Modelair Scale Weekend 22/23 July23

[Robert Welford]

I was wondering how many people went? The weather over the weekend was not ideal - Saturday was very wet and Sunday quite windy.

[Ron Gray]

I was wondering the same as I was unable to go.

[dave parnham]

i went Saturday morning, printed my bmfa docs and showed them at the gate and swiped my card (no cash entry) for £9 pounds Great i thought.

Then it went down hill from there....never seen it set up like that before, the campers seem to have the best spot opposite the flight line for what i would call normal club type models, it was only nine fifteen in the morning and spitting with rain, so i had only seen a black Flair DR1 and two fun fighter sized planes one Hurricane and a Spitfire.

I managed to park very easily opposite the hangers even though the parking warden seemed to make it look like the most difficult thing in the world to organise.

And so i went to the Slec/belair tent and spent 50 quid and then the tool market another 15 sp far so good.

Wandered about past the rest of the very dissapointing tents ((except for Microaces)could have spent a fortune there))

It rained so i sat in the Mondeo estate and watched the single control Liner and the single free flighter listening to the larks and the distant 3d aerobatics going on up by the tenting.

I went to see the Hangers and tempted by the food smells headed towards the much smaller souvenir shop, but decided against the food and drink.

Wandered around the entire sight and back to the car as the rain and wind did seem to put all activity on hold.

It a long walk from the hangers to the flight line and back.

Left and went home having seen very little fly by 12:15 

To call it a scale day? well im amused and perhaps a little miffed but hey ho.

 

[Cuban8]

It's eight or nine years since I flew at a Modelair day at Old Warden, and plans to resume were scuppered because of Covid and having health problems last year and continuing recovery during 2023 - not done much for my club flying activities either TBH.

They have fiddled around with OW, both for full size and modelling but I guess it'll endure given its very nature. Sadly, the weather will make or break the flying no matter what - they do their best but rain, wind, and miserable conditions will put the kibosh on anything.

Sorry you had a wasted and disappointing day, Dave.

BTW, you can download your BMFA docs to your phone rather than printing them off.

[kc]

Was there actually a SLEC stand selling balsa and accessories?  Not seen SLEC at OW for many years. In fact nobody had balsa for sale last few times at Modelair.

After reading Dave's report of the weather I am glad I didn't go then!      However it must be said that a trip to Old Warden is alway worthwhile as the full size planes are all under cover and you can get your money's worth even if it rains.   Although it's a long walk between hangers and RC flightline you can drive if you want.   I will go in September when the next model event is scheduled. 

 

[Ron Gray]

They moved the flight line last year (?) to make room for drone racing and helis (I think). It is a bit of a shame as it now feels more disjointed and means that when I fly there I tend not to round to the rest of the show (although that is very sparse now) unless I want a drink or food.

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for September.

[dave parnham]

Yes the draw for me was the slec/belair tent by far the largest of the the tents, there was also Als Hobbies but it was at a brief glance all old jetex stuff which of course is part of the multi disciplines at the show the BMFA tent was there and Microaces and the Tools tent but not much more.

 

Not gonna moan at getting in for 9 pounds as i want to take some pics for my 1/3 scale Pup too.

 

If there had been better weather and some flying i wouldnt have been unhappy at going up there, it is was it is as they say.

[RottenRow]

9 minutes ago, Ron Gray said:

They moved the flight line last year (?) to make room for drone racing and helis (I think). It is a bit of a shame as it now feels more disjointed and means that when I fly there I tend not to round to the rest of the show (although that is very sparse now) unless I want a drink or food.

 

The R/C flight line move (a couple of years ago now) was mainly to provide more distance between the R/C and free flight areas, (previously there had been some overflying of the FF area by R/C models), and the 'gap' left between then was then used for drones or helis as neither take up much airspace.

 

I went both days (though I do live fairly close), it only costs an extra £5 for two days compared to one; as stated Saturday was wet so not a lot of outside activity but met up with a lot of previous acquaintances so was still good. That is part of the reason for going to such events. A bunch of us took turns on the flight sim. they had set up in one of the hangars, which was fun!

 

At least at OW, if the weather does turn bad, there are always the hangars to look around, not forgetting the maintenance shed where you can often see one or two of the Collection's aircraft in the middle of maintenance.

 

Yesterday was much better weather-wise and more flying was to be seen, but the bad forecast for the weekend had inevitably put off a lot of prospective visitors. The organisers can only organise so much, (not including the weather) and it is down to the rest of us to 'make it a show', whether we are fliers, spectators or traders.

 

I had an interesting chat with the lady in the SLEC stand (yes they were selling balsa, ply, a selection of their little bags of fittings etc.). SLEC has now taken over the Belair Kits range and services, and they had a good selection of the (mainly) Peter Rake designed kits on sale as well.

 

Brian.

[Jon H]

I didnt go as its a 3 hour round trip plus a tenner to get in..just to stand on wet grass in the rain. I can do that in the garden for free! Also the talk of the new 3d/heli section between the FF and RC lines, and the subsequent reduction in RC flying space to the left means i am not likely to make special effort to go as the flying area was pretty small last year and if they have shrunk it even further then its a waste of time for anything i fly...except maybe my flair nieuport. 

[Ron Gray]

It was the same as last year Jon, it hasn't got any smaller although when I flew there earlier this year we were flying right to left and had to make sure that we turned away fairly quickly after take off to avoid any complaints from the heli boys.

[Doug Campbell]

It's a six hour round trip for us, but it was an enjoyable day out on the Sunday. It was breezy but lots sunshine.  

I think the weather forecast put a few off, but we got in plenty of flying and socialising.  The r/c end looked pretty quiet so we didn't venture up there. It was nice seeing Slec there, got lots of accessories.