SMW (Telford) 2025

[zenrat]

I guess for me it's in part seeing these amazing show winners which results in me thinking "I could never manage that level of detail/finish" and thus discouraged don't even think about entering such things. No idea how one would go about breaking that sort of mindset.

I used to think like that.  Then I started looking closely at all the entries and not just the winners and I realised that while I might not be better than No.1 I wouldn't be the worst on the table.
There was also the added incentive of sneaking whiffs unnoticed into "real" classes.
Since then i've won best in class a couple of times at The Australian Model Expo neither of which I expected and only one which I agreed with (still, best in Australia right? ).
What's the worst that can happen?  You put it on the table, people look at it, you take it home.  You don't need to even go near it until you pack it up if you don't want to.
Personally though if I see people looking I like to sidle up and eavesdrop.
And, sometimes when you are packing up someone will come over and say "is that yours, i like what you did with the thing but how did you do that and where did you get the other?".
Basically though if you don't try you'll never know.

[Weaver]

Personally I'm not in it for gongs. there's a couple of times at small shows where I've been persuaded to put something in, butthat's it. In fact I even forgot to go and look at the competition area at SMW this year.

[NARSES2]

Got home yesterday, absolutely creamed and still feel like that today, but on the whole it was a good show and and even better crack on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights 

I wasn't in a  great mood for various reasons, so apologies to all.

Thanks for the photos gents    It's always amazing looking at them and trying to work out how you missed some things 

[George the Cat]

It was very good to catch up with you Chris.

[Weaver]

Misses at SMW (i.e. stuff I didn't get):

Aussie F-111C decals - wasn't holding out much hope, but I did get some leads on who might have made some
Quickboost Recce Hunter nose - fair few QB things in the bits boxes, but not that one
Matchbox F-101B - thought there was a reasonable chance of that, but nope

The one that hurt: AZ Gotha P.60 C-6 (the sensible one with both engine pods on top instead of one above, one below, the latter's FOD scoop being right behind the nosewheel). I saw it on the Sunday, when I'd said I was ONLY buying decals, bits and supplies. I didn't need it but I liked it. I put it down carefully and told myself that if it was still there when I passed the stand again I'd take that as a sign and buy it. It wasn't there...

[PR19_Kit]

I think it's a bit pity that they did away with the KitSwap a few years ago, that was often a source of many an ancient, long OOB 'Must Have' kit.

But it seems the commercial 'needs' of the kit traders count more than the members wishes do these days.

[Weaver]

I think it's a bit pity that they did away with the KitSwap a few years ago, that was often a source of many an ancient, long OOB 'Must Have' kit.

But it seems the commercial 'needs' of the kit traders count more than the members wishes do these days.

Don't hold me to this, but I thought the principle reason for dropping it was that the people who ran it didn't want to do it any more, and nobody else wanted to pick up the baton.

[Gondor]

I think it's a bit pity that they did away with the KitSwap a few years ago, that was often a source of many an ancient, long OOB 'Must Have' kit.

But it seems the commercial 'needs' of the kit traders count more than the members wishes do these days.

Don't hold me to this, but I thought the principle reason for dropping it was that the people who ran it didn't want to do it any more, and nobody else wanted to pick up the baton.

I'm not surprised if that was the case. Whilst on the door to the competition area on Sunday, one of the other "volunteers" recounted what he had to do when working in the Kit Swap.

They had to log everything in on the relevant sheet of paper. And when something was sold, EVERY sheet had to be gone through. I can see a way that would slightly improve the method, but I don't want to get involved as I want to enjoy the show, not help run it.

And no, I don't want anyone to swap our Kit.

[PR19_Kit]

I'm not surprised if that was the case. Whilst on the door to the competition area on Sunday, one of the other "volunteers" recounted what he had to do when working in the Kit Swap.

They had to log everything in on the relevant sheet of paper. And when something was sold, EVERY sheet had to be gone through. I can see a way that would slightly improve the method, but I don't want to get involved as I want to enjoy the show, not help run it.

And no, I don't want anyone to swap our Kit.

That makes sense certainly, and I can understand it that was the prime reason. I'd only heard the 'traders had protested' view before.

The alternative system of the 'boxes under the table' seems to have been banned on the 'trader's view' as well, but backed by somewhat spurious 'Health & Safety' issues, which are a perfect get-out for ANY organisation not wanting to do ANYThing these days! 

[Weaver]

I'm not surprised if that was the case. Whilst on the door to the competition area on Sunday, one of the other "volunteers" recounted what he had to do when working in the Kit Swap.

They had to log everything in on the relevant sheet of paper. And when something was sold, EVERY sheet had to be gone through. I can see a way that would slightly improve the method, but I don't want to get involved as I want to enjoy the show, not help run it.

And no, I don't want anyone to swap our Kit.

The alternative system of the 'boxes under the table' seems to have been banned on the 'trader's view' as well, but backed by somewhat spurious 'Health & Safety' issues, which are a perfect get-out for ANY organisation not wanting to do ANYThing these days! 

