Early Aeronautical Pioneer Casey Baldwin would have wanted us Present-Day Global Aereomodellers To Reach Further—Aim Higher and Soar Higher—than we ever thought possible.
Miss Cecelia Ceiling Tile and Mr. Marvin Modelling Pin are delighted to announce to all our Readers of Casey’s (KC’s) Free Flight BLOG and visitors to our HAFFA Airplane Model Club’s website, KCFreeFlight.org, that the NUMBER ONE VISITED WEBPAGE WAS:
Along with announcing a long overdue update of the page—we’d also like to point out that the number of visits to this webpage for last year, 2021, was 1.459 overtaking the website’s HOME page’s 1366visits by 93. This surprised all our staff at KCFreeFlight.org. For the most part it would normally be extremely unlikely to have what is considered an inconsequential page overtake the website’s main “HOME” page which is the portal where most visitors enter the site.
The Portable Building Boards & Modeling Pins webpage had humble origins when it was created back in 2017.My hunch about using white or carpenters glue to “laminate” two layers of ceiling tiles back to back paid off handsomely as it has become the preferred way to make Portable Building Boards for those who know about this method. Prior to this the advice was mostly simply to use drywall or “Sheetrock” ( Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet.) Also ceiling tiles of course, and Balsa wood sheets. But now-a-days who wants to use precious balsa wood for this purpose?
Another interesting bit of information concerning the Statistics of last year is the number of visits garnered by another popular page of our website called Dave’s Drawings which was 1,173 visits.
Click the LINK Above or the Image to go to this Webpage.
Also impressive were the actual number of pdf downloads of Dave’s Sweepette-Ette-14 Mk. II CLG (Catapult Launched Glider) at 336. Now these were downloads of the drawing Dave made but if only 10% of these actually made it to the flying field, there are 36 of Dave’s “Progeny” if you want to think of it that way. The Flip DT (Dethermalizer) System (with Instruction sheet) for gliders is another coming in at 131 downloads. So the staff here believe that our site is starting to be a Go-To place for glider drawings and other useful AEROMODELLING Resources. 😀
Before I close out this post I thought it might be helpful to discuss what white glue or carpenters glue is because IMO it’s probably the most important ingredient in making Portable Building Boards. The Definition of what white glue and it’s uses are:
“Polyvinyl acetate (PVA, PVAc, poly(ethenyl ethanoate)), commonly known as wood glue, white glue, carpenter’s glue, school glue, or Elmer’s glue in the US, is a widely available adhesive used for porous materials like wood, paper, and cloth.”
“I like to use a woodworkers glue under the name of Original Titebond found at Lowe’s which I think is your best bet. Bottom line is that my research shows that a Lowe’s 16 oz bottle at $4.38 is as competitive price per ounce as you are going to find anywhere.” — JB Nisley — (price quoted as of 4/11/2022)
A breakdown of my research is as follows: (Yes—I’m a true AEROMODELLING Geek.) Surprisingly the available options for Elmer’s glue at Walmart are more expensive per oz. than a Lowe’s 16 oz. bottle of Original Titebond Carpenters glue currently at $4.38 which works out to .27 per ounce. Mostly it’s the fact that Walmart does not carry the product in the 8 or 16 ounce range. Plus I think that Carpenters glue should be your first pick over plain white glue because of possible added strength and the cost difference is not that much. Most likely the remaining glue you have left over could be put to good use in the future. Plain white glue will work, however if that is all you have. 😉
There is one other option that I have come across, that being an 8 oz. bottle of “white glue” at the Dollar Tree stores at $1.25 which comes out to about .16 per oz. (Yes, haven’t you heard? they upped the $1 price to $1.25 😦 ). Its a great option for other modeling tasks but IMO doesn’t have the quality that Elmer’s or Titebond has. It’s nevertheless great for many applications where quality is not an issue. (Note: All prices above were quoted as of 4/11/2022. Your prices may vary.)
Thanks for reading through this post and as always — “If you’ve become a fan, tell your friends where to reach us.”— Jeffrey B. (JB) Nisley —
This month’s Op-Ed delves into the subject of STOOGES—You know, your trusty alley when it comes to winding your Rubber Powered Model Airplane. No one now-a-days pays much attention to them—they are just a part of the landscape if you want to fly outdoors.
