Did you go to the Hobby Expo on Saturday, Feb. 19th?
If not, you missed a fun event full of history, scale models, robots, radio controlled vehicles, and free activities.
The Hobby Expo is hosted by the Santa Rosa and Mt. Diablo chapters of the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) and it has gained the reputation as one of the best IPMS events in the state. Model builders from Folsom to the East and San Diego to the South come to Petaluma to display their models and compete for awards. This year about 100 model builders brought over 300 scale models to the competition.
HobbyTown USA of Petaluma also sponsored exhibit space for 15 local hobby clubs to show off their hobbies and invite others to join them. Many of the clubs provided opportunities for the public to try driving, operating, or playing a hobby activity. HobbyTown USA offered free plastic model building for kids, a LEGO make-and-take, and free slot car racing.
You can see pictures of the event at the following links:
HobbyTown USA of Petaluma
If you would like to learn more about the hobby clubs that attended the Hobby Expo follow the links below:
IPMS Santa Rosa: Scale plastic models of all kinds. Meets the 2nd Friday of every month at HobbyTown USA.
IPMS Mt. Diablo: Scale plastic models of all kinds. Meets the the fourth Thursday of every month at the Contra Costa Water District building in Concord.
Santa Rosa Junior College Robotics Club: A local resource for those interested in any field of robotics. Contact srjcrobotics@yahoo.com for meeting info.
Western Warships Combat Club: Our members build and fight scale warship combat in a safe and friendly environment.
Bay Area Tankers: The oldest continuously-operating club for radio-controlled model armor in America.
Redwood Empire R/C Ground Pounders: One of Northern California’s oldest radio controlled car clubs promotes the hobby/sport of radio controlled auto racing. Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the Round Table Pizza across from Coddingtown Mall in Santa Rosa.
Wine Country Flyers: Promoting model aviation in Sonoma country since ~1989. Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at Veteran’s Memorial Hall, Santa Rosa.
North Bay R/C Crawlers: Sets up competitions for radio controlled scale rock crawling.
North Bay Gaming Group: Have a great time, and enjoy the hobby of miniature wargaming. Meets for game play on Friday nights at a club members home and on the last Saturday of each month at HobbyTown USA in Petaluma.
Sonoma County Model Railroad Society: Promoting HO scale model railroading. Meets the 1st and 4th Thursday of every month at HobbyTown USA in Petaluma.
Nor-Cal Train Collectors Association: Promote the hobby of preserving, collecting, and running of toy trains trains. Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month at Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall, Lafayette.
Wine Country Modelers: A model club emphasizing custom model cars and science fiction models. Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at HobbyTown USA in Petaluma.
Redwood Empire Model Shipwrights: A club for builders of wooden ship models. Meets the 1st saturday of every month at HobbyTown USA in Petaluma.
San Francisco Yacht Club: Devoted to the building and sailing of model yachts, both power and sail. Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month at Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park.
Fantasy Modelers Club: Brings together modelers who love fantasy themes such as monsters, comic related, science fiction, TV and movie characters. Apply on the club web site for information about monthly meetings.
Coastal Valley Lines: An informal association of novice to expert model railroaders from around the Sonoma County area. Meets the 1st Thursday of every month at Sam’s For Play Cafe in Santa Rosa.
Golden Gate Garrison Star Wars Club: Bringing together Star Wars costume enthusiasts and using that enthusiasm to promote all forms of Star Wars related activities.
Next year we will be adding another room to the Hobby Expo with more clubs and activities. Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 11, 20112.
Have fun,
Steve
