Were you there? Did you see it? Did you have a great time? Our roving reporter was...and did!

It was sunshine all the way for the 23^rd Wings and Wheels Spectacular this year. And to prove how much the weather can affect an English outdoor event, visitors rolled up in record numbers, the overflow car park being in use from very early on in the day on both days.

Wings & Wheels occupies the entire Northern end of North Weald Airfield

All the best laid plans can go awry though, usually due to something totally unforeseen. Certainly that was the case on Saturday when a full size YAK 50 aircraft landed on the strip just before model flying was due to begin. The pilot had the misfortune to have his undercarriage fold on landing so he came to an ignominious stop, sans wheels, with a broken prop and the radiator shutter at a strange angle. Fortunately no one was hurt and the machine was pushed away after ensuring there were no safety concerns.   

Once that drama had concluded the pilot briefing was led by Flightline Director Les Eagle and the programme began immediately thereafter with Lee Waples very appropriately flying a YAK 54 powered by a DA 150TB engine.

Les Eagle explaining the Rules Of The Day                                                                      Lee Waples' DA150 powered Yak 54

There followed a varied flying display with Barry Beech flying a Mainly Models Lancaster in a very convincing fashion - before following it up with things no full size Lanc would contemplate including low inverted passes! Spectacularly non- scale, but definitely a crowd pleaser.

Barry Beech practising 'Recovery from unusual positions' with his Mainly Models Lancaster!

Ali Machinchy and his team were very welcome indeed after an absence of a couple of years and they provided some great entertainment. Ali flew a half scale Piper Cub in a really entertaining manner as he did with the stunning Eurosport 3D vectored thrust jet. This amazing machine and the style it was flown was one of the main talking points of the weekend.

Ali's 50% Piper Cub spent most of its time very close to

the ground! When you can't see the model's wingtip

because the pilot's head is in the way, you know it's low!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    They said it couldn't be done but here

                                                                                                                                                                     is Ali Machinchy HOVERING the vectored

                                                                                                                                                                     thrust Eurosport 3D. Believe it!

Colin Straus headed up the Ripmax boys with his son Jonathon enjoying plenty of flying with Dad. The new Gypsy Moth ARTF that was displayed in the UK for the first time at Wings and Wheels is a real stunner, especially when teamed with the OS IL300 in line four cylinder engine.

The Gypsy Moth with an OS IL300               The giant scale ASM Cessna 182 flown by        Not to be outdone, Coling Strauss flies a

4-stroke in line engine new to the               Jonathon Strauss. Powered by a Thor 45         lovely DH Mosquito powered by twin OS

market soon                                                     petrol engine                                                         70FS engines

TJD Models had their boys flying and they have really polished their act to provide an excellent slot.  Horizon Hobby UK were also there with their flyers and information tent and were delighted that they had to send to the warehouse for more stock for some of the trade stands. One of the traders remarked that the sales during the weekend, especially on Saturday were reminiscent of the best of the Sandown shows!

Danny Lock of TJD Models gave an impressive 3D               Tails up and ready to go, the         Plenty to peruse on one of

heli display with his T-Rex 700. He represented the            E-Flite Hawks of the Red                the many trade stands

sole heli content of Wings & Wheels this year                       Sparrows from Horizon Hobby

On the subject of trade stands, once again they were there aplenty and it is gratifying to see such a presence in these testing times. Everything was available from the smallest nut and bolt to full blown turbine and radio kits with just about everything you can imagine in between. The flying continued all the while on both days with just a short break for lunch during which Paul Bardoe demonstrated the ultimate in pylon racers. Plenty of power, decibels and flying mayhem for about seven minutes! Paul is part of the GB effort at the world championships.

From nuts and bolts to Gas Turbine        Whether you fancy a R/C car or your          Yet more boxes making their way to

Engines - you could buy just about         very own 4WD or Tractor - strictly for         new homes

anything from somewhere on the           mini-people of course!

Trade Line

Moving away from the flightline there was something to interest many other modelling disciplines. The model truckers had to be admired for the spadework they put into designing and digging a course for the machines to navigate. The innovative sound generators on these trucks now make them sound realistic and they had a continuous show on both days.

These shots give an idea of the tremendous work that went not only into making the model trucks themselves but also into constructing a suitable environment on which to display them. Wonderful set pieces and scenarios occurred all weekend

The UK Tank Club was out in force this year with an excellent display and some of their members driving some seriously heavy hardware around the site for the duration of the event.

George and Leasa Aldous             A formidabled force - the UK Tank Club team

with their T90 and Panther           up with Stavros' Daleks to conquer the

Tanks on patrol around the          World.....well. those bits around North Weald

show from the UK Tank Club        anyway!

Sound generators also featured on some of the electric boats in the nearby pool. An interesting feature was that of a paddle tug towing a huge model tanker. The sheer power of the little paddler was something to behold. It also had amazing manoeuvrability as it could reverse one paddle and almost turn in its own length.

One of the highlights of the boat pool were these incredibly powerful tugs that manoeuvered a huge tanker around the forty foot square boat pool with consummate ease.

Humour played a part too, in the form of a rowing boat containing a quantity of smoking barrels of gunpowder in the company of two excellent likenesses of Laurel and Hardy doing the hard work. Never did see the impending explosion though!

That's another fine mess you've got me into...     Just a few of the amazing static boats on           Outside, kids of all ages were

                                                                                         display in the boat marquee.                                 able to 'try their hand' at

                                                                                                                                                                              controlling a model boat

Models that caught the eye in the trade stands were those by AAA Kits that will be distributed by Pegasus Models. These are hand crafted kits that build into exquisite replicas of pioneering aircraft of the early twentieth century. All pulley wheels, rigging wire and fittings, brass fuel tanks and scale propellers are included in the kits - even spoked wheels. Of course such quality costs and you can expect to pay from £900.00 a time. It was good to see such quality and innovation from a British maker.

