Way back in the 70's, when a 1/2A Multi Engine Profile Scale event was thought up, the idea was to have a SIMPLE event. Profile is simple. Full body is not simple. So, you (whoever came up with the full body concept) have made another difficult scale event. Too bad. To the originators of the concept, it was never meant to be other than a simple event that let one's imagination run wild.
Ron,
I take exception to several points you have made.
Yes, a profile model can be an easier airplane to build. But if you try to do things to the profile to make it look better, like enclose the pushrod/elevator horn and leadouts, then things start getting to be a bit more complicated. (The St Louis Broken Arrow contest at least required exposed control systems in an effort to keep things "simple".) So from some perspective, there is not necessarily a "simplicity" factor when building a profile.
(Another neat feature of the Broken Arrow contest is that the presentation is limited to one page to show proof of scale. But, an unintended consequence of this rule is that it may not be so simple to get a "good" proof of scale presentation on one page.)
The Tucson Multi-Engine contest rules have bee changed to no longer require a "profile" model. Our rules follow, somewhat, those rules used last year at the Nats 1/2A contest where the scoring system is such that a profile model is not at a distinct disadvantage over a "full body" model. In fact, I understand that it was a profile model that won the 1/2A Scale event at the Nats last year (I could be wrong on that). The rules are such that a good profile can outscore a not so good built up fuselage entry.
After observing the several models that have been entered in our Tucson 1/2A scale contest for the past several years, one could draw a conclusion that full body models would be no more difficult to build than the profile models that have shown up there.
At our Tucson contest, we still have the two categories. "Unlimited" is for flight options which can include throttles. The "Limited" category doe snot allow throttles and no flight options. This Limited category is an attempt to try to keep things "simple".
One thing we are doing for our Tucson contest this year where the models can be full scale bodies, is to initiate a perpetual "Slab" award to recognize the best "true profile" model that uses nothing more than 1/4" sheet in the construction of the wings, fuselage and nacelles. Of course, allowances are made for firwalls,. firewall bulkheads and doublers. This would go to the best "slab" model that is entered in either the Limited or Unlimited category.
Keith