Jeff Renz — Blogger/Editor in chief &Blogger/Webmaster —JB Nisley
“I Mr. Pin, and together with Miss Tile, don’t mind braggingthat our webpagehad a lot to do with the website’s success.” For the year prior to this one, 2021—believe it or not—you, the visitors of this website, by voting with your visits to our web page placed it at the NUMBER ONE SPOT on the list of viewed pages for KCFreeFlight.org. The total worldwide views for our Portable Building Boards and Modeling Pins web page was a staggering 1,459 for the year. !!! 😀(Our site’s HOME page came in second at 1366.) This web page made its debut in February of 2017 and because of the overwhelming popularity by you, JB decided to a long overdue overhaul.We hope you like the changes. Keep viewing and tell your friends if you like what we are doing. 😉
This month’s Op-Ed delves into the subject of STOOGES—You know, your trusty alley when it comes to winding your Rubber Powered Model Airplane. No one now-a-days pays much attention to them—they are just a part of the landscape if you want to fly outdoors. Many of us it seems have had the same stooge our whole adult lives and haven’t given it a second thought. Case in point—Our President—Michael Basta:
Vintage 1990s photo of Mike Basta and Roger Schroeder circa late 1990s
Mike Basta and Roger Schroeder hanging out at the trunk of Mike’s 1990 Chevy Caprice. Please take note in 2022 that the stooge that is depicted in the picture above is still in use as we speak and there are no plans that I know of that it will be replaced anytime soon. However “It’s gotten some really good updates” Mike confided to me a couple of years back. (Mike even manages to wind his Twin Pusher with it with one of its unique “MacGyver” adaptations. 😀
So bear with me this month while I take a closer look at something that most people don’t think about much let alone write a 4 page article about. There’s a “Method to my Madness”* to this as I am announcing this month that I will present 4 designs for “Winding Platforms.”Winding Platforms? It’s all explained in the Op-Ed. 😀
*The phrase “Method to my Madness”is derived from the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, performed in 1602
This month’s LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP was supplied by JB Nisley. Clear mailing address label to attach to your OOS fly-away Model Aircraft to secure its safe return !!! 😀
For less than $10 including shipping you can obtain a sheet of 250 Clear Return Address Labels.
You get LOTS of Address Labels for the $ $ $ $ $ $ 😀
“One thing that is impressive is that they allow 4 lines of copy so as you can see from the photo I am able to have my AMA #, Name and Telephone # on the second line and Address on the third and fourth line and still have room to write the word REWARD at the end.”— Perfect !!! —
LABEL OPTIONS ADVICE: Product: ⦿ Sheets of 250 for $5.45. Label Size:⦿ Small 1-3/4” x 5/8” Font Style:⦿ Block (It’s easier to read) Label Color Color:⦿ Clear (This will add $2 to your order.) Image or Monogram:⦿ Do not do. There is no room for this. Looks bad IMO anyway.
CURRENT PRICING AS OF 48/8/2022 WILL MAKE THE TOTAL $9.44
with the addition of $2 to the $5.45 cost of the 250 labels makes the sub total 7.45. First class mail of 1.99 makes the grand total come to $9.44 which is just under $10. 🙂
– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – How to Submit a LATEST AEROMODELLER’S TIP Use our CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US web page to provide us with your email address so we can set up an email exchange that allows us to obtain the article and the photos you may have that describe your tip. The photos can be simply attached to your email. If you would like—show us a photo of you with your friends showing or using this tip. You don’t have to to live in the United States or be a HAFFA Member to participate. If approved by our staff we will publish your TIP in a future Casey’s BLOG POST. Thanks. Your TIP will be much appreciated !!! 😀 – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — –
FREDRIC WALKER (CASEY) BALDWIN. A FREE FLIGHTLEGACY CONTINUES. — APRIL 2022 4
Click above to go to our Sister Website PHOENIX / AEA
VISIT PHOENIX / AEA Where we Convert Stick & Tissue Models to AS ELECTRIC ASSISTED
This month I want to draw your attention to our Sister Website to KCFreeFlight, thePHOENIX / AEA website. Here we showcase the “Rebirth of Old-timer Model Airplanes into PHOENIX / As Electric-Assisted”
In the coming months this summer, Paul Morgenroth III and myself, JB Nisley, are going ahead with the conversions of these Wakefield style 1940’s style Stick and Tissue Rubber Powered Model Airplanes to Electric Assist. By Electric Assist we mean battery powered remote control assisted flight. What’s nice is that the original flight dynamics, that of relatively slow flight is still there in spite of the addition of electronics.
The beauty here is that speed is not the aim here but endurance. Paul and I think we should get at least 45 minutes of “Fly” time before the battery runs low. So look for continuing Developments from both Paul’s Copland Wakefield and Nisley’s “Roy Nelders Moffet In the coming months. 😀
— If you haven’t already checked out our sister Site here is the info we introduced last month. — Casey was a member of Alexander Graham Bell’s AEA—a group of early Aviation Pioneers. — To lean more about Casey and the AEA, visit our Sister Site PHOENIX / AEA andspecifically the “Into the Air” web page on that site to find out about the AEA and Casey’s significant roll in this Group of Aviation Pioneers. — Note: Both of the above links will open a new tab in your browser because you are going to a different website. TIP: Remember that you can zoom in on the photo above if you choose to view this page in your mobile device a.k.a. cell phone.
