November 2009 141
Chicago Combat Challenge 2009
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Also included in this column:
• Shutoff options
• Engine evolution
• Rules interpretations
Left: Chicago f inal ists (L-R) : Alan
Deveuve, fifth; Leonardo Silva, fourth;
Richard Stubblefield, second; Chuck
Rudner, third; Louie Scavone, first; CD
Chris Gay.
Three vintage Cox .15s (L-R): a 1959 Olympic, a 1961 Tee Dee, and a
1965 Special Mk. II.
Below: Louie Scavone’s shutoff device is
made from music wire. You only need to
know how to bend wire and tie string.
SEVENTEEN PILOTS frOm the US, Canada, and Mexico
made the trip to the Chicago Combat Challenge in Romeoville,
Illinois, to do battle with F2D (FAI Combat) models for a bit of
prize money. The contest took place the weekend of August 1-2.
The circle marshal, Jordy Segal, tested fuel-shutoff devices
during the first round, before the start of each match. Even though
there were many types of systems being used, they all passed the
test.
Aeromodelers are clever people by nature, and they tend to
seek efficient and effective solutions to problems. This is what
has occurred in the quest for an efficient, inexpensive, and
reliable shutoff device.
There were several versions of the swing-arm-type shutoffs,
which use centrifugal force for operation. The ones that Chuck
Rudner employs are highly modified, Russian-made Fast Combat
units adapted for use on F2D models.
Chuck changes the angles of the swing arms and machines
various sizes of brass weights for them. Testing is done with a full
streamer and usually not the fastest engine, so that the worst-case
scenario is simulated.
Tom Seigler used the Italian spring-loaded bellcrank units that
he had installed when the builder made the models. You can see
these units on Henning Forbech’s Web site; the address is in the
“Sources” list.
The winner, Louie Scavone, has a highly effective line-tension
device. It is music wire that is bent carefully and attached to the
engine mounts with a lock nut. Louie uses Spiderwire, found in
fishing-supply stores, to attach the music wire to the leadouts. A
photograph shows how simple this is to replicate.
Louie flew effectively throughout the contest and did not
damage any models the entire weekend. He was calm in the circle
and in control of his aircraft. He will need to be taken seriously at
the US Team Trials.
Richard Stubblefield finished in second place, while Chuck
Rudner was third. Leonardo Silva of Mexico placed fourth, and
Alan Deveuve won the coin toss with Brad Lapointe and me for
the fifth-place spot.
Leonardo’s spring-type shutoff is unique, in that the pull line
11sig5.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 9/24/09 3:56 PM Page 141
travels through the wing and attaches to
the leadout inside the wing. Leonardo
also makes a brass-tube manifold that
keeps all of his tubing connections from
flopping around.
Chris Gay did a bunch of work to
organize the contest and find judges to
work both days. He also talked Steve
Hills into designing the logo for the
souvenir T-shirts.
The overall level of flying was quite
good, and I recall seeing only two
cutaway models, both of which remained
in the circle because of the activation of
the fuel-shutoff devices. Most of the guys
saw this competition as an opportunity to
tune up for the US Team Trials.
Shutoff Options: Bobby Mears, the F2D
Team Selection Committee chairman, has
added several new components to an
existing shutoff device (Foremost), to
make it fit the needs of F2D pilots.
Bobby has a YouTube video that gives
a step-by-step explanation of how to
install the unit on an existing model. The
directions are clear and simple to follow.
The original Foremost shutoff device
was a line-tension unit that a number of
pilots had used for Fast Combat. I used
them and found them to be reliable.
Bobby adds several components and
moves the bellcrank positioning so that
an extended bellcrank axle moves within
a slot, to push the fuel shutoff to the open
position using line tension.
He had a bunch of the components
machined and is offering complete kits
with detailed instructions. Bobby’s
contact information is in the “Sources”
list.
Engine Evolution: I was looking through
my limited collection of old engines and
saw that I had three versions of the Cox
.15 that were produced in the 1960s. I
remember using the Cox Mk. II Special
on a Jr. Satan model for Class A Combat,
during my Western Associated Modelers
competition days. The engine liked a
four-pitch propeller and was fast on the
29-inch-wingspan Jr. Satan.
If my memory serves me well, the
Cox was shown on the box cover of the
Jr. Satan. In 1959, the L.M. Cox
Company produced a ball-bearing reed
valve called the Olympic .15. I never ran
the one I own, so I have no data on its
performance.
The same is true for the Tee Dee .15
that was in production for quite a number
of years. The Tee Dee version had a balland-
socket system to attach the rod to the
piston, as do the Tee Dee .049s that are
so common.
