Allen Goff’s F4B Nieuport 11 with a gas-powered engine.
By Fred Cronenwett
Hello and welcome to the 2024 AMA Control Line (CL) Scale Nats. In this event, the models are judged on how closely they match a full-scale aircraft in outline and appearance. They are then judged on how well they are flown. You will see everything from World War I to modern-day aircraft. The models will be powered by glow engines, gas, electric, or electric-ducted fans—and even turbines have been used in CL Scale!
You will notice a variety of models because there are several events that pilots can enter: Fun, 1/2a, Profile, Sport, and Team Scale. All of the models will require documentation for the appearance judging, which includes a 3-view to judge the outlines and various photographs of the particular full-scale aircraft that the pilot copied. The pilot is responsible for finding the documentation. In some events, detailed color information is required.
Fun Scale is the only event that does not require that the pilot be the person who built the model. In Fun Scale, you could buy a used Scale model or an ARF and fly it in the competition. Team Scale has two entries—one for the builder and one for the pilot. In Team Scale, the pilot is responsible for flying the model, while the other team member was responsible for building the model. If the team does well enough to win a trophy, they will both get a trophy.
Sport Scale requires more scale details to be on the model. Fun Scale only has 10 static (appearance) points, while Sport Scale has 100 static points. Both Fun and Sport Scale have 100 flight points, and they use the same rules for the flight portion. The flight score is 100 points maximum, so you can see that you have to do well in both static and flying to win in Sport Scale. There is no difference between Fun and Sport Scale with the flying portion. Once you have done enough of the Fun Scale contests, it’s time to build a model and enter it in Sport Scale. Let me know if you need help with the documentation.
Profile Scale is the same as Sport Scale, except the nacelles and fuselage are built as a profile model. The fuselage portion can only be 1 inch wide, while the forward portion of the nacelles can be a maximum of 1.5 inches wide.
1/2a Scale is the only event that doesn’t allow throttle control. To do well in the other CL Scale events, you really need throttle control to get the maximum number of flight points. But in 1/2a Scale, pilots are not allowed to use throttle, so basically, the challenge is to get the 1/2a engine going, take off, fly 10 level laps, and land. Typically, the 1/2a scores are won or lost based upon the static scores. There are a few bonus points for multiengine aircraft within 1/2a Scale, but it typically does not play a big role in the standings at the end of the Nats.
When the static judging portion is done, it is fairly relaxed until we start flying on Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday. If you are watching the scores, you will notice that some pilots may pass on flying rounds 3 and 4 on Sunday if they have no chance to advance in the standings. There are times when two pilots are really close in the overall standings after rounds 1 and 2 are complete, making it important that they fly round 3, and maybe even round 4, to close the gap between pilots. Sometimes there can be a fraction of a point between first and second place.
This is an enjoyable hobby where you get to fly and meet other pilots from around the country. Have fun and land softly!
Note from AMA: Do you have photos from the Nats that you’d like to share? If so, email them to Clarissa Poston at clarissap@modelaircraft.org. Please include a brief description in your email, naming any individuals pictured in the photo(s), the name of the event that the photo(s) were taken during, and the name of the individual who took the photo(s). Your submission(s) might be posted on AMA’s Flickr page, which can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/modelaircraft/albums!