Bill, just to attempt to clear up some of the off-color waters in this thread, I will stir the pot a bit more. Gets darker that way!!!

1. Way back in early modeling, a "Scale model" was made to look like some real airplane existing or had existed. In early competition of "scale models" mostly control-line, the major item was a very beautiful paint job. Now really, how many machines had beautiful paint jobs?

2. As time passed, more attention was given to the reproduction of a specific airplane on a specific day. 1'' to 1ft scale became a norm for most CL machines but RC then added new measurements. In a scale competition, it got so very intensive that scale almost withered away. Models began to look like head-hunters had shrunk a real airplane subject with every detail intact. Scale aero modeling competition was not very popular'

3, Then along came a certain modeler that had the touch AND some common sense. His name was Dave Platt. His background in industrial modeling gave him an edge and thus "Stand-Off" Scale became popular. Dave pushed a theory if that the intense "scale" was eased by the competition rule-makers, then Scale Modeling would again become popular. He was correct and he became the Chairman of the AMA Scale Contest Board, a nice place to be if one wishes to push one's desires concerning Scale. This resulted in "Sport-Scale" as the main Scale Competition. However as modelers do, the AMA Competition Rules cover a number of Scale Events in Free Flight, (Now mostly run by the Flying Aces Club) Control-Line, also a number of various scale events, and same for RC. There are Fun-Scale through a line-up including extremely detailed events. These do change from time to time.

4. One group that started several interests was/is the International Miniature Aircraft Association, IMAA. They are an AMA Special Interest Group. To participate in an IMAA event one must be a member of IMAA plus AMA. Their models need NOT be a SCALE model, however it must have a minimum wingspan of 60 inches for a Biplane and 80" for a monoplane. There is also an allowance for actual scale models, recognizable as a model of some real aircraft, that allows a monoplane to participate with a 60" w/s if at least 1/4 SCALE. IMAA sacrificed their event protection to get under AMA's insurance provision. IMO, as a long time IMAA member, that was not a really smart thing to do, so I no longer CD any IMAA events.

5. So SCALE is a variable thing. Many options for the scale oriented modeler. YOU are the BOSS of just how much scale you want in a project. SIMPLY Enjoy!

EDITED to add: Many clubs sponsor BIG BIRD Fly-Ins. They use IMAA demensions, but do not sanction under IMAA due to the lack of AMA event separation protection.