Below are reports from when our reporters have visited some of the many fantastic Shows around the UK.
2011 Reports can be viewed here.
Well, hard to believe its been and gone for another year. This year has, I believe, proved to be a vintage Telford. The competition especially was exceptional in terms of the quality of the models entered.
Read the full reports and view our Galleries of Telford Show images.
Venue: Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon
This year’s show looked to be as big as ever and followed the familiar format of club stands in amongst the exhibits and all the traders – and yes, we were one of those for the first time packed into the Dermot Boyle Wing. There were a lot of traders present and all seemed to be doing pretty brisk business. The halls seemed to be buzzing on the two occasions I went for a brief walkabout leaving Sara at the helm on the SMN stand. So here’s a sample of what I found…
Some great examples of RAF aircraft on the club stands… especially on the IPMS Farnborough and Barnet/Harrow and West Middlesex displays… and many others of course.
And there were some other nice models that caught the eye too…
So, there you have it, for another year anyway – great day out so congrats to JB, Les and the team and of course the RAF Museum staff for an excellent scale modelling event.
Venue: Temple Park Centre, John Reid Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear NE34 8QN.
One of the North’s largest scale model shows, everything from aircraft, armour, cars, bikes, motorsport, ships, sci-fi, fantasy, figures and more, now in its 23rd year, open from 10am – 4pm this year. Our contact for the show was Graham Trotter 07876 441701 and he and the team put on a superb show for everyone that attended.
Our first time at this show and it is likely to be a regular – just what a scale model show should be in my opinion: well organized, easy to attend, happy, friendly team, good banter and lots of clubs and traders – great stuff! The image above doesn’t do the venue full justice – everything is in one huge hall at the leisure centre and that has to be the ideal and quite often elusive requirement for show organizers – and I’ve been involved in helping to organize a few over the years!
Another very positive feature of the show is the space between the stands – plenty of space so you aren’t knocking into people all the time. The quality of scale modelling on show was very high as was the variety – some great sci-fi on show as well as some awesome armour too, not to mention the large number of aircraft models on show.
It was great to see Paul from Little-Cars back in the fray and Wendy with her Aviation Book Centre stand that looked v. busy all day. MDC were there of course with a good range of all that they do best in accessories and tools. A new trader (to SMN) we met was Jorge Monteiro from Simple2Trade.com (www.simple2trade.com) he had some excellent products for scale modellers like a massive range of airbrushes, clamps and so much more and we’ve picked up a product or two that we’ll be reviewing in Here Now shortly, but I understand their website is being upgraded as we speak, but do check it out – there’s some great stuff there.
Your very own Scale Modelling Now had huge interest and I want to say a big thank you to everyone who stopped by to find out about what are doing here in your Mag – thanks everyone and to all those of you who have now signed up – really exciting this as we continue to implement our plans for development of www.scalemodellingnow.com.
Here’s a gallery of just some of the great highlights you can expect if you make it to the show next time…
Having moved to the Scottish Highlands just under 12 months ago I was initially struck by the lack of modelling shows within a reasonable travelling distance. Fortunately my local modelling club informed me that it was time for their annual ‘weekend pilgrimage’ to Perth for a model show so it didn’t take me a lot of convincing to join them there.
The Scottish National Scale Model Show incorporates the Scottish National Model Championships and is an annual even that is held annually towards the end of April in Perth. Affectionately know by many as the Scottish Nationals the show is more that a model competition – for two days it plays host to model traders, model clubs and SIGs all involved with the hobby of Scale Modelling. People come from all over the UK and in many cases even further afield.
The city of Perth is located an hour north of Glasgow and is known as the `Gateway to the Highlands` .It is an ideal location for the Scottish Nationals as it is centrally located for those travelling from both the north and south of the country. The City itself is quite small but it has a cosmopolitan and relaxed feel to it with plenty of good quality accommodation and eateries. If you decide to come to the show why not bring the wife and kids as the city has plenty to offer them (the shopping is good and if the wife spends so can you at the show!!!) and the local scenery and attractions provide lots of entertainment.
The show itself takes place at the Dewars Centre that is located near the city centre. Parking is readily available close by and what’s more it’s free – a rarity these days. This is not a large show by any means but this is offset by a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere. There are demonstrations of various types taking place throughout both days that range from set up tank tracks to rigging biplanes to applying weathering. Along with the club and SIG displays there is a competition area that attracts a reasonable selection of very nice models. The classes cover all modelling disciplines from aircraft right through to figures and Sci-Fi.
I was even persuaded to enter a model or two ( all SMN builds of course) into the various competitions and was very pleased with the end result of 2 Gold’s , a Silver, a Bronze and 3 trophies – not bad for my first competition !!! (Tremendous stuff Dave and highly deserved – well done from the whole team! – Geoff)
The two major model organisations affiliated to the show are the IPMS (UK) and MAFVA but you don’t have to be a member of either if these groups to come along and enjoy a great show.
Next years show takes place at the same venue over the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of April so why not come along and enjoy some great modelling along with some spectacular scenery and even bring the family along for a short break as there is plenty for them to do as well.
Further info can be found on the website www.scotnats.org.uk
Dave Coward
The East Midlands Model Show at Hinckley has for many years been one of my “must do” shows for years and to date remains one of my top three in the modelling calendar. Hinckley, situated a few miles off the M69 in Leicestershire is easy to get to and easy to find as the Leisure Centre where the show is held is well sign posted. The slight downside is that as it’s a Sunday show, the leisure centre is packed with swimmers and people in varying shades of lycra, which means the car parks are very busy; so get there early is my tip.
