ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/04
Page Numbers: 19,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,35
ALMOST THREE YEARS ago Model
Aviation launched a series of articles to
survey the various forms of aeromodeling.
The first was Dave Rees’ study of Free
Flight (FF) Scale, followed by Bob Aberle’s
article about Radio Control (RC) Electrics.
In this third installment I will examine RC
Scale, limiting my discussion to fixed-wing,
powered models in the United States. Scale
helicopters and sailplanes are separate topics
that will be covered in future articles.
History: Scale modeling is the process of
replicating a life-sized object in a smaller
size. The earliest replication of aero vehicles
probably dates back to Leonardo da Vinci.
Reproducing a man-carrying aircraft is the
most fundamental reason to build a model
airplane.
By the time brothers Walt and Bill Good
“invented” radio control in the late 1930s,
Scale aeromodeling was already a wellestablished
art in Free Flight and Control
Line (CL) circles (pun intended). Modelers
are an innovative breed, and it didn’t take
them long to see the possibilities of using
radio guidance to control miniature copies of
their favorite airplanes.
At first the problems were numerous:
radio equipment was enormous and heavy,
engine power was limited, and the control
system’s unreliability was overwhelming.
The earliest radio-controlled scale
designs were typically limited to stable,
high-wing monoplanes of the Piper Cub
configuration. To ensure airworthiness, the
designers often increased dihedral angles,
increased tail areas, and moved landing-gear
positions to avoid nose-overs. These early
scale efforts were little more than large FF
models interrupted every now and then by
radio commands.
RC models were flown in competition
during the 1940s and early 1950s, but there
was no separate category for scale. Some
adventurous modelers competed with
scalelike designs, but they were barely
different from Rudderbugs and Smog-Hogs
of the era. In 1952 Alex Schneider won the
RC event at the Nationals with a modified
Cleveland Cub kit.
Compared with RC Scale, CL and FF
Scale were far more advanced. World War II
fighters and multiengine subjects were
common among the CL entries, and
complex biplanes of accurate outline were
entered in the FF event.
Gradually some kit manufacturers began
to experiment with
scale subjects for
the emerging RC
market. Most
hedged their bets
by making the kits
suitable for RC,
CL, or FF. Harold
(Hal) deBolt’s Live
Wire series of kits
included the
mandatory Piper
Cub and an
Aeronca
Champion. Sterling
Models offered a
Monocoupe and a
Piper Tri-Pacer.
The most
prolific
manufacturer was
Berkeley, which
seemed to release a
new RC scale
model every
month. That
company was also
the most
adventurous; it
offered some of the
earliest low-wing
subjects, such as
the Ryan Navion.
By 1957 RC
Scale had matured
enough to become
a separate event at the AMA Nationals. The
“Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered
less than a page in the AMA rule book
(Competition Regulations), but a basis for
Scale competition was formed. The judging
was divided into a static evaluation of the
model’s fidelity to the full-scale aircraft and
a flying evaluation of the model’s ability to
State of the Sport:
April 2004 19
Bob Doell with his winning JD-1 at the 1962 Nats on
the cover of Flying Models—a milestone model in RC
Scale. Photo courtesy of Carstens Publications.
ControlScale
by Mark Franke l
Radio
perform a series of mandatory maneuvers.
The Scale event grew slowly in
popularity and sophistication until 1962,
when something magical happened at the
Chicago, Illinois, Nationals. “It was a
watershed event; incredible Scale models
showed up from all corners of the country,”
recalls veteran designer and competitor Jerry
Nelson. “They were far more complex than
most Scale models of that period, yet they
worked!”
Jerry remembers Bob Doell, who won
Scale with a huge twin-engine JD-1 (the
Navy’s version of the Douglas A-26), Joe
Martin who placed second with a twin—the
Boeing XB-47D (a turboprop variant of the
swept-wing bomber)—and Phil Breitling
who took third with yet another twin: a
Lockheed P-38 Lightning. “The most
incredible thing is that those guys were
flying reeds!” said Jerry. He is still in awe of
their airmanship.
But as the Scale models were becoming
more complex, so were the rules—and that
was not a good thing. By 1963 the Scale
rules included a 15-pound weight limit, and
a short three-maneuver qualification flight
was required before the model was
submitted for static judging. In addition, the
flight plan grew to include six mandatory
and five optional maneuvers.
