Control Line Scale - 2015/04
Many changes in the 2015-2016 CL Scale rule book
by Fred Cronenwett [email protected]
Correction: The 2014 Nats coverage in the December 2014 “Control Line Scale” column incorrectly reported that Bob Whitney’s 1/2A Scale pond racer used .61 engines. The model was actually flown with .061 engines. That would have been one fast aircraft with a pair of .61 engines!
BV 138 Flying Boat
Leroy Black’s model of the Blohm und Voss BV 138 flying boat has three Norvel .061 engines. The 42-inch wingspan aircraft was entered in the Tucson 1/2A Scale contest in October 2014. The event was hosted by the Cholla Choppers Model Airplane Club.
Flying boats are challenging because the full-scale aircraft has no wheels. One method for building a model flying boat that can operate from a hard surface is to bury half of the wheel in the fuselage, as shown in the photograph. The wheels allow the model to tip from side to side, so a small wheel on each wingtip is necessary to prevent tipping and to allow throttle-controlled taxi operations.
CL Scale Rules Have Changed
If you plan to fly in an AMA-sanctioned Control Line (CL) Scale contest this year, you need to read the updated 2015–2016 rules on the AMA website. If you are a contest director (CD), you also need to read the updated rules. If you don’t have Internet access, find someone to print them for you.
The CL Scale rules were completely rewritten. It is worth reading the entire set of rules so you know what to expect at the next contest.
Key changes and clarifications:
- Events:
- Fun, Sport, Profile, and Team Scale remain.
- Designer Scale has been eliminated.
- Authentic Scale and 1/2A Scale have been added as official AMA events.
- The 1/2A Scale event has run for many years using club rules; if your club continues to use club rules, make this clear on your contest sanction and advertising.
- Judging distances:
- 1/2A Scale is judged 5 feet from the model.
- All other events are judged from 15 feet.
- (See Authentic Scale below for its special static-judging procedure.)
- Documentation page limits:
- The three-view counts as one page regardless of how many pages it takes.
- Fun and 1/2A Scale: maximum 4 pages.
- Sport, Profile, and Team: maximum 8 pages.
- Authentic Scale: maximum 12 pages.
- Pull-test weight for electric aircraft:
- The weight of the batteries must now be included in the model weight used to calculate pull-test requirements.
- Line requirements:
- Minimum line diameters have been revised; most fliers will need new flying lines.
- The rule book includes a diagram with line diameters based on model weight and number of lines.
- Example changes: for a model flown with two multistrand lines in the 4–8 pound range, the required line diameter changed from .018 to .021. For aircraft weighing more than 12 pounds, the line diameter is now .027 with two multistrand lines.
- Line length: any model that weighs 8 pounds or more must use 65- to 70-foot lines.
- Bulk line material is available from MBS Model Supply. Brodak Manufacturing has lines available by length and diameter.
- Taxi option:
- The taxi option can only be performed after the landing is complete under the new rules.
- The rules require the model to come to a complete stop with the engine or motor idling before takeoff, without outside help. (Some CDs have previously allowed a taxi option before takeoff.)
- Profile Scale clarification:
- Profile Scale models may be entered in any event, but expect outline downgrades if you enter the airplane in Sport or Authentic Scale.
- In Fun Scale you will not receive outline point deductions during static for a Profile Scale model.
Authentic Scale
Authentic Scale is judged at 15 feet for the outline and then judged up close for the details. Authentic Scale will require judges who have experience with scale modeling and will require extra time for the static judging.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
