By Anna Skinner
Radio-controlled model boats and submarines filled the Veterans Memorial reflecting pool Aug. 6 and 7.
The Indianapolis Admirals RC Boat and Ship Club – the local chapter meets in Carmel – runs its ships in the reflecting pool often, but this year it decided to host its event with the SubCommittee and its scale submarines.
“Normally, there’s a separate sub event and a separate scale (ship) event, but this year, we decided to combine them,” Indy Admirals Vice President Scott Black said. “The scale event is radio-controlled boats, all of which are scaled to look like real boats down to the smallest detail.”
For the scale ships, the idea is to maneuver the ships through an obstacle course to score points. Throughout the day, the public was invited to attend and watch and give radio-controlled tug boats a try.
“This venue is really unique in the United States because it’s really big and really shallow,” Black said. “We have people from Canada and Australia come. In our little world, it’s a big event.”
Greg Vollmer, a Carmel resident and the treasurer of the Indy Admirals, said people came from the nearby farmers market to see what was going on. With kids participating in controlling the tugboats, Vollmer said it helps recruit new members.
In addition to scale ships, the Indy Admirals also has sailing and fast electric. For more, visit indyadmirals.org.
