The 2013 WRAM ShowFebruary 22 - 24, 2013 The Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ
Click here for Show Dates, Road Map, and Summary Information! Click here for the Exhibitor listing! Click here for the Seminar & Meeting listing! Click here for Howard McEntee Memorial Award Winners Click here for Advanced Group Ticket Sales 
General InformationOne of the country's largest hobby trade shows, and the biggest on the East Coast, is the annual R/C show held by the Westchester Radio Modelers, at a new venue this year, the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ. In addition to exhibits by some 150 or more manufacturers and organizations, the show is a magnet for modelers who compete for prizes in a static competition that is staggering for its size and the beauty of the models on display. The show is normally held on the last full weekend of February each year. The Show is now open all three days, Friday through Sunday, and opens daily at 10 am. Daily rates are $12.00 per adult, and $3 for children. Children under age 6 are admitted free, and on Sunday 12 and under are admitted free. Modelers (and exhibitors) from all over the country attend the show, and it is a showcase for all the latest in kits, engines, motors, radio systems, plans, accessories, and other hardware. Static CompetitionTo give you an idea of the range of models present at the show, here are the categories of models that compete for prizes: Airplanes - Designer Scale (Self-designed model, open to kit manufacturers)
- Vintage R/C (based on VR/CS Concours rules )
- Helicopter
- Sport
- Stand-Off Scale
- Civilian
- Post WW I Military
- World War I
- Scale Electric
- Pattern IMAC
Boats - Scale Military
- Scale Non-Military
- Racing
Cars - Smaller than 1/4 Scale
- 1/4 Scale or larger
All models must be operable and radio-controlled. To give you an idea of incentives -- beyond the glory of competing -- here are the prize awards: For Entries of All Ages:- Overall Best in Show: $1000
- Best in each class ($200 First place, $100 second and $50 for third in Class)
Junior Competition (age 16 and under)- Best Junior Entry: $150
- Trophies for second to sixth places
- Small prizes for all other entries
( Note: Junior Class entries can be any kind of Radio Controlled Model)
Contest Pre-Registration FormsThose wishing to obtain pre-registration forms and information about entering the Static Competition can send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Dan Carozza 13 Delia Ct - Rear Apt Yonkers , NY 10710 Swap ShopAnother big attraction of the show is the Swap Shop, to which modelers bring their spare equipment and offer it for sale. Hundreds of items change hands. Information on how it works, click here. Pre-registration forms can be obtained from: Cory Rossi 33 West Lane South Salem, NY 10590 Back to the top.... Advance Group SalesAdvance Group Sales are also offered for groups of ten or more who want to avoid ticket lines for the show. Prices are $10.00 per adult, and $3 for children any day. Children under age 6 are admitted free. A check or money order, made out to WRAM with a stamped, self-addressed envelope should be sent to: Bob Krull 154 Gold Road Poughquag , N.Y. 12570 Seminars; the WRAM Flyer ProgramSeminars for beginners and advanced modelers were introduced at the show in 1996 and proved enormously popular. One earlier program, which continues, is a free building program for boys and girls, aged 8-12, in which a rubber-poweredWRAM Flyer (the great Delta Dart design by Frank Ehling) is provided for completion by each participant. Capacity is limited to earliest arrivals at sessions held at 11 am and 2 pm each day. One of the latter program's instructors, Tony Tartaglia, offers insights after some 15 years of experience with it: Kids have a sustained interest in even the simplest of planes like the WRAM Flyer. You must view this as both a building and flying project. In our experience the controlled flying competition that takes place after the building is done carries more impact than the actual building. Anyone familiar with the little rubber-powered plane knows its wonderful simplicity of design and construction. Little needs to be added to the list of instructions for any adult who wishes to help a child with it or to encourage other adults to get their kids involved. Before the program begins, we encourage parents or older friends to join in with the kids. Often the adult who is unfamiliar with