The show, which is in two large halls and upstairs a smaller room that includes the competition area is well laid out and easy to browse. Traders abound and I was pleased to see friends of SMN, Neomega, Cammett, Little Cars and MDC all surrounded with eager customers. Geoff and Sara were there on SMNs fabulous eye-catching stand ably assisted by Emily who is a keen modeller for one so young and was regularly supplied with the folding stuff which was quickly translated into some plastic! Well done Emily as I know getting cash out of your Dad is a feat not to be underestimated! (I heard that! – Ed)
The show was well attended both by customers and by clubs displaying their hard work and I have to say it was really high quality stuff. Things that caught my eye included a lovely 1:32md scale Canberra B2 (yes that’s not a typo Geoff it’s really 1:32nd) built from the old ID Models vacform and done to a very high standard. Just across from that was a stunning 1:48th scale Short Sunderland which I really want to build one day. This was the Vacform version but there is a resin kit out now and a brand new injection version from Fonderie out shortly so Geoff please make a note I need to build that one!!! The Halifax also from Fonderie and again in 1:48th was another eye-catcher and was beautifully painted and weathered. Oh and I was pleased to see that there was the fabulous Revell Type VII C being built on one of the Club stands and wow was it a beauty! I’m going to have to build mine now and I thought I’d finished subs for now…………..doh!
So after another quick coffee and avoiding the donuts that Sara kept tempting me with I wandered up to the competition area and wow was it worth the stairs with my gammy leg! The first thing I saw on entering the room was the beautiful Typhoon 1b vignette, which was in, wait for it, 1:72nd scale! This was truly an incredible piece of modelling and for me one of the highlights of the show. It did set the scene for what was a extremely high quality competition as next to the Tiffie was a lovely 1:20th scale diorama of a WW1 trench which really captured my attention for nearly 20 minutes such was the quality of the work………………outstanding! The ship models were equally well represented and the 1:700 scale harbour scene was a work of art and a masterpiece of detail and accuracy in such a small scale. It was my show favourite without a doubt! This said the armour modellers were out in force too and the Nashorn and the T34 both in 1:72nd scale were simply breathtaking both in their construction and the simple but wonderfully effective and evocative settings they were placed on. Truly great modelling and it was a privilege to see such work.
So that was the East Midlands Model Show, which once again didn’t disappoint and remains a highlight of the modelling year. SMN was proud to be at the show and it was one that I cannot recommend highly enough. Fantastic work by the organisers who deserve the highest praise for yet again making Hinckley a must do on the modelling calendar. If you’ve not been before, you must go, you won’t be disappointed.
Les Venus
I’m ashamed to say that despite having served in the RAF for nearly 20 years and been a modelling and aircraft enthusiast for twice that time I’ve never been to the RAF Museum at Cosford……………until now! Never one to miss an opportunity, even 40 years late, your SMN roving reporter decided to combine both passions at once and visit the Shropshire model show which was among the magnificent exhibits at the museum. More of the show in a bit but first the museum.
Being located on the way to modelling Mecca……..Telford….I know the route well but for this reviewer it’s still a 5 hour round trip but I have to say well worth it. The Museum is a mix of old and new in terms of infrastructure with 3 C-Type hangars making up the bulk of the museum and in between punctuated by the relatively new Cold War Hangar which is simply breathtaking outside and in. The three C-Type hangars are filled to capacity with so many interesting types including most of the 50s and 60s RAF experimental types including the beautiful Fairy Delta 2, the TSR 2 and the simply awe inspiring Bristol 188. Have a look at these photographs below that I took:
Also thanks to Dave Smith for this awesome picture where he’s put Cosford’s EE Lightning back into the air!
But there’s much more too just take a look here:
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/collections/aircraft/cosford-aircraft-collection.cfm
Just when you think it doesn’t get any better one stumbles into the Cold War Hangar and wow! It’s simply breathtaking with all the V Bombers represented as well as Russian types synonymous with the time; my favourite being the beautiful and natural metal MiG-15. But the real wow factor is the representation of a 10 year old boys bedroom veiling but with the real stuff……………just take a look at that Lightning going vertical – its inspired! Anyway I’ve put a few shots together which give a flavor but not as many as I would have liked as there was among all the exhibits a model show. Now the idea of this is always good and I was myself an exhibitor at the RAF Museum Hendon’s show last year but you know, I’m not a fan. Why not? I hear the disgruntled cries of my reader……it’s just that good as they are the model displays effectively disguise the exhibits. As I think you can see from the photographs. Also given that space is limited the model displays get crowded quickly and rather clog up things a tad. This was most apparent in hangars 2 and 3 but it was much better in Hangar 1 where there is more space. Anyway minor and personal gripe aside how was the show? In short, very good with many of the big traders there including Hannants, Cammett, MDC, Just Bases and many more.
The show was, despite my reservations, very well organized and club stands were by and large good; there was a small competition area in a side room in Hangar 1. I was drawn to a number of really excellent pieces of work of all genres. Aircraft and Armour was well represented but I only saw four submarines and a smattering of naval stuff, but all of it was good as you can see.
I’ve taken a range of shots of models that caught my eye, my personal favourite being a Churchill AVRE with trailer, closely followed by a DH2 and a WW2 Schlepper which I have just got to build. In the competition I loved the 1:48th scale Manchester Conversion and a sublime 1:35th scale Blackhawk which in a vignette really captured the essence of much of what’s happening in the world today.
So will I go again? Yes I will, but principally to see the museum as I really want to see that Bristol 188 without the model camouflage. That said, well done Shropshire Model Club for a great show, superbly organized and if you do get a chance to go one year it’s worth the effort even with five hours of driving!
Les Venus