The one thing you should do first is to download and read/understand the section of the rule book for the organisation/competition you wish to enter. Though most of the competitions are very similar there are slight differences. Carefully read the appropriate rule book and figure out at what level you will enjoy competing at. Look at the flying requirements, documentation and the quality that your model needs to be at. Determine where your best fit is.

Once you have determined your comfort level you should gather all your documentation as required for the level of competition you will be entering.

Construct your model to the best of your ability and as close to the documentation that you can. One thing that has been mentioned are color chips. At one time for them to be valid they must be from a recognised source. Frank Tiano used to sell some. I purchased mine years ago and still use them today.
To score well in flying the judges expect you to fly your model in such a manner that best shows the flight envelope of the aircraft. Optional manouvers considered below the flight envelope of the model will usually not score as well as the more complex ones.

I usually have two complete routines with calling cards. One is for perfect weather, low steady winds right down the runway. The second is for gusty, strong winds, cross winds less than ideal flying conditions. The maneuvers of each card are picked for my ability to fly them in those conditions.

Practice, practice, practice all the time it’s better than boring holes in the sky.

Make sure your engine runs well and starts every time you don’t want to have any problems when the timer starts for your flight. Nothing frazzles you worse than to have a balky engine right at the beginning of your flight.

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT MISTAKES YOU WILL MAKE!!!!!!!!! Everyone makes them that is how you learn.

Here is a pretty good tutorial on scale documentation http://www.rcscalebuilder.com/Tutori...gYourModel.pdf


Dennis