The packed contest calendar has burst at the seams. In a week, perhaps the most discouraging week of our long connection with contest model flying we learn of cancellations and insecure rally arrangements. As we write, the Northern Gala (September 3rd) Northern Heights Gala (September 10th), Midland Gala (September 24th) and Southern Gala (October 15th) are written off.....The reasons are multiple. Ten airfields have been sought by one organiser without success. Another has had hopes dashed by announcement of a major military exercise in the area. It is not for the want of effort that such a collapse of the early autumn season should smite the rallyists so hard. The diminishing committees, reduced in most cases to the hardcore of devoted workers will find their unrewarded efforts the subject of inevitable criticism which they have long ago learned to shrug off as unqualified. Happily, two major rallies survive, those at Woodford on August 28th and Cranfield on September 17th. Let's hope the sun shines and the wind disappears for each of them !

Cover - Made for the forthcoming film of the "Battle of Britain" at Pinewood Studios by Dave Platt, this junkers ju 87 is to 116th scale, spans 94 inches and weighs 11 lbs. 14 ozs. A Super Tigre 71 is completely hidden within the cowling and the only component which reveals that this is a model is the relatively small propeller. For story on this and other "B of B" models, see July issue of Radio Control Models & Electronics.