A neat technique for modeling cable covers
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Also included in this column:
• USA FAI Scale Championships
• AMA Sport Scale rules vs. the
FAI Sporting Code
• Sopwith Triplane
documentation
• Albatros Productions’ World
War I books
A full-scale Piper Super Cub aileron cable cover. The cable cover for Larry Folk’s 1/3-scale Super Cub.
Page 1 of Pete McDermott’s Sopwith Triplane documentation. Page 2 includes scale drawings and Triplane photos.
correct. He found a plastic Easter-egg half
that would work if it were ground down.
Then he used a sheet of thin plastic glued
onto the base of the half egg to form the
flange around the base of the component.
The parts look realistic. I’ve included a
photo of the full-scale components and the
modeled version.
Fly-ins are some Scale modelers’ thing,
and others love the thrill of competition. A
new contest—the USA FAI Scale
Championships—will be held September
20-23, 2007, and will be hosted by the
National Association of Scale
Aeromodelers at AMA’s International
Flying Site.
A generous donation has been made to
AMA for FAI Scale, and the purse for this
event, featuring only two classes, is
the cable covers on the Top Cub. The
regular-size spoons and small sample
spoons were too little, and the shape wasn’t
ONE OF THE great things you can learn
by going to contests or fly-ins is how to do
things for your current or next Scale
project. I have mentioned using plastic
spoons for the fairings that cover the
aileron cables on models such as the Piper
Super Cub or other light aircraft. One
builder said he used sample spoons from
the local Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop to
make his fairings.
A modeler who has been working on a
somewhat larger scale is Larry Folk. He
built a 1/3-scale Balsa USA Piper Super Cub
that spans 141 inches and weighs 35
pounds. He actually built a “Top Cub,”
which is a kit company for full-scale Cubtype
aircraft. His documentation came from
a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and from the
company that produces the kit now.
Larry searched for something to use for
September 2006 135
09sig5.QXD 7/26/06 8:50 AM Page 135$10,000. The F4 Scale Sporting Code rules
for FAI F4C (RC Scale) and F4B (CL
Scale) can be found on NASA’s Web site
at www.nasascale.org. Follow the links to
the FAI’s Web site and the downloads.
What’s the difference between the AMA
Sport Scale rules and the FAI Sporting
Code, you might ask? There are several
differences—especially in the static arena.
AMA’s rules and regulations for Scale
competition require a smaller amount of
documentation for static judging.
Page 163 of AMA’s rule book under “6.
Proof of Scale” reads that this is the
responsibility of the contestant. Section 6.2
specifies “Either: a. A three-view drawing
(line, tone or color). Drawings with more
than three (3) views are acceptable.”
These drawings must be from a reliable
source such as the aircraft manufacturer,
model or aviation magazines, books, etc.
Commercially available three-view
drawings are acceptable. Plans of nonflying
solid or replica models, from either a kit or
magazine, are acceptable.
Also acceptable are homemade or
unpublished drawings, corrected threeviews,
or drawings approved in advance by
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf or a
Scale Contest Board member, the
manufacturer or builder, or other competent
authority.
Sometimes we find three-view scale
drawings by the kit manufacturer here in
the US. You might get away with using
this; in some forms of competition it’s
okay. In other competition, including FAI
Scale, using a three-view drawn by a
model company will get you zero points
in static judging for outline. Some model
companies might bend the outline to
more correctly match their model than
the full-scale aircraft.
AMA Sport Scale rules under section 6.3.
read:
“To be eligible for Finish, Color, and
Markings points, some proof of the color
scheme used on the model is required. This
can be: Either: a. Photo or photos. Or: b.
Some other pictorial representation, such as a
magazine or other published color painting
or drawing. Or: c. A detailed written
description of the color scheme and/or
markings from a reliable source. Or: d. Notes
and diagrams of markings on black-andwhite
three-view ... ”
This is one area that differs vastly
between AMA and FAI Scale requirements.
