2020 NWSM February Show

Held each year at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, this year's installment had approximately 2,172 models on the table contributed by 72 modelers.  (The second largest model count in the show's history.)  The event is display only, with only one award presented as judged by the Museum Curators.  This year's winner was Russ Busy with his B-17F gunner vignette.  As is usually the case, I didn't take as many models as I should have, so here is only a small selection of the many amazing models on tables.

Eric Christianson's 1/32 HK Lancaster

The Curator's Choice

Russ's B-18 in 1/72

A nice 1/72 Harvard

Morgan Girling's 1/72 Caribou twin tail design concept

2015 IPMS Seattle Spring Show - Part 2

Some aircraft of other scales that caught my eye.

A really nice 1/48 Fouga Magister.

Kitty Hawk "Harvard" in 1/32 scale.

A neat NACA Hellcat in 1/48.  Not often you get to use white on a F6F.

242 (Canadian) Squadron diorama.

Quite a colourful 1/48 Hurricane.

The paperwork for this Meteor NF. 11 said it was painted gloss white to keep it cool in the desert.  Is this an authentic scheme?

A Planet Models resin NA-50.

Hasegawa's new 1/200 P-8A Polaris.

An RCAF Sabre in 1/48.

A trio of Spitfires in 1/48.  The lower two are RCAF and built using an IPMS Canada decal sheet.

I like firebomber Tigercats.

Nice job on this 1/144 Vulcan.

A beautiful RCAF PV-1 Ventura.

2015 IPMS Seattle Spring Show - Part 1

Last Saturday was the annual IPMS Seattle Spring Show.  Held once again at the Renton Community Center,  there were about 800 or so models entered.  (The large room was packed with modelers and at times it was hard to negotiate the vendor area due to all the people.) Vendors were set up around the contest area and this year there was a small separate overflow room.  (All I bought were two sets of Barracuda wheels and a decal sheet...I'm such a good boy these days.)  Entries were of the usual high quality and it was a fun way to spend a few hours. Here are a few 1/72 selections that caught my eye.

Is this an authentic scheme for the A-10?  It sure looked attractive.

 The MiG-21 Analog testbed for the TU-144 SST wing.

A very nice job on this AZ Breda kit.

A nicely done Matchbox Fury.

The Airfix EE Lightning appears to be a very popular kit with both a silver and green example on display.

An Academy Hurricane Mk. IIc in desert markings.  (This aircraft is often described as Bert Houle's Hurricane, but he only flew it a few times.)

I liked this low-viz Tiger MiG-23.

A very nice PR Mosi.

An wartime RCAF Mustang Mk. IV.

Each year IPMS Seattle hosts a Modelfy where a certain kit is chosen and it must be built as something other than what was intended.  This year the A-10 was chosen.  I especially like the A-10 X-Wing.

A Fire Service P-47N

The Cyberhobby Sea Vixen

A really nice A-1 Skyraider.

You don't often see a Storch in Laos markings.

A really well done CF-101 Voodoo.

2013 Cincinnati Scale Modelers Contest

On October 12, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending the Cincinnati Scale Modelers Contest and Swap Meet, held once again at the Scarlet Oaks Vocational School and Girls’ Reformatory - oops, sorry, that last part may have been fantasy. Total entries were down a little from previous years. There were 260 models on the tables and, as always, the quality was good, though 1/48 outpaced 1/72 this year.

The vendor area was excellent. I held off on the new Starfighter decals F9F Panther sheet, but did succumb to the new Airfix Harrier GR.1.  Somehow I was able to withstand all of the John Vojtech's Czech kits. I spent more time at Cincinnati selling kits and chatting rather than taking photos and happily sold almost everything I brought. Money seemed to be changing hands at a brisk pace in the vendor area.

I always have big fun at this show - good vendors, good models, and lots of conversation with friends both old and new.

Here are a few of the 1/72 aircraft on display, along with a 1/144 interloper.

A nice Ohio Guard A-7D.

A captured Raiden.

Crazy well done camo.

The Airfix Chipmunk.

Shiny.

The new Meng F-102.

A very colourful German Fouga.

Steve Nelson's Airfix Mosi on a stick.

A Tamiya Mosquito.

The Dragon 1/144 U-2.