Scale World Championships
NORWAY WAS THE HOST nation for the Ninth Scale World Championships. The action took place at Kjeller Airport, a military field 20 miles northeast of Oslo, and 17 nations competed-47 airplanes in Radio Control and 13 in Control Line. The large entry in RC imposed quite a burden on the contest management, and there was serious consideration given to limiting the flights to only two rounds. In the end, the competitors were each given three flights, and the contest came to a conclusion within the allotted time only because the weather permitted. Had there been another rain shower, an extra day would have been needed.
Radio Control: Scale
KITCHENER-WATERLOO AGAIN: The annual Flying Dutchmen Club Scale Rally at Kitchener-Waterloo in eastern Ontario always attracts a multitude of Scale aircraft, a total of 162 at 1986's meet in early September. It is scheduled for the first weekend after Labor Day. We don't expect to see many WW I airplanes at this meet as the date conflicts with the WW I contest at Rhinebeck in New York, an unfortunate circumstance. The Canadian twin-cities of Kitchener-Waterloo are one corner of the prosperous triangle which also includes Cambridge to the south and Guelph at the eastern edge. In this area and the
Radio Control: Scale
A CASE for Scale anatomy: The internal structure of an FAI-type Scale model isn't supposed to be seen by the static judges, and so it doesn't really matter whether it follows full-scale practice in materials or assembly. Jurgen Steinberger of Germany placed twentieth in the World Championships at Paris in 1984. He returned to world competition at Oslo with his BE2e and improved his position to seventh place. A large portion of the improvement was the result of a more than 1,000-point increase in his static score. How were the judges informed of the internal detail that couldn't be seen? Jurgen had made up a handwritten list of items that deserved credit, and it is a truly amazing account of the extent of a Scale modeler's effort to produce a fine model.
Radio Control: Scale
FINISHING TECHNIQUE: In past columns and construction articles we have discussed our favorite methods of finishing a Scale model, as used on models of antiques, classics, or home-built aircraft types. Most of our models fit into these categories. Probably the most common aircraft type being modeled is more modern, of military origin, and metal-covered on all surfaces. There is a reasonably simple finishing sequence, other than plastic iron-on covering, and using easily-obtained materials, that will give the appearance of a metal airplane. Most important, the surface must be durable so as to resist dents and punctures from everyday handling and flying. When we gather data about Scale models in competitions and static displays, it seems that the most commonly-used combination consists of Super Coverite and K&B epoxy.
1986 Nats: RC Scale
RETURNING to our air-conditioned Nats dormitory at McNeese University at the end of each day's flying at Chennault Air Base, we could see the digital thermometer across the street registering 100º to 103ºF. Accompanied by high humidity from the nearby Gulf of Mexico, the heat was of more concern than the competition and certainly had its effect on the performances of both models and pilots. Temperature on the runway pavement at the Nats site was even higher. A varying wind (across the runway, of course) helped to relieve the baked feeling. A fortunate few competitors made cool, early-morning flights when the wind was light. The Air Base, now inactive, has vast areas of pavement which absorb and store heat.
