It was about 7:15 when the CD arrived at the field to begin setting up
for the contest. Someone was already getting in a few flights!
2005 Fun Scale Championship
and
Sport Scale Contest
Our Scale meet this year was very well attended when one considers the weather we had been having for the past week, and a forecast for more of the same. The temperatures had been in the mid nineties with afternoon thundershowers all week leading up to our big day. In fact, Friday had been cloudy, rainy, and windy most of the day. We were very pleased that we had four contestants drive up from Roanoke Rapids, NC again this year. We had nine contestants including one from New York, John Philbrick's son, Whitney.
With flying scheduled to begin at 8:30 A.M., club members began showing up at seven to help set up the field for the contest. Quite a few brought tents, and soon the field had beautiful scale models being set up for flight. Static Judging began with David Foster's really neat Japanese torpedo bomber, a Nakajima B6N2 "Jill". We started flying much earlier than we did in 2004 with our first Fun Scale flight getting off at around 9:20 A.M. Only one contestant flew in both events, so that made for ten flights per round.
We completed the third round shortly after three O-clock, and by then the temperature was in the nineties! So far no sign of rain, but the cumulus clouds were beginning to build. A quick survey of our contestants indicated they had sweltered enough, so we called it quits. CD Joe Lupton tabulated the final scores and the awards were presented. Within thirty minutes of everyone having left the field, a thunderstorm developed and the rain came down. Pretty good timing, huh?
It was about 7:15 when the CD arrived at the field to begin setting up
for the
contest. Someone was already getting in a few flights!
Phil Goodwin was getting in a few practice flights before the contest began.
David Hayes has the Thrush almost ready and works on preparing his T-34 for the
Fun Scale event.
Fred is doing a little work on his Navion prior to the contest.
Fred brought his extensive hanger of scale models. He finally decided to fly the
Navion.
Hunter Sizemore came up from Roanoke Rapids, NC with his Dad Arthur. He flew
this
good looking P-51 very well.
David Foster, also from Roanoke Rapids, flew this large Nakajima in the Sport
Scale
category. He and David Hayes both competed in the Top Gun invitational
meet
in Florida.
The cooking tent was "almost set up" but the crew gave up when they
couldn't
figure out what poles went where............ Oh well......
Many anticipated the high heat and brought tents for shelter from the sun.
David Hayes (left) assists David Foster in showing his Nakajima for the Static
Judges.
A close-up view of David's Thrush could easily be of a full scale
aircraft!
Prior to his first flight, David demonstrates some scale functions for the
judges.
The Nakajima on takeoff just as the tailwheel lifts off.
Judges Jay and Ed watch closely as a contestant puts his model through it's
paces.
Brian had the grill going and by 11:30 had the burgers and hotdogs ready for the
crowd.
Brian's wife came out to help by taking our money. Smile, Ed!
And then it was Brian's turn to do the feeding! Priceless!
This shot of the Thrush on a dusting pass is fantastic! Is it real?
This is a great shot! It looks real, doesn't it? That's what scale flying is all
about!
David Hayes, Whitney Philbrick, and David Foster pose with their great looking
aircraft.
Julian Harris (straw hat) flew the nice J-3 Cub in foreground. He, Fedrico, and
Ken Combs
relax in the shade.
Contest Director Joe Lupton is hard at work tabulating the scores.
The awards were very nice plaques. Also shown is the electric Funtana door
prize, won by
Don Kohlman, and the raffle prize, an O.S. .91 F.S. won by Jerry Winkler.
Fun Scale Division I, Phil Goodwin is
presented his award by Phil Greasley.
First Place................................................Hunter
Sizemore
Second Place..........................................Whitney Philbrick
Third Place......................................................David Hayes
First Place........................................................David
Hayes
Hunter Sizemore is presented the Junior/Senior Champion award
for high point in his age group. He beat them all in Fun Scale Division
II.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Next year we should
have a nice covered pavilion to provide us some shade
and a place to sit, assemble our models, and stay dry if it rains. Our club
would like to thank all who drove in from out of town to compete with us,
and we hope you enjoyed yourself. If you have any comments, critiques, or
suggestions, please email the Contest Director from the e-mail link on our home
page.
As the
Contest Director, I would like to offer my personnel thanks to all
of our club members who pitched in to help make this event go so smoothly.
It is easy to run a good event with folks like you helping out.
Thanks!
Joe
Photo credits to: Owen Dwire, John Philbrick, & Joe Lupton
