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Quick lowdown regarding this past AMA East Hobby Show.
Without being political, or it may be political, it certainly represents the current state of affairs today in ONE word.
Sad.
We were told there was limited attendance for each day, and from what we saw on Sunday, very little in the way of Vendors that would benefit the RC Submariner. We were also told Vendors were actually clearing out early on Saturday. We saw mostly “Toy style” booth’s selling Nanocopters. What was there was geared to drones and flight. Very little in the way of components that once made it fun for the DIY’er to come out and drop several hundred dollars on “doo-dad’s” and consumables that once were the mainstay of a show like this.
I never came home before from a show like this with 80% cash still on hand.
Granted we’re an adaptable lot that can turn PVC drain pipe into a fully functional RC sub with parts from “Home Depot”. But it was nice when you could go to one of these to “touch, smell, taste” what was offered, which alone stirred the creative juices. I always loathed becoming one of those old guy’s who’d say “Back in my day….”, yet I must admit I miss the heady days of the ‘90’s when I ran the SubCommittee booth at the WRAM show when its was filled to such capacity on 3 floors you couldn’t squeeze past people and it took hours to navigate the place. Here we’re through in about 30 minutes. The only real value this time was in fellowship and connecting with old friends at the ESMM and SC Booth. There was a pool that could have accommodated the smaller RC Sub.
Hey look! Fung Pang!! The on RC Submariner I've known to successful build a working RC Sub pressure hull from a Pepsi can! He did it for Irving Loyd at a Groton Regatta!!
As the people that "be" talk about moving this show (whose roots are the once proud WRAM show) to Massachusetts, we here in the NY, NJ,CT Tri state will be left with a void, and nothing to look forward to at mid-winter. Possibly replace it with a breakfast followed by a "Hobby Shop crawl" around Long Island.
Our very own Bob Gaito came in 3rd with his target the Broward Yacht in 1/24th scale “Parrothead” at the shows competition. He can teach us a thing or two regarding detail. Bob currently sports a home brewed GATO class RC Sub, USS COD SS-224 that he built with NO help from other RC Submariners. Now he met us….
God help him.
Without being political, or it may be political, it certainly represents the current state of affairs today in ONE word.
Sad.
We were told there was limited attendance for each day, and from what we saw on Sunday, very little in the way of Vendors that would benefit the RC Submariner. We were also told Vendors were actually clearing out early on Saturday. We saw mostly “Toy style” booth’s selling Nanocopters. What was there was geared to drones and flight. Very little in the way of components that once made it fun for the DIY’er to come out and drop several hundred dollars on “doo-dad’s” and consumables that once were the mainstay of a show like this.
I never came home before from a show like this with 80% cash still on hand.
Granted we’re an adaptable lot that can turn PVC drain pipe into a fully functional RC sub with parts from “Home Depot”. But it was nice when you could go to one of these to “touch, smell, taste” what was offered, which alone stirred the creative juices. I always loathed becoming one of those old guy’s who’d say “Back in my day….”, yet I must admit I miss the heady days of the ‘90’s when I ran the SubCommittee booth at the WRAM show when its was filled to such capacity on 3 floors you couldn’t squeeze past people and it took hours to navigate the place. Here we’re through in about 30 minutes. The only real value this time was in fellowship and connecting with old friends at the ESMM and SC Booth. There was a pool that could have accommodated the smaller RC Sub.
Hey look! Fung Pang!! The on RC Submariner I've known to successful build a working RC Sub pressure hull from a Pepsi can! He did it for Irving Loyd at a Groton Regatta!!
As the people that "be" talk about moving this show (whose roots are the once proud WRAM show) to Massachusetts, we here in the NY, NJ,CT Tri state will be left with a void, and nothing to look forward to at mid-winter. Possibly replace it with a breakfast followed by a "Hobby Shop crawl" around Long Island.
Our very own Bob Gaito came in 3rd with his target the Broward Yacht in 1/24th scale “Parrothead” at the shows competition. He can teach us a thing or two regarding detail. Bob currently sports a home brewed GATO class RC Sub, USS COD SS-224 that he built with NO help from other RC Submariners. Now he met us….
God help him.
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