Radio Control: Giant Scale
Bob Beckman
STARS Spangled Rally, again
For the past five or six years I have been lucky enough to attend the STARS' annual Scale Rally in Olean, NY. This year I had an unavoidable commitment that kept me from making what has become one of my favorite yearly treks. However, I still needed my annual fix of mountaintop mania, so I enlisted the aid of the Mountaintop Maniac himself—George Privateer. His report, which follows, includes some interesting background on the STARS and their very successful Rally.
The STARS are well known for another modeling activity, their newsletter, Star Dust. A good newsletter is the glue that helps keep a model club together. Many club newsletters find their way outside the club itself, but I don't know of one that can compare to the circulation enjoyed by Star Dust. It is distributed not only nationally, but internationally as well. Its unique style and format have to be seen to be believed. This monthly unguided missive is written and published (I started to say "written, edited, and published," but if you've read one, you know there's no editing involved) by George and absorbed with glee by modelers around the world. George has exhibited remarkable restraint in the following report on the STARS and their 1985 Scale Rally.
STARS: brief history
Once upon a time there was a model airplane club in the southwestern portion of New York state (Olean, NY) which became one of the oldest clubs in the state. It was AMA chartered in the late 1930s. In those days it was known as the Olean Model Airplane Club—basically a Free Flight and Control Line organization. The club flourished, and in the early 1970s the need was felt to change the club's name since Radio Control had become a very prominent portion of the club's activities. Located in the "southern tier" of New York and being an aero radio club, the name was changed from Olean Model Airplane Club to the Southern Tier Aero Radio Society, Inc. (STARS).
In the mid-1970s, larger-than-usual scale model aircraft were entering the model aircraft world, and STARS jumped on the bandwagon. Showing an unusual amount of cohesiveness, five members of STARS decided to build a "squadron" of ships—all identical—all 1/4-scale versions of the WW I Bristol Scout. Powerplants were limited in availability, and many were adapted from existing engines to fit the 1/4-scale Scouts. Sixties (.60) engines were used, but did not produce enough power; belt drives were tried (they tore apart), then gear drives (teeth were stripped), but to no avail. The O&R .45 industrial engine was converted to glow fuel, but again without success. Finally, STARS members purchased the then-newly offered Quadra engine, tested it, and many builders of Bristol Scouts said the engine was the answer. The rest is history. STARS' Bristol Scout squadron traveled to Rhinebeck, Kitchener-Waterloo and other events. Demonstration flights with five ships airborne at the same time became well known.
It was also well known that the electrical portion of gas-powered engines and radio control could be made compatible—provided interference between the radio and electrical components was prevented and the engine and receiver packs were properly shielded. Modelers at the time just couldn't seem to understand that gasoline engines and improved radio equipment could be compatible.
The start of the Scale Rally
In 1977 STARS held its first Annual STARS Scale Rally—small, unassuming, low-key, local fliers. In three or four years the STARS Scale Rally became widely known, thanks to articles by Dick Tichenor of RC Modeler and Bob Beckman of Model Aviation. Bob, seeing our flyer covered with stars, wrote about attending his first STARS Spangled Scale Rally. Each year since, Bob has attended our rallies and graciously written about us in glowing terms. Sadly, he was unable to attend this year's Rally—hence George's contribution.
The 8th Annual STARS Scale Rally (July 6–7, 1985)
The 8th Annual STARS Scale Rally was held Saturday and Sunday, July 6–7, 1985, at Olean (NY) Municipal Airport. The Rally was dedicated to Woody Clapp, a former member and strong force in STARS who tragically passed away two years ago while flying his full-scale, homebuilt replica of the Sopwith Triplane. Through his generosity he permitted STARS to use his private, full-scale landing strip as the club's base of operations. This has been continued by permission of Carolyn Clapp, his widow.
The mayor and common council of the city of Olean graciously permitted the local Municipal Airport to be closed to full-scale aircraft during the two-day Rally and used exclusively for our Radio Control Scale event.
STARS Scale Rallies have existed with the concept that they must be held for the "Sunday Fliers," the bulk of model aircraft participants. Key principles of the Rally:
- No competition whatsoever.
- No landing or registration fee.
- Just come and fly.
