Scale ModelWorld 2023

[Plastic Hacker]

Enjoyed my time there yesterday, I thought there were quite a few new names among the traders but it might just be I'm out of touch.

 

Can anyone tell which Branch display was called "Things under tarps" please?

 

PH

[Head in the clouds.]

Thanks for the photo Martin, I can now print and mark everyones names on it as I will forget by next year.

I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with folks from BM and talking to some new fellows whom I see on the forum but had not yet met.

It also gave me a chance to thank  @RidgeRunner for carrying half a ton of mags from the multi storey car park to the TIC for a friend to collect on my behalf at a previous SMW....top man👍.

I also bumped into a few again during the show, @Courageous, @Flying Badger for more modelling waffle.

While sat at our table, again engaged in war waffle, @general melchett came in at low level, acquired his photographic evidence and egressed at great speed not to be seen again.

I had a good long chat with @Kev67 at both our table and his and we covered many modelling topics from which I came away a little wiser.

@perdu had his lovely Wessex there looking superb and it was nice to say hello after missing the previous few years.

All in all a very enjoyable weekend.

 

Gary

[Bertie McBoatface]

On behalf of those of us who were unable to attend Telford this year, can we have a look at some of your photos please people please? 

[Eric Mc]

56 minutes ago, Plastic Hacker said:

Enjoyed my time there yesterday, I thought there were quite a few new names among the traders but it might just be I'm out of touch.

 

Can anyone tell which Branch display was called "Things under tarps" please?

 

PH

Farnborough  - in conjunction with Models for Heroes.

 

 

[bootneck]

I've just returned home after a really enjoyable show.  I've been going for a few years and I am always impressed by the setting and helpfulness of all the staff throughout the weekend. 

This was the inaugural showing of our new Land Rover SIG display and it was encouraging to hear all the positive comments from visitors.  Our SIG leader, Fred Tooke, had built the entire Land Rover display over about four weeks, and just in time for Telford! 

 

The only part of the 'Land Rover' table that wasn't Fred's work was the badge on the front, that was designed and 3D printed by moi! 

 

I had a go at scaling down the logo and produced some nice little 20mm badges, which I attached to the corner of each of my displays.

 

One BM member came over and told me that he had been following my WiP on these models; however, for some unforgivable reason, I didn't ask his name.  If you are reading this, I would really like to apogise and ask who you are.

 

cheers,

Mike

[perdu]

What's really unforgiveable is that I didn't even got far enough round the sights to come and see you Mike, sorry mate

 

Looks like a fab stand    

[neilh]

1 hour ago, Plastic Hacker said:

Enjoyed my time there yesterday, I thought there were quite a few new names among the traders but it might just be I'm out of touch.

 

Can anyone tell which Branch display was called "Things under tarps" please?

 

PH

There were some great new traders, which were apparently actively recruited by Rich the IPMS UK Show Manager.  Jadlam was probably the most obvious new trader but I noticed several others.

[binbrook87]

Had a great couple of days... decided at the last minute to also do the Sunday and so glad that I did. Saturday was a mooch around the traders, then the club table displays, then more traders, then trying to remember which models I had seen on which trade stand! I was going around in circles most of the time! 😂 Sunday was more relaxed spent mainly taking photos of the club displays and managed to get a leisurely look around the competition area. Wow! There was some incredible models all over the place. I really do think you need the 2 days to do the show justice, so will be doing that again I think. Purchases? Way too much really, bought the FG1 Phantom, F6 Lightning and Avro 707 from Brian @ 144th.co.uk plus some other accessories, plus some other 144th scale aircraft such as the Armory Valkyrie and SU-24 plus some second hand items at decent prices.Got chatting to one of Armory's UK agents who was telling me about the situation in Ukraine. Very humbling so I was only too pleased to put some funds in his pocket to help via buying some of his models. Also picked up an aircraft carrier kit after seeing the wonderful club displays on this subject. Impulse buys were a Matchbox T-2 Buckeye for a nostalgia build, plus the Academy F-4B 1/48 Sundowners boxing. Boy I've wanted to model this for years even though it's not my current no. 1 scale anymore...who can resist! Wallet now empty 😳😳 A fantastic show this year that seemed to have the feel of pre-covid times. Roll on next year when it's 3 days?

[bootneck]

14 minutes ago, neilh said:

  Jadlam was probably the most obvious new trader

Jadlam is situated just a few miles from me and has become my go to LMS, although it is bigger than that.  Jadlam should certainly be on visitors and holidaymakers places to visit if they come to Somerset.

