I have been editing this rag for nearly 15 years now, and sometimes it seems like I have never done it before. Some issues proceed steadily to plan, some seem to come together by themselves and just occasionally you get one where nothing seems to fit and the whole process goes at a snail's pace - just like building model aeroplanes really. However, again just as with models, when you have finally trimmed, fettled and fitted all those uncooperative bits, sometimes the Turkey turns into a Swan. That's not quite right, is it?
What I am trying to say is that, having struggled more than usual with this edition of Sloping Off, a theme seems to have arisen out of nowhere. Not only are the three out of the four featured models all scratch built, but we also have details of three very different hand-crafted mechanical contrivances aimed at getting your models airborne. It all goes to show just what a creative lot you are!
All the more appropriate then that we had coincidentally decided
that it was about time we updated our directory of local Model
Shops and suppliers, so that you can stock up on building materials
and thumb your nose when the English Summer presents you with
a run of wet and windy Sundays. Who knows, if the Summer is really
wet, you might get your creation finished in time for the last
call for Construction & Finish competition entries which kicks
off our new season of Winter meetings in September.
It is perhaps a bit early to start looking forward to next Winter's
meetings programme, but I have included a number of photographs
to remind you of some of the last season's goings on both at Stanpit
and at Oakmead. On the other hand, if you are not quite ready
to write the Summer off, Gordon Coy has provided an update on
the Summer competitions and has tried to uncover some of the secrets
of John Cheesman's embarrassingly long run of thermal soaring
success with his venerable Cirrel (that's the rest of us who are
embarrassed - the man himself has no shame!).
As always, my thanks go to all the contributors, including Gordon Coy, Clive Spencer, Oliver Kirkwood, Andrew Tubb, Mike Roach, Christopher Morris - and there's a photo by Clive Lambert-Hutchinson in there somewhere, too. I hope you enjoy their various contributions and don't forget - whatever you get up to this Summer, enjoy yourselves, take along a camera, and send me the pictures!