118 MODEL AVIATION
Recruit members to ensure a future for aeromodeling
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Fifteen of the 50 or so kids who received shirts and certificates after their first flights at
the One Eighth Air Force Fly-In. Some went on to become AMA members.
EVERYONE has a common enemy that
affects daily life, and that is time. We are so
connected by technology as a nation that we
might not realize how much of our “free” time
is consumed by new gadgets, technological
advancements, etc.
A happy little lady makes her first loop with some help, thanks to
the One Eighth Air Force, Curtis Kitteringham, and crew.
Kids wanting to fly a Scale model line up for two flight stations.
Some of these young sparks might become the future of our
hobby.
According to some, our hobby loses out in
the frenzy. Thus the ARF—or now the RTF—
generation is so sizable that it must be
acknowledged.
Many clubs have recognized this in the last
several years and have created programs, flyins,
and meet-and-greet events at club fields
for the purpose of adding kids and young
adults to our ranks. Some of these efforts have
been more successful than others.
We need every individual we can get to be
involved in aeromodeling for the long term.
So we need to share the successes and failures
of some of these organizations so that the rest
of us can learn how to encourage others among
us, to light a fire within our own groups.
What does this have to do with RC Scale?
Everything!
Some of the hardest-hit events and areas
within aeromodeling are those that require
participants to “model”—or build—an aircraft.
In some cases the Scale rules have been unable
to keep up with the changing atmosphere of the
hobby. Why?
Clubs and organizations sometimes try to
promote Scale modeling and Scale models. Be
it from an ARF or a tried-and-true builder
point of view, we need to work on it. I have
been around Scale competition for sometime
and have seen the numbers of competitors
change.
Not long ago the average event drew 75%-
80% in Sport Scale, 10% in Designer or FAI
class, and the rest in Fun Scale (the ARF
class). Today the numbers are the opposite; we
see 70%-80% of models in Fun Scale, a
sprinkling of Sport Scale participants, and even
fewer Designer/FAI entries.
Some modelers don’t want to be bothered
with trying to bring in new members; they
have precious little time for their own activities
within the hobby. But even if that is true,
taking a weekend or two each year to help your
club increase its numbers is a great way to
ensure that what you enjoy doing will be
around for the next generation and yourself.
But how do we get people interested in
Scale modeling or flying models in general?
Look at various kids’ programs outside of
aeromodeling to obtain some ideas. Being
proactive at the local club level is another way.
Not taking no for an answer is the most
important subject to address.
The AMA has worked with both Boy
Scouts and Girl Scouts in recent years to
promote both model and full-scale aviation.
Also included in this column:
• Three-view salvation
• A civil victory at the Scale
World Champs
12sig4x_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/22/10 8:49 AM Page 118
The EAA Young Eagles Program has gone on
for more than 15 years.
The AMA, Sig Manufacturing, and many
volunteers have played key roles in making
such programs successful, including the one
that takes place at EAA’s AirVenture. Many
future aeromodelers have had their first
experiences on a flight simulator or made a
flight on a CL model at such events.
At past Scale National Championships,
pilots have come together with buddy boxes.
At one time the team from Balsa USA
brought out Scale models with which kids
could make their first flights.
These efforts are great, but we need some
sort of national program to bring in members,
be they kids or adults, at the local level. The
terminology and actions associated with this
hobby are second nature to those of us who
have been in the hobby for a long time, but
it’s a foreign language for beginners.
Share with us what your club does with
Scale models to encourage new members!
The 2010 Nationals featured
several great models that I had
never seen at contests. At this
event each year you get to
see a variety of aircraft
types, and this year
was exceptional in
that aspect. Jets,
World War I, World
War II, civil aviation,
and racing subjects
were in competition.
Steve Eagle built his Nieuport 17 to 1/3
scale from a much-modified Balsa USA kit
and entered it in Sportsman Sport Scale. This
class, which fits between Fun Scale and
Expert/Designer, is intended for those with
less competition experience.
The Nieuport spanned 104 inches. Steve
redesigned the wingtips to give them an
undercambered shape, per the full-scale
aircraft. He also shortened the nose forward
of the wing by 21/2 inches, for a more scale
outline, and then reduced the tail surfaces to
the correct scale size.
Steve powered the 26-pound model with
a 3W-75 gas engine and covered it with
Solartex. Then he added such details as a
dummy radial engine, flying wires, bungee
shock-absorbing landing gear, scale hinges,
and a scale cockpit interior.
The model looks great; way to go,
Steve! Hope to see you next year.