JB Nisley’s “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” Closing Statement APRIL 2022 5
April 16th is my birthday so I think of it as the date of my “New Year” looking ahead to what this year will bring. It’s also smack dab in the midst of the awakening of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere here so I”m anxious to get out and do some flying. You people in the Southern Hemisphere can dust off your indoor models. I say “Dust off” as an expression because they are probably nicely boxed in their container so as to not get damaged. So wherever you are have a positive outlook at what comes next !!! 😀
My “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” for April is to MAKE A DATA SHEET FOR YOUR NEWLY CONSTRUCTED AIRPLANE that I talk about in this month’s LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP above !!! 😉 —JB—
DISCLAIMER: Photographs used in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites are for educational purposes only. There is much we don’t know about the amazing life of Fredrick Walker (Casey) Baldwin. There is a portion of the content on this blog currently and will be in the future that will be purely speculation & guess work on the part of our staff as to the details of his life and things he might have contributed that there is no historical record to ascertain if they could be true or false. In no way are we wanting to rewrite history. A good example of this is that he might possibly have been a great Aeromodeller and built model airplanes. 😀 It will be the sole intent of any speculation or guess work concerning Casey in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites to be positive and not to harm his legacy in any way but instead inform & educate the public of his contributions to Aviation in general and to the Aeromodelling world in particular. — Signed JB Nisley and Jeff Renz
Thank you for reading our APRIL 2022 BLOG POST. If you’ve become a fan—then tell all your Aeromodelling Friends. Thanks, Jeff RenzBlogger/Editor in Chief— & —Blogger/Webmaster JB Nisley
Be sure to check out the many AEROMODELLING Resources this website has to offer by CLICKING on all the menu items found on our KCFreeFlight.org website’s Navigation Menu at the top of every page of this website. 😉 Thanks.
HAFFA Member John Clark knows how to pick ’em when it comes to choosing a REAL NAIL BITER !!! 😀 Who doesn’t like a Jimmy Stewart’s Classic film—and especially The Spirit of St. Lewis? This movie clip is only 3 minutes and 14 seconds long—so take a break from whatever you are going and sit back and ENJOY!
WEBMASTER JB’s OBSERVATION: It’s a small but dramatic detail that I noticed the director chose to include in this film to actually add drama to an already rather intense initial scene.If you are paying close attention when the plane clears the telephone lines—it appears that the telephone poles actually “sway” from the wind turbulence caused by the aircraft as it passes. REALLY? It certainly makes for good cinema but I think it kinda stretches what us AEROMODELLERS know about the physics of wind forces in my opinion—however IRATHER LIKE THIS NICE DEPARTURE FROM REALITY . . . . IN FACT I LIKE THE WAY THEY “SWAY” !!! 😀
This movie by the way is available to borrow from our Johnson County Library in videodisc DVD format here in Kansas, USA. You may have a source similar to this where you live. The run time for this movie is 135 min. Both John and JB are going to check out the DVD and enjoy a second viewing of it . . . . and yes—we’ll get a bowl of Popcorn and our favorite beverage & watch those crazy poles swing on the BIG SCREEN !!! 😉
THINK ABOUT MAKING THIS FOR YOUR 2022 HANDBAG OF AEROMODELLING TRICKS !!!
Here’s an easy-to-make handy stand to use with your weight scale to ACCURATELY WEIGH INDOOR MODEL AIRPLANES AND INDIVIDUAL PARTS.
Think of it this way. ——> Your “precious little part or plane” is held in place by a marshmallow !!!.
I ASK YOU . . . . COULD IT GET ANY SAFER ???
To make it very easy and entertaining BTW—JB Nisley has created a 3 page PDF document titled Make your very own Stay Puft Marshmallow Stand.pdf and also an accompanying “Six Stay Puft Photos for Stay Puft Stand.pdf“ to instruct you and others how to easily make the stand pictured here complete with step-by-step directions. Also included are the printable graphics (photos), and how you would go about getting the materials for the stand via online internet links. Click the links above or the photos in this section of Casey’s BLOG to download and print these incredible documents !!!
Please note that if you are viewing the 3 page document for the stand above—all of the internet links should work inside the pdf just fine and take you to those web pages mentioned in the article. If you happen to make of these stands, please be kind enough to send us several photos of it (plus you and your buddies using it) by using the CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US page on this web site and making arrangements via email exchange to provide us with the photo(s) attached to your email. That would be awesome! The photos will likely be published in a Gallery/Slide show with you and your stand plus also others in the coming months. If you’ve become a fan—check back here often and tell your friends where to find us. Thanks a bunch 😉 —JB Nisley—
PRESENTING the BEST & NEWEST AERO MODELLING THING !!! Brought to you by SCRAP — Namesake of Casey’s Winning 38 Foot “R Class” Racing YachtScrapper II.* 3/22 2
😀Say HELLO to SCRAPPER— Our brand new Red English Cocker Spaniel CANINE MASCOT
While Surfing the Net JB came across these AEROMODELLING I FLY PLANES T-Shirts on the WebsiteTEEPUBLIC.com
The Staff at KCFreeFlight.org would like to encourage all our viewers to purchase at least one T-Shirt for themselves or as a gift to a friend.
There’s 20 different colors to choose from. We especially like the “Heather Colors so be sure to checkthem out.
By-the-way—Jeff Renz (Orange) and JB Nisley (Maroon) are both proud owners of at least one of these unique and well designed T-Shirts.
