Re: anyone want this

[Frank Pittelli <frank-at-rctankcombat.com>]

paul needham wrote:
> 
> so 22.5 foot at 1/8 scale = 33.75" close enough for me ! but will Frank 
> pass it ?
> 

A very interesting question.

Generally speaking, when commercially-produced 1/8 scale models are 
adapted for battling, we have to bend the 36" rule a little bit to 
accomodate them because they are built for a much more exacting scale 
market. We want commercially-produced vehicles to be eligible to help 
reduce the development time, which helps the hobby grow, as long as they 
are "close enough" to keep things competitive. After all, the 1/6 scale 
rule was added for that same purpose and vehicles like the Stuart are 
shorter than 36" at that scale.

Unfortunately, there is no way to specify the absolute minimum below the 
36" length that can be used, because there will always be some number of 
vehicles just below that length as well in 1/8 scale.  So, it remains a 
case-by-case decision and if controversy brews over such issues as the 
hobby grows, then we may have to require strict adherence at a later 
point in time and "grandfather" any tanks battled before that time. 
(One more reason to build now and worry about rules later ;-)

However, scratch-built vehicles, which still represent the large 
majority of vehicles, definitely have to comply to the 36" length or 1/6 
scale rule.  After all, anyone capable of building from scratch is also 
capable of building to a non-standard scale.

        Frank P.