This MasterClass session brings together two pillars of the RC aviation world: Lee Ray from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and Josh Orchard demonstrating his detailed engine jeweling process for the Minuette project. Packed with institutional knowledge, personal stories, and hands-on building techniques, this episode delivers both inspiration and practical value for beginners and veteran hobbyists alike.
A Conversation with AMA’s Lee Ray: Community, Safety & the Future of the Hobby
The first half of the episode features a warm, insightful discussion with Lee Ray, the AMA’s only remote employee, working from Houston while the AMA headquarters operate out of Muncie, Indiana. Lee shares his deep personal connection to the hobby—one that began at just five or six years old building airplanes with his father, an AMA member with a five-digit membership number.
Why the AMA Matters
Lee explains several key benefits that highlight why AMA membership remains essential:
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Advocacy & Protection – The AMA fights for hobbyist rights at the national and regulatory level, ensuring RC flying remains accessible (9:21–10:29).
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Chartered Clubs & Safe Flying Sites – The AMA helps maintain thousands of safe, sanctioned fields across the country.
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Insurance Coverage – Members receive liability insurance for sanctioned club events, protecting both pilots and organizations.
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Community & Camaraderie – Events like Nats and SEFF feel like reunions; members support each other like extended family (10:32–11:27).
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Training Programs – The Intro Pilot Program helps experienced pilots guide newcomers, including youth groups and Scouts (13:12–13:57).
Lee also introduces Grouper, a new benefit where some health insurance providers cover AMA membership fees for members 65 and older—encouraging seniors to stay active in a safe, social hobby (29:50–32:57). Viewers are encouraged to explore more at modelaircraft.org, including blogs, benefits, and flying site details.
Trivia fans enjoyed the question: How many different flying sites exist at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie? Including the float pond, the answer is nine.
Engine Jeweling with Josh Orchard: Minuette Craftsmanship Continues
The latter portion of the episode shifts to Josh, who shares progress on the Minuette build. With the fuselage completed and top/bottom servo covers installed, Josh demonstrates how he achieves beautiful engine jeweling—a polished, swirl-pattern finish often used on scale models to enhance visual realism.
This delicate process benefits from precise tools, clean surfaces, and dependable workshop hardware—areas where DU-BRO products shine.
DU-BRO Tools & Accessories Featured for Precision Building
Whether you're installing servos, routing wires, or mounting engines, these DU-BRO essentials support clean, professional results:
1. DU-BRO T-Pins
Perfect for securing parts while building fuselages, empennage, or wing ribs.
2. DU-BRO Long Sanding Bars
Ideal for smoothing engine mounts, preparing firewall surfaces, and truing balsa edges.
3. DU-BRO Adjustable Control Horns
A reliable solution when reinstalling or upgrading elevator and rudder linkages on the Minuette.
5. DU-BRO Ball Link
Ensures slop-free movement for precision-tuned control surfaces and refined mechanical setups.
A MasterClass Full of Knowledge & Craftsmanship
From Lee Ray’s passionate insights into the AMA’s mission to Josh’s meticulous jeweling demonstration, this MasterClass episode reinforces the best parts of the RC hobby—community, craftsmanship, and continuous learning. Whether you're joining a local club, refining a scale model engine, or upgrading linkages with DU-BRO hardware, this session offers something valuable for every builder.
