The Vintage Aviator Museum – New Zealand 2016

January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 / warbirds2014

Almost every year my wife takes off to New Zealand to visit family and every now and then I go along, so I took this opportunity to add in some extra must visits to make this trip extra special.

NZ has a number of excellent military museums and aviation exhibitions, but the one I was very keen to see is based at Masterton (North Island) at the Hood Aerodrome. The fighter collection can be viewed inside the showcase Hangar of The OId Stick & Rudder Company. This museum has the largest collection of flyable replica WW1 aircraft in the world so I was very excited to get there, and to experience these aircraft up close.

I did have the luxury of a hire car and so began a 2 hr road trip with my son to finally arrive at the Hood Aerodrome. The aerodrome itself is nothing fancy but does have a number of hangers and workshops as you would expect. Upon entering the hanger you pass through the small shop where entry is only $15.00 and from there you gain access to the collection. Incidentally the moment we got there we were able to join a tour which had just started. From there a very knowledgeable guide took us around the exhibits providing background information covering not only individual aircraft, but also the technologies and impact they had on aerial warfare at the time.

I was completely in awe at what I was seeing and could only think of the wonderful WingNut Wings kits that are on offer to build one of these replicas. The camera went crazy and as much as I tried to plan my images and how I would take them I just lost all control. As a visitor you just take pics of what you see, but as a modeler you take more detail shots so my head was in two places.

The collection can be seen in flight to mark events during the year such as Remembrance Day, ANZAC Day or for general public viewing such as Wings Over Wairarapa and the Omaka Airshow held at Blenheim (South Island). Details for all these events can be found online or by clicking on the link below:

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz

Click on the image below for pics of the holy grail of WW1 aircraft. I will definitely go back, but only this time to visit the workshops to see how they build these things.

Michael Tabone

Vice President

Bayonet Model Comp 2015

November 15, 2015December 21, 2015 / warbirds2014

Warbirds attended the Annual Bayonet Model Comp 2015 which was recently held on 14th November on a perfect sunny day. For those who are not familiar with this event it is held at the B-24 Hanger in Werribee where there is a classic B-24 under going some pain staking restoration. This event had a number of tables dedicated to swap and sell and an additional section containing the competition tables and club display area. There were a host of categories with 1st, 2nd and third places awarded to some lucky entrants, with the real draw card being this amazing aircraft and the fact that all the tables are dotted around it. All in All it was a great day and hats off to the organisers and the lovely people to manage the site and allow this event to take place in these surroundings.

Click here for some pics of the day and hopefully you might come along to next years event.

Model Expo – June 6th – 8th

May 23, 2015November 3, 2015 / warbirds2014

Model Expo has grown and developed into the preeminent static modelling show and competition in Australia, and the Southern Hemisphere; attracting visitors and competitors nationally and internationally. We will be there with members busily working away putting the final touches to kits for our themed display and selecting kits to put in as part of our general display.

This will be our first display for Warbirds AMG and we will be including a selection of members Warbirds and Warmachines to demonstrate our non-aviation military modelling skills.

For all details of times, costs, competition categories etc, please click on the Expo flyer or visit the Model Expo website for further details.

Wings & Tracks 2015

March 24, 2015November 3, 2015 / warbirds2014

Wings & Tracks 2015 was held Sunday March 22nd at the Copland Room, Ashburton Library, the very place we have our club meetings. The great weather brought out a nice selection of models and modellers for the viewing public and competitors. Run by IPMS, this annual event seeks to bring together aircraft and AFV modellers in a fun environment where the competitive can strive for victory and the not so competitive can take in the hard work of their fellow military modellers. A number of traders were on hand to empty modellers wallets also!

A healthy turnout of warbirds and warmachines hit the tables with Warbirds members Larry d’Argaville taking out the Golden Wing award for this years theme aircraft, the Mitsubishi Zero and Vice-President Michael Tabone took out the Golden Sprocket for the theme AFV, the Panzer III and derivatives. Both subjects were to be built to IPMS out of box rules.

Congratulations also to IPMS for a well run event and congratulations Larry and Michael and here’s a small selection of what was on the table – check the gallery for photos of the event.

Larry d’Argaville’s superb captured A6M5 Zero taking out the Golden Wing award

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Michael Tabone’s 1/48 Panzer III winning the Golden Sprocket award

Show Report – Wings & Tracks 2014

November 11, 2014November 3, 2015 / warbirds2014

Check out the Gallery displaying some great images from Wings & Tracks 2014.

South Australian Scale Model Expo 2014 show report has now been posted with many thanks to Stephen Portelli.

Show Report – South Australian Scale Model Expo 2014

November 10, 2014November 3, 2015 / warbirds2014

The 2014 SA Scale Model Expo (SASME) was hosted by the SA Plastic Modellers Association (SAPMA) on the weekend of 11& 12^th October 2014, this was the 32^nd running of the event! A little background, the SASME is the South Australian (SA) State Championship model event for the year and is also a general model display for those wishing to exhibit and display their work without the entering formal competition.

The completed models are assessed by teams of two judges (positions open to all modellers who wish to judges) to a technical schedule, based on a point score system against worksmanship, finish and accuracy to references.

Over three hundred models graced the tables for the public’s viewing pleasure at this event. 229 models were entered for the competition, spanning more than 30 categories ranging from sci-fi, armour, automotive/trucks and, of course, aircraft! The event attracted interstate entrants, with modellers from Victoria, ACT & NSW attending. As can be seen from the accompanying photos the quality of models was high. For additional photos and the list of place getters in all classes please visit the SASME website.

The Event wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of the many hobby industry traders that exhibit and sponsor the event along with the event corporate sponsor Rheinmetall Defence and MGA Insurance Brokers. No show like this is possible without the help of a committed team, the membership of the SAPMA club, along with the volunteer judges who gave freely of their time are the reason this model show is able to be held and conducted to a high standard.

SASME/ SAPMA have chosen “Soldier On” to support as their charity of choice. The Soldier On stand at the SASME was well supported by the public and helped raise awareness for this very worthy veteran’s charity. Over a $1100.00 being raised for the charity over the weekend. All raffles prizes were generously donated and all proceeds being directed to Soldier On.

The next SA Scale Model Expo (SASME) will be held at our NEW VENUE on10 &11 October 2015, at Immanuel College, 32 Morphett Rd, Novar Gardens.

Show report by Stephen Portelli

All photo credits to Dan Sells.

Show from above overview early Saturday

Best Of Show Winner – Laurence Farrugia with the show winning Hind.

WarbirdsAMG Presents at the Bayonet Military Model Club Model Club & Swap Meet

November 10, 2014November 3, 2015 / warbirds2014

This past Saturday was the annual Bayonet Military Model Club Model Club & Swap Meet.

It’s an annual event held to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the Werribee based Liberator bomber. It was a warm day however that didn’t deter modellers bringing along an array of completed models and the swap n sell tables being loaded ready for purchasing.

Warbirds AMG presented a “From This, To This, To This” display highlighting the 3 key stages of the modelling lifecycle from kit to in-progress to completion. Club Treasurer Laurence Farrugia gained a 3rd place in the Master Class with his 1/48 Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopter that underwent extensive corrective surgery.

Thanks go to the Bayonet members for making us feel so welcome at our debut appearance at this well run and worthwhile event which raised well over $900 to help with the Liberator restoration.