FIRST PLACE TEAM SCALE FIRST PLACE EXPERT

Repeating their '99 performance, Bill McCafffe and Ed Berton captured first in Team ScaleZen m3 Hamp. Bullt from enlarged Matt plans, the Japanese fighter is powered by a 3W-70

2 6 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS

Model Airplane News and Zap present

TOP I Nby Debra Sharp and Gerry Yanisli

Each year in the last week of April, morethan 60 top RC scale builders and pilotsgather in West Palm Beach, FL, to competeat the most prestigious scale event in thecountry—the Top Gun Invitational. In its

12th year, it is a grand experience, and simply tobe invited—let alone place in this competition—isa great accomplishment. Pilots from all across theUnited States as well as Canada, England,Germany and South America come prepared tocompete for the title of "Mr. Top Gun."

Tom Wood's BVU Phantom comes in for a landing. Powered by a Ran 1000 tarMw, Tom's 1/6-scale F-4 placed third in Expert. Tom also won the Best Jet award,

PLACE

MR. TOP GUNor the second year in a row, the winner in Designer Scalewas Jeff Foley with his immaculate Me-109E. Jeff earnedan impressive 96.667 points in Static and an overall

score of 192.459; that's a mere 0.668 point more than thefirst-place Expert winner, Terry Nitsch. (The title "Mr. Top Gun"goes to the first-place winner with the highest score.)

Jeff's ^.5-scale Messerschmitt has an 86-inch span, weighs24 pounds and is powered by a Moki 1.8 2-stroke glow engineturning an 18x10 prop. Jeff uses a JR PCM radio and modifiedPlan retracts in his 109.

AUGUST 2000 27

THE ROAD TO TOP GUNby Rich Uravitch

First-time visitors to New York who ask,"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" oftenget the response: "Practice, practice, prac-tice." I've concluded that much the sameadvice applies to the premier RC scaleaeromodeling event, Top Gun, althoughthe three "P's" could be modified to

"Plan, practice, perform." Take it fromme: on the road to Top Gun, you'llneed all three of these ingredients plusa little luck.

PLANIf you're serious about getting to TopGun, the adventure starts long beforeyour invitation arrives in the mail. It

begins when you select your sub-ject and amass all the documenta-tion required to produce a modelthat for all the world looks like ashrunk-down miniature of a full-

size airplane. Do notstart with a kit and

then try to finddocumentationto match it;you'll build your

Details—insideas well as out!Scale models are judged on various features, includ-ing outline, color and markings and craftsmanship.At Top Gun, the scale perfection and beauty of themodels are much more than just "skin deep." Each

Dave Platts Hawker Hunter

Rich Uravitch (right) andpitman Lenny Stanko moveRich's P-47 Thunderbolt to the staticjudging area. Teamwork is a must at Top Gun

Rich Uravitch's Thunderbolt was built from Ziroliplans and is powered by a Sachs 6.2c/ gas engine turning

a 24x14 prop. The S2 inch-span fighter weighs 38 pounds andhas a PPG polyurethane finish.

Dave Fogarty's trcoupe

28 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS

Nick Zlroli's TBM Avenger/Tarpon Mk. 1

competitor lavishes many hours of building timeon areas that are not readily noticed with acasual glance. In places such as the wheel wells,flap retract gutters, machine-gun bays and wing-attachment joints, details are faithfullyreproduced but often remain unseen. But themain focal point of any scale model remains theminiature pilot's "front office"; we all seem to bedrawn to the magical area beneath the canopyglass: the cockpit.

Instrument panels and bezels, rudder pedals,control columns and throttle quadrants are allpart of cockpit detailing, and the modelers atTop Gun take their interior-decorating choresvery seriously.

It is interesting to note that most, if not all, ofthe contestants scratch-build all the parts thatgo into their model's cockpit. From the pilot'sseat and shoulder straps to the cockpit coamingand mag switches, nothing seems to be toosmall for Top Gun pilots to replicate. It's all partof the game.

Miguel Berastain's P-40 Warhawk Fokker D-VIII cockpit detail by Wayne Frederick

self a trap from which a sharp judge won'tallow you to escape. And believe me, thestatic judges at Top Gun have seen andheard it all, so trying to put one over onthem just won't fly (no pun intended).You will, however, come away from thestatic-judging table much smarter andmore aware of the shortcomings of yourmodel. You will be able to identify whatyour model needs to gain that additional1/2 or 1/4 point and decide whether youthink it's worth the effort. You mightwant to risk the points loss when a judgeinforms you that your national insigniahas been incorrectly sized or placed, andfixing it will mean cutting new frisketsand a repaint!

