Author: Bill Boss
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/10
Page Numbers: 136,138
,

Control Line Scale - 2009/10

New Navy Carrier Plus Scale XII contest

Bill Boss [[email protected]]

During the last several years, the Central Arizona Control Line Club and the Cholla Choppers of Tucson have combined efforts to promote major contest activity in Arizona. The Vintage Stunt Championships has been a favorite for Precision Aerobatics (Stunt). Then there is the Cabin Fever for Racing, the Red Flag and AZ Challenge for Combat, and Navy Carrier Plus. To promote CL Scale in the region, the Central Arizona Control Line Club has added a full line of Scale events to Navy Carrier Plus this year. The contest will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 24–25, at Friendship Park in Avondale. The event is now called Navy Carrier Plus Scale XII.

There will be 12 classes for Navy Carrier:

  • AMA Class I (event 319)
  • AMA Class II (event 320)
  • Profile (event 321)
  • Sportsman Profile
  • .15 Carrier
  • Skyray (nitro or electric)
  • Nostalgia Class I
  • Nostalgia Class II
  • Nostalgia Profile
  • Electric Class I
  • Electric Class II
  • Electric Profile

Scale contestants will have the option of entering AMA categories for:

  • Fun Scale (event 526)
  • Profile Scale (event 521)
  • Sport Scale (event 509)
  • Designer Scale (event 524)
  • Precision Scale (event 528)
  • F4B Scale (FAI event 510)

Ted Kraver is the contest director (CD). Gary Grimstad is event director for the Navy Carrier events, and Ken Guilford is the event director for Scale events. Junior, Senior, and Open classes will be combined in all events, with trophies going to first, second, and third places.

Ted reports that modelers have sent him e-mail from as far away as California, Colorado, and Illinois, claiming that they will try to participate. This is a great opportunity for anyone who flies Navy Carrier and/or Scale to have a great time, with many classes offered in one contest.

I wish Ted and the Central Arizona Control Line Club the best in their efforts to promote both events. For directions to Friendship Park and travel instructions, contact Ted. His information is in the Sources section at the end of this column.

Cox .049 Engines

In recent columns I have featured items indicating growing interest in profile models that use 1/2A engines and contests in which they can be entered. I need to inform you that on February 6, 2009, Estes Industries shut down its Cox division. Estes is finished supplying everything related to gas-powered engines and flying.

However, all is not lost for those who love Cox engines. They have become a division of Laketown Investments Ltd., which is acquiring the remaining inventory. That includes many engines and parts, tooling, and machinery. Plans are to continue limited production of the more popular parts and accessories and to look at what else is viable in the future.

Bernie and Xena thank all of their friends and customers for the overwhelming support and want it known that they will continue to provide quality products and the “customer comes first” service to which their clientele have become accustomed.

The Sources section provides information about where Cox engines and parts can be found.

Photos and Models

Louis Matustik of Saint Louis, Missouri, provided the photos of the B-17 models. The pictures were taken at the Lafayette Esquadrille Control Line Club’s annual fall contest, held September 27, 2008, at Buder Park.

Ed Mason’s full-bodied B-17 (silver-and-yellow color scheme) was built from an Air Design R/C kit. It is equipped with four O.S. .25 engines controlled via a standard three-line system. The color scheme and markings are that of the full-scale B-17 that carried the “Fuddy Duddy” nose art. Ed flew his bomber in the Sport Scale Military event. The four engines’ size, weight, and power make the model a great performer, but it can be a handful at full throttle. The O.S. engines provide a great sound in the air, which is a crowd pleaser.

Another photo shows the B-17 that Rich Raftery entered in the Profile Scale Military class. It has the color scheme used on the famous “Memphis Belle.” The model is powered with two O.S. .25 engines. Because of its size, weight, and profile construction, it is easy to handle in the air.

The full-scale Memphis Belle (Serial No. 41-24485) is probably one of the most celebrated B-17s of WWII. It is credited with being the first to complete 25 bombing missions, flown between November 7, 1942, and May 17, 1943. During that time it shot down eight enemy fighters and damaged several others, dropped more than 60 tons of bombs, flew more than 148 hours, and covered more than 20,000 combat miles. The B-17 was christened the “Memphis Belle” in honor of the pilot’s wartime sweetheart, Margaret Polk. See the Sources section for where to find the complete story of this aircraft.

Another photo this month is from Gerald Boyd of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, of his semiscale twin-engine Martin P4M-1Q Mercator. The model has a 53-inch wingspan, 366 square inches of wing area, a fuselage length of 38.75 inches, and weighs 36 ounces.

Construction details:

  • Fuselage: rectangular box configuration fitted with circular formers top and bottom, then sheeted with 1/16" balsa.
  • Wing: 1/16" balsa-sheeted, elliptical with no dihedral from the engine nacelles out to allow the Mercator to fly Stunt.
  • Engine pods: basic plywood frame and plywood firewall with nylon radial-engine mounts attached.
  • Cowls: made from light wood sheet wrapped around two plywood rings with a hole cut to allow the two O.S. .15 engines’ heads to show for cooling.
  • Finish: Sig dope (metallic blue with white added); panel markings made from a silver metallic Sharpie.

The Glenn L. Martin Company built the full-scale Martin P4M Mercator. It was a twin-engine maritime reconnaissance aircraft and an unsuccessful contender for a US Navy long-range patrol/maritime bomber requirement, losing out to the Lockheed P2V Neptune. The Martin saw limited service as a long-range electronic reconnaissance aircraft. Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1) flew missions from the Philippines and Japan along the Chinese borders and the Russian coasts. These missions were highly secret; the aircraft masqueraded as a P2V Neptune in radio communications. The Mercator was withdrawn from service in 1960 and replaced with the carrier-based Douglas EA-3 Skywarrior.

Gerald Boyd can supply plans for the P4M-1Q model at a reasonable cost. See the Sources list for his contact information.

Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me via e-mail or postal mail. — MA

Sources

  • Bill Boss

77-06 269th St. New Hyde Park, NY 11040

  • Ted Kraver

[email protected]

  • Cox Engines

Phone: (250) 398-2600 Website: www.coxengines.ca/home.php

  • Louis Matustik

9613 Cinnabar Dr. Saint Louis, MO 63126

  • Gerald Boyd

Phone: (604) 275-9192 [email protected]

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.