The 26th National Model Plane Show
THE 1977 EDITION of the National Model Plane Show was held on March 11, 12, 13 in the Great Lakes Mall, Cleveland, Ohio. This article is presented in the hope that other static shows may benefit from the experience gathered over the years in staging this major AMA event.
The show and contest is the direct result of an annual six-month effort by local modeling clubs and this year represented the 26th running of the NMPS. Without a doubt, the event has to rank among the largest static shows ever held, if not the largest. The final count was an overwhelming 585 aircraft entered and on display; requiring over 200 eight-foot tables for staging. More than 200 trophy awards were presented and all of this was accomplished on a free entry basis. Right, no entry charge!
The show had enjoyed moderate success in the past but two major decisions were made a few years ago which really caused the NMPS to mushroom. Initially, it was decided by the directors to re-locate the event to a shopping mall. Secondly, it was decided to include all facets of model aviation: Control Line, Free Flight, Radio Control and Plastic.
The normally difficult job of coordinating the efforts of all local modelers was easily accomplished through the Cleveland Aeromodel Society. This society has functioned as a governing body for Cleveland modeling activities for several years. Membership is on a voluntary basis and representatives of all model aircraft interests are currently on the roster. Regular meetings are held and it was here that the CAS decided to try a Mall approach for the contest.
The Great Lakes Mall has hosted the NMPS for the past three years. Space is plentiful (200 tables need a lot of room) and the Merchants Association financially supports three-fourths of the cost of our production. Yes, the Mall pays for the honor of having the NMPS staged. Any Mall interested in a crowd-drawing event and a large model plane contest has a lot to offer. Try it. Another advantage of the Mall environment is that the contestant's wife (or husband or friend) and family are more apt to involve themselves with their partner's hobby. Mom can always go shopping while Dad is hangar-flying, and eats are available for the kids. Try that in an armory!
Although the Mall sponsors a good deal of the costs (we spent $1100 on trophies alone), additional funding came from a benefit drawing, manufacturers' displays and a swap-shop. We have always kept a manufacturer involvement on a local basis, and it is interesting to note that, with a good show, your manufacturers will ask to participate. Five booths were set up and a modest fee charged. The benefit was divided into three parts: a split-the-pot drawing, a model aircraft merchandise drawing, and a CB radio drawing.
The Swap-Shop was a new addition this year and a total success. Over 30 tables were required to handle the participants. We provided ample space to avoid crowding and would-be hucksters were charged a flat half-table fee. Several of the serious junk merchants indicated the setup was ideal from both a selling and buying standpoint.
For such success, any good show has to have advance publicity. In addition to the Competition Newsletter, you can use your local newspapers (they love pictures). TV coverage can be obtained. Send handouts to all local hobby shops. Involve radio through community service announcements. Get your youth into the act by notifying the school boards.
The National Model Plane Show is proud of our long-standing commitment to our future ace modelers. In this year's show, we drew 216 school-grade entries. In order to encourage youngsters to participate, we developed the school-grade category. A total of 25 events is offered to kids in school, broken down into two-grade increments: 1st and 2d, 3d and 4th, 5th and 6th, etc. The youngsters compete with kids
26th Model Plane Show/ Eiben and Weimer
in their own age group with usually no more than a two-year spread. First through sixth graders compete in three events: Flying, Non-flying, and Plastic models. Seventh through 12th graders compete in six categories: Free Flight, Control Line, Plastic, Non-flying, Powered Scale and Radio Control. Each event offers three trophy awards, plus Honorable Mention awards for unusual effort, very common among our kids.
We also are proud of our separate category for the exceptional child. In this event, we reward the efforts of our handicapped youngsters. This is one of the most heartwarming portions of the award ceremony. Their involvement in your show is as close as a phone call to your hospital or school system. Finally, we also make our kids work the show. Club displays, security and registration are areas where we utilize the energy (wish we adults had some) of the youth.
The Open division of the NMPS covers adults over high school age. They participate in nine RC events, nine CL events, ten FF events, eight Plastic events, one Non-flying (static models only) event and six additional Ace categories. No aircraft has ever been turned away from this show.
The Ace category is of special interest. Former NMPS first-place-winning aircraft are automatically placed in the Ace category. The model competes against other first-place aircraft and, if it wins this division, the model is eligible for display only. This system encourages the building of new aircraft but our top-notch contestants and eliminated repeated wins by one model (which discourages other entries). The Open entrant also is eligible for seven special awards such as Best Finish.
One final note on rules. The NMPS allows a contestant to enter up to six models per event. However, a contestant can win only one trophy per event. Our large event categories have evolved over the years, and the careful consideration of our contestants is foremost. A complete program is worth the effort, and can lift any contest to the professional level.
Professionalism also means concentration on security and judging. The NMPS always employs the use of heavy-duty stanchions and roping to secure the models from curious hands. Grab the biggest modeler around (usually an indoor flier) and locate your roping at his arm length from the models. In addition, a completely manned exhibit area is a must. The NMPS had at least 50 properly identified individuals on hand at all times, three days. Also, although the Mall is closed at night, club officials maintained all-night security. It was during these locked hours that judging took place.
Model registration runs Friday and Saturday, closing Saturday evening. Judging begins after a somewhat quiet dinner and extends well into the wee hours. Although it does require extra effort, judges can accomplish the enormous task of rating 538 models without interference from a crowd or contestants. Sunday is then spent in relative relaxation, and contest officials are able to discuss with the public the models on display. All models are tagged with an identification number and cannot be released until the contestant presents the matching claim check. Aircraft are not available until after awards are presented.
We utilize a raised stage for award presentation and select a vocal master of ceremony, usually a modeler who is not a salesman. Although we hand out 202 trophies, proper organization results in a program lasting only 45 minutes to one hour. Don't shortchange the kids. Take your time, do them first. We adults can wait our turn a heck of a lot more comfortably than 200 kids.
That about covers it. A few additional touches we use to present a professional show are the setup of club booths, showing of model movies, magazine displays, model building demonstrations and literature handouts covering AMA and local activities.
The National Model Plane Show places primary emphasis on the contestants. Without them, we have no show. The NMPS is unique by virtue of its youth involvement, coverage of all facets of model aviation, overall size and free entry basis. Although the CAS has 26 years of show experience to fall back on, we will continue to develop the event in line with changes in model aviation and general interest. We are working on a much-needed set of static contest rules which can be applied to the increasing number of these events to maintain consistency from one show to the other.
See you in '78!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
