NASA - What I Need To Know About The Static Portion Of A Scale Contest.

What I Need To Know About The Static Portion Of A Scale Contest.

Compiled from AMA and Scale Masters Contest Rules
By: Ed Clayman

Welcome to Static... The Static portion of the contest is very important since it makes up one-half of your overall score. Good documentation gives you the edge over a similar model with poor documentation. We would like to point out some common frustrations shared by contestants and static judges alike. We all have a favorite airplane that we want to build and fly however, pick a color scheme that is easily documented. Remember it is your choice on what you bring to the contest and Proof of Scale is the Contestants responsibility.

What is documentation...much less good documentation? For an excellent description of what appropriate documentation is, click here. For an example of internet documentation resource management click here.

For example, if the available documentation for a particular aircraft is not easily readable, then you might consider another aircraft's paint scheme. Please don't blame the judges for down grading your model if the documentation is poor. Plan ahead and pick one that clearly shows outline, color, and markings. The ideal situation is where you decide to try for the Masters, find documentation of the very aircraft you would like to build, and build it to perfectly match the documentation.

If you already have an airplane built and then you decide to enter the Masters all you can do then is to try and alter your model to match the documentation and the judges will in turn do the best they can with the information you provide them. Remember...it is your choice of documentation not the judges.

The process starts by having the model set up on the table pointing straight at the outline judge. The judges study the documentation item starting at the tip of the rudder then look up at the model. Does it match? If yes, proceed to the next element in a clockwise rotation. If not, look at the photos provided to see if the item shows up in the pictures as photos take precedence over 3-view drawings. If it matches, go to the next item. If the judge cannot find a photo that clearly shows the mismatch the judge must downgrade for that particular item and go to the next item.

Straight (head on) view
Side View
Top View
Bottom View

Static judging shall take place prior to flight judging. It is recommended that the Documentation package be contained in a 3-ring binder of such that each section can be removed and presented to the perspective judge to allow simultaneous judging. If the contestant would like feedback comments from the judges, extra copies of the outline drawings should be provided for each judge to mark up with a highlighter and write comments on.
The model will be judged from a distance of 15 feet with the exception of Craftsmanship in Scale Masters competition, which is judged at no less than 4 feet. The static judges shall not examine the model closely before static judging begins. Static scores will be from 0 to 10 for each sub category on the score sheet, to the nearest 1/2 pt.
The maximum static score for each category is:

Accuracy of Outline - 40 points

Color-Finish-Markings - 30 points

Craftsmanship - 30 points

Transmitter use to operate mechanical scale operation during static judging is not permitted.
Cockpit and cabin interiors or the interior of landing gear wheel wells even if partially visible from the judging distance are not to be considered in scoring the model. All other visible features will be judged. The following is a suggested way to expedite static judging.
Simultaneous Judging is a process where all three static judges judge the aircraft at the same time. The Outline and Color&Markings judges sit together at a table. The contestant prepares the documentation package by removing the sections from his 3-ring binder and places each section by the appropriate judge. The contestant places the aircraft on the judging table that is 15 feet away and points the nose of the aircraft directly toward the Outline judge. The Outline judge sets the pace and calls the position he wants the aircraft in starting with the front, head on view. The Craftsmanship judge walks around the aircraft no closer than 4 feet but does not talk to the contestant. If he has a question that needs clarification, he will refer to the photo documentation that the Color& Markings judge will have. If more than 20 contestants are expected, the Dual Simultaneous Judging method is suggested where two additional tables are set up (See Fig. 1). While one plane is being judged, the other is being set up and the documentation is prepared on the table behind the judges. When the judges are finished with one plane, they spin around, pick up the documentation and immediately begin judging the next aircraft. This system is capable of 8 aircraft per hour which still gives the equivalent of 22.5 judging minutes per plane (7.5 minutes x 3 judges). (Scale Masters Example)

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