UK F4B Control Line National Championships
The weather (we always mention the weather) was warm with a light wind on the Saturday. I was eager to fly but due to one reason or another a desion to make the official flights was put off until the afternoon. I was raring to go at 1.00 pm and as we were not flying F4B until 2.00pm I blew away any nerves by getting my P-47 Thunderbolt (Big Ass Bird II) airborne. I had three flights before the other flyers arrived on the flight line and had an enthusiast audience ready and primed for the main event.
The organisers were expecting an entry of 8 or 9 but eventually we were down to five. Regular scale competitor Bill Brown didn't enter as he had blown his engine a week or two earlier, Peter Stiles didn't enter, Bruno Clarke from Belgium hadn't finished his model and I understand that a Portuguese entrant's model had been damaged in transit (along with some Team Race models). Long time scale enthusiast Mick Staples brought his 25 (twenty five) year old Bristol Bulldog. I have a copy of the January 1982 Aeromodeller and Mick is on the cover with that same model ! It is still in pristine condition and scored highly in static. There were no new models on show not unless you count Mick's model or my FW 190 with it's new wing ! Bernard Seale's new Fiat Cr 42 wasn't finished so he entered his Gloucester Gamecock.
Wal Cordwell flew first (I think) with his Jodel and completed a satisfactory flight (no engine cuts this year), Bernard Seale accompanied Wal during the flight as Wal tells me that these days he gets slightly dizzy during the High flight. All was well and he completed his options.
Bernard Seale flew his latest Gamecock as I prepared my model. He was half way through his flight when I heard a sickening crunch and the crowd gave a big "OOOooooohhh !" the Touch and Go manoeuvre had come to a sudden end and the flight was over.
I
hurriedly fuelled my FW 190 in the flight circle. A smooth Take
Off and a flick of the switch on my Bek's control unit and the
undercarriage retracted into the wing. All was going well with
the undercarriage as I performed the Flap demo / Touch and Go but
when it came to the Landing the retract would not respond it
stayed doggedly within the wing ! After numerous laps I called
Brian (CD) into the circle with me and I explained the problem.
It was either a hard landing on the runway or I could try to get
over to the grass and belly land there. Brian immediately moved
the judges chairs and the surrounding cones and tape and I was
able to manoeuvre myself and model to a position where I could
land on the grass - not before time as I was very low on fuel by
then ! I later found that a servo had 'glitched' and popped the
quick link off the air valve.
Mick Staple's Bristol Bulldog (OS 40 power) flew a steady set of options, all the manoeuvres went well, his final option was Taxi (which has been added to the options list) Mick was able to complete a full lap in the light winds.
Dave Kenny had returned with his Kawasaki 61 'Tony', he got out onto the runway but as he prepared a throttle link failed, simultaneously it started to rain so he called an attempt.
We all headed for cover, well I tried, but I had two models to dismantle, so I got a little wet !
Sunday was very dull and the rain set in, so it was decided to commence the Static judging.
Up with the larks on Monday and the flying session started at 11.00 am. It was fairly cool and a fresh breeze had come up over night but as I arrived at the flight line Dave Kenny was ready for action and fuelling his 'Tony'. He had to make two flights that day so maybe that had made him a little nervous, but what ever the reason the 'Tony' didn't get airborne and only completed a high speed lap on the ground which reduced his propeller from 11" to 4" diameter ! A quick prop change and a second attempt got the model up and away, Dave gave a 'lively' flight for the spectators and judges.
Over night the flight and static scores had been calculated and those that were camping at Barkston Heath knew how the scores stood. Bernard Seale declined to fly again in the windy conditions as he didn't feel that he would be able to make up the deficit between myself and him. Mick Staples also declined to fly for similar reasons. I was then informed that I was ahead in both Flying and Static so I had no reason to fly the FW 190 again. I did get the model out, but only for a photo call.
We still had ample time for flying so I prepared my P-47 for the Sport Scale competition. Numerous fliers seemed to appear from nowhere, so the judges had plenty of scoring to keep them occupied.
I wasn't able to get details of any of the Sport Scale models but I did see a Spitfire, a Piper and a Miles M20 amongst others. I also didn't get a list of the placings but I can tell you the my 'Big Ass Bird' won - whooopee !
Many thanks to Brian, Matthew and Geoff for organising and judging the event.
Final Result
..........Name ................Model......... ...............Static........Best flight.......Total
M Chapman FW 190 A3 578 757 1335
M Staples Bristol Bulldog 567 726 1293
B Seale Gloster Gamecock 474 502 976
W. Cordwell Jodel D17 426 531 957
D Kenny Kawasaki Ki 61 396 57 453
The Nationals trophy - The Knokke II.
(pronounced - noc 2 )