To be able to compete in any FAI Scale
contest, you have to meet the minimum of
one photo of the complete aircraft. The
picture has to show the entire aircraft you
intend to model, from front to tail feathers.
There should also be at least two other
photos, preferably from different aspects if
available, of the aircraft you model or the
same prototype aircraft with different
markings.
Let’s say you intend to model the P-51B
Mustang “Miss Elizabeth” and you can find
only one side photo showing the entire
aircraft. No others exist. To this one photo
you need to add two other photos of P-51B
aircraft. Not partial shots or nose shots, but
of the entire airplane.
It states in the FAI Sporting Code on page
9 under section 6.1.9.4. a) that “The
photographic evidence is the prime means of
judging scale accuracy against the
prototype.”
It has been said in Scale circles that the
preceding requirements limit Scale
modelers’ choices. That could be one way to
put it, I agree. On the flip side, it also means
that the competitor will have to document the
full-scale aircraft to a higher degree of
accuracy to score well in static judging.
I can’t tell you the number of modelers
I’ve seen who have models built with a color
side view as their only documentation for a
photo. Watching the competition, these
09sig5.QXD 7/26/06 8:52 AM Page 136usually finish somewhere in the middle to
low end of the pack.
In the scenario I have described, these
are the minimums to be able to compete.
This in no way means this is what you need
to win the competition.
The photos I’ve included this month show
Pete McDermott’s Sopwith Triplane
documentation. There are several pages.
Page 1 states that the scale is 1:4, shows the
side of the three-view, and includes leftand
right-side photos of the aircraft he
modeled and other Triplanes of the same
prototype.
In the upper right corner of the page
Pete points out with red markers the
differences between his airplane and the
others. In the upper left corner is his
“Builder’s Declaration,” listing the parts he
didn’t make himself.
Page 2 features the scale drawing of the
end and plan views and a photo of the end
and plan view of the aircraft. In the upper
right corner Pete wrote “Do not use to
judge markings.” This view was for the
plan view only. Again he added red arrows
showing differences between his aircraft.
Page 3 is fairly complex for color-andmarkings.
Pete included a color chip from
the Royal Air Force Museum to prove that
his coloring is correct. He states that there
are eight main colors for the Triplane. He
also shows the color of the bottom of the
wing and the roundels.
Page 4 is for scale details. It features
photos of the aileron control pulley, wing
texture and rib stitching, fuselage panel
stitching, tail-skid linkage, cowling, pitot
head, tail-surface details, midwing rigging
wires, and wing-strut attachment details.
Page 5 continues with detail shots. Most
FAI Scale competitors make all the detail
parts or as many as they can for
craftsmanship points.
The photos make a good tutorial on FAI
documentation. It’s often been said that in
FAI Scale you can win only with a biplane,
which isn’t true. But just as we like World
War II subjects on this side of the Atlantic,
many of the Europeans like the World War
I aircraft out there too. I would like to hear
your thoughts and ideas about this type of
competition.
Bookshelf: Since I’ve shown a World War
I airplane this month, let’s look at a great
series of books for the World War I buff.
These are not cheap! The cost in the US is
roughly $33.50 each. This series is about
the Fokker D.VII, published by Albatros
Productions Ltd. The best way to get in
touch with the company is via the Internet.
The booklet I’ll look at this month is the
first in a series of three about the Fokker
D.VII. The group is called the “Fokker
D.VII Anthology.”
These books do not include images of
replicas or 2/3-scale aircraft; all photos are
from World War I. These volumes
represent some of the best D.VII Scale
documentation I’ve seen. The first in the
series is a 65-page softbound booklet
including 120 black-and-white photos,
numerous scale drawings, cockpit details,
color drawings, and much more.
I purchased the set, and even at the price
I quoted I consider these to be some of the
best documentation booklets I’ve ever run
across.
