Author: B. Boss
Edition: Model Aviation - 1999/01
Page Numbers: 133, 134
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CONTROL LINE SCALE

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

1999 CL Scale Rules — summary of action

CL (Control Line) Scale rules proposals for 1999 have completed the final vote of the Scale Contest Board. Key outcomes:

  • SC-99-21 passed: removes the word "Supplemental" from the "Control Line Profile Scale" heading. This effectively upgrades Profile Scale from "Supplemental" to "Official" event status.
  • SC-99-20 passed: establishes two divisions for the Profile Scale event.
  • Division #1 — for the novice contestant only; intended as an entry-level CL Scale event.
  • Division #2 — open to any contestant who has had previous CL Scale competition experience.

Division #1: defining "novice"

Contest Directors and Event Directors must be able to identify the true novice for Division #1. Questions to consider:

  • Should a novice be someone entirely new to CL flying and scale competition, or anyone who has never entered a Scale event regardless of other experience?
  • The likely intent of Division #1 is the real beginner — not someone who has already flown Profile in other events (for example, Navy Carrier).

Be aware that a 25-year-old novice differs greatly from a 9- or 10-year-old novice. Every effort should be made to use these Profile Scale divisions as intended.

Worksheet and scoring corrections

The Control Line Sport Scale Worksheet (Part I) on page 132 of the Competition Regulations has been corrected:

  • Adds a space for scoring "Authenticity of Degree of Gloss."
  • "Side Views" and "Front & Back Views" are to be scored 1–15 points.
  • The requirement for a "Signed Declaration of Non-Built Components" has been removed.

Precision, Designer Scale, and class structure

During the rules cycle:

  • Proposal SC-99-23 would have eliminated the Precision event, established Designer Scale in its place, and created Sportsman and Expert classes for events 508 and 509.
  • SC-99-23 was replaced late in the cycle by cross-proposal SC-99-CP, which requested that deletion of Precision and establishment of Designer Scale be treated as separate proposals; the Sportsman/Expert classes in the original proposal were acceptable.
  • Based on input to the Scale Board opposing Designer Scale, the cross-proposal was defeated.

As a result, the Precision event will remain.

Thoughts on Designer Scale

Designer Scale has merit as a CL event:

  • It would provide higher-level competition and new challenges for experienced CL Scale modelers.
  • Many CL modelers can design their own models; CAD tools and expanded multichannel electronics enable complex operational features.
  • Establishing Designer Scale (Official or Supplemental) could raise the overall caliber of CL Scale entry and might encourage higher-quality models for FAI world competitions.

With a new rules cycle starting, now is the time to submit a proposal to establish Designer Scale as either "Official" or "Supplemental."

2000 Scale World Championships — Interlaken, Switzerland

Stan Alexander, NASA (National Association of Scale Aeromodelers) president, provided this information:

  • The 2000 Scale World Championships will be at Interlaken Airport, Switzerland, Sunday, August 20 – Sunday, August 27, 2000.
  • Events: F4B (CL) and F4C (Radio Control). F4C Large Scale may be flown as a provisional event (present information indicates the Large Scale provisional event will be funded by AMA).
  • Arrival/registration/free practice: Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19.
  • Competition: Monday, August 21 through Friday, August 25.
  • Saturday, August 26: reserved for excursions, tours, and the banquet closing the World Championships.
  • Sunday, August 27: departure day.

Qualifying events for the U.S. teams will take place in 1999; past schedules indicate these qualifiers are just prior to, or at the same time as, the National Championships (in recent years they have been in early July). Watch for date announcements in Model Aviation.

Anyone interested in further information about the 2000 World Championships should contact:

  • Stan Alexander, 3709 Valley Ridge Dr., Nashville, TN 37211-3931.

This Month's Photos

  • Curtiss B4C-2 Hawk — Ralph Robinson, Hastings, NY. Built from an old Aristocraft kit; 40" wingspan; powered by an ST .60 engine; throttle controlled by the standard three-line control system; covered and painted with Sig covering and dope.
  • Stinson Reliant — Joe Sroczyk, Philadelphia, PA. Originated as a Sterling kit; full cockpit interior and operating doors; novel blue-and-white color scheme (instead of the usual red-and-white); powered by an ST .51; 51" wingspan; covered with silkspan and finished with Perfect Paints; flaps controlled by an electric servo, throttle by standard three-line system.
  • Note: The Reliant and the Hawk were flown at the Garden State Circle Burners September 1997 annual all-Scale George Gaydos Memorial Meet.
  • F7F Tigercat — Jack Sheeks, Indianapolis. Built from a JR Custom Products kit; 69" wingspan; about 12 pounds; powered by two O.S. .40 engines; flaps and throttle controlled by an electronic system provided by Ralph Burnstime. Jack and Ralph have been members of the U.S. Scale team at the World Championships.

Jack asked to note that JR Custom Products (140 S. Camino Seco, #415, Tucson, AZ 85710) has a full line of .60-size kits — including the Fw 190, Zero, Bearcat, AT-6, and Cessna Skymaster — that would make great CL models.

Notes and closing

Please send ideas, notices of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to:

  • Bill Boss, 77-06 269th St., New Hyde Park, NY 11040.

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