If you’ve ever looked around for threeview
drawings, you probably know that it
can be frustrating. Either you can’t find a
scale representation of what you are
looking for at all or it’s done poorly. And
some drawings are great and show
considerable detail, but there are so many
variants of a specific aircraft that you
can’t find an outline drawing that matches
what you want.
While poking around on the Internet I
found a site that Richard Ferriere
administers that features a wealth of free
three-views. It’s simple to use, and many
manufacturers are represented. Not all
aircraft types are featured, but there are
civil, military, racing, Golden Age, and
jets.
I looked up the Ki-27 Nate; searching
under Nakajima, the manufacturer’s
name, it was a quick find. It was also
simple to find four variants of the Curtiss
P-40.
The site contains a great deal of
aviation-related material, but the drawings
were my focus. Check it out!
The 2010 Scale World Championships
took place in Czestochowa, Poland, the
first week of August. From what I’ve been
told, the weather was great and the
competition was fierce. There were 36
competitors in F4C, with 17 in F4H Sport
Scale. F4G, the international version of
Giant Scale, had 10 entrants.
Team competition is a large part of
every World Championships. Teams are
made up of three members and a manager
who is sometimes also a competitor; there
are no rules stating that the manager must
be a different individual.
The higher your team places in each
competition, the better the chance it has of
going to the podium and earning a Gold,
Silver, or Bronze Medal.
Great Britain took first place in F4C Team
competition, with Pete McDermott finishing
in first place, Mick Henderson in second, and
David Knott in third.
Max Merckenschlager of Germany flew
his Stinson A1 Trimotor airliner to a win in
the individual competition. Second place went
to Marc Levy flying his Fouga C.M. 70-R
Magister, which is a jet trainer in air show
colors. The third spot went to Pete McDermott
with his large de Havilland D.H.9. All of those
models were built from scratch; there were no
kits, plans, or premade parts.
The Stinson had a wingspan of nearly 9
feet. Its detail was complete on the outside and
on the inside, down to a toilet paper roll in the
back of the lavatory.
Part of Max’s documentation was a strip of
fabric with all the colors on it. He got it from
the original airplane’s owner, who lives in the
US. What better place to obtain color
documentation?
Max also acquired a letter of authenticity
from the owner regarding the fabric coloring.
Max used a cloth tape measure to determine
all of the dimensions on the full-scale aircraft,
to make sure that he achieved the accuracy
level he wanted.
Not only did a multiengine civil subject
win the World Championships this year, but a
model of a single-engine civil aircraft won the
National Championships here in the US.
Check out the “Sources” list for the Web
site address for this year’s World
Championships. There you can learn a lot
about FAI Scale and the European Scale
scene. The 2012 Scale World Championships
will be contested in Spain.
Merry Christmas, everyone! MA
Sources:
Richard Ferriere’s Web site:
http://richard.ferriere.free.fr
2010 Scale World Championships
www.scale-wc2010.pl
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/12
Page Numbers: 118,119,120
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/12
Page Numbers: 118,119,120
118 MODEL AVIATION
Recruit members to ensure a future for aeromodeling
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Fifteen of the 50 or so kids who received shirts and certificates after their first flights at
the One Eighth Air Force Fly-In. Some went on to become AMA members.
EVERYONE has a common enemy that
affects daily life, and that is time. We are so
connected by technology as a nation that we
might not realize how much of our “free” time
is consumed by new gadgets, technological
advancements, etc.
A happy little lady makes her first loop with some help, thanks to
the One Eighth Air Force, Curtis Kitteringham, and crew.
Kids wanting to fly a Scale model line up for two flight stations.
Some of these young sparks might become the future of our
hobby.
According to some, our hobby loses out in
the frenzy. Thus the ARF—or now the RTF—
generation is so sizable that it must be
acknowledged.
Many clubs have recognized this in the last
several years and have created programs, flyins,
and meet-and-greet events at club fields
for the purpose of adding kids and young
adults to our ranks. Some of these efforts have
been more successful than others.
We need every individual we can get to be
involved in aeromodeling for the long term.
So we need to share the successes and failures
of some of these organizations so that the rest
of us can learn how to encourage others among
us, to light a fire within our own groups.
What does this have to do with RC Scale?
Everything!
Some of the hardest-hit events and areas
within aeromodeling are those that require
participants to “model”—or build—an aircraft.
In some cases the Scale rules have been unable
to keep up with the changing atmosphere of the
hobby. Why?
