IPMS/USA 2002 NATIONAL CONVENTION

by Jean Luc DUBERT

Militairy Mission in Washington D.C.

PREAMBULE

On my arrival to the United States, 2 years ago, i immediately became an IPMS/USA member, to the Washington DC section, but i was already late to go to the 2000 edition of the famous American Convention. So, i already started to think about the 2001 edition (announced as early as 1 year before), which woulf be in Chicago (Illinois) from july 04 to 07, & started despite the distance to prepare my trip to the american lakes.

Unfortunately, professionnals imperatives let down all my hopes to go there & i had to contempt me with the reading of the REPLIC report & of the IPMS/USA news magazine. But the 2002 edition already scheduled & immediately comforted me. Think about it ! the IPMS/USA 2002 NATIONAL CONVENTION was scheduled from july 31 to august 3, in Virginia Beach (Virginia) which is less than 4 hours road trip from my home. This time nothing could stop me.

During an exhibition in marsh this year, i've talked about my project with Misha, a friend modeler from the neightboor section of Fairfax, in Virginia. He suggest me to be my guide for the Convention & i accepted.

This is why, on july 31 morning, we were both driving to the easr coast, the camera ready to snap & the credit card ready to burn.

VIRGINIA BEACH, WEDNESDAY JULY 31 2002

After a (short) stop to the hotel to deposit (or better say drop) my luggages, we went (after adimiring some US Navy ships anchored in the Norfolk Navy Base) to the Virginia Beach Pavilion Center, which will home for 4 days the annual United States modeling event. On our arrival, the view of this building let me supposed that thousands of models should be here to fill all that space. In fact, each arcade correspond to a huge room & only 2 are open to the publiv, the others being reserved for the material, judges delibarations, the differents seminaries, shows & others exhibitions, & the offices were, during 4 days & 4 nights, will be busy the members of the 2 local organizing clubs : the one of Tidewater & the one of Hampton Roads.

Like for getting us in the mood, the Pavilion Center is regularly over flied by the US NAVY aircrafts due to the proximity of the Oceana Navy base.

We went in only 1 hour after the opening of the gates, sheduled at 15:00. Having chosen to come back home on friday night, we chose the 3 days ticket for $ 10.00. A stick is given to us, on wich we must write our name & firstname & we must were permanently. Here, knowing who you're talking to & calling by your firstname are the basic rules.

Like many of you should know, the american vision of a model exhibition is different from our. In fact, ther is no free exhibition properly said. The 2 public opens room are for the sellers of all kind & the other for the models contest. On Micha's advice, we decide to visit the sellers room first (see why this choice above in this article).

Just after the room's door, an incredible vision is offered to me : tens of of stands held by craftsmen, makers & importers who work in the US completed by the east cost store which have come here. All offers special reduction for the convention : my credit card is already shaking in my hand.

The 1st stand i've visited is the one of EAGLE EDITIONS. , the american specialist of Luftwaffe (books, models & decals sheets). Even original german aircrafts pieces are exhibited, still with their original colors.

The eyes still sparkling, i decide to organize myself & to walk down the alleys one after the other in order to be sure not to miss a thing. On all those sellers stand, i stop to some to collect some informations

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At COBRA COMPANY , they produce resin accessories always thin & high quality.

The editor SAM PUBLICATIONS  had unfortunately been able to carry only few examplaries of his new born in the Modellers Datafile serie, on the Beaufighter, which have been sold in few minutes. It's already too late for me, but there is still an examplary of the 1st in the same serie (on the Mosquito) which i fast buy because i missed it on its release, & i had some difficulties to find it, even on this side of the Atlantic. I've then been confirmed that none of these books will be reedited once sold out.

KOSTER AERO  is also here & shows its last newbies, including the 1:48 Fw.200 of course. Prepare a good stock of balsa for the longerons & place on your shelf, because the beast is impressive. This craftman always deliver quality decal sheets with its model, which we would like to find in other brands.

The american jets decal sheet specialist CUSTOM AERONAUTICAL MINIATURES, better known under the name of CAM DECALS, propose all its sheet at $6.00 during the Convention. A price to make you dream, no?

AVIATION USK had move here from Nebraska (nearly 4000 kilometres) to propose all its never previously released models. I discover in this occasion the new brand XOTIC-72 lanched recently in this really active store animed by a small time, as passionate as crazy. I note a B-32 Dominator (with a vac-u cell & small pieces in injected) as well as a Dornier Do-22 in short-run in a pure czech style, moulded really properly & added with resin pieces, a rhodoïd canopy & a decal sheet presenting 4 decorations (2 greeks, 1 finnish & 1 yougoslavian). In bonus, an USK decal sheet is offered with each buy during the Convention.

