WHY NOT TRY
FUN SCALE?
By Stan Alexander | onawing4602@att.net
Here are two T-28 Trojans from Horizon Hobby. Both were entered in Fun Scale at the AMA Nats.
APRIL 2023 marked the beginning of RC Scale competition for much of the US. The AMA has always encouraged young modelers who want to compete and learn more about their aircraft and construction, as well as flight maneuvers. By attending contests or fly-ins, you not only become a sponge and learn, but you also have the opportunity to meet other modelers who have the same interests as you. Classes at AMA RC Scale competitions range from Fun Scale Novice up to, and including, the FAI F4H class, where the models are, in many cases, scratch-built or built from plans.
Let’s focus this month on Fun Scale. There are now four classes of Fun Scale at most events, including Fun Scale Novice, Expert, High Performance, and Standard. These are for both skill level and aircraft type.
The Standard Fun Scale class is for aircraft that have fixed gear, have no more than one mechanical option, or were not designed for racing. High Performance Fun Scale is for aircraft that have retracting landing gear, have more than one mechanical option, or were designed for racing. The Nats will use these rules this year, and beginners won’t compete against experienced veteran pilots in the Novice or Standard classes.
The Novice class is for someone who hasn’t flown in a contest or placed in the top three. You’ll want to compete with other modelers who have similar building and flight skills. In this class, you can bring a model that you bought at a swap meet or from a friend, an ARF you’ve assembled, or a kit that you’ve built.
The model (at least in my mind) should have a scalelike paint scheme, and you only need one photo of the airplane that matches the model to
Brady Ornat’s Top Flite P-40 was entered in the 2018 AMA Nats. He won Fun Scale Novice.
A Spacewalker, seen here at the Nats, is another great example of a simple model for Fun Scale or any other class.
A Super Decathlon ARF, with an 85-inch wingspan, could be powered by a two-stroke or four-stroke gas engine or an electric motor.
receive five static points. That’s it—you either receive five points or zero points if you have no documentation, so you won’t be knocked out of the top five places if you’ve practiced.
What type of model is appropriate for this class? There are several, depending on your flying skill. Light civil aircraft, such as the J-3 Cub, are the most common and will also teach you to use the rudder
This little, scratch-built Rearwin Junior is another simple Scale model for competition in any class.
to fly. Other types, such as the Cessna 150 aerobat or one of the many foam ARF models, also give you a good start on flying. Electric power seems to be the most popular, along with gas engines.
Flight maneuvers are pretty simple. You fly nine maneuvers, including a takeoff and landing. A Figure Eight, straight flight, and realism are also required. Other maneuvers are selected from the AMA Fixing Wing Radio Control Scale Rules and Regulations, which is available for download on the AMA website.
Now you need to select maneuvers that you can fly and have practiced. Ask another competitor at the contest for help with your scoresheets and call sheets. Fill these out exactly the same so that you aren’t calling one maneuver and doing another.
Watch other competitors, what they do,
how they do it, and why. It’s a learning experience and a lot of fun. There is usually a pizza party on Friday night, a banquet on Saturday night, and awards and prizes on Sunday after the event is over.
Many clubs also hold contests with similar programs. Some have a halftime noon static show, and all are welcome in this class. Again, ARFs play a big part in any competition in the Fun Scale classes.
Legend Hobby, one of several companies that offer ARFs, has various models that would suit newer modelers in this field, such as the Cessna Grand Caravan, Christen Husky, Cessna L-19, Decathlon, Spacewalker, de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, Cessna 152, Cessna Turbo Skylane, Fairchild PT-19, Piper L-4, and the de Havilland Chipmunk. Almost all of the models I’ve selected are high-wing monoplanes without retracts, and a few are 80-inch wingspan or larger military trainers.
Horizon Hobby has also just re-released the upgraded 78-inch wingspan T-28 Trojan in a yellow color scheme.
Many of these models, and those available from other companies, will work fine in Fun Scale competition. If you don’t have one, check them out and join us at the Nats this year. I also understand there will be special awards for youth this year, as well as those who participate in the event! Come on out and have a great time!
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA)
www.nasa.org
AMA Competition Regulations
www.modelaircraft.org/events/competition-resources/competition-regulations
AMA Nats
https://nats.modelaircraft.org
Horizon Hobby
(888) 959-2307
www.horizonhobby.com
Legend Hobby
info@legendhobby.com
www.legendhobby.com