 

cheers,
Mike

[neilh]

I moved to North Somerset just over a year ago Mike ( only a short hop from Bristol) but I had no idea Jadlam were near Glastonbury!  Now I do....

[bootneck]

3 minutes ago, neilh said:

I moved to North Somerset just over a year ago Mike ( only a short hop from Bristol) but I had no idea Jadlam were near Glastonbury!  Now I do....

So why aren't you a member of our North Somerset Modelling Society Neil?

 

Mike

[neilh]

5 minutes ago, bootneck said:

So why aren't you a member of our North Somerset Modelling Society Neil?

 

Mike

Because unfortunately your club nights are on the only night of the week I leave North Somerset and travel back to Bristol. Since I'm finally coming to the end of a year of almost constant decorating and have now retired as well, I may try the Sunday meets at the helicopter museum.  I'm also still the Club Sec of Avon.

[Terry1954]

Just arrived home a couple of hours ago after a great show, and more importantly, meeting so many existing colleagues and some new faces.

 

Thanks to everyone involved (organisers, exhibitors, friends and traders) for making the event another great weekend. 

 

And I can now put a face to the name @John Tapsell, who I have witnessed answering the numerous questions posted both here and on the SMW Facebook pages, so tirelessly, patiently and professionally. It was great to meet you at last John!

 

Terry

[Plastic Hacker]

2 hours ago, Eric Mc said:

Farnborough  - in conjunction with Models for Heroes.

 

 

Thank you!!

[Whofan]

Following @Bertie McBoatface 's plea, I've sorted out a few photos I took at SMW.  I try and take photos of models that display skill, wit, humour and some style.

 

The first photo is of what I was told was best in show, a fantasy  / what if / steam punk cross between a WW1 Junkers D.1 and a 2020's F-35.

 

 

An Egg plane seen on a Scottish club table - yes, it's a Scotch Egg !!

I don't believe it!

How did they get the diorama into the glass bottle?

I had to take this next one because I have actually seen a tank turret on the back of a lorry!

 

[Bertie McBoatface]

8 minutes ago, Whofan said:

 

This is the cream of the crop to me. I like the way the sculptor (who may be the manufacturer rather than the exhibitor) has posed these two guys. I'm reminded of reaching your hand out in nervous greeting towards a strange dog that might bite! Times two!

 

And was that a wooden boat at the IPMS Nationals?

 

Thanks for posting your collection, WhoFan. 

 

[Whofan]

46 minutes ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

 

This is the cream of the crop to me. I like the way the sculptor (who may be the manufacturer rather than the exhibitor) has posed these two guys. I'm reminded of reaching your hand out in nervous greeting towards a strange dog that might bite! Times two!

 

And was that a wooden boat at the IPMS Nationals?

 

Thanks for posting your collection, WhoFan. 

 

 

I did take a lot more, I sifted these out because I felt thay reflected what I hope SMW is about - skill, fun, wit and style.  I also tend to take pictures of dioramas and small vignettes, rather than pictures of single aircraft/cars/motorbikes/ships/tanks because the dios and vignettes tell a story around the model, hence the "this ATM is out of service", the 2CV in a skip, the Scotch Egg, the crashed corsair, the Christmas 1914 scene and the lady by the lamp post.

 

I think that boat was a scratch built wooden boat, there was alsothis jeep made from thin ply on display.

 

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by Whofan

[Ratch]

I was there from 4pm Friday til 4pm Sunday and didn't see a single BMer

Ancient & Nostalgic Vintage Models SIG

CBK

Cold War SIG

Airfix

AMSIG

 

Some that caught my eye.

Edited November 13, 2023 by Ratch
Changed images

[Pete in Lincs]

@Whofan & @Ratch Thank you for the pictures. My vote goes to the AT AT crane. With a special poignant award for the paratrooper climbing into the C-47 door.

[Whofan]

13 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

@Whofan & @Ratch Thank you for the pictures. My vote goes to the AT AT crane. With a special poignant award for the paratrooper climbing into the C-47 door.

Pete,

 

I thought the AT AT crane was a really imaginative bit of what if, scratch building and presentation.

 

The paratrooper was actually a resin figure painted up on a trader's stand, The trader was selling full resin figures, I forget their name now. Excellent, isn't it? I also took this photo of him;

 

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by Whofan

[John Tapsell]

2 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

And I can now put a face to the name @John Tapsell, who I have witnessed answering the numerous questions posted both here and on the SMW Facebook pages, so tirelessly, patiently and professionally. It was great to meet you at last John!

