Radio Control: Scale
THE WIDE variation in quality and quantity in proof-of-scale presentations by competitors must have a pronounced effect on the judges' decisions and the scores obtainable during static judging. At Las Vegas, where the Tournament of Champions had assembled more superb scale models in one place than ever before, the presentations were extremely variable. Some were the best quality while others contained far too much material or too little. Competitors were overlooking a source of higher points in their scores for presentations that would please the judges. One of the better presentations was that of winner Bob Nelitz for his De Havilland Chipmunk (July 1977, Model Aviation). His book began with a table of contents describing the method of division by which the plane was broken down into major components. This was followed by a description and principal dimensions. A note to the judges stated that photos were to verify construction only. Each subsequent section of the book contained an exploded isometric drawing showing a portion of the plane.
Radio Control: Scale
EXPERIMENTAL Aircraft Association members, for a number of years, have been building planes that are reduced-size versions of military aircraft. Their problems in scaling down are similar to those encountered by modelers. Ben Owen of EAA headquarters staff, who is also an AMA modeler, has summarized the scaling technique as follows: What this proves, or shows, is that there are different reductions in each measurement in scaling. For convenience, engineers have historically used linear measurement when scaling. The fact that a linear reduction of 1/2 does not mean 1/2 of the area or 1/2 of the weight or volume should be clearly kept in mind. Examples:
Radio Control: Scale
MORE ON scale instruments: There seems to be no limit to the ingenuity of scale modelers. Bob Lopshire offers an alternate method of producing scale instrument faces. Try using Kodak High Contrast Copy Film. This will eliminate reflections. Photos are made as outlined in the September column, then the negatives are placed under glass on a copy stand and rephotographed to obtain a film positive. The positive is then mounted over a white backing for white on black faces which yields a glass-covered effect. Should the real instrument have a black face with luminous markings, a sheet of very pale blue green backing gives an instant reproduction.
Nats RC: Scale
THE EXPECTED large entry at the California Nats did not materialize. Some 48 planes were judged in Sport Scale, with only 10 in the AMA Scale class. The quality however, was generally better than any previous Nats, with individual standout examples of the very best. The emphasis on high quality was especially noticeable in AMA Scale, where a place on the team to represent the U.S. next year in England was at stake. The first three places at the Nats will constitute our team. Officiating was capably administered by Monty and Patricia Groves.
Radio Control: Scale
PUNCHING LOUVERS in sheet metal: A louvered engine cowl, at first glance, may seem an impossible task to reproduce in miniature. How many scale projects have been postponed or permanently shelved because this problem emerged during the planning stage? Numerous early planes and even some later types had engine cowls covered with ventilation louvers numbering in the hundreds. Without these conspicuous details the plane loses character even as a sport-scale model. Louvers can easily be puched into hard .010" thick aluminum. The preferred material is printers offset aluminum sheets used by many local small newspapers. The sheet is usually the size of an opened newspaper. After using the sheets to print an edition, they are discarded as scrap, a virtual bonanza of minimum cost material (usually 25 or 50 cents per sheet). The residue of printers ink can be easily removed with the modeler's universal solvent, dope thinner.
