IPMS Salisbury Modelshow 2008

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Saturday the 31st of May saw both the start of a rare spell of glorious summer sunshine, and the annual Model Show of the Salisbury IPMS branch. It was another successful show, with a very good attendance of both clubs and individual modellers, and the hall was very busy throughout the day.
What gives this show an added bonus, is the close proximity to the historic city of Salisbury, which with it's medieval city centre, imposing Cathedral and extensive shopping has something to entertain those family members who don't wish to spend all day looking at models. The sunshine made for a enjoyable trip down the beautiful Wiltshire countryside, and after dropping my wife and daughter of near the shops ("please don't spend to much money... ", hmm, that sounds familiar..), I made my way to the college where as usual the show was held in the sports hall. Unfortunately the sports hall lacks 'proper' refreshment facilities, so a big thank you has to go to the ladies who ran the refreshments table in the corner of the hall. They not only provided the steady supply of coffee that keeps me going during the day, they did so with a smile, something not often included with the outside 'professional caterers' that more and more run such facilities.

This year the show, vendors, and the competition were all squeezed into the single hall, which meant that the competition did not have a dedicated room/area. Entries were generally displayed on the various branch and club tables around the hall, but there was one table for the Junior entrants, which was also used for the entries of those Modellers who did not attend with a branch or club, like myself.
On the one hand this set-up does mean that the competition entries are on show all day, rather than being locked away for some time whilst they are judged. This means that those visiting the show just for a short period don't risk missing these models. It also gives the Modellers a chance to display the models on their table, and talk about it during the day, rather than just for a short while after the competition has ended. The competition entries were of a very high standard, and I don't envy the Armour category judges.
There are however a few drawbacks to this set-up too, and as I volunteered to be a judge, I was soon to find out. Because the entries are dispersed around the hall, it can be a bit tricky to find some, resulting in the sight of slightly confused judges walking up and down the tables trying to find that elusive last model on their list. Having to potentially judge the models in front of the builder was a new experience for me, and I'm not sure who was more nervous...lol. I must admit that I prefer judging behind closed doors, because I feel that that gives the judge a better opportunity to scrutinize the models, if only because you have to pick up the models, which can give others the wrong impression that it is o.k. to do so for everybody.

I understand that this year's competition was in many ways a new venture, in addition to the lack of a separate space for the competition this year the judging also followed the IPMS '1st, 2nd, and highly commended' format, rather than the Open Gold, Silver and Bronze format. Suggestions for improvements and additional classes for next year's competition were eagerly noted down, so next year should be an even better competition.
The prize for best presented Club Table went to the Mendip Modellers, a small ragtag band of very talented modellers, who in addition also walked away with several more individual prizes. Due to my rolling night shift rota I can only attend their monthly meetings very occasionally, but it is always a pleasure to do so.
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About the Author

About Henk Meerdink (Henk)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM


Comments

Ouch... whilst there were mainly Planes and AFV's on display, there were some figures, but not many. But as the modeller who displayed the figures is a regular on all the shows around here, I din't think to take any (new)photographs... I have pics of his work in other show reports, so I'll dig some out and add them in a moment. Note to self: must not forget the figures next show... Henk
JUN 12, 2008 - 03:07 AM
Hoi Henk, Hey no worries mate! I was actually just curious. It's always interesting to see the make up of shows and clubs. The mix I saw at this meeting looks similar in proportion to the Cape Town club. Sorry if it came out bluntly Rudi
JUN 12, 2008 - 03:14 AM
I know Rudi, but thanks for pointing it out to me anyway. It is all to easy to miss little details like that.. I also forgot to write down any names, another thing to add to my list of 'notes to self...'....
JUN 12, 2008 - 03:17 AM
Outstanding! Great workmanship. thanks DJ
JUN 12, 2008 - 03:39 AM
Is the Orange tank being co-opted as a new mode of transport for the Dutch football team???
JUN 12, 2008 - 04:21 AM
Hi Henk Great review of show.This was my 3rd year at the show,not being a member of a model club myself,I had to join the junior ranks as such.Was all a bit confusing at frist but I think it was a bit fairer on the modelers how are not in a club. Each year I enter and just walk away and think no way ,there's way better than mine here.When returning to the table after what seems a life time I have been very surprised each year, now I'm even happier as I have my models on here for everyone to see(ani't mastered the art of that yet,tried once failed badly).So a big thank you is in order . Thanks Darren
JUN 12, 2008 - 04:31 AM
Hi Henk,Thanks for posting this,these always give me inspiration for liitle tweaks on my own kits. One question springs to mind though,Where did the Famo modeller get the little honey riding in the back,SWMBO saw that an laughed her socks off - "modellers do have a sense of humour then" was the comment that followed. Now i want one riding on one of my pieces of armour to give her a giggle - anyone know where i can get one ?
JUN 13, 2008 - 07:49 PM
You know, there are some really nice models there, but I just have to make a general criticism about something that has struck me about many modeling displays/shows from our neighbors "across the pond". And I mean this in the nicest possible way; I'm NOT slagging on our Brit brothers! It's a shame that many of the Armor modelers there seem to spend an obviously respectable amount of time on the actual builds themselves, and then really seem to really skimp on the bases which on which they display their model. To be honest, there's some really shoddy-looking bases there! I may be wrong, but several of them--the Scimitar for instance--appear to be laid down over a simple piece of felt onto which a smattering of grass powder has been laid down? Or just a flat plaque with the same, rushed, shoddy treatment. The bases are really one-dimensional, flat and uninteresting for the most part, and honestly detract greatly from some of the otherwise beautiful models! Or, worst of all--HORROR OF HORRORS!!--the dreaded "Bare, Stained Plaque"! It's worth noting that the nicest base of the lot that I could see, the one with seemingly the most thought and detail put into it was the "Chi Ha"'s in the jungle setting--and that was in the junior category! So what's up with that? Is it a "British" thing? Seems like someone needs to up the standards there?
JUN 16, 2008 - 07:07 AM
SEAN Have some lardy cake for me,
JUN 16, 2008 - 11:07 AM
Thanks Henk, enjoyed the photos.
JUN 16, 2008 - 11:43 PM