When you see a model such as TomPolapink's Pfalz earn "High Static" awardand compare it with his documentation,you know that Tom was focused; same forNick Ziroli Jr.'s big Grumman TBM Tarpon(Avenger, to you USN types) and JeffFoley's Bf-1O9E. All of these beautifulmodels were flown in Designer Scale,where the builder designed and scratch-built the model. That's one of the advan-tages of building from your own plans:markings, panel lines, fairings and otherdetails fit in the proper locations becausethe scaling ratio is constant. Properly

AUGUST 2000 29

••3

PAV

SI

POS.

123456789101112131415

123457689101112131415161718192021222324252627

123456789101112

PILOT

FoleyZiroli Jr.TorresPolapinkBenjaminRoaneVaillancourtJohnsonFeroldiHayesPlattFrederickUibertacherKosewskiFogarty

NitschHahnWoodBarbeeLabonteChevalierO'MearaGabrysChewRedelmanDiazWeissBussellCampanaSousaWinterTlanoBensonMillerPikeDenicolaKretzAlvarezBartkusUravitchMcCurryVoglund

Berton/McCallieStevick/DiGiorgioSiewert/SandquistCaudle/ViolettValdez/ShulmanFrench/PattonSnyder/DodgenMolinsky/ClaussenBerastain/SwiftAraujo/GonzalezDonofrio/GrecoKrzanowski/Hiller

SCALE/ MODEL

to.5 Me-109E16 Avenger1/5 Beech T-34C-11/4 Pfalz D.IIIAto Taylorcraft3/8 Shoestring1/5 Typhoon1/6 F-82G1/3 DH-2 Airco1/7 Ayres Thrushto Magister1/4FokkerD-VII1/6 Tempestto Fokker EV 191B1/4Ercoupe415-D

1/5 Rafale B-011/5 Dauntless1/6F-41/3 Waco YMF51/5 Harvard Mk. IV1/3 Tri-Pacer

1/8 Corsair F4U1/8 MiG-151/5 P-47D1/6F-41/8 MiG-151/6 MiG-151/5 Spitfire MK14C1/6 MiG-29to Culver Cadetto Tiger Moth1/6 P-47 Razorback1/5 T-34C1/6 Corsair F4U1/7 DHC-31/8 Skyraider1/5 Spitfire Mkl41/6F86F1/5 Focke-Wulf 1801/5-47T-Bolt1/5-109G1/5 P-51D Mustang

Zero M3 Hampto.5 P-51D1/8-471/6T-331/6-801/5 Panther F9F1/8 MiG-151/7P-61to P-40 Warhawk1/7 Rafale Bto Sikorsky S39B

1/7MiG-17

SPAN

86106809410885971021138310283828490

61104571101011206268925766668872898882809396100887680927884

91.510282727282.568114946415653

WT. (LB.)

24

45

21

23

22

16

35

38

35

15

25

16

22

22

22

35

44

26

45

38

39

21

23

35

26

20

23

24

38

24

32

22

33

18

35

25

22

22

38

18

31

36

31

19

19

36

21

47

36

384516

KIT/PLAN

OwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnOwnBVMZiroli plansBVMBMAYellow AircraftEffinger plansTaylor plansBVMZiroli plansBVMBVMBVMYellow AircraftFiberClassicsClements plansBarkleyAerotechR. TorresZiroli plansUnionZiroli plansYellow AircraftFiberClassicsHolmanZiroli plansPlattAerotech

Platt plansFiberClassicsAerotechBVMBVMCAIBVMZiroli plansZiroli plansBVMOwnTad plans

ENGINE/ FUEL

Moki 1.8/0megaEagle 4.2/gasYS 1. 40/SigMoki 1.6/CoolpowerAstro/ownSaito 180/Red MaxQ-75/gasO.S. 1.06/ByronSachs 4.2/gasRCV 120/0megaMoki 2.10/WildcatSaito 180/ownMoki 1.6/WildcatQ-35/gasMoki 1.8/Wildcat

