Scottish National Scale Model Show Perth - 26th-27th April 2025

[Gordon J]

Quick heads up to everyone that the Scottish National Scale Model Show will once again take place at the Dewar's Centre in Perth on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April 2025.

 

The show details have still to be finalised but information and news updates can be found on the Show's website here; https://www.scotnats.org/

 

This is the biggest Model Show in Scotland and one you will not want to miss.

[Duncan B]

I'm looking forward to it.

 

Duncan B

[alanbeeb]

I had no idea there was a modelling show in Scotland.... will try to go! 

[Gordon J]

23 hours ago, alanbeeb said:

I had no idea there was a modelling show in Scotland.... will try to go! 

There are several model shows in Scotland but Perth is the biggest one.

 

The dates this year are Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April.

 

You really should try and make it Alan as it's a great show. You'll get to talk with other like minded souls, you'll see some great models, you'll undoubtedly make a few purchases from the Traders and then go back home to your modelling bench with a ton of inspiration.

[Duncan B]

On 3/25/2025 at 8:56 AM, alanbeeb said:

I had no idea there was a modelling show in Scotland.... will try to go! 

You also have a yearly model show at Murrayfield. If you go to the Perth Show look out for the Scale Scotland guys (you won't miss them!) and they'll give you all the details (or you can look for Scale Scotland on Facebook).

 

Duncan B

[Skodadriver]

On 3/25/2025 at 8:56 AM, alanbeeb said:

I had no idea there was a modelling show in Scotland.... will try to go! 

Perth is the only two day show in Scotland but there are normally several one day shows - East Neuk (Cupar) in June, Dundee in late July/early August, Aberdeen in late August and Edinburgh in September are the ones I remember off the top of my head. There used to be a show in Glasgow in October but it didn't happen last year and I'm not sure what the future holds for it.

 

Dave G

[sardaukar]

I was born and grew up in Perth, I should really try to attend at least once.

[Gordon J]

Just a reminder that the Scottish National Scale Model Show takes place this Saturday (26th & 27th April) at the Dewar's Centre in Perth

 

Show website is here: https://www.scotnats.org/

 

Traders List is here: https://www.scotnats.org/traders

 

Clubs and SIGs and galleries also on the Show website.

 

See below for a general overview of what the Show looks like. Please note that 2025 is down to one hall so it could be a bit fuller than the image suggests. Please also see below for a selection of the kind of models one might see on the tables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Duncan B]

That was a pleasant surprise seeing my Flanker again like that 🤣.

 

I'll be there on Saturday for a nose around, will hopefully see a few well keant faces in the crowd.

 

Duncan B

[alanbeeb]

Doesnt look like I can make it up to Perth today but tomorrow should be good.... Is there anything I might miss by not being there on the Saturday?  

[The Unknown Modeller]

Hope you all have had or going to have a good Weekend, sorry not able to attend myself but hope all goes well....

[John]

Great afternoon in the Dewar Centre. 

The annual pilgrimage is followed by the annual moan - ma feet are killin' me 🙄

 

John 

[Gordon J]

I made it to Perth today (Saturday) and it was an enjoyable, if tiring, day.

 

I arrived just after 10am and caught the end of the queue to get in and with the Show going down to just one hall I felt it was noticably busier than recent years. This was reflected around some of the Traders stalls which by lunchtime were very busy and quite hard to get near to. One just had to be patient until space cleared and you could get in for a look. 

 

I came home with no fewer than five kits in four boxes (one being the Eduard P-40E Dual Combo), some paints and some Dspiae tools that I picked up from the Affinity Models stand. It did seem that the Traders were doing a decent trade and I feel very lucky we had such a good selection at the Show.

 

There were some cracking models on display both on the tables and in the Competition area but the main downside for me about today was the Competition location.

 

Due to the space restrictions it had been moved to the far end of the canteen and I felt that it didn't work in that area. It didn't have great lighting and it was far too tight a space for a model show Competition area. When I went up for a look I was wondering if they would even manage to get all the Competition entries onto the tables. 

 

Also, because of its proximity to the canteen, the Competition area was like a sauna. Trying to squeeze past tables of people drinking tea and coffee or tucking into plates of chips to get to the Competition felt a bit weird too. Conversely it also had the knock on effect of causing the canteen to lose seating capacity which meant that come lunchtime it was almost impossible to get a seat. 

 

I hope that next year they can find a space within the Dewars Centre to locate the Competition away from the canteen. There are so many beautiful inspiring models in the Competition that it deserves to be held in a great space.

 

I should also say that the main hall was very warm too and at several points in the day I had to pop outside just to cool down. 🥵

 

That aside it was a great show with the right amount of Traders and Clubs and I want to extend my congratulations to everyone for the amount of work they put in every year to make it happen.

[Totem1]

Made the annual pilgrimage up to Perth yesterday, glad we got there early as lack of car parking spaces became an issue as the morning went on.

Anyway, another highly enjoyable day, special mention and a big thank you to the guys running the stash sale/kit swap who worked tirelessly answering people's inquiries whilst trying not to get in the way of multiple pairs of eyes looking for their respective 'holy grail' kit.

Thanks to everyone involved in the organisation, see you again next year.

