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Welcome to The Wisconsin Scale Boating Association website. The WSBA is a club dedicated to fostering interest in the hobby of building static and radio controlled scale ships and boats. Our membership is open to anyone interested in the model shipbuilding hobby. We are centered in the Metro Milwaukee area but we cover most of southern and eastern Wisconsin.
The WSBA is about promoting and enjoying the model shipbuilding hobby. If you are in need of help getting started you can contact a club in your area or we will be glad to help you. Check our links pages for a list of scale boat clubs and resources. We receive many requests for assistance and we do our best to help. Membership in the WSBA is not necessary for us to give assistance. We have members who are very knowledgeable and are glad to share that knowledge. You will find the club e-mail address below.
The monthly newsletters are posted as pdf files and are downloadable from the News page. If your computer does not have Adobe Reader installed you will need to download the free Adobe Reader plug in. Use the link provided on the News page.
If you have any questions feel free to e-mail us at: info@wimodelboats.org
When you e-mail us make sure to mention model boating in the subject line so we can sort you out from the spam.
A little about our history and what we do:
The Wisconsin Scale Boating Association (WSBA) is a non-profit hobby organization dedicated to promoting participation in hobbies in general, and specifically construction of scale static and radio-controlled model ships and boats. This mission is carried on through member participation in club activities, and demonstrations to the general public at area events.
The WSBA was initially formed in 1979 by a small group of boat modelers who began exchanging ideas and experience during encounters at the R.C. Hobby Shop in Brookfield Wisconsin. These chance meetings at the hobby shop led to the formation of the R.C. Hobby Guild. In 1982 the club adopted the current name and the organization became more formalized. The club has seen steady growth and the annual membership averages over 50 members. As the organization grew it became desirable and necessary to adopt a formal structure. We became a Wisconsin Non-Profit Corporation, established a board of officers, and drafted By-Laws.
The membership covers a wide geographic area centered on Metropolitan Milwaukee. Our membership ranges from Two Rivers in the north to Kenosha in the south, to Rockford, IL in the west. The membership age range spans from early teen to well into the 80’s. Our members come from a wide cross section of the populace. We have and have had executives, engineers, teachers, truck drivers, factory workers, and laborers in our ranks. All members share a common love of the hobby and the club enjoys a strong camaraderie.
Members are encouraged to promote the hobby. They are asked to be willing to share their knowledge and experience with other members and the public. The primary benefit of belonging to the WSBA is access to a remarkable amount of information and talent. Many new members find that much of the fun enjoyed in the club is the interaction with other members and the public.
As part of our effort to promote the hobby we participate in several events during the year. These events include the MMDA Wisconsin Boat Show, The Sardine Regatta in Mazomanie, WI, The Shops at Woodlake Sidewalk Sale Days in Kohler, and at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. We have also displayed in previous years at Milwaukee’s Maritime Days, Strictly Sail, Cudahy Youth Fair, Manitowoc Riverwalk Festival, and Rogers Street Days in Two Rivers. The WSBA also has held its own model boat shows at Mayfair Mall, and Brookfield Square Mall. The Brookfield Square show was known as "The Biggest Little Boat Show in the Midwest" and would bring together modelers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana.
The WSBA is a “scale” model club. All models are supposed to be representative of a actual boat or type of boat. Radio-Controlled models attempt to recreate authentic operation as well as look like a full size boat. We do make some exceptions when our members take a little creative license, like R/C-ing a toy boat or making a R/C Shark, Duck, or Goose. In radio-control, models are limited to electric, sail, or live steam propulsion. Glow fuel model boats are not allowed in the WSBA due to the noise, pollution, and potential danger these boats cause. The club welcomes static ”case model” builders and R/C model builders. We also welcome people who may not wish to build their own models but have a interest in the hobby. Membership is open to anyone who has a interest in the model boating hobby.
Monthly meetings are held at Greenfield News & Hobby in Greenfield on the second Thursday of each month, at 7pm.The home R/C operation site for the club is at Sheridan Park in Cudahy. We generally operate on Sunday afternoons from about 1pm to 3pm, when weather and scheduling allow. Sunday running at Sheridan Park is informal and there may not always be members out on a particular Sunday.
We encourage non-members to come out and see us. If you have a scale model bring it along. If you need help with a project or to get started please contact us. It is important to us that you enjoy the hobby, not to get you on the membership list.
Where we are located.
We are based in the Metro Milwaukee Wisconsin area. Our membership does range out to Two Rivers in the north, Rockford IL, to the west, and Kenosha to the south. Living in the upper Midwest is fantastic for maritime enthusiasts, and boat modelers. The WSBA is located in a unique place on Earth. In one days travel you can see almost every type of commercial vessel there is.
The Great Lakes is a major transportation system and we regularly see ocean freighters, tug and barge units, and lake bulk freighters up to 1000' in length. Milwaukee is a deep water international shipping port and we see freighters from around the world. We also have received visits from cruise ships, and warships. While commercial fishing on the lakes is not what it once was you can still find working fishing tugs in the area. Less than three hours drive away is the Mississippi River where you can see towboat and barge traffic from spring to late fall.
