Bill Logan's majestic DH-10
Balsa Beavers Model Flying Club
The Balsa Beavers Model Flying Club was formed in the fall of 1957 and is the oldest active Control Line flying club in Ontario. Our club is host to a diverse range of modeling interests including: Stunt, Racing, Scale and Combat. Some of our members also fly R/C at dedicated sites belonging to other model airplane clubs.
From first time flyer to a seasoned national or international competitor, all persons regardless of previous experience are involved in all aspects of club activity and no one sits on the sidelines while the "Pros" fly.
2004 picture of Beavers founding member
and original President Ross Melhuish at
the 44th annual Toronto & District Championships.
Also known as Ruthless Ross in the
Combat circles.
Control Line
The History of Control Line Flying in Canada
by Chris Brownhill
For those not familiar
with the history of model aviating, Control Line models
first made their appearance in the U.S. in the early 1940's.
Their popularity grew very quickly as little space was required to fly a U-control airplane, and no long retrieves were necessary to repossess the model after a long flight. Also the idea of being able to actually control the model in a manner similar to a full size airplane was an exciting concept for many, and it was not long before experimentation with acrobatic and speed models was developing the contest events that are now so familiar.
The Famous Jim Walker developed and patented the basic two-wire control system that we still use today. Although several other systems were tried in order to circumvent Walker's patent, the only other successful innovator was Victor Stanzel who invented his well known mono line system. (This control method is still being employed with modern speed models because the single line generates significantly less drag than two lines, even if it is larger!)
The T.Eaton Co. of department store fame, sponsored some notable model airplane contests that were held at Downsview (near Toronto in those days) in the early 1950's. These contests featured both Control Line and Free-Flight events, and successful participants were then sent to compete in the large and prestigious Plymouths contest, that were held in various cities in the United States.
The famous "Tiger Town" contests held at Mount Hope Airport, near Hamilton, in the mid 1950's to the early 1960's also attracted large numbers of Control Line flyers in their day. The most popular events at this time were Rat Race, Combat, Stunt and Flying Scale.
Control Line was now a force to be reckoned with and even Free-Flight's popularity seemed due to be eclipsed as the number of Ukie flyers grew steadily every year!
Some of the Clubs offering Control Line activity during this era were the Vancouver Gas Model Club, the Brantford Cloudsters and the now famous (but defunct) Toronto clubs - namely the Toronto Gas Hoppers and the Sputterflies.
In the fall of 1957 the "upstart" Balsa Beavers arrived upon the scene in Toronto, but some envious of the "Beavers" quick rise to prominence, sarcastically referred to them as the "Balsa Butchers"!
Undaunted by the jibes of other Ukie groups, the Balsa Beavers soon made a name for themselves by organizing the Toronto and District Championships, which were usually held in Downsview in the early days, and the infamous Rat Race Marathon (100 miles - 1400 laps). For the record, the Rat Race Marathon attracted postal entries from all across the country, with these local versions of the great torture test being run in such unlikely places as Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary and Vancouver. The results of all these events were tabulated by the BBMFC Bulletin Editor, John Easton, and the winning club had their name inscribed with much pomp and circumstance, on the famous Rat Race Marathon Trophy.
Control Line still carries on today in spite of the advent of digital proportional radio control. We have probably much better engines at our disposal, and the engineering of models and materials has improved greatly since the early days, but still in my view, the period lasting from the early 1950's to the late 1960's was truly Control Line's golden age!
Jim Walker's Fireball was the plane that started the Control-Line craze!
Article on Jim Walker published by Bruce Troxell
http://modern-us-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/jim-walker-and-american-junior-aircraft-company
Jim Walker home page
http://americanjuniorclassics.com/Jim%20Walker/jimwalkerindex.htm
Balsa Beavers The Start...
John Easton (left) at First Goodyear Race - Keelsdale Park (Keele & Eglinton) July 1950
Balsa Beavers at Orenda Park 1958. (Photo sent by Bill
McElroy).
Back row: 2nd from right - Bill McElroy, 3d from right - Ron Burke.
Front Row: Far right - Jack Grant, 2nd from right - Bill Bell,
at far left kneeling is Ken Graham.
