Warbird Information Exchange

I am recently returned from the first annual Celebration
of Modeling Art sponsored by NMNA in Pensacola. It was
a reincarnation of sorts of the Blue Angel Model Fest
with some improvements. It was a really good time and I
want to thank John Struck and John Walen for all their
hard work putting it together. I also want to thank the
museum for sponsoring it, the employees and volunteers
who stayed late at night and came in on the weekend to
make it possible for us to have a good time.

It would be hard to beat NMNA as a venue for a model show.
There is something special about being around the real
aircraft we model. For me the open cockpits and the
restoration area tour takes it to another level. Let
me tell you there is quite a feeling that comes over you
when you sit in the cockpit of the Midway SBD (Bu2106).
Sit there, think about where all that plane fought, and
the men who flew it....well ya just gotta be there. To
sit in the P-40 was close but that plane really never
was "there". We also got to sit in the Tri-Motor, the
Fury, the F7F,the George, the F2H, Crusader, and NAVY1.

The restoration area was also great. We got to see the
Coronado, Lockheed Electra, a Dolphin, the Buffalo and
Bucaneer, an SNJ, and a few others. We got to walk around
the flight line out back and see close up some of the
damage from Ivan.

The speaker at the dinner was really interesting. Beyond
that he was personable and very approachable. He hung
around quite a while and talked after things wound down.
And yes, the dinner was good too; it was real food not
baked checked and potatoes.

So think about attending next years event when the motel
roon situation settles down. This thing is way more than
a model contest. Where else are you gonna get to do that
sort of things?

Blue skies,
Owen

I've been a bit slow in getting my photos processed and up on
Webshots. However I do have some ready of the Bucaneer
and the Buffalo (BW-372). Other material will follow as time
permits. Below is a link to shots taken 11/28/04.

Blue skies,
Owen

http://community.webshots.com/album/234043341JfVLwL