AMT/JetAGT-80/gasRAM 1000/JetA126cc MM/gasSachs 4.2/gasZDZ 60 RV/gasWebra 35cc/PowerMasterRam 750/Jet AG-62/GasRAM 1000/Jet ARAM 750/Jet AAMT Merc/Jet AQ-38/gasRAM 750/Jet AO.S. 1.60/MorganG-38/gasBrison 42/Av-gasMoki 1.8/SigSaito 450/WildcatO.S. 1.60/0mega3W-60/gasMoki 1.6/0megaRAM 760/Jet AMoki 1.8/ByronSachs 6.2/gasO.S. 1.08/WildcatMoki 1.8/Omega

3W-70/gas3W-80 R2/gasBrison 4.2/gasRAM 760/Jet ARAM 750/Jet AAMT Pegasus/Jet ARAM 760/Jet AQ-45/gasQ-75/gasRAM 1000/Jet-AB&D6.1/gasJet Cat/Jet A

PROP

18x10Zinger 24x10Mst 16x6Zinger 16x616x6APC 16x6Zinger 24x12APC 16x624x1015.5x12.5APC 20x1016x6Moki 18x10Zinger 20x8APC 16x6

24x10

30x10

24x8 ClarkZinger 16x6-22x10-

20x6 Zinger-18x620x6Moki 22x1016x8 3-blade22x10 Master18x822x12Zinger 18x8-APC 18x824x14 ZINGERAPC 15x816x6 Zinger

22x1224x12Zinger 22x10----20x6Mejzlik-Syntec-

30 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS

STATIC SCORE TOTAL SCORE

JR PCMAirtronicsFutabaAirtronicsAirtronicsFutabaJRFutabaFutabaJRPCMAceFutabaFutabaAirtronicsFutaba 9Z

JRJR PCM 10XJRFutabaJR 1OXFutaba 8AirtronicsJR PCMJR PCMJR

GraupnerJR 10X

FutabaFutabaAirtronicsFutabaAirtronicsFutaba 9ZAirtronicsAirtronics

| p Futaba 9FutabaJRPCM10FutabaFutabaJR 10X

JRJRFutabaJRJRJRJRJRFutabaAirtronicsFutabaJR

-RobartOwn---LikesOwnOwn---Own-Platt

BVMRobartBVM-Yellow-BartonBVMRobartBVMBVMBVMYellowFiberClassics-OwnRobartRobartWildcat-LikesYellowRhom-AirOwnRobartPlattCentury Jet

C.JetFiberClassicsRobartBVMBVMRobartBVMRobartRobartBVMOwnBVM

Poly resin/K&BAuto paintK&B epoxySig dope/fabricStits SystemSuper Coverite/dopeAcrylic lacquerGlass/Hobby PoxySig Coverall/dopeGlass/K&B paintNelson System 3Outdoor latexSilkspan/dopeFabricGlass/Du Pont paint

PPG AutomotiveZ-Poxy/auto acrylicPPG AutomotiveStits auto finishAutomotive lacquerCoverite butyratePPG ConceptDuPont auto paintZ-Poxy /glassPPG AutomotivePPG Concept SeriesPPG SystemAuto acrylicAuto lacquerStits SystemStits LiteGlass/Z-PoxyLacquer/clearcoatGlass/paintSilk/dope/epoxyFiberglass/Hobby PoxyK&B epoxyCapt'n ButchPerfect PaintPPG PolyurethaneHobby PoxyHobby Poxy

Hobby PoxyNitrate dopePPG auto paintPPG Concept PaintPPGPPG SystemPPGPPG auto paintAutomotive finishPPG auto paintRandolph dopeAcrylic lacquer

96.66795.33391.16797.08393.33391.16794.08390.08394.33391.00093.58391.33397.00094.58393.417

95.58395.33396.50094.08394.58391.25094.33391.66789.66792.91788.91790.83392.66790.75092.66793.25091.41791.66792.25089.33387.58391.33389.33388.16790.00096.83390.833

95.50096.08395.58394.66793.75092.50094.83391.91791.75094.75095.00089.917

192.459190.583186.542185.333183.416181.542181.541180.833176.416174.875172.000164.000125.87597.58393.417

191.791191.458189.750187.250185.666184.208183.708183.250182.709182.500182.250181.042181.250181.042180.917179.917179.459178.417178.250176.208175.291164.208117.791113.917112.79296.83390.833

190.625189.583189.166189.042188.125185.208184.208183.209182.250150.125122.70892.917

