18 MODEL AVIATION
BY MICHAEL RAMSEY
AMA Conven t
Mike Krouse
enlarged a Charger
R/C foamie 200%
to get a 72-inch
wingspan.
Construction is
primarily
laminated 6mm
Depron.
Saturday morning at the Ontario Convention Center was busy.
Guests who bought tickets in advance avoided the lines.
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 1:18 PM Page 18
n tion 2007 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. I’m sure 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. The
The sport-rocket static-display area hosted artistic
originals. Lynell Jackson scratch-built the Time
Twister (center) to use three C6-3 engines.
Bill Hempel
built his Weeks
Solution from a
52%-scale
Weidner
Modellbau kit.
May 2007 19
A great deal on glue
and hardware isn’t all
you’ll find at this event
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:48 AM Page 19
Antonio Genovia’s
colorful Century Helicopter
Products Freestyle 90 is eclipsed
by his Hughes 500D, also by
Century, finished in US military
colors.
20 MODEL AVIATION
Carl Rankin named his “pantry plane” the Jules Verne. The 8-ounce, 56-inch-span
RC model is made from drinking straws and plastic wrap.
Ontario, California, Mayor Paul S. Leon admires
the performance of his make-and-take rubberpowered
model. David Gee watches it in the
background.
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, gaining information
from 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.
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, only 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
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:52 AM Page 20
May 2007 21
Woody Mummery constructed this Piper Comanche 250 using parts from a Top Flite
Gold Edition Mustang kit.
An F.P.E. 2.4 gas engine powers this 1/5-scale WACO UMF-3 built from a Pica kit by Bill Johnson. Paint finish is automotive
polyurethane.
Larry Wolfe shows the compact design of
the Wren MW44 Gold turbine engine. It’s
the size of a soda can with a 10-poundthrust
output.
helping shape the hobby. And having
grown up and spent most of my life on the
East Coast, the AMA Convention is an
opportunity for me to visit with people I
typically only communicate with by
telephone or E-mail.
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.” This
vantage point makes the Academy easy to
find, and it welcomes anyone to come by
and meet staff members and associate vice
presidents.
Photos by the author except as noted
Henry Arance modeled his 1/6-scale Hawker Fury to replicate those used during the
Spanish Civil War. All but the pilot was homebuilt, including the wheels.
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:17 AM Page 21
22 MODEL AVIATION
Don Butman designed Don’s Wing in 1948 to test forward-swept-wing performance. The model will actually increase speed while
performing loops.
In addition to welcoming 138
exhibitors who offer information about
their products to the exhibit hall, AMA
organizes 17 seminars, hosts an indoor
flying arena for RC demonstrations, and
sets up an FF area where anyone (mostly
kids) can build a free rubber-powered
model and learn to trim and fly it on the
spot.
The exhibitors who represent the
Dave Gee’s Dime Scale Fokker D.VIII is a FF rubber-powered model. The
covering pattern can be made using an ink-jet printer.
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. Many manufacturers use this
opportunity to debut new items for the
upcoming season, although not all of
them are revolutionary. 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 shake it down and
become a better-educated modeler. The
exhibitors are usually more than happy to
talk about what they’re selling, and there
is normally a story behind the
development of a particular product that
might add to the enjoyment of the hobby.
The exhibitors are often modelers like
the rest of us. Perhaps an idea they had
while spending time in the hobby
inspired an idea. That idea became an
experiment that led to further enjoyment
in the hobby, and through hard work and
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:17 AM Page 22
May 2007 23
Jeff Weiss scratch-built this 1/6-scale Ta 152H-1 from modified Radio
Control Modeler plans. It has an O.S. 1.60 engine and JR 10X radio.
Alex Maas takes advantage of the open space near the exhibit
hall’s outer walls to test his Pico Z. These mini helicopters were a
hit at the show.
Mass-launch contests were held several times an hour at the
make-and-take aircraft area. Deanna of Ontario was one of
Friday morning’s winners.
Talented modelers from AMA District X brought FF models to
display throughout the indoor flying auditorium.
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:56 AM Page 23
24 MODEL AVIATION
Volunteers from local clubs came to help out at the make-and-take
areas. Hundreds of models were built and flown at the show.
The AMA Village was
located at the center of
the exhibit hall.
Ken Tran built this 1/9-
scale Lama SA 315B
from a Hirobo kit.
With a rotor diameter
of 48.8 inches, it uses
an O.S. engine for
power.
effort it brought a new item to the hobby from which many
may benefit.
