Crickey ! Telford looms close on the horizon !

[Noel Smith]

It's near that time of year again with many IPMS members scrambling to get models finished for the Scale Modelworld  Show in November.

Full details on IPMS UK Website.

[tank152]

Seems to come around quicker by the year.

[Whofan]

Yes, just 9 weeks!

 

[bentwaters81tfw]

Well we are booked in, just waiting for our table allocation.

[Tim R-T-C]

We will definitely be there, primarily with SIG144. 

 

Need to finish a lot of projects first though! 

 

Closer to the time I plan to post a thread for all BM members to post the builds they are planning to take and where they will be displayed, so we can tour the show like a Britmodeller Safari spotting builds from the forum. 

[Whofan]

I have to say that time seems to zip along these days, my wife couldn't believe how quickly the school holidays went, and Telford seems - as @tank152 says, to come around quicker by the year.

 

And I had an invite to go and have my winter flu and covid vaccinations this week, which hardly seems any time since last year's jabs!

 

And I will guarantee the two days at Telford will go but almost in a flash.

[szeregowy]

Never been to Telford show, but I would like to do the pilgrimage this year. I was surprised to find out that I can't just simply buy a ticket and turn up whichever day I want, but I have to choose either Saturday or Sunday at the point of purchase.

So my question is, which day would be better if it is my 'first time'? And if anyone has any tips on how to make the most of my time there I'm all ears.

[Graham Boak]

Saturday tended to be the busier and the "best" bargains disappear.  Sunday is the day I'd normally go and I believe it quieter but still busy.  Still no shortage of goodies to buy, but if you want to see the competition go early as some people take them away after judging.  Park in the nearby carpark as you are unlikely to get into the one at the centre itself,  Food is pretty poor and pricey,  

[pigsty]

1 hour ago, szeregowy said:

but I have to choose either Saturday or Sunday at the point of purchase

You can also buy one of each, of course.  I always tell people that trying to do the whole show in one day is utterly exhausting and you'll feel you've not done it justice, so if you can manage both days, do.  Otherwise, unless you absolutely must have all the latest new kits, or you're looking for the very last 1/95 scale Farley Fruitbat in the world, Sunday is more relaxed.  And yes, the catering is awful.  I always have a big breakfast first, just so I can avoid it.

[szeregowy]

Thanks @pigsty @Graham Boak for your replies.

 

Unfortunately a week later is Motorcycle Live which I also plan to attend, so spending 50 squids on a weekend ticket to Telford is not an option.

I do like a bargain (who doesn't), but my aim is to have a nosey about rather than trying to compete with expert bargain hunters, so it looks like it will be Sunday for me. Less busy, can wonder around and maybe pick kit or two or some accessories.

 

Oh, and point about food and parking noted.

Thanks again chaps. 👍🏻

[Mr T]

IPMS membership for one year is £32 if you are in the UK, so a saving on both days, the magazine also has some interesting stuff. You can get in an hour earlier at SMW, and although the queue is long before 9, it quickly moves. I go on the Saturday and then spend a bit of Sunday morning to look around the competition and catch up on stuff I missed on Saturday. 

I tend to wear my walking boots to go around as they give better ankle support and because it can be cold, and the floor is concrete, it keeps my feet warm. 

[bentwaters81tfw]

14 hours ago, szeregowy said:

Thanks @pigsty @Graham Boak for your replies.

 

Unfortunately a week later is Motorcycle Live which I also plan to attend, so spending 50 squids on a weekend ticket to Telford is not an option.

I do like a bargain (who doesn't), but my aim is to have a nosey about rather than trying to compete with expert bargain hunters, so it looks like it will be Sunday for me. Less busy, can wonder around and maybe pick kit or two or some accessories.

 

Oh, and point about food and parking noted.

Thanks again chaps. 👍🏻

For parking, exit the M52 Motorway at junction 5 - not 4, and head for the Cherry Ping car park, see map. Enter top right, cherry pink is bottom left and International centre is just across the roundabout.