The Special Mk. II used the normal
rod and piston pin to hold onto the piston.
All three of these Cox engines used onepiece,
thread-in glow heads that were
available in low or high compression. We
certainly have come a long way in engine
development.
Rules Interpretations: Controversial
situations have always occurred during the
heat of battle in Combat. They happen fast
and without notice.
One such instance took place during the
Chicago Combat Challenge, when Richard
Stubblefield was flying against Leonardo
Silva. Richard took the whole streamer,
including a good portion of the thick sisal
string, which entangled itself around his
streamer.
Richard subsequently crash-landed the
primary model. Then his pit crew of Alan
Deveuve and George Cleveland quickly
fired up his spare aircraft and transferred
the streamer from the primary to the
backup.
Here is where the controversy
happened. Leonardo’s streamer was still
entangled, and the pit crew launched the
model with both streamers.
Although towing two streamers
provides a distinct disadvantage of
additional drag that will slow the airplane
somewhat, it could also be a potential
advantage, in that Leonardo could cut his
streamer and the judges could misinterpret
the cut count. He also runs the risk of
having his string entangle itself in his
engine and shutting it down.
There is nothing in the rule book
disallowing a launch with an entangled
streamer. However, the interpretation has
been to clear all of the bits of the
opponent’s streamer and string before
launching the spare model.
Another potential controversy can
arise during the issuance of penalties
during a line tangle. It has always been
difficult to see if a line tangle is
deliberate or a mistake on the part of one
or both pilots. There are situations in
which the only hope of a win is to tangle
the opponent and hope that he or she
crashes.
The center marshal needs to know
which of the pilots is more likely to cause
the tangle and which one will be
disadvantaged. Although the shouting of
one pilot may indicate one thing, the
opposite might be true.
Only an astute and experienced center
marshal can determine who is at fault.
Most center marshals avoid making this
call, and I suppose that is why there are so
few volunteers to do the job. MA
Sources:
Henning Forbech’s site:
www.f2d.dk
Alex Prokofiev’s electronic shutoff:
www.e-shutoff.com
Bobby Mears’ shutoff:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tis62JgEubk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhRcBe-
XrMw
Miniature Aircraft Combat Association
www.maca.hobby-site.com:3535
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/11
Page Numbers: 141,142
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/11
Page Numbers: 141,142
November 2009 141
Chicago Combat Challenge 2009
[[email protected]]
Control Line Combat Rich Lopez
Also included in this column:
• Shutoff options
• Engine evolution
• Rules interpretations
Left: Chicago f inal ists (L-R) : Alan
Deveuve, fifth; Leonardo Silva, fourth;
Richard Stubblefield, second; Chuck
Rudner, third; Louie Scavone, first; CD
Chris Gay.
Three vintage Cox .15s (L-R): a 1959 Olympic, a 1961 Tee Dee, and a
1965 Special Mk. II.
Below: Louie Scavone’s shutoff device is
made from music wire. You only need to
know how to bend wire and tie string.
SEVENTEEN PILOTS frOm the US, Canada, and Mexico
made the trip to the Chicago Combat Challenge in Romeoville,
Illinois, to do battle with F2D (FAI Combat) models for a bit of
prize money. The contest took place the weekend of August 1-2.
The circle marshal, Jordy Segal, tested fuel-shutoff devices
during the first round, before the start of each match. Even though
there were many types of systems being used, they all passed the
test.
Aeromodelers are clever people by nature, and they tend to
seek efficient and effective solutions to problems. This is what
has occurred in the quest for an efficient, inexpensive, and
reliable shutoff device.
There were several versions of the swing-arm-type shutoffs,
which use centrifugal force for operation. The ones that Chuck
Rudner employs are highly modified, Russian-made Fast Combat
units adapted for use on F2D models.
Chuck changes the angles of the swing arms and machines
various sizes of brass weights for them. Testing is done with a full
streamer and usually not the fastest engine, so that the worst-case
scenario is simulated.
Tom Seigler used the Italian spring-loaded bellcrank units that
he had installed when the builder made the models. You can see
these units on Henning Forbech’s Web site; the address is in the
“Sources” list.
The winner, Louie Scavone, has a highly effective line-tension
device. It is music wire that is bent carefully and attached to the
engine mounts with a lock nut. Louie uses Spiderwire, found in
fishing-supply stores, to attach the music wire to the leadouts. A
photograph shows how simple this is to replicate.
Louie flew effectively throughout the contest and did not
damage any models the entire weekend. He was calm in the circle
and in control of his aircraft. He will need to be taken seriously at
the US Team Trials.
