Radio Control Scale
Stan Alexander [[email protected]]
Defining Scale fly-ins and Scale contests
I’ve received many questions recently, and I’ll try to answer some of them in this column. Topics have included requests for documentation sources, competition information, where to find Scale fly‑ins in the US, Fokker Dr.I updates, and more.
Checking the "Contest Calendar" section of this magazine can help when you are searching for that next contest or Scale fly‑in. They are scattered across the country.
Also included in this column:
- Citabria Pro documentation request
- Sweden was neutral!
- Glenn Torrance Models' 1/3‑scale Fokker Dr.I
A modeler who is just getting into Scale modeling sent me an e‑mail asking what the difference is between a Scale contest and a Scale fly‑in. At such a contest you bring a replica of a full‑scale aircraft. Its size (1/4, 1/3, 1/6, etc.) is totally up to you, the modeler.
Most Scale contests comprise two parts: the static portion and the flight portion. (The May 2007 RC Scale column contains more information about Scale competition.) In AMA Sport Scale the static judging is first. For beginners there is Fun Scale, in which you can enter an ARF and you receive five static points if it is painted identically to a full‑scale aircraft or matches a plastic‑model box top. Static judging is where you prove to the judges that a full‑scale airplane exists or existed that looks exactly like the one you have modeled. You can receive as many as 100 points for this portion of the competition.
The judges—usually a panel of two to four—look at different aspects of the model including outline, color and markings, and craftsmanship. Having photos of the full‑scale version is advisable. Having good color documentation such as color chips or a chip chart helps if you have matched your documentation. You want to spend as little time as possible in front of the static judges, so keep it simple and give them what they need to do the job. For more information about Scale rules, check “Competition Docs/Forms” on the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) Web site at www.nasascale.org.
The flying portion is nine maneuvers, including the five that are mandatory:
- Takeoff
- Fly‑Past
- Figure Eight
- Landing
- Realism in Flight
Remember to do aerobatic maneuvers with aerobatic aircraft and nonaerobatic maneuvers with airplanes such as transports or civil aircraft. You can usually perform as many as four flights per class entered. You can only enter one airplane in one class at a contest.
Get a group of friends together and go to a contest. It’s great fun and you learn a lot about Scale flight maneuvers and the history of airplanes. It’s a learning experience; don’t worry about the scores. Read the rule book and have fun!
Scale fly‑ins are even more laid back, and this month we’ll take a look at some of my favorites: the One Eighth Air Force (OEAF) events held in Phoenix, Arizona. The club holds these gatherings in the spring and in the fall. With what members called “iffy” weather this past spring, there were still 71 registered pilots.
I’ve tried to get my wife to move out to Phoenix, and she argues that there’s no trees or grass. “So what’s your point?” I ask. That means no mowing, no raking, no picking up limbs, etc. I could rake the rocks once a month or so and use the rest of the spare time I have to fly!
I wrote that a Scale fly‑in is even more laid back than a contest. It is, but not much. To participate in most of these you only have to bring some sort of Scale model you have flown successfully beforehand, your AMA license card, and a landing fee—usually $10–$25 per aircraft; it varies.
You will either have assigned times to fly or you can pick a slot somewhere in the line and wait your turn. If you want to just sit back and watch, that’s okay too. It’s basically the same as at a contest.
A neat idea the members in Phoenix had was to give any kid who flew with a buddy box an OEAF club T‑shirt. Encourage the kids; they are our future and we desperately need them!
The OEAF usually has a raffle that rivals any you will find at trade shows, and the club members always come up with items you wouldn’t imagine. Saturday evening is the traditional steak‑fry dinner. Howard Kennedy said that roughly 60 dinners were served at the spring event, courtesy of the famous OEAF Fun Auction.
Awards are given out at Scale fly‑ins and contests. The OEAF distributed honors at the spring event for:
- Best Military Flight
- Best Civilian Flight
- Commander’s Choice
- Best Multi‑Engine Flight
- and more
You can make an award for almost anything, and I’m sure that happens on the spot sometimes—best flight, worst crash, the crying towel award, etc.
The next OEAF fly‑in will be held October 27–28. Check out your map and schedule and see if you can’t swing by for a great time. The fall edition will be held at the Arizona Model Pilots Society’s Adobe Mountain Airfield on 43rd Avenue. For more information visit www.oneeighthairforce.org. You can also contact Howard Kennedy at (602) 361‑8475 or [email protected], or Austin Goodwin at (480) 357‑1816 or [email protected].
Thanks to Howard Kennedy for the information about the spring fly‑in and Val Roquen for the photos. Also thanks to the OEAF members and their sponsors for the event. Without sponsors, events such as these and Scale contests would be impossible to hold.
I wish I could have been there; it sounds like a great time! How many hours’ drive time would it be so we can plan for next year? We’ll have to check our schedule!
Documentation
I received a request for documentation information about the Citabria Pro. If I remember correctly, it was the forerunner of the Bellanca Citabria. At one time the full‑scale Pro was on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Only one Citabria Pro was built, and the color scheme was red and white with trim. Balsa USA makes a kit of the aircraft in 1/4 scale. If anyone is aware of any other accurate color schemes for this model, please let me know.
Goofs
Well, I goofed again. I get miffed if I see a video or advertisement depicting an aircraft that is the wrong number, such as the “Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk IX” referred to as the wrong Mk or claiming that the first German dive bomber was the Hs 129 when it was actually the Hs 123 biplane.
I made a mistake in a previous column when I wrote that Sweden was a World War II ally; it wasn’t. According to published sources, Sweden was officially neutral during that conflict and in World War I.
The North American aircraft Sweden bought were just some of the airplanes purchased before World War II. Sweden also bought aircraft from Germany, Italy, and other countries.
New Products
Glenn Torrance Models’ 1/3‑scale Fokker Dr.I kit produces a 94‑inch‑span model. It features tube‑type construction, an aluminum cowling, aluminum struts, and scale wire wheels. The kit costs $845 plus shipping. A 1/3‑scale pilot and many other details are available separately for this aircraft.
Glenn has something else modelers want for World War I aircraft: fabric featuring preprinted lozenge patterns. Dark and light colors are available, as are four‑ or five‑color patterns. A 16 × 60‑inch panel, for 1/4 scale, costs $16.
Rib tapes are also available, and they are priced individually. For 1/4 scale the tapes are 18¢ and 12¢ each. The prices for 1/3 scale are slightly higher.
For more information contact Glenn Torrance Models at Box 440, Morrisville, NC 27560, or (919) 423‑8530. Check out the Web site at www.flygtrm.com. It has lots of World War I stuff!
Fair skies and tailwinds. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
