AMA Convention 2004
By Bob Hunt
Introduction
So long, Pasadena! Hello, Ontario! The annual AMA Convention was held for the first time at its new venue—the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California—January 9–11, 2004. From all indications from those who attended, it was a resounding success.
History
In 1999 AMA purchased the rights to the show from modeling legend Bill Northrop and his wife Anita. Their vision for a modeling trade/consumer show translated into the successful International Modeler Show (IMS). For 21 years the IMS brought the best of our hobby/sport to West Coast modelers, hosted at the Pasadena Convention Center. That facility served the IMS and its first five years under AMA management extremely well, but time and circumstances made the Pasadena venue restrictive to required growth and presented nagging logistical problems. It was time for a move.
Show manager Jay Mealy asked me to convey how appreciative he is for the many years of wonderful service provided to AMA—and to the Northrops—by the people who manage the Pasadena facility. It was a great association.
New Venue: Ontario Convention Center
The Ontario site is much larger and is only a couple of blocks from the Ontario International Airport. Parking is bigger and more convenient than in Pasadena, and building access for exhibitors and attendees is much better. Perhaps the most attractive feature is the capability to expand the show in years to come. This is an enormous, virtually new convention center with several spacious exhibit halls.
- This year the show used the 70,000-square-foot primary exhibit area.
- AMA has begun negotiations to add an adjacent 20,000 square feet for next year.
Education Resource Area and Build & Fly
More than a trade/consumer show, the AMA Convention is a place where new modelers can learn about our hobby/sport in a friendly, helpful environment. One of the Convention’s most popular features is the Education Resource Area, where beginners can have questions answered, receive a few minutes of RC simulator stick time with an instructor, and participate in the Build & Fly program staffed by volunteers from the Black Sheep Exhibition Squadron.
In the Build & Fly program, a new modeler—young or old—can sit with an experienced builder and construct a simple rubber-powered model, then learn the rudiments of flight trimming while having fun flying the creation. The student can take the model home for more learning and fun. There is no charge for this program, and it has become one of the most fun areas to visit.
- For the first five years the Frank Ehling-designed Delta Dart was used.
- Because of past long waiting lines, this year a modified Guillow’s Skystreak was used. The Skystreak is an all-sheet-balsa design that builds in five to ten minutes and seems sturdier than the Delta Dart.
Education staff:
- AMA Education Coordinator: Jack Frost
- Education Assistant: April Hathaway
- National Model Aviation Museum Curator: Michael Smith
- Education Committee members: Gordon Schimmel and Art Ellis
- District VII Vice President: Bill Oberdieck (helped in the education booth for almost the entire show)
These dedicated individuals deserve thanks for the considerable number of new modelers they’ve brought into the hobby/sport.
Symposiums and Learning Opportunities
There were a number of symposiums on a variety of subjects conducted by expert modelers. The Convention remains as much a learning-and-information-exchange environment as it is a trade/consumer show.
Attendance and Exhibitor Feedback
AMA staff were concerned that the move farther from downtown Los Angeles might reduce attendance. Those fears were unfounded: each day of the three-day Convention broke the attendance records that had been set for those days at the Pasadena venue. The modeling public was clearly happy with the new home.
When I spoke with exhibitors and attendees, almost everyone agreed this was a big improvement. Exhibitors especially liked the spacious entry doors for easy, unhurried load-in. Attendees liked the roomy aisles, the parking, and the fact that everything was in one big room. In Pasadena you had to walk a long hall to get from the main exhibit area to the Education Resource and demonstration-flying areas.
Demonstrations and Attractions
This year, as in the past, the Black Sheep Exhibition Squadron (headed by Dave Gee and Don Buttman) provided many exciting, expert indoor rubber-power and electric-power free-flight (FF) and RC demonstrations. Other attractions included:
- An interactive RC car track by Tamiya America’s Sam Wright and Pegasus Hobbies owner Tom Macomber.
- Demonstrations of scale boats and submarines.
- An RC tank demonstration.
These attractions, not usually associated with model-airplane trade/consumer shows, were interesting and popular.
Static Displays
There appeared to be fewer static display models this year than in years past. I fully expect that to change next year because there will be an abundance of space for presenting these gorgeous airplanes. The static models shown this year were, by and large, magnificent.
Improvements Planned for Next Year
Even with a successful inaugural Ontario Convention, lessons were learned and will be addressed in planning for next year.
- The additional 20,000 square feet will mainly be used for FF and RC flying, RC wheeled-vehicle demonstrations, and as the test area for Build & Fly models.
- Moving demonstration flying to another hall will improve safety and allow for safer flight demos.
- Moving demo flying will also free up additional booth space for exhibitors.
If you missed reserving a booth, contact Jay Mealy soon about reservations for AMA Convention 2005. Many more manufacturers and organizations will be accommodated.
Personal Note
For those of us from the East or Midwest, spending a few winter days in sunny California is a real treat and a chance to visit modelers we don’t often see in person. Many stopped by the Model Aviation booth with ideas, opinions, constructive criticism, and thanks. We learn a great deal each year about how westerners view the hobby/sport, which helps us form a well-rounded magazine presentation.
It’s also great to visit with manufacturers who don’t make it to Eastern-based shows and see new products up close. It amazes me how manufacturers keep coming up with new stuff for us to use in our modeling.
On a strictly personal note, I must once again tell Don Anderson of Great Planes (the booth was next to Model Aviation’s) that I think his company pirated the twin scheme for its beautiful new Rapture ARF design from my CL Stunt Caprice! Look at the model in the header photo for my "Modeling Spoken Here" column and then inspect the Rapture in Great Planes’ advertisements. I have a case, don’t I? (Only kidding, Don.)
Thanks and Closing
Jay Mealy asked me to convey his thanks, and the thanks of everyone at AMA, to those who exhibited and those who attended this year’s show. Without both groups there would be no show. This only works if we work together. We'll see you all again next year in Ontario!
Bob Hunt Box 68 Stockertown, PA 18083 [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