For a complete title listing, contact
Albatros Productions Ltd., 10 Long View,
Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1BY England;
Tel.: 01442-875838; Fax: 01442-876018;
Web site: www.windsockdatafilespecials.
com.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/09
Page Numbers: 135,136,137
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/09
Page Numbers: 135,136,137
A neat technique for modeling cable covers
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Also included in this column:
• USA FAI Scale Championships
• AMA Sport Scale rules vs. the
FAI Sporting Code
• Sopwith Triplane
documentation
• Albatros Productions’ World
War I books
A full-scale Piper Super Cub aileron cable cover. The cable cover for Larry Folk’s 1/3-scale Super Cub.
Page 1 of Pete McDermott’s Sopwith Triplane documentation. Page 2 includes scale drawings and Triplane photos.
correct. He found a plastic Easter-egg half
that would work if it were ground down.
Then he used a sheet of thin plastic glued
onto the base of the half egg to form the
flange around the base of the component.
The parts look realistic. I’ve included a
photo of the full-scale components and the
modeled version.
Fly-ins are some Scale modelers’ thing,
and others love the thrill of competition. A
new contest—the USA FAI Scale
Championships—will be held September
20-23, 2007, and will be hosted by the
National Association of Scale
Aeromodelers at AMA’s International
Flying Site.
A generous donation has been made to
AMA for FAI Scale, and the purse for this
event, featuring only two classes, is
the cable covers on the Top Cub. The
regular-size spoons and small sample
spoons were too little, and the shape wasn’t
ONE OF THE great things you can learn
by going to contests or fly-ins is how to do
things for your current or next Scale
project. I have mentioned using plastic
spoons for the fairings that cover the
aileron cables on models such as the Piper
Super Cub or other light aircraft. One
builder said he used sample spoons from
the local Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop to
make his fairings.
A modeler who has been working on a
somewhat larger scale is Larry Folk. He
built a 1/3-scale Balsa USA Piper Super Cub
that spans 141 inches and weighs 35
pounds. He actually built a “Top Cub,”
which is a kit company for full-scale Cubtype
aircraft. His documentation came from
a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and from the
company that produces the kit now.
Larry searched for something to use for
September 2006 135
09sig5.QXD 7/26/06 8:50 AM Page 135$10,000. The F4 Scale Sporting Code rules
for FAI F4C (RC Scale) and F4B (CL
Scale) can be found on NASA’s Web site
at www.nasascale.org. Follow the links to
the FAI’s Web site and the downloads.
What’s the difference between the AMA
Sport Scale rules and the FAI Sporting
Code, you might ask? There are several
differences—especially in the static arena.
AMA’s rules and regulations for Scale
competition require a smaller amount of
documentation for static judging.
Page 163 of AMA’s rule book under “6.
Proof of Scale” reads that this is the
responsibility of the contestant. Section 6.2
specifies “Either: a. A three-view drawing
(line, tone or color). Drawings with more
than three (3) views are acceptable.”
These drawings must be from a reliable
source such as the aircraft manufacturer,
model or aviation magazines, books, etc.
Commercially available three-view
drawings are acceptable. Plans of nonflying
solid or replica models, from either a kit or
magazine, are acceptable.
Also acceptable are homemade or
unpublished drawings, corrected threeviews,
or drawings approved in advance by
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf or a
Scale Contest Board member, the
manufacturer or builder, or other competent
authority.
Sometimes we find three-view scale
drawings by the kit manufacturer here in
the US. You might get away with using
this; in some forms of competition it’s
okay. In other competition, including FAI
Scale, using a three-view drawn by a
model company will get you zero points
in static judging for outline. Some model
companies might bend the outline to
more correctly match their model than
the full-scale aircraft.
AMA Sport Scale rules under section 6.3.
read:
“To be eligible for Finish, Color, and
Markings points, some proof of the color
scheme used on the model is required. This
can be: Either: a. Photo or photos. Or: b.
Some other pictorial representation, such as a
magazine or other published color painting
or drawing. Or: c. A detailed written
description of the color scheme and/or
markings from a reliable source. Or: d. Notes
and diagrams of markings on black-andwhite
three-view ... ”
This is one area that differs vastly
between AMA and FAI Scale requirements.
