Large Model Association Forum

Don't know whether anyone's realised but 2012 is the 30th Anniversary of the Association, formed in 1982.

It all began with an inaugural meeting at Jeremy Shaw's house in London where, I believe, a dozen or so fellow large model enthusiasts met to discuss a constitution, etc.. It was before my time, but it would be nice to hear the recollections of those who were there.......

So, too, Mr Chairman and Committee, it might be nice to mark it in some way at the AGM, don't you think........?
K.

Keith

As the co organiser with Jeremy of that initial meetingI put some details of the early days of the LMA in my artical "LMA goes back to school" in a recent journal.
If you are looking for specific details of the early days please contact me and I will try to help.

John

This is a shame that the 30 years has not been cellibrated, bit late now.
Bonzey

This is a copy of my post placed this morning,if they end up as two posts,sorry.

Keith/John,It would be nice to know many of the original members are still in the LMA.I am,no 23,John is I think no 24,although that could be Mr Shaw.Gerry Harrison is still a member.How about free membrship for the original crew? We have been paying our subs for 30 years.On a different subject,Keith I have a photograph of Bluebird that I took many years ago,you can have it if it is of any use.

Bi Barrie Burton

This sounds like a good article for the journal to me, so who is up for it then.

Barry---a good suggestion,will put on the agenda for our forthcoming comm meeting---DAVE

CELEBRATE IT!!! that lot have cost us a fortune!!!!! but thanks for doing the deed, in those days, models where getting bigger, and it was clear that the bmfa could not step up to the plate, a very welcome meeting by the original members, thanks for some great times, it would be great to have a feature in the journal,

barrie burton wrote:.......Keith I have a photograph of Bluebird that I took many years ago,you can have it if it is of any use.

Bi Barrie Burton

I would very much like that, Barry. I'll be at the AGM if I could pick it up there ....?
Cheers,
Keith

Barry

You may recall that the original LMA membership numbers issued after that first meeting were done on a random basis as Len Rawle processed each application. The only dedicated number was Richard Rawle as his dad allocated him LMA No 1. From my memory I think there were about 34 people at the first meeting and those people were allocated the first numbers. After that membership numbers were allocated in sequence as new members joined. I have an early membership list somewhere but I am sure Lyn Roberts can check the current membership list to see how many of the original 34 are still members.

John

P.S I still have a copy of the Radio Modeller mag that I put the editorial in inviting anyone interested in large models to attend the inaugural meeting. I may bring it to the AGM just to reminisce.

Out of interest, I was flying in the 70's & flew with Denis Martin, Ken Dallow, Albert Rowe, I even flew with Dr Jeremy as almost a founder member of the British Water Plane Association! Was Denis or Ken in attendance on this or any of the early meetings? I'm intrigued as back then the "larger" models interested me. (Then I discovered things called females & lost the plot for many years)!!!
Cary

I'm not one of the first 34 although I was around at some of the first organised events such as Woburn garden party.
The LMA condescended to let me fly small models that were in the eye of Boddos editorial circa 1984.
When I felt more confident, as clearly size mattered back in the early days, I joined a couple of years later at Old Warden member #749.
One thing that is obvious is the tremendous influence the association had on me and the gaining of knowledge from those more skilled at the time.
Jeremy and John really were pioneers in the day with successful ground breaking models that would be regarded as normal now,but were huge and complex back then.
I remember clearly at an early Woburn the first Northern contingent arriving with a 1/4 or 1/3 scale Mosquito made from emulsioned polystyrene.
When the rudder was operated the entire back end flexed.
Boy how we have come on. Happy days, Happy Birthday LMA.

message for Cary Bailey

Hi Cary.

Yes I am still around. If you want to make contact again please send me a pm. to kenneth.dallow @ntlworld.com and we will have a chat about old times.

Ken

ken dallow wrote:message for Cary Bailey

Hi Cary.

Yes I am still around. If you want to make contact again please send me a pm. to kenneth.dallow @ntlworld.com and we will have a chat about old times.

Ken

Mr Dallow PM sent! And I am honoured that as your 1st post on the forum is to me! Thank you

I've got a lot of fond memories from the early days although not as early as John Greenfield. I joined the LMA at Woburn in the 1980's with membership number 520. I had built a half scale model so I thought it would be wise to join a society which catered for large models, the BMFA (or was it SMAE at the time?) seemed bemused by anything larger than a Super Sixty. My half scale model wasn't particularly big because it was of the small French twin, the CriCri so it was only about 9ft span powered by two piped 10cc glows. It was my pride and joy because it was built to pretty accurate scale. At Woburn then there was a small prize given to the best scale model. The judges came round to look at the lined up models, I seem to remember they were Brian Spoor and Mr Pelly-Fry but I may be wrong, but I do remember them looking at My CriCri and the following comment of....... "shall we go and look at the scale models first?" Happy Days!!!!!

Dave--as you say Happy Days---i also joined in the 80s with number 309,along with the likes of Mike Jackson when such great names as Jeremy ,Boddo and Arthur Searl were involved ---i can remember your Cri Cri---it was a great model of the day which would be very impressive even today

Hi Dave, when I was at the Editorial helm in 2007 it was the 25th Anniversary, and I published articles and photos of the early days and also with a piece written by Jeremy for me about the Association, so if you can dig back in that year you can re-use (if you want) those interesting memories for the current membership. I still have a copy all those Journals that I did, and as said before, on CD too, so please let me know if need them.

Best regards,
Vince.

Vince Raia wrote:Hi Dave, when I was at the Editorial helm in 2007 it was the 25th Anniversary, and I published articles and photos of the early days and also with a piece written by Jeremy for me about the Association, so if you can dig back in that year you can re-use (if you want) those interesting memories for the current membership. I still have a copy all those Journals that I did, and as said before, on CD too, so please let me know if need them.

Best regards,
Vince.

Hi Vince, that would be great, I have nothing from any Journals before Phil Dolton (our last Journal editor) so anything you have would be of great help.

Hi Dave, I might be popping up to Gaydon next Sunday so I can bring up the other stuff I have for you too, if all fails i'll scan the articles for you. "What you mean the Guv'nor hasn't got any old copies?"