CHRIS CLIFFORD and STU FONE provide imagery of club and special interest group models displayed during this year’s Scale ModelWorld show at Telford, UK.
Above: A superb exhibit on the table of Germany’s Plastik-Modellbau Club Bodensee e.V Black Forest was this stunning ICM 1/48 Dornier Do 215. It was finished in Netherlands colours.
As ever, one of the great highlights of attending IPMS(UK)’s annual Scale ModelWorld event is to be able to walk around and view the many club and Special Interest Group (SIG) displays, all of which are usually packed with well-made models. This year’s display benefited from the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, which allowed modellers greater time to plan and prepare their various exhibits. And the variety was hugely inspiring. Here’s a selection of club/SIG builds that caught our eye…
Above: Airfix’s recently released Meteor F.8 was the subject of the Airfix Modelling SIG’s Chris McSheffrey, who finished it as a camouflaged RAF 74 (F) Squadron machine.
Above: Tim Jones invoked a huge piece of nostalgia, taking Airfix’s vintage 1/72 Mosquito Mk.VI and converting it into a civilian Kenting Aviation airframe, complete with bright red spinners, wingtips and empennage.
Above: Among the many brightly coloured exhibits to match the club’s ‘Any colour you want – but not grey, green or brown’ theme was this eye-catching Royal Canadian Air Force NATO Tiger Meet CF-188 Hornet, which featured Flight Dec aftermarket decals.
Above: The Models for Heroes table was busy and included this well-finished 1/35 T-72, provided by one of its members from Leicester Modellers’ club.
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Above: IPMS Brampton modeller Ben Davies finished his 1/48 Beaufighter Mk.VI as a heavily worn Malta Night Fighter Unit example – one of several excellent exhibits on the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations SIG stand.
Above: Trumpeter’s imposing 1/200 HMS ‘Rodney’ formed one of several centrepieces on the MTO SIG table. Rob Beale added a mass of aftermarket decking and metal gun barrels to improve the basic kit’s appearance.
Above: Many clubs work to themes at SMW, and this year the Brampton IPMS focus was on Victoria Cross recipients, including that of Lt Cdr Stephen Beattie, who captained HMS ‘Campbeltown’ during the daring St Nazaire raid on March 28, 1942. Brampton club member Ben Davies recreated the scene using Mirage Hobby’s 1/400 HMS ‘Campbeltown’ ‘St Nazaire’ boxing.
Above: It wasn’t just World War Two events captured in Brampton’s VC display – more modern entries included Johnson Beharry’s Warrior ICV as it appeared on June 11, 2004 in Al Amarah, Iraq, recreated using Academy’s 1/35 kit and the Accurate Armour upgrade set… all married splendidly by Neil James.
Above: South Atlantic SIG member Nigel Denchfield built Orange Hobby’s 1/700 HMS ‘Hermes’, depicting the ship as it appeared while conducting flight operations in 1982 during the Falklands conflict – ably capturing its ‘tired’ appearance, caused by age, sea and weather.
Above: Sometimes the only way to replicate a given vehicle is to use an older kit, such as Scale Link’s 1987 mixed-media 1/32 Dennis Lorry, which Great War SIG member Mark Cable used as a palette for a typically dusty Western Front vehicle.
Above: Those who think submarines might appear ‘boring’ will find the Submarine Warfare SIG’s display illuminating, with many a varied scheme on show. Even the standard U-Boat ‘greys’ are enlivened by wear and tear, as exemplified by this superb 1/144 Type VIID minelayer by Brampton IPMS member Ben Davies.
Above: The finish on Peter Hawkins’ Tamiya 1/24 Porsche 956 ‘Kenwood’ 1984 Le Mans 24 Hour racer was flawless… and one of several outstanding auto builds on Aldingbourne Modellers’ stand.
Above: A sizeable military contingent formed part of the Aldingbourne Modeller’s table, including this nostalgic Tamiya 1/35 British 25pdr Field Gun and Quad Gun Tractor, by Sam Hawkins-Ellis.
Above: Kirk Ashley-Morgan’s beautifully finished Airfix 1/24 Hurricane Mk.I was one of several eye-catching exhibits on the IPMS Abingdon display, with the partially exposed Rolls-Royce Merlin and open machine-gun bay adding further visual appeal.
