Stuka an addiction?

Leonard, first let me say that I think you provide a great forum where anyone and everyone can talk about their hobby/hobbies. Where else can we have as much fun without spending money. For a couple of years now, I have averaged at least an hour each day on Stuka Stunt arguing with friends and answering questions about building and flying techniques. During this time, I've written thousands of words and posted hundreds of photo, and had a grand time doing it.

But It comes with a price for individuals. This will be the second year in a row that I miss VSC, in part, because I didn't finish the airplane I wanted to take there. I've also realized that many of the modelers that I most enjoy relating their opinions on various topics and technical information seem to be missing or posting less frequently. Ted and Keith seem to appear now only about once per page, if then. Brett is left holding the fort and answering the technical questions, and even he is occasionally suffering an arrow of discontent.

Personally, I find that I'm opening more posts and finding less than I hope for in interesting content. In short, for me, Stuka Stunt has become more of an addiction than a source of entertainment. Those of you who follow Stuka know that I have unfinished a Millennium, a Critical Mass and a Snaggletooth 2. Their progress has been severely hampered by the way I've been allocating my spare time.

When I get home from work tonight, I need to sand instead of computing.

End

Gives me a pleasant break FROM sanding

Every post is important to the originator no matter what the content, I would also like to see more stuff like the ST 46 thread with the great drawings by Brett and love it when you and other greats insert your words of wisdom. However this is also a community and just like a club get-together sometimes we talk about stuff that isn't real interesting to everybody..

I also need to get back to sanding...

I know what you mean Al. When I get to work, the first thing I do is grab some coffee and sit down to the Stuka Stunt Forum. Then check my E-mail and get to work. A lot of good stuff here. Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks:)

Al, I know exactly what you mean. I find that if I make the priority my airplane and then before going to bed I check the web site. I have tried to break myself of the addiction and as nicer weather is coming I find myself just a tad bit more motivated to get the plane done.

I am the same......I have SSW open ALL day when I am at work.....sneak peak every now and then to see if a new topic has come up......

I do not have internet access on my home computer and miss SSS most of all. It is a real pleasure to occasionally be able to check in.
Hopefully, I will have Net Zero up and running soon.

As a relatively new modeler, I often get as much out of some of the small "should have been obvious" tech tips as much as I do yours, Al, and like you mentioned Ted and Keith. I read everything you post. Ted, Keith, Larry, Currell, too and thats just to name few.... I too spend more time here than I should, but I take what I get here, take it to the field on Sunday and share (OK annoy) my flying buddies with it. Annoy them until I pull off something that works!

I do hope that what you are NOT saying is that you have been wasting time on some who don't appreciate your contribution... every time I log in here I HOPE to find something from one who can claim and demonstrate successful building and flying ability... Only you can decide what is the most important. I do hope that you continue to be (an integral) part of SSW... We've never met face to face and it's likely we never will, so please accept my handshake and sincere "Thank You." Thank you for the pictures! the articles and the tips...

Well, I'm sure glad I can come out of the closet now. I keep SSW running in the background at work all day. While my 'puter's grinding some numbers I click it and catch up.

I really do find myself coming back frequently and like Al there are times when is seems like there's little substance to the activity. I think its the time of year. Guys are getting the itch and don't have the building guestions you see in the fall and winter time. Now you see engine breakin ?'s and in a couple months we'll be seeing engine run ?'s.

I think its at least partially cyclic.

>But It comes with a price for individuals. This will be the
>second year in a row that I miss VSC, in part, because I
>didn't finish the airplane I wanted to take there. I've
>also realized that many of the modelers that I most enjoy
>relating their opinions on various topics and technical
>information seem to be missing or posting less frequently.
>Ted and Keith seem to appear now only about once per page,
>if then. Brett is left holding the fort and answering the
>technical questions, and even he is occasionally suffering
>an arrow of discontent.

