Bismark - Then ...
... and Now!
Well, it hardly seems like any time at all since we last trekked down to Wollongong to enjoy some IPMA hospitality at the NSW Scale Model Competition & Expo (or to save on the keystrokes, The Gong Show). But a year has passed since we last visited the IPMA crew, and the upward arc of this show has continued.
AMMS was again well represented, both in terms of entries and the display we mounted to support the show. A huge thank you to those who provided models for display, and to those who carted them down. Also spotted were strong contingents from APMA in Sydney and modellers from Canberra and Wagga.
Frank Morgan from ModelArt Australia magazine again drove up from Melbourne to support this event, and took a load of pics. So you can expect to see much better quality pics than these in the near future in ModelArt. Always an issue to look out for.
Images - Click on thumbnails below for larger images.
To start off, here are some general views from around the show:
The snarling, viscious, but nonetheless friendly bouncers on the door kept the crowds in order:
AMMS was there with a club display too! The guy with the camera must have been keen to get all the details. Actually he was from the local WIN TV station. IPMA did a great job on the publicity, with coverage in local press, radio and TV.
Best of Show
Best of Show went to Bill Baird's amazing Bismark "before and after" diorama, which was entered into the Maritime category. Next to an immaculate model of the Bismark in all its glory was a depiction of the ship as she was rediscovered in 1989 at the bottom of the sea. An impressive amount of etch (and time) went into these beauties.
The photography doesn't really do it justice, but enjoy anyway:
The first of this year's special categories commemorated the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War of 1982. There were an interesting range of entries.
Disappointingly, there were only two entries in this category, but both captured quintessential scenes from this conflict - one showed the quagmire of the Western Front (by AMMS member Greg Neal), the other, the action at the other end of the Continent, in Gallipoli.
Armour (Large Scale)
Our impression is that while the number of entries held up this year, the overall quality stepped up again. The category winner, Clay Butler's Char B was beautifully finished and an interesting example of the "alternative" subjects possible for this vehicle apart from early-war. The Panzer IV on the hexagonal base is 1:16 scale too!
Armour (Small Scale)
Shock, horror, the "one true scale" (for the uninititated, glorious 1:72) was adulterated by the presence of models in the upstart 1:48 scale! And to rub in the salt, the 48th Hetzer took out best in class! The first two models below (the Hetzer and KV1) are 48th while the balance are 1:72. AMMS member Glen Porter entered an absolute plethora of Grail Scale (sits better with the title of "one true scale" than Braille Scale) models. We particularly liked the sIG33. We missed a few, for which we are sorry, because there was some really good work in this category.
Dioramas
Dioramas were well supported this year, with a wide range of subjects and treatments. IPMA members Jim Hough and Brian Richardson topped the "wow-factor" stakes with their Stalingrad Factory and Karl Morser respectively.
Vignettes
Here are some pics of Andrew Judson's category winning vignette "On the Skids". My back feels broken and freezing just looking at it!
Scratchbuilt
Hats off to the two entrants in this category, Jim Hough of IPMA, and Pieter Stroethoff. Some amazing work here!
Figures
Modern Special Forces were popular in this category, with three very eye-catching works in this genre entered.
Aircraft 1900 to 1945 (Large Scale)
Aircraft From 1 January 1946 (Large Scale)
Aircraft (Small Scale)
Ships
Check out the figures in the spec ops boat! Don't often see that in this category. Also, check out the Leichtes Sturmboot 39 - just goes to show that you can get a lot of model out of a nominally small subject!
Soft Skins
Nice to see the appearance of the new Academy M2 Half Tracks on the table.
Displays
Here is an overview of the club displays. AMMS supported the show with a display showing the wide range of interests of our members. Many thanks go to our members who lent models for display over the course of the weekend.
APMA again ran modelling demos throughout the weekend, a marathon effort.
This general display table by IPMA filled up over the course of the Saturday.
Conclusion
The IPMA crew excelled themselves again in organising what must now be the largest modelling event between the Tweed and the Murray!
We've said it before, but it's well worth repeating: those of you within range of Wollongong and who have yet to attend, do yourselves a favour and bung this one in your calendar early for the first weekend in May next year.
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