Richard Stubblefield finished in second place, while Chuck
Rudner was third. Leonardo Silva of Mexico placed fourth, and
Alan Deveuve won the coin toss with Brad Lapointe and me for
the fifth-place spot.
Leonardo’s spring-type shutoff is unique, in that the pull line
11sig5.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 9/24/09 3:56 PM Page 141
travels through the wing and attaches to
the leadout inside the wing. Leonardo
also makes a brass-tube manifold that
keeps all of his tubing connections from
flopping around.
Chris Gay did a bunch of work to
organize the contest and find judges to
work both days. He also talked Steve
Hills into designing the logo for the
souvenir T-shirts.
The overall level of flying was quite
good, and I recall seeing only two
cutaway models, both of which remained
in the circle because of the activation of
the fuel-shutoff devices. Most of the guys
saw this competition as an opportunity to
tune up for the US Team Trials.
Shutoff Options: Bobby Mears, the F2D
Team Selection Committee chairman, has
added several new components to an
existing shutoff device (Foremost), to
make it fit the needs of F2D pilots.
Bobby has a YouTube video that gives
a step-by-step explanation of how to
install the unit on an existing model. The
directions are clear and simple to follow.
The original Foremost shutoff device
was a line-tension unit that a number of
pilots had used for Fast Combat. I used
them and found them to be reliable.
Bobby adds several components and
moves the bellcrank positioning so that
an extended bellcrank axle moves within
a slot, to push the fuel shutoff to the open
position using line tension.
He had a bunch of the components
machined and is offering complete kits
with detailed instructions. Bobby’s
contact information is in the “Sources”
list.
Engine Evolution: I was looking through
my limited collection of old engines and
saw that I had three versions of the Cox
.15 that were produced in the 1960s. I
remember using the Cox Mk. II Special
on a Jr. Satan model for Class A Combat,
during my Western Associated Modelers
competition days. The engine liked a
four-pitch propeller and was fast on the
29-inch-wingspan Jr. Satan.
If my memory serves me well, the
Cox was shown on the box cover of the
Jr. Satan. In 1959, the L.M. Cox
Company produced a ball-bearing reed
valve called the Olympic .15. I never ran
the one I own, so I have no data on its
performance.
The same is true for the Tee Dee .15
that was in production for quite a number
of years. The Tee Dee version had a balland-
socket system to attach the rod to the
piston, as do the Tee Dee .049s that are
so common.
The Special Mk. II used the normal
rod and piston pin to hold onto the piston.
All three of these Cox engines used onepiece,
thread-in glow heads that were
available in low or high compression. We
certainly have come a long way in engine
development.
Rules Interpretations: Controversial
situations have always occurred during the
heat of battle in Combat. They happen fast
and without notice.
One such instance took place during the
Chicago Combat Challenge, when Richard
Stubblefield was flying against Leonardo
Silva. Richard took the whole streamer,
including a good portion of the thick sisal
string, which entangled itself around his
streamer.
Richard subsequently crash-landed the
primary model. Then his pit crew of Alan
Deveuve and George Cleveland quickly
fired up his spare aircraft and transferred
the streamer from the primary to the
backup.
Here is where the controversy
happened. Leonardo’s streamer was still
entangled, and the pit crew launched the
model with both streamers.
Although towing two streamers
provides a distinct disadvantage of
additional drag that will slow the airplane
somewhat, it could also be a potential
advantage, in that Leonardo could cut his
streamer and the judges could misinterpret
the cut count. He also runs the risk of
having his string entangle itself in his
engine and shutting it down.
There is nothing in the rule book
disallowing a launch with an entangled
streamer. However, the interpretation has
been to clear all of the bits of the
opponent’s streamer and string before
launching the spare model.
Another potential controversy can
arise during the issuance of penalties
during a line tangle. It has always been
difficult to see if a line tangle is
deliberate or a mistake on the part of one
or both pilots. There are situations in
which the only hope of a win is to tangle
the opponent and hope that he or she
crashes.
The center marshal needs to know
which of the pilots is more likely to cause
the tangle and which one will be
disadvantaged. Although the shouting of
one pilot may indicate one thing, the
opposite might be true.
Only an astute and experienced center
marshal can determine who is at fault.
Most center marshals avoid making this
call, and I suppose that is why there are so
few volunteers to do the job. MA
Sources:
Henning Forbech’s site:
www.f2d.dk
Alex Prokofiev’s electronic shutoff:
www.e-shutoff.com
Bobby Mears’ shutoff:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tis62JgEubk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhRcBe-
XrMw
Miniature Aircraft Combat Association
www.maca.hobby-site.com:3535