To be able to compete in any FAI Scale
contest, you have to meet the minimum of
one photo of the complete aircraft. The
picture has to show the entire aircraft you
intend to model, from front to tail feathers.
There should also be at least two other
photos, preferably from different aspects if
available, of the aircraft you model or the
same prototype aircraft with different
markings.
Let’s say you intend to model the P-51B
Mustang “Miss Elizabeth” and you can find
only one side photo showing the entire
aircraft. No others exist. To this one photo
you need to add two other photos of P-51B
aircraft. Not partial shots or nose shots, but
of the entire airplane.
It states in the FAI Sporting Code on page
9 under section 6.1.9.4. a) that “The
photographic evidence is the prime means of
judging scale accuracy against the
prototype.”
It has been said in Scale circles that the
preceding requirements limit Scale
modelers’ choices. That could be one way to
put it, I agree. On the flip side, it also means
that the competitor will have to document the
full-scale aircraft to a higher degree of
accuracy to score well in static judging.
I can’t tell you the number of modelers
I’ve seen who have models built with a color
side view as their only documentation for a
photo. Watching the competition, these
09sig5.QXD 7/26/06 8:52 AM Page 136usually finish somewhere in the middle to
low end of the pack.
In the scenario I have described, these
are the minimums to be able to compete.
This in no way means this is what you need
to win the competition.
The photos I’ve included this month show
Pete McDermott’s Sopwith Triplane
documentation. There are several pages.
Page 1 states that the scale is 1:4, shows the
side of the three-view, and includes leftand
right-side photos of the aircraft he
modeled and other Triplanes of the same
prototype.
In the upper right corner of the page
Pete points out with red markers the
differences between his airplane and the
others. In the upper left corner is his
“Builder’s Declaration,” listing the parts he
didn’t make himself.
Page 2 features the scale drawing of the
end and plan views and a photo of the end
and plan view of the aircraft. In the upper
right corner Pete wrote “Do not use to
judge markings.” This view was for the
plan view only. Again he added red arrows
showing differences between his aircraft.
Page 3 is fairly complex for color-andmarkings.
Pete included a color chip from
the Royal Air Force Museum to prove that
his coloring is correct. He states that there
are eight main colors for the Triplane. He
also shows the color of the bottom of the
wing and the roundels.
Page 4 is for scale details. It features
photos of the aileron control pulley, wing
texture and rib stitching, fuselage panel
stitching, tail-skid linkage, cowling, pitot
head, tail-surface details, midwing rigging
wires, and wing-strut attachment details.
Page 5 continues with detail shots. Most
FAI Scale competitors make all the detail
parts or as many as they can for
craftsmanship points.
The photos make a good tutorial on FAI
documentation. It’s often been said that in
FAI Scale you can win only with a biplane,
which isn’t true. But just as we like World
War II subjects on this side of the Atlantic,
many of the Europeans like the World War
I aircraft out there too. I would like to hear
your thoughts and ideas about this type of
competition.
Bookshelf: Since I’ve shown a World War
I airplane this month, let’s look at a great
series of books for the World War I buff.
These are not cheap! The cost in the US is
roughly $33.50 each. This series is about
the Fokker D.VII, published by Albatros
Productions Ltd. The best way to get in
touch with the company is via the Internet.
The booklet I’ll look at this month is the
first in a series of three about the Fokker
D.VII. The group is called the “Fokker
D.VII Anthology.”
These books do not include images of
replicas or 2/3-scale aircraft; all photos are
from World War I. These volumes
represent some of the best D.VII Scale
documentation I’ve seen. The first in the
series is a 65-page softbound booklet
including 120 black-and-white photos,
numerous scale drawings, cockpit details,
color drawings, and much more.
I purchased the set, and even at the price
I quoted I consider these to be some of the
best documentation booklets I’ve ever run
across.
