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IPMS Farnborough

25.09.05

This year the IPMS Farnborough model show was held in a brand new location: Farnborough 6th Form College. This allowed the organisers to get the whole show into a single hall the first time and keep everybody much more integrated.

The hall was the usual sports hall venue and none the worse for that, with easy access from the main roads and pleasant surroundings. Very helpful for the U.S.Army re-enactment group that turned up with an impressive collection of vehicles, including this very nice M3A2 Half-Track.

Inside the hall there was the usual collection of traders and show stands, with plenty of familiar faces for those of you that go to the shows .

The theme was predominantly aircraft and here's a selection that caught the eye.

Black Cross were there with a very well turned out collection of Luftwaffe machines including Hartman's G-10 made from the Hasegawa kit.

A lovely pairing of Messerschmitt's finest, the Eduard Bf 108 and a Hasegawa Bf 109G-6

A tough paint job to replicate: winter white distemper, but this was a fine attempt on this Hasegawa Ju 87G-2

Barnett Modelling Club had an interesting and varied collection, including some from a very dapper looking Geoff Coughlin. This F/A-18F made from the Italeri kit was clean and beautifully presented.

As was the Heinkel He 111 with a very interesting paint job.

British aircraft were not ignored and the Airfix 1:48 Jaguar has never looked so good.

IPMS Farnborough had a Bristol Scout, being readied for take off from the foredeck of a destroyer, sorry but I didn't get the kit manufacturer (Gavia, if it is 1:48 - Ed). But there was plenty of scratchbuilt detail on show.

An interesting 'what if?' labelled as a BAC Buzzard GR.5 this TSR.2 made an interesting conversation starter.

IPMS Salisbury had a lovely collection of Douglas A-4's, Hasegawa kits, all in 1:48 and a multitude of paint jobs.

Medway Modelling Club had some interesting things on display, not least being this strikingly marked Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot, it's the Kopro kit in 1:48.

Poole Modelling Club were also in attendance with some lovely stuff but what really caught my eye was this DC-2; Italeri DC-3 wings with scratchbuilt fuselage and tail. Painted with Halfords Nissan Silver and then the panels touched up with an ancient pot of Airfix Silver enamel. A fine job indeed.

The Gulf War SIG gave us a very busy table with masses to look at both on the allied side...

..and the axis.

IPMS Abingdon went for quality over quantity for their display and on show for our delectation was this excellent Dynavectar 1:48 Javelin...apparently the masking was a pure nightmare!

Alclad II seems to be taking over for the natural metal finishes and there were a couple of Sabre's on the table, this 'D' variant is the Revel kit straight from the box and very eye catching it was, finished with Alclad II Chrome.

IPMS Sussex gave us a couple of old British favourites amongst their collection. The first was Classic Airframes new 1:48 Defiant...

... whilst the second was the stalwart Tamiya Beaufighter TF Mk X.

The West Middlesex Scale Model Club had an interesting stand, not least for this little Fiat G91R, it's the old Esci kit in 1:48.

Probably the stand out item though had to be this Airfix 1:24 Harrier, converted to GR3 standard and super-detailed to the point of perfection.

The show itself took place on a beautiful sunny day and the punters had a lot to see. The organisers were very pleased with the response as it had been busy all day and there were plenty of people through the door. They even managed to raise some cash for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Many thanks to Pete Readman and the IPMS Farnborough for a good day out.

Contact IPMS Farnborough for further details.

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