Weston Park Model Show June 20th 21st 2009

Simply brilliant, that’s the verdict on this years show at Weston Park.

Held in the glorious 1000 acre grounds of Weston Park, Shropshire this show organised by the Wrekin model flying club this show just keeps getting better and better and this year continued this fine tradition, even the weather co-operated and despite being overcast most of the time with the odd short rain shower, it was broken up with intervals of clear blue sky and sunshine making for a fine weekend.

Massive crowds of modellers and public alike were treated to the very best in model flying from some of the countries top display pilots over the two day show and there were some very impressive models on display.

For us at Horizon Hobby UK it was the chance to display our full range of models from Hangar9, Parkzone and E-flite in our new “mini marquee” and this proved to be highly successful allowing people to get up “close and personal” with the models on display and field any questions they may have to John Norris who manned the marquee all weekend ably assisted at times by Perry Lambert and Daren Goule when they weren’t flying.

From the amount of feedback from the public the chance to see the completed models on static display and to gather any information they needed on a particular model was particularly helpful with their plans for future purchases and whilst was great to see some of the models flying in the display slots it is also nice to see them close up, so well done guys!

Something for everyone? You bet, model car racing was held over the two days on the purpose made track located at the top end of the flight line and also located in the same area was the model boat pool which was

Checking out the finer points of the E-Flite Blade 400

All set up and ready before the crowds arrived

Highly popular electric helicopter from E-Flite

WW1 biplanes from Hangar 9, just a small part of the Horizon static display

located in the same area was the model boat pool which
was run by the local model boat club who put on an
excellent static display and operated their boats on the
pool all weekend.

Making an appearance at this show for the first time was
the large “Bring & Buy Marquee” where many a fine deal
was to be had with lots of very tidy models and
equipment at bargain prices were on offer.

Driver concentrate on getting it just right

Losi 8ight ripping up the turf

Full size displays from the Fox Glider display team and
an Extra along with a home built aircraft called a Twister
with its elliptical main wings and tail section its outline
was reminiscent of a Spitfire and from a distance you
thought it was a Spitfire till it flew closer, none the less a
handsome aircraft.

Flying starting at 10.00am and finishing around 5.30pm
on both days and during the Horizon Hobby display slot
on Saturday Perry flew the Hangar 9 B-25 Mitchell whilst
Darren flew his electric powered Hangar9 Spitfire,
followed by the afternoon slot where they flew two electric
powered E-flite Bae Hawks.

Sunday saw a different display with Perry, Darren and
Azza Stephens going all electric! Perry flew his very fast
electric powered Hangar9 Sundowner 50, equipped with
an E-flite Power 90 outrunner, Castle Creation speed
controller and powered by two 4cell Li-Po packs, whilst
Darren and Azza both flew their E-flite Diamantes.

Superb home built Twister, with its eliptical wings

Piper Pawnee of the Fox Glider display team

This was followed by an equally impressive
afternoon slot where the guys were joined by Ali
Mashinchy and the four of them had a great time
flying the E-flite BAE Hawks, all on standard set ups
apart from the use of 4 cell Li-Po packs for a bit more
duration.

With such a wide variety of models being flown over
the two days it is difficult to know where to start but a
few outstanding models and displays that caught the
eye were, a superbly detailed TBM Avenger, Ali with
his ½ scale clipped wing Cub with on board self
start which he demonstrated in the air during his
display routine and Azza’s solo display with the 35%
Hangar 9 Extra 260.

Half scale Piper Cub towers over everything

Magnificient TBM Avenger

The boys are back in town! John Norris, Darren Goule, Wayne Lambert, Azza Stephens, Perry Lambert

All in all an excellent weekend with some of the best
display pilots in the country filling the air with superb
models and displays, what more could you want? Well the
chance to do it all again for starters! Thanks Wrekin Model
Flying Club, see you next time!
TG