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About ScaleMaster
All in all the ScaleMaster has taken many years to become a reality from concept through testing and production. It started out as a GS, JR Products, now Brodak 3 line handle with an add-on, hand carved box, that housed some toggle switches and 2 Servo Drivers, to send the signal. The ad on box was attached to this type of unit and was demonstrated at the 1978 IMS, in Pasadena California, using a scratch built "Batman" airplane as the demo model. This unit was fine and variations of it are still being used, today, by some flyers. However, I found that the Servo Drivers only offered one channel each and there were no provisions for adjustments, such as End Point Adjustment, Servo Reversing, Dual Rate or Servo Matching. Also, with the GS, I was still dragging 3 lines around the circle, in addition to the added weight, in the plane, for the servos and battery. The ScaleMaster of today is a 2 line system, thereby eliminating the extra drag of the 3rd line and it has all of the adjustment options.
The first Prototype (of the current configuration ScaleMaster) 1992, was carved from wood and had a Futaba 4 channel Encoder Board. 6 channel options are shown on the handle with one of them serving as a choice of location for the option switches. This handle was tested with 9 aircraft that all ranged in size and each had different functional options. Testing and re-design continued up to February of 2000.
The First Release Version, the ScaleMaster "Specialist" went into production in 2001, and was also hand carved from wood, (photo in center bottom). Many of the internal components of the handle were gotten from Futaba, such as the throttle stick, barrel assembly, rotary potentiometers and long handle toggle switches. When Futaba changed their design, we changed ours as well, but opted not to continue to use Futaba parts. We, also, incorporated features that were suggested to us by the pilots who had used the handle in testing or that have purchased the first production units.
The new modified production version 7 channel handle is the "Medalist", which incorporates all of the design changes and new internal components.
Attaching brackets to a Stunt Handle that houses a Servo Driver, is also being used. This eliminates the 3rd line, but still offers only a one channel and no options for programming. However, an excellent example of this adaptation is the Bill Young Electronics handle (photos above). You can get up to 4 channels in his handle, with the drawbacks being, all of the circuitry is exposed to the elements i.e.; fuel, dust, dirt and moisture, and the contacts and leads are exposed to the elements, as well... and "function" switch placement takes some getting used to, as they are small dip switches, in the top of the unit (little red box) hard to use when plane is in flight. He has no end point adjustment, no metering and no back up battery supply.
I knew Bill Young for years, when we
both lived in California. I watched him custom machine scale landing gear units for
the flying wing models he built.
His work is outstanding. I have no doubt that Bill's craftsmanship, in his handle,
is excellent and the unit is very sturdy. His handle, as I understand it,
start at about $150.00.....
There are 2 versions of the ScaleMaster
handle going into production, with 4 and 7 channel systems, as illustrated on the 2005
unit, in the above photo.
All of the new version handles will take into account user feed back for the re-design and
modifications. The Trigger Throttle and Option Configuration
of the switches are all new, and the addition of a removable "Safety Thong
Bracket". The WingMan has (in addition to Throttle); 1=
Momentary Push
Button, 1=Toggle Switch and 1=Slide Control. The Medalist will have 2=Momentary Push
Buttons, 3 Toggle Switches and 1= Slide Control.
The Four and Seven Channel units each have their own Decoders. In other respects the handles will be identical in size.
Why so Expensive?
As you know Circuit Design and Etched PCBs are expensive and ours are imported, as well. Molding the handle is also quite costly. Each handle is individually cast out of Shore D 85 Thermoplastic, for strength and durability, and are Custom Cast on a Per Order basis. The mini toggles and potentiometers are "custom" made off shore, and each has a long lead time. Even the Anchor Bar, is machined for us. When you put the ScaleMaster, side by side with other units, and compare number of channels, options for adjustment, fully enclosed unit, has power monitoring and back-up power..the price in comparison, is really not that costly.
Also, when you
consider that a 7 Channel RC radio, that you would hang from your belt, and attach with an
Instructor's patch cord, to the handle, costs anywhere from $400 to $700 dollars, or more,
for 7 channels, the ScaleMaster prices
are very reasonable, in comparison. As I understand it, even the Brodak 3 line
handle is around $45.00 and has no electronics at all. Besides that the
ScaleMaster is specifically designed for Control Line while RC
equipment is not. Belt carried RC Radios force the pilot to fly with one
hand and operate options with the other. I have never thought that this was a safe
thing to do. But even the RC Radios do not
have a back up battery supply. The advantage, to using and RC radio, I suppose, is
that you can program several airplanes into the same radio. With the ScaleMaster all
you need is a 2nd Decoder. The same handle will fly all of your planes with very
little re-adjusting. Care in building is the key and if your technique
remains constant, so should the control surface operations of your aircraft. A
programmable radio is not the answer or the way to compensate for poor building methods or
inadequate techniques.
We understand that it is,
most likely, the true and dedicated scale builder and competition aviator that would have
an interest or need for the ScaleMaster "Medallist" but Novice
builder/pilots may find the "WingMan" just right for entry level into the
hobby, for Navy Carrier and Stand Off Scale.
Brodak has a fine line of CL aircraft as does SIG and Top Flite. RC kit planes are easily adapted to control line and may also be flown both RC and CL.
It is our hope to provide something to look forward to and aspire to, for the novice builder/pilot as their building and flying skills improve.
The boundaries of model airplanes was greatly expanded with the introduction of the GS Products 3 Line Handle in the late 60's and the introduction of the ScaleMaster has expanded it even farther. It is our hope that it the ScaleMaster may generate more participation throughout the model aircraft hobby industry and become the control line handle of the future.
ScaleMaster Pilots will be leading the field with First
Place Flights
for many years to come.