But such rising columns of air are invisible. So the art of thermal soaring is to find a strong thermal, and then to stay in it to rise as far as you can. Dun-slope If you are flying ‘point to point’ then to leave that thermal to fly in the direction you want to go while at the same time seeking out your next thermal to lift you up again before the prevailing force of gravity brings your model sailplane inevitably back to earth. Dun-slope The radio controls allow you to guide your plane to seek out lift and if you are flying from point to point, to move from one source of lift to another in the direction you want to go. Dun-slope And eventually, of course, to bring your sky warrior down to a smooth landing. This is where slope soaring has a major advantage because as you launch your model sailplane off the slope you know the lift is there from the oncoming breeze. The plane is attached to a line connected to elastic tubing that is secured to the ground, or to a winch. Dun-slope Pull the plane back, let it zoom into the air, and grab the radio control. Better, of course to have two people involved so you have control at all times. And yes, though some view it as cheating, Dun-slope there are model sailplanes that feature an electric motor for initial launching and for regaining altitude whenever required. Dun-slope The motor has folding propeller blades that fold back when the motor is not running to remove the propeller blades from the airflow where they would otherwise contribute nothing but drag. Because they obviously crash often, combat sailplanes are made out of foam for easy rebuilds and will literally bounce off the ground due to their forgiving and robust construction. So there you have it, beautiful, elegant, thermal soaring model sailplanes or robust, knock ’em down combat kills with cheap, quick to build foamies. Model sailplane soaring is just as exciting as powered flight. So get yourself a model sailplane and get out there and give it a go. California is considered to be the birthplace of hot rods. People were looking for cars to race across the salt flats, and many amateur mechanics looked to create streamlined vehicles for racing. They used whatever parts they could find in local junkyards. The idea was that they could build a better racer than their more affluent neighbors with sheer ingenuity. The tires were usually replaced, with very large rear tires to raise the gear ratio. Small front tires were used in combination with the large rear tires in order to rake, or slope, the car forward. This further decreased wind resistance. Slots were cut into the body of the car to help keep the engine cool. These backyard enthusiasts made every effort to create the fastest car in the region. As street racing rose in popularity, so did the dangers associated with it. All across the country, kids were racing their hot rods, sometimes with fatal consequences. From cruising the streets at night to gathering at local hot spots, the youth of America became obsessed with street racing. Eventually, the American public at large looked upon hot rodding as a dangerous and delinquent pastime which, along with rock and roll, was rotting the youth of the country. Many people shifted the focus from creating a racing car to creating a unique and beautiful vehicle. Custom paint jobs became all the rage, while the slope of the car changed. While early builders leaned the car forward, people started to slope the cars toward the rear. The cars were built for looks rather than racing, though their engines and performance were still held in high regard. Their size, appearance and performance appeal to many. Amateur mechanics still park them in their garage to tear them apart, soup them up and take them to the streets. Just like in the old days, it’s about creating a better car with a little money and a lot of determination.