CONTROL LINE SCALE - 2003/03

March 2003 153
CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss, 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park NY 11040
A CURTISS CR-2 racing biplane won the
1921 Pulitzer Trophy Race. The Curtiss
racer was one of the company’s Model 23
biplanes that was built for the US Navy
under the designation of CR-1 and CR-2.
The Navy had intended to compete in the
Pulitzer Trophy Race, but it withdrew.
Curtiss borrowed the CR-2 instead, and the
company’s test pilot Bert Acosta
successfully flew the airplane to victory.
The CR-1 and CR-2 were biplanes with
tail-skid landing gear, and they were
powered with the Curtiss CD-12 inline
engine. They were later converted to
seaplanes (Model 23A) powered by 465-
horsepower Curtiss D-12 engines and fitted
with Curtiss Reed metal propellers. They
competed in the 1928 Schneider Trophy
Contest and placed first and second in the
race. The preceding information was found
in Barnes & Noble’s The Complete
Encyclopedia of World Aircraft.
Frank Beatty of Granite City, Illinois,
chose the Curtiss CR-2 for his latest Scale
project; it is shown in the accompanying
photos. The model, of his own design and
built to a scale of 2 inches = 1 foot, has a
wingspan of 45 inches and a length of 421⁄4
inches. Power is an O.S. .61 with a standard
three-line Roberts system for controlling the
throttle. The model weighs just less than 8
pounds.
The CR-2 is covered with silkspan over
balsa and Sig Koverall over the ailerons and
Frank Beatty (Granite City IL) designed and scratch-built this Curtiss CR-2. He won the
new CL Designer Scale event at the 2002 Nationals. Frank Beatty photo.
Its simulated wing radiators, flared exhaust stacks, and fine rigging make Frank’s
Curtiss CR-2 racing airplane an outstanding model. Beatty photo.
tail surfaces. The finish is Brodak dopes,
which Frank heartily recommends. He also
noted that he is most pleased with the
simulated scale corrugated wing-skin
radiators. Railroad modelers’ sheet styrene
“siding” was used for the simulated wing
radiators that look great. Other features of
note are the hand-carved scale propeller
and flared exhaust stacks.
Frank entered the model in the new
Control Line (CL) Designer Scale event at
the 2002 Nationals, won the High Static
Award, and placed first in the event. He
reports that after some adjustments with
respect to fuel, engine setting, and propeller
size, the model turned in a very respectful
flight and performed well in the touch-andgo
and taxi maneuvers.
The only other entry in the inaugural CL
Designer Scale event was a Piper Cub by
Charles Bauer. According to Frank, there
are a couple of reasons why the number of
entries was low. One was that some
modelers said they didn’t know about the
new event, and others indicated that they
were sitting this one out because they
would be flying shortly afterward in the
FAI (Fédération Aéronautique
Internationale) events at the World
Championships in Canada.
Also, since this was the first running
and the event was just implemented at the
beginning of 2002, it made it kind of hard
for many to understand the new rules then
plan and build a model in the few months
between the beginning of the year and the
Nationals dates.
Frank hopes, as do I, that more CL
Scale modelers will become aware of the
new event, which will provide better
turnouts in future years.
03sig5.QXD 12.20.02 10:54 am Page 153
New Control Handle: In the past few years I
have featured a number of electric servo and
electronic control systems for use with our CL
Scale models. I have explored single and dual
electric servo systems and various electronic
systems, from single-channel throttle control to
multichannel add-ons to two- and three-line
handles and multichannel electronic handles
such as those offered by Bill Young.
Now a new handle is being offered; it’s
called the ScaleMaster, and it takes the concept
of the electronic control handle to a new
dimension. The ScaleMaster handle is a sevenchannel
system that will allow the Scale
modeler to incorporate not only throttle control
but as many as six other independent
operational features using four toggle switches
and two proportional lever controls.
The handle is made from molded plastic,
and it offers the following features: custom
contour hand grip, servo reversing, dual rate
adjustment, servo end adjustment, power level
meter, and dual power supply.
The ScaleMaster system consists of the
handle and a seven-channel decoder. You have
to provide the servos, batteries, battery
charger, and other miscellaneous components.
The handle and decoder is set at a cost of $325.
The price may seem high, but it is not that
much more than purchasing a radio system and
having to pay for it to be modified for CL use.
A great advantage of the ScaleMaster
system is that all controls are right in front of
you; you can keep your eyes on the model at
all times, there are no wires from a unit on
your belt to the flight handle, and there is no
fumbling to find a control on a unit that you
can’t see. Another advantage is your ability to
use the handle with a number of models with a
varying number of operations. Each model
would be required to have its own decoder and
servo setup.
More information about this new handle
can be found on the ScaleMaster Web site:
www.finitesite.com/scalemaster/. The site
contains several photos of this system, detail
about line makeup, building tips, and a
considerable amount of other useful
information for the Scale builder or Navy
Carrier enthusiast. There is also a cost listing
for additional decoders and other systemrelated
components in the ordering section.
If you don’t have Internet access and want
additional information, you can write to
ScaleMaster, 5221⁄2 E. Beacon Ave., New
London WI 54961. Jaysen Hayes, designer
and technical support, and Karen Forsberg, the
general manager for ScaleMaster, can be
reached via the Web site or at the preceding
address.
Wanted: For nostalgic reasons, Bob Buenzly
of Allentown, Pennsylvania, would like to
obtain a copy of the old Berkeley SNJ (AT-6)
plans. The model had a wingspan of 31 inches
and was sold as a “U-control” Scale model kit.
Bob would also like information about or
plans for the Wanderer: a Free Flight design by
Bill Winter. Many years ago Bob’s uncle gave
him a completed Wanderer fuselage, and now
Bob would now like to obtain plans to
complete the model. Bob can be reached by
mail at 1408 N. 21st St., Allentown PA 19104,
or by E-mail at [email protected].
In Bob’s letter he mentioned an allaluminum
U-control model that he has called
the Topping 100. It had Bakelite wingtips, as
did the P-51 I wrote about in the October 2002
column. Bob’s 100 model (as shown in an ad )
is a Speed model for size B and C engines.
Bob also included a 1948 ad for Duro-
Matic’s Products Co. Invader Speed model for
class B engines. It seems that there were a
number of all-metal airplanes during the
1940s. I must also thank the many others who
continue to send notes or information about
all-aluminum models. A note from John
Agnew of Fort Myers, Florida, mentioned that
we have an all-aluminum P-51 in the National
Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana.
Glue Be Gone: Let’s say that after you put
that beautiful covering on your model, you
accidentally spill some cyanoacrylate glue on
it and you think it’s a mess. To take care of the
problem, put a bit of “debonder” on a piece of
paper towel and rub the glue right off. Wipe it
clean, and your model is new again.
That tip was taken from the Orville Air
Corps Flight Line, Sid Maxwell editor.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming CL
Scale events, contest reports, and especially
photos of CL Scale activity to me at the
address at the very top of this column. MA