Scale registrations?

[Chris Thomas]

LF - scale director Joe Wibelhaus for clarification.
I have two nitro 1/8 scales to register for the 2023 season. My question is do I need to register an 1/8th scale electric?

 

[Hydro Junkie]

If your club is like mine, out in Washington, the answer would be yes. We run several different scale classes and every boat owned by a member has to be registered with the club to race.

 

[K F Wheeler]

I'm going to jump in here, good or bad... 20 years ago when I first got into boats, I didn't jump in with a "scale" boat. It was my feeling, and I feel it was/is justified, that scale boats are to be built to the best of the builders skills. And with their best attempt to replicate the real boat as it was in a certain time and place. I don't think anyone ever told me I couldn't race in a scale race the first year I started racing. It was MY decision to not get in there and likely do major carnage! I feel every "scale" boat should be registered. By that I mean getting someone that is familiar with the real boats to judge the results and sign and date a form stating the boats authenticity. Some clubs don't have someone that they can go to for that inspection for certification. I would suggest the boat owner seek out someone who CAN do the certification at a district race. That certification/registration then gets sold along with the boat if and when it is ever sold. That boat then with the certification is worth more than a boat that is NOT registered/certified. In my OPINION, to reward the builder for the time and labor the builder has taken to do the work. We've all seen boats with really colorful fancy paint jobs. Some real boats don't have the really fancy paint job or scheam. It takes more time and work to copy the real boat, usually.
At one in the morning, that's my thoughts. I realize I'm using registration and certification as basically the same word. But for the most part, for me, they are the same...

Ken

 

[Jeff Barnes]

Is Joe still the scale director?

 

[Samuel Hagan JR]

Joe is the National Director. You need to get with your District Director or your District Scale Director for Registration in IMPBA.

 

[longballlumber]

Chis,

Wright or wrong, it's clearly stated in the 1/8 FE Scale section that registration is required. This was before my time, but I am going to assume they copied and paste the section directly from the specialty nitro section. Now, whether they let you race without a registered FE 1/8 scale or if they actually check for a registration is a different conversation.

 

[Joe Wiebelhaus]

General overview of registration.
For classes, 1/ 8 Nitro Scale, FE Scale, Gas Scale, are all required to be registered by the owner of the hull by IMPBA rules.
Several steps to consider, IF your District dosent have a Assistant Director, or Scale Director to help get the registration process completed.
Im not going to "quote" every rule from the rule book, we're big kids, read the rules. The purpose of registration is to maintain the most accurate depiction of the real, current or past , not your personal version, of a unlimited hydroplane.
Last year with GAS Scale becoming a new and upcomming class for IMPBA, many people didnt understand this registration process, or why there was one at all, its a IMPBA rule.
Duties and options:
The 3 above mentioned classes are required to be registered.
District Directors, Assistant Directors, Scale Directors should make sure the boats in your District are registered.
Contest Directors should verifiythat these boat are registered, at your event.
Time trials and record trials are required to make sure boats are registered to the owner, not a "Team" or neighborhood.
IF you cant get your boat registered for any reason, I can provide a generic form to fill out, no fees/dues required.

As National Scale & District 2 Scale Director, I would like to see this process get more "real" instead of just "yea Im registered".
I have forms and a ton of pictures for anyone who needs help.

Joe Wiebelhaus
National and District 2 Scale Director
[email protected]
586-206-5066

If you need help, contact me, if your going to whine or cry, Im not interested.

 

[Hydro Junkie]

Chris,
One of the main reasons for the registration process is to prevent several models of the same boat from showing up at a race. Can you imagine trying to race when your boat is the same as three or four other boats in the same heat? It's bad enough when you have a pair of 1989 Budweisers, one T-2 and the second a T-3, on the water at the same time. It gets worse with a Bud T-5, a Formula Boats and a Graham Trucking, all the same boat and all being red and on the water at the same time. I think you can see where this could end up

 

[Samuel Hagan JR]

Chris,
One of the main reasons for the registration process is to prevent several models of the same boat from showing up at a race. Can you imagine trying to race when your boat is the same as three or four other boats in the same heat? It's bad enough when you have a pair of 1989 Budweisers, one T-2 and the second a T-3, on the water at the same time. It gets worse with a Bud T-5, a Formula Boats and a Graham Trucking, all the same boat and all being red and on the water at the same time. I think you can see where this could end up

There is no rule against that in IMPBA. I’ve seen 3 Eagle Lobsters race in one race.

 

[K F Wheeler]

I'm going to stick my nose in!!
Joe does this work, well, he has his own reasons for helping out. He's been doing this for some time...
Common sense would be to text Joe, leave him a short note what you need so he can get back to you when he can. That way he may be able to be more productive when he does get back to you. And, he can enjoy his dinner un interrupted and while his food is still warm. Like YOU would like to do!
I haven't talked to Joe about this, and I'm not sure it would actually be legal... But, I don't see why a gift(?) of $3-5 or even $1 would be un reasonable. Lets think about how long it would take to find that information you need. IF, you can find that information... I don't own a scale boat, but you can bet when I finally do get one, it's going to be registered. My boat won't be ready and finished until I do get that registration!
Sorry, Joe, if I stepped on your toes in any way. It was certainly not my intent!

