Control Line Scale
Bill Boss [[email protected]]
The Scale Contest Board ratifies an emergency rules proposal affecting CL Scale
The Scale Contest Board ratified an emergency rules-change proposal that will affect all CL Scale flying. The change revises the table that specifies the pull test for all CL Scale models at various weights and line lengths. There is also a table that lists lap times for various line lengths, assuming the model’s speed is 60 mph.
Every CL Scale modeler should go to the AMA website (www.modelaircraft.org) and download a copy of this rules change. The download provides all the details and the reasons for the modifications. That information is too extensive to include here.
The Northwest Control Line Regionals, hosted by the Eugene Prop Spinners, was a great success in 2007, as it has been in past years. The contest was held Memorial Day weekend (May 25–27) and, for the second year, at the Eugene Airport. Good weather and a spacious airport site allowed the use of seven circles and drew 86 entrants who participated in 202 categories. According to the event directors, contestants and spectators had a great time.
Relevant to this column are the Scale event results and the fact that Precision Scale was contested.
- Precision Scale had four entries. Sport Scale had two entries. Profile Scale had only one entry. The Precision competitors were Mike MacCarthy, Don Chandler, Leonid Derbarmdiker, and Mike Potter; they were also the Sport and Profile entrants.
- Results (Precision):
- 1st — Mike MacCarthy, flying a Grumman S-2 firebomber turboprop variant equipped for a fire-retardant drop. It had working bomb-bay doors and dropped an orange-colored powder to simulate fire-retardant material. Two O.S. .25 engines powered this excellent-flying, 50-inch wingspan model.
- 2nd — Leonid Derbarmdiker, flying a Yak-12M liaison airplane.
- 3rd — Mike Potter, flying a Boeing XB-47D single-turboprop prototype. It spanned 46 inches and was nicely powered by two O.S. .15 engines.
- 4th — Don Chandler, flying an Alon Ercoupe.
Don Chandler was declared the Scale Champion for the meet based on his Precision Scale finish, a victory in Sport Scale with a P-47, and a first place in Profile Scale.
I am glad to see that the Precision Scale rules are included in the 2007–2008 CL Scale rules I downloaded from the AMA website. However, according to the last rules-change cycle, a proposal was passed to eliminate the Precision event from AMA's Competition Regulations rule book.
Although the rules are still included, there are no scoresheets. I checked the NASA website (www.nasascale.org), where all the CL Scale scoresheets can be found, and saw that there were none for the Precision event. I’m not sure where a club would stand if it included Precision Scale in a future contest. Would it have to get special permission from AMA, as it would for any other nonsanctioned event?
The Scale Contest Board has made a mistake in voting against retaining the Precision category. CL Designer Scale was supposed to be "The Ultimate Event," but how can it compare to Precision, which is judged "up close and personal" in all categories, when craftsmanship is judged up close in Designer and all other judging is done at 15 feet? Besides, the Designer event has not proven to have any better participation than Precision. What difference does it make if a model was built from a kit with great external detail added, or built from scratch as a Designer airplane with great external detail? You never see the inside structure of the completed model. I believe the Precision event was dropped because of the stringent rules and the time required to judge such a model correctly. It's a shame Precision was eliminated in favor of Designer, which has proven to be no better for participation. Doing away with Precision also removed a step that could have been used to progress to the Designer event. Instead we have nothing between Sport and Designer to encourage Scale modelers to advance.
In addition, why have Fun Scale and Team Scale been added to the Competition Regulations? Although they may be fun to fly, have they added significantly to the challenge of building a Scale model as the Precision event did?
A versatile flight stand
A flight stand can be used for a number of things. The primary purpose of the one shown this month is to hold your model for testing and flight preparation.
Marty Rosenbaum made the stand shown in the photo. It measures 23 inches wide, 36 inches high, and 6 inches deep when folded for storage. The 6-inch depth allows it to be stored in small spaces and transported easily to the field.
Marty finished the stand with one coat of sanding sealer and one coat of Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane. All joints are glued and screwed for greater strength. The table allows you to keep all your equipment in one place at the field and work at table height.
Although the stand is primarily for R/C, CL fliers can use it as a field-equipment stand. Removing the model-cradle attachments provides a nice workbench for outdoor and indoor free-flight fliers—especially for the small models that are flown in gymnasium arenas.
The flight stand’s mobility and size make it useful as a handy workbench for chores around the house. The two platforms provide ample space for tools. I have even used it alongside the barbecue grill for holding food to be cooked. Perhaps you can find other uses for this versatile item.
If you are interested in this stand, contact Marty at:
- Address: 68 Lakewood Ave., Monticello, NY 12701
- Tel.: (845) 866-4296
- E-mail: [email protected]
He will be glad to provide a price quote for the stand and shipping charges, which vary depending on ZIP code.
Help wanted: electric-powered CL flight
Fran Gallaway sent an email asking for help with electric-powered CL flight. He has roughly an acre of land and would like to try CL flying with electric power but is concerned about using glow or gas engines because of noise.
Fran has searched the Internet but has been unsuccessful in finding much information. He would appreciate any information on electric-powered CL. Please send it to him at [email protected]. I would like to be copied on any help provided to Fran for use in this column.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me. My email address is at the top of the column. Mailing address: 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park, NY 11040.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
