CONTROL LINE SCALE - 2003/01
Dave DulaItIs (Sun City Center, Florida) is back this month
with his latest project: a Martin P4M Mercator. It is a unique
four-engine aircraft with two reciprocating engines and a pair of
turbojets in the rear of each piston-engine nacelle. The Mercator
was built for the US Navy as one of its attempts to gain the
benefit of high overtarget performance combined with longrange
capabilities with the mixed power-plant combination.
The P4M-1 prototype was ordered in July 1944, and the first
flight of this shoulder-wing monoplane with tricycle retractable
landing gear was made in 1946. The power plants were Pratt &
Whitney 2218 KW R-4360-4 Wasp Major radial engines and
3,825-pound-thrust Allison J33-A-17 turbojets in each nacelle.
All 19 of the Martin Mercator P4Ms, designated as patrol
bombers, served in the Navy Squadron VP-21.
CONTROL LINE SCALE - 2001/04
documenTaTion—or the lack of—for models entered in
competition was the main subject in the February 2001
column. I explored the importance of obtaining an up-to-date
copy of the AMA Competition Regulations and making
yourself aware of what is required for any Control Line (CL)
Scale event you enter.
I wrote about using the CL Sport Scale Worksheet (Part 1) as a
guide for presentation requirements, which would help you obtain
a good static score.
I also noted that I would explore what information and type of
layout might be provided within the eight-page maximum allowed
for model documentation in the Sport and Profile Scale events.
It’s important that the documentation presented contains data
that would satisfy all rule requirements and allow judges to fairly
and easily static-score a model.
The following is not only a review for the experienced Scale
modeler, but, more importantly, is for the modeler considering CL
Scale for the first time.
CONTROL LINE SCALE - 2001/03
davId dulaITIs, a frequent contributor
to the Control Line (CL) Scale column, has
moved from Chipley FL to Sun City Center
FL, and is back to building Scale models.
He has also joined the Tampa Bay Line
Flyers CL club. Members fly every Sunday
at the club field in St. Petersburg FL.
The group is short on Scale modelers,
but David hopes that his membership and
many CL Scale models will help promote
Scale building within the club. David sent
photos and information about the canopy
construction of his latest project—a Focke-
Wulf Fw 189 Uhu.
Jane’s Encyclopedia of Aviation tells
that the Uhu was produced and in service
between 1940 and 1944, and was used for
short-range reconnaissance. Armament was
four 7.9mm machine guns and two to four
50 kg bombs.
More than 800 Uhus were built; a
number of them were made for special
purposes, including radio training,
communications, and evacuation of
wounded. The extensive use of glazing on
the pilot’s cockpit and on the nacelle
between the twin tailbooms provided
excellent vision for the airplane’s crew.
David’s model is one-inch = one-foot
scale, with a wingspan of 60 inches, is
powered with two Fox .15 RC engines, and
weighs 4.2 pounds. David is one of those
rare Scale modelers who likes to build his
models on the light side. The only
operating feature is the throttle, which is
controlled via a standard three-line
bellcrank system.
CONTROL LINE SCALE - 2001/02
IN SePTeMBeR I attended the George L.
Gaydos Memorial All-Scale Contest,
sponsored by the Garden State Circle Burners
(GSCB) of New Jersey. It was a great
opportunity to see the Scale models up close,
get some good photos, and see the aircraft
documentation presented by the entrants.
The models looked great and the picturetaking
went well, but I was disappointed in
some of the documentation presented with
the models for static judging.
I found deficiencies in the areas of
color-and-markings data and photo
presentation of the prototype aircraft.
Some folders didn’t have the name of the
contestant, and there was and little, if any,
information about the model.
All models had the required three-view
drawing, but some presentations contained
the “4.6 Declaration” of parts not made by
the contestant, which was eliminated from
the Sport Scale rules in the 1996-1997 AMA
Competition Regulations.
A reminder is needed about the
importance of providing sufficient and
appropriate documentation for models
entered in a competition.
I am revisiting the subject of
documentation, not only for those who
consider themselves experienced Scale
modelers, but also for those who are
considering participating in Control Line
(CL) Scale competition for the first time.
The documentation you present can
make the difference in how you place at
a competition.
I’ll have more about the GSCB contest
later in the column.
CONTROL LINE SCALE - 2001/01
three-vIewdrawings and Frank Beatty’s
(Granite City IL) latest Scale model will be
the main themes of this month’s column.
frank is back with one of his great Sport
Scale models, which he has designated the
Borg Parakeet N 80-RG.
Frank’s model is 21⁄2 inches = one-foot
scale, and has a 50-inch wingspan. Powered
with an O.S. .46, it’s covered with Sig
Koverall and painted with Brodak paints.
The throttle is controlled with a standard
three-line bellcrank system.
Frank obtained documentation photos
for his competition presentation from Bob
Banka’s Scale Model Research.
The model was finished less than a week
before the 2000 AMA Nationals. Although the
model was awarded the NASA (National
Association of Scale Aeromodelers) “Top Static
Score Award” in the Sport Scale category, it
finished seventh because of engine problems.
The designation “Borg Parakeet” was
chosen because of Richard Borg, a Control
Line (CL) flier.
When he was in his teens many years
ago, he saw a Hannaford Rose Parakeet
perform aerobatics at an air show, and he
became determined to build one.
It took approximately 11 years for
Richard to complete the airplane. When it
was finished, the Borg Parakeet was taken
to AirVenture Oshkosh (1980), where it
was awarded Custom Grand Champion its
very first time in the competition.