EDUARD   is also here & animate its stand particularly with photo-etched stencil paintings demonstrations. SQUADRON SIGNAL present its future releases. I note in the serie In Action the future release of the monographird of the He.111 & Ju.52.

The importing METEOR PRODUCTIONS , which produced above all brands like Cutting Edge, take 2 stands on its own & had even bring a Mig-21 cockpit. But i have to say that its depot, where is go regularly all the rest of the year, is located in Alexandria, in the south suburb of Washington DC, & so only 3 road hours from Virginia Beach. David Klaus, its president, tell me that REPLIC, which he distributed as well as AVIONS, is the magazine he prefer for the quality of the pictures illustrating the assembling columns. I add that it's a bit surprising that the specialised french magazines are really popular, even with the language barrier.

After some frictions with the payment systems, the credit card start to melt & the closing time is close (21 H 00) so Micha & i decided to come back to the hotel for a good night of sleep, none without having degustated a good T-Bone steak in a texan restaurant.

THURSDAY AUGUST 01

Since 09:00 A.M., we're back to the sellers room where i particularly visit the small craftmen & other stores proposing interesting stuff.

First, i discover on a corner of table the resin accesories of OBSCURECO AIRCRAFT. Animated by 2 passionates from CALIFORNIA, this small brand born recently proposed on a small space all its production, with prices between $3.00 & $4.00. I particularly notice in 1:48 a rectified hood of F6F-3/5 Hellcat for the Hasegawa kits & an other for the Hobbycraft F8F-2 Bearcat. In 1:72, i chose a conversion kit for the F-6D/K Mustang Tamiya kit & a radar nose of PBJ-1 Mitchell for the Italeri kit. I strongly advise you to follow the products of this small team.

Then, i go from discoveries to discoveries & from good deals to good deals in the stores who have real 'walls' of model boxes : at Fujimi, a Gekko for $8.00 & a Myrt for $10.00 ; at Hasegawa, a Spitfire HF.VII for $10.00, a Buffalo for $7.50 & a box of double Me.109 G-6/G-14 "Special Hartmann" for $12.00 & even at High-Planes Models, a Yak-9P/U for $12.00 also. All this to give you an idea of the prices during the Convention.

Judging having spent enough green notes, i told myself it's time to go admire the pieces in the contest.

The reason why my friend Micha had advise me to wait is really simple. In fact the canditates have until friday evening at 06:00 P.M. to registrate & bring their models, the judgement only beginning only at 07:00 P.M. to stop at midnight but sometimes late in the night for some categories (115 different categories + 13 Best Of).

After lunch, i then go to the other room, where are crowning hundreds of models, dioramas & figurines on meters of tables. During a talk, the people in charge of registration indicates me that nearly 2000 models are already registered for more than 600 contesters & that they are expecting more to come until the closing. A contestor even registrated more than 50 models in differents categories.

Armed with my digital camera, here i am between the tables trying to select the models which i think better, while talking with theirs authors.

	A great SMER 1:48 SM.79 entirely reviewed, corrected & detailed (without accessories, please).
	Just release & already assembled (maybe to quickly), the SWORD 1:72 JRF Goose.
	A magnific HASEGAWA Beaufighter assembled by an Heyl Ha'Avir fan (Israelian Air Force), but mainly fan of the decorations changing from the casual black crosses & other cocardes.
	A true lesson of airbrushed camouflage, this TRUMPETER 1:32 Mig 21MF. This scale have many fan in the United States, that is why many categories exist.
	Here is a non common categories to us, but which could be a solution to present V-1 & other unmanned vehicules, which exist some kits nowadays. The 1:72 model of MQ-1 Predator is producted by UNICRAFT.
	In the serie of the S.I.G.s (Special Interest Groups), i've particularly liked this Ki.21 Sally (MPM) & this G4M Betty (HASEGAWA) wearing the green crosses of the japanese reedition.
	According to its author, this scene of recuperation of a shot Hudson's crew took place in the Gironde estuary (1:72 diorama).
	According to the commentary specified on the file, this Arado 232 is the proof that a MACH.2 model can be assembled after 9 months of efforts. In front of the smile of its author, understanding i'm french, i politely notice him he had unfortunately detailate the cockpit to cover it with a thermoformed but not clear enough canopy. I did not met him next…
	The SPECIAL HOBBY Me.264 have an impressive wingspan once assembled. For those who, like me, have it in their stock, it seems that the small wooden wedges under the rear of the fuselage occured ballasting problems, the misfortune of someones...
	The superb ACCURATE MINIATURES 1:48 B-25C Mitchell wearing an unusual but marvelous camouflage scheme.
	Despite the sober aspect of this AZUR 1:72 Potez 452, the cocardes it wears heated my heart. This is always a great pleasure when you're far from your country to see that the american modelers like our aircrafts.
	This HASEGAWA 1:48 F-14A Tomcat distinguished itself by the sparkling of the different blues which brighten up the casual reglementary grey color.

