In this DIY special Chris Chianelli, host of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, attends the Top Gun radio-control scale-model competition held annually in Lakeland, Florida. Top Gun is an invitation-only competition that brings together the most advanced, meticulously built and historically accurate scale-model planes in the world along with the most accomplished model-builders and flyers.
In this segment, Chris Chianelli talks with a competitor and a judge about the level of detail contestants put into their scale planes at Top Gun.
- The competition at Topgun is broken down into three separate classes:
- In the Team Class, judged teams are composed of two people: the builder and the flyer. In this class, team members pair up according to their individual strengths either at competition-level flying or modeling and building skill. In this way, each team member can focus on a particular aspect of the competition.
- The Expert Class, is composed of single competitors who both build and fly their own aircraft. Each plane may be built from either a kit or a set of plans, but all of the work is done by one individual.
- The Masters' Class is for competitors who have designed a model and then completely built every component. In other words, the planes in this kit were not built from a kit or from someone else's plans. Instead, each was designed and built, from the ground up, by a contestant. Contestants in this class draw plans, cut parts, mold fiberglass elements, and complete every stage of the building, detailing and finishing of their replica.
- The real excitement at Topgun comes when the participants take to the air with their models. Since half of the total score for each contestant is judged from the flight portion of the competition, these scale models have to perform well in addition to looking impressive. Each flight contestant gets four chances to display his or her flight skills to the judges, with two rounds of flight competition on the first day, and two on the last day. For each contestant, the lowest score of the four is dropped and the remaining three scores are averaged.
- Billy Steffes entered the Topgun competition with his quarter-scale SMJ Navy Trainer. His is the only replica of the plane, at this scale, in the world. Steffes' replica is exactly one quarter the size of the actual full-sized Trainer. The detail on this scale-model is impressive, and includes such features hundreds of faux rivets and a cockpit canopy that operates just like the original (figure A).
- For Steffes, the greatest enjoyment in the hobby comes in the authentic recreation of historical planes, and the appreciation that others have for the authenticity.
- Rich Uravitch has participated in the Topgun competition many times, and is a judge at this year's competition. According to Uravitch, the static judging is broken down into three sub-categories:
- Craftsmanship
- Scale outline
- Finish, color and markings
There is a separate judge for each of the static-judging categories.
- Each contestant presents a documentation package (figure B) -- including diagrams, plans and even color-chips -- to the panel of judges. This documentation forms part of the basis of the judging.
- The static scores are posted only after the first round is complete (figure C).
RESOURCES :
Hobbico
Manufacturer of radio controlled model planes.
Web site: www.hobbico.com
Distributed by Great Planes Model Distributors
Great Planes Model Distributors
Website: www.greatplanes.com
Bob Violett Models (Radio-Control Jets)
Bob Violet Models (Radio-Control Jets)
Website: www.bvmjets.com
Airtronics RC Transmitters
Airtronics, Inc
Anaheim, CA 92805
Phone: 714-978-1895
Fax: 714-978-1540
Email: info@airtronics.com
Website: www.airtronics.com
Frank Tiano Enterprises
Frank Tiano Enterprises
Phone: 561-795-6600
Website: www.franktiano.com
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