District III

District III—Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

Mark Radcliff
Vice President

mradcliff@suddenlink.net
199 Heron Dr., St. Marys WV 26170
Tel.: (304) 684-2133

Almost everyone knows about the Toledo Weak Signals Club for the trade show that the club has hosted for the past 63 years. For most clubs, hosting an annual event such as The Toledo Show: R/C Model Expo would be enough, but that is not the case with the Weak Signals. This club also hosts an annual Pattern contest and is active in RC Soaring and other events.

The Weak Signals decided to add to its repertoire by hosting a Scale contest. The idea came from club member and Scale enthusiast John Borton. John is a contest director (CD) who participates in Scale events and he asked the club to host the inaugural Great Lakes Scale Classic on July 7-9, 2017.

I have been flying in Scale events recently, and decided I should visit this District III club and participate in its event. When I searched the AMA sanctioned events calendar to get an address for the flying field, I didn’t find the event listed in District III, but rather in District VII in Michigan. The Toledo Weak Signals with its flying field in Michigan? What’s up with that?

Toledo, Ohio, borders Michigan and, like many clubs, the only available area for the club to fly happens to be in the state next to where the club originated—in this case Temperance, Michigan. The field is approximately 12 miles from Toledo, so both District III and District VII claim this great club.

Jim Beavers flew this beautiful giant B-17. Jim has been flying this aircraft for more than 10 years, however this was his first Scale contest.

Steve Eagle, from Indiana, flew this beautiful Nieuport. Steve is a veteran of many Scale events.

The club has invested the profits from its successful trade show and purchased an expansive field, featuring a large paved runway and a beautiful clubhouse. Sheltered picnic tables line the pit area with electric power available at each table. That is great for charging batteries, making repairs, or just having a bite to eat and enjoying the beautiful flying field and surrounding area.

Because this was the club’s first Scale event, John utilized the AMA Special Interest Group, the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA), funding that is available for clubs hosting their first Scale event. For more information about this program, contact NASA President Mike Barbee at www.nasascal e.org/p2.

Saturday morning arrived bright and beautiful and competitors came from Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Attendance was lighter than anticipated, but it was encouraging to note this was the first Scale event several contestants had ever participated in.

Larry Fulk, from Columbus OH, won several awards with his magnificent Cub Crafters Top Cub. Larry has flown this aircraft multiple times at Top Gun.

Scott Bauerschmidt, Weak Signals club president, entered and won his first Scale contest with this Laser.

Weak Signals Great Lakes Scale Classic event CD John Borton ran a smooth inaugural Scale contest.

in. It was a relaxed atmosphere with the seasoned Scale veterans helping the newcomers, making their first Scale competition successful and fun.

When the event was over, all of the competitors and club members were happy with the results. Thank you, Weak Signals, for hosting a new model aviation event at your great facility and I look forward to the second Weak Signals Great Lakes Scale Classic in 2018.