The static judging consisted of actually
measuring the model’s airframe to
determine its fidelity to scale and assessing
the model’s “scale operations,” such as
retractable landing gear or functioning flaps.
To earn points these features had to be
displayed in flight.
According to the 1963 rules, the official
score consisted of the flight points
multiplied by the sum of the static points,
which was then added to the total of the
scale operation points. This system resulted
in some gigantic numbers and made it
possible for certain types of models to
dominate the contest scene. The rules were
unwieldy, but the quality of the models kept
improving.
Then the digital proportional radio
arrived, and the state of Scale modeling took
its largest step forward. No longer was a
modeler limited by the hard overcommands
of a reed system; control authority could be
exercised smoothly and with coordination.
Rudder and aileron could be employed
simultaneously to provide realistic turns, or
throttle and elevator could be used to
achieve precision landings.
In 1967 the weight limit was increased to
20 pounds for multiengine subjects, and the
wing loading for those 20-pound monsters
could not exceed 35 ounces per square foot.
Maximum total engine displacement could
not exceed 1.25 cubic inches.
The official score was still determined by
multiplying the sum of the static and scale
operations points by the flight score, but
only the highest-scoring attempt was
considered; therefore, only one flight
provided the entire flight score.
As some prefabrication entered the
hobby in 1970, several provisions were
added to the rules to emphasize
craftsmanship. Section 24.3.1 stated that
“Commercially available prefabricated
primary fuselages shall not be allowed.”
Section 24.3.2 stated that “the builder and
flyer of an R/C Scale model shall be one and
the same person. There shall be no team
entries.”
The next year the prefabricated
(fiberglass)-fuselage prohibition was
eliminated, but the team prohibition
remained. A new rule regarding
craftsmanship was added which required
that the modeler must submit a list of all
parts and services he or she purchased from
others. The intent was to penalize those
entries that were largely the work of others.
In 1973 the Scale rules took a dramatic
turn. AMA adopted a proposal by Clark
Macomber and Dave Platt to form a new
event known as “Sport Scale.” This proposal
was intended to simplify Scale judging and
attract more modelers to competition.
In accordance with the new rules, the
practice of measuring the airframe was
eliminated from static judging; instead,
models were scored from 10 feet away
(which caused the event to become known
as “Stand-Off Scale”). Details that were not
visible in flight (such as cockpit interiors)
were disregarded for static judging, and a
10-maneuver flight plan was instituted for
all models. Moreover, the official score was
simply the sum of the static score and the
average of the two top flight scores (three
flights were required).
These rules’ simplicity and uniformity
brought a breath of fresh air to Scale
competition. The Platt-Macomber format
was so successful that it became the basis
for most modern Scale competitions in the
United States.
Modern Competition: The AMA Nationals
originated RC Scale competition, and by the
mid-1970s other major Scale events began
to evolve. In 1976 Harris Lee and Bert
Baker planted the seed of what was to
become the US Scale Masters
Championships.
20 MODEL AVIATION
The original “Radio Control Scale Regulations” covered less than a page in the
AMA rule book, but they formed a working basis for Scale competition.
Claude McCullough
Below: Mike Gretz flew Claude’s WACO
S3HD in Team Scale at 2002 Nats. Right:
Claude with his Druine Turbulent and
Short Seamew at Los Alamitos Nats.
They were among the first low-wing RC
models flown at a Nats. Below middle:
Claude’s Fairey Barracuda from the late
1950s—an advanced model for its time.
Left and below: Detail
scale ordnance abounded
on Claude’s famous 1960
AM-1 Mauler. Even by
today’s standards this
would be considered an
exceptional Scale model.
Claude with his current project: a 1⁄4-scale Northrop A-17. This
prolific pioneer certainly hasn’t lost his touch!
Claude received Sterling award for best Scale model at 1972 Nats.
His immaculate Shinn 2150 featured more than 5,000 1⁄32-inch rivets
and fully detailed cockpit.
April 2004 21
This contest—initially called the
Western Scale Nationals—was the first
major all-Scale event held in the United
States. Although it primarily attracted
modelers from Southern California, it was a
success and became an annual event. By
1980 the Western Scale Nationals grew to
become the “US Scale Masters” (a name
created by Jerry Ortega, who was an avid
golfer and an outstanding modeler).
