Author: Bill boss
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/06
Page Numbers: 130,131
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Control Line Scale

Bill Boss [[email protected]]

The passing of Dave Dulaitis, a Scale great

A recent letter from A.C. (Jake) Larson, a good friend of Dave Dulaitis in Florida, informed me that Dave passed away December 24, 2009. Jake wrote that Dave was a longtime CL Scale modeler and a professional draftsman for an oil pipeline company. He drew and built his models from more than 50 plans he created.

According to Mike Welshans, a longtime friend of Dave’s, Dave was born and raised in Lithuania. After World War II, Dave and his wife, Aldona, immigrated to the U.S. and settled in New York. In the late 1940s the couple moved to the Cleveland, Ohio, area. They later moved to Detroit, Michigan, in the 1950s, where Dave joined the Detroit Cloudbusters Model Airplane Club.

Dave was not only a great CL Scale modeler who often won contests in southeast Michigan and at Michigan State Championships, but he also used his drawing and technical skills to help and teach many in the discipline of Scale modeling. He was a prolific contributor to many Scale columnists.

Dave and Aldona retired to Florida in the 1980s, and I enjoyed communicating with him for many years afterward. I also had the pleasure of including many of his models and comments about Scale in this column. Dave Dulaitis was a great Scale modeler who will be sorely missed by many.

Rules-change proposals

Seventeen CL Scale rules-change proposals are before the Scale Board. The majority have been submitted to clarify existing rules, predominantly for Sport Scale (AMA event 509), Profile Scale (AMA event 521), and Fun Scale (AMA event 526). My review indicates that several proposed changes would not be necessary if the existing rules were thoroughly understood and properly applied. Some suggested changes appear redundant because the issue is already defined elsewhere in the rules.

Proposal CLS 11-03 suggests adding wording to the Sport Scale rules after the last sentence of “Model Requirements”: “At any contest, this entry may not also be entered in CL Designer, Profile or Fun Scale, although separate models may be entered by the same contestant in these events.” Similar proposals (CLS 11-7 for Designer Scale and CLS 11-10 for Fun Scale) suggest the same wording for those events.

I consider that change unnecessary because Scale General paragraph 2 already reads: “A contestant may make only one entry in each scale event, unless more are specifically allowed by the event rules.” I interpret the existing wording to mean that once a model is entered in a specific event, it cannot be entered in another event at the same contest.

Another proposal, CLS 11-5 for Sport Scale, states that “Sharp pitot tubes projecting from the wings or fuselage will be removed before flight as a safety consideration.” If that requirement is applied, should protruding machine guns, bombs, and missiles that can be dropped or ejected during flight also be removed before flight as a safety consideration? Removing such items would eliminate the operational features they represent while the model is flying. This type of clarification needs careful consideration.

I cannot address all proposals here because of space limitations. However, I urge all CL Scale modelers to review the proposals and share your opinions with your District Contest Board members. Scale judges do a creditable job interpreting and applying the rules as they exist in the AMA Competition Regulations. Keep in mind that rule changes should be necessary and meaningful—not simply a way to expand the rule book.

To review the current set of proposals, visit the AMA website (see Sources).

Fourth annual 1/2A Multi-Engine Profile Scale Contest

The fourth annual 1/2A Multi-Engine Profile Scale Contest will take place at Christopher Columbus Park in Tucson, Arizona, October 9–10, 2010. Robin Sizemore is the contest director.

Two classes—Limited and Unlimited—will be offered for profile-fuselage models of heavier-than-air aircraft with piston, turboprop, or jet power. Fuselages and engine nacelles can have a maximum width of 1 inch; however, engine cowlings of any diameter are allowed.

Limited class

  • For models with no throttle or other functions controlled by timers, electronics, or other means.
  • Scoring: accuracy of outline (40 points); color, finish and markings (40 points); number of laps flown (10 points); quality of flight (20 points).
  • Bonus: 5 points for aircraft with more than one wing, and 5 points for models with more than one engine.
  • Maximum total score: 120 points.
  • Special award: best all-sheet, flat-airfoil entry.

Unlimited class

  • For throttle-controlled models with any number of ground or flight operational features.
  • Scoring is the same as Limited, except the pilot may choose three of six operational features:
  • Taxi
  • Two laps of 30° high flight
  • Inside Loop
  • Lazy Eight
  • Touch & Go
  • An operational feature of the prototype aircraft
  • Maximum total score: 150 points.

Event details

  • Four attempts will be allowed to make two official flights; a flight becomes official when one lap is completed.
  • Engines in both classes must be glow or diesel (no electric power) and are limited to .049 or .061 cu. in. displacement.
  • Scale documentation required: three-views and other information, limited to eight pages and presented in a loose-leaf notebook.
  • All AMA safety rules apply.

Contact Mike Keville or Robin Sizemore for complete contest details (see Sources).

Fellowship of Christian Modelers (FCM) — 10th annual AAA contest

The Fellowship of Christian Modelers (FCM) will hold its 10th annual AAA contest at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, Saturday and Sunday, August 28–29 this year. Allen Goff of the FCM reports that Fun, Profile, and Sport Scale classes will be contested; they will be flown Saturday at Site 1 (the L-Pad).

In addition to event awards, there will be a free Saturday-night supper, free raffle drawings for engines, kits, and various modeling items, and free T-shirts.

Past notable attendees include Jack Seeks, Charlie and Peter Bauer, Chuck Snyder, Steve Couch, Jeff Hitchcock, and Richard Schneider. The event features great camaraderie and fun.

Contact Allen Goff for complete contest details (see Sources).

Contributions and contact

Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me at the e-mail address in the column header or to my street address listed below.

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

Sources

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