Victoria Scale Modellers Mall display Feb 2001

"VSM" goes to the Mall

Special guest appearance by VSM members Will Hendriks and Percy Olson

by Steve Bamford

--------------------

In early February 2001 VSM The Victoria Scale Modellers had their annual display at one of the local malls. VSM is a Club of close to 40 members that include modellers that build all types of models from Aircraft to Cars to figures to Sci Fi and everything inbetween. They weren't the only club at this mall during that weekend. A number of other local hobby clubs including the local RC Boat Club with their indoor pond display and the HO Train Club with their huge display as well as other hobby clubs were there to put on displays for the locals. At the VSM meeting after the display, there were 3 new members, so one could say that displays like this do help to attract new members and help a club stay healthy. The positive feed back from the general public is another aspect not to be overlooked.


Step by step demonstrations help to show the building process from start to finish.

A couple of kit boxes opened up for the folks to peak in.

Clubs might want to consider including mall displays like the one above as a way to attract new members and to get the word out about the hobby. But there are other interesting aspects to a mall display. The members that hung out at the mall display had a grand time socializing with each other as well as meeting with the public including all the interesting WW2 generation members with their own aviation stories that came by to say hello. Plus it was an excellent place to build kits with fellow club members and have some fun just hanging out.

But one of the pivotal moments was when a young lad of about 7 or 8 came out of the "A Buck or Two" store nearby our display and proudly showed us his purchase of a 1/144 F-16.........there...standing before us in this lads shoes was all of us a long time ago....and we couldn't have supported him enough, because he was carrying on the hobby.

And to the VSM Club members that participated....job well done and a special mention to Rob Bartram who was the driving force behind this mall display.

Steve

(click on the image below to load the full size photo)

(use your back button to return to this page after viewing full size photo)


A couple of VSM club members and ARC regulars sitting at the display working on kits...Percy Olson on left and Will Hendriks sitting on the right.	Now we begin our clockwise walkaround


The car guys put out plenty of models.	The display was enjoyed by all...as can be seen by this gentleman admiring the Armour display


More aircraft	More aircraft and the home stretch back to the 2 ARC regulars in their "modeller hunch" pose....Well done Will and Percy.