We can see no better way to show your support for our Great AEROMODELLING Hobby !!! 😀
Click any of the T-Shirts in this BLOG Section to go to the this T-shirt web page. TOP ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: —Red Heather — Royal Heather — Hot Pink Maroon was JB’s color choice — then Kelly (Green) — & Orange of course was Renz’s choice. HAFFA Member Dana Field is going with Royal Heather & Paul Morgenroth III’s pick is Kelly.
TEEPUBLIC.COM has a good return policy if your choice of size doesn’t fit. It’s been JB’s observation that typically they run a sale at least 3 or 4 times a month SO WAIT UNTIL THIS TEE SHIRT IS $13 or less BEFORE you buy. By the way, you can sign up for a text message when these sales occur like JB did at this LINK with the knowledge that you can cancel the text messages at any time. 😉
*Scrapper II was built by Casey Baldwin in Alexander Graham Bells boatshop at Baddeck, NS in 1912.
Casey with this sailboat won the Coronation Cup in Sydney, Nova Scotia September 16, 1912.
Note: The KIDS & CLASSICS BOATSHOPS MUSEUMis looking to get further funding to restore the currently unrestored Scrapper II. For information on how you can help, click this link or the image above for the entire Facebook Post:
— AEROMODELLING —— WHAT’S NEW IN OUR WORLD? 3/22 3
Here’s a great example that proves Aeromodelling is catching on around the World. Here’s an article an article written by Jagriti Parakh featuring an Aeromodelling Workshop for kids titled “Aeromodelling no longer belongs in deep pockets.”
#BuildItTogether by Airytails
2 KIDS at Aeromodeling Workshop by Airytails at Embassy Boulevard, Bangalore
Rest assured that our hobby is making inroads all across our GLOBE. What better way to spread the word of this great hobby than to excite kids in the possibilities of science and more specifically in the world of aircraft design. Here lies the future of Aeromodelling !!! 😀
Here in our own back yard Dave Higgins, an active member of the SAM 8 Model Airplane Club located in Snohomish Washington, USA, has had a successful similar “Workshop for Kids” for quite some time. This page of their website: Finn Hill Middle School Model Building and Flying Activitiesgoes into detail about this program:
To a large extent Dave focuses his attention and aeromodelling skills to a younger generation of aircraft modellers. It’s no secret that Dave spends selfless countless hours putting together “Easy-to Assemble-Kits” for kids and older modellers as well. As a retired aeronautical engineer for 30 years has taught him, it’s the kids of today that will design the aircraft (let’s also not forget spacecraft) in the future.
Two girls enthusiastically launch their creations at the Finn Hill building session creations at the Finn Hill building session.
This BLOG will have more about this in the coming months.
This must see monthly feature brings the latest news, events and articles pertaining to Aeromodelling.If you have something to share, and it’s worthwhile and/or newsworthy, we will see to it that it’s published on this blog, or alternatively will provide a web link to it. Use our CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US web page and briefly let us know what it’s all about in the comments section. If your article, Photo(s) or both are approved by our staff, we will initiate an email exchange so that your article and accompanying photos will be published. No business offers or ads please. If you’ve become a fan—check back hereoften and tell your friends where to find us. 😉
TIME for an Aeromodelling INTERMISSION . . . . Also Known As a BLOG BREAK !!! 😀Article by Jeff Renz — with JB’s assistance 4
If you’re like many hobbyists—you are constantly trying to juggle many different facets of your life and at the same time help with with the needs of others around you.
It seems to be a constant battle just to keep an even keel. It’s no different with our staff here at Casey’s (KC’S) FREE FLIGHT BLOG.
So with Casey in mind—for this section our staff plans to bring you a total of two (2) “Distractions” each month we think you’ll enjoy.
So Kick back, relax, and let yourself enjoy a little time off from your busy schedule to get encapsulated in something a little different.
THEN . . .
GET BACK TO WORK !!!
Let’s see . . . . when was that next flying event I was going to attend? 😀
Admittedly what we have in store for you will be undeniably “Seafaring and Maritime” in nature and won’t have anything to do with our Aeromodelling Hobby—BUT HEY!—ISN’T THAT THE WHOLE POINT ???!!! 😉
||—In 1935 Casey and his two sons crossed the Atlantic on a voyage Aboard the Bluenose.—||
A second worthwhile distraction we think you will be interested in is a sample story from an interesting website JB came across called MENTAL FLOSS with the Internet web address of www.mentalfloss.com
My Op-Ed opinion journals for the foreseeable future will indeed focus on aeromodelling subjects, however in some ways I feel it’s important to stress the basics of this hobby. There is no way to advance to more complex designs and models without mastering the right tools, knowing the right materials to use and paying attention to learning the proper way to do modeling tasks.
So—don’t be surprised to find me referring to one I truly admire, Casey Baldwin, often in my writing because all that there was of course in the early days of flight were—you guessed it, the BASICS!
It’s worth noting here that contained within this month’s Op-Ed I’ve written—are several Wikipedia internet links about subjects that I’ve restated below that I think are well worth your time to take a second look.
