Control Line: Combat
Charlie Johnson
Travel and arrival
After many years of promising, I finally made it up to the Northwest Regionals in Eugene, OR over Memorial Day weekend. For many of you who do not travel to out-of-town contests, let me tell you what you're missing. Getting there is half the fun — we drove the 1,100 miles with five of us in a Datsun King Cab pickup truck. All five of us were in the cab because the bed was totally filled with models and equipment. The ride was uneventful, but you can add some excitement if you take a car that isn't too dependable.
We spent Friday afternoon practicing and meeting all the people we'd read about. I found out that Rich Porter really does exist and is a bona fide eccentric/genius. He's going to do an article in Model Aviation soon that should be really great.
Racing planes and weather
We spent all day Saturday (13 hours' worth) flying racing planes, and we're planning to give a class on how to enter more events than you can handle. Contrary to what you might think, it didn't rain all the time in Oregon; in fact, it was sunburn weather, so there were a bunch of red faces at day's end.
Fast Combat at the Regionals
Sunday was Combat day for me. I borrowed a 1/2-A model from Gene Pape (as did Norm McFadden). As luck would have it, I flew Norm in the first round. Gene's only remark was, "At least two of us will be using my models after the round." Gene got tired of everyone saying how much his 1/2-A model looked like Dirty Dan's, so he named his the Cheap Imitation. Lending out airplanes backfired on Gene, because he lost his own model in the final.
People kept getting in my way, so I ran into them. I finally went out for good when my engine broke a crank. Those were low points, but there were highs as well. Gene Pape and Willie Naemura were climbing to the top in the full double-elimination meet. It came down to Gene having to beat Willie twice in order to win. He got him the first time, but in the final match Gene's streamer was snagged in Willie's outboard panel.
Cheap Imitation and Flying Lines Newsletter
The plans for the Cheap Imitation will be published in Flying Lines Newsletter very soon. I can recommend both the newsletter and the model very highly. If you want to subscribe, here's where to write:
- Flying Lines, 1411 Bryant Ave., Cottage Grove, OR 97424 ($8.00 for 12 issues).
Foam vs. wood models
There are trade-offs between foam and wood models regarding aerodynamic advantage, strength, and weight, but the greatest thing foam has is the ability to let the streamer string cut through the leading edge and then lock on for a clean kill. Rather than having a 9-inch cutting area (the prop) on a wood airplane, the foam model has around a 4-foot cutting surface (if you make a 48-inch span model). Once in a while heavy string will cut back to the spar and damage it, but generally the only repair you do after a kill is put a piece of FasCal over the wound. At the next contest, take a look at the foam models and see how many kills the wing itself has made.
Other regional meets
At the same time the Northwest Regionals were being held, there were many other regional meets all over the country. Two years ago I was in Houston, and once before in Chicago. Even if you're not a serious competitor, you will be enlightened by the latest advances in design and the high skill level at these meets.
AMA Viper kit — kit review
One of the prizes at the Northwest Regionals was an AMA Viper kit donated by Bob Bearden (Bear Model Products), 17400 S. Harlem, Tinley Park, IL 60506. One of my partners won it, but I brought it home for a kit review.
This is the model for those of us who don't like to spend much time building. It is a Voodoo-type plane, but greatly refined in every way. The model can be built in about an hour using quick-set adhesives. All the parts fit very well and will make a very strong model for sport flying or competition. What the model will not be able to do is turn with the very large, lightly loaded ones — it just doesn't have the wing area.
You might want to spend extra time building one of the exotic large models and use the Vipers as backups, although I bet you end up using the Vipers most of the time. The box the kit came in was big enough for about six models, and that's what I'd suggest you buy. Work on the models each evening for about a week, and you'll have a half-dozen ready to go. I've seen a Slow Combat variation of this model and would assume you could order some kits with the motor mount cut out for a .15, which would reduce the wing loading a lot. Everyone who's seen the kit thinks it's well-engineered and finished. Some Los Angeles hobby shop owners know a good thing when they see it and are going to order a bunch for their stores.
Nationals — 1/2-A Combat reminder
Don't forget about 1/2-A Combat at the Nationals on Thursday. Flying will begin after Junior/Senior Combat. The entry fee is $3.00, with excess monies to go to the Team Fund. Rich Lopez and Steve Hills will run the event, and they promise some great prizes. Great chance to build and fly a Cheap Imitation from the Flying Lines plans, or buy either a 1/4-A Viper from Bear Model Products or the exotic 1/2-A Monoboom from Hoffelt Group AeroSport. Maybe Gene will lend me another model so I can fly, too.
FAI Team Trials
The FAI Team Trials are coming up in mid-September in Nashville. Paul Smith sent a note to clarify the reasons the trials are not at the Nationals, as I'd mentioned last column. The only real disadvantage in having them someplace other than the Nats is the expense (about $400) for air travel for the West Coast people. As Paul said, it's worth the $400 to live in San Diego year 'round.
The organizational committee for the team trials has put a lot of effort into the program and has come up with the best possible solution. AMA President John Grigg and Micheline Madison (AMA HQ Administrator for FAI programs) are scheduled to come to the trials this year — another first.
Supertigre .15 for FAI Combat
The Supertigre .15 for FAI Combat should have been in your local hobby shop for about a month or more by the time you read this. John Gladfelter reports from World Engines that the motor will offer everything you could ask for in an FAI engine. It has lots of power, good mileage, consistent needle settings, and good parts availability, to mention a few.
There is a definite horsepower race going on in FAI, with Fox engines producing well over what Duke ever dreamed possible from that design, and the Rossi clan sometimes running as much nitro as would be run in Goodyear. The days of the G-15 and nylon prop are long gone. Expect some real horsepower, exotic props, and an even greater variety of models in 1981.
Bladder Grabber contest (Seattle)
The Bladder Grabber triple-elimination Fast Combat contest will be held in Seattle over the 4th of July weekend. This super-extravaganza will feature over $3,800 in Carver Corporation stereo equipment for prizes. Howard Rush told me the lights in his demo unit dim when he cranks up the power on the stereo he won last time at the Bladder Grabber. The great thing about CL meets is that you don't have to be invited to compete for such expensive prizes — even a newcomer like Howard would have a chance at winning.
Charlie Johnson 3716 Ingraham St., San Diego, CA 92109
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
