Author: Jim Wallen
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/03
Page Numbers: 142

District IX—Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Jim Wallen — Vice President

Keeping and maintaining a flying site is the glue that holds clubs together. I have received some bad news from Jim Tiller in South Dakota: the Rapid City Propbusters lost its field. However, it appears the club is on track to purchase some property. In the meantime, club members have been doing some indoor flying.

Report from Ed Paasch (Associate Vice President, Nebraska)

August 26, 2012, signaled the beginning of a new era for the Don Neill Memorial Scale Contest. It was held at the Western R/C Flyers' field in Mead, Nebraska, and was a combined Scale event for three area clubs. The Western R/C Flyers, the Lincoln Sky Knights, and the Omahawks R/C clubs combined resources to create a large event that was enjoyed by pilots from across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Combining the three events was the brainchild of Jim Henley and Dean Copeland. The pair diligently worked for months—first convincing the clubs to work together, then raising money for prizes. They also lined up sponsors to support the growth of scale modeling in the RC community.

Don Neill Memorial Scale Contest — Event Details

  • Date: August 26, 2012
  • Location: Western R/C Flyers' field, Mead, Nebraska
  • Hosting clubs: Western R/C Flyers, Lincoln Sky Knights, Omahawks R/C

Competitions

  • Civilian Scale
  • Military Scale
  • Team Scale (no entries this year)
  • ARF

Sponsors and Prizes

  • HobbyTown USA (Lincoln, NE): gift cards — $100 for 1st, $75 for 2nd, $50 for 3rd in each category
  • Special raffle: raised prize money for a pilots' cash drawing
  • Door prize contributors: SIG Manufacturing, Tower Hobbies, RTL Fasteners, ElectroDynamics

Highlights and Winners

  • Pilots' Choice
  • Civilian Scale: Mike Crosby — black-and-yellow Taylorcraft (crowd favorite)
  • Military Scale: Dean Copeland — T-28 Trojan
  • Civilian Scale (overall)
  1. Mike Crosby
  2. Rich Kuenning — Sukhoi SU-26
  3. Bob Roegge — twin-tail Ercoupe
  • Military Scale (overall)
  1. Dean Copeland
  2. Jim Henley — Fairchild PT-19
  3. Rick Miller (CD) — F4 Phantom
  • ARF
  1. Don Dickey
  2. Rick Miller — FW-190 (Rick also cooked lunch for everyone)
  3. Ed Paasch

A scoreboard check initially showed event cohost Dean Copeland as having also won the ARF category with his twin-engine Grumman F7F. Dean graciously removed himself from the ARF standings.

Having participated in the inaugural contest, I believe Jim and Dean have created something great. It was a wonderful day of flying, with some close competition. It was also a good reason for friends who don't get to enjoy each other's company often to get together, fly, and enjoy some camaraderie. Good things happen when different clubs work together.

Planning for the 2013 contest is underway. I can't imagine any pilot who participated in this not marking it down on his or her calendar.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.