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Sandown Model Symposium '06 - Show Report |
May 27, 2006 |
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Last week I trotted off to Sandown racecourse in the leaf-green London suburb of Esher to attend the annual Model Symposium. Unlike almost all the other shows I've visited, in which modellers strive for aesthetic realism in terms of form and finish, the Symposium concentrates solely on operation. There were hundreds of models on display, including aircraft, boats and all manner of land vehicles and all of them could be either flown, piloted or driven. There were even a few submarines on manoeuvres above and below the waves in a specially prepared pool outside.
One of the stars of the show was French radio control World Champion pilot Christophe Paysant le-Roux. What he could do with a plane not only defied belief it also very often defied the laws of physics. Apart from barrel rolls and loopy-loops, he even managed to hover his aircraft vertically, almost like a helicopter, only feet above the ground. All of the displays took place on the race course itself, launched from a specially prepared airstrip just yards from the winning post. The main grandstand provided the ideal vantage point for the hordes of onlookers who were able to relax in some of the best seats in the house!
The trade hall was crammed with traders from across the country proudly showcasing their wares, which ranged from huge R/C gliders to tiny components for scratch build model makers. Even for someone who knows next to nothing about the scene, I was completely blown away by some of the technology on show. The engines were particularly fascinating. They ranged from tiny electric motors to huge 2x2 petrol driven lumps capable of propelling a small car. One stand showed-off a range of miniature jet turbine engines, which were no more than 10 inches long and yet were powerful enough to propel boats and aircraft at phenomenal speeds.
There appeared to be more than the fair share of planes on display. There was everything from Lancaster bombers to modern Su-27 jets - all of which were ready to take to the sky. My own personal favourite a scratch-built PBY Catalina. This huge, twin-engined beast had a wingspan of almost 8 feet and sported fully retractable gear. The operator could even make the floats rotate through 90 degrees to form the wing tips!
Perhaps the only disappointing aspect of the day was the weather. It was lousy! When it wasn't actually raining it was trying very hard to be damp and miserable. This meant that many of the scheduled outdoor displays were either cancelled or postponed. I wasn't too down-hearted. What I saw in the space of 6 hours was breath taking enough. I would certainly like to pay another visit to the show, perhaps on a more sunny day. In the meantime I can content myself with the huge assortment of photos I took on the day - many of which are now on view in the Photo Archive.
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