Tech Talk

H••

zo

zo

•9

•

LUZ

Quadra3WO.S.SaitoZenoahSachs

BrisonRonB&DEagleRCVWebraYSLUL

JRFutabaAirtronicsAceGraupner

Robart

BVMModelers' own designPlattCJMFiberClassicsLikes LineYellow AircraftBartonRhnm-Air

KitsOwnPlans

MilitaryJetCivilian

MonoplaneBiplane

RAMAMTJet Cat

q

544333

1111

22201011

11832222

1

231615

4515g

495

244

1031

done, kits can also score well as long asyou know which 3-view the manufacturerused during the kit development and it'savailable to you. If the kit's outline or pro-portions are different from those you pre-sent to the judges in your scale 3-view,you're inviting trouble.

Special Awards

PRACTICEYou need only look at the quality of mod-els at Top Gun and, more specifically, theones that return each year (up to the"three years with the same model" limit)to get a feel for what it takes to win. Veryrarely—if ever—has a first-year airplanetaken all the marbles. You simply can't fly

an airplane as well as it needs to be flownto win if you have only a half dozen or soflights on it before the event. Often, mod-elers spend so much time building, finish-ing and detailing the model that they'renot inclined to "sport" fly it. I fell victimto this scenario with my P-47, "Miss MaryLou." Although I had built the model

Each year, special awards are presented to the Top Gun contestants in recognition of superior achievement above andbeyond the points earned on the Scoreboard. A committee of Top Gun judges and other industry personalities candidlyobserve and ultimately pick each year's recipients of these impressive and well-deserved awards.

High StaticDesignerExpertTeamBest AircraftCivilianJetMilitaryBiplanePre-WW IICockpit InteriorSpecial AchievementsCharlie Chambers Craftsmanship AwardEngineering ExcellenceGray Eagle AwardTop Buns AwardCritics' Choice

Jet2-stroke

4-strokeGasMultiHigh Total Flight Score

PilotTom PolapinkPat McCurryBill Stevick

Mike BarbeeTommy WoodGreg HahnMike BarbeeRich FeroldiSepp Uiberlacher

Paul DonofrioPaul DonofrioArt JohnsonGustavo CampanaNick Ziroli Jr.

Terry NitschArt JohnsonBud RoaneRich FeroldiRandy ClaussenTerry Nitsch

AircraftPfalzMe-109GP-51

WacoF-4DSBD DauntlessWacoAirco DH 2Tempest

SikorskySikorsky

Avenger

RafaleF-82ShoestringAirco DH 2P-61Rafale

SponsorAerotechPro-MarkDave Platt Models

Hitec RCDA.M.TDon Smith PlansRC ReportGlenn Torrance ModelsRay & Robin's Hobby

The Zap GangO.S. EnginesModel Airplane News

Top Gun HussiesAirtronics, Van Dell Jewelersand Ron Norris

Bob Violett ModelsMoki USASaito EnginesMacMinerrelli EnginesPlastic EngineeringFutaba Radio

Award$200$200$200

Radio gear$200$200 certificate$200$200$200

$200O.S. 160 TwinEagle trophy$100$200, trophy and Moki 2.10

$200 certificate ' S JMoki 2.10 engineSaito 150 engine100cc 2-cytinder$200Servo pack

Built by Paul Donofrio and flown in Team Scale by Anthony Greco, this beautiful Sikorsky $-39 amphibian became the first model to earn the Charlie Chambers Memorial Craftsmanship award.Beautifully crafted, the model was loaded with the finest details. His work also earned Paul the Engineering Excellence award.

32 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS

Top Gun Colors by Rick Bell

More hand-painted markings by Greg Halm.

While admiring all the beautiful models in thepits at this year's Top Gun Scale Invitational, Ibegan to wonder how these talented builders hadapplied the various squadron markings and noseart to their models. Did they paint them? Didthey use commercial graphics? And, if they did,were the graphics custom-made? With my curios-ity piqued, I decided to ask some of the builders.Their answers were as varied as the models.

Custom-made, printed-vinyl graphics weremost commonly used. The modelers had scanneda scale image into a computer drawing programand then sent the file to a decal company suchas Pro-Mark or Model Graphics.

These markings are fairly easy to apply andare so thin that they look painted on! Some greatexamples were the nose art on Paul LeToumeau'sbig Tigercat and the tail art on the F4 Phantombuilt by Tom Wood.

