Control Line: Scale

Control Line: Scale

By Bill Boss

77-06 269th Street New Hyde Park, NY 11040

Overview

Proposed rule changes for the 1992–93 issue of our Competition Regulations handbook have just gone through the initial vote. Those that survived will now be reviewed a second time by the various contest boards to determine which should go into the 1992–1993 rule book.

The Scale category had a record 120 proposals, 29 of which concerned Control Line Sport and Precision events. Twenty of the CL proposals passed and will be considered again in the final vote. Below are comments and food for thought on several proposals. Please discuss them with fellow Scale fliers and send your thoughts to the Scale board member in your district.

The remaining proposals can be grouped into two categories: minor changes/clarifications and proposals that will have a significant impact on events. The more important group is discussed first. A synopsis can be found in the November and December issues of MA.

SC-92-1 — Sport Scale scoresheets

This proposal suggests general use of AMA-approved Sport Scale scoresheets developed by a committee representing various regions. The goal is a standard format by which all CL Sport Scale events will be judged.

SC-92-11 (Sport) — Finish, color, markings and accuracy of outline

This proposal provides wide latitude in the data required to prove finish, color, markings and accuracy of outline and includes guidelines for contestants on how to provide the needed data. Its aim is to promote a wider selection of subject aircraft for which documentation may be limited. These guidelines have long been needed and I highly recommend passage.

SC-92-64 (Sport) — Create Sportsman, Expert and Combined classes

This proposal creates Sportsman, Expert and Combined classes. The main implementation problem might be initial placement—who will admit to being Expert in the first season? The system works in RC Scale and PAMPA Stunt, so it could work in CL Sport Scale. The concept eliminates the Junior category, but a contest director (CD) can still hold a special event.

SC-92-60 — New Profile Scale event

Profile events are widely flown but rules have been region-specific. West Coast rules imply 1/2A engines only; other regions use Garden State Circle Burners' rules that prohibit retracts and electronics. This proposal seeks uniform adoption of Sport rules to end regional variations. Questions remain:

• Will the new rules permit retracts, electronics and other operating features, creating an attractive newcomer event (as Profile Carrier has done)?
• No specific recommendation has been made on what constitutes a profile fuselage.

Whether the proposal passes or fails, more work is needed to define the event so it is acceptable to all and especially attractive to newcomers.

SC-92-15 (Sport) and SC-92-73 (Precision) — Unlimited official flights, new flight scoring, tie procedure

Though the wording differs, both proposals have the same intent: unlimited official flights, new flight scoring, and a procedure for breaking ties. Considerations:

• How do unlimited official flights affect contest management? Many local contests are run with time restrictions.
• Could one contestant get more official flights than another, improving their score?
• Precision averages flight scores; Sport was intended to be simple, using a single best flight. Contest management can always set the number of flights to fit local conditions.
• Do we really need a tie-breaking procedure? In over 30 years of Scale involvement I have seen only one tied score.

SC-92-82 (Precision) — Call each maneuver to be performed

This proposal requires the pilot to announce each maneuver, calling its start and finish. A call for takeoff or final landing includes operation of retracts and flaps if so equipped. Any maneuver between takeoff and final landing must be called individually. Calling maneuvers helps judges, especially if you deviate from your filed flight plan.

SC-92-85 (Precision) — Penalty for pilot's or helper's touching the model after takeoff call through completion of final landing

This proposal penalizes the pilot or helper for touching the model from the call for takeoff through completion of the final landing. Intent is good, but it may conflict with Para. 6.2, which allows the contestant three minutes to get the model airborne. Example: a helper restarts the engine within the three minutes after the model rolls and the engine quits. Under present rules there is no penalty. Under this proposal, takeoff maneuver points could be lost even though the restart occurred within the allotted time.

Note: the proposal's wording, "to the completion of the official flight," means completion of the entire flight, not completion of five laps after which the flight becomes official. Also note this proposal appears to depend on passage of SC-92-82 (calling maneuvers). If SC-92-82 fails, there would be no requirement to call maneuvers and no basis for imposing these penalties. Please consider SC-92-82 and SC-92-85 together.

SC-92-71 (Sport) — Penalty for touching the model after the call for takeoff

This proposal is like SC-92-85 but omits a companion proposal requiring the pilot to call maneuvers. Without a requirement to call maneuvers, the rule could not be applied even if passed.

Minor changes and clarifications

• SC-92-21, 22 and 75 — Modelers' Declaration 4.6 list:
• SC-92-21 suggests a value change and description for wheel hubs, rims or covers.
• SC-92-22 changes the word "Glass" to "fiberglass."
• SC-92-75 suggests deleting "plastic film coverings" from the list. I question this: painting a model or applying a metal skin often involves more work than applying plastic film.
• SC-92-83 (Sport) and SC-92-84 (Precision) — Prohibit using any maneuver or scale operation twice in the same official flight (e.g., taxi lap before takeoff and taxi lap after landing). Present rules do not prevent such repetition; these proposals close that loophole.
• SC-92-79 (Sport) and SC-92-80 (Precision) — Prohibit climbs and dives as flight maneuver options. I suggest this is inappropriate because a restricted flying circle of 60 or 80 feet is too small for proper demonstration of these maneuvers.
• SC-92-85 (Unified Scale judging rules) — Declares each model should be judged on its own merits based on documentation presented; judges will not retain scores of other aircraft. While this is likely current practice, it may help to have it explicit. The proposal does not specify a penalty for violation.
• SC-92-76 (Precision) — Requires mufflers on ducted-fan models. As long as mufflers don't interfere with safe performance, this seems reasonable. Noise is a major issue in finding and retaining flying sites. We require mufflers on other Scale models; why not on ducted fans? Should a similar proposal apply to Sport?
• SC-92-63 (Precision) — Engine starting time. The proposal specifically states the number of helpers allowed and permits engine restarts within the time allotted to get airborne. Existing rules do not prohibit restarts or restrict helpers; clarity in the new wording is hoped for.
• SC-92-65 (Sport) — Realism in flight. This proposal defines judging of flight characteristics and model operations in relation to the prototype. Putting this standard in writing should cause no harm.

Closing

Please give these proposals some thought and share your position with your district Scale Contest Board member.

Send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me at the address above.

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.