For a complete title listing, contact
Albatros Productions Ltd., 10 Long View,
Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1BY England;
Tel.: 01442-875838; Fax: 01442-876018;
Web site: www.windsockdatafilespecials.
com.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/09
Page Numbers: 135,136,137
A neat technique for modeling cable covers
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Also included in this column:
• USA FAI Scale Championships
• AMA Sport Scale rules vs. the
FAI Sporting Code
• Sopwith Triplane
documentation
• Albatros Productions’ World
War I books
A full-scale Piper Super Cub aileron cable cover. The cable cover for Larry Folk’s 1/3-scale Super Cub.
Page 1 of Pete McDermott’s Sopwith Triplane documentation. Page 2 includes scale drawings and Triplane photos.
correct. He found a plastic Easter-egg half
that would work if it were ground down.
Then he used a sheet of thin plastic glued
onto the base of the half egg to form the
flange around the base of the component.
The parts look realistic. I’ve included a
photo of the full-scale components and the
modeled version.
Fly-ins are some Scale modelers’ thing,
and others love the thrill of competition. A
new contest—the USA FAI Scale
Championships—will be held September
20-23, 2007, and will be hosted by the
National Association of Scale
Aeromodelers at AMA’s International
Flying Site.
A generous donation has been made to
AMA for FAI Scale, and the purse for this
event, featuring only two classes, is
the cable covers on the Top Cub. The
regular-size spoons and small sample
spoons were too little, and the shape wasn’t
ONE OF THE great things you can learn
by going to contests or fly-ins is how to do
things for your current or next Scale
project. I have mentioned using plastic
spoons for the fairings that cover the
aileron cables on models such as the Piper
Super Cub or other light aircraft. One
builder said he used sample spoons from
the local Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop to
make his fairings.
A modeler who has been working on a
somewhat larger scale is Larry Folk. He
built a 1/3-scale Balsa USA Piper Super Cub
that spans 141 inches and weighs 35
pounds. He actually built a “Top Cub,”
which is a kit company for full-scale Cubtype
aircraft. His documentation came from
a trip to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and from the
company that produces the kit now.
Larry searched for something to use for
September 2006 135
09sig5.QXD 7/26/06 8:50 AM Page 135$10,000. The F4 Scale Sporting Code rules
for FAI F4C (RC Scale) and F4B (CL
Scale) can be found on NASA’s Web site
at www.nasascale.org. Follow the links to
the FAI’s Web site and the downloads.
What’s the difference between the AMA
Sport Scale rules and the FAI Sporting
Code, you might ask? There are several
differences—especially in the static arena.
AMA’s rules and regulations for Scale
competition require a smaller amount of
documentation for static judging.
Page 163 of AMA’s rule book under “6.
Proof of Scale” reads that this is the
responsibility of the contestant. Section 6.2
specifies “Either: a. A three-view drawing
(line, tone or color). Drawings with more
than three (3) views are acceptable.”
These drawings must be from a reliable
source such as the aircraft manufacturer,
model or aviation magazines, books, etc.
Commercially available three-view
drawings are acceptable. Plans of nonflying
solid or replica models, from either a kit or
magazine, are acceptable.
Also acceptable are homemade or
unpublished drawings, corrected threeviews,
or drawings approved in advance by
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf or a
Scale Contest Board member, the
manufacturer or builder, or other competent
authority.
Sometimes we find three-view scale
drawings by the kit manufacturer here in
the US. You might get away with using
this; in some forms of competition it’s
okay. In other competition, including FAI
Scale, using a three-view drawn by a
model company will get you zero points
in static judging for outline. Some model
companies might bend the outline to
more correctly match their model than
the full-scale aircraft.
AMA Sport Scale rules under section 6.3.
read:
“To be eligible for Finish, Color, and
Markings points, some proof of the color
scheme used on the model is required. This
can be: Either: a. Photo or photos. Or: b.
Some other pictorial representation, such as a
magazine or other published color painting
or drawing. Or: c. A detailed written
description of the color scheme and/or
markings from a reliable source. Or: d. Notes
and diagrams of markings on black-andwhite
three-view ... ”
This is one area that differs vastly
between AMA and FAI Scale requirements.
