Scale ModelWorld 2022

[Flying Badger]

This year was my first SMW show. I had a great time.

As my current obsession is F1 cars I didnt end up buying any kits... but there were lots of tools, paints etc. to spend money on

 

Met a few BM'ers including a betentacled Martian (hard to miss). 

 

Lots of awsome inspiration and I even picked up a horribly disfigured plane from the marie curie donations stall which I'll be having fun rebuilding so watch this space. 

[T-21]

What was Best in Show please ?

[jackroadkill]

Man, what a day yesterday....  I pounded my wallet, despite having a list of kits and equipment that I wanted and was not going to deviate from at all.  They say that no plan survives contact with the enemy, and I can attest to that!  I came away with four kits, lots of abrasives, a funny cutter thing and ringing ears.  It was great to meet up with BM'ers, and although I didn't catch everyone's names I enjoyed the chatter and promise to do better next time!  So, if I talked to you at the Brum stand, it was great to meet you.  I'm not always the best at dealing with lots of people but was made to feel very welcome, so thanks very much.

 

Here's to next year...

[Psychovadge]

Heading there today - so is the consensus you need a fistful of cash or are the contactless machines working today? I’m not getting there until lunchtime so pretty worried I won’t really get round it all, but with my son in tow he’ll no doubt get bored halfway through anyway and feel the pull of his Xbox  and start moaning at dad to leave…

Edited November 13, 2022 by Psychovadge
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[Tbolt]

Really enjoyed the show yesterday. Amazing range of high quality models on display though I'm sure as usually I didn't see them all as you can't do everything in one day. I don't think I've ever spent less at a show though - I only bought a jar of varnish for £3.70!

 

Unfortunately the layout of the competition area was very poor. It was situated at the end of hall 3 where the lighting doesn't go all the way to the end of the hall so those models along the far end were very poorly lit. Also it was too narrow a gap between the tables - when it was busy there were two lines of people viewing models and taking pictures along the top section where the aircraft were but there was really only room for these two lines. The problem is people where also trying get through the middle making it very difficult for everyone and difficult to properly view the models at the near edge of the table. I find this very poor planning especially with the extra room at the venue this year they could have easily positioned the competition area better and had a little bit more space between the tables.

[neilh]

We were told in the Branch and Sig Leaders meeting yesterday that the competition was sited where it was this year as commercially the use of that specific hall meant a significant rental saving since with the competition and lay out of the clubs and Sigs in that hall meant there was no trade activity = lower costs = keeps the overall show costs down in a year where the Society " hopes" to break even after last years large losses. I think we will all have to compromise until things settle down on the Show circuit (if they ever do return to the way they were).

[Tbolt]

23 minutes ago, neilh said:

We were told in the Branch and Sig Leaders meeting yesterday that the competition was sited where it was this year as commercially the use of that specific hall meant a significant rental saving since with the competition and lay out of the clubs and Sigs in that hall meant there was no trade activity = lower costs = keeps the overall show costs down in a year where the Society " hopes" to break even after last years large losses. I think we will all have to compromise until things settle down on the Show circuit (if they ever do return to the way they were).

 

While I realize that they probably weren't using the upstairs area to save on cost the point was where they put the competition area, in hall 1 there was a fair bit of extra space. Last year it was in a better position. Having to compromise is one thing but it not great when it's so tight there's more change of someone knocking into a model on tablet.

[Bonkin]

I went along yesterday - as another first timer. My 23 year old son came along with me to provide some company. I did ask the wife to come - because she always enjoys a day out, but oddly on this occasion she was quick to decline my offer.

 

Living in East Yorkshire it was a 3hr drive and we arrived at 11am. The main car park was full but through the railing I could see there was a space so after a quick discussion with the parking attendant I was able to get parked (£6). Inside it was crammed. I think, having had 2 years of Covid and social distancing, I was not prepared for the crowds. I struggled to get to see what I wanted to see and quickly realised that it was literally every man for himself. I say that because the only women I saw seemed to be lost (and maybe were expecting a day out of a different kind ).

