Bolton IPMS recently held its annual show at the Toughsheet Community (née Macron) Stadium.
An in-depth report on the show is in the April 2024 issue of Airfix Model World (AMW161), but here is a selection of additional photos taken on the day by editor Stu Fone.
Above: This superbly finished Opel Blitz ambulance was created by Rubicon modeler Luke Caswell using Rubicon’s 1/56 Sd.Kfz 305 open cargo truck as a base, mating it with the associated Box Body Expansion set, which includes spare wheel and rooftop stowage. Above: South Cheshire Military Modelling Club’s Ray Johnston acquired these Airfix 1/48 Lynx HAS.7 and Land Rover WMIK second-hand, building both straight from the box and mounting them on a scratch-built base. Above: Washington Model Club member Darryl Clark painted this Verlinden 1/5 scale English Longbowman ca 1450 bust, capturing the skin and leather tones most convincingly, but decided to replace the resin fletchings with scratch-built replacements for greater realism. Above: The Wrexham Wings Model Club had a touching tribute to Op Jericho, with this splendid memorial build from Len Sarcevic comprising a combination of the Airfix and Hasegawa 1/72 Mosquito kits to produce the Mk.VI flown by Gp Capt Percy Charles Pickard, which was presented to his daughter on the 80th anniversary of this famous raid. Above: In Czech service, the MiG-29 Fulcrum wore several schemes, with this four-tone camouflage being one of the most colourful. IPMS Cleveland modeler Patrick Adams used the Hobby 2000 boxing of Academy’s 1/48 kit to reproduce Black 5918 as it appeared on August 20, 1993 - the type’s last flight in Czech service. Above: IPMS Cleveland modeler Mark Edmondson painted this Deadpool vignette using a Knight Models product, which includes wall sections and cat, posing him as if asking the question: “Where’s Francis?” This is an oft-repeated question – usually asked in darkly humorous circumstances – in the first Deadpool film, where he tracks down the villain that caused his disfigurement. Above: Posing some models, such as Italeri’s 1/35 SLC Maiale manned torpedo, in a suitable environment can be tricky, but Stoke-on-Trent Model Club’s John Mudway rose magnificently to the challenge, setting it within resin ‘water’ complete with seabed and vegetation, with one diver cutting a hole in an anti-torpedo net so they can progress to their target. The figures are a mix of kit and aftermarket items, with their poses modified to suit. Above: IPMS Warrington can always be relied on for a busy and high-quality display, with Peter Hardwick’s Tamiya 1/48 Wildcat finished as a VF-3 airframe assigned to USS Yorktown. Above: There aren’t many kits available of the Kyushu Q1W1 Tokai – known to the Allies as ‘Lorna’ – but Wolverhampton Model Club’s Ian Jukes made this splendid example using the Pavla Models kit, weathering the upper surfaces convincingly. Above: Manchester IPMS modeller David Chase took Academy’s impressive 1/32 F/A-18D Hornet and added Aeromask’s aftermarket spraying templates to recreate the ‘Wet n wild’ digital-style camouflage worn by VFC-12 airframe Red 47, before adding two crew figures. Above: Robert Gray added a wealth of detail to his 1/48 Spitfire PR.XI conversion, adding the Quickboost set to Hasegawa’s Mk.IX, further enhancing the build via an aftermarket Merlin engine, windscreen, and wheels, plus an Eduard photo-etched brass detail set. Inspiration – along with much of the research – came from period photos. Above: Larger-scale kits, such as Hobby Boss’ 1/32 B-24 Liberator, are becoming increasingly popular sights on display tables, with this example by West Riding (Leeds) Model Club member Paul Hughes positioned front and centre. Above: Mark Burgess used several Motobitz conversion sets on his Revell 1/24 Land Rover Series III kit to create this pre-April 1961 Series IIa pickup from the Lower Peover Garage, with the Harvey Frost 30cwt (hundredweight) being a separate set for the open cargo bed. This was one of several excellent auto builds on The Yorkshire Black Sheep Modellers IPMS (UK) stand. Above: While posed shots of an aircraft with the various weapons it can carry are de-rigeur for promoting its capabilities, SESKU + Hemsworth Community Scale Model Club’s Craig Stimson went for a similar effect using Kit Form Services’ 1/24 Scammel Crusader EKA Recovery Vehicle. Instead of munitions, he supplemented the kit’s recovery equipment with the same firm’s accessory set to create this eye-catching display. Above: Tim Whitton’s superb painting and weathering enlivened his Revell 1/125 Jacques-Yves Cousteau Calypso, including shading on the helicopter deck and enhancing the panel lines on the accompanying submersibles and a Hughes Model 269 helicopter. This was one of several splendid items on the Modelwyr y Ddraig Goch (Red Dragon Modellers) stand.
Having delighted modellers with its recent 1/48 Bf 109G-series kits, Eduard has now turned its attention to the type’s successor – and final production – variant, the Bf 109K-4.
