[Milsurplus] One Way to Keep Our Hobby Alive

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Dave,

I agree.  I joined the MVPA 13 years ago (when it was I think the MVCC) 
mainly for the radio connection.  Most of what I collect is ground and most of that 
vehicular or has a vehicular variant.  Back then, most vehicle owners who 
wanted a radio in their vehicle either didn't care if it worked or preferred nice 
looking empty cases as they were lighter.  Which, as an aside, is one reason 
why the CAF aircraft, generally speaking, have no original radios inside.  
More space and load capacity for carrying more paying customers.

However, in recent years that has begun to change with the vehicle people.  
And with the reenactors as well.  Everything that I sold at the Mullins MV open 
house over the weekend was sold as either working or Used-Repairable.  And 
intended to eventually be working.

As far as aircraft go (since this is also going to the ARC-5 list), outside 
of one Avenger owner, every contact or inquiry I've had from aircraft owners 
the past ten or so years has been L-bird related.  Which I think reflects the 
fact that the supply of available aircraft to restore pretty much dried up some 
years back.  But vehicles, and particularly armored vehicles from WW-II and 
Korea stayed in service far longer, and are still turning up around the world.

In a message dated 3/26/2006 8:16:29 PM Central Standard Time, 
arc5 at ix.netcom.com writes: 
> We Mil-Radio folks need to get serious about joining forces
> with the Mil-Vehicle people.  Ham Radio is going to fade 
> to a shadow in the next twenty years, but people working
> on tanks, jeeps and airplanes have "staying power."
> We need to hitch our team to their wagon;
> join their clubs, make displays for their shows,
> and contribute to their causes. 
> The old attitude among the Mil-vehicle guys 
> of "we don't want to get involved with that old radio junk" 
> is passing fast, because real working radio gear 
> is becoming a factor in prizes and awards for these people.
> The "Counterfeit Air Force" is going to learn that stripping out 
> the insides of a warbird and making it into nothing more 
> than a jumped-up Cessna isn't winning brownie points 
> with their community any more, and I say "amen" to that.
> I think we need to get into a "Mil-Vehicle" 
> frame of mind, if we want our hobby to retain 
> value and relevance twenty years from now.
> Your opinions?
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
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