Clubs and organizations sometimes try to
promote Scale modeling and Scale models. Be
it from an ARF or a tried-and-true builder
point of view, we need to work on it. I have
been around Scale competition for sometime
and have seen the numbers of competitors
change.
Not long ago the average event drew 75%-
80% in Sport Scale, 10% in Designer or FAI
class, and the rest in Fun Scale (the ARF
class). Today the numbers are the opposite; we
see 70%-80% of models in Fun Scale, a
sprinkling of Sport Scale participants, and even
fewer Designer/FAI entries.
Some modelers don’t want to be bothered
with trying to bring in new members; they
have precious little time for their own activities
within the hobby. But even if that is true,
taking a weekend or two each year to help your
club increase its numbers is a great way to
ensure that what you enjoy doing will be
around for the next generation and yourself.
But how do we get people interested in
Scale modeling or flying models in general?
Look at various kids’ programs outside of
aeromodeling to obtain some ideas. Being
proactive at the local club level is another way.
Not taking no for an answer is the most
important subject to address.
The AMA has worked with both Boy
Scouts and Girl Scouts in recent years to
promote both model and full-scale aviation.
Also included in this column:
• Three-view salvation
• A civil victory at the Scale
World Champs
12sig4x_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/22/10 8:49 AM Page 118
The EAA Young Eagles Program has gone on
for more than 15 years.
The AMA, Sig Manufacturing, and many
volunteers have played key roles in making
such programs successful, including the one
that takes place at EAA’s AirVenture. Many
future aeromodelers have had their first
experiences on a flight simulator or made a
flight on a CL model at such events.
At past Scale National Championships,
pilots have come together with buddy boxes.
At one time the team from Balsa USA
brought out Scale models with which kids
could make their first flights.
These efforts are great, but we need some
sort of national program to bring in members,
be they kids or adults, at the local level. The
terminology and actions associated with this
hobby are second nature to those of us who
have been in the hobby for a long time, but
it’s a foreign language for beginners.
Share with us what your club does with
Scale models to encourage new members!
The 2010 Nationals featured
several great models that I had
never seen at contests. At this
event each year you get to
see a variety of aircraft
types, and this year
was exceptional in
that aspect. Jets,
World War I, World
War II, civil aviation,
and racing subjects
were in competition.
Steve Eagle built his Nieuport 17 to 1/3
scale from a much-modified Balsa USA kit
and entered it in Sportsman Sport Scale. This
class, which fits between Fun Scale and
Expert/Designer, is intended for those with
less competition experience.
The Nieuport spanned 104 inches. Steve
redesigned the wingtips to give them an
undercambered shape, per the full-scale
aircraft. He also shortened the nose forward
of the wing by 21/2 inches, for a more scale
outline, and then reduced the tail surfaces to
the correct scale size.
Steve powered the 26-pound model with
a 3W-75 gas engine and covered it with
Solartex. Then he added such details as a
dummy radial engine, flying wires, bungee
shock-absorbing landing gear, scale hinges,
and a scale cockpit interior.
The model looks great; way to go,
Steve! Hope to see you next year.
If you’ve ever looked around for threeview
drawings, you probably know that it
can be frustrating. Either you can’t find a
scale representation of what you are
looking for at all or it’s done poorly. And
some drawings are great and show
considerable detail, but there are so many
variants of a specific aircraft that you
can’t find an outline drawing that matches
what you want.
While poking around on the Internet I
found a site that Richard Ferriere
administers that features a wealth of free
three-views. It’s simple to use, and many
manufacturers are represented. Not all
aircraft types are featured, but there are
civil, military, racing, Golden Age, and
jets.
I looked up the Ki-27 Nate; searching
under Nakajima, the manufacturer’s
name, it was a quick find. It was also
simple to find four variants of the Curtiss
P-40.
The site contains a great deal of
aviation-related material, but the drawings
were my focus. Check it out!
The 2010 Scale World Championships
took place in Czestochowa, Poland, the
first week of August. From what I’ve been
told, the weather was great and the
competition was fierce. There were 36
competitors in F4C, with 17 in F4H Sport
Scale. F4G, the international version of
Giant Scale, had 10 entrants.
Team competition is a large part of
every World Championships. Teams are
made up of three members and a manager
who is sometimes also a competitor; there
are no rules stating that the manager must
be a different individual.
The higher your team places in each
competition, the better the chance it has of
going to the podium and earning a Gold,
Silver, or Bronze Medal.
Great Britain took first place in F4C Team
competition, with Pete McDermott finishing
in first place, Mick Henderson in second, and
David Knott in third.
