Highlights from Scale Model World 2023
November saw the annual Scale Model World exhibition in Telford, UK. Apparently it is the world's largest expo of scale modellers and run each year by the International Plastic Modelling Society (IPMS). We'd not been before as we were unsure whether the world of plastic modelling would welcome our big-scale die cast kits - we were however more than pleasantly suprised at the welcome we received!
Scale Model World is held every year over the Veterens Day weekend, which is a fitting date considering the subject matter of the vast majority of modeling is steeped in military history. At 11am on both the Saturday and Sunday a poingnant 2 minute silnce is observed. The charity Models for Heroes are guests of the IPMS and supported by many of the companies exhibiting.
Held across three halls the show has display stands from modelling clubs from all over the UK, mainland Europe and even as far as Columbia. There is a competition section where the best of the best compete for best in class, and the edges of each hall are crammed with retailers selling all sorts of lovely stuff!
There is way too much to show in this article, but here are some of my favourites...
Normandy 1945
This diorama is a bit of a show-stopper! It's a scene of street-fighting in a ruined French town somewhere in Normandy during the allied advance of 1945. The attention to detail is fantastic with countless mini-scenes taking place in the dilapidated rooms of the buildings and around the collapsed brick walls in the streets. A German Tiger and half-track come head-to-head with a US Sherman and what looks like an M3 (but I might be wrong!). Look closely in the church tower and there is a GI with radio equipment spotting the enemy. On the other side of the street the German troops are preparing their postions in the townhouses. The whole diorama is desinged from a 360 degree perspective and you can walk around the whole thing getting different and fascinating points of view. Totally outstanding work and attention to detail!
International Display Teams
Barn of Dreams
Shelby Super Snake Barn Find
I have to give a special mention to Martin at Scale War Machines who loaned us his amazing barn find of our very own '67 Shelby Mustang Super Snake.
Unlike other retailers we don't exhibit at shows and exhibitions to sell stuff - we prefer to come and show our models and get involved with other modellers, chat and answer questions. So we thought it would be great to show off Martin's barn find and we're pleased to say it got loads of favourable comments and many, many photos taken!
You can watch Martin's videos of how he airbrushes, paints and generally ruins the car here.....
Out of this World!
Not everything at Scale Model World is tanks and planes! Here is a great selection of sci-fi and fantasy models. Nice to see many competition classes specific to the sci-fi/fantasy genres.
A selection of other great models
Here's just a small selection of some other models...