Control Line: Combat
THE LATEST Combat event featuring stock Voodoos and Fox .35 Stunt engines is well underway. The basic rules for the event state that a stock Voodoo (or an exact reproduction) must be used. Minimum weight has been set at 17 ounces, and .015 lines are used instead of the .018s used in regular AMA Combat. In an attempt to keep speeds down and engines together, the nitro content of the fuel is limited to a maximum of 15%, and the venturi must remain the stock size and a standard spraybar must be used. The contests that have been run so far have been at least double-elimination ones, run by either Slow or Fast Combat rules (cuts or kills). The event we're having in Southern California will have a one-minute starting period and then a four-minute match, with mid-airs not ending the match.
I985 NATS: CL Combat
IT WAS AFTER 8:00 p.m. by the time we dragged into the dorms at Elms College. Everyone else had finished dinner and was taking it easy. We were hungry, dirty, and tired. A voice called out, "How come you guys always finish so late?" After years of doing this, I should have had an answer, but any sense of reason escaped me during those weakened periods. We spent more time out at the flying field than any othear group, and by Saturday we were ready to go back home and rest up for another Nationals. Despite all the good intentions of the officials involved, it seems that Combat events almost always run on and on. Rich Lopez did a good job in Reno in spite of the difficult conditions, but the general pace of recent Nationals has been very slow. The slow pace means more time out on the field for both officials and contestants, and more opportunities to miss a call or get crabby as we all do when worn out. The tendency is to just "try and get it over with."
Control Line: Combat
TOPS. The Bladder Grabber has evolved into the premier Combat contest staged in the United States. The event is sponsored by Bob Carver, who donates upwards of $6,000 in stereo components for prizes each year. Anyone who has won some of the goodies at these meets and then goes into a stereo store to purchase additional items knows the VIP treatment they receive when they mention that they have Carver Corporation equipment. The contest drew 38 entries this year from the Western states-and even a couple from Michigan. Besides the outstanding prizes, the meet has good organization and a lot of flying because it is full triple-elimination. Hulan Matthies (Los Angeles, CA) was first and won about $3,000 worth of merchandise. They had to regrid the southern California power system before he could fire up his new amplifier. Hulan destroyed his fleet of models on his way to the win-as well as a few belonging to Rich Lopez.
Control Line: Combat
SURPRISE! The U.S. FAI CL Combat team consists of the normal three flying members plus their pit crews and, for the first time, a non-flying member, who was the highest-placing Junior or Senior at the Team Trials. It was assumed at the Team Trials that Michael Willcox would get that position because he was the last Junior or Senior to be eliminated, and the only other person in contention was John Stubblefield, who made the regular team. As it turned out, Michael went out in the same round as did Eric Parker, so a special two-out-of-three series was arranged at the annual St. Louis contest to determine the highest-placing Junior/Senior. Michael and his father, Pat, drove all the way up from Texas but had a lot of equipment problems and just couldn't hold off a very hot Eric Parker for the special spot. So, congratulations to Eric, and we hope he has a nice trip to the World Championships in Hungary.
Control Line: Combat
CONTROL LINE newsletters are filled with gripes about how the manufacturers and hobby shops have forgotten about our particular interests. Having once taken a course in economics at college, I consider myself an expert in the area and will agree that there is a problem for both parties. I've always been in favor of supporting the local hobby shops, but we've come to a point where we cannot expect local hobby dealers to stock specialty items. Enter the 1986 version of the Bear Necessities catalog put out by-who else but-Bear Model Products, 2709 Turtlecreek Dr., Hazel Crest, IL 60429; phone (312) 798-4381. This is a quality, 16-page catalog of all the goodies you've been looking for. Things like "Bear Kits" for FAI Combat at $18.50, 1/2A kits for $14.50, and the Fast Combat model which runs $22.50.
