Control Line: Scale
WHAT'S THE STATE of CL Scale? There seem to be two schools of thought. Based on reports and newsletters, the answer may depend on where you look. Some areas, like the central and midwestern parts of the country, report that activity in general is in decline. Aside from a few active CL Scale clubs, interest is down compared to a couple of years ago. While activity may be down in some parts of the country, the East and West Coasts have considerable amounts of Scale activity. There is great emphasis on preserving current Scale events, as well as promoting the fun aspects. It's the fun portion of these efforts I'll talk about this month.
Control Line: Scale
CONTROL LINE ELECTRIC Flight: A recent letter from Grant Heistand (Burbank CA) prompts me to ask the following question: How many of you have successfully used electric power in your CL Scale models? While I've mentioned electric power in past columns, the information was often based on experimentation and couldn't be used for competition purposes. Grant, on the other hand, has been experimenting with electric-powered Scale models for some time, and has successfully flown an electric-powered Sig Spacewalker in competition. He captured first place in Precision Scale at the 1993 Nats, and has also won West Coast meets.
Control Line: Scale
A QUESTION ANSWERED: In my November 1995 column I included a picture of Norm Skuderin's P-51C Mustang air racer, Beguine. While we had some information about the airplane's unique configuration (wing-pod coolers were added, and the lower fuselage air scoop was removed), the "who and why" of the unusual paint scheme was in question. I asked if anyone could supply more information about the paint scheme. The response was great! I have taken the following responses from the several I received. While J.D. Reed (a top Beechcraft distributor and avid race fan from Houston, Texas) was the driving force behind the procurement and development of the Beguine racer, it was Walter Beech (a highly successful designer of commercial aircraft) who provided the major design work. Beech was responsible for removing the lower air scoop and placing the coolers in the wing pods.
Control Line: Scale
CONTROL SYSTEMS-especially our three-line handles-have been talked about at great length. However, it appears that we have ignored, or perhaps not thought too much about, one very important factor: how to make adjustments or compensate for uneven flying lines on model leadouts. Most of us do our best to make all of our flying lines the same length, and to make bellcrank leadouts to the specific lengths required for the three-line bellcrank and handle we're using. However, it seems that no matter how hard we try to be exact, we can always count on a line or leadout being off just a bit. We want our lines to be exact so that the throttle control works well, and so we have a good neutral elevator position. It's very disconcerting to have to keep a little up or down control on the model to keep it in level flight. A comfortable feeling at the handle makes for a better flight.
Control Line: Scale
AVIATION MUSEUMS can be great fun to visit, and are fine sources of Scale documentation. In a recent issue of Replica, the newsletter of the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA), Mike Welshans told of his visit to modeling friend Bill Logan in London, Ontario, and the Canadian National Aviation Museum located in Ottawa, Ontario. The museum is approximately 80 miles north of the US border, and approximately 175 miles north of Syracuse-it's within easy reach of most northern locations in the Midwest and eastern United States. Ottawa is also the home of the Parliament buildings which are most interesting to visit, especially if you catch the changing-of-the-guard ceremony. Mike noted that the museum has 109 aircraft, from the dawn of Canadian aviation to present-day jet fighters. There are 47 aircraft on permanent display inside the museum, and eight on display outside. The remainder in a storage area awaiting restoration.
