A Postcard From The IPMS Nationals

Day One - Setup
31 July, 2002

by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

The 2002 IPMS Nationals are being held at the Pavillion Convention Center at the seaside resort town of Virginia Beach in Virginia.

Hopeful visitors were being turned away from the door early this morning as scores of vendors set up under the distinctive twin cylinders of the Convention Center ceiling. For four days, this venue will be the biggest hobby retail outlet in the world.

If people are not travelling as much as they used to, nobody told the vendors. They are present in remarkable numbers, including an international presence from the British print magazines SAM and SAMI. The most imposing vendor to date is Meteor Productions, with what looks like a city block of space, plus (believe it or not) a genuine MiG-21 forward fuselage. Budding VVS fighter jocks may sit in the cockpit and have their photos taken.

Other traders include Eagle Editions (with stock of my new book, "Stormbird Colors"), Victory Productions, North American Hobbies, Pacific Coast Models, Aeromaster/Eagle Strike/Aries and many, many  more. I will attempt to acquire a full trader's list by tomorrow night. Plenty of individual traders are also present with large numbers of models at bargain prices.

Many new products are being announced and released here over the coming days. These include a new Macchi C.200 serie VII in 1/48 scale from Pacific Coast Models (due around September); an Aires Bf 109F conversion for Hasegawa's 1/32 scale Bf 109G-6, and Aires 1/32 scale cockpit for the same big Bf 109G-6, and a rather spectacular looking decal sheet for British and Commonwealth Spitfire Aces in 1/48 scale from Victory Productions. I will post more news and reviews on HyperScale over the course of the Convention.

By 3pm the eager crowds were permitted to register and enter the Vendors' Hall. The weather was hot enough, but even more heat was generated by the frenzy of the early visitors to get to the vendors' tables.

It looks like the organisers have done a great job, and the vendors have certainly lent their support. Everything appears to be set for a great IPMS National Convention!

Keep in touch with news at the Nationals via daily updates on HyperScale.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Model, Images and Article Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
Page Created 31 July 2002
Last updated 11 August 2002

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Features Page