December 2003 103
THE 77TH AMA Nationals (Nats) for
Control Line Racing, held July 6-11, is over.
This year the side stories were more than the
racing. Weather was the biggest factor in a
long time; the local area received more than
six inches of rain the night before the event
and at least an additional four inches by the
time it concluded. This made for a great deal
of mud and soggy conditions.
Along with the rain problems, Control
Line Racing lost one of its most lovable and
enjoyable participants. Jerry “Who” Meyer
passed away Monday after the conclusion of
the Slow Rat event that he loved so dearly.
He could show up at a contest with Slow
Rats and have enough airplanes and
equipment for all of the competitors who
would come.
Jerry was a friend of mine with whom I
spent many hours, and I will miss him
terribly. Control Line Racing lost a true
sportsman when Jerry left us for a bigger and
better Racing circle. He may be gone, but he
will never be out of our thoughts.
NCLRA (National Control Line Racing
Association) Fox Racing has traditionally
been the starting event. This year only two
Junior/Senior participants entered, and Jason
Stone turned a good time of 6:33.78 to take
first place, ahead of Doug Short.
Entries were down in the Open category;
only 13 people took to the circle to see who
would win Fox Racing. Times were slow this
year, with 6:32 being good enough to
advance to the finals. The top three qualifiers
were Tim Stone at 6:19, Tom Schaefer at
6:25, and Don Burke at 6:32.
During the finals only Tim was able to
better his qualifying time, making him the
2003 Fox Racing Champion. He turned a
respectable 6:00.56, second place went to
Tom Schaefer at 6:33.18, and third place
went to Don Burke at 7:19.
Fox Racing continues to be an event that
provides a level playing field for the
longtime racer and the relative newcomer. If
you are thinking about getting into Racing,
Fox Racing is probably the best event in
which to start.
Monday is the start of the official events,
and Slow Rat is the first out of the box. This
category was having a resurgence a few
years ago, but of late it has seen its share of
people leaving.
Slow Rat is not slow by any means, and
you must have a good pilot in good shape to
hang onto those 300-square-inch monsters.
These airplanes are probably the most
difficult Racing models to fly in competition;
they are large and heavy with powerful
Nelson engines, making this an event for the
experienced pilot and team.
This year eight entries made Slow Rat a
poorly attended event. Those who
participated are the die-hards who will
probably be there when the last Slow Rat
race is run. Jerry Meyer claimed the fourth
and final transfer spot at 3:05, and Bill
Bischoff, Mike Greb, and Russ Green took
the top three transfer spots at faster than 3:00
each.
Mike Greb posted a Nats victory by
turning a good time of 5:33. Mike and Bill
have dominated the event lately, and Bill
took second place with 5:51. Russ Green
took the third spot with 6:14, and Jerry
Meyer was forced to take a DNF (did not
finish) because of a tank malfunction.
Clown Racing was held at the Nats for
R a c i n g
Dave McDonald, Box 384, Daleville IN 47334; E-mail: [email protected]
Bob Oge releases a .15 Rat aircraft that belongs to Tim Stone.
The Smithsonian pit crew of Tom Fluker (left) and Jim Ricketts get ready to make a
lightning-fast stop during the Quickie Rat competition.
CONTROL LINE
the first time. Although the attendance was not as good as the talk
seemed to indicate before the Nats, it was a hit with those who
participated. Some fine-tuning of the rules will mean that most of the
airplanes flown this year will be illegal next year. That means no one
should have much of an advantage next year.
Clown Racing is a timed event, meaning that it lasts for seven
minutes in a heat race and 15 minutes in a final. Whoever has
completed the most laps at the conclusion of the time wins. Tanks are
limited to an ounce, so speed and range are important factors.
The engines selected for the event seem to be Nelsons, old Mokis,
and some diesels. The Nelson engine seems to be the hot ticket for
the event because it provides good mileage and a built-in reliability
that some of the other engines don’t have.
After two qualifying heats, Ralph Aaberg, Tom Schaefer, and
Dave Hallas made it to the finals. Dave claimed the honor of Clown
Champ at 297 laps, Ralph was second at 286, and Tom was third at
280.
Tuesday is traditionally Scale Racing day, and this year only 12
Open fliers were on hand. Les Akre was the class of the field, hands
down. He flew an Ohm Special with Gillott power and was the only
competitor with less than three minutes during the heat races.
Les backed up that good performance by claiming first place with
a good time of 5:58. Jim Holland finished second flying an old Bob
Fogg airplane to 6:23, Mike Greb was third at 6:24, and Jim Ricketts
was fourth at 6:26.
Team Ricketts celebrated its 25th Nats as a father-and-son team—
an accomplishment of which most can only dream. Scale Racing is a
good event; most equipment is readily available, and the airplanes,
for the most part, although not easy to build, and not that difficult, are
good-flying designs. So why not build one and join the fun?
Wednesday is F2C Team Race day. With the Team Trials scheduled
at the end of the week, most teams took the opportunity to do some
three-up testing. The six entries this year made for a relaxing and
smooth-paced day. Most equipment was Mazniak or Vorobiev.
The team of Tom Fluker/Dick Lambert paced the field during the
heat races and ran well during the final. Of the 15 flights posted in
the first three rounds, only Fluker/Lambert was faster than 3:30. Only
two other flights broke the four-minute mark.
The final did not take long to be a two-up when James
Holland/David Wallick had problems early and retired at 46 laps.
This left team Jim Ricketts/Bob Whitney and Fluker/Lambert to
decide who would be the champ. Fluker/Lambert claimed the top
spot at 7:03, and Ricketts/Whitney could only muster an 8:19 for
second place.
Rotational speeds along with a lack of contests seem to be hurting
this event, and unless something is done quickly the event will not be
around that much longer. The airplanes are rapidly outpacing the
pilots, and all but the youngest and most athletic have serious
problems flying these models.
Also flown on Wednesday, B Team Race was up in attendance.
There were 10 entries present to relive the days of classic Racing.
Tom Schaefer showed his mettle by winning the event at 7:13, Don
Burke was second at 7:30.76, and Paul Haley was third at 32 laps.
104 MODEL AVIATION
Jim Holland makes a catch during Quickie Rat. Jim Holland watches his Quickie Rat depart from the pits.
Russ Green, on the left, gets out of the way as Mike Greb
releases Russ’s model during Quickie Rat.
The Smithsonian pit crew just knows it has to start sometime.
CONTROL LINE
The event included some controversy because of line snags during
pit stops, but for the most part it was well received and attended. It is
nice to see some built-up airplanes racing, and not just profiles. If you
like to build and like to fly airplanes at ample speeds, this event could
be fun for you.
Quickie Rat is most fliers’ Thursday favorite; nice-flying airplanes
and respectable speeds make this a favorite of pilots and pitmen.
There were two Junior/Senior entries again this year, with Doug
Short avenging his defeat in Fox Racing by finishing ahead of Jason
Stone. Doug turned an excellent time of 6:59 for his victory.
In the Open division, 20 entries were set for the day and nine went
to the final. A sluggish time of 3:24 was all that was needed to make
the big race. Mike Greb turned a nice time of 6:21 to take the victory.
