Radio Control: Scale
TRENDS in Scale: Now that the 1978 Tournament of Champions results have been published and word of the action has filtered back to us here in the Wisconsin boondocks, it is very evident that the best pattern fliers could easily take over the top places in the Scale event whenever they are willing to invest the time required to build scale planes. The results also tell us that the way to improve our Scale flight scores is by investing more of our time in building and flying pattern type planes, spending more time at the flying field and burning more fuel, which translates into dollars. You say you don't like pattern planes? Then build something scale-like with pattern-type flight potential, to aid in polishing those reflexes, and consider buying fuel by the drum.
Radio Control: Scale
METALLIC Finishes: Art supply houses have an array of metal powders that can be mixed with various vehicles. There is a surprising variation in the fineness and color gradation available in aluminum and bronze powders. They are sold in one-ounce plastic containers for mixing small quantities, sufficient for one plane, or in pound cans to paint a fleet. Bronze powders vary in color from white gold to deep reddish hues with brass and copper between, in about ten shades. Some are tinged with color, such as green, for super spectacular finishes. While shades of gold are not commonly used on modern planes, they are found quite often on antique and classic era ships. Aluminum dope is something used as a primer, to add brilliance to succeeding color coats, or to prevent bleeding of colors. Many planes were finished in aluminum. It is possible to choose a fineness of aluminum flake powder to obtain a scale finish. For example, when coarse flake was used on the prototype, the model should be painted with a much finer material to obtain scale effect.
Radio Control: Scale
OSHKOSH again: We paid our annual visit to the EAA Convention at Oshkosh, WI during the interval between the Ottawa World Championships and the Wilmington Nats. We were surprised to find the prototypes for our Piel Emeraude and Beryl parked near each other. Also nearby was the Hiperbipe which Bob Underwood had modeled. Norm Taylor's Beryl, after seven years and many hours of flying, maintains a youthful appearance and is in such perfect condition that it was awarded an honorable mention in the custom-built aircraft division.
