On Sunday 3 April there will be a model show at the Aeroventure aircraft museum in Doncaster. It isn't the biggest show in the World, far from it but the reason I am bringing it to your attention is because I'm thinking about having an Armorama stand there. Some of you might know that I'm trying to form a branch of the IPMS based on Armorama :-) (still waiting for confirmation from the IPMS President, Paul Regan). As the Aeroventure show is a short distance from where I live I thought it might be a cool idea to spread the Armorama word. I will take the models that have featured in my articles, plus some others. Harry (Jetprovost) whom I work with will be taking some of his stuff (well I might be taking it his second sprog is due around then :-) ) So it would be great if others could bring their stuff. We could really do with some armour, ships figures, sci-fi anything. I relise that it's a bit short notice and it might be a bit far to travel, but please give it a thought.
Mal

Mal tis but a short train journey for me good sir ! i'll give it my best shot ! i'd love to tag along!

Doncaster is not around the corner for me, but I reckon if I'm going to go to participate in shows, I might aswel do it right. I did pledge my support for an Armorama based club presence in the UK, so it's time to commit..
I'll mark April 3 in my Diary, and will be more than honored if my models would be considered good enough to represent our club. Please post us more details like the times, the cost etc when they are available.

Cheers
Henk

, would love to be involved, and take some stuff along!! keep me posted!!

Andy Taylor
Yorkshire
:-)

Mal,

ill have to check my calender, but count me in for the time being.

i can bring some stuff with me, will of course be british armour!

regards

joe

im up for it! its a piffling one hour trip for me, and if theres a chance to show some of my stuff (and of course meet some of you fellas!) so much the better p.s. i still have my homemade armorama badge somewhere, but am considering wearing it on my back, due to the fact that i spend a lot of time at shows leaning over the benches having a good look at stuff

Guys what an overwhelming responce At the moment I know nothing about cost and the like but it is very likely that there will be none. I will see about getting an Armorama sign made and gettting a PC with a slide show of the Armorama site. This will be a good test run for the planned biggie at Telford. I will post more info as I get it.
Thanks again for the interest.
Mal

Tables are booked, I met Martin, one of the organisers at the Huddersfield show. I asked for 2 x 6' tables near a powerpoint. The show starts at 10.00am and we can get in at 08.00am to set up, possibly a little earlier. Of course I wouldn't expect anyone that has to travel any distance to be there at that time, as long as I can get the tables set up. Jim as offered me a vinyl sign but it will cost him about a $100 to have it made and send it. I have said for him to save his dosh, for the time being, and send it for Telford. I am going to look at getting a sign produce locally, or do it myself Jim has also told me that I can do a partial download of the site so that punters can actually browse it. That will be cool as it will give them a feel for the site. I have an old PC which will, I hope be just right for this.
I had a chance meet with another member of the IPMS committee at Huddersfield. After I told her that I was getting no feedback from the IPMS about my branch idea she said to give it a couple of weeks and contact her and she would sort it. She said that she has to sort everything typical woman :-) but I'm not knocking it if it gets things sorted.
I'll keep you posted.
Mal

Mal,
I have to pass on my best wishes and good luck for this venture. Unfortunately I live at the other end of the country from Donny, but I have my weekend booked for Telford and will be happy to meet you and anyone else if you get everything sorted with IPMS by then!
I think if you can get the support from the guys who are "local" to this show it will give the Bigwigs at IPMS something to think about and maybe push them in the right direction.

Keep us posted!

Sam

Hi Sam,
Thanks, I don't think there is any doubt that we will be in business for Telford, so see you there
It seems that this show is getting alot of publicity, not that I've seen any, other than a leaflet but I believe Neil Robinson of SAM publications is involved. He used to edit scale Aircraft modelling and before that he had his own publication, 1/4 Scale modeller.
For the show I believe that the Museum is moving a couple of the Helicopters it owns outside. The Whirlwind? will, apparently be "Turning and burning" part of the time anyway. That will be some sight so bring your cameras
mal

Hi all,
Just to let you know that as well as the model show and, as Mal has said, the helicopters coming out, it is also an 'open cockpit' day so it's an ideal opportunity to get some good cockpit reference pics. If you want to see what the Aeroventure have on display, check out their website; www.aeroventure.org.uk.

Harri.

Just to keep you guys updated.
The show is still on and I am in the process of getting a sign made for the stand. Nearer the date I will post directions and confirm timings. I'm looking forward to this
Mal

Shame all thease places are in the northern half of he country. Does anyone know of any good shows in the London area?

cheers

Philip

Yeah, come on fellas, I'm sure we can do a bit better. I too am exiled in the South East of England and I'm crying out to get togther with like-minded people.
I mostly do single or mounted figures with the odd bust or vignette thrown in.
Any suggestions for anywhere within say an hour of the M25 and I'd be there like a shot! Count me in!

Robertelee,
Well the Doncaster show is the first of, I hope, many. I intend to do the Huddersfield show next year and the Southall show the next time it's on. These shows are fairly close to me and the only show I travel any real distance to is Telford. If this takes off I will certainly travel further, how about Milton Keynes?

OK I have confirmed the stand and that the venue is still on I will be there before 8.00am. I have ordered the Armorama sign and half the models I'm taking are packed up

Directions: If thes aren't sufficiant let me know?

Join the M18 (Junc32 M1) (if coming up the A1 you will join the M18 at Junc2)

Leave the M18 at Junc3 (A6182) This is where the fun starts :-)

At the next roundabout go straight on (B&Q on your left)

At the next roundabout go Straight on (The road to the left is White Rose Way, when you get to the other side of the roundabout you pass the entrence to "The Yorkshire Outlet" (now called something else, Lakeside I think?))