It is my hope that presenting these links again will inspire you to read more about two (2) intensely interesting aerodromes built and flown by the Aerial Experiment Association in the year 1908. Notably the AEA White Wing (or Aerodrome #2) which was designed by Frederick W. Baldwin and the the AEA June Bug (or Aerodrome #3.)” which was later copied after the White Wing by the U.S. aeronautical pioneer Glenn Curtiss[21] the same year.
From Wikipedia we have: “The June Bug is famous for winning the first aeronautical prize, the Scientific American Cup, ever awarded in the United States. Follow these two 1908 Aerodrome internet links and the one for Glenn Curtiss and you wont be disappointed. 😉
THE LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP comes to us via HAFFA Club Member JOHN CLARK His simple but worthwhile TIP goes like this: Reverse the hinge on a clothespin and Voilà !!! the result is a great performing clamp for many aeromodelling tasks. While you’re at it, do an extra step by spray painting or dipping them in Clear Satin Polyurethane or Lacquer finish. Look at how better the appearance is and at the same time it’s equipped to resist the absorption of glue better.
For less than $2 a package, at Wal-Mart, you can get various sizes of clothespins tailored for the many clamping situations you may encounter. Walmart’s number one best seller is: Mainstays Wood Clothes Pins, 2.8″L x .4″HBeige, 50 Count.
Along with his conveying this idea came this comment: “This simple idea has been around forever—however it may be new to those just beginning the hobby.”
Thanks again goes to John Clark for this time honored but still very much valid useful tip.
Starting out it will seem awkward but study the steps above and soon you will be able to watch TV and do this mundane task at the same time with ease. Trust Me !!! 😀
JB’s AUTHORS NOTE: I admittedly arranged all my clothespin clamps so the shot of the various sizes of clamps above would look rather “attractive”. Rarely do they look this organized! Also—I don’t bother to reverse the hinges on the small ones. I tried to do this once, but found it wasn’t worth it. The small ones work fine just the way they come out of the package. One last thing. Didn’t actually know what to call the alluminum metal clamps so I Googled e internet and found out they are called: Alligator Hair Clips Metal Duck Bill Hair Clips for Styling Who would have thought ?????
– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – How to Submit a LATEST AEROMODELLER’S TIP Use our CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US web page to provide us with your email address so we can set up an email exchange that allows us to obtain the article and the photos you may have that describe your tip. The photos can be simply attached to your email. If you would like—show us a photo of you with your friends showing or using this tip. You don’t have to to live in the United States or be a HAFFA Member to participate. If approved by our staff we will publish your TIP in a future Casey’s BLOG POST. Thanks. Your TIP will be much appreciated !!! 😀 – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — –
Aerodrome #2 —”White Wing” First piloted by F. W.Baldwin on May 18, 1908
It’s a must read for any follower of Casey and it also chronicles the fascinating history of the AEA, Alexander Graham Bell’s 1908 group of early Aeronautical Pioneers.
If you have any doubts as to whether this book would be a good fit for you—Dean Jobb’s Review stated here again will help to dispel any doubts you may have. 😉
— If you haven’t already checked out our sister Site here is the info we introduced last month. — Casey was a member of Alexander Graham Bell’s AEA—a group of early Aviation Pioneers. — To lean more about Casey and the AEA, visit our Sister Site PHOENIX / AEA andspecifically the “Into the Air” web page on that site to find out about the AEA and Casey’s significant roll in this Group of Aviation Pioneers. — Note: Both of the above links will open a new tab in your browser because you are going to a different website. TIP: Remember that you can zoom in on the photo above if you choose to view this page in your mobile device a.k.a. cell phone.
JB Nisley’s “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” Closing Statement MARCH 20228 As I ended my Op-ed for this month I stated: “Future subjects for my OP-Ed’s will tend to explore the possibility that Casey was in fact one of our first AEROMODELLERS(and possibly one of the best) EVER !!! . Look in the coming months for what I speculate would have been some of his everyday tools and devices he may have used to enjoy his “AEROMODELLING” fledgling hobby. In fact—on the docket soon is his “1923 Twin Pusher Winding Platform” with a materials list and instructions on how you can make one !!!
My “MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” for March is quite simple: IGNORE your workbench’s mess and carry on with your PROJECT. 😀 —JB—
DISCLAIMER: Photographs used in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites are for educational purposes only. There is much we don’t know about the amazing life of Fredrick Walker (Casey) Baldwin. There is a portion of the content on this blog currently and will be in the future that will be purely speculation & guess work on the part of our staff as to the details of his life and things he might have contributed that there is no historical record to ascertain if they could be true or false. In no way are we wanting to rewrite history. A good example of this is that he might possibly have been a great Aeromodeller and built model airplanes. 😀 It will be the sole intent of any speculation or guess work concerning Casey in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites to be positive and not to harm his legacy in any way but instead inform & educate the public of his contributions to Aviation in general and to the Aeromodelling world in particular. — Signed JB Nisley and Jeff Renz
We appreciate the fact that you’ve read our March 2022 BLOG POST. If you’ve become a fan—then go ahead and tell all your Aeromodelling Friends. Thanks, Jeff RenzBlogger/Editor in Chief— & —Blogger/Webmaster JB Nisley
Be sure to check out the many AEROMODELLING Resources this website has to offer by CLICKING on all the menu items found on our KCFreeFlight.org website’s Navigation Menu at the top of every page of this website. 😉 Thanks.