He used a K&B engine with a McCollum ring and his own propeller.
Second place went to Tim Stone using his Scorpion design with a
time of 6:33, third place went to Bob Oge at 6:35, and fourth place
went to John McCollum at 6:39.
This category continues to grow in popularity, and it is one of the
funnest Racing events. The airplanes are easy to build, fly, and
maintain. Engines are available at a low cost, and several aftermarket
ring makers are around to make your engine competitive.
At the conclusion of Quickie Rat, the first .15 Rat races were run.
This is a good change from the unflyable .40 Rats and the not-so-
December 2003 105
F2C Committee—(L-R) John Ballard, Dave McDonald, Dick
Lambert—discusses performance at end of F2C. Dave Hallas
looks on.
Dick Lambert makes a great catch during the F2C finals.
Steve Wilk receives some last-minute information from Bob Oge
during the F2C Team Race event.
Jerry Meyer holds his Slow Rat, standing next to Jim Ricketts.
Jerry will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mike MacCarthy releases .15 Rat on his way to first Nats win.
CONTROL LINE
well-received .21 Rats. Henry Nelson was
there to show off his beautiful half pan for
the event. The pan is extremely light and well
made; it’s a must-have if you are thinking
about building one of these airplanes.
The six entries for the first year of .15 Rat
may not seem like a lot, but it is a good
building block for the future. Airplanes are
running in the high 13 seconds and should
get faster with more research-anddevelopment
work by the teams. For now
they are extremely flyable because these
small airplanes do not have the pull factor of
their .40-size cousins.
Mike MacCarthy claimed his first Nats
victory this year, using his wonderful
inverted-Nelson-powered Rat to post a 5:58
in the final to beat Tim Stone’s 6:02, Steve
Eichenberger’s 10:07, and Vic Garner’s 129
laps.
This event should take off in popularity
with most Racers because the engines are
available and it provides a needed change
from the traditional profile airplanes. And by
being Rat, it makes tinkering with many
variables important in the development of the
airplanes.
Mouse I and II, held Friday, were the last
Control Line Racing Nats events. Wind may
have kept most competitors in the car that
day when it exceeded 20 mph, making only
the most serious Mouse racers think about
competing. Two Junior/Senior fliers braved
the elements, and James VanSant showed his
106 MODEL AVIATION
THE BEST IN SCALE PLANS
ACCESSORIES & LASER CUT PARTS
1/5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat $45.00
Laser cut parts available
JERRY BATES PLANS
1⁄5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat (92") - $45.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Robart retracts available soon
1⁄5 Scale Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (100") - $45.00
Laser cut parts (includes flaps) $230.00 + s&h
Sea Fury - $35.00
Laser cut parts $190.00 + s&h
Hellcat (80") - $35.00
Laser cut parts $175.00 + s&h
C-46 - $40.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Yak 3 (68") - $35.00
Laser cut parts available.
SBD Daunless (85") - $40.00
Laser cut parts soon.
All plans - please add $8.00 for postage.
Best in scale catalog $5.00 + $3.20 p.p.
Cards Ok. • UK and German catalogs available.
BOB HOLMAN PLANS
P.O.BOX 741 San Bernardino CA 92402
909-885-3959 • [email protected] • www.bhplans.com
Model by Doug Imes
flying prowess by claiming victory over
Wade Schoonover.
In the Open class Russ Green claimed a
victory at 5:08 using an old John McCollum
airplane, Jim Holland was a close second at
5:16, and Victor Worley took his first Nats
award with a third-place time of 5:25.
Mouse II was not as well supported this
year, and Bob Whitney finally made his
tinkering pay off. He used a Cyclone engine
with a homemade tank/reed-valve attachment
and claimed victory. Mike MacCarthy
finished in second place, and Dave Hallas,
also using a Cyclone arrangement, took the
third spot.
Could it be that the days of the Cox
engine are coming to an end? Only time will
tell.
Thanks to the many workers who made this
Nats a reality and to Sig, which once again
provided the official fuel of Control Line
Racing. Fox Manufacturing provided fuel for
the Fox Racing event and engines for the
Junior/Senior division of the event. And a big
thanks to Steve Wilk of Eliminator Props for
providing awards for most of the unofficial
events.
Thanks to all who attended this year. To
those who did not attend, you were missed
and we hope to see you return next year, not
only for the Nats but for the Control Line
World Championships. M
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 103,104,105,106,107
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 103,104,105,106,107
December 2003 103
THE 77TH AMA Nationals (Nats) for
Control Line Racing, held July 6-11, is over.
This year the side stories were more than the
racing. Weather was the biggest factor in a
long time; the local area received more than
six inches of rain the night before the event
and at least an additional four inches by the
time it concluded. This made for a great deal
of mud and soggy conditions.
Along with the rain problems, Control
Line Racing lost one of its most lovable and
enjoyable participants. Jerry “Who” Meyer
passed away Monday after the conclusion of
the Slow Rat event that he loved so dearly.
He could show up at a contest with Slow
Rats and have enough airplanes and
equipment for all of the competitors who
would come.
Jerry was a friend of mine with whom I
spent many hours, and I will miss him
terribly. Control Line Racing lost a true
sportsman when Jerry left us for a bigger and
better Racing circle. He may be gone, but he
will never be out of our thoughts.
NCLRA (National Control Line Racing
Association) Fox Racing has traditionally
been the starting event. This year only two
Junior/Senior participants entered, and Jason
Stone turned a good time of 6:33.78 to take
first place, ahead of Doug Short.
Entries were down in the Open category;
only 13 people took to the circle to see who
would win Fox Racing. Times were slow this
year, with 6:32 being good enough to
advance to the finals. The top three qualifiers
were Tim Stone at 6:19, Tom Schaefer at
6:25, and Don Burke at 6:32.
During the finals only Tim was able to
better his qualifying time, making him the
2003 Fox Racing Champion. He turned a
respectable 6:00.56, second place went to
Tom Schaefer at 6:33.18, and third place
went to Don Burke at 7:19.
Fox Racing continues to be an event that
provides a level playing field for the
longtime racer and the relative newcomer. If
you are thinking about getting into Racing,
Fox Racing is probably the best event in
which to start.
Monday is the start of the official events,
and Slow Rat is the first out of the box. This
category was having a resurgence a few
years ago, but of late it has seen its share of
people leaving.
Slow Rat is not slow by any means, and
you must have a good pilot in good shape to
hang onto those 300-square-inch monsters.
These airplanes are probably the most
difficult Racing models to fly in competition;
they are large and heavy with powerful
Nelson engines, making this an event for the
experienced pilot and team.
This year eight entries made Slow Rat a
poorly attended event. Those who
participated are the die-hards who will
probably be there when the last Slow Rat
race is run. Jerry Meyer claimed the fourth
and final transfer spot at 3:05, and Bill
Bischoff, Mike Greb, and Russ Green took
the top three transfer spots at faster than 3:00
each.
