Trip to Model Expo 2019

[Ansett A330]

DAY 1 Wednesday June 5

Well we are on our way.

Graeme got up really early so made an early start from Townsville which was bad for me as having travelled back to Blackwater the day before I had lots to do before he picked me up on the (sort of) way through.

So with an original ETA of 1230 not even being torpedoed by a Roo north of Belyando slowed him up sufficiently so that when he was 12 minutes away I had to finish packing and jump in the Shower to be out the front when he stopped.

After a quick 15 minute load up of gear a Driver change was announced by the Owner and the Number 2 Driver was in the seat from Blackwater to Surat. (Look that up on your Maps!)

So now overnighting at the Pub in Surat watching the Stad de Origin.

Big day tomorrow trying to get clear of Mexico and into South America.

[Ansett A330]

DAY 2 THURSDAY JUNE 6

QUEENSLANDER!

[Ansett A330]

OK Day 2 was Surat to Narrandera which meant overnighting in "Loser Territory" (not My words but reasonably accurate given the previous night's result) as we originally hoped to get over the Border but ran out of light.

DAY 3 Friday June 7, 2019

Not so early start from Narrandera with the Temperature 1 degree C and Fog as thick as Pea Soup meaning visibility down to about 50 metres so trying to average a reasonable speed wasn't possible until later in the morning when the Sun was able to warm things up a bit. One thing we did notice was the abandoned Railway Line which sadly seems very common these days.

So eventually made it to Melbourne just after Midday and well sad to say the impression of Melbourne these days was not good.

Tried to find Hylands Bookshop and after eventually finding somewhere to park the stupid Internet gave the old Address for some reason so gave up to get back to the Parking Station in order not to pay a trillion dollars for Parking for nothing and got short changed by the Parking Machine anyway. Not impressed at all by the crowds and the traffic - seems as though a lot of people could either learn some manners or how to drive or both.

So gave up and headed for Accommodation and have a rest instead of searching out any other Stores of interest.

[F-27pax]

Enjoyed the travelogue and looked up Surat on Google Earth. Talk about the back of beyond ...

Trundling around the shops of Melbourne can be a real pain because it means going to Melbourne. Don't they all go to Expo anyhow?

[Ansett A330]

PM Friday
Graeme caught up with and I met for the first time AGW. Very nice to meet him and certainly knows his Mirages and great FedEx stories.

SATURDAY JUNE 8 2019
Made it to the Expo early and quickly did the rounds and bought a few things. First ACAMer we came across was Brad (and his Dad). Very nice to meet them and have a look through all the Books they had for sale. Graeme then caught up with and I met for the first time Tony P. Very nice to meet Tony and compare experiences. Next up we stumbled across Ray S and again very nice to meet Ray again. Both of us are looking forward to making the trek down to Canberra again in November for ScaleACT. Next ACAMer Graeme caught up with and again I met for the first time was Paul Oz RB Fan. Very nice to meet Paul as well. Tony P said there was another ACAMer about the place - Adam - but that as he had a T-Shirt saying "KEEP CLEAR 200 feet away" or something like that no one went near him! So "Hello Adam" where ever you were.

Later in the Afternoon we met up with AGW and Steve. Again very nice to meet AGW and Steve. Further rounds of the place ensued and more purchases made as well as both of us taking calls from Mates up North who wanted stuff.

Not entirely Aviation related but was particularly taken by the Models on the Paper Modelling stand. The HMS Lion Battlecruiser was particularly stunning. The maze of Competition Tables sometimes made it hard to remember where you had been and what you had seen and I reckon this is probably what led to one Brisbane Modeller saying last year that he thought QMHE was bigger. As a Mate of mine would say to me "Ah No Fred it's not!".

After finishing the day sitting around a Table in the Food area being fed free leftover Spring Rolls, Pies, and Sausage Rolls (thanks Ladies for thinking of us "Old Blokes"!) we were given 30 seconds to get out otherwise we would have been judging - now wouldn't that have resulted in some surprise placings! So an executive decision by AGW meant we headed straight to the Italian Restaurant where he had made Bookings where we were joined by Michel. Very nice to meet Michel who had bought along a 1:72 Mirage whereupon the Table was almost turned into a Modelling Table and the poor young Lady waiting on the Table had a hard time getting the "Gentlemen"'s attention!

Very nice Meals and the Modelling talk continued to flow even more that the Tap Water in the Glasses and the evening ended with the creation of the "Sunbury Scale Modellers" where TOR was formally invested as President in Absentia. So we can say we were there when it all started!

Need to hit the hay now so today's update will have to be tomorrow night where hopefully we'll be back in Mexico and well on our way home. Hopefully this time without attracting or being hit by any Wildlife.

[Tony P]

Lol was good to meet you Rob. Also good to meet AGW and Michel in person as well.

That restaurant didn't know what hit it! I think it was a bit fancy for us plastic fondle-ers!

Hope you and Graeme have a safe trip back.

Cheers
Tony

PS TOR is the president of the "Sunbury Model Club" not the "Sunbury Area Model club"

[Ansett A330]

Have to update this properly when home as 60s three star accom in West Wyalong Mexico not big enough to spread out and setup superheated laptop and also have to hit the hay as pushed on into the night to try to minimise the next leg tomorrow.

[F-27pax]

I understand there are these things called aeroplanes. Quite handy I'm told.

[oz rb fan]

good to meet you Rob...always good to put faces to names.

[Wedgetail]

After all those years (over twenty years) after leaving Townsville & the club, the look on your face Rob after meeting up again after all these years made my day.
Only wish I had a camera, at least Graeme got a good laugh. It was great to see you pair again.
Have a safe journey back home you pair and keep up the travel log.

Also great to meet Brad, Oz rb and a few other A/Cammers as well.

cheers
Wayne.