CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss, 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park NY 11040
Curtiss CR-2 Scale Model
A Curtiss CR-2 racing biplane won the 1921 Pulitzer Trophy Race. The Curtiss racer was one of the company's Model 23 biplanes built for the U.S. Navy under the designations CR-1 and CR-2. The Navy had intended to compete in the Pulitzer Trophy Race, but it withdrew. Curtiss borrowed the CR-2 instead, and the company's test pilot Bert Acosta successfully flew the airplane to victory.
The CR-1 and CR-2 were biplanes with tail-skid landing gear powered by the Curtiss CD-12 inline engine. They were later converted to seaplanes (Model 23A), fitted with 465-horsepower Curtiss D-12 engines and Curtiss Reed metal propellers. They competed in the 1928 Schneider Trophy Contest and placed first and second in the race. The preceding information was found in Barnes & Noble's The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft.
Frank Beatty of Granite City, Illinois, chose the Curtiss CR-2 for his latest scale project; it is shown in the accompanying photos. The model, of his own design and built to a scale of 2 inches = 1 foot, has a wingspan of 45 inches and a length of 42¼ inches. Power is an O.S. .61 with a standard three-line Roberts system for controlling the throttle. The model weighs just under 8 pounds.
The CR-2 is covered with silkspan over balsa and Sig Koverall over the ailerons and tail surfaces. The finish is Brodak dopes, which Frank heartily recommends. He is especially pleased with the simulated scale corrugated wing-skin radiators. Railroad modelers' sheet styrene "siding" was used for the simulated wing radiators and looks great. Other notable features are the hand-carved scale propeller and flared exhaust stacks.
Frank entered the model in the new Control Line (CL) Designer Scale event at the 2002 Nationals, won the High Static Award, and placed first in the event. He reports that after some adjustments to fuel, engine setting, and propeller size, the model turned in a very respectable flight and performed well in the touch-and-go and taxi maneuvers.
The only other entry in the inaugural CL Designer Scale event was a Piper Cub by Charles Bauer. According to Frank, there are a couple of reasons why the number of entries was low. Some modelers said they didn't know about the new event; others indicated they were sitting this one out because they would be flying shortly afterward in the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) events at the World Championships in Canada.
Also, since this was the first running and the event was implemented only at the beginning of 2002, it was hard for many to understand the new rules, then plan and build a model in the few months between the start of the year and the Nationals dates.
Frank hopes, as do I, that more CL scale modelers will become aware of the new event, which should produce better turnouts in future years.
New Control Handle
In the past few years I have featured a number of electric servo and electronic control systems for use with our CL scale models. I have explored single and dual electric servo systems and various electronic systems, from single-channel throttle control to multichannel add-ons to two- and three-line handles and multichannel electronic handles such as those offered by Bill Young. Now a new handle is being offered: the ScaleMaster. It takes the concept of the electronic control handle to a new dimension.
The ScaleMaster handle is a seven-channel system that allows the scale modeler to incorporate not only throttle control, but up to six other independent operational features using four torque switches and two proportional lever controls.
The handle is made of molded plastic and offers the following features:
- Custom contoured hand grip
- Servo reversing
- Dual rate adjustment
- Servo end adjustment
- Power level meter
- Dual power supply
The ScaleMaster system consists of the handle and a seven-channel decoder. You must provide the servos, batteries, battery charger, and other miscellaneous components. The handle and decoder are priced at $325. The price may seem high, but it is comparable to purchasing a radio system and having it modified for CL use.
A great advantage of the ScaleMaster system is that all controls are right in front of you: you can keep your eyes on the model at all times, there are no wires from a unit on your belt to the flight handle, and there is no fumbling to find a control on a unit you can’t see. Another advantage is the ability to use the handle with a number of models that require varying numbers of operations. Each model would need its own decoder and servo setup.
More information about this new handle can be found on the ScaleMaster website: www.finitesite.com/scalemaster/. The site contains several photos of the system, details about line makeup, building tips, and a considerable amount of other useful information for the scale builder or Navy carrier enthusiast. There is also a cost listing for additional decoders and other system-related components in the ordering section.
If you don’t have Internet access and want additional information, you can write to ScaleMaster, 5222 E. Beacon Ave., New London, WI 54961. Jaysen Hayes, designer and technical support, and Karen Forsberg, general manager for ScaleMaster, can be reached via the website or at the preceding address.
Wanted
For nostalgic reasons, Bob Buenzly of Allentown, Pennsylvania, would like to obtain a copy of the old Berkeley SNJ (AT-6) plans. The model had a wingspan of 31 inches and was sold as a "U-control" scale model kit. Bob would also like information about or plans for the Wanderer, a free-flight design by Bill Winter. Many years ago Bob’s uncle gave him a completed Wanderer fuselage, and now Bob would like to obtain plans to complete the model.
Bob can be reached by mail at 1408 N. 21st St., Allentown, PA 19104, or by e-mail at janie@enteremail.net.
In Bob’s letter he mentioned an all-aluminum U-control model he has called the Topping 100. It had Bakelite wingtips, as did the P-51 I wrote about in the October 2002 column. Bob’s 100 model (as shown in an ad) is a speed model for size B and C engines.
Bob also included a 1948 ad for Duro-Matic’s Products Co. Invader speed model for class B engines. It seems that there were quite a number of all-metal airplanes during the 1940s. I must also thank the many others who continue to send notes or information about all-aluminum models. A note from John Agnew of Fort Myers, Florida, mentioned that we have an all-aluminum P-51 in the National Model Aviation Museum in Muncie, Indiana.
Glue Be Gone
If, after you put that beautiful covering on your model, you accidentally spill some cyanoacrylate (CA) glue on it, put a bit of "debonder" on a piece of paper towel and rub the glue right off. Wipe it clean, and your model is new again.
That tip was taken from the Orville Air Corps Flight Line, Sid Maxwell, editor.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming CL scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL scale activity to me at the address at the very top of this column.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