Mike Greb posted a Nats victory by
turning a good time of 5:33. Mike and Bill
have dominated the event lately, and Bill
took second place with 5:51. Russ Green
took the third spot with 6:14, and Jerry
Meyer was forced to take a DNF (did not
finish) because of a tank malfunction.
Clown Racing was held at the Nats for
R a c i n g
Dave McDonald, Box 384, Daleville IN 47334; E-mail: [email protected]
Bob Oge releases a .15 Rat aircraft that belongs to Tim Stone.
The Smithsonian pit crew of Tom Fluker (left) and Jim Ricketts get ready to make a
lightning-fast stop during the Quickie Rat competition.
CONTROL LINE
the first time. Although the attendance was not as good as the talk
seemed to indicate before the Nats, it was a hit with those who
participated. Some fine-tuning of the rules will mean that most of the
airplanes flown this year will be illegal next year. That means no one
should have much of an advantage next year.
Clown Racing is a timed event, meaning that it lasts for seven
minutes in a heat race and 15 minutes in a final. Whoever has
completed the most laps at the conclusion of the time wins. Tanks are
limited to an ounce, so speed and range are important factors.
The engines selected for the event seem to be Nelsons, old Mokis,
and some diesels. The Nelson engine seems to be the hot ticket for
the event because it provides good mileage and a built-in reliability
that some of the other engines don’t have.
After two qualifying heats, Ralph Aaberg, Tom Schaefer, and
Dave Hallas made it to the finals. Dave claimed the honor of Clown
Champ at 297 laps, Ralph was second at 286, and Tom was third at
280.
Tuesday is traditionally Scale Racing day, and this year only 12
Open fliers were on hand. Les Akre was the class of the field, hands
down. He flew an Ohm Special with Gillott power and was the only
competitor with less than three minutes during the heat races.
Les backed up that good performance by claiming first place with
a good time of 5:58. Jim Holland finished second flying an old Bob
Fogg airplane to 6:23, Mike Greb was third at 6:24, and Jim Ricketts
was fourth at 6:26.
Team Ricketts celebrated its 25th Nats as a father-and-son team—
an accomplishment of which most can only dream. Scale Racing is a
good event; most equipment is readily available, and the airplanes,
for the most part, although not easy to build, and not that difficult, are
good-flying designs. So why not build one and join the fun?
Wednesday is F2C Team Race day. With the Team Trials scheduled
at the end of the week, most teams took the opportunity to do some
three-up testing. The six entries this year made for a relaxing and
smooth-paced day. Most equipment was Mazniak or Vorobiev.
The team of Tom Fluker/Dick Lambert paced the field during the
heat races and ran well during the final. Of the 15 flights posted in
the first three rounds, only Fluker/Lambert was faster than 3:30. Only
two other flights broke the four-minute mark.
The final did not take long to be a two-up when James
Holland/David Wallick had problems early and retired at 46 laps.
This left team Jim Ricketts/Bob Whitney and Fluker/Lambert to
decide who would be the champ. Fluker/Lambert claimed the top
spot at 7:03, and Ricketts/Whitney could only muster an 8:19 for
second place.
Rotational speeds along with a lack of contests seem to be hurting
this event, and unless something is done quickly the event will not be
around that much longer. The airplanes are rapidly outpacing the
pilots, and all but the youngest and most athletic have serious
problems flying these models.
Also flown on Wednesday, B Team Race was up in attendance.
There were 10 entries present to relive the days of classic Racing.
Tom Schaefer showed his mettle by winning the event at 7:13, Don
Burke was second at 7:30.76, and Paul Haley was third at 32 laps.
104 MODEL AVIATION
Jim Holland makes a catch during Quickie Rat. Jim Holland watches his Quickie Rat depart from the pits.
Russ Green, on the left, gets out of the way as Mike Greb
releases Russ’s model during Quickie Rat.
The Smithsonian pit crew just knows it has to start sometime.
CONTROL LINE
The event included some controversy because of line snags during
pit stops, but for the most part it was well received and attended. It is
nice to see some built-up airplanes racing, and not just profiles. If you
like to build and like to fly airplanes at ample speeds, this event could
be fun for you.
Quickie Rat is most fliers’ Thursday favorite; nice-flying airplanes
and respectable speeds make this a favorite of pilots and pitmen.
There were two Junior/Senior entries again this year, with Doug
Short avenging his defeat in Fox Racing by finishing ahead of Jason
Stone. Doug turned an excellent time of 6:59 for his victory.
In the Open division, 20 entries were set for the day and nine went
to the final. A sluggish time of 3:24 was all that was needed to make
the big race. Mike Greb turned a nice time of 6:21 to take the victory.
He used a K&B engine with a McCollum ring and his own propeller.
Second place went to Tim Stone using his Scorpion design with a
time of 6:33, third place went to Bob Oge at 6:35, and fourth place
went to John McCollum at 6:39.
This category continues to grow in popularity, and it is one of the
funnest Racing events. The airplanes are easy to build, fly, and
maintain. Engines are available at a low cost, and several aftermarket
ring makers are around to make your engine competitive.
At the conclusion of Quickie Rat, the first .15 Rat races were run.
This is a good change from the unflyable .40 Rats and the not-so-
December 2003 105
F2C Committee—(L-R) John Ballard, Dave McDonald, Dick
Lambert—discusses performance at end of F2C. Dave Hallas
looks on.
Dick Lambert makes a great catch during the F2C finals.
Steve Wilk receives some last-minute information from Bob Oge
during the F2C Team Race event.
Jerry Meyer holds his Slow Rat, standing next to Jim Ricketts.
Jerry will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mike MacCarthy releases .15 Rat on his way to first Nats win.
CONTROL LINE
well-received .21 Rats. Henry Nelson was
there to show off his beautiful half pan for
the event. The pan is extremely light and well
made; it’s a must-have if you are thinking
about building one of these airplanes.
The six entries for the first year of .15 Rat
may not seem like a lot, but it is a good
building block for the future. Airplanes are
running in the high 13 seconds and should
get faster with more research-anddevelopment
work by the teams. For now
they are extremely flyable because these
small airplanes do not have the pull factor of
their .40-size cousins.
Mike MacCarthy claimed his first Nats
victory this year, using his wonderful
inverted-Nelson-powered Rat to post a 5:58
in the final to beat Tim Stone’s 6:02, Steve
Eichenberger’s 10:07, and Vic Garner’s 129
laps.
This event should take off in popularity
with most Racers because the engines are
available and it provides a needed change
from the traditional profile airplanes. And by
being Rat, it makes tinkering with many
variables important in the development of the
airplanes.
Mouse I and II, held Friday, were the last
Control Line Racing Nats events. Wind may
have kept most competitors in the car that
day when it exceeded 20 mph, making only
the most serious Mouse racers think about
competing. Two Junior/Senior fliers braved
the elements, and James VanSant showed his
106 MODEL AVIATION
THE BEST IN SCALE PLANS
ACCESSORIES & LASER CUT PARTS
1/5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat $45.00
Laser cut parts available
JERRY BATES PLANS
1⁄5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat (92") - $45.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Robart retracts available soon
1⁄5 Scale Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (100") - $45.00
Laser cut parts (includes flaps) $230.00 + s&h
Sea Fury - $35.00
Laser cut parts $190.00 + s&h
Hellcat (80") - $35.00
Laser cut parts $175.00 + s&h
C-46 - $40.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Yak 3 (68") - $35.00
Laser cut parts available.