The first Scale Masters was held at
Fountain Valley, California. To generate a
national level of participation, a series of
regional qualifying contests was used as
feeder events for the competition. The
concept proved to be enormously successful,
growing in modeler participation, spectator
attendance, and media coverage every year.
To further ensure a national flavor, the
Masters is rotated to a new location each
year.
The Top Gun Invitational Tournament
was born in 1989. Created by Frank Tiano,
Top Gun has an entirely different format
from that of the AMA Nationals or Scale
Masters. Patterned after the Tournament of
Champions RC Aerobatics competition,
participation is strictly by invitation and
cash prizes are awarded to the winners.
Team Scale became a prominent part of this
competition.
Frank managed to negotiate a long-term
agreement with the Palm Beach Polo Club
in Wellington, Florida, to provide a highprofile
site for the tournament that would
assure much press and spectator attention.
Successful beyond even Frank’s
expectations, Top Gun drew a worldwide
audience and Scale modelers eagerly sought
a coveted invitation from the Top Gun
selection committee. The contest is effective
in drawing the general media’s attention.
Television and national press have given
Top Gun the highest level of visibility of
any model-aviation event.
By 2000 Top Gun had clearly outgrown
the Palm Beach site, so Frank negotiated an
agreement with the Airport Authority at
22 MODEL AVIATION
Dave Platt
Right: Dave’s T-28B won 1966 British
Scale Nationals. It was the first
winning model to employ retractable
landing gear. Below: A young Dave
holds his Fw 190 at 1969 Willow
Grove PA Nats.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in
Lakeland, Florida—the field that hosts the
Experimental Aircraft Association’s
(EAA’s) Sun ’n Fun Fly-In. The first year
for Top Gun at Lakeland was 2001, and it
was a huge success. This contest will likely
continue to grow because of its proximity to
Walt Disney World and the EAA event.
A serious Scale competitor’s schedule
in today’s environment may include
kicking off the season with displaying his
or her latest project at the Weak Signals’
RC expo in Toledo, Ohio, in early April,
followed by traveling to Top Gun in late
April. The AMA Nationals follows in early
July, and the Scale Masters usually ends
the season in early October.
Throughout this season a participant puts
in numerous test flights and maintenance
man-hours, but to many it is the most
rewarding form of recreation on the planet.
Giants of RC Scale Who Stride the Earth:
There are three modelers on the current
contest scene whose influence has largely
shaped modern Scale competition: Claude
McCullough, Dave Platt, and Bob Violett.
Claude McCullough is a true pioneer in
RC Scale. In the late 1950s, as Scale
competition was evolving and docile highwing
monoplanes were regarded as the only
subjects that were stable enough to be
trusted with radio equipment, he chose to
design more adventurous subjects.
He began with a Druine Turbulent—a
French low-wing, home-built aircraft—and
competed with it successfully on a single
channel. This model preceded the famous
Astro-Hog, which is considered the first
successful low-wing, multichannel design.
In 1960 Claude competed with a Martin
AM-1 Mauler, and its level of detail was
significantly ahead of any other RC Scale
machine.
His design résumé is filled with projects
that bring nods of recollection and
admiration from the Scale community. The
Douglas Skypirate, the Fletcher FU-24, the
April 2004 23
Dave applied weathering techniques he learned from working on
the movie Battle of Britain to his SBD Dauntless with stunning
success.
Below: Dave built his third SBD in 1977; it is still airworthy.
Below middle: Dave presents his Designer Scale-winning
Aichi D3A1 Val to static judges at 2002 Nats.
Above: Dave’s F4D-1 Skyray was first ductedfan
jet to compete in RC Scale at Nats, in
1975. Right: In group photo of model builders
for Battle of Britain, Dave is on the right.
April 2004 25
Yak-18P, and the Morrisey Bravo are a few
of the McCullough airplanes that advanced
the art of RC Scale.
Claude is also extremely active in the
Scale modeling administration and
governance. He has served on the AMA
Scale Contest Board since 1950 and was
designated its chairman in 1955 and 1956.
He was elected AMA president in 1957 and
elected to the Model Aviation Hall of Fame
in 1979. Claude has held an elected or
appointed office in the AMA for 55 years,
which is an achievement that is unmatched
by any other modeler.
Currently he competes in Team Scale
with Mike Gretz, flying his WACO S3HD.