 

As I sat down for my rather expensive and miserable lunch (next time I will bring my own), I had a sudden and somewhat amusing realisation that I looked like practically everyone else, i.e. middle-aged, grey haired, white and balding. Mental note to self, bring a name tag or a named T-Shirt if you want to meet forum friends you've never met before.

 

After lunch and a queue for the toilets (I did briefly think about going into the ladies), it was back into the crowds to inspect some of the amazing work on show. It was definitely quieter after lunch and easier to get around - although I had a nagging feeling that somehow I must have missed an amazing bargain somewhere. Stand-out item for me was the wonderful 1/24 scale scratch built Bolton-Paul Defiant on a "Battle of Britain" stand. I had a brief chat to the guys there about it... and to my eyes it was a thing of beauty.

 

Other than some brushes, I didn't buy anything... I'm into 1/24 scale planes and there just wasn't any kits at the scale on sale anywhere. I had naively hoped that I'd maybe be able to pick up the new Airfix Spitfire - but that apparently isn't out until next week - so I'll get a pre-order in.

 

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day, albeit a long one.

[HOUSTON]

thanks for the Lancaster photo and the others too.

[81-er]

As another first-timer, I had a ball. Met lots of people I'd chatted to here, which was great to put the faces to the names (anyone know where the photos from the gather are?). I also grabbed plenty of bargains, plus a few items I hadn't intended on buying , saw many incredible models, and found the chaps from my local IPMS branch. I'll be joining that one after the move is sorted.

 

James

[Whofan]

5 hours ago, T-21 said:

What was Best in Show please ?

The Tsar Tank model.

 

https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww1/russia/tsar-tank.php

 

very impressive model indeed. Can’t post a photo I’m afraid.

[spruecutter96]

I was there yesterday and was really struck by how few folks were wearing face-masks. I would estimate it was around 1 or 2% of attendees. As someone who caught Covid about two months ago, I am pretty sensitive to this subject.  

 

There were several areas in Hall 1 which were teaming with people (mainly the corners of the hall). I really hope that that no-one will have left the show with an unwanted, new acquisition. 

 

Some of the traders seemed very busy - others, a lot less so. 

 

Cheers. 

 

Chris. 

[Grey Beema]

IPMS Ireland won the Best Overseas Display.

 

[spruecutter96]

2 hours ago, neilh said:

in that hall meant there was no trade activity = lower costs

Surely, not having traders paying to be in Hall 3 would have effectively created a loss of revenue, not a gain? I guess that one aspect could well balance the other out, though. 

 

As I understand it, hiring the Centre costs the IPMS somewhere in the region of £60,000 a year. 

 

Cheers. 

 

Chris. 

[Shalako]

15 hours ago, Whofan said:

3 hours ago, Shalako said:

Any photos for us who don't have the opportunity to visit the exhibition for various reasons? I would really appreciate it lads.

 

Cheers,

 

Bill

 

I try and take some, mostly I end up with highly blurred subjects, or excellently clear photos of my shoes, but among the various ones I took that are fit for human consumption were these;

Cheers mate. As I am unable to move due to a recent surgery a photo album would be great to see with photos from the exhibition.

 

Cheers,

 

Bill

[Whofan]

You

10 minutes ago, Shalako said:

Cheers mate. As I am unable to move due to a recent surgery a photo album would be great to see with photos from the exhibition.

Bill,

 

IPMS will have several galleries up on their website in a few days/week or so.

[George Norman]

Shout out to the Bolton Lads, Especially the chap that made the Viggens, Friendliest bunch there!

 

some Stupendous models on show.

 

Nice but Tiring trip from Cork and back. good to be back in the UK after 3 years. 1 Sword Gannat kit bought thanks to Ryanair limits!

[tomkil]

Second the comment above about the scratch built Defiant, superb. Impressed also by the quality of the paintwork on a Breguet Atlantic on one of the stands. Looked fantastic. 