SBD Daunless (85") - $40.00
Laser cut parts soon.
All plans - please add $8.00 for postage.
Best in scale catalog $5.00 + $3.20 p.p.
Cards Ok. • UK and German catalogs available.
BOB HOLMAN PLANS
P.O.BOX 741 San Bernardino CA 92402
909-885-3959 • [email protected] • www.bhplans.com
Model by Doug Imes
flying prowess by claiming victory over
Wade Schoonover.
In the Open class Russ Green claimed a
victory at 5:08 using an old John McCollum
airplane, Jim Holland was a close second at
5:16, and Victor Worley took his first Nats
award with a third-place time of 5:25.
Mouse II was not as well supported this
year, and Bob Whitney finally made his
tinkering pay off. He used a Cyclone engine
with a homemade tank/reed-valve attachment
and claimed victory. Mike MacCarthy
finished in second place, and Dave Hallas,
also using a Cyclone arrangement, took the
third spot.
Could it be that the days of the Cox
engine are coming to an end? Only time will
tell.
Thanks to the many workers who made this
Nats a reality and to Sig, which once again
provided the official fuel of Control Line
Racing. Fox Manufacturing provided fuel for
the Fox Racing event and engines for the
Junior/Senior division of the event. And a big
thanks to Steve Wilk of Eliminator Props for
providing awards for most of the unofficial
events.
Thanks to all who attended this year. To
those who did not attend, you were missed
and we hope to see you return next year, not
only for the Nats but for the Control Line
World Championships. M
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 103,104,105,106,107
December 2003 103
THE 77TH AMA Nationals (Nats) for
Control Line Racing, held July 6-11, is over.
This year the side stories were more than the
racing. Weather was the biggest factor in a
long time; the local area received more than
six inches of rain the night before the event
and at least an additional four inches by the
time it concluded. This made for a great deal
of mud and soggy conditions.
Along with the rain problems, Control
Line Racing lost one of its most lovable and
enjoyable participants. Jerry “Who” Meyer
passed away Monday after the conclusion of
the Slow Rat event that he loved so dearly.
He could show up at a contest with Slow
Rats and have enough airplanes and
equipment for all of the competitors who
would come.
Jerry was a friend of mine with whom I
spent many hours, and I will miss him
terribly. Control Line Racing lost a true
sportsman when Jerry left us for a bigger and
better Racing circle. He may be gone, but he
will never be out of our thoughts.
NCLRA (National Control Line Racing
Association) Fox Racing has traditionally
been the starting event. This year only two
Junior/Senior participants entered, and Jason
Stone turned a good time of 6:33.78 to take
first place, ahead of Doug Short.
Entries were down in the Open category;
only 13 people took to the circle to see who
would win Fox Racing. Times were slow this
year, with 6:32 being good enough to
advance to the finals. The top three qualifiers
were Tim Stone at 6:19, Tom Schaefer at
6:25, and Don Burke at 6:32.
During the finals only Tim was able to
better his qualifying time, making him the
2003 Fox Racing Champion. He turned a
respectable 6:00.56, second place went to
Tom Schaefer at 6:33.18, and third place
went to Don Burke at 7:19.
Fox Racing continues to be an event that
provides a level playing field for the
longtime racer and the relative newcomer. If
you are thinking about getting into Racing,
Fox Racing is probably the best event in
which to start.
Monday is the start of the official events,
and Slow Rat is the first out of the box. This
category was having a resurgence a few
years ago, but of late it has seen its share of
people leaving.
Slow Rat is not slow by any means, and
you must have a good pilot in good shape to
hang onto those 300-square-inch monsters.
These airplanes are probably the most
difficult Racing models to fly in competition;
they are large and heavy with powerful
Nelson engines, making this an event for the
experienced pilot and team.
This year eight entries made Slow Rat a
poorly attended event. Those who
participated are the die-hards who will
probably be there when the last Slow Rat
race is run. Jerry Meyer claimed the fourth
and final transfer spot at 3:05, and Bill
Bischoff, Mike Greb, and Russ Green took
the top three transfer spots at faster than 3:00
each.
Mike Greb posted a Nats victory by
turning a good time of 5:33. Mike and Bill
have dominated the event lately, and Bill
took second place with 5:51. Russ Green
took the third spot with 6:14, and Jerry
Meyer was forced to take a DNF (did not
finish) because of a tank malfunction.
Clown Racing was held at the Nats for
R a c i n g
Dave McDonald, Box 384, Daleville IN 47334; E-mail: [email protected]
Bob Oge releases a .15 Rat aircraft that belongs to Tim Stone.
The Smithsonian pit crew of Tom Fluker (left) and Jim Ricketts get ready to make a
lightning-fast stop during the Quickie Rat competition.
CONTROL LINE
the first time. Although the attendance was not as good as the talk
seemed to indicate before the Nats, it was a hit with those who
participated. Some fine-tuning of the rules will mean that most of the
airplanes flown this year will be illegal next year. That means no one
should have much of an advantage next year.
Clown Racing is a timed event, meaning that it lasts for seven
minutes in a heat race and 15 minutes in a final. Whoever has
completed the most laps at the conclusion of the time wins. Tanks are
limited to an ounce, so speed and range are important factors.
The engines selected for the event seem to be Nelsons, old Mokis,
and some diesels. The Nelson engine seems to be the hot ticket for
the event because it provides good mileage and a built-in reliability
that some of the other engines don’t have.
After two qualifying heats, Ralph Aaberg, Tom Schaefer, and
Dave Hallas made it to the finals. Dave claimed the honor of Clown
Champ at 297 laps, Ralph was second at 286, and Tom was third at
280.
Tuesday is traditionally Scale Racing day, and this year only 12
Open fliers were on hand. Les Akre was the class of the field, hands
down. He flew an Ohm Special with Gillott power and was the only
competitor with less than three minutes during the heat races.
Les backed up that good performance by claiming first place with
a good time of 5:58. Jim Holland finished second flying an old Bob
Fogg airplane to 6:23, Mike Greb was third at 6:24, and Jim Ricketts
was fourth at 6:26.
Team Ricketts celebrated its 25th Nats as a father-and-son team—
an accomplishment of which most can only dream. Scale Racing is a
good event; most equipment is readily available, and the airplanes,
for the most part, although not easy to build, and not that difficult, are
good-flying designs. So why not build one and join the fun?
Wednesday is F2C Team Race day. With the Team Trials scheduled
at the end of the week, most teams took the opportunity to do some
three-up testing. The six entries this year made for a relaxing and
smooth-paced day. Most equipment was Mazniak or Vorobiev.
The team of Tom Fluker/Dick Lambert paced the field during the
heat races and ran well during the final. Of the 15 flights posted in
the first three rounds, only Fluker/Lambert was faster than 3:30. Only
two other flights broke the four-minute mark.
