Control Line: Scale
I'VE mentioned before what a large growth there has been over the last few years in the number of quality scale model kits on the market. Granted, almost all of them are labeled (or mislabeled?) as "RC" kits, but they are equally suitable for control line flying. In fact, a large percentage of the CL sport scale models that you see at contests these days are adaptations of an RC scale kit. The majority of these modern kits are in the .45 to .60 engine size range. In my opinion that is the best size for top notch control line scale flight performance.
Control Line: Scale
LET'S assume that this winter's big project is going to be that fast-selling new "exact scale" kit from Super Duper Model Company. Or maybe you're going to "scratch build" that next masterpiece from plans, either your own or someone else's. Regardless of which track you take, sooner or later we all end up at the hobby shop looking through the dealer's balsa assortment. We know what size we need, but other than that how many of us really know what we're looking at? Do all those equal-size sheets look pretty much the same to you, or can you see the subtle qualities that give each piece a character all its own?
Control Line: Scale
RECENT developments pertaining to the 1980 Scale World Championships may be of interest to some of you. As you undoubtedly know, this biannual FAI event has been scheduled for next July, in Ottawa, Canada. Ever since the '78 Scale WC in England, some people have questioned whether or not there would still be sufficient interest among the FAI countries that normally participate, to stage a CL Scale WC event far from the European continent, in Canada. Most of the doubts were based on the fact that in 1978, the CL Scale competition was cancelled at the last minute when several eastern European countries dropped out as part of a (rather ill-conceived) political protest against the entry of South Africa in another WC event being held at the same time as CL Scale. The irony of the situation was that the other event was able to continue, while the loss of the protesting countries dropped the CL Scale event below the minimum five nations that the rules require for an event to be considered an official World Championships.
Control Line: Scale
IN THE rules proposal cycle just completed by the Scale Contest Board, three changes were adopted that affect the CL Scale events. It's important that we take a look at these changes at this time since they will be in force during next summer's contest season and, thus, should be a consideration for competition ships that are being built this winter. Scale Pilot: The first change is relatively simple to understand and perhaps it is long overdue. Two very similar proposals, one made by Claude McCullough and the other by Bill Northrop, were passed by the Scale Board to require that all future CL and RC Precision and Sport Scale aircraft carry a dummy pilot figure while in flight. The dummy pilot will not be judged for static points in any way. It is simply intended to help complete the model's realistic flight appearance.
Control Line: Scale
Last month's column showed a method for operating pneumatic retractable landing gears off a standard 3-line throttle system. I forgot to mention that the greatest benefit from actuating the retract cycle, or any other extra option, off the throttle mechanism is in eliminating the need for extra flying lines in addition to the normal three. On some of the most complex CL Scale subjects, which have several mechanical scale options (like bombers and fighters), it's not uncommon to see one, two, or even three extra flying lines being used. It's quite obvious that the additional weight and drag of these extra lines will put a greater burden on that model in flight.