This month’s BLOG Post starts with our very first Op-ED by Blogger/editor Jeff Renz. We think this monthly feature will become the backbone of the BLOG so be sure to not miss this fine piece of writing. Another notable feature segment is Gary Hotson’s Indoor Weight stand. Jeff has an audible Podcast recommendation for all you Aeromodellests as well. And lastly JB debuts the first FREDRIC WALKER (CASEY) BALDWIN. A FREE FLIGHTLEGACY CONTINUES feature segment for this BLOG.
Jeff Renz — Blogger/editor in chief &Blogger/webmaster —JB Nisley
This month marks the DÉBUT of what JB and I believe will become the “HEART and SOUL” of Casey’s (KC’s) Free Flight BLOG with the addition of our monthly Op-Ed Articles authored by several of our staff writers here—all of which are Aeromodellers themselves. 😀
To access my Op-ed simply click FEBRUARY 2022 AEROMODELLING OP-ED ARTICLE.PDF—or you can simply click on the THUMBNAIL IMAGE of the OP-Ed to the right. Either way you do it will take you to the PDF document. (NOTE: You can RETURN TO THIS PAGE by clicking the BACK ARROW IN YOUR BROWSER.)Because it’s a PDF file you will need a PDF Reader to open it. Once it’s opened you can print it now to read, or save it to your hard drive to print and read later. Please note that all of the hyperlinks to the websites and web pages contained within this document should be working—so don’t hesitate to use this feature !!!
“It’s been a strong desire of mine for some time that our monthly Aeromodelling Op-Ed Articles will eventually become a ‘Must Read’ for our Great Aeromodelling Hobby. So in order to do that—we want the Op-Eds to have great content, be easy to read, and lastly to steadily rise to become a ‘Go-To Information Resource’ for our World Wide Global Community of Aeromodellers.” Thermals — Jeff Renz
This must see monthly feature brings the latest news, events and articles pertaining to Aeromodelling.If you have something to share, and it’s worthwhile and/or newsworthy, we will see to it that it’s published on this blog, or alternatively will provide a web link to it. Use our CONTACT FORM at the bottom of our CONTACT US web page and briefly let us know what it’s all about in the comments section. No business offers or ads please. Check back often here and tell your friends where to find us. 😉
Here’s a brand word for all you Aromodellers out there to add to your Aeromodelling Dictionary !!!! The use of this word, AeromodelingGeek, as far as we can tell—this 19th day of January 2022—marks the debut of this term used in a complete sentence anywhere, and at any time in the past! (This being the 1st one BTW.)
DEFINITION of an AeromodellingGeek: An endearing slang term best bestowed on a fellow Model Airplane Enthusiast (aeromodellist) who possesses a seemingly overwhelming wealth of knowledge about the hobby of aeromodelling, and consequentially spends most of the time when not sleeping or eating in pursuit of same. (FOR MOST—this Moniker is a Badge of Honor. 🙂 )
JEFF RENZ’S POST NOTES Blogger/Editor in Chief 2/223
Here’s somethingI highly recommend for all you aeromodellers out there!!! I have been listening to these Model Airplane “Free Flight Fanatic” Podcasts by John McAvoy which are audio podcasts and are chock-full of useful information. Bernard Guest, owner of the website Hummingbird Model Products, is frequently involved with many of these podcasts. Take a listen. There is even one on carving props. You can have them on in the background while you are working instead of listening to music. Give it a try. — Jeff Renz
This month’s winning entry for THE LATEST AEROMODELLING TIP for FEB 2022 goes to fellow HAFFA Member Gary Hodson. He calls his useful accessory an “Indoor Model Weight Stand.”
This useful Aeromodeller’s Tip comes at an excellent time for us northerners North of the equator now experiencing longer days as a result of the passing of the Winter Solstice which occurred on the 21st of December, 2021. Cold winter winds force us to focus our attention to flying indoor model airplanes in warmer spaces.
Mr. Hodson, who has been an award winning indoor modeler himself for quite some time, has shared with us an idea he thinks is essential for success for any indoor model you may want to build.
The concept is rather simple. It’s a stand to hold individual parts (as well as the models themselves) of indoor models safely on the platform of whatever digital scale you might have. Gary points out that the purchase of a relatively inexpensive digital pocket kitchen scale “providing accurate and instant measurements from “0.01g to 220g” is almost a must if you are seriously into indoor models. In addition he adds “Getting a handle on the actual weight of say—the prop and prop shaft— or the wing and other parts individually can make a difference, especially when it comes to figuring out the center of gravity. By weighing the parts separately, you can determine which parts are to heavy or where one is allowed to add more weight. All the parts need to be in harmony with the others. Then it’s on to find the right motor plus the right number of turns of the motor, but at least at that point the plane itself is balanced.”
Pictured here is Gary’s design for the stand but it can be made any way the maker chooses. The size of the weighing platform dictated the 3″ square base that Gary went with. The base can be made of sheet balsa or in Gary’s case, 3/16″ foam core board. A space between the foam blocks holds the part or model gently but firmly.
