SCALE MASTERS
Event Summary
The 15th Annual Scale Masters Championships was held at the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, California, September 8–11, 1994. The Tustin Model Club hosted the competition. Scale Masters Chairman Harris Lee and his wife Edie welcomed everyone to the event. Pacer Technologies (ZAP), the major sponsor for the event, was represented by Herschel Worthy, Vice President of Sales.
Other sponsors included:
- Hobby Shack
- Futaba
- Dick Hanson Video
- Proctor Models
- Robart
- JR
If we have missed mentioning anyone, please accept our apologies.
Static Judging
Static judging was held in Don Lee's hangars at Chino Airport on Thursday, September 8. Thirty-nine pilots and their aircraft were presented for competition. The static judges worked diligently all day: Norm Goyer (Accuracy of Outline), Darlene Frederick (Finish — Color — Markings), and Jim MacDonald (Craftsmanship).
While judging was in progress, some attendees were treated to rides in full-scale aircraft at Chino Airport. It was exciting to have such a wonderful background of full-scale aircraft performing and on display.
Scale Masters was held in conjunction with the Marine base Open House, so full-scale helicopter demonstrations and some vintage aircraft also flew in. A number of vendors had merchandise for sale, and food was prepared by Marine personnel. In addition to the Marine demonstrations, Kent Nogy and Tom Easterday performed a noon show both days.
Flying and Judging
With static judging complete, everyone proceeded to the Marine base on Friday for the flying. The pilots' briefing was conducted by Contest Director Gordon Truax, Contest Manager Diego Lopez, and Chief Judge Kent Walters.
The site offered an excellent setting for RC pilots: an unlimited area of concrete runway, a WWII-vintage hangar backdrop, and clear skies.
Four flight lines were used, with two judges per line. The flight judges were:
- Wayne Frederick
- Vernon Altamirano
- Jim Parker
- Dave Voglund
- Bob Sorter
- Dave Schiewn
- Fred Brown
- Dan Parsons
- John Richardson
- Bob Richards
Chief Judge Kent Walters was assisted by Bill DeVena. Five rounds were flown, and no aircraft were lost during the competition. The models are meticulously built, and the flying expertise of the pilots continues to improve.
Results and Notable Winners
First place honors, High Static Score, and Best Military awards were captured by Terry Nitsch with his F-86 Sabre. The Bob Violett Models kit has a 52-inch wingspan and weighs 14 pounds. It is powered by a BVM .91 ducted-fan engine and has droppable fuel tanks, retracts with doors, flaps, sliding canopy, and functional pneumatic air brakes (speed boards). The aircraft has a scale aluminum finish. Terry used a JR PCM 10 radio; his wife Sheila served as pit crew and caller. Terry also won the 1994 Top Gun with this aircraft.
Second place and Best Civilian Aircraft went to Dennis Crooks with his Learjet 35A. Dennis' fiberglass fuselage is by Mark Frankel; engine nacelles and wing design are by Dennis Crooks. The model has spoilers, wheel brakes, aircraft lights, and a full interior. The 80-inch wingspan model is powered by two OS .77 ducted-fan engines. Dennis uses a Futaba radio; his wife Linda pits and calls for him.
Diego Lopez placed third flying a Skyraider. The 1/5-scale, 90-inch wing, 37-pound model is powered by a Webra Bully and uses a Futaba radio. The Skyraider's folding-wing option is always a crowd pleaser. Diego's son Brian pits and calls for him; Diego credits his wife Debbie with help in performing the Contest Manager's job.
Fourth place went to Jeff Foley with a Lockheed T-33A. The Jet Model Products kit has a fiberglass fuselage and is powered by an O.S. .91 ducted fan. It has an 85-inch wingspan and uses a JR PCM 10. The model is equipped with flaps, retracts, and speed brakes. This model emphasizes realism over pure speed. The full-scale T-33 (T-Bird) was conceived by Lockheed engineers as a trainer for the P-80 single-seat fighter. Jeff's model is painted in a scheme used by the 48th Fighter Interceptor Squadron from Langley Air Force Base.
Fifth place went to Shailesh Patel flying a Yellow Aircraft F-14 Tomcat. The fiberglass fuselage kit is powered by two O.S. .91 ducted-fan engines. The model has an 85-inch wingspan, weighs 35 pounds, and features an operational swing wing, servo-operated canopy, retracts, and flaps.
Eugene Job flew his A6M5 Zero to sixth place. Powered by a Super Tiger 3000, the model has an 80-inch wingspan, weighs 23 pounds, and uses a JR Unlimited 8 radio.
Seventh place honors went to Gene Barton with his Skyraider. Gene's aircraft is 1/5-scale, weighs 40 pounds, and is powered by a Webra Bully engine. Gene uses a Futaba nine-channel radio.
The Ayres Thrush piloted by David Hayes placed eighth. This original model, built in 5½ weeks, won top honors in both Scratch Built and Best Engineering & Design categories. The 1/7-scale model weighs 13 pounds and is powered by an O.S. .91 Surpass four-stroke. David uses a JR X-347 PCM radio.
Ninth place went to Roger Shipley with his T-33 Mk 3 Red Knight jet. The Bob Violett Models kit with fiberglass fuselage has an 80-inch wingspan, weighs 18 pounds, and is powered by a Bob Violett Models .91 ducted-fan engine.
Michael Barbee's de Havilland D.H.82 Tiger Moth rounded out the top ten. The yellow model weighs 16 pounds and has an 88-inch wingspan. It is powered by a Laser 150 four-stroke engine. The top wing slots are functional. The model is covered with Supershrink Coverite and was built with ZAP products. Mike uses a Futaba 1024 Zap radio.
