EAA "Family Flight Fest"

[Sakrison]

This weekend is the annual Family Flight Fest at the Experimental Aircraft Association Museum in Oshkosh, WI USA. I have a bunch of paper models on display alongside some really topnotch plastic, resin, and vacuform models.

Today's turnout was a record high of 1,400 people. i've been doing these events for several years and usually I usually get a couple hours of modeling work done each day. Today, I managed about half an hour of modeling and spent the rest of the time on my feet talking with people about paper modeling. I gave away about 50 flyers I wrote on how to get started in paper modeling and got I a lot of the usual, "That's paper?!" comments. I might have lured one or two over to "the Dark Side."

I go back tomorrow and it could be another record turnout.

EAA's Facebook posting promoting the event featured a photo of my Vought "Vindicator" paper model and the evemt's Web page has a short video from last year that includes a 30-second segment of me talking about paper modeling. (My segment starts at 3:30 on the video but watch it all; it's fun.) Not bad for a day's work.

The photos are of my part of the scale model exhibit. The GPM "Bismarck" and Uhu02 Lunar Lander got the most comments, oohs, and aahs. The sixth photo shows the overall Scale Models exhibit. (All the tables were filled with models during most of the day. A few modelers left early.) The last photo: My friend Jeff Herne showed his stunning plastic F6F beside my Halinski F6F. Mine stood up pretty well.
--David

[WVA]

I'm impressed! I'm sure the visitors were wowed! Very nice!

....ah, Oshkosh! The mecca of aviation!

Jim

[Don Boose]

Your models looks great, David! Nice to see them all together. Looks like a terrific event.

Don

[SCEtoAUX]

That is some good stuff. You should have a printed page of parts for a model to show people how it looks in 2D so they can get more "wow" looking at the 3D results.

[mbauer]

Great looking models and display!

Mike

[Richschindler]

Great display. How could anyone not be impressed. I'm sure when they found out it was paper they had to do a double, or even a triple take.
You are to be commended for getting the PAPER word out there.

[Sakrison]

Originally Posted by SCEtoAUX

That is some good stuff. You should have a printed page of parts for a model to show people how it looks in 2D so they can get more "wow" looking at the 3D results.

I take along a couple of unbuilt kits to show visitors what the starting point looks like. And yes, that tends to elicit more "Wow"s.
--David

[Sakrison]

Thank you all for your kind comments. Sunday was quieter but still close to a record turnout. I talked to several grandparents who were very excited about getting their grandkids started in paper modeling. "No smelly glue, no smelly paints" seemed to be a big incentive.
--David