Control Line: Scale
Mike Stott
MAYBE YOU HEARD about the proposed rule changes that are being brought forward in the area of Stand-Off Scale. These rule change proposals could severely limit entries in this event. One proposal would not allow semi-scale stunt ships to enter because their design and intent was for another event and not specifically for Stand-Off Scale. A similar proposal would downgrade a model that has coupled flaps and elevators as in CL Stunt.
Originally, the Stand-Off Scale event was intended to get more participants into scale with the hopes that they would go on to build true scale models. In Stand-Off Scale you don't have the great amounts of time and tedious work of doing all the super detailing that often goes in a true scale model. It allows you to modify the outlines of your model so it could perform better. To what degree you modify the outlines from the true scale proportions and any noticeable change created would determine the percentage of available points you could acquire for the trueness of outline category of static judging.
At this point my feeling is that a good judge can determine these differences. He should not give as many points to a semi-scale stunter if there is a noticeable deviation of outline from true scale. If the flaps or elevators are oversized, then downgrade the model accordingly. But, on the other hand, another semi-scale stunter could be very close to scale and should not be downgraded just because it is a stunter as well as a scale model.
As far as coupled flaps and elevators go, there should be no pre-judgment of any mechanical operations. We ask no one to demonstrate their flaps, retractable landing gear or any mechanical operations before flight. These are in-flight maneuvers and should be judged as such. If the coupled flaps and elevators are noticeable in flight then the judges should score the points of realism in flight accordingly. It should not prohibit these models from entering the event.
Remember, judges in Stand-Off Scale are not supposed to go within ten feet of the models they are judging. They are responsible for determining whose model is most to scale from that distance no matter what other purpose the model may serve.
Another proposal that is in the FAI concerns the World Championship schedule. At present the World Championships are held every two years. This proposal would change it to every three years. I am heartily in favor of this new proposal which has a strong backing. It would allow the team members more time to build a better model and increase the quality of the models competing.
I feel this change of timing would give us a good opportunity to select the team members two years in advance of the World Championships. This means we'd need to pick our 1979 team members in 1977 at our upcoming Nationals. It would help the team members considerably if they knew they were going to compete with a two-year advance warning. Most team members usually build a new model or take the time to refurbish their old one.
With only the traditional one year advance warning it gets to be kind of a mad rush to get these things accomplished before taking off. Often they don't get finished or they are not up to the quality you could have done if only you had a little more time.
Spreading the World Championships over a three-year period will also give us more time to raise money for the Scale Team Fund and also, hopefully, with more time to build, get more people interested in competing internationally.
The team members are being asked to pay more and more out of their own pocket the expenses of transportation which in the past the team fund took care of. Also, in the past we were getting free air transportation overseas, which appears now may not always be available. This happened with last year's scale team that went to Sweden.
If you feel strongly for or against any of the proposals regarding Stand-Off Scale, or the new World Championship schedule, please make your feeling known to your representatives. I'm sure they would be interested in your opinions.
If you have any questions about scale or some information regarding your scale model, drop me a line. I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have or share your thoughts.
Mike F. Stott, 118 E. Wheeler Ave., North Mankato, MN 56001.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