Hi Terry - good to meet you as well. Also many thanks for your kind words, both on here and when we met. Mind you, we'd finished shutting down the show and the crew had repaired to the bar for food and a couple of pints, so perhaps I was feeling a bit more mellow by then.

 

I've said this before but each year in mid-October I'm asking myself why on earth I put up with the stress and late nights preparing for the show - but come the Sunday evening after the show, I know with absolute clarity why I do it. I finally found time to spend some money on Sunday - at 4:15, after the show had closed (thank you Justin at Bookworld, for allowing me interrupt your packing up and exchange cash for some reading material).

Scale ModelWorld 2023 has been a blast, it really has. The whole vibe was positive. the confidence had returned and you could feel it in the halls. As organisers we are constantly firefighting behind the scenes, from minor niggles to medical issues, lost property and occasionally a major drama, little of which can be seen from the outside. But we love what we do and you guys make it worthwhile, so thanks to everyone who attended and to everyone who has expressed their appreciation, either on public platforms or directly to the Exec Committee. We get criticisms too, some constructive and some less so, but they are important because they allow us to assess where we are and what we might need to change.

 

And if you missed the show - there's only about 360 days to the next one

[John Tapsell]

1 hour ago, Whofan said:

How did they get the diorama into the glass bottle?

 

We're working on Marc to produce an article for the IPMS Magazine - he's a member of my local club and he's already inspired a couple of my fellow club members to think about doing something similar.

Edited November 13, 2023 by John Tapsell

[Whofan]

2 minutes ago, John Tapsell said:

We're working on Marc to produce an article for the IPMS Magazine - he's a member of my local club and he's already inspired a couple of my fellow club members to think about doing something similar.

Thanks John, I believe I saw another smaller diorama in a bottle on the table!

 

I hope he does produce an article for the magazine on how he did it, but I suspect it has a lot to do with the hole in the bottle, not the one the cork goews in! 

 

And as others have said, you and the whole committee and volunteers did a superb job over the weekend, which was greatly appreciated. 

[RidgeRunner]

46 minutes ago, Whofan said:

And as others have said, you and the whole committee and volunteers did a superb job over the weekend, which was greatly appreciated. 

Absolutely!

[Filler]

Finally I was able to make SMW after years of always managing to be otherwise engaged on the weekend. I was only able to make Sunday which did give me some reservations.

 

I have to say that the venue was excellent, the organisation was excellent and it was certainly huge. No issues buying my ticket with just hours to spare, or getting in and out on the day. The standard of modelling on display was amazing and very inspirational and many people were very happy to discuss their work. I was very impressed by the God Hand stall and their stunning array of tools. Good to see that they are now available in the UK through a distributor. I really hope I am free to be able to go again next year!

 

Not wanting to be negative, but I do have a few small personal observations that are not exactly positive.

 

Perhaps a slightly reduced entry fee for Sunday could be justified as it did occur to me that you were getting two hours less (4pm v 6pm Sat), there was quite a bit of empty space on some of the kit stalls, and that by 2pm there seemed to be quite a few people packing away their displays.

 

Maybe this is just a result of my expectations/imagination, but I did rather expect more traders there than there was. Maybe an extra couple of second hand kit sellers and maybe some more tool sellers, particularly people specialising in say airbrushes. But maybe this is partly down to Covid recovery and even Brexit trade changes?

 

This seems to be common to all shows I've been to, but the kit seller stalls are always so tight that even on the quieter Sunday it can get very awkward being trapped in a confined space with little hope of getting out soon. I guess that is just a result of maximising stock in the limited space available. Must say though that everyone seemed to be very patient and polite in these rather snug browsing situations.

 

This is important, and another that is probably not unique to SMW, but it should be AGAINST THE LAW to display any kit without an adjacent label/sign stating the scale, a description of what has been modelled and most importantly, the kit used! Whilst the scale is usually apparent, and I guess at the least the nationality of the type modelled is fairly clear, it's not always very clear whether I'm looking at a Tamiya, Hasegawa, Academy, Italeri etc Phantom. But maybe that just tells me that the skills on display prove you can make any kit look as good as the best kit, or that everyone displayed the best kit?

 

To ensure I do end positively, I did enjoy my day out and I will try to be there (on Saturday) next year and a big thank you to absolutely everyone involved in putting on the show.