Max Merckenschlager of Germany flew
his Stinson A1 Trimotor airliner to a win in
the individual competition. Second place went
to Marc Levy flying his Fouga C.M. 70-R
Magister, which is a jet trainer in air show
colors. The third spot went to Pete McDermott
with his large de Havilland D.H.9. All of those
models were built from scratch; there were no
kits, plans, or premade parts.
The Stinson had a wingspan of nearly 9
feet. Its detail was complete on the outside and
on the inside, down to a toilet paper roll in the
back of the lavatory.
Part of Max’s documentation was a strip of
fabric with all the colors on it. He got it from
the original airplane’s owner, who lives in the
US. What better place to obtain color
documentation?
Max also acquired a letter of authenticity
from the owner regarding the fabric coloring.
Max used a cloth tape measure to determine
all of the dimensions on the full-scale aircraft,
to make sure that he achieved the accuracy
level he wanted.
Not only did a multiengine civil subject
win the World Championships this year, but a
model of a single-engine civil aircraft won the
National Championships here in the US.
Check out the “Sources” list for the Web
site address for this year’s World
Championships. There you can learn a lot
about FAI Scale and the European Scale
scene. The 2012 Scale World Championships
will be contested in Spain.
Merry Christmas, everyone! MA
Sources:
Richard Ferriere’s Web site:
http://richard.ferriere.free.fr
2010 Scale World Championships
www.scale-wc2010.pl
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/12
Page Numbers: 118,119,120
118 MODEL AVIATION
Recruit members to ensure a future for aeromodeling
[[email protected]]
Radio Control Scale Stan Alexander
Fifteen of the 50 or so kids who received shirts and certificates after their first flights at
the One Eighth Air Force Fly-In. Some went on to become AMA members.
EVERYONE has a common enemy that
affects daily life, and that is time. We are so
connected by technology as a nation that we
might not realize how much of our “free” time
is consumed by new gadgets, technological
advancements, etc.
A happy little lady makes her first loop with some help, thanks to
the One Eighth Air Force, Curtis Kitteringham, and crew.
Kids wanting to fly a Scale model line up for two flight stations.
Some of these young sparks might become the future of our
hobby.
According to some, our hobby loses out in
the frenzy. Thus the ARF—or now the RTF—
generation is so sizable that it must be
acknowledged.
Many clubs have recognized this in the last
several years and have created programs, flyins,
and meet-and-greet events at club fields
for the purpose of adding kids and young
adults to our ranks. Some of these efforts have
been more successful than others.
We need every individual we can get to be
involved in aeromodeling for the long term.
So we need to share the successes and failures
of some of these organizations so that the rest
of us can learn how to encourage others among
us, to light a fire within our own groups.
What does this have to do with RC Scale?
Everything!
Some of the hardest-hit events and areas
within aeromodeling are those that require
participants to “model”—or build—an aircraft.
In some cases the Scale rules have been unable
to keep up with the changing atmosphere of the
hobby. Why?
Clubs and organizations sometimes try to
promote Scale modeling and Scale models. Be
it from an ARF or a tried-and-true builder
point of view, we need to work on it. I have
been around Scale competition for sometime
and have seen the numbers of competitors
change.
Not long ago the average event drew 75%-
80% in Sport Scale, 10% in Designer or FAI
class, and the rest in Fun Scale (the ARF
class). Today the numbers are the opposite; we
see 70%-80% of models in Fun Scale, a
sprinkling of Sport Scale participants, and even
fewer Designer/FAI entries.
Some modelers don’t want to be bothered
with trying to bring in new members; they
have precious little time for their own activities
within the hobby. But even if that is true,
taking a weekend or two each year to help your
club increase its numbers is a great way to
ensure that what you enjoy doing will be
around for the next generation and yourself.
But how do we get people interested in
Scale modeling or flying models in general?
Look at various kids’ programs outside of
aeromodeling to obtain some ideas. Being
proactive at the local club level is another way.
Not taking no for an answer is the most
important subject to address.
The AMA has worked with both Boy
Scouts and Girl Scouts in recent years to
promote both model and full-scale aviation.
Also included in this column:
• Three-view salvation
• A civil victory at the Scale
World Champs
12sig4x_00MSTRPG.QXD 10/22/10 8:49 AM Page 118
The EAA Young Eagles Program has gone on
for more than 15 years.
The AMA, Sig Manufacturing, and many
volunteers have played key roles in making
such programs successful, including the one
that takes place at EAA’s AirVenture. Many
future aeromodelers have had their first
experiences on a flight simulator or made a
flight on a CL model at such events.