The Best Plan Built award went to Earl Thompson of Livermore, California, for his de Havilland D.H.89A Rapide. Earl's aircraft models a 1934 twin-engine biplane restored in 1984. The color scheme copies the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) colors of the 1938 Rapide, which was used as the prince's personal aircraft for visits to military bases.
The Pilots' Choice award and Best Built-up Kit award went to Ernie Harwood of Arlington, Texas. His SE-5a (Proctor kit) has a 72-inch wingspan, weighs 11 pounds, and is powered by a Saito 120 four-stroke engine. Ernie uses a JR Max radio. The SE-5a is highly detailed and a joy to watch.
Other Notable Aircraft
This year's Scale Masters Championships featured an exceptional variety of aircraft:
- Dave Lovitt (Willits, California) competed with a new Lockheed HC-130H Hercules. The model was based on an HC-130 assigned to the Air Rescue Service in June 1965 and is equipped with a nose-mounted Fulton Recovery system, retractable landing gear, Fowler flaps, and cargo-door deployment.
- Eduardo Esteves (Brazil) flew his Rearwin Skyranger. The red-and-black aircraft weighs 28 pounds and is powered by an O.S. Gemini FT300.
- Hank Cavasso (Santa Rosa, California), a first-time Scale Masters competitor, flew a Sig Spacewalker painted red and black.
- Bob Olson (Newport Beach, California) flew a magnificent Curtiss Helldiver. Bob's dark blue model weighs 29 pounds, has an 88-inch wingspan, and flies very well.
- Doug Crumley's Bellanca Super Decathlon performed strongly. The model replicates N5058L, a Super Decathlon manufactured in 1979 by Bellanca Aircraft. The 25% scale replica was constructed January–June 1994 from a Pilot kit with numerous modifications for scale accuracy. Construction is all-wood, open-frame; the same fabric and Stits paints as the full size were used. Power is provided by an O.S. FT-160 four-stroke opposed twin with a functional scale exhaust system driving a scale-diameter Zinger propeller. Control is by an Airtronics Vision PCM system with special functions for glider air-tow and banner tow. Model weight is 20 pounds.
- Ed Newman's Fieseler Fi 156U Storch is an eye-catcher. Ed's Storch has a 114-inch wingspan and is 1/5 scale. The prototype of the Storch was used to set a low-altitude speed record; Ed's model is a very solid-flying aircraft.
- Dick Harp's Nieuport 28 (World War I vintage) is powered by a Laser V-180 and is built from a Proctor kit—one of several Proctor models at the contest.
Closing and Contact
Harris Lee organized a trophy competition for the most beautiful scale aircraft in the world. He is already busy planning next year's event, with a strong possibility the next Scale Masters will be held in the Midwest. For details or qualifier information, contact Harris Lee at (619) 945-3961.
A big thanks to everyone who helped make this the premier event that it is. The early banquet was held at the Officers' Club on the base. The meal was great, but the friendship apparent at the gathering is what we always look forward to. Scale Masters competitors are the best!
SCALE MASTERS TOP 20
Place Pilot Plane Static Flt 1 Flt 2 Flt 3 Flt 4 Flt 5 Flt Score Total Score 1 Nitsch F-86 Sabre 97.50 87.25 93.25 93.75 90.00 92.75 93.250 190.750 2 Crooks Learjet 35A 97.00 87.00 90.00 93.75 90.50 93.50 92.583 189.583 3 Lopez Skyraider 96.50 87.75 82.25 92.75 89.25 94.25 92.083 188.583 4 Foley Lockheed T-33A 96.50 89.00 87.25 93.00 88.50 92.25 91.417 187.917 5 Patel F-14 Tomcat 96.50 89.00 89.75 91.25 88.00 90.25 90.417 186.917 6 Job A6M Zero 94.50 90.50 83.25 88.00 89.50 93.25 91.083 185.583 7 Barton Skyraider 93.00 89.75 0.00 91.00 84.25 90.75 90.500 183.500 8 Hayes Thrush 96.50 78.25 84.00 81.75 84.50 86.25 84.917 181.417 9 Shipley T-33 Mk 3 93.00 78.75 89.50 85.25 88.00 87.00 88.167 181.167 10 Barbee DH 82 Tiger Moth 94.00 82.00 85.75 84.50 87.50 86.25 86.500 180.500 11 Rice F-104 93.50 84.25 87.25 86.00 87.50 84.25 86.917 180.417 12 Thompson Rapide 96.50 83.50 87.50 80.50 0.00 0.00 83.833 180.333 13 Omera Zero 93.50 82.25 85.25 0.00 81.25 90.75 86.083 179.583 14 Crumley Decathlon 94.00 84.25 84.00 75.00 86.75 85.50 85.500 179.500 15 Hansen Nieuport 28 91.50 87.50 84.00 89.75 85.75 84.50 87.667 179.167 16 Sutherland BT-13 93.50 84.00 84.75 79.75 84.00 87.00 85.250 178.750 17 McEntyre Sopwith Pup 91.00 87.75 87.75 87.25 81.50 85.25 87.583 178.583 18 Welty Nieuport 28 94.00 49.00 77.75 88.00 50.50 87.25 84.333 178.333 19 Lovitt HC-103H 93.00 80.00 84.75 74.50 89.50 75.25 84.750 177.750 20 Olson Curtiss Helldiver 93.00 76.50 69.25 84.00 86.00 84.00 84.667 177.667
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