I'm sure I'll survive. Most people to have other things going on in their lives, I probably have less. There's certainly an element of this experience that can be frutrating or tiresome, and what the heck, I have bad days just like everybody else. But reasonably often you can actually help someone who cares about what they are doing and appreciates assistance. Or at least often enough to make it a net positive. When/if it ceases to become a net positive, I'll stop too. Others may have a reduced threashold and I can't fault them for it. I know of many people that simply won't participate because the cost/benefit ratio has swung the wrong way, and far be it for me to tell them they are wrong.

I enjoy the good times immensely, too.

Brett

p.s. BTW, Al, theres a thread about Walker winners and there's a blank for what engine/airplane you flew at the 73 NATS. I think I know but might as well get it from the horse's mouth

"...p.s. BTW, Al, theres a thread about Walker winners and there's a blank for what engine/airplane you flew at the 73 NATS. I think I know but might as well get it from the horse's mouth."

Brett,

I know, too. My favorite Walker Cup winning airplne, ST .60.

>In short, for
>me, Stuka Stunt has become more of an addiction than a
>source of entertainment.

We can all quit whenever we want, right? Right??!

I never get anything done anyway...

Andy

Hello. My name's Tom, and I'm a grateful SSW-coholic.

>Hello. My name's Tom, and I'm a grateful SSW-coholic.
Welcome aboard, Tom!

Ah yes, SSW, one day at a time, all day. I get up at 9:30 am, eat, go to the gym, go to the garage unless it's too cold or wet, then come in and do my SSW reading and commenting. The off to bed at 0300 o'dark. I have quit for as long as five days. I was out of town. Severe withdrawls.

When I returned to the hobby, I promised myself that I would contribute more than in the past. The Stuka Stunt Forum is a great place for me to fulfill that promise. It also gives me a break from sanding!!

I need a FIX......where's some BOM!!!!

scott(dayrevolvesaroundme)Riese

Gosh, Scott, if you want some more BOM, all you have to do is start a thread on it!

(For DD)

Re participation by guys like Al, Paul, Brett, myself etc. I think that, like everyone, we respond to items the tweak our interest. Almost by definition what we love to deal with is the top few rungs of the ladder. Sounds uppity, I know, but again like everyone we need to be drawn into a discussion. That usually happens when we find we might be able to provide answers that others might not be able to do. We sometimes get some grief from a few who think we "take it all too serious" but, what the heck, what's serious for some is what's interesting for others.

The "performance" aspects of stunt are more likely to get our attention than questions about what airplane is best, or engine or whatever. Trim problems. Engine problems. Design issues and aerodynamics. These are the things that'll likely get our attention and input. The neat thing about subjects like these is that most everyone can get something out of the discussion no matter how esoteric the bottom line might be.

What is really neat is that we've got a well rounded variety of points of view on subjects like these. Over the years there have been a number of issues that have received heated attention with strongly expressed opinions on subjects. Al and I can really relate to that reality! I'd like to think that when these "discussions" take place that we always retain respect for the points of view of others ... even if we strongly disagree.

In the final analysis, we're talking toy airplanes and making them do their tricks as well as we can. It's great fun and satisfying when it works right, but doing so isn't going to cure cancer or solve society's problems. Nonetheless, doing anything as well as it can be done is always a human value worth pursuing. If everyone had a pursuit that had no measureable value but enhanced the intrinsic value of their existence the way stunt does for so many of us the world would be a much pleasanter place in which to spend our handful of years.

My interest tends to wax and wane. Surprisingly, I do have some other interests that will occasionally, very occasionally lately, inspire my interest. Or have weeks at work like this one where I'm just to tired to do much of anything when I get home. But it's cyclic. I may work on a plane every night for weeks, then not touch it for a couple of days or weeks. Same with the board here. Sometimes I'll jump into a bunch of stuff that interests me or I think I can contribute to, often when I should probably just shut up, and other times I just check on the board every once in awhile and don't post much of anything.

Al,

Hmmmm Sanding. I can relate to that. The Lancair took about 700 hours of sanding and prep work for final color. Sanding is important. Kinda like knitting or crocheing (sp). You don't know when to stop until you get tired of it.

Bob Smiley
A Lancair 360builder/pilot trying to be a modeler