- If you register your ship to display and/or fly, you are given a ticket for a free barbecue chicken dinner.
- Scale ships of all sizes are welcome—Giant Scale or smaller scale models are all accepted; the event is scale-focused rather than size-focused.
Saturday, July 6 started off cool with moderate wind and a completely overcast sky that threatened rain. This did not deter the registrants. Two flight lines were set up on the hard-surfaced main runway and were used by as many as eight fliers at one time, with six fliers in the air almost continuously. It was a carefully coordinated event and flying went along without a hitch. Three ducted-fan models flew, and there was a superb helicopter demonstration as well.
In 1984 there were a total of 124 registrants for the two-day event. By noon on Saturday for the 1985 Rally there were 118 registrants, and at the close of that first day there were a total of 144 registrants—the largest ever.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. the rains came—bucket after bucket full. Then, in a very short time, it stopped completely and flying resumed once again on a large scale. Had it rained for another ten minutes or so, 200 chicken barbecue dinners being cooked would have been wiped out. As it was, the charcoal pits regained their heat and dinner was served about a half hour later than usual.
After the conclusion of flying for the day, STARS held its first model aircraft auction. Some were hesitant (including me), fearing we might be adding to an already busy program. Graciously, Frank Anderson (Mississauga, Ontario and former MAAC president) offered to be the auctioneer. Within a relatively short period of time Frank had everything auctioned off. It appears that a model aircraft auction will now be a standard portion of our annual Scale Rally.
The usual Saturday evening social took place—a large bonfire with food and beverages available to fliers and their families who camped at the Municipal Airport.
Sunday dawned cool, completely overcast with an intermittent but persistent drizzle. Flying was limited, but many brave souls "wanted to fly one more time." In spite of the inclement weather there were five more registrants on Sunday morning, making a grand total of 149—again the largest ever. How many more would have registered if two full days of flying could have taken place?
Pride of a small club
The STARS membership firmly believes our Scale Rally is probably one of the largest to be held each year—if not in the U.S., then in the eastern half of the U.S.—by an individual club whose active membership consists of only 31 members (and their spouses). I have been the STARS president for almost 12 years (they refuse to release me until I get it right) and newsletter editor for over 17 years. During this time I have learned that RC fliers are obstinate, disagreeable, cantankerous, and disgusting individuals—at least in the STARS membership. The direction each STAR takes in his RC activity is to take the membership number (31) and divide it into a 360° circle; the answer is the direction each will take! And yet, when the time comes to set up for our Rally—to a man—they and their wives work like the dickens. There is a deep sense of pride knowing this club, with so few members, can produce and implement a Scale Rally the size of the STARS Scale Rally held each year. Dammit! I sure am proud of them.
Planes and people? Of course there were a lot of them! While the flying was constrained somewhat by the weather, the Rally is a renewal of friendships, a chance to make new ones, and a warm feeling when fliers tell us we hold one of the best rallies they've ever attended—which makes it all worthwhile.
The Scale Rally was bigger and better than ever—the most successful one yet.
Notable members and sponsors
As an aside, STARS still has one charter member remaining from the old Olean Model Airplane Club. He is Ken Koepell. Granny has to be the most miserable, cantankerous, ornery, revolting ancient Free Flighter in existence. Close to becoming an octogenarian, he is still as active—and busy as all the other STARS—in putting on our Scale Rally. He is the termagant who runs around selling 50-50 tickets to all at our Rally.
Model Airplane News has sponsored our annual Scale Rally for the past four years. Their sponsorship has assisted us greatly in keeping our Scale Rally cost-free. Their participation is greatly appreciated.
Invitation and next events
If you haven't been to a STARS Rally yet, you are most cordially invited to attend the next one. Send us your name and address and we'll send you a flyer announcing our 1986 event some time after the first of next year.
If at all possible, accept George's invitation and take in their rally next year. In the meantime I'm turning my attention from my favorite Eastern flying site to my favorite location on the West Coast. Next weekend (Labor Day), Evelyn and I will be at the Merwin Ranch near Sacramento for a three-day Giant Scale Fly-in. Next month I'll tell you about how Chapter 1 of IMAA throws a Big Bird Bash.
Bob Beckman 8248 Holly Grove Ct. Manassas, VA 22110
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
