Ok, since I requested this forum

[gjohnson]

I haven't had time to put down clear well thought out suggestions. Since Dave has responded by creating this forum, the least I can do is reiterate some past suggestions, and a couple of new ones.

It is intersting that Air Age decided to put this BB in with cars and introduce glow forums. Ezone is in the process of evaluating whether it should be lumped in with glow and other RC forums. They polled members and about 90% responded that they wanted to remain separate. Most said they liked the feeling of community. What makes a community is actually getting to know others. So, that's probably why a number of members here have voiced displeasure with this new change. My suggestion is that Air Age go back to a separate area for the RC Microflight BB, with a button or link to other sister BB for those who wish to visit.

Downloading plans is the most oft voiced complaint. Ignoring how they are created (by hand or CAD). They should be much easier to download and print out at the correct size. Dave has told us that there will be a downloadable application that will make this possible. I hope so. We are all waiting.

What about the newsletter. Many people think $30 is too much to pay. I don't think it is too much if the content is good. If the content slips, subscribers will leave. So far the people who have posted about the new Backyard Flyer magazine have indicated it's somewhat light on content (lots of ARF reviews) but has nice color and graphics. I can't judge because my copy has not arrived yet. If Air Age thinks they can put similar content in Backyard Flyer and RC Microflight and hold on to their subscriber base, they are probably wrong.

I think they should take the approach that Backyard Flyer is the "farm league" publication, intended primarily for newcomers or those with a more casual interest in electric RC. RC Microflight should be for people who are interested in more scratch building and difficult areas of the micro flight spectrum. RCM should have more technical articles and more frequently (like Dave's wind tunnel article or those on batteries and motors). In addition, they should actively seek out people who are building cutting edge planes and feature more details of those planes so we can all learn from the masters. They should cover more what is happening in Europe. They seem to be building very light weight scale indoor planes in Europe now. Europe has also moved to a number of different competitions for indoor flying. Not much coverage of this has appeared in RCM. I know coming up with technical articles isn't easy. But, that's what it takes if they want to continue charging a premium price for a non-colour non-coffee table publication.

I hope this gets this forum started. These are mostly just off the top of my head.

Gordon

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Gordon,
It took you a little bit to speak out, but I am sure glad you did. Regarding the issue of bringing more modeling disciplines into one forum, this is a management decision and I gathered they hoped to expand the utility of the BB. With a little effort, hopefully we can retain a sense of "community" regardless of the aspect of modeling we pursue.
I was told that work is in progress to install a different format for plans downloads and that there will be a free download for the program needed to handle the downloads. Hopefully this will happen soon.
The seperation of Backyard Flyer and RCMicroflight is headed pretty much in the way you desire. Backyard flyer appears to be colorful and informative to people entering this phase of R/C and is circulated on a larger scale with advertising using some of the space. RCM is to continue as the organ that will feature the technical side aimed more at the experienced modeler. As far as individual features, well, that will always be a function of the contributors submitting "good stuff". There are too many skilled modelers "hiding their candle under a basket now" and some are probably just lazy. Any time you have a "goodie" that looks promising, get in contact with one of the editorial staff and see what can be done.
As for my position in all this, I am an independent contractor located a long ways from the offices. As such, I may have to contact the staff with a question re. policy, etc, but I will try to keep up with the traffic and relay concerns.
Cheers, Dave Robelen:)

[Ralph B]

Dave:
I'm glad to see this new forum, and thanks to Gordon for suggesting it. I agree with Gordon on the direction that the Microflight content should be taking, that is, oriented to the more experienced modelers.
In your response to Gordon's post you commented that you felt that a lot of skilled modelers were hiding thier candle under a basket. I'm sure you are right about that, but the remark struck a nearve with me, and that brings us to my suggestion.
Dave, you are one of the most experienced people I can think of when it comes to having material published. I have enjoyed your presentations, and your models for more years than either of us would want to admit to! How about presenting a feature on submiting articles for publication? I am sure you could offer a lot of valuable insights that would encourage folks to pull some of those candles out from under their buckets, while improving the quality of their submissions.
I would also like to suggest that the editorial staff try to make an effort to acknowledge receit of material when submited, and weather or not it is somthing they can use. I know they are very busy, but how long does it take to send a simple form letter or an email? I have submited both solicited and unsolicited material that was not used or acknowledged. Let me be the first to say, that maybe my candle wasn't lit (the wind blew it out). The lack of response by the editors does not leave me feeling like investing the time and effort to offer any future submissions. John Worth recently presented one of my models in his Cloud 9 column with the comment that maybe it would be featured in a future issue of R/C Microflight. The editorial staff at Air Age has this material but never acknowleged receiving it. Thanks for all that you do, and have done over the past years.

Ralph Bradley

[gjohnson]

Dave,

How about you becoming the editor of RC Microflight? That would be one of the best ways of aiming the newsletter at the more experienced (or in my case trying to become more experienced) modeler? RC Microflight is definitely a niche publication and probably deserves a niche editor. I'd be willing to lobby Air Age suggesting you. Your involvement here already speaks volumes.

Gordon

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Gordon,
Thanks for the thought. At present, I believe that things are looking up for us "hard core" modelers at Microflight. Meanwhile, living in Virginia, with the offices in Conneticut the logistics would be a bit much. Perhaps the most significant fact is that I have not been asked!
I am going to talk with Debra Sharp about several of these issues, especially the point that Ralph raised about a tutorial on presenting a project. The introcuction of the Bakyard Flyer mag will tend to siphon off some of the ARF trade, and I have been told that the policy will be to beef up the technical side of RCMF. It will still be up to the modelers for the most part to provide material of this nature.
Regards, Dave Robelen

[Blackhawk]

Fellas

I will add my nickel here. I think it would be nice if RC microflight survives but hopefully it could incorporate Backyard Flyer too. The thought of having to pay for two subscriptions is not too appealing to me.

Pat

[gjohnson]

Pat,

My subscription copy of Backyard Flyer still hasn't arrived yet. My prediction is that after the first year I conclude there isn't enough content for me to continue its subscription. My MAN and S&E Modeler subscriptions are toast at the end of this year. Unless Backyard Flyer turns out to have lots of content, I doubt it will make the cut a year from now. If it has color picures of ARFs and not much else, I'd rather read Electric Flight International for pictures.

Gordon

[Blackhawk]

Gordon

I bought a copy of Backyard Flyer at the LHS last month and it is a slick and very colorful production, but didn't have anything new in it. Was kind of disappointed. I guess if I had just walked into this area of the hobby, it might have been more useful. So I wonder what their long term plans are. I also wonder about this one--RC Microflight. I guess ezone has them on volume and can provide lots of stuff to the public for free. I still haven't renewed yet. Will wait another month and see where all this goes. The English magazines like Scale and Electric Flight seem so much better, but even they repeat each other a lot. So that leaves Flying Models, Max Fax and FAC news which have more honest new content for me, a lover of small scale jobs, than any of the others.

Pat Daily

[Blackhawk]

Well I made a mistake and paid the rc microflight bill the other night. I meant to keep it out for awhile, but got in this bill paying mode and just kept going. Now I guess I am a suscriber for another year. Hope the mag continues to improve. If they try to market Backyard flyer as a separate subscription, I think they will make me and several other subscribers angry. Neither publication has enough material or advertising to stand on their own. In anycase, I will peruse Backyard flyer at the LHS and if it merits a purchase, I might, but I definitely won't subscribe. There are too many pubs out there now and they are starting to get expensive.

Pat Daily