Wings & Wheels Model Show 2003

The 3 big W shows occurred last month, Wings & Wheels was the middle event. Held at North Weald Airfield, quite local to Bumpy Green's location compared to the other 2. Set in the lowlands of Essex close to Epping the airfield was opened in 1916 and was an active RAF station until 1964. It is home to a large museum which tells the story of the airfield and those that lived and operated there. A key base of operations during the Battle of Britain and was repeatedly bombed throughout World War II in an attempt to stop the RAF defending Great Britain. Several memorials are located at the museum with a number of local and serving crew accounts published and on view.

Hosted as the Wings & Wheels Model Spectacular it is the largest independent radio control model show in the south of England. Record attendances were reported for the Sunday of the 2 day event and the weather, which had been forecast as bleak was fantastic with bright sunshine all weekend. This is the 17th year Wings and Wheels has been held at North Weald Airfield and announcements are already out for the 2004 event, scheduled for Saturday & Sunday 26 & 27 June 2004.

Traders were out in force and as always a bargain could be had for the sharp eyed shopper willing to browse and haggle. A wide open trade area is great for wandering about in search of a bargain Many stands were regulars at the shows but there were also some not so frequently seen traders out this weekend. It's nice to see a growing number of independents putting in the effort to spread the good word of aeromodelling and encourage both public and other traders to make the best offers. The LMA stand during a quiet moment & GoSolo, a new r/c training company The LMA - Large Model Association were present for the weekend over seeing the flight worthiness of the larger models present. The flight trade line stretching off into the distance in both directions The flight line trade stands went on forever it seemed, again with lots of room all around. The variety of stands and products on offer was vast with traders from all over the country making the trip to the airfield.

Quite a gathering of model boats were on the specially constructed pool. Compared to some it was an impressive size and allowed a lot of room to manoeuvre. A nice pair of fishing boats looking for the best catch Highly detailed scale models were a delight to see slowly cruising the green water. The faster boats had plenty of room to get up speed without problems A number of high speed craft were also on the pool with lots of room available for some impressive turns of speed. A separate boat pool was also on site for members of the public to try their hand at radio control boating. A fine display of highly detailed static models A display of highly detailed scale static models was also present, with many of the craft on show fully seaworthy with radio control and a host of electronic lighting, sound and smoke effects.

One unusual display was of large scale radio control tanks by the UK Tank Club and Mark-1-Tank, a web site dedicated to these awesome models. Many have featured on TV and from some photographs it is often difficult to tell the real article from these models. A big display stand of large scale tanks Meticulously detailed with every bit of equipment faithfully reproduced. Even action figures were added to complete a dramatic diorama scene. Most of the tanks on display were German WWII heavy battle tanks built to 1/6th scale Although very realistic as static models when running they bring a whole new meaning to scale detail. Realistic engine sounds with smoke generators, rotating turrets with elevating guns, pyrotechnic gunfire and damage simulation and even the squealing metal caterpillar track noises. Into battle with smoke and sound effects & a rather famous Tiger tank The tanks paraded through the crowd in convoy to the grass strip at the edge of the runway then took part in a mock battle. Very realistic with the simulated cannon fire and sound effects. One tank which took part is based on the Tiger tank featured in the movie Kelly's Hero's and is commandeered by Oddball at the end of the film, complete with Donald Sutherland look-a-like action figure.

As always the main attractions of the show were the model aircraft displays. Many fine models were out for the sunny weekend show and a large number of them flew over the two days. The crowded flightline was a hive of activity over the weekend Avro 504K based on the full size at Shuttleworth & Handley Page O/400 heavy bomber Another fantastic Fokker DR I from Dave Horton along side an Albatross DIII Two of the three Tiger Moths out in force this weekend Neil 'Tiger' Tidey was without his Moth but had his new Stearman, the first of this pair YT GeeBee gets underway & another of Dave Horton's creations named after his daughter Junkers Ju 52 of John Menhennet & He 111 with V1 flying bomb beneath John's Junkers Ju 52 is based on the plane from the film Where Eagles Dare and is always a pleasure to see. The Heinkel He 111 seen taking off had a V1 'doodlebug' or flying bomb attached which was dropped from altitude and then flown back as a glider, superb to watch. Bristol Beaufighter& Supermarine Spitfire both with invasion stripes Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 'Big Stud' & Vultee A-35 Vengeance 'Vult 'E' Coyote' Ted Alison's AT6 Texan & Douglas A-1H Skyraider Consolidated B24 Liberator & Boeing B17 Flying Fortress Stolp Starduster Too & Pitts Super Stinker Breitling CAP232 & Paul Carr's superb 33% Extra 300 Neil Tidey's Excitation & Dave Hollins spectacular Hughes 500 Cessna 310 & Piper Pawnee Michael Tony Williams Capiche 140 & Darren Goule's Turbo Prop Raven Nathan Rawlins & Shane Harding both flew OS91 powered F15 ducted fans

Other than a serious case of sunburn due to me forgetting my hat it was a brilliant day, plenty to see trade wise and plenty of great flying. A final wave from DB as he says goodbye to everyone Dave Bishop of DB Sound commentated throughout the weekend as this was the final picture taken on the day. Dave stays on the mike until the show is really over and always does a grand job perched on top of his sound control tower ~ well done Dave, keep it up. Tony & Graham looking over some of the footage A fellow enthusiast introduced himself to us at the Sandown show and offered to do video work for the Bumpy Green productions.

 

Article by John Kent from Bumpy Green Model Aerodrome
July 2003

 

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