Scale Masters
Stan Alexander
Opening
It was still summer in Texas for the 18th annual U.S. Scale Masters Championships in September 1997. The city of Irving welcomed competitors and spectators to beautiful North Lake Park, with Mayor Morris H. Parrish presiding over the opening ceremony. This was the first time the Masters had been hosted by the Irving RC Flyers Association (IRCFA). The mayor even flew an RC trainer during the event. Contest Manager Tom Coe and the Irving RC Flyers showed strong city support for model aviation competition.
Static Competition
Static judging took place at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, where several airworthy World War II aircraft receive maintenance and care. The museum staff were courteous and helpful; with clean hangars, beautiful aircraft, and a gift shop, the facility provided an excellent setting.
Static judges were separated by categories and did not see one another’s scores. Two aircraft received perfect static scores of 100 — a first for the Masters. Both were fighters: Mike Winters’ Sopwith Pup and Wayne Frederick’s Dutch-designed parasol Fokker D.VIII. Mike Winters’ Sopwith Pup scored 100 in static judging and finished sixth overall. Wayne Frederick’s Fokker D.VIII also scored 100, finished 14th overall, and was voted Best Scratch-Built.
Other high static scores included Bob Underwood’s Hiperbipe and Charlie Chambers’ P-61 Black Widow, each scoring 99.50. Scale competitors study past contests and static-judge feedback closely to find and correct mistakes.
Static Judges
- Buddie Irwin (Outline)
- Darlene Frederick (Finish, Color & Markings)
- Jim MacDonald
Weather and Field Conditions
Weather was a factor throughout the weekend. Three wind generators in the background consistently spun in a 10–15 mph south wind with temperatures in the 90s. A front arrived Saturday afternoon and the wind shifted 180°, but it remained down the runway and provided minimal crosswind for the event.
Flying Competition and Results
A well-built model, thorough documentation of the full-scale aircraft, and excellent flying skills are required to place in the top ranks. The competition level was very high.
Overall placings (selected):
- Eugene Job — Hawker Sea Fury (overall winner)
- Charlie Chambers — Northrop P-61B Black Widow (second, 0.91 point behind first)
- Corvin Miller — Globe Swift
- Kent Nogy — Bob Violett Models F-4 Phantom (top Jet and fourth combined)
- Patrick McCurry — Me-109G-6 (own design)
- Mike Winters — Sopwith Pup
- Gary Parker — JN-4D Jenny
- Joe Topper
- Bob Underwood — Hiperbipe
Notes:
- Eugene Job’s Hawker Sea Fury, powered by a Desert Aircraft 3W-70 twin, flew exceptionally well in the windy conditions and earned the championship.
- Charlie Chambers’ P-61B Black Widow is a night-fighter model with a 100-inch wingspan, powered by Webra 1.2 two-stroke engines and weighing 38 pounds.
- Patrick McCurry’s Me-109G-6 (102" span, 43 lb, powered by a Zenoah G-62) was noted for its incredible attention to detail.
Jets
Only three jets participated:
- Kent Nogy — Bob Violett Models F-4 Phantom (BVM .91 engines, 58" wingspan) — 1st Jet, 4th combined
- Shailesh Patel — BVM F-4 (.91 engines, 58" wingspan) — 2nd Jet
- Scott Foster — Modified Yellow Aircraft F-4 (72" span, Blue Angels scheme, powered by two Saito J-450s) — 3rd Jet, 15th overall
Multiengine Models
This could be called the Year of the Multiengine Model. There were at least eight multiengine models, including two four-engine ships:
- Dave Lovett — C-130 H (141" wingspan), fitted with a Fulton Recovery System
- Mike Barbee — B-29 (141" wingspan) — finished 18th overall and 15th in the Prop class; the highest-placing twin was Charlie Chambers’ P-61
Electric Models
Two electric-powered aircraft were entered — likely the most ever at a Masters event:
- Robert Benjamin (Olympia, WA) — 1941 Taylorcraft powered by an Astro 90 — 31st place
- Randy Smithhisler — Piper PA-12 — 33rd place
Both received special recognition.
Notable Aircraft and Entrants
- Charles Baker — Scratch-built PT-26 (extremely detailed cockpit)
- John Cole — de Havilland D.H.1 WWI pusher, built to 1/6 scale (now an Arizona Modelcrafters kit)
- Gary Fuller — Scratch-built P2V Neptune, "Truculent Turtle"
- Manny Sousa — Grumman XSFS-1 Skyrocket, an unusual twin in the air
- Dave Lovett’s C-130 H with Fulton Recovery System
Youngest competitor:
- Jeff Lovett (age 24), son of Dave Lovett — DHC-1 Chipmunk built from Jim Pepino plans (1/5-scale, 82" span, 14 lb, O.S. 1.2 Surpass engine). The two-year project featured operating lights and scale hinges on all flying surfaces.
Awards and Social
Social activity was an important part of the Championships. Ernie Harwood presided over the special-awards ceremony. Categories included:
- Pilots' Choice
- Best Kit-Built
- Best Scratch-Built — Wayne Frederick
- Best Military
- Best Civilian
- Best Jet
- Best Prop
- Best Multiengine
- Electric
- Craftsmanship — Jim MacDonald
The Saturday evening dinner was highly praised — good food and short speeches.
Future Event
Harris Lee announced that next year’s Masters Championships would be held again at the Columbus/Dayton, Ohio site (as in 1995), with Terry Nitsch heading the operation. Competitors recalled fond memories of the U.S. Air Force Museum and the Columbus flying site.
Credits, Sponsors, and Contacts
Author:
- Stan Alexander
3709 Valley Ridge Dr. Nashville, TN 37211-3831
Major Sponsor:
- Zap/Pacer Tech
Other sponsors:
- Aerospace Composite Products
- Airtronics
- Bob Holman Plans
- Bob Violett Models
- Cavanaugh Flight Museum
- Dremel Moto Tools
- Futaba
- Great Planes
- Hansen ScaleVideos
- Hobby Shack
- Indy RC
- Innovative Model Products
- J&Z Products Inc.
- Meister Scale
- Midwest
- Mike's Hobby Shop Super Store
- Model Tech
- Norvel
- Proctor Enterprises
- Prowash Video
- Radio Controlled Models Inc.
- Robart Mfg.
- Scale Model Research
- Nick Zirolli Sr.
- Glenn Torrence Models
- JR
- Hitec R/C
Chief Judge:
- Kent Walters
Assistant Chief Judges:
- Bill Diverna
- Earl Aune
Flight Judges:
- Vernon Altamirano
- Hank Cavasso
- Narve Jensen
- Travis Berry
- Jeff Horn
- Charles Lipsinski
- Tim Lovett
- Gerry McClellan
- Len Elmore
- Phil Oestricher
- Stan Alexander
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers:
- U.S. Scale Masters Judging Guides — $3.50 (includes postage)
Secretary/Treasurer: Bert Dugan 11090 Phyllis Dr., Clio, MI 48420
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
