Hey guys,

Got back from Telford this morning. We had a brilliant time. Great show that kept us moving all day... so busy we didn't have time to get tired (a few cans of Red Bull also helped with that ). We got the bus from Dublin at 20:00 and arrived into Telford (via Birmingham) about 07:05. That gave us time for a Full Monty breakfast and we arrived at the venue at 08:55 and straight into the show. There were some nice bits 'n' bobs to spend money on but I only wanted to get tools, paints and a couple of bargain kits that I fancied. I didn't want to be spending on kits just for the sake of it as I've too many in the stash as it is. So in the end I actually spent below budget and came away with money and with what I needed. I'm very happy with that. There are some fantastic new kits in the pipeline from many different manufacturers (but they seem to be getting more and more expensive every year). The stand out new kit is without doubt Revell's new 1:72 A400M. I saw this online last week but when I saw it in reality I was blown away!! It is enormous! And I'd say the price tag will be too.



The new 1:48 Vimmy from A2ZeeModels looks special too with an asking price of about £100 or more.



We called around to the IPMS Ireland table but no one said hello to us! Maybe they didn't know us but they seemed busy talking anyway... so we moved on quickly. I was left with the lingering question of "why?" after seeing one of the models on the table though. Hahahah! We ran into Joe Maxwell as we browsed so we had a good catch up with him anyway.

We left the competition area until the last part of the day so that was a bit rushed but I have to say the standard was very high with some super paint jobs. And (although my eyes were tired) there weren't very many seamlines, bad filling, sanding scratches or nasty canopies on show in this competition. I did see a model with blu-tac on the nose wheel to stop it from tail-sitting... which it didn't do anyway. Ouch! Immediate fail in my opinion.

Now for your enjoyment, here are over 600 photos of some of the best (...and worst) from the show including club tables, manufacturers and competition.
>>Click to view the album<<

I tried to get as much variety as possible to keep everyone happy. Some may be out of focus as I wasn't using a flash and moving quickly. I also had to reduce the quality and run them through a batch processor. You'll get the idea of the stuff anyway. Oh, and don't blame my camera for that horrible lighting... the venue is well known for giving paint jobs a lovely, warm, reddish hue.

Without doubt the best in show was the model below that was seen in the competition. The attention to detail was very nice... IPMS Ireland Group Build for 2012 anyone?
No? I didn't think so. IAC uniforms could be used in a different way... and a green Shamrock tattoo could be used if you must.

EDIT: Warning; below link contains nudity. (ok, I know it's a model.. but still)
http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k515/vinnyrussell/Scale%20ModelWorld%202011/DSCF8796.jpg

(There are young members in the club, and on a PC screen in work from a distance could land someone in trouble with the IT police....Mods)
Roll on next year!

Vinny

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein

Hi Vinny,

I don't think I've met you, but I want to apologise if we didn't welcome you to the IPMS Ireland table! I was there for a while during the day, and did my best to chat to anyone who came up to us. I must admit, I'm terrible with names & faces, and once or twice some people went past the table who looked vaguely familiar to me, but I couldn't place. So once again, apologies if I ignored you!

What was the model that made you ask 'Why'? We got quite a good reaction to the Hawks, along with the Buccaneer, the Victor, the Locomotive, Fouga and the others.

Great pics there Vinny, just looked at the first few, gonna sit own with some breakfast and go through the rest of them, to see what else I missed!

J.

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On the bench -
Revell 1:72 F-16B

Completed builds
Click here

Coming attractions -
Eduard 1:48 Bf 110 G-4
Academy 1:72 F-22a Raptor
Tamiya 1:35 T-55a
Moebius 1:128 Seaview

Which kit? Then we can all decidfe between Why or Why Not.....

Oh, and thanks for all the photos...it's going to take a while get through them

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Cheers
Sean

Here's where I really show my ignorance: which one was the what-if? :)

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Cheers
Sean

Assuming it *is* the what-if Hawk, if you look at the first pic in my thread of pics, you'll see 2 1:48 Hawks ( in front of the 1:32s and behind the 1:72s ). The Aer Corps Hawk is the one on the left...

And speaking of what-if Hawks, I saw one on Saturday in the Red Arrows scheme with Sidewinders under the wing! :)

J.

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On the bench -
Revell 1:72 F-16B

Completed builds
Click here

Coming attractions -
Eduard 1:48 Bf 110 G-4
Academy 1:72 F-22a Raptor
Tamiya 1:35 T-55a
Moebius 1:128 Seaview

Lads, let's not run away with ourselves here... relax! I said I walked away thinking "why?" and not "that was ". And notice that I used "hahahah!". I did actually walk away smiling and isn't that exactly the reaction a "what if" should cause? That's how I react to them mostly anyway... something not to be taken seriously! I was not referring to anyones modelling skills at the table. I was referring to Liam's (I deduced it was his anyway) IAC BAe Hawk. I'm never a fan of 'What-if's or Flights of Fancy because there are plenty of great schemes out there and I see them as being a waste of a model... but that's just me! I saw that IAC Hawk and it was exactly the same scheme as the Typhoon he did, with a shamrock on the tail, and I was just left wondering why do it again. That is all, nothing more. I wasn't the only one who thought this either. It's none of my business what a modeller gets up to as long as it makes him happy. I just think if you're going to make a What-If with a Hawk then why not try something different than before and design a striking colour scheme that maybe an IAC display team would use. That would be a pretty cool idea and I did see another table doing exactly that with various aircraft.

