trolleyfan
92 posts
Feb 01, 2015
5:53 AM
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When I was a kid, 1950's thru the mid 60's, there was no such things as computers, video games, and all the other stuff available today made possible by digital technology. We played Cowboys and Indians with cap guns, and space cadets. I personally couldn't figure out if I was Superman or Davy Crockett. When we bought things outside our imagination to entertain us, almost every boy to some extent had model airplanes. On the lower end of the spectrum, Jim Walker (American Junior Aircraft) out of Portland Oregon, manufactured a line of under a dollar models. Almost every store you went into had a box of the #74 gliders you could purchase for 10 cents. Then you had the AJ Hornet that had a propeller, wheels and a rubber band motor for about 49 cents. If you caught a little wind, I've had those things go so far away I couldn't find them. There were others as well, and when you got to a certain age ,maybe 10 or 11, we would graduate into the control line motorized models that ran off of glow fuel. I hope you guys will take it from here and share your experiences with growing up with model aviation.
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JSJS
1 post
Feb 01, 2015
7:15 AM
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Planes were a big part of my childhood too, the balsa rubber-band flyers, U-control and .049 gas engines. Neighbor kids would get U-control plastic planes for Christmas/birthdays and we'd fly them at the local park. We'd hang ribbons from the tails and stand side-by-side, then chase each others' planes trying to cut the tails down. Dizzy fun! When they crashed we would just throw away the plastic, build a balsa kit and put the engines on the wood planes, and keep going.
I have a little boy now, 5yo, and we have an R/C electric "monster truck" and a couple of R/C helicopters. We'll get to the planes eventually, when he's a little older, but we'll keep it going. :)
There are local businesses that sell these today (please support them buy buying locally instead of online to save a buck!) such as Hobby Shop near the Dayton Mall. My son loves walking through there and playing with the slot cars they have set up.
Regarding computers/video games/TV - I am taking the advice from the Academy of Pediatricians and no TV until after age three (we limited to 15 minutes from 2-3 y.o.). It's all about balance. :)
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trolleyfan
94 posts
Feb 01, 2015
7:26 AM
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Good Point JSJS. I lived directly across the street from Oakview Elementary School on Ackerman Blvd. There was a yard out in front of the original Bus Barn (now gone). There was room to fly our 049 control line models. We would go down to Miller Sporting Goods in Town & Country Shopping Center and buy the Jim Walker Fire Babys. You could assemble them in about 15 minutes. We'd leave the wheels off and use the original Thimble Drome 049 Baby Bee Motors with Blue Blazer Fuel. We'd fly combat until we destroyed them. We'd then get on our bikes and make another trip to Millers ! LOL Those were the good ole days !
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newsnot
516 posts
Feb 01, 2015
8:21 AM
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JSJS
Welcome to Dayton History!
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trolleyfan
97 posts
Feb 01, 2015
5:32 PM
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I remember the caps we had came in rolls of maybe 50, and there were 5 rolls in a small box. They also had the ones that were a disc that had 6 shots on them. They worked better but it was a pain to change every 6 shots.
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trolleyfan
98 posts
Feb 02, 2015
4:58 AM
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Does anybody remember the City Park Dayton had on Cincinnati Street ? They actually had 2 concrete circles for the Control Line Airplanes. They also had a receptical to put a pole in the middle for speed racing of the airplanes. I remember once a month in the summer, they would have contests on Sunday afternoons. I was about 6 the first time my Mom & Dad drove me over there to watch. I thought there was nothing neater than that. They also had a field where a lot of guys would fly close to the entrance of Triangle Park,
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David C
4 posts
Feb 15, 2015
9:57 AM
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My first model I built was the X-15. I was 5 years old and build all by myself in our upstairs apartment on East 5th Street. That was 1958. I have since graduated to Estes Rocketry.
Off string...I remember having a Mattel six-shooter that used the Greenie Stick'em Caps and the plastic bullets actually ejected from the muzzle.
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joey m
332 posts
Feb 16, 2015
8:10 AM
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trolleyfan I lived on Cincinnati St. and that was only about 4 blocks from my house and I remember going there to watch them fly the model planes. But I thought I remember the park being on Nicholas Rd. which was right where Cincinnati St. dead ends.
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trolleyfan
109 posts
Feb 16, 2015
8:28 AM
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I think your right Joey. I remember it was at the end of the street and I think there was a trolley bus turn around. Is the park still there ? I forgot about the Greenie Stickum Caps David. I had them too. it was the last gun and supply of caps I had before I got a Daisy #25 Pump Action B.B. Gun.
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joey m
334 posts
Feb 17, 2015
12:12 PM
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trolleyfan That whole area has changed. Park has been gone for a while. If you didn't know Delco Moraine is log gone. UD has built ball fields there and they are adjacent to ud Areana.
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trolleyfan
111 posts
Feb 17, 2015
12:53 PM
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I come home to visit family every 2 or 3 years. The last few times almost had the feel of a new city. So many new things that have sprung up since I lived in Dayton give it a look I'm not familiar with. I'm sure it's good for the city, but for nostalgia, give me 60's Dayton. !
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newsnot
533 posts
Feb 17, 2015
1:43 PM
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Trolleyfan,
Dayton has lagged behind in recent years but is coming back to life big time. Cincinnati is booming and it is overflowing into Dayton. We still have all those neat neighborhoods that were here when you lived here.
Last Edited by newsnot on Feb 17, 2015 1:43 PM
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trolleyfan
113 posts
Feb 18, 2015
4:23 AM
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I lived on three different streets during my years in Dayton. Born on Colwick Drive in Belmont, moved to Ackerman Blvd across from Oakview Elementary School when I was five, and then moved to Beavercreek on Tralee Trail in Woodhaven Subdivision when I was twelve. When we come home I always drive by the old houses, and your right newsnot. They haven't changed that much, other than the house on Colwick. Most of the exterior wood is gone and replaced with siding and the trees are gone. It's funny. I'm 69 years old and when I left Dayton I was 19. I have been in the Metro Atlanta area since 1970, yet I never took Georgia in my heart as home, nor do I want it to be home. That place is left for Dayton.
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