Above: A well-made diorama seems to have an unending series of layers, such as this superb Post-War Street Scene by Abingdon modeller Wilson Manson. While the eye is drawn initially to the vehicles, the nuances of the open engine compartment and truck tools then come into view. Delve further and there’s a newspaper on the bench, rust around the street grids, a mechanic reaching for a tool belt and even fuel stains on the truck flatbed.
Above: And now for something completely different: a skeletal 1/144 SR-71A Blackbird, courtesy of Jasmine Models – assembled beautifully by Abingdon modeller Richard Napper. The ‘badged’ base complements the finished model superbly.
Above: West Midlands Police Scale Model Club’s Shaun Bowater took Takom’s 1/35 Merkava Mk.I Hybrid and created this heavily dusted representation of an Israeli Army main battle tank.
Above: The German Army could come up with lengthy tongue-twisting names for its equipment, but fortunately some would have nicknames, such as the Sd.Kfz.6-mounted ‘Diana’ self-propelled artillery system. Norfolk Scale Model Group modeller Tim Gidney built his straight from the box, before adding a suitably worn patina to the surfaces.
Above: Rod Pollard’s 1939 Chevy Sedan Delivery low-rider involved considerable modification, such as the rear being cut away and replaced with a scratch-built open cargo bed. The tools and bins were also homemade – while the white and green livery drew plenty of attention on the Norfolk Scale Model Club stand.
Above: IPMS Rutland settled on a 1960s theme, into which this psychedelic BMW Isetta fitted perfectly. If the bodywork wasn’t striking enough, the similarly painted base added to the overall effect.
Above: This excellent build of Gallery Models’ 1/48 H-34 rescue helicopter was an attractive addition to the Rutland IPMS stand. Its partially open cargo and pilot’s doors allowed greater study of the interior, complemented by the half-exposed engine in the nose.
Above: Scale ModelWorld always provides the eclectic… in this case a wonderful little 1/72 Avis Short S.4 Satellite, displayed by the French Club Des Gais Lurons Maquettistes Du Loiret.
Above: Arguably one of the most menacing-looking aircraft ever built is the Yakovlev Yak-28P ‘Brewer’. Here it’s replicated in superb fashion via the 1/48 Bobcat kit, built by a member of the Die Kolner Pirates club in Germany. This Yak-28 model replicates an example from the Soviet 174th GvIAP at Monchegorsk in 1970.
Above: IPMS(UK)’s Aerobatic Display Team SIG fielded this comprehensive 1/72 tribute to the Canadian Snowbirds, featuring Tutor and Silver Star aircraft through the years.
Above: Fabulous interior detail made this IBG 1/32 PZL.11c a standout exhibit on IPMS Switzerland’s table.
Above: The Twenot Dutch Armour Association attended SMW and one of its models was this superb 1/72 AAV7A1 built from Dragon’s kit. Extra stowage and adapted figures were key to its convincing finish.
Above: A member of the public arrived at the Japanese Aviation SIG stand and asked if he could display this beautifully finished 1/32 Zoukei-Mura Ki-45 on the table. It’s camouflage was airbrushed to an enviable standard.
Above: Another feature of the Japanese Aviation SIG display was this highly attractive Hasegawa 1/72 F-15DJ in Aggressor colours, built by Jonathan Stillwell.
Above: Sixteen-year-old Czech modeller Ondrej Turek brought his excellent Special Hobby 1/72 Curtiss P-40N to show on the IPMS Czech Republic table. It was finished as the USAAF machine ‘Butter Bean II’ and featured CMK aftermarket details.
Above: IPMS Cleveland’s Davey Furness did a fantastic job with his 1/48 Kinetic French Air Force Mirage 2000C. It emulated the 2009 NATO Tiger Meet participant, the aftermarket decals being from special scheme wizard Syhart.
Above: This beautifully modelled Kinetic 1/48 Harrier GR.3, built by Chris McKee, was on the Harrier SIG table and replicated Nick Gilchrist’s XZ133 as seen during the Falklands conflict. It featured realistic battle damage repair work.
