Scale Model Challenge 2010: Eindhoven, Netherlands

[marc_reusser]

This was posted by Robert Crombeke over on the MIG Forum, and I thought I would post it here for any of our interested European members.




With just a few months to go and while most of you are probably slowly preparing for Summer Holidays, we have listed some reasons why you should not miss Scale Model Challenge 2010. Here's some food for thought:

• An international array of clubs from Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK will be present. Find the list on line. You can still enter your club stand!
• An extremely varied selection of vendors from 9 different countries. The list is now on line. One stop shopping: from kits to tools, from paints to books, there's nothing you will not find at SMC 2010. Specialists, manufacturers, publishers and (E-)shops.
• High standard competition with large international attendance for AFV's, Figures and SF/Fantasy subjects. Several new categories, plenty of prizes to be won, an international jury, and the most popular categories allow different entry levels.
• At SMC 2010 the Visitors Favourite will be replaced by a new award. All modellers who enter the competition can choose their favourite model in the competition. The winner takes home the Competitors Award. Amongst the voters we draw winners for value cheques.
• Class 20 is new and you can enter an entire display of your models. Show off your scale modelling portfolio.
• We have arranged special prices for those wanting to stay overnight in Eindhoven at the Holiday Inn.
• On Saturday October 16 we organize the Arnhem Battle Field Tour by luxury coach.
• You can fly to Eindhoven Airport from many European cities. The venue is only 15 minutes driving from the airport, and ten minutes from the centre.
• Great atmosphere amongst an international crowd of modellers.
• SMC is one of the largest specialized modelling shows in Europe.

Be there and make the difference!

All details about the above and more can be found on our website: http://www.scalemodelfactory.nl

[LeOn3]

Thanks Marc,
I knew it was in October but didn't know the exact date.
Was there last year and will definitely go this time again. It was then a little bit crowdy because it's held in a school with smal hallways. Just that is a minor issue but there is a lot to learn and see.

Leon

[LeOn3]

Well, I have been there last sunday. In the last they changed the location a couple of weeks ago from a school to a convention centre. This was a big improvement as there was no parking problem and no small halways to pass the contest and vendors. The Clairvaux diorama, well...this is really huge, but great to see as were the dioramas in the contest. Did ask a lot to the guys who gave clinics and sure going to try some things, if I still remember their explanations  .
I took some pictures, had no tripod, so please excuse me for not so great shots.

Leon

[LeOn3]

clairvaux

[LeOn3]

clairvaux and some contest

[LeOn3]

and some more

[Hector Bell]

Why must so many people glorify war like this. I have never understood the appeal.  If they actually had to fight a real one I bet they wouldn't want to be reminded of it like this.
Each to his own, but the popularity of it just mystifies me.
I only include railways in my models because there's usually an interesting industrial environment around rail subjects, but I'm just as happy doing the every day scene.  It's actually just as challenging and ultimately more interesting if done well.

Think of all the old gas station/junk yard models.  No tanks, thank heavens.

Martin

[gin sot]

I'm with Hector.  I enjoy modeling the 12"=1' world but not at the stinking altar of Ares.

Great modeling, sure, but shameful subject matter.

[LeOn3]

Why must so many people glorify war like this. I have never understood the appeal.  If they actually had to fight a real one I bet they wouldn't want to be reminded of it like this.

Martin, I have to agree on that with you. But the most important thing for me was to see how these guys do things, for example like the hairspray technic or the sea salt method or how to use those washes from Mig. I am more for (narrow gauge) trains too, but the only technic I  see in the most layouts is how to paint a car (and forget to weather it) or making buildings and forget that a building when it's used for several years that there are wheatermarks on it or that the bricks do not all have the same color. In my opinion these guys are far more further as the "railroad guys", who most of the time think it is a shame to weather a loc or car (at least what I hear here in my area).   
Since I am now planning a new layout (in 1:35) I want to get myself to a higher level of modelbuilding. This will be for me building as much as possible from scratch and use these "new" technics. 

Leon

[Hector Bell]

Leon,
I agree with you that some of these guys do have the upper hand on techniques.  Crossover between disciplines has never been the model maker's forte!
As a scenery man first and foremost, I do agree with everything you say, but I wish they'd leave the blood and guts alone and just make scenery.
Also, I feel that railway modellers are initially scared by the size of their undertaking compared with a little foot square diorama (which is actually a set-piece, NOT a diorama) so beloved of the tank man.  Consequently they don't look far enough beyond the rails with a sufficiently critical eye.  Whereas, I don't really care about the railway much at all!
In fact, I dislike working models.  My own layout will represent a line no longer used.  The railway content is only for a bit of colour and the excuse for a plausible fiction.
I bet I don't get  invited to any exhibitions

As for hairspray and sea salt?  Sounds like a new flavour of crisps.
What is it?
I use hairspray to fix the foliage on my tree models, but sea salt goes on the salad so far.

Martin

[Frederic Testard]

I bet I don't get  invited to any exhibitions

Martin, I've been invited to exhibitions to display my static dioramas and a number of people found them satisfactory.

I share your dislike for the subject of all these military scenes, even if there seldom happen to show some drama and creativity. I think these military modellers are remarkably good in technique and this allows them to be less good in concept.

[eTraxx]

I'm not bothered at all by anyone modeling military scenes .. I'm just not that interested. I've seen plenty .. 20 years service in the Army .. with 18 months in Vietnam, a 15 year break then Desert Storm as the gunner on an M1A1 Abrams .. and finishing up with OEF/OIF in Munitions. Glorify? Nope. I could see modeling a diorama with armor .. but I just find it boring. Twelve years on tanks in the Winter and Summer .. will do that.

[finescalerr]

Martin, your sentiments about the evils of war are admirable but you need to dig up some of this forum's threads on the "salt" and "hairspray" techniques. You will love them. Marc Reusser has described them and Chuck Doan's 1:24 scale abandoned garage diorama most recently showed the use of hairspray and "chipping". See his latest posts on the gas tank and oil pump. You may have alternative means of obtaining similar effects but my guess is the techniques will intrigue you. -- Russ

[Hector Bell]

Russ, quite the opposite...I have no special methods for these weathering techniques and am all agog at what salt and hairspray are.  I was thinking a new flavour for crisps.
Could you direct me to a suitable thread to find out as I seem to be the last to get in on the secret!
Martin

[MinerFortyNiner]

Leon, thank you for posting the images, there is some amazing work there.

I would not choose to model armor, but there is much to be learned from all fine modeling, regardless of its subject.  To each their own.  In one sense, the serious modelers are helping keep history alive, in a similar fashion to prototype modelers who have chosen to re-create a 'fallen flag' railroad that is no more.  There is a magic that miniatures possess, and part of it is being able to take someone back (or forwards!) in time to another place.

Ed, thank you for your service as a tanker in the Army, if I had tried that only God knows how many times I would have bumped my head...