CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss 77-06 269th St. New Hyde Park, NY 11040
THE NOVEMBER 2003 column inspired two items that I would like to address this month. The first is a response to my comments about the way Scale or "Beauty" events of old were run. The second is about the two Control Line (CL) cross-proposals that would affect CL in general, and especially the Scale events.
Responses to the November column
Mike Keville wrote, "Bingo! Your November column hit it right on the head—participation in CL Scale has declined as a result of multiple functions, electronics, etc." He, too, recalls the days of the "Beauty" events—a time when CL Scale entries were plentiful because of the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. All you had to do was qualify the model by taking off with it, flying it a minimum of 10 laps, and landing it.
Mike went on to write that, granted, many of the entries looked like large, plastic models, with their super-shiny, smooth finishes rubbed to a high gloss, but perhaps that was the "beauty" of it.
He also noted that he often thought about building a Scale model or two, but that he was not about to go up against the fully operational models controlled via multiple control lines or modified radio systems. Mike concluded by writing that if it ever comes to a vote to reinstate the "judge them for beauty then fly 10 laps," count him in.
Cross-proposals and potential effects
This next item requires me to put on the other hat and discuss the more sophisticated side of CL Scale; that is, the use of fully operational control systems. I have submitted cross-proposal CLG-05-CP1 and Tom Dixon has submitted cross-proposal CLG-05-CP2. By the time you read this, the various CL and Scale Contest Boards will most likely have completed the interim vote and decided which cross-proposal (or perhaps both) will go forward for the final vote. I want to inform you of what might happen with the passing of each proposal.
- CLG-05-CP1 (my proposal)
- Intent: To clarify/change the existing paragraph 2 of the General Control Line rules from:
- "Such manipulation of control surfaces may be accomplished by either mechanical means or by electrical impulses transmitted through the line(s)"
- To:
- "To allow all operational features of a model to be controlled via the line system, or by any future system development that does not interfere with AMA authorized events."
- Effect: This proposal would allow continued development of infrared systems currently being used and would permit new systems (for example, future developments such as fiber optics). AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf has commented that this proposal might allow the use of radio transmission; that is not the proposal's intent. A letter has been submitted to Carl Maroney of the AMA Safety Committee suggesting that AMA should seriously consider issuing a directive banning the use of radios in CL flying (as I understand has been done within Fédération Aéronautique Internationale rules). This ban is proposed for safety reasons and to eliminate any possibility of interference between CL and radio-control operations at national, regional, or local flying fields.
- CLG-05-CP2 (Tom Dixon's proposal)
- Intent: To limit control of a CL model's operational features to the physical lines between the model and the control handle.
- Effect: You would still be able to employ modified radios or other control systems, as long as transmission is made via the lines between the handle and the model. If passed, this proposal would eliminate the use of the new infrared systems that are being developed and employed and would not permit the development of any system that does not use the physical lines between the handle and the model.
Regardless of which proposal goes forward, please make certain that your respective CL or Scale Contest Board member gets your comments for or against the proposal that is advanced to the final vote. You should have ample time to comment since this column should reach you at roughly the same time that the Boards get the final vote forms from AMA Headquarters. The Boards' final votes are due to Headquarters by April 1, 2004.
This Month's Photos
Frank Beatty (Granite City, Illinois) has produced another great-looking model in the form of Der Jager. According to Frank, Marshall White designed and built Der Jager in 1969. He wanted an airplane that had the World War I fighter look (so it sports Albatros-like wings), a Fokker D.VII-like tail, and German markings all over it.
Marshall also installed dummy machine guns and a dummy bomb to carry out the warbird-like theme. The dummy bomb contained the oil necessary for the smoke-generating equipment. The streamers attached to the upper wingtips and the tail, combined with the smoke, added pizzazz when Der Jager was engaged in aerobatics.
Frank built his model to a scale of 2 inches = 1 foot. It has a wingspan of 40 inches and a fuselage length of 35 inches. The model is powered with an O.S. .32 engine controlled via a three-line bellcrank system. It has a 448-square-inch wing area and weighs 70 ounces, which provides a wing loading of roughly 15.5 ounces per 100 square inches of wing area.
Frank noted that the model flies rock steady and that landing approaches and taxi are great. However, if you're a bit careless or sloppy in the landing approach, the model's flexible landing gear allows some bouncing. No ballast was required to get the model properly balanced for flying.
Frank entered his Der Jager in the CL Designer Scale event at the 2003 Nationals and finished in second place. That's not bad for the model's first time in competition. As I noted in my last column, which featured Mike Welshans' Rearwin Speedster, the weather at the 2003 Nationals CL Scale flyoff was not the greatest and presented problems for all entries.
The static scores for the three Designer Scale entries were in the 80s:
- Bill Logan's Fokker D.I — 86.5 points
- Frank Beatty's Der Jager — 82 points
- Charlie Bauer's J-3 Cub — 80 points
Only six points separated the models. Had the weather been different, the outcome of the event could well have been different.
One of this month's photos shows Frank with friend and fellow club member Lou Matustik of the Lafayette Esquadrille Control Line club of Saint Louis, Missouri. Lou noted in his letter that he enjoyed the October column about the all-metal P-51 and that he also had a top-notch P-51 many years ago.
Frank's model in the photo is his scratch-built and own-design Alexander Eaglerock. It has a 49-inch wingspan and is powered by an O.S. Max .40. Lou's aircraft is a Curtiss Jenny built from a kit designed for rubber-powered Free Flight. A bit of reinforcement here and there and an O.S. .15 radio-control engine produced a good-flying model. The Jenny spans 34 inches.
Lou also commented that more CL fliers should try building CL Scale models, not for competition but for the fun of it. He noted, as I have mentioned many times in this column, that a large number of radio-control Scale kits make excellent-flying models for fun-flying or sport competition when they are converted to CL. I also see many Almost Ready-to-Fly kits intended for radio control that would make excellent starter models for CL fun-flying or local CL Fun Scale events.
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 top of this column.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
