January 2001 149
three-vIewdrawings and Frank Beatty’s
(Granite City IL) latest Scale model will be
the main themes of this month’s column.
frank is back with one of his great Sport
Scale models, which he has designated the
Borg Parakeet N 80-RG.
Frank’s model is 21⁄2 inches = one-foot
scale, and has a 50-inch wingspan. Powered
with an O.S. .46, it’s covered with Sig
Koverall and painted with Brodak paints.
The throttle is controlled with a standard
three-line bellcrank system.
Frank obtained documentation photos
for his competition presentation from Bob
Banka’s Scale Model Research.
The model was finished less than a week
before the 2000 AMA Nationals. Although the
model was awarded the NASA (National
Association of Scale Aeromodelers) “Top Static
Score Award” in the Sport Scale category, it
finished seventh because of engine problems.
The designation “Borg Parakeet” was
chosen because of Richard Borg, a Control
Line (CL) flier.
When he was in his teens many years
ago, he saw a Hannaford Rose Parakeet
perform aerobatics at an air show, and he
became determined to build one.
It took approximately 11 years for
Richard to complete the airplane. When it
was finished, the Borg Parakeet was taken
to AirVenture Oshkosh (1980), where it
was awarded Custom Grand Champion its
very first time in the competition.
Frank noted that Richard made several
external changes to the original Rose
Parakeet design, in the appearance of the fin
and rudder, turtledeck, wheel pants, and
cowling, and he started calling the model
the “Borg Parakeet.”
The model was made for sport
competition and, according to the rules
(AMA Competition Regulations), does not
require a complete cockpit. Frank couldn’t
leave the model unfinished, so he added a
great-looking instrument panel.
It seems that most Scale modelers
have to put some of the finer touches on
a model, even if they’re not required by
the rules.
Frank also spent considerable time on
the construction of the scale propeller. It is
made from 24 1⁄32 laminations of balsa
wood, glued together with Weldwood
Plastic Resin glue. When carved, sanded,
and varnished, the glue joints give the
propeller the right color and intensity, and it
closely matches photos of the original
propeller that were provided by Richard
Borg.
The three-views used as documentation
for Frank’s Borg Parakeet where drawn by
Frank. Others who might be inclined to do
the same should be aware of the process for
obtaining approval of the drawings.
Although changing existing three-views
is against the rules, there is nothing wrong
with drawing your own—as long as the
final product and proper documentation are
submitted to the AMA Technical Director
or a Scale Board member for review and
approval.
According to the Unified Scale Judging
Regulations, Paragraph 4B, drawings can
also be approved by the airplane’s
“manufacturer, builder, or other competent
authority.” In any case, it would be
appropriate to show proof of who approved
the drawings when the airplane is in
competition.
Frank obtained considerable data and
drawings from Richard Borg. The
information included top, side, and front
views of the airplane, drawings of fuselage
bulkheads, wing and tail construction, and
airplane dimensions.
Frank acquired almost the equivalent of
the manufacturer’s drawings, most of which
were provided to him in an 81⁄2 x 11-inch
format—a very handy size for
documentation purposes and use in a looseleaf
binder.
Frank got the photos (approximately 40)
of the Borg Parakeet from Bob Banka’s
CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss, 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park NY 11040
Frank Beatty’s Borg Parakeet has standard three-line control system, O.S. .46. Model
was awarded the NASA Top Static Score in CL Sport Scale at 2000 Nats.
Even though a complete cockpit isn’t judged, this fine-looking instrument panel gave
Frank Beatty’s Borg Parakeet Sport Scale model that final touch.
Scale Model Research. The data and photos
helped substantiate the airplane’s outline
and construction, from which Frank created
the three-view drawings.
Getting approval for the drawings was
the next step. The completed set, along
with selected Borg data, photos etc., were
sent to AMA District Scale Board member
John Guenther. Frank also sent a copy of
his three-view to Richard Borg, for review
and comment.
Richard sent the drawings back with
suggested changes that were incorporated
into a new version. Again, it was submitted
to the district Scale Board member, who
gave his final approval. The three-view
could be used for model documentation.
Frank warns that the process is not easy.
You must have the right data, photos,
history, and the foresight to start the
process early in the creation of the model
you’re going to use in competition. This
could take months to accomplish.
The Scale Board members are
volunteers, as are the many persons who
serve the AMA, and may be limited in the
amount of time they can devote to us.
If you might want to draw your own
three-views, consult with the AMA
Technical Director or your district Scale
Board member before you start.
three-views are probably the most important
part of the documentation package you
submit for a competition model.
In many cases, drawings are not easy to
find—especially if the three-views needed
are of some of the older vintage aircraft.
Trying to find the drawings of many older
aircraft has been made easier with the
publication of Aircraft Year Book 3-View
Drawings 1903-1946.
The book by John W. McDonald is a
compilation of drawings, captions, and
charts first published in Aircraft Year
Books, by the Manufacturer’s Association
in 1919. The object of the publications
was to describe progress and record events
in American aviation, and they included
three-views.
John has put together 936 drawings of
American aviation in the form of airships,
autogiros, balloons, biplanes, flying boats,
gliders, civilian light airplanes, and civilian,
commercial, and military aircraft from
before WW I—all with original captions.
The book is 81⁄2 x 11 inches, and is
softbound. The three-views and drawings
are 72% of the original size, and are four to
a page.
The book has a 24-page alphabetical
index (by manufacturer), followed by 234
pages of three-views, and concludes with
17 pages of aircraft specifications,
providing details such as the number of
engines, gross weight, wing area, high and
cruising speeds in mph, and the airplane’s
range in miles.
If you’re going to take on a new Scale
project and you’re looking for something
different to build from a bygone era,
John’s book might provide you with that
all-important three-view drawing, so you
don’t have to draw your own, as Frank
Beatty did.
If you’re not building a new model, but
are interested in the history of aviation,
this book will be an excellent addition to
your library.
Send a check or money order for $35
plus $4 for postage and handling to John
W. McDonald, Box 23, Windom KS
57491. For overseas orders, send a
cashier’s check or money order for $35
plus $8 postage and handling.
John McDonald built and flew model
airplanes, earned his private pilot license
while in high school, served in the Marines
during the Korean conflict as an airframe
mechanic, and worked at Boeing after
college, as an illustrator on the B-52s. He
went onto other adventures, and is now
retired and he flies his own Taylorcraft.
wanted: Do you have a special club
program that promotes CL Scale among the
younger members? Do you have a special
technique for finishing or detailing your
Scale model? How about building or
general workshop tips?
If so, please send them, along with
notices of upcoming CL Scale events,
contest reports, and especially photos of CL
Scale activity, to me at the address at the
top of this column. MA
