Control Line: Scale
IT APPEARS that no matter how much we talk about "How-to-Do" certain details on our models, there is always someone new in need of information on a particular subject in Scale modeling. Such is the case when it comes to simulating rivet patterns and skin-panel lines. The appearance, at the 1985 Nats, of George Gaydos' P-38 Lightning "YIPPEE" and Bill Reynold's American Airlines DC-3, both will full rivet and panel-line patterns, prompted many to ask how it was done. Not only was the question asked by many at the Nats, but I also received several inquiries by mail, the first of which was received from Stan Grayson (Marblehead, MA). Stan has been away from CL Scale for some time and now has many questions concerning the application of details as he returns to the hobby.
Control Line: Scale
RULES-RULES-RULES. While I realize that we have just completed a rules-making cycle that will provide us with a set of rules for competition in 1986-87, we are also starting another cycle (January 1986) that will result in rules for the years 1988-89. Based on ideas, thoughts, and questions presented to me via mail and verbally at local contests since the '85 Nats, I believe there are some areas of the CL Scale rules that might need attention during this next rules-making cycle. I would like to share some of those ideas and questions with you.
Control Line: Scale
SCALELIKE tail wheel assemblies can be yours if you're willing to put some time and effort into making them. Dave Mullens (Seattle, WA) notes that while Scale builders might expend great effort detailing most of their model, many do not pay enough attention to creating a scalelike tail wheel strut. Perhaps this is so because it is such a small part of the overall plane, and most might feel that it won't be noticed if a super job is not done on it. We should make every effort to have all parts of our Scale models look scale, and at Dave's suggestion we'll make an effort to tell you how to go about making a shock absorbing, scalelike tail wheel strut.
Control Line: Scale
GEAR DRIVE UNIT-From time to time, we are in need of a device for turning turrets, operating bomb bay doors on the new bomber model, or performing some other operational function that does not require a very high degree of torque. Warren Truppner (Queens Village, NY) suggests that an item used quite often for advertising purposes in store windows can be easily converted for use in Scale models. The units Truppner speaks of are battery-operated (three volts) and are used for turning store window turntables and other advertisements requiring some sort of motion to attract customers' attention. The units, depending on the type of display they are used in, have various output shaft rpms (revolutions per minute). The output shaft speeds on units I have seen are as low as one rpm and as high as 115 rpm.
Control Line: Scale
REMOTE NEEDLE VALVE operation is a feature being used by Donald Morse (Carson City, NV) on his D&B F-86 jet model-and one that you might consider for your next model whether it be ducted-fan or propeller driven. In the case of a jet model, the remote needle valve idea can be a safety consideration in that it eliminates the need for hands or other objects inside the fuselage to make adjustments while the engine is running. The accompanying sketch shows the remote needle valve installed in a fuselage side, its connection to the fuel tank, engine, and tuned pipe for fuel-tank pressure. Don indicated that the engine used in his F-86 is a Supertigre X .40 equipped with a Perry carburetor and that the remote needle valve and body assembly is taken from a Supertigre .60 Mag II carburetor.