The final did not take long to be a two-up when James
Holland/David Wallick had problems early and retired at 46 laps.
This left team Jim Ricketts/Bob Whitney and Fluker/Lambert to
decide who would be the champ. Fluker/Lambert claimed the top
spot at 7:03, and Ricketts/Whitney could only muster an 8:19 for
second place.
Rotational speeds along with a lack of contests seem to be hurting
this event, and unless something is done quickly the event will not be
around that much longer. The airplanes are rapidly outpacing the
pilots, and all but the youngest and most athletic have serious
problems flying these models.
Also flown on Wednesday, B Team Race was up in attendance.
There were 10 entries present to relive the days of classic Racing.
Tom Schaefer showed his mettle by winning the event at 7:13, Don
Burke was second at 7:30.76, and Paul Haley was third at 32 laps.
104 MODEL AVIATION
Jim Holland makes a catch during Quickie Rat. Jim Holland watches his Quickie Rat depart from the pits.
Russ Green, on the left, gets out of the way as Mike Greb
releases Russ’s model during Quickie Rat.
The Smithsonian pit crew just knows it has to start sometime.
CONTROL LINE
The event included some controversy because of line snags during
pit stops, but for the most part it was well received and attended. It is
nice to see some built-up airplanes racing, and not just profiles. If you
like to build and like to fly airplanes at ample speeds, this event could
be fun for you.
Quickie Rat is most fliers’ Thursday favorite; nice-flying airplanes
and respectable speeds make this a favorite of pilots and pitmen.
There were two Junior/Senior entries again this year, with Doug
Short avenging his defeat in Fox Racing by finishing ahead of Jason
Stone. Doug turned an excellent time of 6:59 for his victory.
In the Open division, 20 entries were set for the day and nine went
to the final. A sluggish time of 3:24 was all that was needed to make
the big race. Mike Greb turned a nice time of 6:21 to take the victory.
He used a K&B engine with a McCollum ring and his own propeller.
Second place went to Tim Stone using his Scorpion design with a
time of 6:33, third place went to Bob Oge at 6:35, and fourth place
went to John McCollum at 6:39.
This category continues to grow in popularity, and it is one of the
funnest Racing events. The airplanes are easy to build, fly, and
maintain. Engines are available at a low cost, and several aftermarket
ring makers are around to make your engine competitive.
At the conclusion of Quickie Rat, the first .15 Rat races were run.
This is a good change from the unflyable .40 Rats and the not-so-
December 2003 105
F2C Committee—(L-R) John Ballard, Dave McDonald, Dick
Lambert—discusses performance at end of F2C. Dave Hallas
looks on.
Dick Lambert makes a great catch during the F2C finals.
Steve Wilk receives some last-minute information from Bob Oge
during the F2C Team Race event.
Jerry Meyer holds his Slow Rat, standing next to Jim Ricketts.
Jerry will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mike MacCarthy releases .15 Rat on his way to first Nats win.
CONTROL LINE
well-received .21 Rats. Henry Nelson was
there to show off his beautiful half pan for
the event. The pan is extremely light and well
made; it’s a must-have if you are thinking
about building one of these airplanes.
The six entries for the first year of .15 Rat
may not seem like a lot, but it is a good
building block for the future. Airplanes are
running in the high 13 seconds and should
get faster with more research-anddevelopment
work by the teams. For now
they are extremely flyable because these
small airplanes do not have the pull factor of
their .40-size cousins.
Mike MacCarthy claimed his first Nats
victory this year, using his wonderful
inverted-Nelson-powered Rat to post a 5:58
in the final to beat Tim Stone’s 6:02, Steve
Eichenberger’s 10:07, and Vic Garner’s 129
laps.
This event should take off in popularity
with most Racers because the engines are
available and it provides a needed change
from the traditional profile airplanes. And by
being Rat, it makes tinkering with many
variables important in the development of the
airplanes.
Mouse I and II, held Friday, were the last
Control Line Racing Nats events. Wind may
have kept most competitors in the car that
day when it exceeded 20 mph, making only
the most serious Mouse racers think about
competing. Two Junior/Senior fliers braved
the elements, and James VanSant showed his
106 MODEL AVIATION
THE BEST IN SCALE PLANS
ACCESSORIES & LASER CUT PARTS
1/5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat $45.00
Laser cut parts available
JERRY BATES PLANS
1⁄5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat (92") - $45.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Robart retracts available soon
1⁄5 Scale Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (100") - $45.00
Laser cut parts (includes flaps) $230.00 + s&h
Sea Fury - $35.00
Laser cut parts $190.00 + s&h
Hellcat (80") - $35.00
Laser cut parts $175.00 + s&h
C-46 - $40.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Yak 3 (68") - $35.00
Laser cut parts available.
SBD Daunless (85") - $40.00
Laser cut parts soon.
All plans - please add $8.00 for postage.
Best in scale catalog $5.00 + $3.20 p.p.
Cards Ok. • UK and German catalogs available.
BOB HOLMAN PLANS
P.O.BOX 741 San Bernardino CA 92402
909-885-3959 • [email protected] • www.bhplans.com
Model by Doug Imes
flying prowess by claiming victory over
Wade Schoonover.
In the Open class Russ Green claimed a
victory at 5:08 using an old John McCollum
airplane, Jim Holland was a close second at
5:16, and Victor Worley took his first Nats
award with a third-place time of 5:25.
Mouse II was not as well supported this
year, and Bob Whitney finally made his
tinkering pay off. He used a Cyclone engine
with a homemade tank/reed-valve attachment
and claimed victory. Mike MacCarthy
finished in second place, and Dave Hallas,
also using a Cyclone arrangement, took the
third spot.
Could it be that the days of the Cox
engine are coming to an end? Only time will
tell.
Thanks to the many workers who made this
Nats a reality and to Sig, which once again
provided the official fuel of Control Line
Racing. Fox Manufacturing provided fuel for
the Fox Racing event and engines for the
Junior/Senior division of the event. And a big
thanks to Steve Wilk of Eliminator Props for
providing awards for most of the unofficial
events.
Thanks to all who attended this year. To
those who did not attend, you were missed
and we hope to see you return next year, not
only for the Nats but for the Control Line
World Championships. M
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 103,104,105,106,107
December 2003 103
THE 77TH AMA Nationals (Nats) for
Control Line Racing, held July 6-11, is over.
This year the side stories were more than the
racing. Weather was the biggest factor in a
long time; the local area received more than
six inches of rain the night before the event
and at least an additional four inches by the
time it concluded. This made for a great deal
of mud and soggy conditions.
Along with the rain problems, Control
Line Racing lost one of its most lovable and
enjoyable participants. Jerry “Who” Meyer
passed away Monday after the conclusion of
the Slow Rat event that he loved so dearly.
He could show up at a contest with Slow
Rats and have enough airplanes and
equipment for all of the competitors who
would come.
Jerry was a friend of mine with whom I
spent many hours, and I will miss him
terribly. Control Line Racing lost a true
sportsman when Jerry left us for a bigger and
better Racing circle. He may be gone, but he
will never be out of our thoughts.
