[WWI] Columbus Nats

[Karen Rychlewski]

Looks like I'm one of the first to get back to a computer.

There were 1015 modelers registered and I think 2525 models entered;  
OT aircraft  put up a good showing, with both the 1/72 and 1/48  
categories split into two each for judging. OT aircraft also appeared  
in Vacuform, Scratchbuilt, Small Aircraft Dioramas, OOB, and there  
was a Collection of 20 planes of Jagdgeschwader 1. OT armor was very  
light: couple of British Mk IVs, a Whippet, and 3 or 4 others.

As usual, a good time was had by all. I think I bumped into all the  
listees attending at one time or another: John of the Outer Banks,  
"Tex" Huggins, and Atlanta Buz were there and Toby Young flew in from  
Ouagadougou (I'm not making that up);  Mike Robinson took 1st Place  
in 1/48 Central Powers with a beautiful Lohner B.II and Mike Moore  
took 3rd with an Albatros in the same category. List lurkers Bruce  
Simard got at least 2 1sts for ot aircraft, and Doc Tom got a 1st for  
an ot tank. The 'Pigeon Bus' by yours truly received a 2nd Place in  
the Armor Conversions category. My apologies if I missed someone with  
the awards, as I fled the "Aris and Bill" show for the competition  
room (which unexpectedly was open during the award ceremony). So I  
don't know who received the Mike Fritz award either. Let's wait for a  
fuller list before starting the 'congrats' deluge.

Only two Wingnuts models were on the tables: an LVG and a Bristol  
Fighter: they are awesome models to see and drew a lot of attention,  
but not from the judges.

As noted by Matt, the 2011 Nats will be in Omaha—can't get too much  
more central than that...

Karen