CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss 77-06 269th Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
SCALE RULES PROPOSALS
Scale rules proposals that can affect Control Line (CL) Scale modeling have just been through the Initial Vote for the 1998–1999 rules cycle. You might be interested in the following:
- SC-99-21 — Designating the popular Profile Scale as an official Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) event. This proposal has passed the initial vote and should have little difficulty passing the final vote. Profile Scale is featured in most CL Scale contests around the country.
- SC-99-24 — Called for noise abatement in "All RC [Radio Control] and CL Events." This proposal has failed. Although CL Scale models are required to use mufflers (which mainly affect a model's appearance), passage of this proposal would have caused havoc in other events — for example, how would you muffle a jet engine?
- SC-99-23 — Calls for the Sport Scale event to be divided into Sportsman and Expert classes and for elimination of the Precision Scale. Precision would be replaced by Designer Scale as it now appears in the RC Scale events.
Many active CL Scale modelers were polled by Bill Reynolds (East Coast), Fred Cronenwett (West Coast), and myself. Most indicated no problem with the Sport event change, but there is strong opposition to eliminating the Precision event because it is used in contests on both coasts and is growing in participation.
The Designer event raises concerns because of the Eligibility Requirements (Competition Regulations, p. 140):
"1. Only those models that are the original design of the contestant are eligible for this event. Models that are built from kits or commercially available plans, modifications from kits or plans, or scaled commercial plans are not eligible."
"2. Craftsmanship judging will be done at zero distance."
A more reasonable approach would have been to introduce Designer Scale as a new or supplemental event to see how it would be used before eliminating Precision. It is also felt Designer would be rarely used; CL Scale modelers interested in such a demanding event can look toward the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) Scale trials and World Championships.
I urge all CL Scale modelers to think seriously about this change. Contact your district Scale Board member and let him or her know your thoughts, and talk it up at your club meetings. Consider these questions:
- Do you want to eliminate the Precision event in favor of something untried in CL?
- How many will actually build for such a demanding event?
- What will Designer builders do with present Precision models — enter them in the Sport event and possibly discourage others from entering?
Let your District Scale Contest Board member know how you feel. It will be too late to do anything after a rule is passed in the final vote.
Overseas Mail
It's always a pleasure to report on overseas Scale modelers and to show some of their work.
Piotr Zawada (Poznań, Poland) sent photos and a letter about the Junior Scale Team of the Poznań Aeroklub. A photo shows four members of the team, which won the "Best Junior Scale Team" cup at the 1996 Polish Nationals. The fifth modeler (center of photo with no model) is Bogusław Małota of Ostrov, Poland — not a member of the Poznań club but a close friend of the team members. He is a member of the Polish Scale team and was Vice Champion at Europa 1995.
Team members (left to right):
- Woytek Szutowski — Seventh place. Profile PT-19; powered with a KB .20 RC engine; controlled with a three-line system; performs pamphlet-dropping flights.
- Michał Modrzyński — Third place. Full FAI Scale Fly Baby, 66-inch span; K&B .60 powered; throttle control via a servo-driven system.
- Stan Kozłowski — 1996 Polish Junior National Scale Champion. Aerobatic 1/5-scale Super Star, 67-inch span; Webra .60; about six pounds. Four-line system controls throttle and smoke system.
- Jerry Grzelski — Fourth place. UT-2 Russian trainer (WW II), 62-inch wingspan; about 6½ pounds; powered by an ST .40. Control via a four-line system for throttle and includes pamphlet-dropping capability.
Piotr noted that all models are the modelers' own designs and that the aircraft were covered with paper or Solartex. Dope and nitro lacquers were used for finishing, and required cowls were made of fiberglass. In addition to throttle control and pamphlet dropping, maneuvers such as touch-and-go, taxi, overshoot, and high-level flight are used most by the team members.
Piotr will try to provide further information about CL Scale activity in Poland and the 1997 European Championships.
Hints for the Workshop
Bob Furr passes along a useful workshop tip. A common problem is opening screw-top paint bottles that have been previously opened and left on the shelf. Paint on the rim can make them almost impossible to reopen. Bob tried turning bottles upside down and applying acetone or hot water to the threaded area, but the task remained difficult.
To prevent this frustration, Bob suggests wrapping a turn or two of Teflon pipe thread tape around the bottle threads before closing. You'll get a tighter seal and have an easier time the next time you open the bottle. This tip was published in the Orbiting Eagles (Omaha, NE) newsletter.
Contest Activity
- Seebree Hayes Annual Contest — October 11–12, 1997 at the Whittier Narrows flying area. Because last year's contest was successful, Precision, Sport, Profile, and fun Scale events will be offered. For full contest details contact Fred Cronenwett, 7352 Independence Ave., Apt. #201, Canoga Park, CA 91303.
- Skyliners MAC Contest — August 24, 1997 at Clark County Airport (Sellersburg, IN). CD Byron Barker reports CL Sport and Profile Scale events, along with Golden Age Racing events. Full details: Byron Barker, 407 Mt. Tabor Rd., New Albany, IN 47150; Tel.: (812) 944-8511.
If you're a CL Scale modeler near these contests, please come out and show your support for those who work hard to keep CL Scale events alive and moving forward. Support your local contests.
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.