[Duncan B]

I enjoyed my trip to the show on Saturday. I have to agree with @John, my feet (and knees) were killing me. I'd forgotten how hard that concrete ice rink floor is on the aging limbs. I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one visibly groaning going up and down the stairs to the canteen lol.

I thought the single hall worked well for the actual show making it feel busy but still not too crowded but I agree with @Gordon J that it was incredibly warm (not something I remember from previous shows so maybe the heating was on for the gym bunnies in the next hall?) and that the competition just didn't work in the far side of the canteen. The competition has been getting bigger each year so it seemed like a retrograde step but unavoidable due to the limitations of the single hall set up I suppose.

My apologies to some of the BMers that I recognised but didn't get time to stop and speak to ( @Skodadriver to name one), I wasn't intentionally being rude, just ran out of time sorry!

I really appreciate that so many Traders from south of the border made it up to Perth when they could have gone to Birmingham instead, hopefully it was worth it for them.

 

Duncan B

[Whofan]

1 hour ago, Duncan B said:

I really appreciate that so many Traders from south of the border made it up to Perth when they could have gone to Birmingham instead,

Duncan,

 

your point is an interesting one.

 

I went to the Birmingham show yesterday and had a brief chat with the IPMS rep, Richard (I hope that’s right!) Middleton, and we touched on the lack of major kit retailers at Birmingham. Several traders did sell some kits among the train stuff, but I didn’t see a specific kit retailer.

 

Richard made the valid point about the potential cost of a pitch, and agreed that for major show attenders Jadlam and Frome models (Somerset) and Antics (Bristol) the NEC is pretty much a straight run up the M5/42.

 

If just one of those  attended, say, then it would enhance the scale modelling experience.

 

However, the NEC show does clash with the well established Scottish show, so Major retailers are going to weigh up the established show with the new one.

 

I think it could be worth Hannants looking at attending the NEC show.

 

 

[alanbeeb]

Just back from Perth.... a nice little day out.    Really enjoyed wandering around wondering at a lot of superb models of all genres. I didn't take notes but there was a stand with a pair of 1/48 F-16s where I thought they were both sporting impeccable paint jobs. Really enjoyed the "Cancelled Projects" stand.  Also had a couple of chats with the people behind the tables about techniques for masking and weathering.     I felt a bit sorry for the nice gentleman from Kinetic at their stand, he really wanted to sell me one of his Mirage IIIs but I just had too much choice... next time..... 

 

I managed to keep my spending below £100....   but If I'd spotted a non-trumpeter T-90 or an Airfix 1/48 Seafire FR 47 that could have broken the budget.     The single large hall seemed large enough on the Sunday, with plenty to see but not too much of a throng at the retail stands.   I agree the competition show at back of cafeteria was a bit cramped.    Couldn't get into the car park when we arrived about 11.45 (busy place, sports and swimming pool etc for the whole town) but we found free on-street parking just a couple of minutes away.   All very enjoyable, my better half came along for the sake of an outing and found it quite interesting, she was swithering over getting herself a vintage Airfix Oliver Cromwell figure to add to her Anne Boleyn which is still untouched after many years. 

[Duncan B]

I forgot to say earlier that instead of trying to fight for a parking space then pay through the nose for it like I have done for so many years I decided to give the Broxden Park and Ride a try out. That's the way to go for anyone who is driving to the show. No problem parking (which is free) and the bus (which is also free if you are of a certain age like I am and have a concession card) drops you off on the main road into Perth directly opposite the swimming pool.

Definitely something to remember for the next show.

 

Duncan B 

[Skodadriver]

There are also park and ride facilities at Scone. Although further out than Broxden the car park tends to be quieter. The number 7 bus from Scone also stops at the swimming pool. Broxden is handier and quicker but it does get busy and Scone could be worth considering as an alternative particularly for anyone travelling from the Forfar/Coupar Angus direction.

 

Dave G

[Duncan B]

39 minutes ago, Skodadriver said:

There are also park and ride facilities at Scone. Although further out than Broxden the car park tends to be quieter. The number 7 bus from Scone also stops at the swimming pool. Broxden is handier and quicker but it does get busy and Scone could be worth considering as an alternative particularly for anyone travelling from the Forfar/Coupar Angus direction.

 

Dave G

If I had been on my own I would have used that one but Steve had his own car as he was heading back to Southampton straight after the show so Broxden made more sense on this occasion. The No.7 bus must go between both the Park & Ride carparks.

 

Duncan B

[IMG1]

Hi, Pretty new to this site however been at Perth with a friend for years and have to agree last year I ended up with aching knees, feet and most other bits. Then again they seem to ache all the time now. This year for a change we decided to display a few models and this not only gave us a couple of tables but seats to return to and rest our aching limbs... certainly worth it and will do the same next year. Also enjoyed displaying some of our work and chatting to others with comments good and bad a nice couple of days.

 

I have to agree with some comments, I preferred the one hall as it made it seem busier than having two halls with a lot of empty tables. However the competition area was too tight to be able to move around without risk of bumbing a model.

Certainly will be there next year and rather have a small issue with the competition area than no show at all.

 

Ian

 

 

 

Edited May 1 by IMG1