Control Line: Scale
SERVO MECHANISM. I believe it is a fair statement when I say that our Scale events, even Sport, are getting more sophisticated all the time. We are seeing more and more models with many operational features, which means we are finding newer and better ways of performing them. Instead of using the old bellcrank-and-hard-linkage methods with three-line systems, we are seeing the use of various servo and electromechanical devices. One such unit on the market today is offered by Janaco of Dallas, TX. The unit is called the Janaco Jackscrew Servo, weighs approximately four oz., and is said to develop 10 lb. of thrust power. The unit comes completely wired with limit switches, reversing switch, low-drain/high-rpm motor, capacitor and reversing diodes, and is ready for installation and use. As you can see in the accompanying photo, the unit fits easily in the palm of your hand. The actual size is four in. long, 2 in. wide, and about one in. high. Its small size permits a wide variety of mounting possibilities.
AMA Nats 1983: CL Scale
FABULOUS is the only way to describe the 1983 Nats, and if you weren't there, you missed one of the best that we have had in many years. The AMA HQ arrangement and all motels at which the contestants stayed were within a few minutes of the flying areas at Westover AFB. The competition-convention theme of this year's event went over real well. There seemed to be something to do, or be involved in, day or night. After a day's flying, you could take advantage of various seminars on building techniques, covering methods, reviews of new products by some manufacturers, and so on. Of special interest to the Scale modeler was a seminar by the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA), in which Bob Underwood, past president (and overall Scale Category Director this year), addressed a standing-room-only audience. Bob introduced the newly-elected NASA officials and spoke about the future goals and aims of the organization. A major highlight of the seminar was a talk and question-and-answer session on Scale building techniques by Bob Wischer that was well received by all present. I'll have more on NASA and it's new officers in a future column.
Control Line: Scale
JET SCALE is one form of Scale modeling that has all but disappeared from the scene. I am, of course, referring to the use of jet-type engines such as the Dyna Jet, rather than the reciprocating-engine-driven fan units used in today's Scale jet models. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, when all you had to do in competition was complete 10 airborne laps (no flight points were awarded and the CL Scale rules were only one page in the rule book), jet-type models were seen in many of our CL Scale competitions. Expansion of the rules, more use of operating features, and the need for throttle-control performance made jet Scale models less desirable in competition.
Control Line: Scale
ONE MAN'S point of view-the following item was taken from the Dayton (Ohio) Buzzin' Buzzards MFC Newsletter, and is an editorial comment by Les Byrd on his observations of our recent FAI CL Scale Team Selection contest at Louisville, KY August 12-14, 1983. While Les' commentary is not the kind that is likely to be accepted by all, I do, however, feel that we should know how others sometimes see us in our event. Les also indicated in a note to me that the commentary is not just a potshot at our Scale efforts, but hoped that it would be taken by all as constructive criticism.
Control Line: Scale
CL ELECTRIC SERVO SYSTEM (Part II). In last month's column, I covered the construction of the system's switch box, its wiring, and the attachment to a G-S or Roberts control handle. This month we will show how to modify the servos for electric-only operation, how to control the speed of the servos, and give some suggestions on how to insulate the control lines from the control handle and the plane's control system. The only control box item I have not talked about yet is the use of the 50-200 ohm resistor shown in the wiring sketch. I will cover its use when I talk about overall system operation later in the text.