Claude’s latest project is an ambitious 1⁄4-
scale rendition of the Northrop A-17.
Dave Platt has driven the standards of
Scale modeling by his stunning examples
since the 1960s. Born in England, Dave
came to the attention of American modelers
in 1966 when he won the British Scale
Nationals with a North American T-28B
Trojan.
As has Claude McCullough, Dave has
chosen unusual subjects, employed an
incredible amount of detail, and made
everything work reliably. In particular, the
T-28 was the first British Nationals winner
to use retractable landing gear. It featured a
sliding canopy with a detailed interior and
an accurately rendered Pratt & Whitney
radial engine in the cowl. The model is a
masterpiece even by today’s standards. It is
indiscernible from a full-scale T-28B in low
angled photographs.
In 1967 Dave was hired to build large,
flying scale models for the movie Battle of
Britain. This project became the breeding
ground for much of our advanced scale
technique. A true understanding of effective
weathering and realistic flying speed were
two by-products of his work on this movie.
Dave employed Battle of Britain lessons
on his next design—the Douglas SBD
Dauntless—and Scale history was made.
The Dauntless was dimensionally accurate
and it wore a finish that was breathtakingly
realistic. Dave created subtle smudges,
shading, paint chipping, and dents that made
the model look far more authentic than any
of its peers.
While producing these works of art,
Dave was also thinking about the rules of
Scale competition. The Platt-Macomber
proposal was the result, and, as I mentioned,
it became the basis for modern Scale
competition.
Ever the philosopher, Dave authored a
set of observations about Scale modeling
that rival Murphy’s Law for universal truth.
His dicta include “You never finish a scale
model; you just stop working on it” and
“Given a choice, judges will believe wrong
information over right.” (For the price of a
few beers, Dave will recite this stuff all
night.)
To preserve the tribal knowledge of scale
design, Dave has produced the highly
informative Black Art video series. The
tapes cover virtually every aspect of
designing and building a competitive Scale
aircraft; the series is worth its weight in
gold.
In 2002 Dave won the Designer Scale
event at the AMA Nationals with a
beautifully executed Aichi D3A1 “Val”: a
large, lightly loaded Japanese warbird that
suits his flying style perfectly.
Bob Violett is the leading force in Scale
Bob Violett
Left: Bob with John Brodbeck of K&B Engines after placing
second at 1978 Lake Charles LA Nats. This proved that model
jets could compete in top Scale competition. Below: Bob with F-
100F after winning Top Gun at Lakeland FL in 2002. Bottom:
Violett designs dominated first World Masters in Germany, 1995.
L-R: Dave Ribbe, Jerry Caudle, winner Garland Hamilton.
26 MODEL AVIATION
Developments and Techniques
Above: Bruce Harlow’s 34-pound, 162-inch-span 1913
Martin TT shows beauty and character of a wellexecuted
WW I subject. It’s majestic in flight. Right:
Steve Sauger’s Aeronca Sedan is typical of high-wing
civilian types modeled early in RC Scale. With modern
equipment it has competed for more than 15 years and
sounds remarkably authentic in flight with its fourstroke
engine. Below: Adding to realism in flight, Bob
Violett turns on his turbine-powered F-4J Phantom’s
smoke during a takeoff roll at 2001 Nats.
Below: Earl Aune’s highly detailed Vought F4U-5N illustrates
how far RC Scale has come. Its exterior appearance is
convincing, and it performs like a full-scale Corsair in flight. It
features folding wings and functional cowl flaps controlled by
the engine.
April 2004 27
Right and below: Martin Hendrickson’s T-
34A features precise surface detail. Rivets
are effectively represented, and all
fasteners and latches are accurate. Oil
staining and surface dirt are used to good
effect.
Left and below: Shailesh Patel’s 1⁄5-scale
F-86F is one of the most realistic models
in competition. It placed second at 2001
US Scale Masters in Hubbard OR. Highly
polished aluminum look is the result of a
flawless application of chrome Presto
film. Flush rivets were burnished into
film. All panel lines and hatches are
accurate.
28 MODEL AVIATION
jets. He contributed to the development of
early ducted-fan technology by designing a
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk that
placed second at the 1978 AMA Nationals
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. That was the
first time a Scale jet had placed in the top
two at the Nationals, and all of Bob’s flight
scores exceeded 90 points.
