of willingness to experiment as it is initial concept. Have an original or innovative thought? Act on it now!

Feel inspired to call me about the above? I can be reached at (610) 614-1747. Or you could be original and send me a note via US mail to Box 68, Stockertown PA 18083. Or you could be like everyone else and E-mail me at robinhunt@rcn.com. MA . MA