Author: Stan Alexander

Edition: Model Aviation - 2026/03
Page Numbers: 60, 61, 62
RC Scale

Year-End Scale contest

By Stan Alexander onawing4602@att.net

Ed Becker is shown with his Spitfire while it’s being static-judged prior to its flights. Ed finished first with the model.

This month, I bring you an RC Scale contest report from Tim Dickey.

The National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA), AMA’s Special Interest Group for Scale model aircraft, held the first-ever year-end NASA West Scale Classic on October 10-12, 2025. It was hosted by the Woodland Davis Aeromodelers at the club’s field in Davis, California. The club has hosted many Scale contests throughout the years, including some championships, and its experience was on clear display by running the contest like clockwork. The Central California location made for easy access by the surrounding states, drawing contestants from Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, and California.

The flying conditions were very good for most of the three-day contest, but it was a little windy on the last day. Because this was NASA’s first year-end contest on the West Coast and only the second NASA contest in California, the contestant turnout was light at 16 pilots, but everyone enjoyed the laid-back experience.

Ed Becker, who flew his freshly built Spitfire, was one of the five contestants who competed in the Expert class. He placed first by a narrow margin over John Cole with his de Havilland DH.1. Ed improved his flight score each round as he got his new model dialed in.

The father and son combination of Jack and Kiki Diaz finished in first and second place in the Pro-Am Pro class, with both flying jets. This was Kiki’s first time competing in a Scale model contest and he did wonderful.

Tim Dickey, who flew his Stearman, finished first in the Open class, closely followed by Dave Lovitt, who flew his veteran scratch-built Blackburn White Falcon.

Next year, the NASA end-of-the-year contest, which has newly been named the NASA West Regional Shootout, will be hosted by the Greater Southwest Aero Modelers in Fort Worth, Texas. You can find information about this contest and others on the NASA website; the link to it is listed in “Sources.”

Upcoming Contests and Fly-Ins

This year, there will be 15 NASA Scale contests around the country, from the East Coast to the West Coast. There will be two finals: one for the eastern half of the country and the new western final, which will be held in September. Scale fly-ins are scattered all over the country as well, and you can see some great models and have a great time at these events.

For just about any type of Scale model, there are events scheduled, including for Soaring, jets, World War I, warbirds, and Golden Age-era aircraft. There are plenty of contests and fly-ins that will take place this year, so have some fun!

John Cole works on his de Havilland DH.1 to get it ready for another flight.
John Cole works on his de Havilland DH.1 to get it ready for another flight.
Having a good setup in the pits really helps between flights while you’re at a contest.
Having a good setup in the pits really helps between flights while you’re at a contest.
This F-86 Sabre is on a takeoff roll with Jack Diaz at the controls. Jack finished in first place in the Pro-Am Pro class.
This F-86 Sabre is on a takeoff roll with Jack Diaz at the controls. Jack finished in first place in the Pro-Am Pro class.
Kiki Diaz and his dad, Jack Diaz, who called for Kiki during his first competition! It’s always great to see the kids competing in contests.
Kiki Diaz and his dad, Jack Diaz, who called for Kiki during his first competition! It’s always great to see the kids competing in contests.

From the Shop

I love tool stores! How many of you go on a trip and end up in a tool store? My wife knows that when we go to the Great Smoky Mountains, we will make a stop at Workshop Tools—sometimes several stops. This store has several locations and is also online. I usually find some goodies there; I am showing just a few here.

The odd hardware store that stocks metric tools and other items is also a great place. Finding a small razor plane is a goal of mine. I’d love to find an antique razor plane for shaping leading edges and for wingtips.

You might notice the cloth tape measure that I purchased at Workshop Tools for only $1. I take this when I’m documenting a full-scale aircraft or sometimes to a museum to measure different parts (but only with permission from the management).

Sometimes it’s hard to shoot decent photos from all different angles. Airplanes tend to get boxed in by other displays or aircraft, and for that reason, I usually have a monopod on which to mount the camera or phone.

AMA RC Scale Nats Update

This year’s AMA RC Scale Nats will be held at the International Aeromodeling Center’s Site 4, with static judging taking place there under tents. The dates will be July 7-12 for both RC and CL Scale. If you plan to camp at AMA, I suggest making reservations as soon as possible.

The 2025 Nats was great, with the field in the best shape that it’s been in several years. There is a class for everyone who wants to fly in Scale Nats competition—from the rank novice to the expert, there is a class to fly in, if not several.

Remember, a clean workshop is a sure sign that nothing is happening. Fair skies and tailwinds.

Shown are some of the tools that the author picked up while visiting the Workshop Tools store: a cloth tape measure, various extensions, forceps, and cutoff wheels.
Shown are some of the tools that the author picked up while visiting the Workshop Tools store: a cloth tape measure, various extensions, forceps, and cutoff wheels.

SOURCES