Control Line: Scale
IN THE November 1978 Model Aviation you will find two photos on page 45 of a scale model which is related to part of this month's column. We're referring to the beautiful scratch-built Japanese Betty bomber constructed by Ken Long of Whitier, CA. While this is a championship-caliber precision scale model in every respect, those who saw it at either of the last two Nationals will undoubtedly remember its interesting performance on the flight line as among the most exciting of its kind. Multi-engined military bombers and fighters have always been strong favorites in CL Scale event-much more so than in Free Flight or Radio Control-due to the CL point structure and the limits imposed on a typical scale model's aerobatic performance by the confines of the CL flight circle. Ken's Betty embodies all of the desirable characteristics of this subject: good airfoil, wing area and moments, plenty of power, and a multitude of possible "mechanical" scale options.
Control Line: Scale
MY January and February 1979 columns dealing with CL Scale basics have drawn the best response of any I've done so far. It's obvious that we need to continue in this direction and shed some light on more of those areas that tend to be taken for granted. We'll start this month by looking at one recent letter and I'll put in my comments and suggestions as we go. Chris Genna, of Astoria, Oregon, wrote; "I am what you might call a novice modeler and haven't competed in any event yet, but I'm leaning toward scale as a main interest. So I was delighted to see your article in the January MA about converting RC scale kits to CL. . . . As I get ready to take what I consider to be a first step toward scale, I have some questions about my particular situation. I've got a House of Balsa 1/2A FW-190. . . . I don't think this plane is suitable for throttle, at least not with a TD .049 or .051, and I plan to skip a lot of detailing and so on.
Control Line: Scale
HALLELUJAH! The flying season is almost upon us. It's time to quit rat-tat-tating that new scale ship around the room, dust off the old control handle, and get out to the field to see if it really flies as well as it looks. Don't forget to take along your lucky flying hat, "Hollywood" sunglasses, and carry a scale ruler in your pocket to set you apart from the crowd of admirers who will quickly gather around your masterpiece. After all, we scale types have an "image" to maintain. And, by the way, when they start telling you how great the ship looks; it's okay-go ahead and smile-you've earned it! Movable Ailerons-One More Time! In recent columns I mentioned making the ailerons on a CL Scale model "movable." It seems that at least one fellow took this to mean connecting the ailerons to the elevators in the same manner as control line stunt flaps are used. For the record, that is not what I would normally recommend. In fact, only in the most unique cases, like Chris Genna's 1/2A-Scale, UNcontest Focke-Wulf 190 which was discussed last month, would I ever suggest that "stunt flaps" (or ailerons) be considered for a control line scale model. In competition, models modified to incorporate "stunt flaps" are normally heavily downgraded during static judging.
