AMPS held their annual International Convention in Auburn Indiana this year and I was able to attend and take some pictures of the great work on display.

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Thanks!

Great photos, Shaun...

How did the judging go?

They told us we would be better modelers if we judged. I went home Friday and took another look at my dioramas that did well in IPMS contests and found a myriad of issues I would fix before I took them to an AMPS show.
Judged with Danny Egin and learned a lot from him too.

Shaun

Nice photo show.
Hope you had a good time.
Glad to here you had a good time, and enjoyed judging.

Some nice work on display there Shaun, thanks for taking the time to photograph and report! I hear you about judging, totally changes your view on things from both a competition stand-point as well as appreciation for the "little things" that matter in the end.

OMG I'd kill to go to an AMPS show, but the distance is a factor for me (Toronto, Ontario Canada). Is it always in the same place or does it move around from year to year?
I'd get totally smoked if I were to compete, but at the same time as Shaun has said I think it would be a tremendous learning experience. Great chance to pick up info whether you compete or just build for yourself.

Hi Barry: There's always a big Canadian contingent and this year was no exception. Plenty of Canadians (P Roberts, S McCrorie, C Rothman, S Dunnage, H Low, M Steacy, D Browne, E Kubiak, R Lebert, Scott & Kim Taylor, M Duguay -- I'm sure I'm missing others). The Best of Show, Judges Choice winner and the newest AMPS Master is Steven Milstone-Turner.

The show used to be confined to Maryland but the show will be travelling around. Next year will be back in MD for the last time due to the closing of the Ordnance museum there.

Hope you can make it sometime.

Roy

Shaun

Thanks for the pics It still surprises me I won a silver For those who have never been to an AMPS Nationals show,go You won't regret it

WOW, I had no idea it was 'based' in MD. Roy, could you tell me when and where (if you have any idea) will this last show in MD be? I would absulutely LOVE to attend!

By the way, the models on display are absoulutely stunning, ALL OF THEM!!!

Thanks,

Rob

AMPS International Show 2009
April 17-18, 2009
Havre de Grace Community center
Havre de Grace, MD

Excellent, thanks!!

Will be there for sure!

Rob

Hi Shaun. Really nice photographs. Thanks for taking the time to post and share. I’ve been looking at a lot of these show photographs lately for some inspiration, and its great to get the opportunity to see these events from all over the world.
I particularly liked the vignettes of the Russians climbing up on the cut off Tiger and attacking the crew, and also the shadowbox of a few Germans sitting in the open doors of a rail-wagon. As well as being great builds, they really have an imaginative setting.
Was an “apprentice” judge last year and judged for the first time this year myself, and enjoyed the experience. Would definitely recommend it.

I read an interesting comment last night on IPMS Stockholm, when these show images were being discussed. The AMPS images appear to differ from other shows, especially from the European shows, where the models were considered all generally clean .... very little scratching, chipping and the weathering is toned down much more. Very interesting point, and something I confirmed for myself while looking through these images. It’s interesting to see what modellers turn out, and the influences their peers and similar previous shows have had.

I am almost 90% certain those figures were scratchbuilt, which makes it all that much more impressive. The rail car had at least three other figures in, two in bunks and a guy shaving. Interior was packed. Title was "Stalingrad Express." Interior had at least three lights in it too.
There was some "well worn" armor, too. Just took pictures of what caught my eye. It is by no means a representative sample.

Shaun

Now if we could get a batch of photos of the Armorama award winner, that would make an old man a little less grumpy.