Gary Hodson’s Indoor Model Weight Stand Here’s a shot of Gary’s Weight Stand perched atop Placed on Gary’s digital gram scale is his stand safely holding an indoor model for an accurate read out.
How-To instructions to submit a LATEST AEROMODELLER’S TIP for Casey’s (KC’s) Free Flight BLOG: can be found at the bottom of our KC Free Flight.orgCONTACT US page. You don’t have to to live in the United States nor be a HAFFA Member to enter. We have a Google Translator app so your entry can me submitted in your native language. 😉
JB’S BLOG POST NOTESBlogger/Webmaster 2/22 6 BloggersRENZ & JB pose the question: Modeling vs. Modelling? The answer can be found if you follow the link above. 😉 “Whether you’re modelling or modeling, you’re doing the same thing. The only difference is in the spelling—the one with the single L is preferred in the United States, while the one with two Ls is preferred everywhere else.”
This is for all INTENTS & PURPOSES our BLOG Post for the Month of FEBRUARY 2022 but feel free to stick around for a LITTLE BONUS SEGMENT WE’VE PUT TOGETHER BELOW that we plan to include in the upcoming months about CASEYWALKER BALDWIN. — Enjoy — !!! 😀
FREDRIC WALKER (CASEY) BALDWIN. A FREE FLIGHTLEGACY CONTINUES. — FEBRUARY 2022 5
Casey Baldwin makes history with Red Wing March 12, 1908 when he is the first Canadian to fly a heaver-than-air-aircraft.
— Casey was a member of Alexander Graham Bell’s AEA—a group of early Aviation Pioneers. — To lean more about Casey and the AEA, visit our Sister Site PHOENIX / AEA andspecifically the “Into the Air” web page on that site to find out about the AEA and Casey’s significant roll in this Group of Aviation Pioneers. — Note: Both of the above links will open a new tab in your browser because you are going to a different website. TIP: Remember that you can zoom in on the photo above if you choose to view this page on your mobile device a.k.a. cell phone.
Starting this month we’ll be bringing you a few of the many significant highlights of Fredrick (Casey) Walker Baldwin’s amazing career. 🙂 First on JB’s Recommended Reading List would be his biography simply titled “Casey“ by John Langley. Well written and thorough, this excellent narrative gives due credit where credit is deserved to a most definitely overlooked important player in the quest for manned flight. It’s also an enjoyable and informative read for any aeromodeller. Editor in Chief Jeff Renz and I have chosen to name this blog after Casey Baldwin. To begin with, his first name ties in nicely with our Website’s name (KC), 😉 but more importantly it’s his endearing personality and fascinating history plus his contribution to the early days of Flight that made him an obvious choice. After reading the book “Casey”, I have found no mention of his constructing Model Airplanes or Aerodromes as he and others in Alexander Graham Bell’s orbit called them back then, however he most likely would have constructed them to test his ideas. If this was the case—he certainly was among a very small group of founding fathers of what we are now call the hobby of AEROMODELLING! We certainly owe a great deal of gratitude to these aviation pioneers. Without them there would be no Free Flight—manned or otherwise!
DISCLAIMER: Photographs used in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites are for educational purposes only. There is much we don’t know about the amazing life of Fredrick Walker (Casey) Baldwin. There is a portion of the content on this blog currently and will be in the future that will be purely speculation & guess work on the part of our staff as to the details of his life and things he might have contributed that there is no historical record to ascertain if they could be true or false. In no way are we wanting to rewrite history. A good example of this is that he might possibly have been an Aeromodeller and built model airplanes. 😀 It will be the sole intent of any speculation or guess work concerning Casey in this BLOG, the KCFreeFlight.org, and PhoenixAEA.WordPress.com websites to be positive and not to harm his legacy in any way but instead inform & educate the public of his contributions to Aviation in general and to the Aeromodelling world in particular. — Signed JB Nisley and Jeff Renz
THANKS for reading our FEBRUARY 2022 BLOG POST from START to FINISH! RULE the NEW YEAR! Visit CASEY’S (KC’S) Free Flight BLOG Often !!! 😀 Thermals, Jeff R. & JB N. Regards, Jeff RenzBlogger/Editor in Chief— & —Blogger/Webmaster JB Nisley
Be sure to check out the many AEROMODELLING Resources this website has to offer by CLICKING on all the menu items found on our KCFreeFlight.org website’s Navigation Menu at the top of every page of this website. 😉 Thanks.
New Venue: Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center in Mission KS —
Because of the positive response to Max’s speaking engagement, a larger venue has been obtained. We are now going to have the meeting at the Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center in Mission KS. Meeting Rooms A and B. This meeting room seats a total of 45 persons so bring your friends !!!! A Google Map to the Centerhas been provided at the bottom of this web pageso you can plan your route.
