Control Line Scale - 2004/03

March 2004 151
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.
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.
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-
05-1CP1 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.
The intent of my proposal CLG-05-CP1 is 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
These views of Frank Beatty’s Der Jager show the fine detail and workmanship he puts into his models. Beatty photos.
Frank Beatty (L) with his own-design Alexander Eaglerock and
Lou Matustik with his Curtiss Jenny. Matustik photo.
152 MODEL AVIATION
that does not interfere with AMA
authorized events.”
This proposal would allow for
continued development of the infrared
systems that are being used and would
allow for new systems. Who knows?
Someone out there may be smart enough
to develop the use of fiber optics.
AMA Technical Director Steve Kaluf
has commented on this proposal as one
that 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 the issuance of a directive that
would ban the use of radios in CL flying,
as I understand has been done within the
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
rules.
This ban is proposed for safety reasons
and to eliminate any possibility of
interference between CL and radio-control
operations, whether it be nationally,
regionally, or at local flying fields.
Proposal CLG-05-CP2 would limit
control of a CL model’s operational
features to the physical lines between the
model and the control handle. You will
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 get to
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’s
(Granite City, Illinois) airplane factory 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 warbirdlike theme. The dummy
bomb contained the oil necessary for the
smoke-generating equipment. The
streamers attached to the upper wingtips
and the trail made with the smoke added
pizzazz when the 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’s 86.5 points, Frank’s Der
Jager’s 82 points, and Charlie Bauer’s J-3
Cub’s 80 points), with only six points
separating 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 topping P-51 so many
years ago.
Frank’s model in the photo is his scratchbuilt
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 rubberpowered
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 funflying
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. MA
Coming next month:
Model Aviation’s Scale theme issue
Don’t miss it!