I became interested in R/C as a teen.  The only radio system I could afford was a Min-X single channel system with a rubber band powered escapement.  Press the button and hold for right rudder.  The next time you got left rudder.  Just make sure you wound up the rubber band before each flight, or you may not have rudder control for long.  Multichannel reed systems were available, but were way beyond my budget.  I had very limited success flying ½A single channel.  The next big step up for me was single channel servos.  They were motor driven, so they eliminated the rubber band power.  It was possible to nest the servos to give multichannel operation from a single pushbutton.  I had a Midwest Esquire with an OS .15 and two servos.  This gave me right and left rudder, plus 3 position throttle control.  I had several flights with this airplane.  It flew slowly and did not penetrate the wind well at all.  5 mph breeze was almost too much for this airplane.

 

After I graduated from college and got my first job, I could finally afford a multichannel radio.  I ordered a five channel Hobby Lobby 5 radio. It cost $209 in 1973.  It was a very plain radio.  There weren’t such things as servo reversing switches, end point adjustment, exponential, mixes, etc.  Everything had to be set up by the builder, or with the sticks during flight.  My first airplane was a Midwest Little Stick with an OS .25.  The wing had a symmetrical airfoil and no dihedral.  Looking back, it was a terrible model to use as a trainer.  There wasn’t anyone around to help me, so I was on my own.  I flew from an open field that didn’t have a smooth area to use as a runway, so I had to hand launch it.  Believe it or not, the maiden flight was successful.  I think I flipped it over on landing and had to repair one aileron.  I joined my first club shortly after this flight.  The club flew at a county park in St. Louis , Mo.   The park had two paved runways.  I remember how thrilled I was the first time I landed my Little Stick on the runway and taxied back.

 

Over the years my airplanes have gotten bigger and more complex.  I gradually went from .25 size to .40 to .60 to 1.20 four strokes to gas models.  Now I am completing the size cycle and flying electric foamies as well.  I really enjoy sport aerobatics and will throw in some 3D.  My current airplanes are a 35% Carden Edge, with a 3W-106 QS for power, a 3D Biplane with a YS 1.40 sport, a couple Fancy Foam electric foamies and a brand new Aeroworks Extra 260 QB (quick build) with a 3W-56 twin.  One of my stranger looking airplanes is one of my own concoctions.  It started out as a Goldberg Chipmunk kit.  I bashed it into an F-82 configuration.  It was powered by two OS .70 Surpass engines and had 10 servos on board.  Each fuselage had its own complete radio system.  It was quite aerobatic and flew very much like a regular Chipmunk.  I use the past tense, simply because I pulled the engines out for a different project.  The airplane is still hanging on my garage wall.

 

I enjoy building, in fact prefer to build over simply getting an ARF.  However my workshop situation leaves a lot to be desired.  I probably won’t have any more actual building projects until I can arrange for a better workshop.  I’ve attached a picture from a few years ago.  I disassemble the table every night and park my vehicle in the garage.  I also attached a few pictures to show how my new vehicle fits in the garage with all of my airplanes.