Bob Whitney’s foam ARF to be flown in Fun Scale.
By Fred Cronenwett
We got a slow start this morning with the static judging, but eventually got all of the models judged. The Sport, Profile, Team, 1/2A, and Authentic scale classes were done the same way we have done it in the past, where the judges were given a binder with information about the full-size aircraft that was copied.
The models were given a score for the static score (basically appearance points). This will be combined with the flying points to determine who will win.
But let’s go back to Thursday night where Burt Rutan and Daniel Kreigh, from Scaled Composites in California, came by to visit with the AMA members. Burt and Daniel talked about how they experimented with model airplanes to try new ideas.
Burt Rutan flew a Grumman Guardian carrier model in the 1960 Nationals and it is part of the AMA museum. The model was on display at the talk.
Going back to the CL Scale competition, on July 10, we got the static judging done and then flew round 1. Stormy weather moved in late in the afternoon. When I flew my SBD Dauntless in Fun Scale, the wind got gusty and the flying became more of a challenge. We could see the rain front approaching from the east, so we packed up quickly.
One of the items that happens at any CL contest is the pull test. We are used to doing it, but some may not appreciate the importance of that test. We had two models fail pull test. The damaged bellcrank mount on my B-29 model can be easily repaired. But more importantly it revealed a problem that could have caused a much larger crash if I had flown it in its current condition.
We will fly Rounds 2 and 3 on Saturday and we are hoping for better wind conditions compared to Friday afternoon.
Land Softly!
Bob Whitney’s 1/2A Scale model.
Pilots getting ready to fly.
Gary Dowler’s F7F-3N Tigercat for 1/2A Scale.
1/2A Scale models can be simple like this one built from the Brodak kit by Christopher DeGroff.
Fun Scale P-47 with retracts entered by Albert Campbell. This model was flown by a proxy pilot Joe Gilbert.
The pit area was lined up with a variety of models.
