RC Combat
Basics
by Bob Mcdougall
June '99
..A couple of issues back, I gave you a brief description of the basics of RC racing events in general. Since it also appears that there may be some level of interest in RC combat as well (and also because I have a bit of space to fill in this issue), I thought I’d give you an overview of existing (and future) RC combat events.
RC combat is probably the fastest-growing segment of the hobby right now. It has also suffered some ‘growing pains’in the past year or two. The original (semi-recognized) RC combat organization, ASDA (American Scale Dogfighting Association), appears to be no more, and apparently has been replaced by the RCCA (Radio Control Combat Association). This seems to be, among other reasons, due to the fact that there is also a growing interest in a non-scale combat event.
RC combat began as a single class of event, AMA event 704. The requirements were .15 - .21 engines, and only aircraft which were 1/12 size, reasonably scale replicas of attack or pursuit aircraft, with a maximum scale deviation of 5%, were permitted. Models of aircraft with inline engines were restricted to .15s, and models of aircraft which used radial engines were allowed to use up to .21 RC engines.
The basic concept was (and still is) to fly multiple aircraft at a time, each towing a streamer which usually consisted of a 5 ft. cotton string leader and a 30 foot by 1 inch crepe paper streamer. Points were gained by (1) staying aloft throughout the heat, (2) avoiding cuts to your streamer, and (3) cutting an opponent’s streamer. There are other considerations as well, but that about covers the original form of the event.
Recently, there have been a number of changes, and with the help of a couple of other sources of information, I’ll try to describe the current state of the RC combat events. The sources I used for this simplified treatise are RC Modeler Magazine (July 1999) and the RCCA web site, found at
Presently, there are two generally recognized classes for RC combat, with a third currently being formulated. The old AMA 704 class is now known as the 2105 class. The rules and requirements are much the same as the old 704 event... 1/12 scale models of known pursuit or attack aircraft, a maximum allowable scale deviation of 5%, and the same engine size limits as before. I don’t know if the old 704 event allowed multi-engine, but the new 2105 class does, with a maximum TOTAL engine size of .30.
A new class, the 2610 event, has also been established. This category permits engines up to .26 regardless of the plane type, and also permits a 10% scale deviation instead of 5%. As you may have figured, all 2105-classs models are also legal in the 2610 event, but NOT vice-versa.
With one exception, landing gear is optional in either event. The exception occurs if you model an aircraft that had fixed gear.. if so, your model must also have fixed gear. Otherwise, no landing gear is required, and the plane may be launched via handlaunch, dolly, or catapult.
Tuned pipe setups are not permitted, but mini-pipes and tuned mufflers are okay within certain length restrictions. Canopies on the full size aircraft must be replicated on the model, either via constructed cockpit or painted-on canopy. No wing projections (machine guns, etc.) are permitted.
Some means of positive engine kill must be incorporated and must be functional in any aircraft attitude.. that is, killing the engine by rolling inverted with a fixed fuel pickup is not sufficient. A throttle servo, therefore, is required.
Aircraft must be reasonable replicas of known fighter or pursuit aircraft; those planes which carried strictly defensive weapons do not qualify.
Outside the scale combat arena, another event is slowly emerging: Open combat, in which there are no scale requirements. Plane and engine specifications for this event are not yet agreed upon. This event should be more or less standardized in the near future, according to RCCA.
Currently within the club, there seems to be some level of interest in all three combat events... reference several of the posts to our TCRCM LISTBOT mail handler. I’m sure there are other members who are more active and more knowledgable in the various aspects of RC combat — I invite them to contribute their knowledge/opinions/corrections on this subject, in hopes that we can promote the event, both from an informal, club-only standpoint and on a more structured level for future competition with other RC combat enthusiasts.
The RCCA web site contains tons of useful information... official rules, plane/engine eligibility, hop-up info, 3-view and CAD drawings, forums, etc... check it out when you can.
I have a non-scale combat ship on the drawing board right now.. in the process of converting a set of plans for a proven design (.25 size) from Swedish to US. Send me a note if you’d like a set of drawings when they’re completed... bobrcnut@aol.com
This page last updated 08/03/99 20:38