HeritageCon 2013 IPMS Hamilton Canada - Mar 03

[airdave]

Short notice - coming up in less than a month!

Mar 03 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
in Hamilton (Mount Hope)

HeritageCon 7
Hamilton IPMS
full details here: HeritageCon 2013



...

I (Dave's Card Creations & PaperModelShop.com) will be attending!
I have two Vendors Tables booked, so I will be displaying some Models
and answering questions and giving out Cards and selling CDs
and promoting Card Modeling in general!

I am also seriously considering entering a couple of kits for judging
in the Model Contest.
There are "Paper" categories...although only Aircraft and Ship categories that I can see.
(I have put in a call about this.

Anyway...anyone who can make it to the show...PLEASE DO!
Stop by, say hello, bring a model or two.
If you want to come and display some models, I will give you some room on my Tables.
Or maybe you would just like to come and hang out for the day?
I can always use the extra hand.
Just let me know.

[KCStephens]

This sure sounds like a very exciting event. I wish it were possible to drop in and say hello but unfortunatly I'm just too far away. Maybe one day.

[airdave]

well, I am still preparing for HeritageCon (in less than two weeks now)

and I have still not heard anything from the organizers.
(I sent a second email to the one and only listed contact point)

So, I am not too impressed.
I still have no idea if my two model entries are valid, since the necessary categories
don't seem to be listed in the category list.
I have no idea if they would like the offered Raffle or category prizes.

I didn't attend this event last year because I got no information,
no response to my emails,
I hope I don't change my mind about going.

Regardless, if anyone is thinking of attending this show, please let me know.
It would give me a definite reason to be there!

[Royaloakmin]

When is the London show, Dave?

[airdave]

coming in a week and a half...Sunday March 03

[airdave]

sorry...messed up that last post.

Hamilton coming in a week and a half...Sunday March 03

London show will not be until Fall 2014

[airdave]

one more bump...

HeritageCon 7 this weekend!

Still preparing and planning to attend.
Hopefully might run into someone I know?
I've got a table full of models to present,
entering two models in the competition,
and selling a bunch of Model CDs at special prices.

If I have the time, I might even run off a couple of
printed kits.
Probably the City of Hamilton Mustang? since this is the City of Hamilton show
and I am doing a (very) quick build of the RCAF City of Hamilton Squadron Mustang
to put on display next to the RCAF City of London 'stang.

Hopefully I will get the chance to walk around and snap some photos.
Its difficult since I am there by myself.
Wish me luck.

[airdave]

Well HeritageCon7 has come...and gone.

In many ways, similar to my first Show (the IPMS London Ontario Scale Model Event).
As usual, many interested spectators stopped and looked at my models, asked questions
and showed a constant entushiasm for the hobby (even if they weren't going to get involved).
Plenty of plastic guys stopped and talked to me about my models. In fact I was located in
a very visible location, all traffic to and from the Competition Tables had to go past me and
you would have to make a deliberate attempt to not see my display.

Plenty of other Vendors selling mostly Plastic Kits and lots of Books.
Canadian theme strong in everything...especially since we were sitting in the midst of a ton
of Canadian Air history. Thats the really cool thing about this event, being held in the Canadian
Warplane Heritage Museum, you are sitting amongst, next to and around some amazing vintage
aircraft...and you get full access to the entire Museum.

Now...about the competition itself.
This is the point where my day went south. As it stands now, I will not attend this event again.
I had no luck (last year) with communication with the one and only contact for the event, the
President for IPMS Hamilton...and the same again this year. I had a number of questions regarding
setup, times and most importantly model categories and entries. I was even trying to sponsor and
award or put up raffle table prizes. (Its only since Sunday mid day, that some updates were made
to their website with new Show information!)

When I showed up at the event with two (paper) models I was faced with:
a. no category for my "Armour" models even though they have two paper model categories, but only for aircraft and ships.
b. no willingness to create a category (although I can understand that they wouldn't be prepared with an award)
c. absolutely no willingness to place my models in their correct categories ("large scale armour" and "large
scale tracked vehicle") because "those categories are only for plastic models" I was told.
(even though it states clearly in the Rules that "Models may be constructed from any Material"
and there were wood and resin models in the main categories.)

After some discussion by the Judges (? I assume) I was told I had two choices...come back next year and try again
or they would accept my models in the "Catch-22" category. Which is supposedly for any model that doesn't fit in any
other category. An oddball category with an already odd assortment of models that I didn't understand.

I have to say the attitude was short, sharp and snotty. Right from the guy who took my Model Entry money, to this
Organizer...to the Model Judges that walked past my Table after judging (who seemed to make a very deliberate effort
to avoid looking in the direction of me and my tables.

I had made it clear to the staff that I was not happy with options and I bitched and whined about my models being
good enough for other categories. I asked to put up against the plastic kits. I criticised the event and their rules.
In the end I won nothing...not even a notable mention.

I'm not sure who "judges" the paper models? Judging by the "plastic only" attitude, I don't see how they could judge fairly.
In fact I didn't see any Judges spending any time at my models. (I might have missed it but I don't think so)
I'll come right out and say it....I think I bitched and whined enough, that I was completely snubbed.
Looking at the other entrants in the "Catch-22" category, theres no way I couldn't be recognized. Judging from
the constant positive reaction from spectators and model guys, theres no way my models would not have been
well received. I honestly believe that I was purposely ignored. And in comparison to the warm and receptive attitude
of the guys at the IPMS London event, theres no way I have any interest in the Hamilton group anymore.

[Extra note...looks like no other paper models were entered, in fact the Paper Model Entires Table had been completely
removed when I went to get my models after the Judging was concluded)

I'll wrap this up by saying I wish I had just gone as Vendor...it would have been better to keep my models on my tables
for display...and the event would have been a lot more agreeable as a Paper Modeling promotional thing.

Heres some photos from the day...with a little commentary to help you follow:
(click the small pics to make them bigger!)

1. My table setup
2. More of my tables.
3. My tables, looking the other way!
4. The competition tables.





5. Spectators looking at models.
6. My Autocar as an entry
7. Both my entries.
8. Little Willie entry.




9. A cool scratchbuilt "bus"?
10. That coool bus again.
11. A couple of impressive Subs.
12. I found the ship models heavily painted - for realism?

[airdave]

13. Such a cool little diorama.
14. Not sure which was the front, but it doesn't matter!
15. Bela was quite big and well painted.
16. In fact, he was amazingly lifelike!





17. This is what I stared at from my seat.
18. Up for a closer look.
19. ooh aah
20. 20mm revolving cannon





21. Nice Hurricane
22. same Hurricane
23. everywhere I look, I see old things...no, not the guy! the outdated banner!
24. its made of wood you know.





25. don't remember taking this pic...not sure why
26. a similar view, but a better photo
27. all the engines were being serviced on the Lancaster.
28. and the wheels too!
29. everything is at such a high reach! must get tiring for the mechanics.
30. imagine the eyes that have peered through that glass.

[airdave]

31. a lot of aircraft are in the midst of major servicing at the Museum.
32. don't know why, but I liked the look of this plane.
33. more renovations and restorations!
34. pretty!
35. seen this Catalina fly up to my town a few times, its really cool to see.
36. For some reason this Voodoo did not excite me...maybe its just a blah paint scheme?





37. Way too many Harvards in this place! lol
38. Tried to get some nice light effects but it just wasn't happening.
39. The logo is quite nice when you see it up close.
40. as I said, they have a few harvards.
41. #5...I have a model of this one!