Control Line: Scale
Mike Stott
I RECENTLY RECEIVED a letter from the Flying Dutchmen Aeromodellers of Reading, Pa. In their letter they stated a concern about the future of scale and an idea that would really help it out. This same idea has been in the back of my mind for quite some time now and I was very happy to find out some others thought along the same lines. Scale concerns everyone, whether a novice or an advanced builder and flier. The letter is reprinted below.
Dear Mike Stott,
We read your column in the Model Aviation mag. We are members of the Flying Dutchmen of Pa., a multi-interest control line club. In our club we have a scale society. Our aim is to spur interest in scale building, and competition flying.
At a recent seminar held by our club, the largest dissension aired was the large turning away from Scale of the novice and more proficient builders, due to the oversophistication of current winning scale designs. We wish to hear from master builders such as yourself, your views on, in one again making Scale an event of interest to the general model airplane builder. We feel that your unique position of respect in regards to design, awards won, and publication ability, entitles you to assist us in the above mentioned challenge before us.
Our immediate aim is to organize "our" pro scale organization and to help form a National Scale Society. Don't you feel the time is right since many other special interest groups have formed for the betterment of all masses?
We are responding to your request for input to your articles in Model Aviation, hoping to get some feedback from yourself and your readers.
Sincerely,
Pres. Alvah Schaffer 62293 (AMA) V. Pres. Bob Diefenderfer 6360 Tres. Stan Sajdak 80019 Sect. Kelly Eberle 68707
Thank you so much for writing and letting your feelings be known. I feel the Flying Dutchmen have a very good point in a National Scale Organization. Scale, I will have to agree, appears to be on a down fall at present. The turn-outs at large contests and the Nats were quite low over the past few years. But I keep hearing from numerous scale builders throughout the country through my column, and the photos they send me show there are a lot of good scale builders in the country. So, maybe, with a central location for this year's Nats we will see more competitors in the scale event. With the new rules the modeler with all the added features of retracts, bomb-bay doors and bomb drops will not necessarily be the winner. Check the new rules; with them one model has a definite advantage. You do not need a lot of expensive equipment to have a competitive scale model; what you need, and have always needed, is a scale model with good workmanship and scale fidelity. That's what judging is all about, or should be.
So, maybe, the answer to our problems is a good, sound scale organization. With an organization the people will have more power of voice and opinion at AMA than any one individual. This scale organization should not just be limited to CL, but should include Free-Flight Scale and RC Scale as well. Listed here are just a few of the possible advantages to having our own scale organization.
- The promotion of scale
- Assisting the existing Scale Board
- Helping with the Scale event at the Nationals
- Possibly setting up a qualified judges list
- Organizing the team trials for the world events
1) Promotion should not start at a national competition level. It should start locally. This means it has to be promoted by local clubs at their contests by the encouragement of the youngsters to enter the scale sport. Scale event intended purpose was to get people interested in scale using it as a stepping stone to regular scale competition. Also, it is the responsibility of the veteran scale modelers to promote the event by helping the novice who has a certain problem. Don't be afraid to share your opinion and techniques with them. Once they get going they just might be able to help you out sometime!
2) Assisting the existing scale board. This could be done by helping them keep in contact with the majority of the scale builders all over the country, thus helping them out in the decisions and rule-making proposals. It would keep the scale board up to date on their feelings towards certain measures taken, and possibly relieve some of the correspondence. The scale organization should work hand-in-hand with AMA and the current scale board.
Control Line: Scale
3) Helping with the scale event at the Nationals. With the existence of a scale organization we would have more personnel available and a greater knowledge of people who could help out with the various duties required at the Nats. A very good example of this is the recently formed organization of stunt flyers called PAMPA. We could follow their example of organizing and helping with the judging at the Nats.
4) Possibly setting up a qualified judges list. One of the big problems at any contest, no matter how small or large, is finding qualified judges. With a good organization we should have access to those people more readily and possibly set up a list of the people who have shown themselves to be experienced and competent judges. At some scale contests the need for these experienced judges is all too apparent. Too many times the judges are influenced by the size, finish and impressive character of the model. The big 4‑engine B‑17 should not steal the show from a small but accurate J‑3 Cub. That is why we should be concerned with maybe getting together a list of judges, men and women, who know the difference.
5) Organizing the team trials for the world events. I feel the best way the scale organization could help do this and participate at the world events is by selecting the team manager. The scale organization should have certain requirements that the team manager should meet and should keep these in mind when reviewing the list of candidates. The prospective team manager should have an interest in both CL and RC and be active in modeling. Also he should be capable of handling the paperwork and other duties and responsibilities that will occur overseas to get the team there on time and help them with any problems that might exist.
Let's take a look at the Free‑Flight organization. They appoint their team manager well in advance so that this person is responsible for organizing the team trials. That means being in contact with the prospective team members and any problems they might have. The Free‑Flight team manager has to work for his trip to the World Championships; it is not just an appointment position. I feel the Scale team manager should be promoting and contacting the scale builders and fliers prior to the try‑outs to encourage more participants in the event in order to get the best team possible. If the team manager took on this great responsibility it would relieve people like John Worth of handling a lot of correspondence. And by the way, I'd like to congratulate John Worth on the good job he has done this year of keeping the team members informed.
Well, these are just a few of the possible advantages and suggestions for a scale organization. They are not necessarily the only ones or the correct ways to go about it. I have voiced my opinion so let's hear from you. Maybe, at this year's Nats we can get together and air this idea. You may write to me or to the Flying Dutchmen Club in care of their secretary.
What goes on at the local scale contest, the Nats and even at the World Championships should concern every scale builder and flier since these events represent scale and therefore represent you. You are scale builders and fliers!
My address is: Mike F. Stott, 118 E. Wheeler Ave., North Mankato, Minnesota 56001.
Flying Dutchmen Aeromodellers, c/o their secretary, Kelly Eberle, 2406 Wassner Dr., Reading, Pa. 19609.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