@ Filip: You assumed it was that model and you were indeed correct. If you knew exactly which model I was talking about then you must have reacted in a very similar fashion sa I did when you first saw it... or you expected/wanted people to react like that. You insisted it came over so you exposed it to getting reactions. If a model is put on public display then comments have to be expected and opinions allowed. It may be positive, or it may be negative, either way it's an opinion everyone has a right to have. If I see a model and think "why?" then so be it, I'm allowed and these models are often the best talking points... and Liam's Hawk is the one model that I remember well from the table so it did stand out and it made me laugh. And like I said, I was not asking why in relation to anyones modelling skills. When you ask me to answer your question of "Why not?", I get the feeling that you're trying to coerce me into saying something negative about it. There is no need to ask "why not?" as it had the same right as any other model to be on the table. And I have nothing negative to say about it... but I will say this... a completed "What-if" is always better than a pile of broken plastic of a "What Used To Be". Hahah!

What's this about Joe Duffy? What exactly am I supposed to be letting out here? I wasn't having a rant. I don't listen to the radio so I don't know what his show is about. I don't get it...

As for introducing ourselves at the table... yes, in a normal situation that's fine but we weren't exactly standing there like plebs looking at each other saying nothing . As I said, the lads seemed busy talking, there was nobody available to say hello to and I didn't see the opportunity to interrupt to say hello during the couple of minutes we were there. I didn't expect them to be standing about welcoming everyone... it doesn't happen at any other table. It was a busy time at the table (must have been lunch time as there was a lot of eatting going on behind), there wasn't an opportunity, and we didn't have much time for hanging about so we moved on with the aim of returning at the end of the day. We ran out of time so couldn't make it back unfortunately. The lads don't know us but they'd know our faces from turning up for all the shows in Ireland... that's how I recognised their faces too. It's at the shows abroad that a familiar face becomes a great opening for an introduction... but alas, it didn't work out like that.

@Jason, no apologies needed! I didn't think we got ignored as things were busy. You weren't there when we stopped by anyway. We haven't met but I'd recognise your face from all the times you collected trophies at D1 . Hopefully we can introduce ourselves at the next event.

On a final note, I'd just like to say that the club was represented well and thanks to all involved with to getting the table display organised. I also noticed that next years Nationals are already being advertised well in advance.

All the best!
Vinny

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein

15 11 2011
Hi Vinny
Well, the IAC Hawk was there to fulfil the my promise of providing a Hawk for the GB. Due to university pressures, I wasn't able to complete the 1/32 Hawk I am currently building so I brought that one instead. I don't think it's been on thetable at Telford yet ( although it has had a few outing in Ireland). I like what-if's. There are plenty of lovely schemes out there but everyone has done them already. An IAC Hawk is a wee bit different in that it's less of a what-if and more of 'never-happen, forget about it!' It's designed to raise a smile or a laugh and it does that, so not a waste of a model or anything else.

It wears the same scheme as the eurofighter because those are the colors of the PC-9's and I figured it should acknowledge something passing reality, especially since the current display team fly the pc-9 in the regular color scheme.

Sorry no-one did a meet and greet. The Overseas Section pulls out food, beer and alcolholic concoctions I couldn't even decribe from around 12 noon and it just keeps flowing. I am not sure if I was at the table at that time but would have said hello if I had seen you...or if you had given a shout...as we did everyone who stopped to chat. The display was good and grateful thanks to everyone who provided models and provided of their time, especially Jason and Ken who where there only for the Saturday but spent an hour or two at the table and managed to buy all they needed and also took in the model competition.

Next year, given that it will be a big IAC anniversary, we have requested two double depth tables and hope that we can get a ton of models over to represent the Aer Chorps. Hopefully we'll get more people over there as well to help out. It's nice to have a helping hand and we have loads of time to plan.

I'm actually going to get rid of the kits I have that are IAC related as I find it restrictive. I prefer what-if's and more unusual markings in terms of color schemes or operators or even nose-art. I've a few kits in various modes of build to complete and then no more Aer Chorps ( bar the Annie...).

To those who made kits, gave of their time and generally helped promote IPMS Ireland, I thank you. Great weekend and we'll do it all again next year!

Liam

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Mesa called Jar-Jar Binks. Mesa your humble servant.
I don't know. Mesa day startin pretty okee-day with a brisky morning munchy, then BOOM! Mesa gettin' very very scared!


I am the Rules Police. It's better than being the Thought Police.

Hi Liam,

You built what you wanted to build and it made you happy. That's the most important thing in this hobby. It was unique and it also achieved the desired result of a "what-if"... it raised a smile and made me think "why?". That's what art does... it evokes a response in people and I view modelling as an art form. I'm sure a lot of people have walked away thinking "why?" and "WTF!" after seeing some of the pieces by Damien Hirst.

I didn't see you at the table when we were there. If I did I would have definitely given you a shout.

All the best,

Vinny

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein

You're welcome!

Thanks for the tip. Good one. The venue definitely suffers from weird lighting and it varies from hall to hall. Some areas around the club tables are very orange and then the section around the competition area is ok. I was taking pictures so fast in the afternoon that I really didn't pay attention to sorting out the lighting... as long as I documented a variety of models I was happy. At least they give those who couldn't make it an idea of what was on show and the standards.

Cheers!

Vinny

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein