And the winner is...

Radio Control Boat Modeler, Jun 2003 by Yarrish, Gerry

Congratulations and $500 go to Pat Trifle for winning our Great RC Boat Modeler Design Contest! With yet another wonderful scale project, Pat has outdone himself with the impressive Orca. Sound familiar? It should, if you've ever seen the movie "Jaws"; the Orca fishing boat is perhaps the most famous movie boat ever! Pat's 1/14-scale beauty uses simple balsa and plywood construction, and he has loaded his plans with fine details to bring the model to life. Pat used a computer program to "capture" still frames from a videotape of the 1970s movie, and then he carefully developed his plans using the various scenes to "nail" the details. These Orca plans are the best we've seen, and they will make any movie buff/boat modeler break out the tools! Turn to page 52; all that's missing is a miniature RC version of Bruce, the mechanical shark! Also included in this issue are our Design Contest runners-up. We have really talented readers, and their entries can be seen on page 57. We hope to see some of these great designs as future construction articles.

100MPH BARRIER BROKEN!

"Fast Electrics" columnist Jay Turner covered the 2002 NAMBA All-Electrics World Straightaway Trials and saw the elusive 100mph speed barrier broken at last! Triple-digit speed for any boat is impressive, but for an RC electricpowered boat it is an amazing accomplishment. We proudly report on this event with photos supplied by West Coast associate editor John Reid. Who is the world's fastest electric racer? See page 48.

QUICK FIXES

One thing is sure: if you race boats, sooner or later, you'll repair boats! In this issue, "Outboard Comer" regular Jerry Dunlap gives us a great "How to" for repairing broken sponson tips on fiberglass hulls. However you look at it, repairing a boat is far better than having to buy a new one, and with Jerry's easy fix, you'll be back on the racecourse in no time! See page 62 for the inside look!

SCALE COMPETITION

"Scale Views" columnist John L. Fryant reports on an event for us. The Great Lakes Scale Model Boat Show and Regatta in Ft. Wayne, IN, highlights several beautifully built ships and boats at this must-attend competition. These vessels not only have to look scale, but they must also perform in scalelike fashion and navigate a challenging course to earn running points. From workboats and tugs to military warships, the Regatta is a great event to see up close fine craftsmanship and masterful miniature seamanship. If you've ever wondered why all the fuss about scale competition, check out John's report on page 66.

DON'T MISS THIS RC EXPERIENCE!

The RC Expo, also known as "RCX," will be the radiocontrol show of 2003, with more simultaneous RC demonstrations than have ever taken place at one site! Hosted by Air Age Media and its RC publications, including RC Boat Modeler, RCX will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center on May 3 and 4. For more details, see our preview on page 60, or check out the RCX website at www.rcexpo.com.

Wa value your opinion! Do you have a comment or a complaint? Write to the editors at Radio Control Boat Modeler, 100 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4606 LISA, or email us at reboatmodeler@airage.com. See us on the Web at www.rcboatmodeler.com.