Please click on the list to the left for more details about any of the shows we visited this year.
Or scroll down the page for a summary.
Meccano wins the Christmas Plate!
After having an unusually large number of entries, George's Christmas Plate was won by Hugh's in-progress scratchbuilding project that was mounted on a Meccano framework.
During an unseasonally mild (but very wet) weekend in November, the Earley Risers made their annual pilgrimage to SMW15 at Telford in Shropshire. Most Risers arrived to set up during Friday afternoon, although the last stragglers arrived on Saturday morning. Les just about finished his massive E-type Jag in time!
Success at the Competition Tables
Hugh, Big Mick and Steve all had competition success, with Hugh gaining two Golds for his Staggerwing and Citroen, Mick received Gold, Bronze and Commended for his busts, while Steve picked up a Silver medal for his Stephenson's Rocket. Liz's Nautilus won both the Antics Cup and ERs Choice Award.
October 3 (Saturday) Abingdon IPMS Model Show
Golds galore in the Competition Room
Sean, Hugh, Mick and Steve all entered models - with fantastic results. Mick gets Best in Show with his Viking Beserker! Mick's busts swept the board in the Figure Class - He gained Gold, Siver, Bronze and Commended for his entries. In the Small aircraft Class, he also gained a Silver for his A-10 Warthog.
Sean gained A Gold and Bronze in the Larger AFV Class ...split by Steve's Maultier, which gained the Silver.
Hugh's Staggerwing gained a Gold in the Detailed/Converted Class. He also gained a Silver in the Miscellaneous Class with his Matchbox Citroen, beating Steve's Rocket into Bronze. Steve did manage a Gold in the Martime Class, with his HMS X-Craft. Finally, Steve's Armoured Roller - Fido, gained Silver in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Class!
As one of our more local venues, we had a good turnout of Earley Risers. An eclectic mix of models from Liz, Jeff, Hugh, Mick, Les, Roly and Steve made for quite an attractive display at this delightful show. Hugh's aircraft models attracted a great deal of interest, as did Mike's figures and busts. George and Les B manned the Wallingford stand, while Mark popped in to assist with the IPMS display and Les V had his own sales stand. After an early threat of rain, we - or rather Farnborough IPMS - were lucky with the weather again this year. Trading began well before opening time, in fact Liz picked up a couple of bargains before we had even set up the stand!! Eveyone picked up a few purchases, either new issues or golden oldies, from both traders and under the tables.
August 9 (Sunday) IPMS Avon's Silver Jubilee Model Show - Thornbury Leisure Centre
Well done to Liz, Jeff, new member Mick Hazell, Sean, Mark, Les B and Steve who attended the Avon Show at Thornbury Leisure Centre and pulled together to produce an eye-catching stand. IPMS Avon had asked us to recreate our Winning Display from last year's SMW at Telford. With a little chopping and changing, along with a number of replacement models - and a new balloon! - we were able to oblige. With a third Hall, that not only housed more clubs and traders, but also gave more space to the competition tables, Avon have created one of the largest shows in the modelling calendar.
12 July (Sunday) Wonderful Weston show at The Helicopter Museum North Somerset Modellers Show
Liz, Jeff and Steve travelled down to the Helicopter Museum at Weston Super Mare, to set up the Earley Risers stand at the North Somerset Modellers Show. Without the lights on and with the hangar doors wide open, the set up was interesting, to put it mildy.
May 10 (Sunday) IPMS Gloucester Model Show - Churchdown Community Centre, Parton Road, Gloucester
Liz, Jeff and Steve arrived early(!) at the Churchdown Community Centre, to set up the stand... and managed to blag another table in the process! When Sean and Tim arrived, the set up was soon complete. Rolly came for the afternoon, and Les V popped in for a couple of hours. Although not the largest of shows, Gloucester does attract a large number of visitors.
April 26 (Sunday) ModelKraft IPMS Milton Keynes show - Stantonbury Leisure Centre, Milton Keynes
Liz, Jeff, Hugh, Andrew and Steve made the journey to Stantonbury Leisure Centre, just North of Milton Keynes, to attend the annual show held by MK IPMS branch. We put out an intresting collection of models on our 'flat' display. Be it a brand new model, or a hoary old favourite, everyone picked up a few bargains.
April 18 (Saturday) Poole Vikings Show - Parkstone Grammar School
After a pleasant drive in the beautiful sunshine, Liz, Hugh and Steve put out the display cloths. When Mark arrived we put out a varied mix of models that attracted a lot of attention. Now featuring an extra display hall, the show was less cramped than last year.
This is always a good show to go to, with a cheerful atmosphere and plenty of interested people to chat to.
All four members entered the competition ...and all won awards.
March 22 (Sunday) REME Museum Model Show - Arborfield
Jeff, Liz and Steve turned up at the Museum on a cold but sunny morning. The stand was soon set up under the Westland Wasp display and, with the Tim's arrival plus models from Andrew, the display was complete.
As the opening time was set at 11:00, everyone had a chance to visit Andy from Antics, along with the rest of the traders (and exhibitors selling their unwanted stash!), to pick up some bargains. Eric, Mark H and Rachel came along to give moral support, while George and Andrew manned the Wallingford Club stand alongside.
The show closed at 16:00, and another venue now passes into history.