He followed the Skyhawk with a North
American F-86 Sabre that won numerous
Scale contests in the hands of Terry Nitsch.
In the early 1990s Bob introduced turbine
power to the Scale contest scene, when Kent
Nogy flew a Violett Lockheed T-33 with a
JPX propane-fueled engine at Top Gun.
Bob’s designs have matured to the point
where five of his new North American F-
100 Super Sabres dominated the 2002 Top
Gun tournament, and he won the event.
Where does RC Scale go from here? No
one knows, but I have some guesses about
where we are going with regard to
equipment, rules changes, and participation.
• Equipment. Many Scale enthusiasts believe
that airframe technology has gone almost as
far as it can go. Structures currently range
from simple tube and fabric to highly
complex composite designs. It is now
routine to build a model with more strength
and less weight than we ever dreamed
possible.
Alignment and precision of fit
approaches perfection in many kits, and
computer-aided design takes airfoil and
fuselage-contour reproduction to a level that
would have been unthinkable 10 years ago.
Our power plants are reliable, powerful,
lighter, and becoming more affordable. A
current-generation kerosene-burning turbine
is roughly half the price of a first-generation
propane engine, and the thrust output has
doubled.
Radio sophistication and reliability is at
an all-time high. The features and flexibility
of modern computer radios make guidance a
nonissue. Difficult control scenarios such as
the swing wings on a Grumman F-14
Tomcat are easily managed with modern
radios. Even artificial stability is available
with the use of gyros. We now have
airspeed sensors that can reduce power
when maximum airspeed is approached or,
conversely, increase power when a stall is
imminent.
However, electric power is an area of
rapid innovation. In the mid-1990s advances
in battery technology and electric-motor
efficiency made a new form of Scale
propulsion possible.
Bob Benjamin was one of the first Scale
modelers to compete on a national level
Right and below: Daryl Rolla’s 1⁄5-scale
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, shown at 2002
Scale Masters in Mesa AZ, employs a
convincing weathered finish. Grime in
the panel lines and scorched exhaust
stains provide an authentic appearance.
with electric power. He designed several
high-wing civilian models—most notably
the Taylorcraft and the Aeronca K that
performed well at Top Gun.
In 1999 George Maiorana showed the
potential of electric power by building a
large (115-inch-span, 28-pound) four-engine
Tupolev Tu-4 bomber. His model
demonstrated that electric power is perfect
for sophisticated multiengine projects. With
electric motors, reliability and
synchronization are assured. In the hands of
pilot Dave Pinegar, the Tu-4 “Bull” awed
the judges at every contest in which it was
entered. Electrics will likely continue to be a
force in Scale aeromodeling.
There are some “Buck Rogers” concepts
on the horizon that may find Scale
applications, such as telemetry that provides
real-time data for airspeed, altitude, g-force,
or fuel state. This could be useful for large,
highly loaded models that permit little room
for error in flight operations. I suspect that a
“caller” would be necessary to read the data
and inform the pilot, whose eyes would be
focused on the model.
• Rules Changes. The Platt-Macomber
concept of Stand-Off Scale has proven to be
an excellent framework for competition.
There is a good balance between static
appearance and flight performance. The
quality and quantity of serious Scale models
has flourished under these rules, yet there
are difficult issues that still need attention.
In regards to craftsmanship, how should
April 2004 29
Left and below left: Joe
Topper’s Junkers Ju 52
shows an extremely high
level of craftsmanship in its
corrugated skin. This type
of surface is difficult to
apply and even more
difficult to paint. Below:
Joe Grice’s F-100 features
an exceptionally authentic
natural aluminum finish. He
used Flite-Metal adhesivebacked
aluminum tape. It is
applied one panel at a time,
and each panel is scuffed
with steel wool to give the
appearance of variations in
grain and wear, as on fullscale
aircraft.
Above left and right: Electric power is an evolving technology in RC Scale. George Maiorana’s Tu-4 Bull shows how effectively
complex multiengine subjects can be modeled with electric power.
the judges deal with high levels of
prefabrication? At what point does a highly
prefabricated model violate the Builder-ofthe-
Model Rule?
As far as flying performance is
concerned, should jets compete in a separate
category from World War I models? How
many distinct flight categories should we
establish?
