Radio Control: Scale
Bob & Dolly Wischer
WE RECENTLY received a letter indicating that someone is trying to breathe new life into the AMA Precision Scale event. This from Larry D'Attilio, contest director for the Milwaukee Flying Electrons Seventh Annual Pattern-Scale Contest. In addition to his duties as CD, Larry is highly qualified to speak on the subject of RC Scale, as he is a top grade scale modeler. The first portion of his letter is an announcement of the coming contest. Following that are some probing questions, with enlightening answers, concerning our hobby and sport, from the view-point of a contest oriented person.
'The Milwaukee Flying Electrons, one of America's largest R/C clubs is hosting its Seventh Annual Pattern-Scale Contest on August 19 and 20, 1978 in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee). The contest will give equal emphasis to Scale and Pattern and will include a heavy additional emphasis on an AMA Precision Scale event. Sport Scale will be divided into separate military and non-military events. In addition to the regular trophies and prizes, a special award will be presented to winners of AMA Precision Scale. Contestants will be eligible to enter their respective pattern event and as many scale events as they have planes for. Contestants in more than one event will be eligible for the Grand Champion Award.
'The Milwaukee Flying Electrons are dedicated to offering the best Scale and Pattern contest in the Mid-U.S. This, of course, takes money. Our club prefers to obtain sponsorship from within the R/C industry. Here we have been very fortunate. Rova Distributing, the nation's largest R/C battery distributor, and R/C Hobbies, our area's best R/C hobby shop, are jointly and generously sponsoring this contest.
'While we have always put on an exceptional pattern contest, the interest our sponsors have in Scale has brought them to us. For further information: Lawrence D'Attilio, 4112 N. Downer Ave., Shorewood, WI 53211. (Phone 414-332-7702.)
'Bob, you remember at the December Lakeland Club meeting I expressed my concern over our decision to run AMA Precision Scale. I gathered that you felt interest was declining in Precision Scale in part due to the popularity of Sport Scale, and because of the lack of AMA Precision Scale events at most contests.
'The Milwaukee Flying Electrons and Our sponsors are anxious to rekindle interest in AMA Scale. Why? While it's obvious that Scale has tremendous spectator appeal, it is AMA Precision Scale which presents the ultimate challenge and excitement. In many ways a scale aircraft utilizes some of a person's most important qualities. For instance, what scale buff has not had endless dreams about the building and flying of his new project. This is imagination at work. When we research documentation, select materials and techniques, and then labor over fine scale details, we are exercising patience, perseverance and pride in workmanship. Then, when we fly the ship, we must demonstrate judgment, skill and airmanship. How does this logic support the continuation of AMA Precision Scale? Because only this scale event provides the perfect goal, theoretically impossible to achieve. (You could build a 1 ft. = 1 ft. replica!) Do we need a far reaching goal? Let me answer that by drawing on personal experience. As a symphony orchestra musician I never knew that there was any way to practice except to work to become the best musician there was on my particular instrument. In fact, that was an unattainable goal, for who is to judge, and what criteria would they use? However, the existence of that goal taught me to never be satisfied with mediocrity and to continue the search for perfection. Usually, when the search for perfection stops, boredom follows.
And why should it be any different for the craftsman of scale models? Even if most Sport Scale fliers are satisfied with their models, isn't it exciting to know that once you have been a consistent winner, there is a whole new class of perfection in Scale to challenge you?
Since I will once again be the Contest Director for the Milwaukee Flying Electrons Pattern-Scale contest, I am confronted with the following problems in running Sport and Precision Scale:
- How can I improve flight judging so that a scale realism of flight is adequately judged?
- How can I assure a Sport Scale contestant that the ship with cockpit, engine and rivet detail will not receive better marks because of those details?
- How do I discourage an AMA Scale ship modeler from entering Sport Scale? How do I stimulate Sport Scale fliers to step into AMA Scale competition? How do I make sure a 3 in. = 1 ft. scale model doesn't end up being eyeballed by a judge, because at ten feet he is only two feet from a wing tip?
- Can we encourage a consistent winner in Sport Scale to enter AMA Scale, or at least enter a new ship in Sport Scale?
- In a contest that also features pattern, how do I assure the Scale contestant that he will receive as much attention?
Our Club's Solutions:
- Announce that full-scale flight realism will count. Uncommon flight characteristics for the plane will have to be documented in writing. Flight judges will have full-scale background or be trained by full-scale people.
- Scale judges will be made to ignore AMA Scale details on Sport Scale ships. The event director will closely observe all judging to make sure this is done.
- Our static Sport Scale judges will be seated and the model will be moved. Large scale models will be kept at a scale distance further from the judges than smaller models. Twin or other multi-engined models will be treated as the next larger scale size model.
- We will reward entrants in AMA Precision Scale by awarding a special incentive prize to the winner in this area—something very desirable, like a top-of-the-line Polaroid camera; might be suitable.
- While Pattern is promised six flights, Scale will be promised a minimum of four during the weekend. We will have all nationally known static-scale experienced judges for Scale. Jim Newman, Scale flight judge at the Las Vegas Tournament, will be one, and Don Hoover of C/L Scale fame, will be another, and there will be more.
"What else can you or the readers suggest? Are we on the right track? Let us know."
Signed: Larry D'Attilio.
It is apparent from the foregoing that Larry is deeply involved in the task of conducting a contest in which Scale entrants can expect their share of flight time and fair treatment. His conscientious efforts to preserve Precision Scale at the local contest level sets an excellent example. Some of his concerns is the result of past experience with contestants and judges trying to bend the rules.
We hear from Jerry Farr that in the Texas Flying Scale Championships all Sport Scale is to be judged at ten feet distance from the plane, not in a ten-foot radius circle. The rule book states that judging should be done ten feet from the plane but qualifies this to mean at the center of a 20-foot diameter circle, which is not quite the same thing. Contest directors are now taking matters into their own hands to avoid controversy. The problem is becoming more acute as planes increase in size.
Scale Team Fund. AMA headquarters has received another donation to the Scale Team Fund for the support of the seven team members being sent to Woodvale, England, in August. A check for $50 was received from the Hill Country Flyers, an organization of 24 members formed to conduct three RC Scale contests a year at Hill Country in Morgan Hill, California. This year, they will be hosting the WW II Scramble (May 20-21), the Golden Age (July 16), and the Western Front WW I Jamboree (Sept. 23-24).
Previous donations to the Team Fund Contributions also came from the F.A.S.T. Club of Southern California: $141.24 and $450.00 from the sale of airplane neckties made by Dolly Wischer. Three color patches are being sold for support of the 1978 Scale Team. Price is $1.50 each or three for $4.00 and they are available from Bob Underwood, 4109 Concord Oaks Dr., St. Louis, MO 63128.
Scale Documentation Source: Gene Thomas of Classic Models has come up with an unprecedented innovation in his documentation booklets. These are furnished with his kits for the Heath Parasol, Heath Baby Bullet, and Church Midwing. All kits will be made in two sizes, Peanut and 1½" scale. A 3" scale kit for each plane will follow. The booklets contain 3-view drawings, photos, cutaways, color schemes, and detail sketches showing internal structure. Also included is a brief history of the planes. The booklets are available separately for $2.00 from Classic Models, P.O. Box 681, Melville, NY 11746. Ready-made documentation would make life too easy for modelers.
Bob Wischer, Rt. 1, S-221 Lapham Peak Road, Delafield, WI 53018.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