NCLRA (National Control Line Racing
Association) Fox Racing has traditionally
been the starting event. This year only two
Junior/Senior participants entered, and Jason
Stone turned a good time of 6:33.78 to take
first place, ahead of Doug Short.
Entries were down in the Open category;
only 13 people took to the circle to see who
would win Fox Racing. Times were slow this
year, with 6:32 being good enough to
advance to the finals. The top three qualifiers
were Tim Stone at 6:19, Tom Schaefer at
6:25, and Don Burke at 6:32.
During the finals only Tim was able to
better his qualifying time, making him the
2003 Fox Racing Champion. He turned a
respectable 6:00.56, second place went to
Tom Schaefer at 6:33.18, and third place
went to Don Burke at 7:19.
Fox Racing continues to be an event that
provides a level playing field for the
longtime racer and the relative newcomer. If
you are thinking about getting into Racing,
Fox Racing is probably the best event in
which to start.
Monday is the start of the official events,
and Slow Rat is the first out of the box. This
category was having a resurgence a few
years ago, but of late it has seen its share of
people leaving.
Slow Rat is not slow by any means, and
you must have a good pilot in good shape to
hang onto those 300-square-inch monsters.
These airplanes are probably the most
difficult Racing models to fly in competition;
they are large and heavy with powerful
Nelson engines, making this an event for the
experienced pilot and team.
This year eight entries made Slow Rat a
poorly attended event. Those who
participated are the die-hards who will
probably be there when the last Slow Rat
race is run. Jerry Meyer claimed the fourth
and final transfer spot at 3:05, and Bill
Bischoff, Mike Greb, and Russ Green took
the top three transfer spots at faster than 3:00
each.
Mike Greb posted a Nats victory by
turning a good time of 5:33. Mike and Bill
have dominated the event lately, and Bill
took second place with 5:51. Russ Green
took the third spot with 6:14, and Jerry
Meyer was forced to take a DNF (did not
finish) because of a tank malfunction.
Clown Racing was held at the Nats for
R a c i n g
Dave McDonald, Box 384, Daleville IN 47334; E-mail: [email protected]
Bob Oge releases a .15 Rat aircraft that belongs to Tim Stone.
The Smithsonian pit crew of Tom Fluker (left) and Jim Ricketts get ready to make a
lightning-fast stop during the Quickie Rat competition.
CONTROL LINE
the first time. Although the attendance was not as good as the talk
seemed to indicate before the Nats, it was a hit with those who
participated. Some fine-tuning of the rules will mean that most of the
airplanes flown this year will be illegal next year. That means no one
should have much of an advantage next year.
Clown Racing is a timed event, meaning that it lasts for seven
minutes in a heat race and 15 minutes in a final. Whoever has
completed the most laps at the conclusion of the time wins. Tanks are
limited to an ounce, so speed and range are important factors.
The engines selected for the event seem to be Nelsons, old Mokis,
and some diesels. The Nelson engine seems to be the hot ticket for
the event because it provides good mileage and a built-in reliability
that some of the other engines don’t have.
After two qualifying heats, Ralph Aaberg, Tom Schaefer, and
Dave Hallas made it to the finals. Dave claimed the honor of Clown
Champ at 297 laps, Ralph was second at 286, and Tom was third at
280.
Tuesday is traditionally Scale Racing day, and this year only 12
Open fliers were on hand. Les Akre was the class of the field, hands
down. He flew an Ohm Special with Gillott power and was the only
competitor with less than three minutes during the heat races.
Les backed up that good performance by claiming first place with
a good time of 5:58. Jim Holland finished second flying an old Bob
Fogg airplane to 6:23, Mike Greb was third at 6:24, and Jim Ricketts
was fourth at 6:26.
Team Ricketts celebrated its 25th Nats as a father-and-son team—
an accomplishment of which most can only dream. Scale Racing is a
good event; most equipment is readily available, and the airplanes,
for the most part, although not easy to build, and not that difficult, are
good-flying designs. So why not build one and join the fun?
Wednesday is F2C Team Race day. With the Team Trials scheduled
at the end of the week, most teams took the opportunity to do some
three-up testing. The six entries this year made for a relaxing and
smooth-paced day. Most equipment was Mazniak or Vorobiev.
The team of Tom Fluker/Dick Lambert paced the field during the
heat races and ran well during the final. Of the 15 flights posted in
the first three rounds, only Fluker/Lambert was faster than 3:30. Only
two other flights broke the four-minute mark.
The final did not take long to be a two-up when James
Holland/David Wallick had problems early and retired at 46 laps.
This left team Jim Ricketts/Bob Whitney and Fluker/Lambert to
decide who would be the champ. Fluker/Lambert claimed the top
spot at 7:03, and Ricketts/Whitney could only muster an 8:19 for
second place.
Rotational speeds along with a lack of contests seem to be hurting
this event, and unless something is done quickly the event will not be
around that much longer. The airplanes are rapidly outpacing the
pilots, and all but the youngest and most athletic have serious
problems flying these models.
Also flown on Wednesday, B Team Race was up in attendance.
There were 10 entries present to relive the days of classic Racing.
Tom Schaefer showed his mettle by winning the event at 7:13, Don
Burke was second at 7:30.76, and Paul Haley was third at 32 laps.
104 MODEL AVIATION
Jim Holland makes a catch during Quickie Rat. Jim Holland watches his Quickie Rat depart from the pits.
Russ Green, on the left, gets out of the way as Mike Greb
releases Russ’s model during Quickie Rat.
The Smithsonian pit crew just knows it has to start sometime.
CONTROL LINE
The event included some controversy because of line snags during
pit stops, but for the most part it was well received and attended. It is
nice to see some built-up airplanes racing, and not just profiles. If you
like to build and like to fly airplanes at ample speeds, this event could
be fun for you.
Quickie Rat is most fliers’ Thursday favorite; nice-flying airplanes
and respectable speeds make this a favorite of pilots and pitmen.
There were two Junior/Senior entries again this year, with Doug
Short avenging his defeat in Fox Racing by finishing ahead of Jason
Stone. Doug turned an excellent time of 6:59 for his victory.
In the Open division, 20 entries were set for the day and nine went
to the final. A sluggish time of 3:24 was all that was needed to make
the big race. Mike Greb turned a nice time of 6:21 to take the victory.
He used a K&B engine with a McCollum ring and his own propeller.
Second place went to Tim Stone using his Scorpion design with a
time of 6:33, third place went to Bob Oge at 6:35, and fourth place
went to John McCollum at 6:39.
This category continues to grow in popularity, and it is one of the
funnest Racing events. The airplanes are easy to build, fly, and
maintain. Engines are available at a low cost, and several aftermarket
ring makers are around to make your engine competitive.
At the conclusion of Quickie Rat, the first .15 Rat races were run.
This is a good change from the unflyable .40 Rats and the not-so-
December 2003 105
F2C Committee—(L-R) John Ballard, Dave McDonald, Dick
Lambert—discusses performance at end of F2C. Dave Hallas
looks on.
Dick Lambert makes a great catch during the F2C finals.
