Author: B. Boss
Edition: Model Aviation - 1998/08
Page Numbers: 137, 141
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CONTROL LINE SCALE

Bill Boss 77-06 269th Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040

Contest Activity

The Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers will hold the 1998 Control Line Championships on Saturday and Sunday, September 5–6, 1998, at the Denver Coliseum. The meet will include Racing, Speed, Stunt, Carrier, Balloon Pop, and Scale events. AMA Precision, Sport, and Profile Scale will be offered.

In addition to the AMA Scale events, two new events — Demo Scale and Builder Scale — will be offered based on rules established by the Rocky Mountain Aeromodelers' newly formed Scale Team: Kirk Kirkham, Lynn Boss, and Jim Brown.

The intent of the new categories is to give Scale contestants more opportunity to fly and show their models, and to provide spectators with more in-flight demonstrations. Below is a synopsis of each new event.

Demo Scale

Demo Scale is open to flying scale models of heavier-than-air, man-carrying aircraft.

  • Entry limits: No limit on the number of models entered; maximum of three flights per model.
  • Power limits:
  • Reciprocating engines: up to 1.35 cubic-inch displacement.
  • Jets: up to 1.25 square inches cross-section.
  • Other rules/features:
  • No muffler requirements.
  • No “builder of the model” rule.
  • No time-start limits.
  • Flights receive no score.
  • Prize pot and ticket system:
  • The club's Scale Team will seed a prize pot with $100.
  • Each flight by a contestant costs $1, which is added to the pot.
  • A full flight (takeoff, 10 laps in the air, and a landing) earns one chance ticket.
  • Twin-engine models earn two chance tickets for a successful flight.
  • At contest end the pot is divided by 10 and 10 chance tickets are drawn. Example: if the pot is $200, ten entrants receive $20 each.

Demonstrations of flight operations are encouraged for spectator enjoyment but receive no extra reward.

Builder Scale

Builder Scale is open to any scale model that would qualify for AMA Precision, Sport, or Profile events, but:

  • A Builder Scale entry may not be entered in any AMA event at the same contest (separate model entries are allowed).
  • No pilot figure requirement.
  • No limit on the number of official flights during the event's scheduled time.
  • Total flight time per entry is 10 minutes; engine restarts are allowed during that time provided the wheels have not left the ground.

Builder Scale Scoring

Static judging (maximum 45 points):

  • Fidelity to Scale: 0–15 points (based on documentation presented; only compliance to size and shape is judged).
  • Color and Markings: 0–15 points (based on documentation).
  • Craftsmanship: 0–15 points.
  • Static judging time is limited to 10 minutes per model.

Flight judging (maximum 35 points):

  • Takeoff: 0–10 points (one point per airborne lap up to a maximum of 10 points).
  • Quality of the 10 flight laps: 0–5 points.
  • Quality of approach and landing: 0–10 points.
  • No bonus points for operational features, though demonstrations are encouraged.

Maximum combined static and flight score: 80 points.

Rules and Contacts

  • The basic AMA general competition and safety regulations apply in Demo Scale and Builder Scale.
  • Contest Directors for the Control Line Championships: Kirk Kirkham and Jim Brown.
  • For full contest details and the special Scale event rules, write to:
  • James Brown, 921 S. Wheeling St., Aurora, CO 80012. Tel: (303) 343-3883.
  • Clubs interested in trying Demo Scale or Builder Scale can request a set of rules from Jim Brown.

WRAM SHOW (Westchester Radio Aero Modelers)

Highlights

The WRAM show, perhaps the East Coast's biggest hobby gathering, celebrated its 30th annual event Friday–Sunday, February 27–March 1. Mild weather (45–50°F) drew a large crowd to see more than 200 exhibitors, static competition models, seminars, an AMA meeting, a Swap Shop, and a superb super-scale working model of the USS Forrestal (CV-59) — about 30 feet long.

Although WRAM is RC-oriented, many exhibitors offer products useful to CL Scale modelers. The visit also provided a chance to greet colleagues in person, including Bob Banka (Scale Model Research), John Brodak (Brodak Models), Harry Higley (model engines), and Bob Underwood at the AMA booth.

Products and Vendors of Interest to CL Scale Modelers

#### Model Kits Jack Stafford Models — Quick Build Scale RC Kits are good candidates for conversion to control line Builder Scale.

  • Features: 60–72 inch wingspans; come with bulkheads, formers, ribs, canopy, molded cowl, rolled plans, and detailed instructions.
  • Popular kits: Mustang, P-39 Airacobra, Alon II Aircoupe, L-19 Bird Dog, single- and twin-engine Comanche.
  • Catalog: Send $1 to Jack Stafford Models, 3833 N. Chicago Rd., Coldwater, MI 49036.

#### Major Decals Major Decals (Northeast Screen Graphics) is adding more propeller symbols in several sizes for manufacturers including McCauley, Hamilton, Hartzell, Falcon, Fallin, Curtiss Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and others.

  • Contact: Major Decals, Northeast Screen Graphics, Box 304, East Longmeadow, MA 01028.

#### Propellers (Zinger / J&Z Products) Zinger offers three- and four-bladed propellers suitable for flying or modified for static display. Their specially designed hub allows individual blade replacement; you can use the blades on a single hub for both flying and display versions.

  • Contact: J&Z Products, 25029 S. Vermont Ave., Harbor City, CA 90710.

#### Screws and Fasteners (Micro Fasteners) Micro Fasteners stocks a wide assortment of small hardware useful for engine mounting and scale detail, including metric and standard socket head cap screws, hex and flat head machine screws, miniature aluminum rivets, nylon screws, self-tapping screws, etc.

  • Sizes: 00 to 10 diameters in various lengths and head styles.
  • Contact: Micro Fasteners, 110 Hillcrest Rd., Flemington, NJ 08822. Tel: (908) 892-6917. Web: http://microfasteners.com.

#### Retractable Landing Gear (Century Jet Models Inc.) Century Jet Models provides retractable landing gear systems for many kits and will modify or engineer gear to fit specific scratch-built models.

Contributions and Closing

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 (Bill Boss, 77-06 269th Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040).

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.