Although addressed in a recent thread concerning Magnum XL36 engines, out of repect for a long-time friend, one whom I did wrong, I'll put it up here in a new thread. One reserved for the exclusive use of Lurker Hunt...
In an earlier post, it appears as if I spoke a bit soon, and with too little knowledge of current situation as it applies to PTG's Diva article, why it has not yet been published.
As predicted, Bob Hunt continues to lurk around, saw his name used in vain. The most immediate result was a good news/bad news deal wherein Bob attempted to strike up our annual gab-fest while I was not at home and so could not offer up suitably pointed retorts.
Note to self: Buy a new answering machine, one which allows caller only 30 seconds with which to leave concise message. Further note to self: Investigate possibility of obtaining upgraded tape cassette for new machine, one which does not emit smoke when playing caustic messages...
In between sighs of frustration, comments of "Give me a break, will ya," I learned the following: Diva article is up for publication, and it will be even better, more complete than originally planned.
PTG and I talked briefly about his article during 2004 NW Regionals. Seemed to me a done deal. However, perfectionist that he is, later some of the text was declared substandard in ill-defined ways. Back for a re-write.
In doing so, the part of article dedicated to Magnum 36XL was expanded, presumably to include new information and/or elaborate on the tune-up. By that time I am sure PTG had seen others using this engine, nothing like a wider and deeper data base to bring up flawed approaches. Where better to take pre-emptive action than in article dealing with the very model which brought this engine to the fore? And I did mention this perfectionist streak, right?
However, once the two parts of article were assembled...too long for space allotted. Or too long for those who monitor every single piece in "their" magazine, this group comprised of a mere 175,000 souls, Bob's challenge being to piss-off all of them equally.
So. As PTG says, article is coming soon. And the best part is that stuff deemed important to presentation *did not* hit floor around Hunt's desk or trash can in paring it down to some ill-defined template into which all such articles are supposed to fit.
Instead, some part of the Diva article will be published on Model Aviation web site, a practice which I believe has been used with success in the past.
So while this article has indeed been a long time in coming to us--remember a couple years ago when I predicted publication in June, 2004, and was righteously pooh-poohed as being a cynic?--it is forecast by all parties to have been worth the wait. Good enough.
Note to PTG: At Joshua's home last night and during a weird dinner party which involved adults and children repeatedly crossing between Joshua's house and the neighbor's house across the street, your name came up when Josh was tossing his youngest boy in the air with a non-standard twist or two thrown in. "I learned that from a friend of mine! He used to throw me in the air just like that!"
Please do note the attribution: *Not*, "... one of my Dad's friends..." Happily, it has ever been thus.
You will, however, not being throwing Joshua into the air anytime soon. No offense, but that window of opportunity has closed rather firmly. On the other hand, my grand-urchin Hunter would probably be interested.
Dan