Balsa Beavers Model Flying Club - Circa 1960
Top row: 1st left - Don Miller, 3d from left - Bill Bell, 4th from left - John
Easton
Bottom row: 1st from left - Ross Melhuish, Far right - Jack Humphries
Far Right Ex-Beavers Prez Ross Melhuish, Ken Sandham (middle)
and Jim Bisson (left), surround a rather large award in May of 1963,
because of their outstanding performance at the T&D Championships.
Sarge Ranta's photo of Kenny Parent, Dave Kelly, Bill Patton
and John Easton
at the FAI World Championships, Swinderby (England) in about 1967.
BEAVERS ARCHIVES
Old time members please feel free to e-mail us some of your treasured moments caught on film or in print over the past (close to) 60 years. Along with any comments and anecdotes that can help build this Bibliographic section of the club's activities through the years.
Some other assorted piccies of members and old time
celebrities.
Bill Bell & John Easton
Gord Hocking (right)
holds DeBolt Speedwagon
Finn Reynolds (#3796)
with record setting
Nordic A-2
Sept 6, 1964
1942 Eaton model aircraft contest trophy.
Clarke Sheppard, MAAC # 31173 in 2010 with the last
museum model that
was finished two years ago. It is a 1/24th scale Harvard Mark II which resides at Moncton
Int'l. alongside a 1/24th Avro Anson. Both are scratch built.
The Balsa Beavers over the years
Photos from Jack Humphrey's and Dave Ker's archives.
1960's
1970's
1980's
Cec Tate & Frank Anderson
June 1949
June 23, 1949 The Telegram - Newspaper article
Left photo caption: Rivals--but brotherly, friendly,
co-operative ones--are John and Kenneth
Easton, 16 and 15, who share enthusiasm for model aircraft.
Right photo caption: Tuning up plane engine for the big model
aircraft contest on Saturday,
sponsored by the T. Eaton Co., are, left to right: Frank Anderson, Betty Hickey
and Cecil Tate.
As John Easton recalls: Cec Tate and his buddy (last name
Packer) decided to open
dual Hobby Shops when they left the Air Force after WWII. His buddy Packer
was in the vicinity of Vancouver. Thus the name TP Hobbies (formerly on
Roncesvalles).
Balsa Beavers tidbits of info
- The club was organized October 6, 1957 under the name Earlybird Model Flying Club.
A full size aircraft club from Hamilton objected strongly to this as they already had the rights
to that name, and had used it for years. On January 22, 1958 was changed to Balsa Beavers.- November, 1957: Fox 29 or 35 retailed for $22.35. Club members were able to buy one
for $13.41
- November, 1957 we had 26 members. The club meetings took place in Ross Melhuish's
basement, in Etobicoke.- May 1960: Held first Marathon Rat Race consisting of 1,000 laps and a minimum of 20
pitstops. Ross flew 3 aircraft in this event, Bill Poole flew 1 event barefoot and was
extremely sorry that he did.- June 7 and 26, 1960: T&D contest held at Woodbine Racetrack. The horses became skittish
so was only held there twice.- August, 1966: By this time we were sending out approximately 240 copies of the Airfoil, a
club publication produced with a hand crank printer, by Bill Poole and were collated by hand,
individually addressed and stamped by Ross on his basement pool table. A true labour of love.- July 1 & 2, 1967: Held T&D (C/L & F/F) at RCAF Station Downsview. Entry fee was $1.50
for 1st event, .50 for additional events, $3.00 max.- May 1968: Permission was granted to fly model aircraft in Marie Curtis Park, Etobicoke.
- October 2, 1968: 1st Fall Combat Bash was held at Centennial Park.
- June 2, 1969: Official opening of Centennial Park.
- February 14, 1970: 200 model airplane kits were given out, at a free contest for boys under 15.
Models were built and flown on contest day. Contest was held at Canadian Forces Base 1107, on
Avenue Rd. Toronto.
Balsa Beavers crest from Ed Peacock's archives:
8" x 8" Screened texture print on fabric. Circa?
Balsa Beavers Logo Crest - Circa 1970 ? If anyone could
provide any info
on who designed the logo and when, would be much appreciated!
(high resolution version available on request)