At the next roundabout (about 100m from TYO) Turn Right, you are on Lakeside Bulevard, keep going straight on over the next 2 roundabouts ( I believe you pick up signs for the Aeroventure at the first or second of these).

At the next roundabout turn left, sign posted Aero venture, follow the road, as you get towards the end Aeroventure is on the left.

If I haven't got the stand set up when you arrive I will be waring an Armorama name badge. I have asked for a table near a socket, so I can plug in a computer, but I also intend to have a kettle and the makings, but don't bank on that. I will probably have a large flask of hot water as back up. What do you like in your sandwhiches? There is a MacDonalds, and Tesco's close by so there are those, if you prefere. They also do snacks at the Aeroventure, I believe (nothing to grand)
Looking forward to meeting those that can make it, for those that can't I will take pics of the happy event
Mal

Hi,
Update:
1.The show is advertised in Scale Aircraft Modelling and states that it is sign posted off Junc3 M18, if so that will help.
2. I picked up the Armorama sign today.
3. My models are all but packed.
4. I will have a PC set up with a slide show of Armorama, (I've trashed 1 PC and struggled with the one I'll be taking, but I overcame
5. I will have "Thank you for not touching the Models" signs (and a baseball bat for those that don't read :-) )
6. There will be a bit of a writeup about Armorama.
7. I hope to have a few flyers (depends on ink in my daughters printer? mines out)
8. I will try and bring a few name badges
9. I intend to have a tribute to Garry Beebe (in the form of the banner that is currently at the top of each page and a black ribbon around one end of the table) Of course if you want to wear a black arm band, do. I just thought it would be a bit difficult for everyone to get hold of one. I'm not sure if I can get a ribbon for the stand but I will try and sort something out.
10. See my post "IPMS ArmoramaUK nearly there". The IPMS stand will be there with Paul Regan, the IPMS president in attendence. I will bend his ear about The Armorama branch
I really looking forward to this, particularly meeting those that can make it, see you there.
Mal

hi mal! just a couple of questions, i,ll certainly be there, although im celebrating a mates birthday on the saturday night so i might be on autopilot in the morning! id definatlly like to bring some of my stuff to show, is there a limit on what i can bring? and do i go in as an exibiter, or just pay on the door? im really looking forwards to this, cant wait to get there

Great Phil, I look forward to meeting again.
There is no limit to what you can bring. I have asked for 2x6' tables and I am taking as many of my models as I can get in my car (Fiesta) but I have the sign and other stuff to transport as well. It looks like there will be a minimum of 4 of us, so we should be able to fill out the tables, but if it were to be only you and I then obviously the more models you bring the better. Rowan gave me a great tip for transporting aircraft models: you can get loads more in larger boxes if you pack them nose up, supported on there wing trailing edges. I have fitted polystyrene slabs into boxes and cut notches to take the wings, it works brilliantly. Others in smaller boxes I have used the same polysteyrene but in a "H" shape and cut recesses for wing tips and fuselage. This also works well but is more time consuming to do and requires 1 box per model.
Pay or exhibitor? To be honest I didn't think of this until I saw the advert in Scale Aviation Modeller. I will phone Martin, the organiser today and clear that up. I'll post the result here later today.
Something else that crossed my mind only this morning is that there may not be any seating? I have a directors chair and a camping seat that I will take, space allowing, just in case. I will ask martin about this as well. If you have a folding seat it might be worth bringing it?
Later.
Mal

Just to let you know that the show was a success. I think we might have a couple of guys signing up but even more importantly I managed to get to speak to Paul Regan the President of the IPMS ref IPMS ArmoramUK (see my post on that thread). I must thank Harri (jetProvost), Joe (greatbrit) and Henk (Henk) who turned up to man the stand. A special thanks must go to Henk who had a 3 hour trip. I work with Harri and I have met Joe before so it was a particular pleasure to meet another Armorama-ite in the flesh especially such a great guy (even though he is Dutch ) Thanks Henk, it was a pleasure (of course Joe and Harri are great guys too )
There is going to be another show at the same venue on the 7th August. I am also looking at other venus and I would like to get up to Scotland, but I need a bigger car.
I will be posting pics, but I'm i'll and it all just seems to difficult at the moment
Mal

The pleasure was all mine. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, it was well worth the trip. Looking at pictures of models on a screen is all well and good, but you can't beat seeing them in the flesh. It's also nice to meet the people from the site, we must definetly do this more often. I will see which shows there are in the South / Southwest were we might put in an appearance. Or maybe half way between the far North and down South, to give everybody a reasonable journey :-) . I have to burn the pics I took on a disc and will send that to Mal, hopefully tommorow, if I can find my computer in amongst the boxes that still need to be unpacked... .
See you all again..

Cheers
Henk

I just want to second what Mal has said. A great day and a wonderful chance to meet 'Armoramarites' in the flesh. Henk, Joe, it was a real pleasure. (Thanks for the coffee/mud tip Henk!) Happy modelling!

Harri.

hi all, i just want to apologise for not being able to get up there, the night before the show a whole bunch of us went out to celebrate a mates 40th birthday, whilst i was being a little bit careful what i was drinking, we still ended up having a stayback at his mates pub, the next day , OH BOY! was i ill, still was set to go to donny though but my missus didnt want to chance me soiling her new car,and i was still badly at four pm,so she had a point! as it turns out most of the rest of us were in the same way after, so it seems one of the pubs we were in dosent keep his cellar as he should. so again, im sorry for the no-show and when are we meeting next?

ill never use that beer emoticon ever again!

Harri and henk-it was great meeting you, and nice to see mal again.

im looking forward to the photos henk!



regards

joe