pics from the Western Canadian Regional Model Contest and a couple air museums

philp · June 08, 2013, 10:55:28 PM

Last weekend I flew up to Calgary and then drove down to Nanton (about an hour south) to attend the WCRMC. While I didn't bring any entries, I did take the camera and got some good pics including some decent Whiffs.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115549746726410540917/WesternCanadianRegionalModelContestNantonAlbertaCanada#

philp · June 08, 2013, 10:59:30 PM

While at the contest they ran up 2 engines on the museum Lancaster but couldn't get the 3rd to catch.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115549746726410540917/BomberCommandMuseumNantonAlbertaCanada#

I also hit the Aero Space Museum which is on the southern edge of the Calgary airport as I was heading out on Sunday. Got to see another Lanc and some other nice stuff including a Sopwith Triplane replica.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115549746726410540917/AeroSpaceMuseumCalgaryAlbertaCanada#

Notice Dusty in the front from the upcoming Planes movie.

All in all a very busy but fun weekend.

Father Ennis · June 09, 2013, 12:43:20 AM

Now that Spitfire is fantastic !!!!!! I just love it.

NARSES2 · June 09, 2013, 01:12:18 AM

Nice stuff there - cheers Phil

kitbasher · June 09, 2013, 02:49:13 AM

Such a brilliant part of the world, so jealous!
Must save the pennies for another trip sometime soon. A trip to see the Churchill MB polar bears is the plan for my next Canada trip.

PR19_Kit · June 09, 2013, 04:03:50 AM

What Father Ennis said!

A RADIAL engined Spitfire in the IAC? That's sideways thinking for sure. And the Isreali F-23 really looks the business, I've been wondering what to do with mine for some time now......

Gondor · June 09, 2013, 04:09:59 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 09, 2013, 04:03:50 AM
What Father Ennis said!

A RADIAL engined Spitfire in the IAC? That's sideways thinking for sure. And the Isreali F-23 really looks the business, I've been wondering what to do with mine for some time now......

That would be the F-22 then Kit?

Gondor

PR19_Kit · June 09, 2013, 05:10:05 AM

Well yes.....

What I MEANT to say was the Isreali F-22 looked the business and gave me ideas what to do with my F-23.

To my mind the F-22 should have bgeen strangled at birth, it's UGLY compared to the Black Widow.

Old Wombat · June 09, 2013, 08:07:56 AM

I like these;

Ignorance is a curse! What is this?

Guy

Rheged · June 09, 2013, 08:18:08 AM

What is this? I think it might possibly be a Douglas B-18 Bolo, known as the Digby in RCAF service.

kitnut617 · June 09, 2013, 08:18:38 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on June 09, 2013, 08:07:56 AM

Ignorance is a curse! What is this?

Guy

B-18 Digby Guy, very nicely done too I might add. I've got a vacuform of it in the stash.

I missed the show Philip, I'm only a couple of hours north of there, maybe next time we could meet up ----

The Calgary Lanc' was inspected by engineers a few years ago to see if it was airworthy and they found it was or could be. It had been mounted on a pylon at the south-west corner of the airport for years but vagrants had been living in it so it was moved to the museum so it could be restored. Then they got this idea about getting it airbourne again. When that happened a problem cropped up, the City of Calgary thought they owned it but some people have come out of the woodwork and claim it's theirs, it's in the courts at the moment ---

The Mosquito is owned by the City too, and only last year it was decided to get it fully restored, there had been a big discussion about selling it --

kitnut617 · June 09, 2013, 08:39:26 AM

On the west side of Calgary is the Military Museum (formerly The Museum of the Regiments) which is on the old Curry CFB site. When the base was closed down they had only just built the museum and the decision was made to expand it and combine HMCS Tucumseh exhibits with the Regiments. There's a Seafire Mk.XV, Sea Fury and a Banshee there along with a CF-116 plus a load of tanks and other stuff. I happened to get involved with the CF-116 and the fuselage sat in my brother's work yard for nearly a year.

Just north of Calgary ( a couple of hours) is the Reynolds Museum, which has a load of other aircraft in it's dedicated hall.

Old Wombat · June 09, 2013, 08:42:36 AM

Thanks, guys!

Guy

philp · June 09, 2013, 01:34:34 PM

Would love to meet up the next time I make it north or if you decide to head south, say, to the Nats in Colorado in August...

The Lanc was fun. They did engine run ups on it every 2 hrs and was very popular. The time I watched they had the Fire Dept deployed with hoses at the read at each engine bank. Not sure if they were expecting problems or just being overly cautious but didn't give you a sense of security. They also had a Hercules engine of some type on a stand that they ran up. Completely different sound than the Merlins.

Made it over to see Rick at Uncle Bill's hobbies. Could have spent hours in his store as it had pretty much everything. Chatted with him and a friend of his that flies a F4U Corsair out of Kalispell, MT. And of course, now I can't find either of their emails.

I might make it back that way for the GOMBS show depending on when they do it or understand the other one will be back around Edmonton next year.

Rick told me about the Military Museum but I just didn't have the time. Didn't even make it down to the Tower like I had planned. Just too quick a trip.

Oh, and for those who like the Irish Spit. That is a FW-190 nose on it.

kitnut617 · June 09, 2013, 04:26:52 PM

Where abouts in Colorado ?

Uncle Bill's is very hard not to walk out without something in your hand, I've been going to the shop for years, even when the real Uncle Bill was the owner (he sold it to Rick when he decided to retire)