AMA Convention 2007
By Michael Ramsey
A Beginner's Journey
My friend Bill Jones got interested in the hobby a few years ago because of the exorbitant expense—despite his devoted interest—of becoming a full-scale aircraft pilot. It took just one trip to the flying field to get Bill hooked on RC modeling. After letting him fly a couple different trainers, we determined exactly what he needed to become self-sufficient in the hobby. Bill didn’t buy everything at once, but his budget allowed him to become well equipped relatively quickly. Through diligence and frequent days at the club flying field, Bill became a proficient flier. The help from friends he made at the flying site had a strong influence on his eagerness to succeed. The variety of models, techniques, and points of view Bill learned about gave him a great education. His curiosity led him to ask how his fellow club members seemed to have all the connections for getting great deals on supplies and learning what was hot and up-and-coming in the hobby.
Club members recommended that Bill go with them to the next model-airplane consumer show. When they made it to one several months later, during a jam-packed three days he was exposed to a large representation of the hobby, met hobby talent from around the world, and learned from industry leaders. He gained answers to many questions he had. You can visit Web sites and travel to all the warehouses in the world, but no other venue can expose a modeler to what is popular in the hobby the way consumer shows can.
The Convention Experience
Although Ontario, California, which is close to Los Angeles, isn’t burdened with severe winter weather, modelers in AMA’s District X are attuned to the season of bargain hunting. They mark the winter months on their calendar to visit swap meets, auctions, and consumer shows. The AMA Convention, held January 12–14 this year at the Ontario Convention Center, is another version of the consumer show; I like to look at it as a crash course in aeromodeling. Not all aspects of the hobby are represented—I imagine it would take three football fields’ worth of room and a week’s vacation to accommodate every special interest—but this show is good on a number of levels. Attendees are welcome to study everything that is presented and offer feedback directly to exhibitors, thus helping shape the hobby.
Saturday morning at the Ontario Convention Center was busy. Guests who bought tickets in advance avoided the lines. The exhibitors who represent manufacturers and distributors are the highlight of the Convention. Many have products for sale, often at a great price. For many guests, that is the best reason to attend the show. It's a good opportunity to stock up on materials you use throughout the year, and sometimes there's an opportunity to try something new. This is the first consumer show of the season, and many manufacturers use this opportunity to debut new items for the upcoming year. A benefit of being there is that you can ask questions and thoroughly examine the products—you can't typically do that when you look at a magazine ad or a Web site.
If something at the show catches your eye, that is the time to investigate and become a better-educated modeler. The exhibitors are usually more than happy to talk about what they're selling, and there is often a story behind the development of a particular product that might add to the enjoyment of the hobby. Many exhibitors are modelers themselves; an idea that began as an experiment in someone's workshop can develop into a product that benefits many people in the hobby.
Education and Community
The AMA Convention's strong focus on education makes it stand out from other events of its type. At the center of the exhibit hall is the "AMA Village," a visible, welcoming place to meet staff members and associate vice presidents. In addition to welcoming 138 exhibitors who offer information about their products, AMA organizes 17 seminars, hosts an indoor flying arena for RC demonstrations, and sets up a free-flight area where anyone—mostly kids—can build a rubber-powered model and learn to trim and fly it on the spot.
The Convention hosts the largest number of clubs and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of any similar event. Many local clubs attend so that people in the area can get information about local flying sites, training, and hobby dealers. AMA advertises the Convention in local newspapers and broadcasts show information on local radio stations to welcome the public. The response is great; the show floor is filled throughout the three days with young families and beginners. Local advertising encouraged Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders to use the AMA show as an outing for their dens and troops.
AMA's Education Department offers on-site programs, including make-and-take model-airplane building and a large space where people can fly their new rubber-powered aircraft all day. The Convention is a terrific opportunity to introduce young people to the hobby.
Seminars, Competitions, and Highlights
AMA offers seminars led by top names in the hobby. Every year the lineup of classes is different; this year featured a nice mix of topics that could interest experts and beginners alike. As a bonus, anyone who attended a seminar was entered in a drawing to win an "AMA Convention Bucks" certificate worth $50 to spend on the show floor.
The Convention also holds a static competition in which modelers can enter airplanes, rockets, boats, cars, and helicopters for a chance to win cash prizes. The scratch-built models were a favorite; they showcased seldom-modeled aircraft and impressive attention to detail and craftsmanship. Studying those models was a treat and heartened me to see modelers pushing the envelope of ingenuity.
Closing Thoughts
The AMA Convention wasn't Bill's first consumer show, but when the trip was through I could tell he was more excited than ever about the hobby. The only sad part was that winter weather would keep him away from the flying field until spring. However, in a few short weeks the new airplane he bought at the Convention would arrive at his house. He would soon get to work on it and use all the contacts he had made if he ran into trouble.
As with the first show Bill attended, the AMA Convention is, in a way, a gift the Academy offers its members. It gives them the opportunity to take another look at what is available and to welcome new people. AMA’s community of modelers is in the hobby for the fun and the learning experience, and this Convention showed how much the Academy is dedicated to that effort. If you’re near Ontario in the middle of January, I recommend that you attend. If you can’t, at least check the listings in your area for the nearest hobby consumer show.
MA — Michael Ramsey [email protected]
Tips for Your Next Model Consumer Show Visit
- Don't Be Discharged: Every type of battery technology has a shelf life, and even unused batteries lose capacity over time. Buy fresh batteries from reputable manufacturers and don't take chances.
- Don't Get Stuck: Consumer shows are a one-stop shopping experience and a great opportunity to stock up on materials you will use all year. Keep in mind that cyanoacrylate (CA) glue has a freshness date. Find a bulk deal and share it with friends so it gets used before it goes bad.
- Bag It: Bring a backpack or a soft briefcase with a shoulder strap. While walking the show floor, you'll collect free magazines and product brochures. A bag is also a secure place to keep small hardware items that might otherwise fall out of a pocket.
- Bring a Pad and Pen: Experts are plentiful at these events—inside booths and behind the doors of scheduled seminars. Check the seminar schedule when you arrive and take notes. What you learn will make the time you spend on the show floor more productive.
- Know Your A-B-Cs: The show floor can be crowded and it's easy to get distracted. Visit the event Web site and review the list of exhibitors a few days before the show. Print that list and highlight must-see exhibitors. Making a list of what you need will help you stay focused.
- Shop Before You Drop: Be an educated consumer. Many exhibitors offer "show specials" as a thank-you to visitors. Don't count out your local hobby dealer—get their opinion about a product and check availability. Price isn't everything. If you find a good product at the show, share your new knowledge with your hobby-shop owner so everyone can benefit.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