At past Scale National Championships,
pilots have come together with buddy boxes.
At one time the team from Balsa USA
brought out Scale models with which kids
could make their first flights.
These efforts are great, but we need some
sort of national program to bring in members,
be they kids or adults, at the local level. The
terminology and actions associated with this
hobby are second nature to those of us who
have been in the hobby for a long time, but
it’s a foreign language for beginners.
Share with us what your club does with
Scale models to encourage new members!
The 2010 Nationals featured
several great models that I had
never seen at contests. At this
event each year you get to
see a variety of aircraft
types, and this year
was exceptional in
that aspect. Jets,
World War I, World
War II, civil aviation,
and racing subjects
were in competition.
Steve Eagle built his Nieuport 17 to 1/3
scale from a much-modified Balsa USA kit
and entered it in Sportsman Sport Scale. This
class, which fits between Fun Scale and
Expert/Designer, is intended for those with
less competition experience.
The Nieuport spanned 104 inches. Steve
redesigned the wingtips to give them an
undercambered shape, per the full-scale
aircraft. He also shortened the nose forward
of the wing by 21/2 inches, for a more scale
outline, and then reduced the tail surfaces to
the correct scale size.
Steve powered the 26-pound model with
a 3W-75 gas engine and covered it with
Solartex. Then he added such details as a
dummy radial engine, flying wires, bungee
shock-absorbing landing gear, scale hinges,
and a scale cockpit interior.
The model looks great; way to go,
Steve! Hope to see you next year.
If you’ve ever looked around for threeview
drawings, you probably know that it
can be frustrating. Either you can’t find a
scale representation of what you are
looking for at all or it’s done poorly. And
some drawings are great and show
considerable detail, but there are so many
variants of a specific aircraft that you
can’t find an outline drawing that matches
what you want.
While poking around on the Internet I
found a site that Richard Ferriere
administers that features a wealth of free
three-views. It’s simple to use, and many
manufacturers are represented. Not all
aircraft types are featured, but there are
civil, military, racing, Golden Age, and
jets.
I looked up the Ki-27 Nate; searching
under Nakajima, the manufacturer’s
name, it was a quick find. It was also
simple to find four variants of the Curtiss
P-40.
The site contains a great deal of
aviation-related material, but the drawings
were my focus. Check it out!
The 2010 Scale World Championships
took place in Czestochowa, Poland, the
first week of August. From what I’ve been
told, the weather was great and the
competition was fierce. There were 36
competitors in F4C, with 17 in F4H Sport
Scale. F4G, the international version of
Giant Scale, had 10 entrants.
Team competition is a large part of
every World Championships. Teams are
made up of three members and a manager
who is sometimes also a competitor; there
are no rules stating that the manager must
be a different individual.
The higher your team places in each
competition, the better the chance it has of
going to the podium and earning a Gold,
Silver, or Bronze Medal.
Great Britain took first place in F4C Team
competition, with Pete McDermott finishing
in first place, Mick Henderson in second, and
David Knott in third.
Max Merckenschlager of Germany flew
his Stinson A1 Trimotor airliner to a win in
the individual competition. Second place went
to Marc Levy flying his Fouga C.M. 70-R
Magister, which is a jet trainer in air show
colors. The third spot went to Pete McDermott
with his large de Havilland D.H.9. All of those
models were built from scratch; there were no
kits, plans, or premade parts.
The Stinson had a wingspan of nearly 9
feet. Its detail was complete on the outside and
on the inside, down to a toilet paper roll in the
back of the lavatory.
Part of Max’s documentation was a strip of
fabric with all the colors on it. He got it from
the original airplane’s owner, who lives in the
US. What better place to obtain color
documentation?
Max also acquired a letter of authenticity
from the owner regarding the fabric coloring.
Max used a cloth tape measure to determine
all of the dimensions on the full-scale aircraft,
to make sure that he achieved the accuracy
level he wanted.
Not only did a multiengine civil subject
win the World Championships this year, but a
model of a single-engine civil aircraft won the
National Championships here in the US.
Check out the “Sources” list for the Web
site address for this year’s World
Championships. There you can learn a lot
about FAI Scale and the European Scale
scene. The 2012 Scale World Championships
will be contested in Spain.
Merry Christmas, everyone! MA
Sources:
Richard Ferriere’s Web site:
http://richard.ferriere.free.fr
2010 Scale World Championships
www.scale-wc2010.pl
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers
www.nasascale.org
