Well, mine is perhaps not the BEST story however it is an interesting journey I've had. Several years ago I stumbled across the application page on Hobby King's website and thought, "why not." I put together a letter outlining how upon observation Hobby King's focus is on makers and how their site, with all of its parts and bit and bobs, it very much maker-focused and NOT strictly geared toward the pilot. I then outlined how those who build are never focused upon but rather the skill set a pilot would have to showcase what a particular item had capability of. I could focus on the capability of MULTIPLE items and use my skill set to show how others could use the same items and develop the same skills. I also outlined my community outreach efforts I had done, including teaching master classes at Flite Fest one year, as well as public projects outlined online and through my YT channel.
In response to this letter, I was greeted with a contact there who asked, how he could help. He suggested that I outline a particular project and list parts needed and what sort of timeline I'd be dealing with. This is where the conception of the Bugatti project came from.
Down the line a friend recommended me to Grayson Hobby to create a build video for the Dynam B-26. This created a good collaboration where I then decided to make my Corsair. They were kind enough to sponsor the motor and ESC for the build. That build was so much fun. It was an exercise in excess. I wanted to fit as many gimmicks as possible into one project. I stopped just short of making folding wings. With that project in tow, I attended Flite Fest 2018 which was also the same time Horizon Hobby acquired Tower Hobbies. As I was walking the airplane back from the flight line, I hollered at them to continue the Top Flite line, as I was currently hauling back the Top Flite Corsair. They gestured me to come on over to see what I had. They immediately had dropped jaws. One of them, who was the PR guy, said in all the years he had been in the industry he had never seen a model of this size with so much detail. I was flattered, we filmed a segment for their stuff, and then the business card came out. THEY then offered to have me chose a model in their Hangar 9 lineup to build "something special." I settled on the P-47 as I knew
@wilmracer had one at it flew very well and that is how the collaboration with Horizon worked out.
As some of you know, the Jug was a real hit last summer. Even still, at the swap meet I attended recently, I had YT subscribers tell me how much they appreciated the tutorial on the aluminum finish. My philosophy has never changed. I still post everything I can to help other folks out. I truly believe that the skills to make something exceptional can be learned by anyone. I'm just a guy who loves to build and I'm never afraid to try something new.
With all of the craziness in my recent times, I had not considered a sponsored build, tough I had considered a F-82 out of TWO Hangar 9 Mustangs. I'm just now, of all times, developing something in the works that I think will appeal to MANY modelers out there. Not letting the cat out just yet but I think it will be a fantastic way to SHARE a LOT of great information. If you followed along with the Bugatti and Jug builds, you know I'm not afraid to show me learning along the way, including making mistakes. This project will be no exception. The best part? It is a charity project.
Do what you love, but do it for those whom you love. I think these companies see that more than anything else. You can see this pattern in
@Mid7night and his work too.