Mr. Mehelli B. Dinshaw

Tell us about yourself in general outside of the hobby ?

Mr. Dinshaw: I was born in Karachi in April 1942, and can still remember the turbulent days of 1947.  I studied in the Karachi Grammar School and passed my Senior Cambridge Exam in 1957, after which I did Inter Science in the D.J. Science College.  I then studied Flour Milling Technology through City & Guilds London, while simultaneously working in Karachi’s largest flour mill, the Karachi Steam Roller Flour Mills, starting as an apprentice working shifts and later as assistant manager.  

What made you come into this hobby and when did you start?

Mr. Dinshaw: It was around 1955 when I was in class 8 in the Karachi Grammar School that I started making simple balsa and tissue covered models from Keil Kraft and Veron kits at the age of about 12 /13 years old.  Our handicraft teacher encouraged us but except for myself and Johnny Sadiq (well known PIA commander) no one else got into it.  I can remember making the Keil Kraft “Eaglet”, a 24 inch span rubber powered free flight model.  We used to display our models in the annual school art exhibition.  Together with planes I also made model ships and remember making a 30 inch long Clipper sailing ship the “Cutty Sark” from scratch complete with standing and running rigging, which got me first prize in the school exhibition. 

 Was there an organized club at the time?

Mr. Dinshaw: There was no club at that time but there were a few young and old from our Parsi community who regularly got together in the house of Rusi Mobed, the real father of aeromodelling in Karachi, and we regularly went flying at the Polo ground or at the Clifton Crossing area.  Mr. Mobed worked with BOAC that time, and we even went with British pilots and officers to the PAF airfield.  Habib M. Habib used to also join in.

  What category of aeromodelling existed at the time and what was your favourite?

Mr. Dinshaw: Free flight predominated, with diesel engines and Jetex motors.  Radio Control was in its infancy that time with single channel sets and escapements working rudder only.  By the time I was in college I had made quite a few planes, free flight powered, gliders, control line and rubber powered.  All were from English kits which were easily available from Karachi’s one and only famous model shop called “Skylines” run by Mr. Khandwalla.  He stocked everything from balsa, model kits, engines, Jetex motors and accessories.  Not having a lot of money those days free flight, Jetex and control line were my favourites.

 Was there an inter club competition?

Mr. Dinshaw: As I said there were no clubs but we Parsi aeromodellers just got together regularly to fly.  That was the time when our famous Habib M. Habib used to join in and being Gujrati speaking like us Parsis we all mixed very well.