Vic Smeed

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27 June 2012 at 16:53 #35082
Paul T
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@pault84577
What was Vic Smeed like?

His drawings and books are superb and have given me many hours of enjoyment.

His work had a big influence on my life and I would have liked to meet him just to see what he was like.

Paul
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27 June 2012 at 16:53 #7941
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
27 June 2012 at 20:16 #35084
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Paul,

Two photos of Vic at St Albans taken shortly before he passed away in his 90s plus one from a MB cover back in the 1970s I think.

I never met him myself but he did send me a nice Email following publication of the 60th Anniversary Special issue. I suspect he would have tackled it differently but he was very gracious. A remarkable man indeed and one who has given an enormous amount of pleasure to so many through his designs. I will be featuring a couple of early ones in the forthcoming Plan Feature special.

Colin
28 June 2012 at 00:43 #35085
Peter Fitness
Participant
@peterfitness34857
Paul, I believe that Vic Smeed had an enormous influence on anyone interested in modelling, particularly aircraft and boats. My very first foray into scratch building was his "Tomboy" free flight aircraft which I built in 1954. It flew very successfully using an ED 1.46 diesel engine, terrorising my uncle's cattle in the field where I flew it. I still have the plan.

Peter.
28 June 2012 at 06:18 #35086
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Hello Peter and Colin

The first boat that I built from plans was a Vic Smeed design, I was 10 years old and it took all the school summer holidays to build and when completed it gave me a great sense of satisfaction.

I learnt how to understand plans and specifications from Vic Smeed drawings and in later life applied his easy to follow style to my own design work.

Looking from afar I have the impression of him being a calm and caring man.

I wonder how many people owe their hobbies or careers to his work.

Paul

Edited By The Fat Controller on 28/06/2012 06:21:04
28 June 2012 at 08:42 #35087
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Here's a few of my own aeromodelling heroes – how many do you recognise?

David Boddington, Ken Willard, Ray Malmstrom, Doug McHard, Ed Kazmirski, Chris Foss, Stuart Foster, Rich Brand, Brian Lewis, Dave Platt, Mick Charles and, of course, the late great Phil Smith.

Dave M
29 June 2012 at 00:41 #35095
Peter Fitness
Participant
@peterfitness34857
David Boddington and Dave Platt are at the top of my list, along with Vic Smeed, having built a number of their designs during my time in aeromodelling.

Peter.
29 June 2012 at 07:02 #35097
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
The good old days when models were hand built and the pleasure was as much in the build as it was in the sailing.

I sometimes think that todays younger generation are missing out when they are playing computer games, but then again I might just be old fashioned.

Paul
1 July 2012 at 22:29 #35123
David Wooley
Participant
@davidwooley82563
Hi Paul I had the privalage of working with Vic on a plan feature for Model Boats ,Sniper 2 way back in the early 70s when Vic was editor and I met the great man on a number of occasions . He was a modellers modeller and his influence within the hobby/sport was wide and deep and a delight to talk to.

Dave Wooley
2 July 2012 at 06:51 #35125
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Hello David

I have heard before that Vic was a modellers modeller and that he was happy to talk to anybody at the lakeside, chatting to experienced builders and giving friendly advice to the novice.

I remember the plan as I built the model during a school holiday, it had a fin keel and was very good at straight running (which helped as I couldn't afford radio gear back then)

Paul
28 August 2012 at 00:18 #36181
john david
Participant
@johndavid96538
New member,

I've built RSL-1640,Vic Smeed plan-some time ago now,about 1980-something,plans are in a terrible

state now.still got the model.

controlled it with a futaba 5 channel fm ,does'nt work now,binned it.

Also at that time, I was wih The bridgend model boat club,Now

that I am retired was thinking of giving it a service,going to need a new controller,batteries,still got plenty of servo's,

Cant seem to find any model shops ,there was a good one in Bridgend,gone now

Any way Hello everybody!

John.
1 September 2012 at 10:04 #36228
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Hello John

The demise of local model shops is a nation wide disaster and it seems the only place to buy gear from is the internet but you miss out on the chat and advice.

Re your other posting regarding the RSL I have looked for the relevant photos in my little library but sorry to say I cant help, you could try one of the RAF associations as they might be able to help.

Paul

Edited By Paul. on 01/09/2012 10:04:57
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