Steve Wilk receives some last-minute information from Bob Oge
during the F2C Team Race event.
Jerry Meyer holds his Slow Rat, standing next to Jim Ricketts.
Jerry will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mike MacCarthy releases .15 Rat on his way to first Nats win.
CONTROL LINE
well-received .21 Rats. Henry Nelson was
there to show off his beautiful half pan for
the event. The pan is extremely light and well
made; it’s a must-have if you are thinking
about building one of these airplanes.
The six entries for the first year of .15 Rat
may not seem like a lot, but it is a good
building block for the future. Airplanes are
running in the high 13 seconds and should
get faster with more research-anddevelopment
work by the teams. For now
they are extremely flyable because these
small airplanes do not have the pull factor of
their .40-size cousins.
Mike MacCarthy claimed his first Nats
victory this year, using his wonderful
inverted-Nelson-powered Rat to post a 5:58
in the final to beat Tim Stone’s 6:02, Steve
Eichenberger’s 10:07, and Vic Garner’s 129
laps.
This event should take off in popularity
with most Racers because the engines are
available and it provides a needed change
from the traditional profile airplanes. And by
being Rat, it makes tinkering with many
variables important in the development of the
airplanes.
Mouse I and II, held Friday, were the last
Control Line Racing Nats events. Wind may
have kept most competitors in the car that
day when it exceeded 20 mph, making only
the most serious Mouse racers think about
competing. Two Junior/Senior fliers braved
the elements, and James VanSant showed his
106 MODEL AVIATION
THE BEST IN SCALE PLANS
ACCESSORIES & LASER CUT PARTS
1/5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat $45.00
Laser cut parts available
JERRY BATES PLANS
1⁄5 Scale Grumman F4F Wildcat (92") - $45.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Robart retracts available soon
1⁄5 Scale Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (100") - $45.00
Laser cut parts (includes flaps) $230.00 + s&h
Sea Fury - $35.00
Laser cut parts $190.00 + s&h
Hellcat (80") - $35.00
Laser cut parts $175.00 + s&h
C-46 - $40.00
Laser cut parts $200.00 + s&h
Yak 3 (68") - $35.00
Laser cut parts available.
SBD Daunless (85") - $40.00
Laser cut parts soon.
All plans - please add $8.00 for postage.
Best in scale catalog $5.00 + $3.20 p.p.
Cards Ok. • UK and German catalogs available.
BOB HOLMAN PLANS
P.O.BOX 741 San Bernardino CA 92402
909-885-3959 • [email protected] • www.bhplans.com
Model by Doug Imes
flying prowess by claiming victory over
Wade Schoonover.
In the Open class Russ Green claimed a
victory at 5:08 using an old John McCollum
airplane, Jim Holland was a close second at
5:16, and Victor Worley took his first Nats
award with a third-place time of 5:25.
Mouse II was not as well supported this
year, and Bob Whitney finally made his
tinkering pay off. He used a Cyclone engine
with a homemade tank/reed-valve attachment
and claimed victory. Mike MacCarthy
finished in second place, and Dave Hallas,
also using a Cyclone arrangement, took the
third spot.
Could it be that the days of the Cox
engine are coming to an end? Only time will
tell.
Thanks to the many workers who made this
Nats a reality and to Sig, which once again
provided the official fuel of Control Line
Racing. Fox Manufacturing provided fuel for
the Fox Racing event and engines for the
Junior/Senior division of the event. And a big
thanks to Steve Wilk of Eliminator Props for
providing awards for most of the unofficial
events.
Thanks to all who attended this year. To
those who did not attend, you were missed
and we hope to see you return next year, not
only for the Nats but for the Control Line
World Championships. M
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/12
Page Numbers: 103,104,105,106,107
December 2003 103
THE 77TH AMA Nationals (Nats) for
Control Line Racing, held July 6-11, is over.
This year the side stories were more than the
racing. Weather was the biggest factor in a
long time; the local area received more than
six inches of rain the night before the event
and at least an additional four inches by the
time it concluded. This made for a great deal
of mud and soggy conditions.
Along with the rain problems, Control
Line Racing lost one of its most lovable and
enjoyable participants. Jerry “Who” Meyer
passed away Monday after the conclusion of
the Slow Rat event that he loved so dearly.
He could show up at a contest with Slow
Rats and have enough airplanes and
equipment for all of the competitors who
would come.
Jerry was a friend of mine with whom I
spent many hours, and I will miss him
terribly. Control Line Racing lost a true
sportsman when Jerry left us for a bigger and
better Racing circle. He may be gone, but he
will never be out of our thoughts.
NCLRA (National Control Line Racing
Association) Fox Racing has traditionally
been the starting event. This year only two
Junior/Senior participants entered, and Jason
Stone turned a good time of 6:33.78 to take
first place, ahead of Doug Short.
Entries were down in the Open category;
only 13 people took to the circle to see who
would win Fox Racing. Times were slow this
year, with 6:32 being good enough to
advance to the finals. The top three qualifiers
were Tim Stone at 6:19, Tom Schaefer at
6:25, and Don Burke at 6:32.
During the finals only Tim was able to
better his qualifying time, making him the
2003 Fox Racing Champion. He turned a
respectable 6:00.56, second place went to
Tom Schaefer at 6:33.18, and third place
went to Don Burke at 7:19.
Fox Racing continues to be an event that
provides a level playing field for the
longtime racer and the relative newcomer. If
you are thinking about getting into Racing,
Fox Racing is probably the best event in
which to start.
Monday is the start of the official events,
and Slow Rat is the first out of the box. This
category was having a resurgence a few
years ago, but of late it has seen its share of
people leaving.
Slow Rat is not slow by any means, and
you must have a good pilot in good shape to
hang onto those 300-square-inch monsters.
These airplanes are probably the most
difficult Racing models to fly in competition;
they are large and heavy with powerful
Nelson engines, making this an event for the
experienced pilot and team.
This year eight entries made Slow Rat a
poorly attended event. Those who
participated are the die-hards who will
probably be there when the last Slow Rat
race is run. Jerry Meyer claimed the fourth
and final transfer spot at 3:05, and Bill
Bischoff, Mike Greb, and Russ Green took
the top three transfer spots at faster than 3:00
each.
Mike Greb posted a Nats victory by
turning a good time of 5:33. Mike and Bill
have dominated the event lately, and Bill
took second place with 5:51. Russ Green
took the third spot with 6:14, and Jerry
Meyer was forced to take a DNF (did not
finish) because of a tank malfunction.
Clown Racing was held at the Nats for
R a c i n g
Dave McDonald, Box 384, Daleville IN 47334; E-mail: [email protected]
Bob Oge releases a .15 Rat aircraft that belongs to Tim Stone.
The Smithsonian pit crew of Tom Fluker (left) and Jim Ricketts get ready to make a
lightning-fast stop during the Quickie Rat competition.
CONTROL LINE
the first time. Although the attendance was not as good as the talk
seemed to indicate before the Nats, it was a hit with those who
participated. Some fine-tuning of the rules will mean that most of the
airplanes flown this year will be illegal next year. That means no one
should have much of an advantage next year.