Some photos from The Port of Milwaukee
To view pictures click on a thumbnail. To return use your browsers Back button.
Our area is rich in maritime history. Manitowoc built 28 fleet submarines in WW II. The USS Pueblo was built in Kewaunee. Peterson Builders was the premier builder for wood hull minesweepers until they closed their Sturgeon Bay yard in the late 1990s. Marinette Marine built three Staten Island ferries for New York, the new USCGC Mackinaw, and LCS 1 Freedom and LCS 3 Fort Worth. They are also building the Coast Guard's 45 foot Response Boat - Medium in their Green Bay facility. Boat and yacht builders Cruisers Inc., Carver, Burger, and Palmer Johnson call Wisconsin home.
LCS 1 Freedom Mackinaw Staten Is Ferry Palmer Johnson Cruisers Inc
We can boast several world class museums which are an easy day trip from Milwaukee. A few of our favorites are the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, Rogers Street Fishing Museum in Two Rivers, and the National Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque IA.
Lastly, you would be hard pressed to find a greater concentration of fine boat model builders than in the Midwest. Chicago alone has a couple of strong, active clubs who turn out excellent work. Clubs in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Toledo, St. Louis, Edina, MN, Quad Cities, IA, and Detroit all have excellent builders and strong clubs.
See our Boat Club Links page to find a club near you. If your club isn't listed and would like to be, drop us an e-mail.
Because of the inconvenience of spam on the internet we do not post member e-mail addresses online. To contact us please use the e-mail address: info@wimodelboats.org and your communication will be forwarded to the appropriate person.
Officers:
President: Richard Sterle
Vice-President: John Sells
Secretary: Dave Blake
Treasurer: Tom Thelen
Regional Representatives:
Manitowoc/Two Rivers Representative: Chuck Lewis
Racine/Kenosha Representative: Dave LaMack
Newsletter Editor: Dave Blake
Website Administrator: Bill Pelky
Indoor:
Monthly indoor meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, at Greenfield News & Hobby 6815 W. Layton Avenue. These meetings are open to the public and if you would like to learn more about the WSBA and/or the hobby we encourage you to attend.
Meeting Schedule for 2011
January 13thFebruary 10th
March 10th
April 14th
May 12th
June 9th
July 14th
August 11th
September 8th
October 13th
November 10th (Annual Meeting)
December 8th
Meetings generally last about 1 1/2 Hours. Club business is handled first then we move on to what members are working on or mini-workshops. Guest speakers may be invited to address the club on technical topics. Occasionally the club will schedule a workshop meeting for a Sunday afternoon (not during running season) to cover a topic too large to handle at a regular meeting. Some workshop topics covered were resin casting, soldering, electronics, and lighting. Members with experience in specific areas are encouraged to stage a workshop with other members joining in to run the workshop.
Outdoor:
Outdoor operation is between May and October. Club running is on Sunday afternoons between 1pm & 3pm at Sheridan Park pond at E. Layton Avenue and Lake Drive in Cudahy. Sunday club running is contingent on weather, holidays, and event commitments of the club.
Our Home Pond:
Sheridan Park
4800 S Lake Drive
Cudahy, Wisconsin
Sheridan Park pond is a designated site for operating radio controlled boat models in the Milwaukee County Park System. The site is open to anyone wishing to operate their models. We ask that modelers be courteous and share the pond with the fishermen and other modelers. Check your radio frequency with other modelers to prevent conflicts. The WSBA provides a dock for launching of models. Operation is limited to electric, sail, and steam powered models.
To get to the pond take Layton Avenue east. Layton Ave. ends in the park.
Turn left at the statue and go north about one block. The pond is on the right.
Our membership is open to all who are interested in our hobby. You do not have to be a builder to be a member. Ship model collectors, and enthusiasts are also welcome. If you are considering membership please review the club Bylaws and rules on the Rules Page.
The WSBA is a active club. We participate in several displays and events each year. The club has a reputation for being a dependable and responsible organization. This reputation was earned by the dedication and commitment of the membership. It is desirable for each member to contribute as much time and talent to maintaining our club and reputation as they reasonably can. There are always things that need attention. The smallest task, like installing or removing the dock from the park, requires manpower and coordination. Staging a display at a event requires members who are willing to participate. Participation does not just mean showing up and running your model. Members must also be willing to act as ambassadors of our hobby. Interaction with the general public at events is inevitable, and is necessary to achieve the WSBA's goal to promote the hobby.
If you wish to join the WSBA you may download a membership application below. The application can be e-mailed to info@wimodelboats.org or brought to a meeting.
To download a membership application in MS Word doc. format click here
To download a membership application in Adobe pdf. format click here
Dues:
Yearly membership is $20.00 for adults, $10.00 for Junior members (under18). Persons serving full time in the military are admitted dues free. Membership runs for a calendar year. Applications for membership are voted on by a quorum at a scheduled meeting or event. Applicants joining in the fourth quarter of the calendar year will have dues paid in that quarter applied to the following year.