Yes I think that is correct, since under-the-table sales were banned long beforehand.

I have been to shows with narrow aisles where under-the-table boxes were a legitimate cause of concern, but that certainly doesn't apply to Telford.

[Thorvic]

I'm not surprised if that was the case. Whilst on the door to the competition area on Sunday, one of the other "volunteers" recounted what he had to do when working in the Kit Swap.

They had to log everything in on the relevant sheet of paper. And when something was sold, EVERY sheet had to be gone through. I can see a way that would slightly improve the method, but I don't want to get involved as I want to enjoy the show, not help run it.

And no, I don't want anyone to swap our Kit.

The alternative system of the 'boxes under the table' seems to have been banned on the 'trader's view' as well, but backed by somewhat spurious 'Health & Safety' issues, which are a perfect get-out for ANY organisation not wanting to do ANYThing these days! 

Yes I think that is correct, since under-the-table sales were banned long beforehand.

I have been to shows with narrow aisles where under-the-table boxes were a legitimate cause of concern, but that certainly doesn't apply to Telford.

Personally i'm glad they sytopped the undertable sales at SMW, as had a couple of confrontations where people we routing under the table lifting the cloth up an ontop of models on display , and looked shocked when i told them to stop, so had to get up an threaten them. Another time found somebody routing under the stand when we didnt have any sales, that how our own items go missing.  Leave under table sales to smaller shows where easier to keep an eye on them.

[PR19_Kit]

I understand all of those reasons, but still feel it's a pity that intra-member kit swapping is now virtually impossible at the Telford Show (I refuse to call it 'SMW'  ). There must be a way to do it sensibly I feel.

[The Wooksta!]

Misses at SMW (i.e. stuff I didn't get):

Aussie F-111C decals - wasn't holding out much hope, but I did get some leads on who might have made some
Quickboost Recce Hunter nose - fair few QB things in the bits boxes, but not that one
Matchbox F-101B - thought there was a reasonable chance of that, but nope

The one that hurt: AZ Gotha P.60 C-6 (the sensible one with both engine pods on top instead of one above, one below, the latter's FOD scoop being right behind the nosewheel). I saw it on the Sunday, when I'd said I was ONLY buying decals, bits and supplies. I didn't need it but I liked it. I put it down carefully and told myself that if it was still there when I passed the stand again I'd take that as a sign and buy it. It wasn't there...

Was that on the second hand stall at the bottom end of our island?  They had a few things I'd have liked but didn't get - Huma Ju 287V-1, Hasegawa Ju 188 and Ta 154 and a Planet Fw 190 project.  But if I'd got one of those, I'd have missed out on the Bv P.193 which I really wanted.  Or Mosquitoes, which I am actually building - the two I was cleaning up on the Sunday morning are now partially assembled and have had some primer.

IIRC the Quickboost Hunter nose is the wrong shape.  Think I have an Airkit one somewhere.

[The Wooksta!]

What annoys me about the IPMS rule about no under table sales by clubs, branches and SIGs at Telford is the lie that it's for health and safety reasons.  Yet all the traders have stuff under tables for sale.  Ah, but they paid for them, so the organisers say.  So, what you're actually saying is that health and safety goes out of the window if you're paying.  Which is clearly why wockney canker Uncle Albert of Kit Crazy can still block fire exits with his badly organised jumble sales, yet woe betide a club for selling under the table.  Utter hypocrites.

[Weaver]

Misses at SMW (i.e. stuff I didn't get):

Aussie F-111C decals - wasn't holding out much hope, but I did get some leads on who might have made some
Quickboost Recce Hunter nose - fair few QB things in the bits boxes, but not that one
Matchbox F-101B - thought there was a reasonable chance of that, but nope

The one that hurt: AZ Gotha P.60 C-6 (the sensible one with both engine pods on top instead of one above, one below, the latter's FOD scoop being right behind the nosewheel). I saw it on the Sunday, when I'd said I was ONLY buying decals, bits and supplies. I didn't need it but I liked it. I put it down carefully and told myself that if it was still there when I passed the stand again I'd take that as a sign and buy it. It wasn't there...

Was that on the second hand stall at the bottom end of our island?  They had a few things I'd have liked but didn't get - Huma Ju 287V-1, Hasegawa Ju 188 and Ta 154 and a Planet Fw 190 project.  But if I'd got one of those, I'd have missed out on the Bv P.193 which I really wanted.  Or Mosquitoes, which I am actually building - the two I was cleaning up on the Sunday morning are now partially assembled and have had some primer.

IIRC the Quickboost Hunter nose is the wrong shape.  Think I have an Airkit one somewhere.

Yes it was. AZ actually have a new tool out now, but I don't want to pay nearly £30 for it.

The Hunter nose is going on an airframe that's a whiff in other respects (F.4, basically) , so it doesn't matter if it's wrong or not. IIRC it's missing some windows, or something like that? If you can find the Airkit one I'll certainly buy it off you though, since I can't find a Quickboost one anyway.