Last night I returned from IPMS (International Plastic Modellers' Society) UK Scale Modelworld 2009, the largest and most important scale modelling show in the UK and arguably also in the World.

One of three huge halls housing the Scale Modelworld show in Telford
[All images by Martin Waligorski]


The show attracted considerable crowds during the weekend, starting with this long line of visitors on Saturday morning.

It's been a busy but oh-so-enjoyable weekend, with world-class modelling display and competition, new kits making their public debut, huge trade area with companies coming from as far as California, Korea and Japan. Everything topped by an immensely enjoyable luncheon organized by IPMS international branches where all chapters brought some of their national food and drink to share with everyone else - tapas style.

Final judging to select the Best in Show

I have returned home tired by the sheer load of impressions. I did my best to represent the Spitfire Site, made new acquaintances and renewed some old friendships. I'm confident that many of these meetings will result in improvements of this publication.

Here is a short summary of the trade area:

Airfix was there and in seemingly good shape, promoting their newly released 1/72 Spitfire kits - the Mk. IXc and PR Mk. XIX and the very big 1/24 Mosquito. The latter kit is production-ready and should appear on the market any time now.

The Airfix stand with 1/24 Mosquito in the foreground.


Airfix is once again specializing in Spitfires, with two new 1/72 Spitfire kits this year.

Tamiya's UK importer was there, showing the kit which everyone was talking about - the new 1/32 Spitfire Mk. IXc. The actual product was, however, not available to buy. According to Hobby Link Japan, the deliveries in that country will start only on 28 November. With this delay there's still chance of getting one before Christmas, but by a narrow margin indeed! The kit is still worth it, though.

The kit everyone was talking about: editor of the Tamiya Model Magazine proudly shows his partially-constructed Tamiya Spitfire IXc

Among the crowd of excellent models on display in the competition area, few aviation subjects stuck out as particularly superb examples of the modelling art. To this elite group belonged a scratchbuilt 1/20 Hawker Tempest in bare-metal finish, a superdetailed 1/48 Handley-Page Halifax and an immaculate RB-51 Red Baron racing Mustang in 1/32 (?) scale. The was also an awe-inspiring diorama of derelict remains of a Junkers Ju 88 discovered in Norway (this diorama also won the Best in Show award) - and much, much more. I took a load of pictures and will present many of them at this site very soon.

Magnificent.

Labels: modelling, webmaster