There were many ARTF models as has now become the norm. Whereas just a few short years ago they were of dubious quality the standard is now generally accepted to be outstanding, none more so than on the YT International stand who have been instrumental in bring some classic designs to this branch of the market. Under the direction of Wilson Li they now have over 100 prototypes in their ever expanding range. They too had a flying team on duty all weekend.

Saturday evening saw entertainment in the bar marquee and a good time was had by all apparently. Many of the campers enjoyed the social atmosphere and as a bonus there were glimpses of the full size classic aircraft, based at North Weald.

The wonderful weather and relaxed atmosphere made the beer tent a happy

place to compare purchases and catch up with old friends

Morning and evening saw movement from some of the full-size aircraft either based on the airfield or visiting. Above left: WZ507 of The Vampire Preservation Group is believed to be the only airworthy de Havilland Vampire T11 currently left in the world. Above right: Hurribomber BE505 of Hangar 11 carries underwing pylons for 250lb bombs and a fearsome armament fit of 4 cannon and 6 machine guns. Below left: The T1 Gnat in the background represents Ray Hannah's aircraft XS111 when he was leading the Red Arrows. This aircraft is often seen at air shows all over the country together with the other pictured here - XR538. Below right: Hangar 11's  Curtiss P-40M Kittyhawk powers up for take-off.

Sunday dawned hot and sunny but the skies were slightly greyer than on Saturday. Trade was brisk at the Bring and Buy area and the nearby Traplet Trailer was busy selling magazine subscriptions, plans and a whole range of modelling associated products.

                                                    The Traplet stand was busy all weekend          Now amongst the largest Bring & Buy

                                                                               selling magazines, plans and parts.                 events in the Country, the number and

                                                                                                                                                                variety of modelling goods on sale was

                                                                                                                                                                 absolutely staggering

The Dalek army was out in strength this year with varying reactions from many children; some were in awe some retreated behind mum and dad but others were happy to play around to try and beat the swivelling eye! Some even managed a conversation with them. All in a good cause, as they were on site collecting for charity.

Again on Sunday the car parks filled quickly and the show staff all round the site were on hand to help and direct people on their way. A slight digression here; the helpers are drawn part-time from many walks of life and one young lady was a graduate shoe designer helping out for the day. She was just one of a dedicated, hard working team who make the whole event run smoothly. Their efforts go largely un-noticed but are greatly appreciated.

Novel! Pilot Dave Hine retrieves his          Sam Walker flew his Eurosport with               A very unusual subject - this Fokker

model and receives a driving lesson         Graupner Boost 160+ Turbine. Note the        DX 221 by Guiseppe Canella is

from Neil Bradshaw, builder of this            airbrake deployed for landing                          powered by a RCCF flat twin engine

3 inch to the foot Marshall model

Another highlight of the flying display was a ‘first.’ Adam and Kane Woodley flew a jet turbine Boomerang and a  Composite ARF Extra 330 in what was rather quaintly named a Solo Duo spot, but we won’t argue semantics as it was a stunning display by two young men of 18 and 19 years old.

Dave Stephens' Panther making a                 Synchro aerobatics from two of      A bomber group with fighter escort arrive over

perfect touchdown                                             the Motors & Rotors team               North Weald

The Tiger Team were there and Neil Tidey flew a very large machine called Big Gull a design dating from the 1930s. Different, and a model harking back to the early days of model flying. We can’t mention everyone but the two Hawks of Steve and Matthew Bishop in Red Arrows livery gave their usual polished performance as did the members of the Dawn Patrol with their WW1 aircraft. The programmed varied slightly on Sunday as modellers had commitments to fly at other shows but slots were easily filled.

Steve and Matthew Bishop fly an                   This 1/3rd scale Albatros was built and      Start 'em young! Thomas Cartwright

incredibly tight formation with their              flown by Pat Cuss of the Dawn patrol          seemed pleased with his first Spitfire. Dad

Airworld Hawks                                                                                                                               now has the task of teaching him to fly/1

Even the flightline director Les Eagle managed to fly a great slot with his Lockheed Constellation, responding magnificently to calls for ever lower passes!

Les Eagle's beautiful Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049H/01 Super Constellation. As impressive on the ground as it was graceful and convincing in the air, this was undoubtedly a triumph of achievement for Les

There were plenty of food outlets, ice cream vendors and on Sunday the Incas arrived to play their mix of Native American and traditional Ecuadorian music on a variety of pan pipes and other instruments. They were much appreciated as visitors made their way in and out of the airfield.

There were plenty of folk requiring food and drink through the weekend and prices were surprisingly reasonable for shows these days. Helping you relax whilst you ate were Jimbo Rafael (left) and Luis Humbert playing the wonderfully mellow pan pipes and drums of the Incas

Wings and Wheels Spectacular has become a magnet for modellers from the South East and from countrywide. The camp site is testament to the many folk who make a holiday weekend of the event and are regular returners. This year’s event was well and truly up to standard, thanks to the hard work of the Designaction team who organise it.

The Evergreen Dave Bishop and his          The flightline remained full throughout             What can you say about the incredible

delightful assistant provided the               both days although there was always a            Panic Team? After all, could you

commentary in his own inimitable             comfortable spot of grass on which to               remain fixed on your own model in the

fashion!                                                           relax and watch the displays                                midst of all this mayhem? Panic indeed!

Go on! If you haven’t visited the Wings and Wheels Spectacular, make a date for the last weekend of 26th & 27th June 2010 - you are sure to enjoy a feast of modelling delights.