30 hours nonstop at the Crans-Montana indoor ski center

The Sierre model-making club held its indoor meet again on March 12 and 13 at the Halle de la Moubra in Crans-Montana. “It’s a hit, and people are asking for more, so why not do it again?” exclaim organizers Olivier Bonvin and Yves Emery.

In a tennis hall 80 meters long, 35 meters wide, and 13 meters high, the model builders were having the time of their lives. But challenges, each more devious than the last,

were slyly in store for them. They certainly had the option to escape to the cafeteria/bar for a bite to eat, play on the simulators—one of which simulated… the tennis hall—or cheer on the kids participating in the drawing contest. Construction tables, repair tables, and loading tables were available. Raclette with dried meat: everything was there.

Indoor activities are fun—we break things, we laugh, but we don’t take it too seriously. So they organized events like crawling through

and balloon-popping. The latter event involved teams of two inflating a balloon, attaching it to a pole, and popping it with a needle attached to their model airplane. The best pairs consisted of a modeler used to blowing up balloons (not uncommon in Valais) and a sober pilot (a rarity at the Montana indoor event) who had his aircraft under control. Any other tactic turned the event into an ordeal. Other similar challenges would liven up the long Valais night as well as the entire Sunday.

A few stunning “peanuts” models, a fantastic high-tech Osprey—which we’ll cover in more detail in the newsletter—a gyrocopter, a glider over 4 meters long, a motorized kite, and, of course, helicopters provided plenty of variety amid the frenzied flurry of F3P foam planes.

It was a 30-hour celebration in Valais. We hope our tired bodies will be able to recover in time for next year.