[szeregowy]

3 hours ago, Mr T said:

IPMS membership for one year is £32 if you are in the UK, so a saving on both days, the magazine also has some interesting stuff. You can get in an hour earlier at SMW, and although the queue is long before 9, it quickly moves. I go on the Saturday and then spend a bit of Sunday morning to look around the competition and catch up on stuff I missed on Saturday. 

I tend to wear my walking boots to go around as they give better ankle support and because it can be cold, and the floor is concrete, it keeps my feet warm. 

It's over an hour each way for me, so one day will have to suffice. Seems like Sunday is more relaxed, so will go with that.

 

 

1 hour ago, bentwaters81tfw said:

For parking, exit the M52 Motorway at junction 5 - not 4, and head for the Cherry Ping car park, see map. Enter top right, cherry pink is bottom left and International centre is just across the roundabout.

Thanks for the tip, I'll make sure to get off J5 

[pigsty]

4 hours ago, bentwaters81tfw said:

exit the M52 Motorway at junction 5 - not 4

M54 - I know there isn't an M52 this side of St Petersburg but it could be confusing to an out-of-towner.  And I gather Cherry Pink is now called Car Park No.1.  There's a foot gate at the bottom corner (just off the bottom of that map) that leads you straight to the road into the venue.

[bentwaters81tfw]

Quite correct. got short changed on the numbers again 😳 M54 it is. I know it's been renamed but it shows as Cherry Pink on the map.

[szeregowy]

I've found and marked it on google maps, so thanks again for a handy advice.

[Jabba]

If you do want food, the town centre is about a 5 mins walk away.

[Noel Smith]

One poster mentioned that a number of people remove their models after judging at Telford.  Not so !

The judging actually takes place on the Saturday, but it is a requirement that models in the competition have to be on display until the show closes at 4pm on the Sunday unless by special dispensation of the Competition Secretary. This requirement is because the show is open to the general public as well as members.

So if one goes on the Sunday they will not be met with half empty tables in the competition area.

 

[szeregowy]

45 minutes ago, Jabba said:

If you do want food, the town centre is about a 5 mins walk away.

That's a good option although I suspect that I'll grab some food on my way there. 

[Toe]

Never been the Saturday as g/f probably wouldn't like to go the Saturday and Sunday (we make a weekend of it and go somewhere else local the other day) and so I choose Sunday purely because to see the standings and winners in the competition, it isn't until much much later - after 3 is it or is that the awards - that the model start to be taken back

[Robert]

@szeregowy also Hannants has a 10% off if you pre order and collect and pay at the show.

 

Robert 

[3DStewart]

On 10/09/2025 at 19:37, Noel Smith said:

One poster mentioned that a number of people remove their models after judging at Telford.  Not so !

The judging actually takes place on the Saturday, but it is a requirement that models in the competition have to be on display until the show closes at 4pm on the Sunday unless by special dispensation of the Competition Secretary. This requirement is because the show is open to the general public as well as members.

So if one goes on the Sunday they will not be met with half empty tables in the competition area.

 

Provided you view before lunch on Sunday.  Despite what the competition rules say, models start to drift off from about 14:30 and removals become very noticeable after 15:00.

 

Edited September 22 by 3DStewart

[Noel Smith]

You are probably right there Stewart.  If so,  removal of models before time might need to be addressed by the orgznisets. So many models in competition on a tight timescale might make it too difficult.

 

I can remember the Model Engineer and Modelling Exhibition as was in London back in the day where each model had a security ticket allocated to it that the owner had to show to collect their model(s) afterwards. However, that show went on for a fortnight being sponsored by a publishing company and therefore the security of the exhibits was very tight.

[Mr T]

If you are going to be there on Sunday, please be aware at 11.00 am there will be a short act of remerberence and the two minute silence. It is a simple ceremony, but very moving and the bustling halls suddenly becomes silent. I have never seen the two minutes so well observed. 

[Adam Poultney]

I was undecided if I'll go but now they're circulating an AI generated slop flyer. Can't say that's particularly convincing...