Salisbury IPMS Annual Show
Saturday 4th June 2005
Venue
The Salisbury show is held at Wyvern College, Laverstock, just on the outskirts of Salisbury in Wiltshire.
The show itself takes place in the sports hall attached to one side of the college and although limited in size,
it does have the benefit of a large free car park that is adjacent.
The buildings in the middle of this shot are the venue
I said the car park was big!
Just visible in the far distance of the middle of this shot is Salisbury Cathedral spire.
I have been going to this show for a number of years now, and make the 140+ mile trip each way. I have always found the weather to be perfect, and this year was no different because even though I set off in rain, it was clear and sunny by the time I reached the venue some 2 hours later. The show is always worth attending, and is always over-subscribed. The limited size of the venue may be seen by many as a restricting feature, but the organisers have to balance that against the income and the likely costs of moving to a larger venue. There is no guarantee that a bigger and more costly venue would generate more paying visitors, so the exclusivity of the current site I feel always adds a lot to its charms. That said the one 'charming' aspect I wish they could improve upon is the toilet, please can we have a door on it one day, as that sheet hung over the vacant door frame is a real off-putter!
Traders at the even this year included a good mix of mail order firms and specialist manufacturers. The central area is let over to the clubs and there was a good mix, not just from the clubs 'down south' I should hasten to add. The organisers are well versed in what they do and the whole setting up and running seems to go quite smoothly. The refreshments stand is also run by the host club and very good it is too, so all in all the whole event has a very friendly air to it and I have yet to find myself wanting to leave before the entire 10am to 5pm period has elapsed.
What follows is my own selection of images from the show and the competition area, so please excuse if I have missed an 'important' model, I was just photographed what I liked and what caught my eye.
A6M2-N and NC500 (Fw 190) in French markings on the French AF SIG stand
A selection of 1:72 scale aircraft were seen on the IPMS Farnborough stand. Many liked the Hawker 'Harlot'!
A good line-up of 1:48 Meteors seen on one club stand. The Speed Meteor and D.15 Drone were very striking
Excellent Bf 109G-6 and a stripy P-47D from a certain person in the IPMS Avon club, nice one Phil!
A well detailed Revell 1:48 Dornier Do 217E-5
I am not a great fan of modern USN types, but this E-2C certainly caught my eye
There were some real stunners in the competition area. The above Whirlwind, Flycatcher and Fairey IIID were all 1:72, as were the Beaufighter and Junkers Ju 88A-5 (the latter using the AIMS resin conversion set). The Bf 109G was 1:32.
Final two shots of a large spread from organising IPMS Salisbury.
Our thanks to everyone at IPMS Salisbury for putting on yet another excellent event this year. I for one pass on my sincere thanks to any of you who gave up your time and effort to run the show, it is only through people like you that our hobby can be actively promoted and therefore survive. For more details of the club or of next year's event contact Peter A. James on 01980 862403 or e-mail peter@toggie.freeserve.co.uk
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