Ken

 

[Hydro Junkie]

There is no rule against that in IMPBA. I’ve seen 3 Eagle Lobsters race in one race.

And I will totally agree, seen similar at races in my area. Unless there is/was a strange circumstance, the multiple boats were/are owned by visitors to the club/area and accommodations were/are made to make it work so they can race.
That said, I have the registration for the nitro powered orange 2000 Elam Plus. No one else in R/C Unlimiteds can register that boat in the nitro class. It is, however, available for registration in both the FE and gas scale classes.
It is totally legal for someone to come to one of our races and race with that same boat as a guest but, to register their boat, it would have to be repowered with an electric drive, repainted with the white Elam scheme, repainted with the U-787 Dreamliner scheme or I would have to give up my registration so that they could register their boat.

 

[Joe Wiebelhaus]

I'm going to stick my nose in!!
Joe does this work, well, he has his own reasons for helping out. He's been doing this for some time...
Common sense would be to text Joe, leave him a short note what you need so he can get back to you when he can. That way he may be able to be more productive when he does get back to you. And, he can enjoy his dinner un interrupted and while his food is still warm. Like YOU would like to do!
I haven't talked to Joe about this, and I'm not sure it would actually be legal... But, I don't see why a gift(?) of $3-5 or even $1 would be un reasonable. Lets think about how long it would take to find that information you need. IF, you can find that information... I don't own a scale boat, but you can bet when I finally do get one, it's going to be registered. My boat won't be ready and finished until I do get that registration!
Sorry, Joe, if I stepped on your toes in any way. It was certainly not my intent!

Ken

Ken,
NO fee or cost, dont want any special favors, if regestering in your district, basic IMPBA fee goes to that District director, here in D2, our cost is 10 bucks per boat, we give away nice trophys at the end of the year, cost is mainly for updated engraving.

 

[Kevin Sheren]

Here is a copy of the scale rules. They are self explanatory.

Thanks Joe for everything you do.

Kevin Sheren

II - SCALE UNLIMITED RULES
A. General
The purpose is to realistically duplicate the Unlimited class of Hydroplanes.
B. Function of District Chairman
1. Responsibilities
a. Coordinates registrations for their district.
b. Has the power to appoint a committee to resolve protests.
c. Oversees the operation of scale hydros in the district and assists IMPBA in scale hydro
matters.
d. Keeps point record for district high-point trophy.
When vacancies occur, this position will be appointed by the current District Director and the National
Scale Hydro Chairman.

C. Registration Procedures
1. All boats must be registered with the District Chairman.
2. The District Chairman will require the following information in writing:
a. Name, address and phone number
b. IMPBA number
c. Unlimited name, year raced, and number
d. Length and beam of prototype boat and model
e. Prototype designer and boat colors
f. Must submit a photo of prototype boat
g. $5.00 annual District registration fee to be submitted upon completion of model & prior to
it competing in a sanctioned event. Purpose of fees-monies is to cover registration
printing costs & postage fees. A boat registered in one District may race in any District.
3. Boat must compete at a racing event within one year from registration.

D. Engine and Boat Specifications
1. All models must be of a real unlimited hydroplane as listed in the APBA Master Hull Roster list.
The model owner must show the real boat attempted to qualify, qualified or raced in an actual
sanctioned racing event, in the configuration being modeled, via photographic and/or written
documentation. Failure to adequately meet the validation requirements can result in the model
not being allowed to compete in an IMPBA event until proper documentation is obtained.
2. All boats to be built to a scale of 1- 1/2" to 1'0" (1/8 scale) plus or minus 10% of the beam and
5% of the length.
3. Boats will look as scale as possible and meet the following requirements for racing and
scale judging:
a. Cockpit with driver
b. Complete all major lettering and paint schemes
c. Effort must be made to conceal glow engine with fake engine or cowling as per prototype
boats.
d. Minimum 50% of glow engine crankcase (flywheel is not considered part of crankcase)
must be concealed with fake engine or cowling as per prototype boat.
LAST REVISED July 2019 H -5 Nitro Specialized Classes

11. Normal heat racing rules can be used as optional racing format however each heat will be limited
to no more than 6 boats raced together at any one time. International Regatta racing will revert to
regular heat racing rules for Scale US-1 with the same 6 boat per heat limit.

12. If any removable parts (cowling(s), wing(s), dummy engine, driver, etc.) fall off during a heat,
except as the result of a collision, that boat will receive no more than sixth place points for that
heat. This penalization does not affect the finishing placement of the boat, only the points
awarded. The points awarded and placements of the other boats in the heat are not affected by
this ruling.

G. Records
1. Records shall be established in the Scale Unlimited class as listed in the “Records” section of
Rules of Competition.
2. Only boats properly registered will be eligible to establish records.
3. Only the registered owner can attempt to set a record with the registered Scale Unlimited.