Hangar Talk – May 2022

This month is mostly dedicated to a long time member of the club, Tim Sydes. The publication was delayed due to clarification on the content. Most of you would know Tim has battled ill health for some time and he and his wife Rosie have decided it is time to leave their home and lifelong memories and move into a residential care facility at Cosgrove Park, that will be better able to care for Tim’s needs. What a lot of you may not know is Tim’s history in model aviation.

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TIM SYDES – MASTER MODELLER AND AIRCRAFT AUTHORITY

Tim Sydes now in his mid 70’s has been associated with model aircraft for almost 70 years.
Tim sadly lost his father and a brother in a car accident when he was 5 years old. His father was a radio engineer instrumental in the building and operations of 7LA with the family living at the top of Peel St. Launceston where the radio and equipment was located.
Tim’s mother bought Tim a small model aeroplane kit to amuse himself with and a lifetime hobby and interest in aircraft commenced.
As many would know Tim is an authority on many aircraft and he is widely read on so many aspects especially aircraft associated with military encounters.
Tim’s expertise in construction and at times designing has mostly been kept hidden as he is such a modest person spending countless skilful hours in his ‘model man cave.’ His caricature sculptured representations of helmeted and goggled men in their flying machine are something to behold.
He has encouraged many to participate in the hobby. Tim yearned to fly and achieved his private pilot’s license and enjoyed what time he could afford to participate. He was such a perfectionist no aircraft was better inspected before it ventured over the skies of Western Junction.
Tim did much of his model flying off the Nile Road, sometimes losing aircraft (free flight) or malfunction. He once engaged a mate to shoot through a branch of a lone tree in the paddock and unceremoniously delivered the model to terra firma!
Tim in recent years has suffered the effects of Parkinson’s but continues to construct small models from the relevant comfort of his electric armchair. His collection should appeal to those who value and respect the club’s history and would form part of a fellow modeller’s collection/display.
For those who visit and engage with Tim now he and wife Ros are moving to a unit will find it worthwhile to receive the knowledge and experience of this remarkable aircraft modeller.

(As written by lifetime friend Graeme Neilsen)

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Thank you to Graeme for putting together a brief snapshot of Tim’s involvement in model aircraft. Many of you may not know that Tim is registered by the MAAA as a “FAI Observer”. I have often wondered what that role entailed. Having now researched it, it is clear why Tim, with his vast knowledge of aircraft, was appointed to this role. Here are the requirements of that role (as listed in the MAAA MOP029) –

5. QUALIFICATIONS
   5.1 The applicant must have a variety of skills to enable them to successfully carry out the duties of an FAI Observer. These shall include but not limited to;
   (i) Integrity.
   (ii) Have a demonstrated long-term commitment to the sport of model
   aviation of a minimum of 5 years membership.
   (iii) Experience as a competitor or organizer of contests.
   (iv) Capable of reading plans, maps, understanding specifications and rules
   books and able to perform accurate measurements.
   (v) Ability to perform and make decisions under pressure.
   (vi) Attention to detail.
   (vii) Availability to carry out duties.

It is another reflection of Tim’s vast knowledge and capability, that he was appointed to that role.

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As a result of Tim and Rosie’s move from their home to care, Tim is selling off his collection of aircraft and engines (mostly diesel). Tim and his family will retain a couple of models as a memory of Tim’s vast collection. A date will be set in the near future for people to view and purchase anything that takes their interest. I’ll advise members as soon as I know.

TIMS-PLANE-COLLECTION

Tim’s Aircraft Collection

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Engines

Engine comment….

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I have to thank Tim for getting me back into the hobby. I first met Tim when he worked at Blue Ribbon Meat Products. Tim would come to my office every day to deliver updated stock reports from the chillers. One Friday I asked him what he was doing for the weekend, he mentioned he was involved in a model aero club and they had a display on at Evandale. I then told him I used to fly RC and he invited me to come along to the display and bring along a model I was building (A Corsair F4U) to put into the display. The rest as they say is history.

I am sure everyone will join me and wish Tim and Rosie all the best for their relocation. I’ll let everyone know when a date has been set for people to view the models.

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Don’t Forget – Put a Spark in your life and fly electric!
George