The nose art on Paul LeToumeau's

over raised rivets for a painted-on

The nose art on this beautiful P-61 Black Widow was creat-

ed using a scanned computer image and then printed on a

clear decal sheet-very accurate indeed!

treat is printed vinyl. Because the vinyl Is so thin, It's easily applied

detail is not lost.

clear sheet of water-slide decal material. He thencut out the markings, applied them to the modeland fuelproofed them-with impressive results!

For those who have a steady hand, paintednose art is the way to go. Both of Greg Hahn'sbackup models-a B-25 and a P-47-had paintedmarkings; the level of detail is amazing! Other out-standing models with painted markings were DaveChew's P-47 and Miguel Beraqstain's Flying TigerP-40.

When you consider all the possibilities, therereally is no "black magic" involved in creating amodel with Top Gun looks; you just have to want itbadly enough and find a way that works for you.

The markings on Dave Chew's P-47 are all painted

on using Tester Model Masters paints.

Markingsof the mastersTom Wood's F4 Phantom makes good use of printed vinyl and dry-transfer, "rub-on" lettering

for the small nomenclature stenciling.

Above: the nose art on Greg Hahn's B-25 is a fine example of what

can be done with a fine paintbrush and a steady hand Right: here's

a close-up of some of the hand-painted nomenclature on Greg

Hahn's B-25. Simply amazing!

Another way to get vinyl markings is to take yourimage to a local graphics/sign shop and have them cut it out of solid-color vinyl.This is very good for simple designs such as letters and numbers. For very small"stenciled" nomenclature, dry-transfer or "rub-on" lettering was the most commonmedium used. These small letters are available in several styles and colors fromwell stocked art-supply stores. Dry-transfer markings are also available fromAeroloft Designs.

The scale team of Dan Molinsky and Randy Claussen used a slightly differentapproach: for the striking nose art on their beautiful P-61 Black Widow, Danscanned the images from his documentation package and then printed them on a

AUGUST 2000 33

Earning second place In Designer Scale, Nick Zlroll Jr. flew thismagnificent Grumman TBM Avenger/Tarpon Mk.1. The 106-Inchspaa torpedo/bomber weighs 45 pounds ant Is powered byan Eagle 4.2c/ gas engine. Nick's model featured functionalbomb-bay doors (and droppable torpedo), flaps, Robart retractsand a retractable tall hook.

Dave Platt, a true master scale model designer and builder, does a little

"PR" with the help of a younger assistant. Good public relations is one of

the keys to ensuring the growth of our hobby.

almost two years before Top Gun 1999,it had only six flights on it before theevent, and a radio problem claimed itduring practice. When 1 rebuilt it forTop Gun 2000, I didn't want to risk thepotential damage of repeated flying, and1 entered the model without flying itagain—a very bad move!

Top Gun winners usually know theirmodels well and have flown themnumerous times and under various con-ditions. This shows in their flying andcertainly is reflected in their flight scores.Sure, they may have repaired the modelalong the way, but if this ultimatelydoesn't cost points in static judging, theexperience gained from flying the modelmakes all the difference in the world.

PERFORMBack to the judges .... Like the staticboys, the flight judges have been around

the block a few times and have prob-ably judged a lot of scale models atall levels of competition. Some ofthem also fly full scale, so the cleareryou make your intentions when youbrief your flight, the less room youleave for interpretation and poten-tial downgrade. For instance, Ineeded to explain to the judges that

~m when I perform a "roll" with myP-47, it doesn't look the same as anoverpowered, lightly loaded Extra

300. My P-47 needs to replicate theflying qualities of a heavy, WW II

fighter. Remember: the judges will scoreyou on what you brief them. Properlypositioning your maneuvers alsoimproves your score. A takeoff that startsdownfield so that the model breaksground and the gear starts moving intothe wells as the plane passes in front ofthe judges will always earn a higherscore than a takeoff that starts directly infront of the pilot and breaks ground afew hundred feet away. Take a cue fromthe aerobatic and IMAC guys: keep yourroutine within an imaginary box. Yoursequence should appear as realistic asyou can make it in terms of speed, atti-tude and position. When Greg Hahnpitches over his big Ziroli SBD Dauntlessinto a nearly 90-degree dive, extends theperforated dive brakes and puts thatscale 500-pounder 50 feet out in front ofthe judges, you know he's got it alltogether! (And it didn't come from fly-

HalftimeHigh Jinks

Bering the

Chip Hyde pat a42-percent-scaHLanler SttudacherS-300 through Itspaces. As awe-Inspiring RC pilot,Chip natty showedthe audience whatRC excitement kall about. TheS-300 Is poweredby a twin-cylinder04150 gas

eagbe.

