Necessary Equipment Books, 56 Howell Lane, Riverhead NY 11901 is pleased to reintroduce Ron Williams’ book, Building & Flying Indoor Model Airplanes. Long a collector’s item, it has been reprinted for the third time. First published in 1981 and reprinted in 1984, this book has inspired future champions and model builders around the world. Over 200 drawings including plans and numerous photographs showing the hobby as it is practiced lure the reader into this fascinating and surprising pursuit.
The book was written based on notes and sketches the author made as he worked his way up to the ultimate indoor models known as F1D. Though more than two feet in wing span and more than thirty inches long, these aircraft weigh about the same as a dollar bill: one gram. Learning to build these planes starts with simple beginner’s models. As the modeler learns the techniques for handling specially cut balsa wood and ultralight coverings, the challenges mount and the performance of the models increases.
Williams went through this process with friends and fellow modelers guiding the way. While teaching at Columbia University, he arranged demonstrations, flying sessions and exhibits in Columbia’s Low Library. The meets attracted the interest of the news media which in turn resulted in a request by a publisher to write the book. The sketches and copious notes he was keeping became the basis for the book; it took more than four years to complete with its exhaustive treatment of the hobby.
The high tech F1D planes are one facet of this type of model aviation. The book also covers indoor scale models and other classes as well as indoor handlaunched gliders. The techniques explained can be applied to many other types of model building.
One reviewer said, “This is a fantastic book. . . . it's probably the best book ever written about building indoor duration models. It may also be the best book ever written about model aircraft.”
He was not alone in his opinion; another said, “Ron Williams' book is a pleasure that I've gone back to many times, both to enjoy his prose and his clear drawings and to answer questions and come up with ideas . . . you might be tempted to copy some of the drawings to hang in your workshop . . . I recommend this book without hesitation . . .”
The 8 1/2” x 11” paperback book contians 272 pages with more than 200 drawings, over 60 photos and many plans.
The price is $24.95. Copies personally inscribed by the author are available.
Building & Flying Indoor Model Airplanes (ISBN 978-0-615-20203-7) is available from The Smithsonian Institution Shop at Cooper Hewitt, the National Free Flight Society and Sams Models in England. See the links in the sidebar for more information.