In terms of model size, should we
maintain a 55-pound limit for competition
models, or will this inhibit the development
of new projects?
I don’t have the answers to these
questions, but the resolutions will mold the
nature of RC Scale in the coming years.
• Participation. Many feel that Scale is a
dying art—that modelers are uninterested in
investing the countless hours of labor
required to build a competitive Scale model.
However, competition levels show the
opposite; Scale participation is at an alltime
high. Contestant numbers and
spectator attendance at major Scale events
are increasing.
The success of Scale ARF (Almost
Ready-to-Fly) aircraft has helped bring new
modelers into the Scale ranks. AMA has
enhanced the trend by providing entry-level
competition such as Fun Scale.
Furthermore, new forms of Scale
competition are beginning to emerge, such
30 MODEL AVIATION
as the indoor RC Scale events that Mike
Gretz and Ernie Harwood have proposed.
So what is the state of the sport? It has
never been better, nor has it ever had a
brighter future. The equipment available
with which to build an accurate-looking and
realistic-flying replica of virtually any mancarrying
aircraft is unparalleled. The
competitive framework in which we
measure a Scale effort’s success is
becoming more objective. As I have
mentioned, the growth in Scale interest can
be seen in the amount of media coverage,
the spectator attendance, and the number of
entrants at major Scale events.
So if you are intrigued by the idea of
building and flying a miniature copy of your
favorite airplane, there is no better time to
start than now. MA
Mark Frankel
1525 Lafayette Rd.
Gladwyne PA 19035
Sources:
Associations:
Jet Pilot’s Organization
Ed L. McElvy (treasurer)
Box 784
Caddo Mills TX 75135
[email protected]
www.jetpilots.org
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
Bonnie Rediske (secretary-treasurer)
128 Darnley Dr.
Moon Township PA 15108
[email protected]
www.scaleaero.com/amascale.htm
US Scale Masters Association, Inc.
21952 Airport Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
32 MODEL AVIATION
www.scalemasters.org
World Miniature Warbird Association
Box 175
Succasunna NJ 07876
www.wmwa.org
Periodicals:
Flying Scale Models (British—published
monthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Wise Owl Worldwide Publications
5150 Candlewood St., Suite #1
Lakewood CA 90712
(562) 461-7574
[email protected]
www.wiseowlmagazines.com
Radio Control Jet International (British—
published bimonthly)
RC Scale International (British—published
bimonthly)
Subscriptions in the US:
Traplet Publications
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com
Documentation material:
Bob’s Aircraft Documentation
3114 Yukon Ave.
Costa Mesa CA 92626
(714) 979-8058
www.bobsairdoc.com
Classic Motorbooks
Box 1
Osceola WI 54020
(800) 826-6600
www.motorbooks.com
Historic Aviation
121 5th Ave. NW
New Brighton MN 55112
(651) 635-0100
www.historicaviation.com
Scale Plans and Photo Service
3209 Madison Ave.
Greensboro NC 27403
April 2004 33
(919) 292-5239
www.fly-imaa.org/imaa/IMAAads/pepino/
Manufacturers of competition-level Scale kits:
Yellow Aircraft International
203 Mass Ave.
Lexington MA 02420
(781) 674-9898
www.yellowaircraft.com
Century Jet Models, Inc.
11216 Bluegrass Pkwy.
Louisville KY 40299
(502) 266-9234
www.centuryjet.com/webstore
Sig Manufacturing Co. Inc
Box 520
Montezuma IA 50171
(641) 623-5154
www.sigmfg.com
Balsa USA
Box 164
Marinette WI 54143
(906) 863-6421
www.balsausa.com
Bob Violett Models
170 SR 419
Winter Springs FL 32708
(407) 327-6333
www.bvmjets.com
Jet Hangar Hobbies, Inc.
