Radio Control: Scale
Bud Atkinson
LOOKING BACK on the contest season of 1976, it was a great year for Scale and Stand-Off Scale! Especially Stand-Off Scale, which made a tremendous leap forward in more active participation by more modelers. The most interesting aspect was the great variety of aircraft types from the primitive Wrights, through WW I to the golden age of the 20's and 30's — and, of course, the fabulous WW II aircraft. We also had a look into the future of Scale, the jet, or ducted-fan age. Predictions are that this mode of power will become commonplace in a few years. I'm sure you noticed a twin-fan scale model was entered in the U-control FAI competition.
True, there are problems to be worked out in this mode of power, but weren't there problems in every new facet of scale through the years? From early 1976, the trade shows indicated a boom year in scale. Many manufacturers were presenting more new Stand-Off Scale kits and scale accessories than ever. It surely was a scale-oriented trade-show year. The contest season started off with a boom, and the number of scale contests was fantastic. In many cases, Stand-Off Scale by far exceeded Expert Pattern. Many new contests were started in all areas of the country with biplane and Stand-Off Scale events. Talks with many contest directors confirmed the success of these events, which attracted many non-modeling spectators as well as modelers.
As I reported before, Stand-Off Scale at the Nats was something else! I believe we saw more multi-engine scale models this year at the Nats than ever before. About 70 stand-offs made flights. If this is any indication for the future we may have to have some kind of regional contests to decide the number of Stand-Off planes eligible to go to the Nats. This has been discussed many times in the past, but this year greatly increased the need for a discussion relative to eliminations.
Wherever a Nats' champion is the goal, such a procedure is followed, be it auto racing, baseball, or even horse shoes. We also choose our FAI team by elimination, so I can see elimination in the cards. Some of you may remember the Plymouth eliminations and Nats. The system worked well.
Because of the time and effort required for a Nats, we will have to cut down the number of entries, if we want a true championship in all classes. Also, we need true championship sets of judges for both static and scale flight. There were some serious doubts in both cases at the last Nats. I'm sure there are capable, experienced judges throughout the country who can be called upon to handle this important job at the national championship, in much the same way as is done in FAI competition. In other words, a board of qualified judges throughout all parts of the country. In my opinion, the Nats has come down to just another big contest, and not a true national championship that means to modelers what the World Series means to baseball, or the Super Bowl to football, or the Indy 500 does to racing.
One of the newest developments in and-Off or Sport Scale is the appearance of 1/2A Scale. Several kits appeared at the trade shows. In the past, 1/2 Scale was somewhat limited because of the size and weight of the airborne radio system but, with the advent of several new small, light systems, the potential of 1/2- to .09-size Stand-Off Scales has become much greater.
RC Scale/Atkinson
House of Balsa showed some very interesting 1/2A Stand-Off Scale WW II kits—how about a twin 1/2A? Ace now is kitting the long-awaited Shrike and a hot, exciting little bird it is! Ace also has a new improved exhaust-type speed control. Cox marketed a like exhaust control sometime back. Ace, using the same general idea, has improved upon it somewhat, and it is inexpensive and easy to install. It works! It has a fantastic speed range, with an unbelievable low end. Using two of them on my Shrike, I am having a ball.
When one engine dies, it is a definite advantage either to cut the other engine, or reduce power so much that rudder need not be used, or it may be coupled to the aileron servo so a three-channel rig can be used. I'm using a full-house four-servo EK in my Shrike Commander, which is slightly heavier than need be. The Commander flies well with a good power-off glide ratio. This particular Commander has no landing gear, since I fly it out of a grass pasture. Landings are no sweat. The Shrike will fly out of your hand on hand launch.
I'm also using pressure on my TD's (a pressure fitting obtainable from Ace) and the 1/2A still idles very good. Pressure is not necessary to fly the Shrike but I like it for a more consistent power setting. With this new exhaust valve the potential in 1/2A is outstanding and many Stand-Off Scale models in this size are practical. As long as you are building a fun airplane, why not make it look like a full-size bird? Need I not go into cost, flying space, etc. We should see a lot of scale kits in the future in this range.
Bud Atkinson, 734 North 6th Street Terrace, Blue Springs, MO 64015.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
