Euro Model Expo 24 and 25 March 2018 Lingen Germany
Again I visited a modelshow, this time the 10th jubilee edition of the German Euro Model Expo.
It's held in Lingen, and for me just over 2 hours driving from home. The Netherlands is a small country and driving to Germany is within easy reach.
The show had it's jubilee edition, the 10th time, and saw a lot of interesting models from many German clubs. Next to these there were showtables from the Netherlands IPMS, Belgium, the UK, and even IPMS Sweden.
As usual more than enough temping trade stands and offcourse 3 kits came back to add to the stash.
I took a lot of pictures and I had to make a small selection to post up here.
The show is mainly focused on militairy subjects, but several cars and trucks could be found on some show tables.
I hope you enjoy my small selection.
Cheers, Ferry.
Wow...I'd hate to be a judge at THAT show - some fabulous imagination on display there. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Really great builds there!
Some excellent work by some great modelers. Thanks for sharing Ferry. And what major German city is Lingen near? My point of reference is Wiesbaden/Mainz or Frankfort.
Lingen lies in the northwest of Germany - about 100 km from the North Sea, less than 30 km from the Netherlands. Next larger city is Osnabrück (50/60 km).
So many nice works.!
Thanks for posting Ferry, I liked best the Horten and Merkava dios. But overall some great work there!
Oh, man, I get sooo sad when I see a project like the Lancaster Grand Slam bomber. All that work and effort, undone by a lack of 30 minutes of easily-available on-line research (I can say that because I know it, because I did that research for that model myself a few years back).
Had the modeler clicked "Grand Slam Lancasters" on the google machine, he would have found sites that would have let him learn the following: that is a post-war scheme, and was never flown on a Grand Slam mission. The Tamiya painting instructions are clear as to what scheme was in use when, and "April 1945" is inside the time frame of the WW2 Bomber Command night camouflage scheme shown there (which gives the entire information of the planes that dropped the bombs on the Bielefeld Viaduct, the only time the bomb was ever used). Also, the Grand Slam bombers were Lancaster IIIs, not Is (you can tell the difference between the two immediately because the Lancaster I used the "toothpick" props and the Lancaster III used the paddle props - which is again information in the instruction sheet, had he committed the revolutionary act of FOLLOWING THE FRICKIN' INSTRUCTIONS - they're written on an elementary school reading level, so even Muddlers should be able to do that).
All that great effort, all the skill, and No. D a m n. Research.
Outside of lack of skill glitches like failure to align the kit parts right, 95% of all failures in modeling are LACK OF RESEARCH. It's not rocket science. 5 year old kids successfully use Google. This stuff is EASY.
As long as I am at it, one more thing (on a different model) which every guy who was ever ground crew who is a member of this club will confirm: you do not put things that go "boom!" on an airplane while working on things (like engines) that go "spark!" because if you go "spark" you will go BOOM!
Sorry, I am a professional storyteller, and dioramas are stories, and that means Every. D a m n. Thing. Has. To. Be. Right. OR THE STORY DOESN'T WORK.
None. Of. This. Is. That. Frickin'. Hard.
Sorry, when you know how to pull the rabbit out of the hat, it is PAINFUL to watch someone who doesn't know how try to do it. Words of wisdom from a good magician friend of mine about why he can't go to The Magic Castle here in L.A. any more.
And I wouldn't give a rat's patootie here if there wasn't so much talent on display at this show - particularly on the part of the modelers who I have complained about. You never think twice about the ones who don't know how - its the ones who DO know how...
/Rant
Oh man, I get so happy when I see someone who spent a fair bit of work on a bit of plastic just because he or she enjoyed doing it. I think it is rather sad you spend so much energy and time bashing another fellow modeler´s effort to produce a nice model. Do we need to be cleared by you to be allowed to make a model? No one is complaining about those who spend hours and months to do the research to make a perfect model (whatever that is...). Those models can be pure bliss to look at. But do we really need to bring down those who doesn´t? We all have different goals when we make our models. If 99 people enjoy looking at this Lancaster but one doesn´t...does that mean it´s a bad model? Does it mean 99 persons got it all wrong? Do we need to have a PhD in propeller/landing gear/outline/jerry cans/whatever to make a PLASTIC MODEL?!
Nothing like a frantic, almost psychotic rant about a model airplane. We are all a little bit embarrassed for you. And. a. little. sad. for. you. Do you REALLY think anyone cares about your ridiculous diatribe?
I love that Spitfire diorama. It is a perfect example of a story told right. Everything works. Every element feeds to the next, the figures are as good as the model (the major fail in a diorama), you can practically put dialogue in each character's mouth.
Thank yo unknown modeler who did this beautiful piece for lowering my blood pressure back to where it should be.
I love # 38, 39 and 40, USS Constitution "trying to catch the wind." RESEARCH. That and the Spitfire are EXACTLY what I mean about a story done right (there's a saying in my business: "99%'s a bi t ch, and 100%'s a breeze" - it applies equally to modeling)
Also #59 - the F-104 "runway accident" - that's exactly what would be happening. RESEARCH.
Hi Tom,
I agree maybe the research on this Lancaster didn't work out... Nevertheless, the builder must have had quite some enjoyment aggregating all these kits from different corners. For me, building models is about spending time doing what I enjoy. Of course I tend to research my builds - mainly armor as you know - as well as possible before, in order not to make obvious errors.