modeling becomes hooked by this shared experience, if only to find a new door of contact with the child. Make it clear to the participants what the Flyer model can do once it is built, and that the child will see his or her completed model really fly. Once building begins, the kids complete construction of the wing, rudder, and stab. The construction simply involves gluing down the sticks right onto the plan, which then becomes the covering of the airplane. To speed up the building process in the limited time we have at the show, the components are finally assembled by an experienced project leader. The final assembly consists of joining the motor stick to the wing and stab. We used glue guns earlier, but now use CA adhesive with an accelerant to fill in the gaps that sometimes come of youthful exuberance. When there is plenty of drying time, any white glue will do the job and a child can use it with a little help to assure that joints are properly filled Once the Flyer models are done, the flying phase begins. This is the most satisfying stage of the project for instructors as well as students. The competition is simple. dollar bills are hung from the ceiling roughly six to eight feet apart. Each youngster gets to fly his model, one at a time, and trims his plane with the goal of hitting the dollar or the string attached to it. Of course, he keeps the prize if he hits it! The planes are trimmed with a small amount of clay in the nose to keep them from climbing. After each flight, the instructors discuss each plane's performance, suggesting any improvements possible in balance or launching techniques. Each participant then gets to fly again. The fly-off has proven to be the most eagerly awaited part of the project. This is evidence of the interest and enthusiasm kids have to see the planes perform well. Without doubt the project would not be nearly as successful without the attention given to each kid, his or her plane, and its flight. (Click below to see another, more advanced model.- The WRAMPAGER) After the project of building and flying the WRAM Flyer, what's next? That depends on the age of the modeler and his or her contact with adults, parents, or teachers interested in model aviation. Over time, the most significant contribution to these kids' interest in models has been the satisfaction of watching their simple planes fly. With no regard for the experience of their builders, these planes give kids a taste of the thrill of model flying. Click here for details and free plans for the WRAMPAGER, another plane you can build.
For those interested in model kits of the kind described, we have them available and imprinted with the colorful Hat in the Ring logo at $2 each, plus shipping. (Local hobby shops may have similar kits under the name Delta Dart). Tony Tartaglia's address is 9 Durham Road , White Plains , NY 10607 .
HOWARD McENTEE MEMORIAL AWARDThis award, presented annually by the WRAMs at the White Plains, NY show, is given in recognition of great contributors and innovators in the hobby of radio control. Howard McEntee was himself an early developer and experimenter who was instrumental in helping the new hobby start its development toward the amazingly reliable systems we have today. When McEntee passed away in 1972, Bob Foshay, a now-retired member of the WRAMs, encouraged the club to begin an award in McEntee's name that would recognize others with the pioneering spirit and accomplishments exemplified by its namesake. Following are the names of the recipients since the award was established: - 1973 Maynard Hill
- 1974 Ed Lorenz
- 1975 Bill and Walt Good
- 1976 Don Mathes and Doug Spreng
- 1977 Bob Dunham
- 1978 Phil Kraft
- 1979 Gerry Nelson
- 1980 Hal DeBolt
- 1981 Paul Runge
- 1982 Bob Aberle
- 1983 Nick Ziroli
- 1984 Carl Goldberg
- 1985 Bob Novak
- 1986 George Myers
- 1987 Fred Marks
- 1988 Don Lowe
- 1989 Bill Hershberger
- 1990 John Worth
- 1991 George Steiner
- 1992 Bill Winter
- 1993 Cliff Weirick
- 1994 Don Brown
- 1995 Art Schroeder
- 1996 Bill Northrop
- Bob Foshay (special club award to founder)
- 1997 Jack R. Albrecht
- 1998 Carl Schwab
- 1999 Leon Shulman
- 2000 Norm Rosenstock
- 2001 Abbott Lahti
- 2002 Hazel Sigafoose
- 2003 Dave Brown
- 2004 Pete Reed
- 2005 Tom Hunt
- 2006 Stuart "Stu" Richmond
- 2007 Dave Platt
- 2008 Henry Haffke
- 2009 Keith Shaw
- 2010 Frank Tiano
- 2011 Joe Beshar
- 2012, the McEntee was not awarded.
- 2013 Roy Vaillancourt
WRAM SHOW 2013 |