Control Line: Scale
ELECTRONIC control handle upgrade: In the February 1999 column I featured a new, electronic Control Line (CL) handle designed by Bill Young of Flagstaff AZ. I wrote about the handle as it was being used and tested on CL models that were powered by electric motors. In that version of the handle, the trigger (throttle control) was such that there was a full range of throttle control, but when the trigger was released, the model's motor would automatically stop. Fred Cronenwett sent in a video showing that the handle has now been upgraded to include functions (switches/buttons) that allow it to be used with glow engines. The handle can now be set for a minimum-throttle setting, and when required, a touch of a button releases the preset minimum-throttle mode, allowing the model's engine to be shut down.
Control Line: Scale
RECENT MAIL included a letter from Barry Murill of Chandler AZ. He had just read the June column in Model Aviation regarding Scale documentation, and wanted to let us know of some sources that he had found very useful. Barry said that he is currently interested in Free Flight (FF) Scale and Radio Control (RC) sailplanes, and is working on a 1/5-scale model of the P-40C from Jerry Bates plans. He also builds 1/72-scale (and smaller) plastic models. While he has not yet tried Control Line (CL), Barry reads all of the Model Aviation columns for the valuable information they provide. I hope that Barry will try his hand at CL Scale flying, and experience the joy that Control Line Fliers find in building and directly controlling the flight of the models.
How to Make Cowl Rings: without a lathe
Step 1. The initial step in making the nose cowl ring is to determine proper size, and mark up a balsa block with rings representing inside and outside diameters of the cowl. Using a saw, cut along outside ring to remove excess balsa-a disc remains. Step 2. Drill a hole of appropriate size in the center of the disc and mount it on the arbor. Step 3. Now put arbor and balsa disc assembly in the electric drill. Be sure the direction of rotation of the drill is in the direction of the arrow shown on the disc. Next, position the drill press assembly and vise so that there is approximately 1/2 in. clearance between the disc and angle tool rest, and so that the tool rest is about even with the center of the disc. Clamp all units firmly in place.
Control Line: Scale
AN IMMEDIATE NEED! I must start my first column for Model Aviation with a plea that has probably been made by most columnists before me. I need your help. If this column is going to offer material of interest to both the beginner and the expert Scale builder, I am going to need your input. Please send newsletters, photos, ideas, write-ups on your current projects, finishing techniques, contest results, or just about anything you feel would be of interest to some other Scale modeler. What might seem routine to you might be just the help a fellow Scale builder could use to put the finishing touches on a project. Remember, this column can only be as good as we make it.
Control Line: Scale
RULES CHANGES for 1982-1983. During the past few years many rules proposals have been put before the AMA Scale Contest Board with the intent of improving CL Precision and Sport Scale events, with most of the proposals aimed at promoting a wider choice of model subjects. In the past, WW II fighter/bomber types dominated competition because of the many in-flight operations that could be performed, i.e., bomb and fuel tank drop, bomb bay door operation, revolving turrets, and so on. In an effort to promote the use of non-WW II types, various maneuvers (such as loops, inverted flights and wingovers) were added to the rules. As a result of these changes, a slight increase in the use of non-military types has been seen. However, during this last rule-making cycle, a change was made that I believe will give a real boost to those modelers choosing the nonmilitary subjects. That change is listed under Precision Scale rule 52A.8.o, and is called "Engine Control."