I start thinking if i'm the only French here when i hear 3 modelers commenting the models in a well known language. In fact, they're 3 people from Quebec & IPMS/MONTREAL members, cames specially from Canada (in 2 days of road). How it's good to exchange opinions & other modeling stories in your native language, even if she is teinted with an accent!

Around 07:00 P.M., my stomac told me about his ungryness & i notice Micha that we have been here for 10 hours long with just a small sandwitch fastly swallowed & a Coke for lunch. So we left the magic place for some seafood, in a seafood restaurant, before drinking some beers (not really tasting good i must admit) in an authentic american pub : deafening music & cow-boys yells by girls with eyes misty with houblon juice.

FRIDAY AUGUST 02

Back around 10:00 A.M. to the contest room, i notice that new models have arrived on this morning. So i start turning again around the tables & discover some astonishing pieces.

Those 3 multi-engines seems casual, except that they're 1:32 scratch made, a current thing in the United States.
The americans knows how to pass from the biggest to the smallest. The proof is this kit, scaled 1:144. Not only the model is detailed, including seatbelts, but a conversion have been made from the REVELL P-47D, to obtain the second prototype of XP-72 with 2 triple blade propellers oppositly turning. The author, an IPMS Fairfax member, is use to this & one of his conversion, rewarded by a second price to the Chicago 2001 Convention, have became a resin kit by COBRA COMPANY allowing you to obtain a PB4-Y2 Privateer from the ACADEMY B-24 Liberator.
A superb 1:72 Sikorsky S-40 with great finish but also scratch made.
Still another unbelievable scratch made, but this time scaled 1:24, this Gloster Gamecock. But you'll have to like the 30's english biplanes.
This 1:72 AIRFIX Fw.190 D-9, despite the fact it is well painted, could seem casual. But you need to know it has been assembled by a junior of less than 13 year old. So forget the idea of the young americans always glued in front of their computer.

So, with the eyes full of splendid things, the trunk full of boxes & other accesories (& the pockets empty) that Micha & i decided to leave the place. Now, i'm waiting the release of the september/october issue of IPMS/USA magazine, usually dedicated to the Convention, were will be published the result of 2002, with a photo of the 1st price in each categorie.

SOME REFLEXIONS & COMMENTS

This great yearly event is taken really seriously here, & we feel that modeling is well supported by the professionnals who does not hesitate to cross the country to participate. The public knows it, & is almost constituted by modelers (youngs & less youngs). You don't come there for the casual family sunday outing.

Talking about youngs, something i noticed in the contest room : in a corner were some tables surrounded by curtains. I came closer & i read a sign saying  : "Reserved for 21 and older". In fact this was the place reserved for the partially or totally naked figurines, whatever were their categories, to hide them from the minors sight. So, if you're under 21 years old in this country, you are not allowed to buy nor to paint a figurine representing an amazone or other ancient time war princess. Here is another unexpected viewpoint on freedom.

In all the talkings & ideas exchanges during those 3 days with some of the contestors & visitors, a subject always came in when they knew about my nationality, the new trend of surdetaillating. Despite having seen some models here treated so, i've been happy to learn that the americans does not really like this style, that they describe as an european trend. Most of them think that modeling has not to be an exhibition of accesories. Others considered that this is another way to view modeling, showing the technical side of the hobby more than the artistic side.

Like it's always good to take the good ideas where they are, i've started to translate in french the rules as well as the categories of the contests, common except in few details to all the IPMS competition in the United States, which will be released lately on this site. My intention is not that it has to be copied by the french but that i can inspire them. There is no shame in taking the good ideas where they are, but only the good ones. I'm one of those who believe that there would be no exhibitions without the Clubs in France, which would announce almost the death of french modeling, & when you see what some of them can do, it would be a shame if they would not be able to show it. Better, a contest is organized better are the motivation & the competition spirit. I think it is time, & it only commit me, to make something realistic in France. When the americans ask me why there is no IPMS/France & that i reply them there is in fact 2(Paris et la Province), i must say i'm a little embarassed but they don't seem surprised. My answer make them funny, what i don't really like.

Club du Theil | 2001 - 2004 | Contact : club-du-theil@tiscali.fr

Text & photos : Jean-Luc DUBERT