CONTROL LINE SCALE
Bill Boss, 77-06 269th Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
The Passing of a Great Modeling Friend
A recent report by West Coast reporter Fred Cronenwett included information about the October 1997 Seebree Hayes annual contest, run by the 101st Screaming Eagles, and the loss of one of the Eagles' most ardent modelers, Virgil Wilbur. He had been a member of the club for many years and passed away in September 1997.
For the preceding 12 years Virgil had been the organizer and Contest Director (CD) of the Seebree Hayes contest. He was responsible for the organization and promotion of all forms of control line (CL) activities and competition, from Scale to Speed, in the Los Angeles area. Virgil will be missed, and his memory will remain with many of the modelers he touched. He has left a great void, not only in the club's activities but also in his circle of friends.
1997 Seebree Hayes Contest
The 1997 Seebree Hayes contest included four Scale events—Precision, Sport, Profile, and Fun. Ten competitors provided a considerable array of Scale models and 14 event entries for a successful day of Scale flying. Fred Cronenwett took Virgil Wilbur's place as CD, and Grant Hiestand, Wally Booth, and John Senter judged the events.
- Precision: Leo Derbarmdiker placed first, flying a scratch-built YAK-12M controlled by a combination of the standard three-line system and single-channel electronics. The model's operating flaps were controlled via the electronics, while throttle and the parachute drop of medical supplies were controlled via the multiline system. The YAK weighed about seven pounds and was powered by an O.S. 40FP. Most of the documentation presented for the model was in Russian.
- Sport: Hotly contested among Ken Long, Ken Burton, and Lynn Boss, with only three points separating first and third places. Ken Long's cardboard-built Stuka won first place with a score of 187.3, two points ahead of Ken Burton and his second-place DC-3. Lynn Boss and his Corsair finished third—one point behind Burton.
- Ken Burton's DC-3 "Spirit of Seventy Six" is several years old and has been flown in Nats competition. The aircraft has been rebuilt and now incorporates a multichannel electronic system (JR DSC radio) in place of the standard three-line system. The electronics control flaps, throttle, and brakes. The model is scratch-built, weighs 11 pounds, has a wingspan of seven feet, and is powered by a pair of .60 engines. The pilots' names are "Mutt and Jeff."
- Profile: Steve Davis placed first, flying a Bearcat.
- Fun: Steve Davis placed first, flying a Piper Cub.
NASA and the AMA 1998 Nats
Stan Alexander, Vice President of the National Association of Scale Aeromodellers (NASA), informed us that as part of its continuing involvement in the promotion of Scale modeling in the US, NASA will again run the CL and radio control (RC) Scale competitions at the AMA 1998 Nats. Those events will be held the weekend of July 10–12 at the AMA Flying Site, Muncie, IN.
CL Scale categories will be:
- #509 Sport Scale
- #508 Precision
- #521 Profile
- #510 F4B (FAI — Federation Aeronautique Internationale)
Static judging will take place at the Horizon Convention Center, located near the Radisson Hotel Roberts in Muncie. Entry fees:
- $45 for the first model
- $15 for each additional model
- $25 late-entry fee
Mike Welshans will be the CL Scale event director. A banquet hosted by NASA will be held Saturday night, July 11.
About NASA Membership
For those new to Scale modeling, NASA is a special interest group whose purpose is to encourage, promote, and advance all forms of Scale aeromodeling in the US. The organization encourages the formation of Scale modeling clubs, flying Scale competitions, the sharing of Scale data, and Scale-related information.
If you're thinking of building Scale models, consider becoming a NASA member. Membership includes:
- a copy of the Scale Data Source List
- a three-inch NASA decal
- a three-inch NASA embroidered patch
- a replica of NASA's bimonthly newsletter
Dues:
- $10 US
- $12 Canadian
- $14 foreign
For full details contact: Cathy Burnstine, NASA Secretary/Treasurer 303 Finch St., Sandusky, OH 44870
I will include more about NASA membership benefits in a future column.
Book Review
Dana Bell has provided a great book: Air Force Colors — Volume 3, published by Squadron/Signal Publications. This volume covers color schemes and markings used on Air Force airplanes flown in the Pacific Theater of Operations and on the home front between 1942 and 1947.
- Length: 95 pages
- Content: Fine black-and-white photos and text explaining camouflage, unit colors, and markings used on fighters, bombers, transports, and reconnaissance airplanes in the Pacific Basin and the China/Burma/India Theater. More than a dozen color pages show unit markings and some side views of airplanes, useful as a basis for color-and-markings schemes on Scale projects.
- Availability: Zenith Books, 729 Prospect Ave., Osceola, WI 54020
- Price: $14.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling
- Order: Ask for AF Colors V3, Item #124412
Hints for the Workshop
George Leib of the Orbiting Eagles (Omaha, Nebraska) originated this month's tips.
- Glue Joints: Many modern adhesives sold in hobby shops are stronger than the wood they join, but glue joints often fail because they're not made correctly. Surfaces should fit perfectly and adhesive instructions should be followed exactly. For less-than-perfect fits, fill all gaps with a gap-filling glue or with baking soda or balsa dust before applying thin cyanoacrylate (CA) glue. Then apply a bead of gap-filling glue to the joint. George prefers water-based aliphatic resin applied with a small paintbrush or wiped to remove excess. Well-made joints make for better, longer-lasting models.
- Sanding Tip: To avoid gouging surrounding areas while sanding a part, apply masking tape over the area you don't want sanded. The tape shows when the part is cutting in, so you can adjust your work to remove only what you want.
These hints were found in the Orbiting Eagles' newsletter.
Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to the address at the top of this column.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
