CONTROL LINE: SCALE
Bill Boss 77-06 269th Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
Overseas Mail
Overseas mail is always welcome because it brings news and photos of modeling activity from other parts of the world. My most recent overseas correspondence came from Karl-Georg Krafft of Hagen, Germany.
Karl is no stranger to this column. We previously featured two of his models in January 1992—the Curtiss Gulfhawk and the Goshawk. This month we have a photo and information on his latest project, a Northrop Gamma.
Karl‑Georg Krafft’s Northrop Gamma
- Scale: 1/6
- Wingspan: 58 inches
- Weight: 6.6 lb
- Power: O.S. .40 FSR
- Construction: all-balsa, nearly all covered with self-adhesive aluminum tape (the type used to wrap insulating pipes)
Construction and finishing:
- Panels of aluminum tape were cut to scale size before application.
- Rivets were simulated by mixing white glue and silver watercolor, then applying them with a toothpick.
- A final clear coat was applied for fuel-proofing.
Documentation and references:
- Williams Bros. plastic kit and its drawings
- The Northrop Story Book
- Photos of the full-size airplane at the National Air and Space Museum
Controls and features:
- Four-line control system providing independent activation of elevator, throttle, combined flaps, and landing lights.
- Outer wing panels are detachable for ease of transportation.
- Markings replicate the "Polar Star — Ellsworth Trans‑Antarctic Flight," as used by Lincoln Ellsworth on his 1935 Antarctic flight.
Karl’s Gamma is not only a fine-looking model but also a well-documented project.
Wanted
Karl-Georg Krafft is considering building another Gulfhawk, larger this time, and wants to incorporate a smoke system for aerobatics. He is having trouble finding documentation on smoke-system installation.
He noted that Frank Tallman used smoke systems in his airplanes and that Tallman’s book Flying the Old Planes (probably out of print) might contain the needed information. Karl would appreciate any documentation or leads.
Send responses to: Karl‑Georg Krafft Lennestr. 58C 58093 Hagen Germany
Or forward information to me at the address at the top of this column and I will pass it on to Karl.
CONTEST ACTIVITY
1996 Garden State Circle Burners Meet
The Garden State Circle Burners (GSCB) held their 19th annual all‑Scale meet (now known as the George Gaydos Memorial Meet) on September 15, 1996. The event was another successful day of Control Line Scale flying and was held at Teterboro, New Jersey. The weather was sunny, in the low 70s, with favorable winds up to 10 mph. Early in the morning two macadam circles were open for test flying, and static judging took place.
The meet used the usual AMA CL Scale events—Precision, Sport, Profile, and Team Scale—based on GSCB rules. Team events were offered to encourage modelers to try other events such as Stunt and Navy Carrier and to bring beginners into Scale competition. There were 29 entries in this year’s meet:
- Precision: 5
- Sport: 8
- Profile: 5
- Fun: 9
- Team entries: 2
With two circles available, contestants completed two full rounds of flights.
Awards and recognition
Local hobby shops and businesses provided trophies and merchandise awarded to the top three places in each event. A special award—the George L. Gaydos Competitors Award—was presented to the Open Junior contestant with the best overall Scale performance, sponsored by Classic Graphics, Wharton, New Jersey.
- Open award: Ralph Robinson, Hastings‑on‑Hudson, NY (flew four events)
- Junior award: Scott LeFevre, Dover, NJ (flew two events)
GSCB is a well-organized, dedicated group and deserves congratulations for promoting CL Scale and other facets of Control Line competition year after year. The meet took place at the Lincoln Park, New Jersey flying field.
DOCUMENTATION AND JUDGING NOTES
Documentation of model aircraft continues to be a problem for some Scale competitors. While photographing this year’s GSCB meet, I reviewed contestants’ documentation for static judging. Although most presentations were adequate, some gave judges little to go on, and a few modelers were not up to date with rule changes.
Important rule clarifications:
- The former Rule 4.6, Declaration of Parts Not Made by the Contestant, used to require a mandatory markdown in static scoring. A 1996 rules change eliminated the need for this declaration in all Control Line Scale events.
- A listing of major parts not made by the contestant is still required under General Scale Rule 4.4, but there is no mandatory markdown. Judges will consider the workmanship required to complete or finish such parts when awarding points.
Identification:
- General Scale Rule 5—Identification—requires that the contestant’s name and AMA number be displayed on the model (it may be placed in an inconspicuous location). No points will be deducted for such identification. Good locations include the inside of split flaps, undersides of flying surfaces, or inside the cockpit.
Fact sheet recommendation: Including a fact sheet (one of the pages allowed in your documentation presentation) is not mandatory but strongly recommended. Useful items to include:
- Modeler’s name, address, and phone number
- AMA number
- Model designation and scale (e.g., P‑38 Lightning, 1/8 scale)
- Kit or plans source
- Number and size of engines, model weight, powerplant and radio (if applicable)
- Color scheme and markings
- Notes about modifications or missing parts
- Competition‑age classification and operating features (e.g., retracts, lights)
- Suggested flight plan
Why include this? The information helps judges complete judging forms more quickly and reduces their need to ask questions. More complete documentation can improve your static score; a few points in static judging can be the difference between winning and losing.
If you are missing specific three‑views or prototype photos for your model, consider using a documentation provider such as: Bob Banka’s Scale Model Research 3114 Yukon Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me at the address at the top of this column.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
