OWLS HEAD — The Owls Head Transportation Museum hosted its annual Midcoast Model Festival, Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29. The event attracted a large crowd of model builders of all ages, as well as numerous model clubs from around the region.

In total, 175 exhibitors, of which 65 were registered modeling clubs and associations, filled the museum with everything form cars, trains, boats and planes to rockets, working steam and gas engines, and miniatures.  

“It’s all about models today,” said Toby Stinson, Special Event and Auto Auction Coordinator. “It’s an annual event we hold every year in honor of the miniaturists, modelers, RC cars and the people who do scaled-down versions of the things you see here at the museum every day.”

Stinson said that compared to previous years, this year was shaping up quite well.

“We moved the event off of Maine Maple Sunday, so we didn’t compete with that statewide event,” he said. “ We have just a great variety of areas of interest to people. There are a lot of kids of all ages here and that’s just what we like to see.”

Stinson said it would be hard to say which models people like the best.

“Everyone seems to gravitate to something different,” he said. “People enjoy the indoor flying arena and the live steam model railroads. A lot of the models these days are not necessarily static. They are moving and they’re radio controlled, such as those that fly. Unfortunately because of the weather we can’t do anything outside, which we usually do, but it’s very interesting to see all the 3D graphics, the digital displays and the simulators.” 

It’s not all computers. There were an abundance of traditional handcrafted models, as well.

“The handcrafted traditional wooden boats and planes,” Stinson said. “People are drawn to quality and you see quality in everything you see here.” 

Besides viewing all the models, the novice or first time modeler could get an idea of where and how to start.

“It’s a great place to do just that and one of the first people you should talk to is the Southern Main Scale Modelers Association,” said Stinson. “They’ve supported our museum for the last 25 plus years.”

The Midcoast Modelers Association’s program, Make-and-Take, provides small snap kit models for children. The workshop and model kit is free and just like the name says, you make it and take it with you. The Maine Robotics League also had mechanized Lego set-ups with a free Lego play area that gave the kids of all ages a chance to get involved.

The Midcoast Model Festival was just one of many events held by the museum. Stinson said there would be more events over the upcoming school spring, vacation break.

“The education programs coming up over vacation week are free,” said Stinson. “We do that every year. Then we’ll be gearing up for our outdoor special events this season. On May 30, our first outdoor event, the entire Eastern Regional Lincoln/Zephyrs Owners Club, is having its annual convention and meeting in Midcoast Maine this year.

Stinson said the club will host owners from all over the country at the museum.