CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss, 77-06 269th Street, New Hyde Park NY 11040
SCALE FAI Team Selection
Cathy Burnstine reported that the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) Control Line Scale team selection for 1998 was completed at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center, Muncie, IN, July 7–9, 1997. The team of Steve Ashby, Jack Sheeks, and Ralph Burnstine will represent the U.S. in the World Championships, which will be held in Pretoria, South Africa, in April 1998. Dale Campbell and Charlie Bauer are alternates for the team, and Darlene Frederick was elected team manager.
Cathy noted that static judging was held poolside at the Ramada Inn (Muncie) on Monday, July 7. The weather was beautiful until the flying portion of the competition was scheduled to start. Tuesday brought winds at a steady 18 mph with higher gusts, which made flying difficult. The first three flights of the day ended rather abruptly with damage, ranging from the destruction of Jack Patrolia's Pitts to minor damage to the bottom of Jack Sheeks' Hellcat. Charlie Bauer lost control of his electric-powered Cub but was able to repair the damage and return to the competition the next day.
Wednesday was not as windy, but it was cold and raining, making flying most difficult. However, two rounds of flying were completed and the team was selected.
Airplane Data
I’m fortunate to be able to provide information in this report about the airplanes flown by the new FAI team members. The information might help those of you who are building for CL Scale, or let you know what operating features are needed to be competitive at world-class competition.
- Ralph Burnstine — Pitts
- Scratch-built 1/4-scale model
- Wingspan: 60 inches
- Power: Surpass 120
- Covering: silkspan with Sig dope finish
- Operating features: controlled by a multichannel electronic system (based on the January/February 1991 columns, using Ace R/C components). System operated steerable tail wheel, cowl flaps, rudder, and smoke device, allowing in-flight demonstrations of tail wag, wing wag, wingover with smoke, and "S" taxi.
- Jack Sheeks — Hellcat
- Scratch-built to 1½-inch = 1-foot scale
- Power: O.S. 90 four-stroke
- Wingspan: 63 inches
- Covering/finish: glass cloth with Chevron finish
- Operating features: bomb drop with powder-simulated explosion, gear retraction, flaps, and throttle control — all via an electronic system.
- Steve Ashby — Dornier Do 17
- Scratch-built to 1⅛-inch = 1-foot scale
- Power: two O.S. 40s
- Wingspan: 66½ inches
- Construction: balsa and aluminum
- Finish: Hobbypoxy
- Operating features: retractable gear, throttle, flaps, bomb drop, landing lights, and bomb bay doors. All features controlled via a seven-channel electronic system based on Ace R/C components.
Please support our FAI Scale team through purchases and donations. Available items:
- Team pins: $5 each
- NASA (National Association of Scale Aeromodelers) patches: $3
- Decals: $0.50
- Scale Data Source: $8
- US Scale Masters Judging Guide: (price not listed)
Send check or money order to Bert Dugan, Sect./Treas., 11090 Phyllis Dr., Clio, MI 48420. Individual donations in support of the team are also appreciated.
A Voice From The Past
A letter from Frank Beatty brought back memories of Nationals competitions of the late 1960s and early 1970s, when they were held at various naval air stations such as Glenview, Illinois, and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. I met Frank in the early 1970s when I was covering the Nats for American Aircraft Modeler; he was flying a Pitcairn Mailwing and a Chilton DW-1-A.
Frank wrote of returning to designing, building, and flying CL Scale after more than 20 years away from the event. His latest project, a Stits Playboy, is based on an old Cal Smith design that appeared in American Modeler, June 1957. The project began as a father-son build; Frank’s son lost interest and both models were stored about half finished. Frank worked on the model intermittently over the past couple of years and now it is finished and test-flown.
The accompanying photo shows Frank’s Sport Scale Stits Playboy — a great-looking, well-finished model. Specifications:
- Wingspan: 39 inches
- Length: 31 inches
- Weight: 48 ounces
- Wing area: 247 square inches
- Wing loading: 19 ounces per 100 square inches
- Power: O.S. 25 using the standard three-line system for throttle control
- Finish: Aero Gloss paints; color scheme based on the airplane suspended in the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Museum, Oshkosh, WI.
Aero Albums and Model Warplanes
Aero Albums are available again. If you’re interested in a historical look at aviation eras, this 20-volume series may be for you. Originally created and edited by Kenn Rust and Paul Matt, the republished series is packed with vintage photos, text, three-view drawings, illustrations, and charts. The volumes cover aviation through the Pioneer, WW I, Golden Age, WW II eras, and beyond. For complete details, cost, and ordering information, write to Wind Canyon Publishing, Inc., Box 1445, Niceville, FL 32588-1445.
Model Warplanes, a series of five volumes containing listings of thousands of model airplane plans, kits, scale drawings, photographs, booklets, cowls, canopies, decals, retractable gear, etc., is being offered at a 50% savings. The listings cover airplanes from the WW I era to the present-day jet age. John Fredriksen is compiling the next edition but must sell off his remaining inventory; he is selling the entire series for $25 + $3 postage and handling. Send cash or check to John Fredriksen, 461 Loring Ave., Salem, MA 01970-9849.
Workshop Hint
Paint touch-up can be a problem if the paint is in an aerosol can and you need only a very small quantity. Spray the paint through a drinking straw into a small container; there will be very little overspray, and you can easily control the amount. This tip was found in the Orange County R/C Club Eagle Newsletter, which found it in the Flyer and CRCC Flite Log newsletters.
A Reminder
I am always looking for good building ideas, technical tips, and "Hints for the Workshop" to pass on to column readers. Your special way of doing something would help many, especially newcomers to CL Scale.
Also, please remember contest notices: many flyers arrive too late to mention. To have your contest included in the column, notify me about four months in advance.
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 very top of this column.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
