124 MODEL AVIATION
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, etc.
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.
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-
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Defining Scale fly-ins and Scale contests
Part of the crowd members who took to the runway during the noon flying break to get a closer look at the aircraft.
Jay Steward of Phoenix works on his scratch-built, 14-pound
Curtiss Helldiver powered by an O.S. .91 FS engine.
Brian O’Meara’s 51-pound Hawker Sea Fury has a Moki fivecylinder
radial. It won the Commander’s Choice award.
Curtis Kitteringham and Kenny Rhoads (sitting) with a buddy box
and a new pilot during the spring OEAF fly-in.
Also included in this column:
• Citabria Pro documentation
request
• Sweden was neutral!
• Glenn Torrance Models’ 1/3-
scale Fokker Dr.I
10sig4.QXD 8/22/07 1:31 PM Page 124
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 out
“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, and 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