It is a real honor to have Max Deweese as the guest speaker for our November 16th HAFFA monthly meeting from 6 to 8 pm at the Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center in Mission KS. Be our guest as Max tell his story and takes questions afterwards about his service and his ongoing commitment to World War II Veterans. This meeting is open to the public, so bring your spouse or partner and tell any friends you may have about this event. 🙂
Max was one of the first American soldiers to engage the Japanese in an offensive military operation. One of the many missions during his service critical to the early war effort was the mission to see that the Japanese were not successful in building an airport at Guadalcanal.
His service along with countless other veterans were crucial to the eventual success of the allied forces in turning the tide in the Pacific war effort which ultimately lead to the surrender of Japan.
This month’s HAFFA Meeting will take place at the Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center in Mission KS. Here is the address:
Sylvester Powell Jr. Community Center 6200 Martway St, Mission, KS 66202
This month we’ll delve into the sometimes mystifying realm of TWIN PUSHER MODEL AIRPLANES popular in the 20s and 30s.
Believe it or not these quirky machines still hold a special place in the hearts of a seemingly glowingly smaller but massively dedicated group of Aeromodelers! To make and fly one gives you a lifetime membership into this ELITE CLUB. 🙂
At the meeting we will have some example TPs for you to examine, some short videos of them in flight, and questions and answers from a long time experienced TP maker and flyer, MIKE BASTA, winner of the Twin Pusher Mass Launches at the 2018 and 2019 Marion Contests.
Our club, HAFFA, has a rich history encompassing these aircraft and it’s worth learning about and supporting their future! 😉 If you haven’t already seen our web page about this subject please check out our History of HAFFA Part 1.
SEE YOU TUESDAY OCTOBER 19TH AT 6:00 PM — DON’T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY !!!!!!!
Here’s info about our new Meeting Location:
Cedar Roe Library 5120 Cedar St, Roeland Park, KS (It’s directly EAST of Walmart)
Below is a Google Map to the Cedar Roe Library 5120 Cedar St, Roeland Park, KS 66205
— Make the Journey to Marion, KS where HAFFA (Heart of America Free Flight Association) is Hosting its Fall Outdoor Free Flight Contest. Bring all that you dare to bring and compete with fellow aeromodelers to try to win our brand new Marion Contest Trophy !!! —
Ocotober 2nd and 3rd, 2021 are the scheduled dates for this year’s event.
More information and this year’s printable Marion Contest Flyer and Contest Score Cards can be found at this web page:
As of 9/24/2021 Country Inn Motel has 10 rooms available for the 1st and 2nd of October. Because of Covid, reservations can only be made the morning of the 1st to reserve the two days. Information concerning possible additional lodging arrangements can be found on page 2 of the flyer.
Good Luck to all those Fortunate to Attend. It will be a Blast !!!!
Here you will find information on this year’s 2021 Sky Bunny Postal Contest. In addition we have a Slide Show of last year’s contestants. For 2021 we had a total of 4 contestants. This year’s event was held September 4th, 5th, and 6th.
Join us next Tuesday, August 17th, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm for a good old-fashioned B movie from 1941 that features a “very cool” model airplane.
Quoting from the August 2021 AMA’s Model Aviation magazine on page 14, “Power Drive is about a geodetic aircraft design undergoing stress tests. During the film, a model appears in numerous sequences, and although it’s not a flying model, it clearly highlights the aircraft’s construction.”
Along with announcing a long overdue update of the page—we’d also like to point out that the number of visits to this webpage for last year, 2021, was 1.459 overtaking the website’s HOME page’s 1366 visits by 93. 
This surprised all our staff at KCFreeFlight.org. For the most part it would normally be extremely unlikely to have what is considered an inconsequential page overtake the website’s main “HOME” page which is the portal where most visitors enter the site.
Jeff Renz — Blogger/Editor in chief
Blogger/Webmaster — JB Nisley 
AEROMODELLING 
APRIL 2022
IN A BOTTLE” Closing Statement
BUTTON to return to this MENU. 
“I Mr. Pin, and together with Miss Tile, don’t mind
This month’s Op-Ed delves into the subject of STOOGES—You know, your trusty alley when it comes to winding your Rubber Powered Model Airplane. No one now-a-days pays much attention to them—they are just a part of the landscape if you want to fly outdoors. Many of us it seems have had the same stooge our whole adult lives and haven’t given it a second thought. Case in point—Our President—Michael Basta: 
FREDRIC WALKER (CASEY) BALDWIN. 
This movie by the way is available to borrow from our Johnson County Library in videodisc DVD format here in Kansas, USA. You may have a source similar to this where you live. The run time for this movie is 135 min. Both John and JB are going to check out the DVD and enjoy a second viewing of it . . . . and yes—we’ll get a bowl of Popcorn and our favorite beverage & watch those crazy poles swing on the BIG SCREEN !!! 😉 
— WHAT’S NEW IN OUR WORLD? – 3/22
AKA a BLOG BREAK
MAR 2022
Here’s a great example that proves Aeromodelling is catching on around the World. Here’s an article an article written by Jagriti Parakh featuring an Aeromodelling Workshop for kids titled “
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH1EOW25CNE
Jeff Renz — Blogger/editor in chief
Give it a try. — Jeff Renz
Casey Free Flight KCFREEFLIGHT.ORG 