To be able to compete in any FAI Scale
contest, you have to meet the minimum of
one photo of the complete aircraft. The
picture has to show the entire aircraft you
intend to model, from front to tail feathers.
There should also be at least two other
photos, preferably from different aspects if
available, of the aircraft you model or the
same prototype aircraft with different
markings.
Let’s say you intend to model the P-51B
Mustang “Miss Elizabeth” and you can find
only one side photo showing the entire
aircraft. No others exist. To this one photo
you need to add two other photos of P-51B
aircraft. Not partial shots or nose shots, but
of the entire airplane.
It states in the FAI Sporting Code on page
9 under section 6.1.9.4. a) that “The
photographic evidence is the prime means of
judging scale accuracy against the
prototype.”
It has been said in Scale circles that the
preceding requirements limit Scale
modelers’ choices. That could be one way to
put it, I agree. On the flip side, it also means
that the competitor will have to document the
full-scale aircraft to a higher degree of
accuracy to score well in static judging.
I can’t tell you the number of modelers
I’ve seen who have models built with a color
side view as their only documentation for a
photo. Watching the competition, these
09sig5.QXD 7/26/06 8:52 AM Page 136usually finish somewhere in the middle to
low end of the pack.
In the scenario I have described, these
are the minimums to be able to compete.
This in no way means this is what you need
to win the competition.
The photos I’ve included this month show
Pete McDermott’s Sopwith Triplane
documentation. There are several pages.
Page 1 states that the scale is 1:4, shows the
side of the three-view, and includes leftand
right-side photos of the aircraft he
modeled and other Triplanes of the same
prototype.
In the upper right corner of the page
Pete points out with red markers the
differences between his airplane and the
others. In the upper left corner is his
“Builder’s Declaration,” listing the parts he
didn’t make himself.
Page 2 features the scale drawing of the
end and plan views and a photo of the end
and plan view of the aircraft. In the upper
right corner Pete wrote “Do not use to
judge markings.” This view was for the
plan view only. Again he added red arrows
showing differences between his aircraft.
Page 3 is fairly complex for color-andmarkings.
Pete included a color chip from
the Royal Air Force Museum to prove that
his coloring is correct. He states that there
are eight main colors for the Triplane. He
also shows the color of the bottom of the
wing and the roundels.
Page 4 is for scale details. It features
photos of the aileron control pulley, wing
texture and rib stitching, fuselage panel
stitching, tail-skid linkage, cowling, pitot
head, tail-surface details, midwing rigging
wires, and wing-strut attachment details.
Page 5 continues with detail shots. Most
FAI Scale competitors make all the detail
parts or as many as they can for
craftsmanship points.
The photos make a good tutorial on FAI
documentation. It’s often been said that in
FAI Scale you can win only with a biplane,
which isn’t true. But just as we like World
War II subjects on this side of the Atlantic,
many of the Europeans like the World War
I aircraft out there too. I would like to hear
your thoughts and ideas about this type of
competition.
Bookshelf: Since I’ve shown a World War
I airplane this month, let’s look at a great
series of books for the World War I buff.
These are not cheap! The cost in the US is
roughly $33.50 each. This series is about
the Fokker D.VII, published by Albatros
Productions Ltd. The best way to get in
touch with the company is via the Internet.
The booklet I’ll look at this month is the
first in a series of three about the Fokker
D.VII. The group is called the “Fokker
D.VII Anthology.”
These books do not include images of
replicas or 2/3-scale aircraft; all photos are
from World War I. These volumes
represent some of the best D.VII Scale
documentation I’ve seen. The first in the
series is a 65-page softbound booklet
including 120 black-and-white photos,
numerous scale drawings, cockpit details,
color drawings, and much more.
I purchased the set, and even at the price
I quoted I consider these to be some of the
best documentation booklets I’ve ever run
across.
For a complete title listing, contact
Albatros Productions Ltd., 10 Long View,
Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1BY England;
Tel.: 01442-875838; Fax: 01442-876018;
Web site: www.windsockdatafilespecials.
com.
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA