Scale ModelWorld 2022

[Ratch]

I'll be there with A&NVMSIG again

[bazzacourt]

16 hours ago, treker_ed said:

We've usually parked in the Asda car park, but apparently they changed their rules last year. We now park in the car park next to Asda, towards the TIC. Due to how busy it is on the Saturday, and not liking large, busy crowds (yes I know it's busy Sunday, but nowhere near as busy or packed as it would be on the Saturday) I go along for the Sunday. It's £1 all day parking! Then it's a short 5 minute walk from the car park to the TIC. 

Thanks for the post, I'll be looking for parking for the day on Sunday.

[neillydone]

I am planning to go with my 80yo Dad (who is not too mobile) for the first time: is it reasonable to fit everything into one day or should we try and plan for two?

 

Prob not so bothered about traders just looking at the builds and taking in the atmosphere! I normally go to the IPMS Belgium in Affligem...

[bentwaters81tfw]

You could plan a week and still not see everything . The building is scooter friendly if that helps with mobility. If you only want to look at stuff, then maybe a full day will do it, If you want to bargain hunt or generally shop, then 2 days. (you will see stuff you want to buy.)

 

[John Tapsell]

There will be around 150 separate display stands (plus 120-ish traders) spread across three large exhibition halls. On that basis, I'd suggest that two days is probably better than one. There is a large catering area with seats and tables, so you can plan around taking time out to sit down and rest. You will be doing a lot of walking on concrete floors so bear that in mind.

 

Saturday is always the busier day. If you are both IPMS members, you can get in at 9am on both days. If you are paying customers, you'll need to purchase your e-ticket in advance via our website (https://ipmsuk.org/ipms-scale-modelworld/). If you are unsure how many days you want to be there, purchase tickets for Saturday. The e-ticket portal will be open all weekend so you can always buy tickets for Sunday on the Saturday afternoon. All we ask is that you have a ticket at the point you enter the show - we don't mind how recently you purchased it!

 

If your dad has mobility issues (and if you are less bothered about the traders), I would recommend that you don't rush to be at the doors for 10.00am on Saturday. Leave it for 30 minutes to let the queues die down and aim for 10.30-11.00am.

[colin]

8 hours ago, John Tapsell said:

 

 

If your dad has mobility issues (and if you are less bothered about the traders), I would recommend that you don't rush to be at the doors for 10.00am on Saturday. Leave it for 30 minutes to let the queues die down and aim for 10.30-11.00am.

Exactly what I used to do, get there early, park up and then find somewhere to have a full English breakfast to fill you up for most of the day, then grab some sandwiches/drinks to take away for later when inside.

Edit: forgot to say the food inside has never been that good and also expensive 

[Kelscale]

Are the tickets still sent out once booked online?

[treker_ed]

I don't believe so as you can buy for Sunday (if you wished to do so) on Saturday (as John T has mentioned above) so would assume that they are e-tickets - IE a PDF file that would be emailed to you.

 

@John Tapsell would you be able to confirm how tickets are delivered for @Kelscale

[neillydone]

Thanks all who have replied to my query, very useful! See you there!

[72nders]

Hi to all,

Last time we were at SMW was in 2008 and I believe things have changed a bit, would you know what time we should arrive to easily find a parking space on the TIC parking itself, on saturday ?

For what I understood there is no more under the table sales, is that correct?

Thanks in advance,

[neilh]

1 hour ago, Oompa Loompa modelers said:

Hi to all,

Last time we were at SMW was in 2008 and I believe things have changed a bit, would you know what time we should arrive to easily find a parking space on the TIC parking itself, on saturday ?

For what I understood there is no more under the table sales, is that correct?

Thanks in advance,

Unless you have mobility issues, and even then, routes from other local car parks are chair/scooter friendly with drop kerbs and light controlled crossings, and lifts from upper floors. For certainly the last few years, the Centre car park fills very early on the Saturday morning and queues extending out into local approach roads can be quite long.  There have been no under the table sales for some time - kit swap was put in place as an alternative. This is not running this year but for insurance (trip hazard) reasons I think under the table sales will still not be allowed.  John Tapsell may be along to confirm if it is not already stated on the IPMS UK web site.

[72nders]

Thanks a lot, Neilh,

 

23 minutes ago, neilh said:

Unless you have mobility issues, and even then, routes from other local car parks are chair/scooter friendly with drop kerbs and light controlled crossings, and lifts from upper floors. For certainly the last few years, the Centre car park fills very early on the Saturday morning and queues extending out into local approach roads can be quite long.  There have been no under the table sales for some time - kit swap was put in place as an alternative. This is not running this year but for insurance (trip hazard) reasons I think under the table sales will still not be allowed.  John Tapsell may be along to confirm if it is not already stated on the IPMS UK web site.

 

I am bit worried we have an old pick-up (longer car) and is not any car parks we can use (multi-level ones are normally complicated).

 

When you say very early, what time you would say the Centre car park is still accessible without long queues?

 

What time would start the queues on the entrance for IPMS members?

 

[John Tapsell]

1 hour ago, Oompa Loompa modelers said:

When you say very early, what time you would say the Centre car park is still accessible without long queues?

 

What time would start the queues on the entrance for IPMS members?

 

The queue for the centre's car park starts long before the gates on the entrance are opened (8-ish) and as NeilH says, those vehicle queues extend back onto the approach roads and past the venue. The centre will sometimes open the gates early to ease the traffic issues but that's entirely at their discretion.

The pedestrian queue for the front entrance to the building starts just after 8am (but there are usually people hanging around before that). If you are not on one of the Branch/SIG set-up crews (and have the relevant wristband) you can't get in until 9am - the set-up crews get in through the rear entrances but no wristband/no entry is enforced.

 

10 hours ago, treker_ed said:

I don't believe so as you can buy for Sunday (if you wished to do so) on Saturday (as John T has mentioned above) so would assume that they are e-tickets - IE a PDF file that would be emailed to you.

 

@John Tapsell would you be able to confirm how tickets are delivered for @Kelscale

 

Yes - the tickets are e-tickets and you will receive them via email. You can buy tickets for either/both days in advance if you wish. Keep the 'ticket' on you phone and show it at the venue entrance or print it off and bring a paper copy with you (or both if you feel so inclined). The e-ticketing portal is open over the weekend so you could (but I don't recommend it) arrive at the venue, sit in your car and buy a ticket online on your phone and then join the queue.

[72nders]

49 minutes ago, John Tapsell said:

The queue for the centre's car park starts long before the gates on the entrance are opened (8-ish) and as NeilH says, those vehicle queues extend back onto the approach roads and past the venue. The centre will sometimes open the gates early to ease the traffic issues but that's entirely at their discretion.

The pedestrian queue for the front entrance to the building starts just after 8am (but there are usually people hanging around before that). If you are not on one of the Branch/SIG set-up crews (and have the relevant wristband) you can't get in until 9am - the set-up crews get in through the rear entrances but no wristband/no entry is enforced.

 

 

Yes - the tickets are e-tickets and you will receive them via email. You can buy tickets for either/both days in advance if you wish. Keep the 'ticket' on you phone and show it at the venue entrance or print it off and bring a paper copy with you (or both if you feel so inclined). The e-ticketing portal is open over the weekend so you could (but I don't recommend it) arrive at the venue, sit in your car and buy a ticket online on your phone and then join the queue.

 

Thank you very much John for your time and all the info,

 

Looking forward for the show,

 

see you there.

Edited October 27, 2022 by Oompa Loompa modelers

[Jb65rams]

@Oompa Loompa modelers I tend to use the Brown Elm Carpark, a non multi-storey that’s 5-10 mins walk from the venue. Can be accessed from the other side of Telford so keeps you away from the traffic buildup around the centre. Last time is was a pound for Sunday, don’t know the Saturday cost.

[72nders]

1 hour ago, Jb65rams said:

@Oompa Loompa modelers I tend to use the Brown Elm Carpark, a non multi-storey that’s 5-10 mins walk from the venue. Can be accessed from the other side of Telford so keeps you away from the traffic buildup around the centre. Last time is was a pound for Sunday, don’t know the Saturday cost.

 

Thanks a lot Jb65rams, it seems a great alternative, I really don't like traffic jams and I don't mind to walk at all……….. but it would be handy to have the car nearby to drop all those things that we will have to buy after just realizing that we cannot live without them anymore….

 

Cheers

[John Tapsell]

10 hours ago, Jb65rams said:

@Oompa Loompa modelers I tend to use the Brown Elm Carpark, a non multi-storey that’s 5-10 mins walk from the venue. Can be accessed from the other side of Telford so keeps you away from the traffic buildup around the centre. Last time is was a pound for Sunday, don’t know the Saturday cost.

I remember Brown Elm carpark well. I used to park there regularly when I was attending courses for work. It can be busy during the day but not first thing in the morning. 

[Whofan]

There are two things that make me realise SMW is almost here ((exactly 2 weeks and one day) - the placing of my order at Hannants for collecxtion and publication of the floor plans for each hall.

 

I've placed my order for some RS models kits of prototype Japanese WW2 planes and the Takom Sea Wolf/Sea Dart missile launchers kits

 

Come on IPMS - where's the floor plans ??? 😄

Edited October 28, 2022 by Whofan

[jackroadkill]

I booked my ticked this morning - am looking forward to this immensely.

[John Tapsell]

3 hours ago, Whofan said:

Come on IPMS - where's the floor plans ??? 😄

Patience young padawan, patience...

[bazzacourt]

15 days 16 hours and 9 minutes till I get in😁😁😁😁😁☺️☺️☺️(my first time)

[pigsty]

On 10/27/2022 at 11:50 AM, Jb65rams said:

I tend to use the Brown Elm Carpark

Cherry Pink is a lot closer - the pedestrian gate in the corner leads straight into the traffic lights at the main entrance to the venue.  If you were thinking of parking early and waiting, get there before the shops open and you should have no trouble finding a space on the ground floor, which should ease any problems over your vehicle's length.  Fee is £4.50 (or it might still be £4) on Saturday and £1 on Sunday.

[John Tapsell]

2 hours ago, bazzacourt said:

15 days 16 hours and 9 minutes till I get in😁😁😁😁😁☺️☺️☺️(my first time)

By this time in 14 days (Friday evening), I'll already have been there for 12 hours and unlikely to be leaving until around lunchtime on Monday when we finally finish clearing the organiser's office and transporting all the show stuff back into the self-storage unit...

Every year I ask myself about this time in October why I still do it - and every year I get to the end of the show and realise why it's still worth it.

[bazzacourt]

And I as a fairly new modeller appreciate your hard work so we can enjoy events like this. Thank you. I'm sure it will be an amazing weekend for all who attended.

[Ngantek]

3 hours ago, pigsty said:

Cherry Pink is a lot closer - the pedestrian gate in the corner leads straight into the traffic lights at the main entrance to the venue.  If you were thinking of parking early and waiting, get there before the shops open and you should have no trouble finding a space on the ground floor, which should ease any problems over your vehicle's length.  Fee is £4.50 (or it might still be £4) on Saturday and £1 on Sunday.

Thanks for so much information all. Just to pick up on this, what kind of timings are sensible for parking early? To get in with the unwashed masses at 9am, do you need to be queueing at 8, say? When does driving a car into Telford become a long traffic jam?

 

Thanks again, everyone!