• Here's where we take a look at other websites of model-flight interest. It might be a commercial site or one belonging to another enthusiast or specialist group. Let me know if you've come across a nice site that you think is worth a look - it could, of course, be your site if you let me know your URL!

In Aiden's own words, this site is "To keep you informed on all the crazy (funny) stuff that David Matthews and myself, Aiden Duffy, do in pursuit of this crazy (funny) sport".

The site doesn't tell us much about Aiden himself, but he tells us that David is renowned all over Ireland, England, Scotland and Austria for his building and flying. He is called "the fastest Balsa Knife in Ireland" by a number of people. He writes model reviews for RCM&E. I see also that David and his F18A Hornet appears in the write-up of the Scottish Nationals in the current (January 2001) issue of R/C Model World.

Model Mania enthusiastically shares these two lively lads' enthusiasm for the sport, giving us some nice shots of a variety of models as well as some useful information on the model jet flying scene in particular - again with some interesting pictures.

The site features an interesting selection of video clips, including David flying his F18 jet at the British Model Flying Association's National competition, when he achieved the highest score over the weekend. This jet and a few other models pictured on the site are on view on the photo gallery page.

Also featured are a few special very sociable-sounding events, including David and Helen's May Maddness, an annual May Bank Holiday event which is increasing in popularity year on year, attracting enthusiasts from all over the UK and beyond. Read all about it and you, too, may be tempted to go along!

http://homepage.eircom.net/~duffys/ 

http://www.rcezine.com 

This is the 'cover' of RCezine, a new web-based magazine that will come up on your screen if you go to the URL displayed above.  Clicking on that intriguing cover picture will then take you to the homepage of the site from where you can browse to the many interesting pages that RCezine has to offer. Click on it here and you can see a larger version of the picture so that you can sort out just who that pilot is - look at his feet!

RCezine apparently started out as a purely amateur website,   'netradiocontrol.com', that was the idea of Bud Morrison and Frank Shears (who is the editor of the new magazine), not dissimilar in its aims and origins to ModelFlight but with more experienced originators than yours truly. However, its popularity grew to such an extent that it outgrew the provisions of its free host server. Now it has gone 'commercial' in the sense that it is actively seeking paid advertising as a means of sponsoring the running of the site, which we are told is now attracting some 80,000 hits a month.

The site is still very new, as a result of which some of the pages have yet to have any content. Hints and Tips is empty as yet, seeking input from readers, whilst the Back Issues archive has nothing to put in it, of course, at least until the next issue! The current issue is totally aircraft, but the magazine is actually dedicated to all aspects of the R/C hobby and intends to cover airplanes, helicopters, cars and boats.

This really is a magazine, although fewer pages than most paper publications - and FREE, and has more of the look and feel of one - for instance, there is no links page and no photo gallery which seem standard on most r/c websites, although they are running a competition for model pictures to appear on the 'cover' for which there is a prize worth $25 for the winner. However, the e-zine does appear to be looking for a greater amount of input from its readers than most magazines published in the conventional fashion. 

Regular features accessed from the home page are Editor's Desk, Hobby Shop Corner, Dr Propwash (some amusing slants on the model-making world here from this mystery gent - actually, I now know who he is! -  whom I have also come across on one or two other sites), Heli Haven, Electric Connection, Scale Aerobatics, Builder's Corner and an as-yet unfilled feature called Glider Ridge for which a contributor is being sought - now's your chance for fame, if not fortune! Articles and kit reviews are also offered. 

Visit and enjoy the site, it's really good - but please stick with ModelFlight for the friendly, 'clubby' feel!