The AMA Convention hosts the largest number of clubs
and SIGs of any similar events. Many local clubs are invited
to 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 the local radio station to
welcome the public. The response from these efforts is great;
the show floor is filled throughout the three days with young
families and beginners in the hobby. Local advertising
encouraged local Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders to use
AMA’s show as a “go see it” outing for their dens and troops.
The Convention is a terrific opportunity to introduce young
people to the hobby. AMA’s Education Department has
special development programs on-site, including make-andtake
model-airplane building and a huge space where people
can fly their new rubber-powered aircraft all day if they want.
The AMA show also has a static competition in which
modelers can enter their airplanes (one of which was a bird),
rockets, boats, cars, and helicopters for an opportunity to win
cash prizes. The scratch-built models were my, and many
observers’, favorite things at the event. The subjects
represented seldom-modeled aircraft. Studying their attention
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:21 AM Page 24
May 2007 25
Carl Maas modified the
Jet Hangar Hobbies
Grumman F-14 for RC
Slope Soaring. It
features real swingwings.
Mel Schwartzburg’s
Minimoa was built
from a Krick kit. It
spans 134 inches.
Kenny Lauter built Mark Lattimore’s Dalton
Aviation 42% Extra 260. The color scheme
was done in UltraCote.
Photo by Mark Lanterman
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 12:00 PM Page 25
26 MODEL AVIATION
The Flying Giants Web site—www.flyinggiants.com—has
information about all sizes of RC aircraft. The group broadcasted
a live video feed during the Convention.
Don Butman built this de Havilland D.H.84 Dragon from Chris
Starleaf plans.
Right: There’s even room for RC boats at the AMA Convention.
As the saying goes, boats don’t crash like airplanes.
Stephan Velliard pilots a 200% Charger next to the standard-size versions. The indoor RC flight-demonstration area was filled with
models all weekend.
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:26 AM Page 26
May 2007 27
Tips for Your
Next Model
Consumer
Show Visit
Edward Pagel Jr. built his 1/18-scale B-17G from an EAM kit and used PSJ and Nippy
motors for power.
All guests who attended a seminar during the show were
eligible to win a $50 Convention gift certificate. Photo by
Mark Lanterman.
• Don’t Be Discharged: Every type of battery technology
has a shelf life, and used or not it will lose capacity in
time. A number of reputable manufacturers sell fresh
batteries, so don’t take a chance.
• 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. If glue is on your
shopping list, keep in mind that cyanoacrylate has a
freshness date. Find a bulk deal and share it with your
buddies so it is used before it’s toast.
• Bag It: Bring a backpack or a soft briefcase that has a
shoulder strap. While walking the show floor, you can
quickly collect free magazines and product brochures.
The bag is also a secure place to keep the bits of
hardware items that would accidentally fall out of a coat
pocket.
• Bring a Pad and Pen: Experts are bountiful at these
events, inside the booths, and behind the doors of the
scheduled seminars. Check the seminar schedule for
topics of your interest when you arrive at the convention
center. What you’ll learn about current topics and trends
will make the time you spend on the show floor more
productive because you’ll be up to speed on what you
really need.
• Know Your A-B-Cs: The show floor can be a crowded
place, so it’s easy to get distracted when waiting your turn
to talk with the exhibitors. Visit the event Web site and
review the list of exhibitors a few days before the show. It’s
a good idea to print out that list and highlight those mustsee
exhibitors. Making a list of what you need will help you
keep your eyes open so you can see all the surprises the
show has to offer.
• Shop Before You Drop: Be an educated consumer. Many
exhibitors show their appreciation to visitors who attend
the event by offering “show specials.”
Don’t count out your local hobby dealer; it’s a good idea
to check there to get an opinion about the product and
check on availability. Price isn’t everything. If you find a
good product at the show, share your new knowledge with
the hobby-shop owner so everyone can benefit. MA
—Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
to detail is a valuable opportunity to
explore techniques in model finishing and
craftsmanship.
AMA offers seminars at the
Convention that are led by some top
names in the hobby. Every year the lineup
of classes is different, and this year
featured a nice mix of topics that could
interest the expert to the rank beginner.
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 AMA Convention wasn’t my friend
Bill’s first consumer show, but when the
trip was through I could tell he was more
05sig1.QXD 3/26/07 11:26 AM Page 27
28 MODEL AVIATION
excited than ever about the hobby. The
only sad part was that the winter weather
would keep him away from the flying
field until spring.
However, in a few short weeks the new
airplane he had at the Convention would
arrive at his house. He would soon get to
work on it and use all the contacts he had
made to help him if he ran into trouble.
As was the first show Bill attended, the
AMA Convention is, in a way, a gift the
Academy offers to its members. It gives
them the opportunity to take another look
at what is available and 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.
This is a great show. 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]
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