Box 1607
Hawaiian Gardens CA 90716
(562) 467-0260
www.jethangar.com
Jet Model Products
211 N. Mullen Rd.
Belton MO 64012
(816) 331-0356
www.jetmodelproducts.com
Arizona Model Aircrafters
14715 N. 78th Way, Unit 600
Scottsdale AZ 85260
(480) 348-3733
www.arizonamodels.com
Proctor Enterprises
25450 NE Eilers Rd.
Aurora OR 97002
(503) 678-1300
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Model Specialties
1220 Sylvan Rd.
West Chester PA 19382
(610) 692-4139
www.modelspecialties.com
Concept Models
6505 Urich Terr.
Madison WI 53713
(608) 271-5687
www.mailbag.com/users/conceptmodels/
FiberClassics
10025 Clow Creek Rd.
Plainfield IL 60544
(630) 904-5075
www.planesplus.com
Philip Avonds Scale Jets
Doornhofstraat 6
B-8670 Koksijde
Belgium
Tel. +32 58 514451
www.avonds.com
Aviation Design
91490 Milly La Foret-France
Tel. +33 164 989393
www.adjets.com
Top Flite
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 682-8948
www.top-flite.com
Glen Torrance Models
Box 440
Morrisville NC 27560
(919) 423-8530
www.gtmodels.com
Meister Scale
6319 Hwy. 49
Mebane NC 27302
(336) 562-3700
www.meister-scale.com
PCM Models
108 Santa Monica Ave.
Royal Palm Beach FL 33411
(561) 793-6850
April 2004 35
www.flypcm.com
Plans for competition-level Scale models:
Nick Ziroli Plans
29 Edgar Dr.
Smithtown NY 11787
(631) 467-4765
www.ziroliplans.com
Bob Holman Plans
Box 741
San Bernardino CA 92402
(909) 885-3959
www.bhplans.com
Wendel Hostetler’s Plans
545 Jerome Dr.
Orrville OH 44667
(330) 682-8896
www.aero-sports.com/whplans
Kerry J. Sterner
661 Moorestown Dr.
Bath PA 18014
(610) 759-7376
[email protected]
Don Smith
620 Hastings St.
Boca Raton FL 33487
(561) 989-9113
www.donsmithplans.com
Palmer Plans
6047 Pomegranate Ln.
Woodland Hills CA 91367
(818) 348-0879
www.mag-web.com/rc-modeler/palmer
Vailly Aviation
18 Oakdale Ave.
Farmingdale NY 11738
(631) 732-4715
www.vaillyaviation.com
Jerry Bates
102 Glenwood St.
Mobile AL 36608
(334) 478-6720
www.scaleaero.com/jerrybates.htm
Vanguard Vancouver (Vance Mosher)
4700 NE 58th St.
Vancouver WA 98661
www.pacifier.com/~vvancou/
Walt Moucha Plans
Box 12421
Fort Pierce FL 34981
(772) 460-6436
Reid’s Quality Model Products
30 Clifton St.
Phelps NY 14532
(315) 548-3779
www.reidsmodels.com
Kit-cutting services:
All-American Kit Cutters
365 Dutch Neck Rd.
Hightstown NJ 08520
(609) 443-3175
www.aero-sports.com/aakc
The Aeroplane Works
2134 Gilbride Rd.
Martinsville NJ 08836
(732) 356-8557
www.theaeroplaneworks.com
Precision Cut Kits
63 Carlton Ave.
Ewing NJ 08618
(609) 538-1388
www.precisioncutkits.com
War Bird Kit Cutters
Box 270815
San Diego CA 92198
(858) 613-3632
www.warbird-kit-cutters.com
Markings and graphics:
Aeroloft Designs
7919 E. Mawson Rd.
Mesa AZ 85207
(480) 380-4799
www.aeroloft.com
Northeast Screen Graphics
Box 304
East Longmeadow MA 01028
(800) 557-5617
www.majordecals.com/NESG/Main.html
Pro Mark Model Graphics
751 Airport Rd.
Metropolis IL 62960
(618) 524-2440
www.pro-mark.com
CFC Graphics
(401) 885-8002
www.cfcgraphics.com
Custom Cut Graphics
273 Monarch Dr., #K-17
Houma LA 70364
(504) 392-3620
www.customcutgrafix.com
Videotapes about Scale:
Dave Platt’s Black Art series
1306 Havre NW
Palm Bay FL 32907
(321) 724-2144
www.daveplattmodels.com
Propwash Video Productions
2973 Berman St., Dept. 01
Las Vegas NV 89109
(702) 731-5217
www.propwashvideo.com
SKS Video Productions
85 Pine Rd.
Abbottstown PA 17301
(717) 259-6379
www.sksvideo.com
Traplet Publications Videos
Box 350
Monticello IL 61856
(800) 695-0208
www.traplethouse.com