Clown Racing is a timed event, meaning that it lasts for seven
minutes in a heat race and 15 minutes in a final. Whoever has
completed the most laps at the conclusion of the time wins. Tanks are
limited to an ounce, so speed and range are important factors.
The engines selected for the event seem to be Nelsons, old Mokis,
and some diesels. The Nelson engine seems to be the hot ticket for
the event because it provides good mileage and a built-in reliability
that some of the other engines don’t have.
After two qualifying heats, Ralph Aaberg, Tom Schaefer, and
Dave Hallas made it to the finals. Dave claimed the honor of Clown
Champ at 297 laps, Ralph was second at 286, and Tom was third at
280.
Tuesday is traditionally Scale Racing day, and this year only 12
Open fliers were on hand. Les Akre was the class of the field, hands
down. He flew an Ohm Special with Gillott power and was the only
competitor with less than three minutes during the heat races.
Les backed up that good performance by claiming first place with
a good time of 5:58. Jim Holland finished second flying an old Bob
Fogg airplane to 6:23, Mike Greb was third at 6:24, and Jim Ricketts
was fourth at 6:26.
Team Ricketts celebrated its 25th Nats as a father-and-son team—
an accomplishment of which most can only dream. Scale Racing is a
good event; most equipment is readily available, and the airplanes,
for the most part, although not easy to build, and not that difficult, are
good-flying designs. So why not build one and join the fun?
Wednesday is F2C Team Race day. With the Team Trials scheduled
at the end of the week, most teams took the opportunity to do some
three-up testing. The six entries this year made for a relaxing and
smooth-paced day. Most equipment was Mazniak or Vorobiev.
The team of Tom Fluker/Dick Lambert paced the field during the
heat races and ran well during the final. Of the 15 flights posted in
the first three rounds, only Fluker/Lambert was faster than 3:30. Only
two other flights broke the four-minute mark.
The final did not take long to be a two-up when James
Holland/David Wallick had problems early and retired at 46 laps.
This left team Jim Ricketts/Bob Whitney and Fluker/Lambert to
decide who would be the champ. Fluker/Lambert claimed the top
spot at 7:03, and Ricketts/Whitney could only muster an 8:19 for
second place.
Rotational speeds along with a lack of contests seem to be hurting
this event, and unless something is done quickly the event will not be
around that much longer. The airplanes are rapidly outpacing the
pilots, and all but the youngest and most athletic have serious
problems flying these models.
Also flown on Wednesday, B Team Race was up in attendance.
There were 10 entries present to relive the days of classic Racing.
Tom Schaefer showed his mettle by winning the event at 7:13, Don
Burke was second at 7:30.76, and Paul Haley was third at 32 laps.
104 MODEL AVIATION
Jim Holland makes a catch during Quickie Rat. Jim Holland watches his Quickie Rat depart from the pits.
Russ Green, on the left, gets out of the way as Mike Greb
releases Russ’s model during Quickie Rat.
The Smithsonian pit crew just knows it has to start sometime.
CONTROL LINE
The event included some controversy because of line snags during
pit stops, but for the most part it was well received and attended. It is
nice to see some built-up airplanes racing, and not just profiles. If you
like to build and like to fly airplanes at ample speeds, this event could
be fun for you.
Quickie Rat is most fliers’ Thursday favorite; nice-flying airplanes
and respectable speeds make this a favorite of pilots and pitmen.
There were two Junior/Senior entries again this year, with Doug
Short avenging his defeat in Fox Racing by finishing ahead of Jason
Stone. Doug turned an excellent time of 6:59 for his victory.
In the Open division, 20 entries were set for the day and nine went
to the final. A sluggish time of 3:24 was all that was needed to make
the big race. Mike Greb turned a nice time of 6:21 to take the victory.
He used a K&B engine with a McCollum ring and his own propeller.
Second place went to Tim Stone using his Scorpion design with a
time of 6:33, third place went to Bob Oge at 6:35, and fourth place
went to John McCollum at 6:39.
This category continues to grow in popularity, and it is one of the
funnest Racing events. The airplanes are easy to build, fly, and
maintain. Engines are available at a low cost, and several aftermarket
ring makers are around to make your engine competitive.
At the conclusion of Quickie Rat, the first .15 Rat races were run.
This is a good change from the unflyable .40 Rats and the not-so-
December 2003 105
F2C Committee—(L-R) John Ballard, Dave McDonald, Dick
Lambert—discusses performance at end of F2C. Dave Hallas
looks on.
Dick Lambert makes a great catch during the F2C finals.
Steve Wilk receives some last-minute information from Bob Oge
during the F2C Team Race event.
Jerry Meyer holds his Slow Rat, standing next to Jim Ricketts.
Jerry will be missed, but never forgotten.
Mike MacCarthy releases .15 Rat on his way to first Nats win.
CONTROL LINE
well-received .21 Rats. Henry Nelson was
there to show off his beautiful half pan for
the event. The pan is extremely light and well
made; it’s a must-have if you are thinking
about building one of these airplanes.
The six entries for the first year of .15 Rat
may not seem like a lot, but it is a good
building block for the future. Airplanes are
running in the high 13 seconds and should
get faster with more research-anddevelopment
work by the teams. For now
they are extremely flyable because these
small airplanes do not have the pull factor of
their .40-size cousins.
Mike MacCarthy claimed his first Nats
victory this year, using his wonderful
inverted-Nelson-powered Rat to post a 5:58
in the final to beat Tim Stone’s 6:02, Steve
Eichenberger’s 10:07, and Vic Garner’s 129
laps.
This event should take off in popularity
with most Racers because the engines are
available and it provides a needed change
from the traditional profile airplanes. And by
being Rat, it makes tinkering with many
variables important in the development of the
airplanes.
Mouse I and II, held Friday, were the last
Control Line Racing Nats events. Wind may
have kept most competitors in the car that
day when it exceeded 20 mph, making only
the most serious Mouse racers think about
competing. Two Junior/Senior fliers braved
the elements, and James VanSant showed his
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flying prowess by claiming victory over
Wade Schoonover.
In the Open class Russ Green claimed a
victory at 5:08 using an old John McCollum
airplane, Jim Holland was a close second at
5:16, and Victor Worley took his first Nats
award with a third-place time of 5:25.
Mouse II was not as well supported this
year, and Bob Whitney finally made his
tinkering pay off. He used a Cyclone engine
with a homemade tank/reed-valve attachment
and claimed victory. Mike MacCarthy
finished in second place, and Dave Hallas,
also using a Cyclone arrangement, took the
third spot.
Could it be that the days of the Cox
engine are coming to an end? Only time will
tell.
Thanks to the many workers who made this
Nats a reality and to Sig, which once again
provided the official fuel of Control Line
Racing. Fox Manufacturing provided fuel for
the Fox Racing event and engines for the
Junior/Senior division of the event. And a big
thanks to Steve Wilk of Eliminator Props for
providing awards for most of the unofficial
events.
Thanks to all who attended this year. To
those who did not attend, you were missed
and we hope to see you return next year, not
only for the Nats but for the Control Line
World Championships. M
