Modelling Open Day - St Pierre Park 31/05/09

Following the success of the event in 2008, The Guernsey Model Yacht Pond Club was approached by the St Pierre Park Hotel to organise the Guernsey modelling fraternity and stage another modelling display this year.

Our club was approached about a month before the event, so it didn't give us a lot of time to get things organised, but true to form, there was a 'core' of members who regularly put themselves forward to support such events and the shots shown here, demonstrate the effort those guys put in by gaving up their Sunday to man the display as well as putting on some flying displays for the public.

As usual, we were able to put on a reasonable static display showing the variety of models flown in the club. Everything from Andy Best's huuuge 2.6mtr Extra 300, down to Steve Glass's diminutive Hawker Hunter EDF was on display, and the models drew many favourable comments from the members of the public. Here are some shots of those models and the various displays the members put on during the day.

Mick Bewey brought his venerable 'Centurion' along and Dave Wilkinson's 2M 'Adrenaline' can be seen just behind Mick's model -talk about opposite ends of the flying scale !!

The Club's new banner hangs proudly behind the models on display. A fine selection of helis was provided by Dave and Mick Wilkinson and a good few of them flew during the day.

Next year, it is planned to put our display more in the sunshine so as to show off the models a little better... but also to ensure the club members don't freeze to death when standing around the display; this year was decidedly chilly under the trees.

Once again, Dave Wilkinson put on a superb display with his IC powered 'Fury', seen here in a quite sedate pose just before being flipped inverted at less than 3 feet from the deck ! Always a crowd puller, Dave put on an excellent display given the limitations of flying within a tennis court, and the resulting applause from the public and other modellers was well deserved.

Not content however with flying over 'terra firma', Dave was persuaded to undertake a hovering exercise over two model lifeboats whilst they were out on the nearby hotel lake. This I believe is the first time such a feat has taken place in Guernsey and maybe the CI's as a whole. Dave is a very competent flyer and the resulting 'Wow' factor ensured the display got good coverage in the local Press. Here's Dave in action -

A fantastic setting and a great piece of imaginative flying from Dave with his Align TRex 500.

The Guernsey Model Yacht Pond Club had a wonderful area in which to operate, and as you can see from these shots, they had a lot of different craft on offer in their static and operational displays.

The range of models on display was quite impressive, ranging from high powered racing craft, highly detailed scale boats, through to 'Old Timers' like the superb sailing boat shown below. I understand it is a replica of an actual schooner which plied its trade around the Channel Islands in the 19th Century. The actual model is around a 100 years old I am told and was lovingly refurbished by its current owner, to bring it to its current state of beauty.

Some of the other craft awaiting their turn on the lake.

Again this year, the tennis court area was buzzing with model cars of all shapes and sizes, belonging to the Model Car Club members. Some of these cars are extremely quick and the reflexes needed to keep track of where the model is going is quite incredible. Both IC and electric models were being raced around the temporary circuit, and the public were given some excellent displays of close competition racing.

Just a small section of the 'Pits' showing how well organised these guys are. No room for poor model preparation here, as competitive models require a high degree of attention to detail.

... and concentration .....

There can always be time for a bit of fun though.. not content with keeping the cars on the ground, some of the members decided to spice things up a bit and formed a temporary ramp from some tables to put a bit of air under their wheels.....

One of the Car Club members is a keen engineer, and he had a couple of superb multi cylinder aero engines on display. They sounded fantastic when fired up and drew many of our flying members over to them in the hope that he might 'donate' one to a flying model... no such luck unfortunately !

Up close and personal with this 3 cylinder Saito - a thing of beauty.

The modeller had even built a dummy fuselage to mount the motor on. This is a Super Custom 5 cylinder engine which sounds awesome when running flat out.

Back to our own members now.... here are a few of the flying display shots showing our guys doing their bit to keep the public's attention focussed.

Models being prepared for flight ....

Dave W launching Andy Best's EFlite shockie. Nice model this one and was flown in great style by Andy.

There's never enough airspace it seems !!!

Mick Wilkinson launches his shockie...

looked great in the air too.

Steve Glass's own design foamy model seen here being launched, put in some spirited flying at low level.

So, there you have it.. a fantastic day for modelling in Guernsey and a well received show by the public. The weather was great, the setting is superb and the company of fellow modellers makes the day a huge success. We are now looking forward to 2010 and making this show a regular one in the diary of local events.

And last but not least, a huge vote of thanks must go also to the St Pierre Park Hotel without whose support and provision of such a beautiful setting, this event could not happen in the first place.

See you next year !