ORIGINAL: jmohn
Why not let ARFs compete. What's the difference if some guy pays a builder to make his "Top Gun" plane and then goes on to fly the plane and win? It's just more difficult for most ARFs to win since they are often not built to "scale". Many nice ARFs can be made to look very scale and compete with any kit. Here are two nice ARFs that could compete and do fine:
What is the difference???? Have you been asleep the whole time? The difference is that you did not build the ARF. To compete in the top Scale contests, you must sign a builder of the model declaration. In other words, the ARF by definition fails to meet that requirement. You didn't build it, why would you expect to compete with it. It's not a race car, and it's not a race boat, and it's not a race full scale airplane. It's a Scale model. Look up the definition of the word, Model. That should explain it.
I have seen in person, and in photo's, some very nice modified ARF's. Ken Hodges Waco comes to mind. There is no denying that Ken spent more time rebuilding the ARF than he might have spent building from scratch. The fact remains, and I consider Ken a good friend, that it's an ARF. It is modified all to heck and back, but he didn't frame the plane up. I wouldn't mind seeing his plane in competition, but it still does not meet the letter of the rule.
It's all about fair, and it's not fair for you to bring a factory built plane to compete against the homemade bunch.
Bill, AMA 4720
WACO Brotherhood #1