I actually think none of my models are historically 100% correct, to start with, they are usually smaller than the original otherwise, I would have a hard time explaining my neighbors why I necessarily want to fit a 1-1 Panther tank into my Garage, too small anyway for a beast like that 🙂
Sometimes, I feel that - once you get the obvious errors out of the way when planning a new project - you should start to build even if some details are still open. The burden of the last 5% historical accuracy is unbearable at times... In other words, trying to get every small detail cleared out beforehand, you may end up with what I would describe as "build paralysis". As long as too detailed research prevents you from actually building, you miss out on the fun of actual building, I find.
I read entries on other modeling forums before coming to imodeler and effectively creating my first account here on such forum. The nice thing here is that I find a community of like-minded hobbyists who can give me reliable hints and constructive feedback. Some of them produce museum quality models, almost like the real thing! I don't count myself amongst them, but that is ok because it's all about enjoying time modelling for me.
I try and finish 3 to 4 nice builds a year because after all it makes me happy!
You're doing it right, Michel.
I agree Michel. When I build my ships i try to do the research, but it often comes to a point, where it's impossible to determine just how a certain ship looked at a certain time.
I also ask myself: Why do I build models? I do it for the enjoyment of building, painting and finishing my models. If the research starts to take up too much of my time, I'll find a practical solution for the problem at hand and go on with the build.
When I build aircraft for a change, I'm not at all interested in historical correctness. I just want the thing to look cool.
Rightly said Ulf, that's the way to look at it: Detailed history is for historians, rivet counting for mathematicians all the while we modelers harvest the fun of the build on top of all that! 🙂
In doing so we enjoy hours of fun, learn new techniques all the time and reap the cool looks of the finished model!
You know what Michel ?
I was getting too worked up over trying to find out the exact painting scheme used for one of my current Fw-109 builds for the Kasserine Pass, that it took the fun out of it.
Now I am at the point to where I'm going with what I have found, (some of which was shared with me here by other members... Thanks, you know who you are...) and if it's not "exactly" correct so be it... It is what it is... errors and all.
As long as we have fun, that's all that should matter. It is supposed to be a hobby after all...it's not life or death, as if we were performing brain surgery...
Some great work on display! Thanks for sharing.
Amazing talent on display. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting Ferry!
I had planned to take part in this event, but other things came in the way.
My pleasure Ulf. It was the first time for me to visit this show, but I'm sure I will be back next year. We had a great day.
Tom, I agree with the sentiment of the 100% rule if you have a niche specialist area where you are professional and have a reputation to protect (read you books and love em). Or maybe a psychopath, a self help business 'guru', or pop psychologist with books to sell. But I spend a lot of time trying to iron out the problems caused by perfectionism in real life; you get it out of perspective/context and it's not pretty.
When it comes to modeling I'm with Michel, if I get four good builds a year I'm happy. One day I'll make a 100% model; until then I'll make do with being 100% happy when I get the chance to model.
That said (just needed to say it), I can see how that much that level of skill in the Lanc frustrates you when you set it against an easily avoidable mistake (or two).
Thanks for sharing, Ferry - oh, and you know we want to know what 3 kits you bought.
Thanks for posting, Ferry! Nice group of photos. Looks like plenty of really nice work on display.
Thanks for posting these photos Ferry ! The F4U Corsair (#20 I think ?) is my favorite...
and yes, inquiring minds want to know... What 3 kits did you bring home ?
Hahah louis and David, I forgot to post them here, as I made pictures offcourse.
It's all French and 1/72 scale. The Mirage got some of my French modelling friends exited as it seems it quite sought after. The Smer Breguet is a reboxed Heller, both absolute bargains at a second hand stall. The Bloch was old stock and still had it's price in German Marks attached to it so pre- Euro at least 16 or 17 years old. I love these odd subjects.
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Ferry, the Bloch 210 and the Breguet are both from the Heller "Musee" series back in the 70s. The Mirage is somewhat later. I remember when it came out, but not the date. The guys in the IPMS were glad to see it. I think Airfix and Hasegawa also had one.
Excellent choices my friend. Years ago I had the old Heller kit called "Arc en Ceil".
Thanks for these photographs, Ferry, you certainly pick some nice shows to go to. Despite Tom Cleaver's rather high handed criticism I thoroughly enjoyed the RAF dioramas, but couldn't help noticing that the WRAF officer's uniform in the Spitfire scene is slightly inaccurate, her skirt is too short and she should be wearing seamed stockings, but who's complaining? If anyone can shed some details on the origin of the vehicle models in these dioramas I'd be very pleased. (Google isn't available here in China).
Thanks George. If time permits I allways like to go to these kind of shows. Meeting with old and new friends, picking up lots of inspiration and usualy some kits offcourse.
Now for the vehicles in the dioramas. I spoke to the modeler and the AEC refueler, the Fordson tractor and the Thompson 3-wheel refueler are 1/48 resin kits from Accurate Armour. The bomb trailer with the Lancaster is scratchbuild and the same goes for the trailer which stands with the Mosquito.
I hope this helps you.
Thanks for that info, Ferry, really helpful, for some reason I find these kinds of vehicles very attractive, they certainly add a lot to the dioramas.
Hi ferry,
Thanks for sharing. Noted very high modeling quality at the show.
Regards, Dirk / The Netherlands.
wow some of the best models I have ever seen at a show...blew me away. Thanx for sharing!