[Psychovadge]

Another first timer here - very enjoyable day out. Parked at the multi-storey just over the road from the convention centre (1min walk), had lunch at the costa next to the entrance and didn’t buy much tbh. The models were amazing and my Lego-loving son was made up to find a cheap Lego store where he bought some ww2 Lego figures and a Bren carrier at a very good price.

 

I had a big shopping list of mainly Tamiya and Eduard and have to be honest I was pretty disappointed in the choices on offer. I scoured the stores (Hannants was a lot smaller than I thought) and most stores seemed to have a pretty

motley collection of ancient kits of various scales. Maybe I’m a bit naive but I thought there’d be piles of Tamiya 1:35 armour kits whereas it was the odd kit here and there. That was the only downside and saved me a small fortune anyway, the models were amazing, people were mainly friendly and the quality was eye popping. Can’t wait for next year

[Mr T]

I bought one kit, the Freightdog Models Mustard Glider, and that was an impulse buy. I think what the stands were selling is a bit of reflection of how the market is beginning to look. There seemed to be plenty of certain kits, but anything that was more than a few months old has gone, unless you could pick it up on a second hand stall. I also noticed that stuff went quickly. The new Cross and Cocade book on the DH2 had more or less sold out in a couple of hours. Not having some overseas traders also cut down on what was available. Given the difficult economic times and the lingering effects of the 'B' word, it is no wonder SMW no longer appears to be the overflowing cornucopia of goodies it once appeared to be. 

[Mr T]

Having said all that, the branch stands, SIGS, and overseas visitors put a fantastic variety of models of all kinds and I spent the majority of my time looking at those. I also came away with goodly selection books that will reappear on Christmas Day, as well as a selection of bits and pieces and decals. Perhaps my view of the kits is that because I have a good source of supply locally who can get stuff for me, and the size of my stash, I actually don't need anything. Aging has bought a realisation of mortality, ie, I am never going to build everything (but I am going to have a damn good try). 

[spruecutter96]

21 minutes ago, Mr T said:

Aging has bought a realisation of mortality, ie, I am never going to build everything

This sentence neatly sums up my modelling history, but I would have to change the word "everything" to "anything"!

 

Cheers. 

 

Chris. 

[FalkeEins]

6 hours ago, Bonkin said:

 

 

I had a sudden and somewhat amusing realisation that I looked like practically everyone else, i.e. middle-aged, grey haired, white and balding.

 

..well at least you've got one thing going for you !! Lovely report, thanks

[Mike]

Hope you all had a good time, I didn't come this year because I wasn't feeling too spritely and wondered whether I'd even make it through the day.

 

That pic of the Lanc tall-boy is a good one.  Quite a lump to carry around!

[TEXANTOMCAT]

My first show since the last ‘proper’ one in 2019. I always go on the Sunday when it’s quieter- did a Saturday once never again! £1 parking all day (couldn’t understand why people were parking for £6 all day unless they had mobility problems or kit to shift as the cheaper car park was 300 yards away and pretty empty) 

 

not that covid sensitive but in the queue the French chap hawking up a lifetimes worth of gauloises gave me pause. He could have had a wash too.

 

the club and exhibition displays had some absolutely stunning stuff. Just stunning and the humour and inventor then is why I enjoy going in the first place. Lovely to see Johns Aerodrome in pole position- the idea being You bring your 1/48 aircraft and land it there for the duration of the show! Brilliant.

 

lots of missing manufacturers mainly the European ones of course which is a shame albeit an understandable one- the compa section location seemed fine to me but was too cramped and there was space in one of the other halls to easily accommodate it IMHO 

 

I bought some varnish and plasticard only so cheapest SMW ever for me there were many less second hand dealers there than normal I thought.

 

a four hour round trip for me and was there for maybe 4 hours before popping in to cosford to catch a glimpse of some aircraft before they are disposed of.

 

nice day out but I think it might be one e every two years for me going forward. Still glad to have visited in the ‘golden years’

 

well done to the IPMS team

 

TT