Control Line Stunt - The Way It Is In 2021
“Stunt” – Control Line Precision Aerobatics – has had a creative, competitive, and commercial history for as long as I have been alive, about 73 years. The first real aerobatic contests of any consequence began about 1948, both in the U.S.A. and other countries, especially England.
The first F2B World Control Line Aerobatic Championship was held in 1960, only 12 years later. The first official flight in that meet was flown by U.S.A.’s Bob Palmer, and the plane he used, a Thunderbird from the ”new version” VECO kit, is in the AMA museum in Muncie.
For at least the last thirty years many people, including some prominent control line flyers/writers, have said “control line is dead”. So far, that hasn’t been true. However, we are facing some prominent “ailments” in our hobby/sport. I want to touch on some of these. I don’t pretend to have “cures”, but I want to never the less call these to your attention.
Balsa Wood – In the last couple of years the availability of choice contest balsa has plummeted. As a consequence, the price has risen tremendously. The last balsa I purchased in December 2020, had a 150% “surcharge”. That means a piece of wood that cost $5.00 a year or two back is now $12.50(!)… and that is at the wholesale, manufacturer cost level. That means any kit manufacturer, or supplier, must raise prices proportionately. It is classic supply and demand. Why is this happening? I am told there are two primary factors: (1) A lot of balsa of all grades, is going into wind turbine blades, those “green energy producers” our government has subsidized, which blight the landscape in many places and (2) China – The Chinese dominate ARF model kit manufacturing…that is where your ARF Nobler, or Ugly Stick, or 1/4 scale RC aerobatic plane comes from. You might want to consider what you purchase which comes from China, in light of our Covid pandemic too.
And speaking of China – “Nitro” (Nitro Methane) has been a staple component of model engine fuel all the way back the beginning of control line stunt. Searching for more power in early glow engines, such as Ohlsson’s, and early Foxes, it was easier to add nitro to fuel than to re-tool and re-design engines for greater output. Nearly all nitro today comes from China. Period. Our laws virtually prohibit its manufacture in the U.S.A. in any sort of economically viable way.
Most engines can run well on zero nitro fuel with an increase in compression and a very hot glow plug, typically one that works well in a four-stroke model engine. Nitro is not a requirement for operation. Think about that too, as to where your money goes when you buy commercially produced glow fuel. Methanol is readily available, and is U.S.A. sourced, so is oil, synthetic and castor. Consider making your own fuel, or at least buying “FAI” commercial fuel with zero nitro.
Electric Power – Many people have gone to electric power for stunt. World Championships and U.S.A. NATS have been won with electric power. Electric systems have become very sophisticated and “tunable”. But again, where does the electric equipment, especially the batteries and motors, come from? You guessed it, China. While I don’t fly electric, I have never heard of any U.S.A. fully sourced system.
Engines – With one cottage operation as the exception (RO-Jett), there are zero glow engines produced in the U.S.A. There are very, very few produced anywhere! Stalker and Discovery Retro are produced in the Ukraine. Enya’s can be had from Japan. OS no longer makes control line useable engines, and all of the “OS-clones”, Thunder Tiger, Magnum, etc., from Taiwan are gone too. Brodak engines are made sporadically in Moldova. All engines currently available are incredibly well made in materials and tolerances. There are just Damn few of them! Finding good glow plugs is a problem too.
Age – Very few people under 60 are interested in models of any sort. Aviation in our society has moved from glamorous (pre-WWII), to heroic and patriotic (post WWII), to a status of commodity. When the average person thinks of flying, their association is to being crammed into something from Boeing or Airbus, after having to take off their belt and shoes in “security”. “Flying as fun”? You must be kidding!
Communication – We all used to look forward to each month’s model plane magazines. We could learn stuff from them. They presented construction articles to build or copy from. They mattered.
Flying Models is gone. Model Builder is gone. American Modeler morphed into AMA’s Model Aviation, and it no longer publishes any construction articles. There is scant coverage of control line, or competition-oriented material of any type. Lots of plastic (foam), ready-to-fly models from…CHINA…are “reviewed” as if product reviews are the job of a non-profit “educational organization”. Model Airplane News is all radio. Radio Control Modeler and R/C Report are gone.
There are various forums and such on the internet. However, many traditional modelers, including me, are either not fluent, or not interested in looking at a screen. It is not the same as having something in your hands. Even if you are web-savvy, the articles, designs, plans, etc. of “NEW STUFF” aren’t on the web. It is mostly typed “chatter”. Little is actually being created. Without constant new creation in any sphere, everything dies off.
And that is where we are. There are still contests and get togethers. Savor them. Support them. They are the family reunions of a dwindling family. They too are gradually becoming fewer for all of the reasons cited above. In 25 years, or less, there will probably be no modeling, control line or otherwise, in existence. It, like it’s practitioners, will have lived out its lifespan. Cherish it, and its people, while you can.
Tom Dixon
01/06/2021
Note: For those of you who don't know, I type items for Tom Dixon on Stunt Hangar. I am stating this because if you have comments, good or bad about this article, you should call or write to Tom.
Tom's address: Tom Dixon
315 Santa Anita Ave
Woodstock GA 30189
Tom's phone: 770 592-3279
Thanks-Jim Catevenis
Topic: Control Line Stunt - The Way It Is In 2021 Tom Dixon (Read 14036 times)