Welcome to the world of Control Line Scale model aircraft.

F4B is the official international classification for Control Line Scale.

Below you will find some notes, photographs and images which I hope will convey the spirit of Control Line Scale aeromodelling.

I won the British F4B National Championships ('99 and '00) with this model.

Built and modified from a Brian Taylor plan. Wingspan 65",weighs 7 1/2 lbs, has a Super Tigre 60 for power. Uses a Czech electronic control unit to operate the retracts/motor/flaps/bomb drop. (Alas, it is no-more - I crashed it, flying in the rain at the British Team Trials)

My 'old' P-47 Thunderbolt

This model won the British Nationals twice - '93 & '94. During a practice session over a soccer field I managed to rip out the undercarriage doing a Touch and Go manoeuvre. Deciding that the model had done its duty I condemned it to the rubbish bin. Andrew Hewitt insisted that I get all the bits out and put them in a large bin liner bag (I had deliberately broken the wing in half) he then painstakingly rebuilt the wing ! (what a pal). I put the model in storage for some years until I broke the wing of my last flying model (FW 190) at the 2001 Nationals. I had to have something to fly so I brought the P-47 back into the light and did a rough patch-up/paint job on the repaired wing and flew many end of season flights at our local flying field.

While judging at the Indoor Nationals 2002, a Peanut P-47 was put before me - it was a 'cracker'. It had the legend 'Big Ass Bird II' on the fuselage side. I decided there and then to re-finish and re-paint my P-47.


The real 'Big Ass Bird II'

I thought that it would take me about two weeks to complete the transformation but it took five !


The make-over starts with a complete rubdown/cutback.


This is the last picture of HV*A


The re-spray starts.




The finished model - 'Big Ass Bird II'

Old Warden meeting 2002 - just a little WET ! No C/L flying - too windy/wet - plus lightning ! The worst conditions possible for C/L.

New wing for my FW 190. Pneumatic retracts, flaps and motor all controlled by a Beks electronic unit.

Control Line models, as the name implies, are flown on two very fine multi strand stainless steel lines about 50 - 60 feet in length. The lines are attached to a bellcrank within the model, this in turn controls the elevator. Generally control line scale models are flown an a three line control system which allows control of the engine throttle and with a little ingenuity may also control the flaps or bomb release. Using insulated control lines allows electrical signals to control simple motor activated functions. More recently, electronic control units now send signals along two insulated lines allowing full proportional control (via servos) of retracting undercarriage, flaps, bomb release and the throttle.
There can be no better feeling for a control line flier than to have the sun on his face and his model pulling on taut lines. This sensation can be further heightened if the model is his (or her) favourite Mustang, Spitfire or Ju 88 with retracting undercarriage, operating flaps and a bomb release !
With a touch of throttle the model rolls forward to taxi, more throttle and the speed builds until take-off is achieved, you retract the undercarriage and the model is fully airborne, perform five manoeuvres, impress your friends then lower undercarriage, deploy the flaps and make a super three point landing .. Wow, life is good !!

Control Line Scale flying is a marvellous sensation, the flier can operate and feel all the flight functions as the model performs them... total sensation, great !


Nakajima Ki 44 Shoki (Tojo) 'Demon'

F4B Scale will never be the most popular class of control line flying as it requires so much more time and attention to the building of the model than the other classes, but it does return all that effort in the flying stages. All scale flying sessions usually cause a gathering of onlookers who like to admire and photograph the models. There is also the comraderie of the fliers, always eager to help and assist each other.

Generally control line scale models are flown an a three line control system which allows control of the engine throttle and with a little ingenuity may also control the flaps and bomb or tank release.

Using insulated control lines allows electrical signals to control simple motor activated functions.


Kawasaki Ki 45 Toryu (Nick) 'Devil Killer'

More recently, control units now send electronic signals along the insulated lines allowing proportional control (via servos) of retracting undercarriage, flaps, bomb release and the throttle .

The models themselves may be built from plans or kits, the current trend is to modify one of the many radio scale plans that are easily obtained through magazines or from private enterprises. There are numerous radio scale kits on the market that are suitable for easy control line conversion. If you really would like to impress the static judges, draw your own plans and completely scratch build your favourite aircraft !


Nakajima Ki 84 Hayate (Frank) 3-view plan

Dates for Control Line Scale meetings can be found in BMFA newspaper or my website www.f4bscale.co.uk



Article by Mike Chapman for Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
July 2002