Despite two years of planning, seven weeks touring around Europe and the UK and reading as much as I could about the event, nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to experience as we pulled into the carpark of our final destination, the Telford International Centre and IPMS UK 50th Anniversary Scale Model World.
As a first-timer to the event I had absolutely no idea what to expect, other than what I'd seen in photos from previous years, and as I entered the first hall was absolutely awe-struck by the sheer size of the venue and the event itself and can remember mumbling the words 'WOW', over and over again.
The 3 halls, totaling an area of 11000sqm, seemed to be bursting at the seams with an enormous number of traders and exhibitors (over 180) as well as a large number of club, individual and Special Interest Group (SIG) displays (over 190). Deciding to tackle the smallest of the three halls first - hall 3 - it took me three circuits of all three halls before I finally had a grasp of the enormity of this event and just what was on offer from the various traders. This along with having to choose the 'Best Australian Subject' award from the various club/SIG displays, managed to consume almost 5 hours of my first day and even after that I'd still not purchased a single item, but had at least managed take a lot of photos of some the great models on the various club/SIG displays.
Once judging of the competition entries was concluded - around 3:30pm on the Saturday afternoon - the competition area was then opened to all for viewing. The resultant crush of human bodies was like negotiating public transport at peak hour and remained so for the next 90 minutes until closing time. It was definitely not the most pleasurable experience I have ever had and made viewing and photographing the models almost impossible.
My second attempt on the Sunday morning was only marginally better, but I did manage to complete at least three circuits of the competition tables and get some decent photos at last, which made it all worth while. The organisers have already acknowledged that this area of 500sqm is just not big enough anymore and are already planning to increase this for 2014.
I was both pleased and surprised that my MAK Ketzer had been awarded a 'Commended' as the quality of entries in all of the categories was absolutely amazing, so much so that I hadn't expected to get anything.
With just over 2 hours spent in the competition area I then grabbed a quick bite to eat in one of the cafeterias, before setting off for another two circuits of the main halls. Aside from taking some additional photos I also purchased 2 x sanding sets from the Scale Aircraft Modelling (SAM) stand, 5 x Vector engines from the Nomega stand and 2 figures (a pilot in a Sidcot suit and a Despicable Me Minion) from the Retro Wings/SF stand. Although this is not a great haul by any stretch of the imagination, I just couldn't justify buying anything else, despite there being an innumerable number of temptations on offer.
Billed as 'the worlds greatest model show', it definitely lived up to its claim and any expectations that I may have had were more than satisfied. Scale Model World is one of those shows that every modeller should attend at least once in their lifetime and I hope to make it back there again myself one day, sometime in the not to distant future.
If Scale Model World is not on your 'wish list' now, then you should add it immediately.
The 3 halls, totaling an area of 11000sqm, seemed to be bursting at the seams with an enormous number of traders and exhibitors (over 180) as well as a large number of club, individual and Special Interest Group (SIG) displays (over 190). Deciding to tackle the smallest of the three halls first - hall 3 - it took me three circuits of all three halls before I finally had a grasp of the enormity of this event and just what was on offer from the various traders. This along with having to choose the 'Best Australian Subject' award from the various club/SIG displays, managed to consume almost 5 hours of my first day and even after that I'd still not purchased a single item, but had at least managed take a lot of photos of some the great models on the various club/SIG displays.
Once judging of the competition entries was concluded - around 3:30pm on the Saturday afternoon - the competition area was then opened to all for viewing. The resultant crush of human bodies was like negotiating public transport at peak hour and remained so for the next 90 minutes until closing time. It was definitely not the most pleasurable experience I have ever had and made viewing and photographing the models almost impossible.
My second attempt on the Sunday morning was only marginally better, but I did manage to complete at least three circuits of the competition tables and get some decent photos at last, which made it all worth while. The organisers have already acknowledged that this area of 500sqm is just not big enough anymore and are already planning to increase this for 2014.
I was both pleased and surprised that my MAK Ketzer had been awarded a 'Commended' as the quality of entries in all of the categories was absolutely amazing, so much so that I hadn't expected to get anything.
With just over 2 hours spent in the competition area I then grabbed a quick bite to eat in one of the cafeterias, before setting off for another two circuits of the main halls. Aside from taking some additional photos I also purchased 2 x sanding sets from the Scale Aircraft Modelling (SAM) stand, 5 x Vector engines from the Nomega stand and 2 figures (a pilot in a Sidcot suit and a Despicable Me Minion) from the Retro Wings/SF stand. Although this is not a great haul by any stretch of the imagination, I just couldn't justify buying anything else, despite there being an innumerable number of temptations on offer.
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| Senior National Champion |
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| Senior National Champion |
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| Senior National Champion |
Billed as 'the worlds greatest model show', it definitely lived up to its claim and any expectations that I may have had were more than satisfied. Scale Model World is one of those shows that every modeller should attend at least once in their lifetime and I hope to make it back there again myself one day, sometime in the not to distant future.
If Scale Model World is not on your 'wish list' now, then you should add it immediately.