As is traditional at Top Gun,there is a halftime show eachday. A regular show-within-a-show, the noontime extrava-ganza presents to the generalpublic the excitement and fast-paced action of RC aviation.Orchestrated by Bubba Spiveyof Lanier RC, the halftime showgoes off without a hitch or lullin the action. From beautifulTournament of Champion aero-batic sequences and the buzzof RC combat to RC paratroop-ers and a mini-turbine-poweredsonic boom, the show hassomething for everyone.

Of special note were theawesome aerobatic talents ofChip Hyde and Jason Shulman. Both flew giant-scaleaircraft and performed every trick in the book. Lowinverted passes that had the props clipping thegrass and rolling circles and loops that seeminglydefied the laws of physics were all part of these twopilots' bag of tricks.

Also part of the show was Mac Hodges' aerobaticB-29 Super Fortress, Terry Nitsch flying his turbine-powered jet and Don Muddiman wringing out hisfamous ZAP Machine. Never one to be left out of theaction, Bubba also flew part of the airshow alongwith his wingman Wayne Voyles. These two showmenperformed formation aerobatics with a pair ofBubba's new DA 150cc-powered Monster Stingers.

Each year, the Top Gun halftime show delightsthe spectators who have come out and filled thebleachers to see what RC is all about. The entire TopGun experience is a great way to learn and be enter-tained, too.

34 MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS

Frank Tiano (right) and

announcer Sam Wright daring

a pilots' meeting. Frank is the

mat behind Top Gun, and he's

the driving force that keeps the

evert going.

Above: some of the many aerobatk aircraft In the halftime show-all from Lamer RC.

Below left: Bubba Sptvey, the Inspiration behind the halftime show, works on a lanler CAP 232.

Bubba sure does put on a good show!

TOP GUN SPONSORSPRIMARYModel Airplane News

Pacer Technology (ZAP)

ASSOCIATEAirtronicsFrank Tiano EnterprisesFutabaPro-Mark

SUPPORTINGBarb Barbee JewelryCool PinsHobbicoJR RadioPan American Intl.Ron NorrisThe Aeroplane WorksWarehouse HobbiesWildcat FuelYellow Aircraft

ing the model two or threetimes a year.)

So, gain some experience atthe local level, develop somecredentials and be willing tocompete against some of thegreatest guys in the scalemodeling world, and youmight be ready to give TopGun a go. Is it worth it? Onlyyou can be the judge of that.I've competed there for sevenof its 12 years, and gettingthat invitation is every bit asexciting now as it was seven

Every great event beginsas the brainchild of asingle individual whonurtures the idea andthen presents it toothers who help plantit so it can sprout in thedirection of its destiny.Top Gun is no exception,and the man whoseidea was its seed isFrank Tiano.

The event was firstheld in Coral Springs, FL,in April 1989. In 1990,Frank moved the event

to the Spook Hill Flying Reid in Arizona; then, in 1991,Top Gun found its way to West Palm Beach, FL, wherethe Palm Beach Aero Club has since been its host

Pacer Technology—the Zap gang—and Model

Airplane News have been the major sponsors, and TopGun has grown to be recognized as the premier scaleRC event in the country-perhaps in the world.

Many thanks go to Frank for having sucha great idea!

years ago. Will I ever be Mr. Top Gun?Anything is possible; all I have to do is fol-low my own advice, gain a point or twohere and there, make everything work reli-ably and pray that all the guys whousually finish in front of me don't showup! If you are a serious scale modeler andhave the time, resources and drive to hackthe program, set Top Gun as a goal. As thesalty "Air Boss" from the movie reluctantlyinforms "Mav" and "Goose," "You'regonna get your dream shot. You're goingto Top Gun!"

Top Gun has been called a contest,but that's kind of like calling Mt. Everesta hill or the Grand Canyon a ditch! It'snot a contest; it's an event—an RC spec-tacle of the highest order. It's well-run,well-attended and looked forward to bymodelers and enthusiasts everywhere—even those of us who toil a year or moreover our entries. I hope to see you therenext April, some of you from this side ofthe fence!

AUGUST 2000 35