Control Line: Scale
IF YOU HAVE ever tried to give your scale model a weathered look or a few spots of wear for authenticity, you know this can be quite a job. Well, Raymond L. Smith of Los Alamitos, CA, wrote to me of his interesting method of painting his scale BF 109 Messerschmitt. This was the first time Ray ever tried such a process but he feels he came up with some very good results. Ray sent us a photo of his finished model so judge for yourself. Ray started out by painting the model with silver paint. Then the next step was to add the panel lines and rivets. The panel lines can be scribed lightly into the finish by using an Xacto blade and a straight edge. What works really great for this is the point of a #11 Xacto blade and a thin flexible metal ruler for the straight edge.
Control Line: Scale
EVER SINCE I flew my Tigercat at the 1974 World Championships at Lakehurst, NJ, I've had quite a few letters asking me about the electrical control system that I used in it. Of the units currently being used in competition here's a list of the positions taken by models using the control system: 4th place-1974 World Champs 9th place-1974 World Champs 1st place-1974 Nats (Stand-off Scale) 2nd place-1974 Nats (Scale) 1st place-1975 Nats (Scale) 2nd place-1975 Nats (Scale)
Control Line: Scale
SINCE MY LAST month's article, I've been hearing more and more about the Scale Speed proposals. As you may have already heard, the FAI passed a new rule that goes into effect immediately, that includes a definite emphasis on the scale speed of the model aircraft in flight. I've heard pros and cons on the Scale Speed subject and some people have expressed a desire for AMA to adopt this in their rules for judging. I tend to lean to the side which hopes that they do not adopt such a close ruling of scale flying speeds. The charts included in this article I borrowed from the Rams Horn and Northwest Soaring Society newsletter, and they will give you some idea of how unrealistic this would be for CL models.
Control Line: Scale
I'M GOING to begin this month's article with a little bit of a follow-up on last month's article. If you didn't get a chance to read last month's CL Scale column, be sure and do so-it could benefit us all. Here is a bit of a summary of last month's article to whet your appetite. The Flying Dutchmen Aeromodelers of Reading, Pa., wrote me a letter awhile back with an idea that agreed with my own feelings. It concerned a Scale Organization, made up of people like you and me. Not just expert builders and fliers, but everyone who is interested in Scale. Everyone's viewpoint is needed in an organization if it is going to work.
Control Line: Scale
I RECENTLY RECEIVED a letter from the Flying Dutchmen Aeromodelers of Reading, Pa. In their letter they stated a concern about the future of scale and an idea that would really help it out. This same idea has been in the back of my mind for quite some time now and I was very happy to find out some others thought along the same lines. Scale concerns everyone, whether a novice or an advanced builder and flier. The letter is reprinted below. Dear Mike Stott, We read your column in the Model Aviation mag. We are members of the Flying Dutchmen of Pa., a multi-interest control line club. In our club we have a scale society. Our aim is to spur interest in scale building, and competition flying.
