Frank Zaic is a legend. He devoted his lifetime to designing, building and flying model airplanes. Zaic was a prolific writer authoring papers, articles and his famous "Model Aeronautic Year Books", which are still treasured to this day. He had a design "eye" that was both functional and artistic - dare I say almost spiritual? There is something magical 60 years later to building his kits or just perusing one of his yearbooks. One is transported back to a golden age when there was a purity and a functionality to design rarely produced today due to commercial or technological influences. You can almost hear Frank's voice in his plans, models and his writings. Although I never met him, having built 4 of his designs, reviewed all of his yearbooks and studied most of his plans - I feel like I know Frank - like the way you know Jack Aubrey after reading Patrick O'Brian. Over the past year I've had the chance to talk to several of Frank's associates and acquaintances.
Richard Smith is one of Frank's associates having worked for JASCO and contributed to his yearbooks. Below is an interview I conducted with Richard about his experiences working for JASCO and more specifically his relationship with Frank Zaic. Richard's account provides a fascinating look into Frank Zaic and the evolution of JASCO from a labor of love for Frank to a profitable enterprise run by his sister Christine. As Richard readily admits - these are his recollections - he doesn't claim to be the authoritative source on Frank Zaic. Just one mans account of what it was like to be around Frank back in the day...
Part 1 - Who is Richard Smith and what was his relationship with Frank Zaic and Jasco?
I became interested in model planes around 1939/40 and my first successful model was a Thermic-20.
I am 76 years old a graduate of Parks College (St. Louis University) I have BS in metrology, for my thesis project I built a Custom Privateer with an atmospheric pressure switch (scavenged from a (Radio-Sonde transmitter) connected via an escapement to the throttle of a Fox-59. The airplane would fly around at a fixed pressure height while transmitting temperature data to the ground. We never extracted meaningful data but the concept worked. For it's time this was a very novel project and I was awarded an "A" for my paper.
I went to New York's Stuyvesant High School which was 2 blocks away from JASCO. At that time (1949) Frank would be there only occasionally. I really don't know how he was earning a living but he was not on the JASCO payroll. I can only conclude that he was working somewhere as a draftsman. The company was run by his sister Christine and brother John. They were aided (occasionally) by another brother- Albion and Thurston a Swedish carpenter a family retainer who did all the wood cutting. Strange as it might seen the wood cutting took place on the top floor of their building. That's because the balsa planks were so light that is was easy to transport them upstairs
The company occupied a 3 story brownstone on 16th street near 3rd avenue. Kits were boxed in a store front one block north on 3rd Avenue.
The business office and retail operation were on the second floor. There were a couple of desks, a glass counter where JASCO's array of odd ball hardware and finishing supplies were displayed and a large rack where pre cut balsa was stored. Franks prototypes were hung from the ceiling although a few were displayed in a small street level window. No one seemed concerned about the effect of sunlight on these paper covered, decade old models.
I first met Frank visiting in the business/sales office one afternoon... nothing formal we just got to talking. His manner, presentation and appearance could could be described as neutral. Very much the philosopher his books reveal him to be. He came across as very unworldly individual.
By the time I was a sophomore I was pretty well known to Christine who ran the office. We got on well and she offered me a job (after school) in the kitting operation.
It was there that I met Frank Ehling and a sidekick Kaye Faggs an expatriate of Bernie Winston's AHC (Americas Hobby Center.) Bernie, his brother and later his son Marshall were running the cities biggest model hobby operation (wholesale/retail) from a small commercial building in Manhattans Chelsea area. Bernie at this time was pushing his infamous line of Thor slag glow engines. Bernie also a lover of nostalgia was collecting every book on model aircraft he could find and loved to show them to me. We got on famously! What AHC was and what it came to be is another story though.
It goes without saying that my employment in the kit operation was my first introduction to the insiders world of JASCO and Frank Zaic.
I worked for JASCO for 3 years. I probably saw Frank no more then 6 times during this time. The last time I saw him he gave me the prototype kit for the G-84.
I enlisted in the Air force in 1952. It was during this time that Frank got married and moved to the west coast. Frank never wrote or discussed what prompted this. Therefore I have no idea of what considerations led to this action
I exchanged occasional letters with him after I got out of the Air force (1956) and was at Parks college. .
I discussed my thesis with him at the Nats in Chicago (1959?)
When he published the yearbook covering this period he sent me free copy. It included only a brief description of my thesis project. Although his original intention has been to publish my paper in its entirety. Later, Frank concluded (rightly) that it had little to do with advancing model aeronautics and relegated it to footnote.
Please keep in mind that what I will describe is based upon my conclusions not hard facts. What I will relate is in the main based upon my casual conversations with Christine, John Zaic and Ehling. However Frank's writings in his yearbooks and other published material clearly validate (in my opinion) what I am writing here. My primary written source (properly) is from the year books and what general knowledge I have of the Great Depression. Franks descriptions of his early years in the US and expressing his fascination with non manned slow speed aerodynamics are just as riveting as they were 80 years ago.
Isn't surprising the Franks legacy today are his kit designs? Creations he viewed with some distaste.
Next: Part 2 - The Pre War Years - Frank learns his craft working in a patent office, puts together his first book, designs the Thermics.
PURCHASING FRANK ZAIC'S YEARBOOKS
The good folks at Hannan's Runway still have a nice supply of most of Zaic's books and publications. I bought mine from them and they were quite delightful to deal with. The Hannan's are still good friends with Frank's widow Carmine. Click the link to visit their web site.
PURCHASING KITS
We currently sell the "18", "20", "B", "50", "50X" and the "70". Each kit has a build log online so you see how other modelers approached building the kits. I have built the "18", "20", "B", and the "50" and they truly are a magical experience as the design comes to life. Click here for more information on the "50", "50X" and the "70". Click here for more information on the "18", "20", and "B".
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