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We have some excellent threads on (plastic) model building. It appears quite a few members appreciated model building. Probably quite a few of us have done it whilst growing up.

So I thought I would share my visit to the SCM this weekend, together with our son Thomas.

This weekend saw the 17th edition of the SCM, the so-called Scale Model Challenge 2024. You will be excused if you never heard of it.

https://www.scalemodelchallenge.com

But this is the place to be for those who take their model building seriously. It is held in Eindhoven, in the south of the Netherlands. About 7000 m2 crammed with all kinds of models and dozens and dozens of vendors catering for the model builders with all sorts of stuff.

This event draws a very international crowd. French, German and Belgian cars were in the parking lot. And I have seen a lot of other folks from countries further afield (USA, Japan) flying in specifically for this event!

There are workshops in different techniques, model building clubs exhibit and have their members build models on site. And there is a huge competition with a bewildering number of different classes.

I will share with you some of the images we took. The models shown are just a very small selection of what was on display.

I will start with a few tiny aviation engines. For no other reason, I just built a Wright Radial Engine (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...ft-engine.html)

Note, both these models are just a few centimeters in diameter!





I have taken a few close-ups of cockpits. The detailing is just out of this world, with individual switches and so, clearly visible. Some of this detailing is homemade, but there is also a whole "industry" catering for these sorts of additional details.

Remember this is 1:72 scale!



ATTACH=PA200036.jpg]2670794[/ATTACH]

These models are built in all kinds of different scales. Some are built from kits, usually heavily modified, or some are built from scratch entirely. Such as this one, Thomas's thumb for scale!



Let's start with some images of aeroplanes!

F4 Phantom



F104 Starfighter



Mirage crew standing proudly next to their plane



Some Russian hardware



Close-up of the crew



Crash site!



One of my all-time favourite classic airplanes is the Douglas Skyraider.



There were about 6 rows similar to these. And more planes all over other stalls in the exhibition as well as you will see.





I will be showing some more images of aeroplanes in the subsequent post. Just a few other shots to provide some sense of what this exhibition is all about.

It is about (plastic/resin) model building. In all of its formats. All kinds of "end products" if you like are shown and all the kit, tools, paint, and accessories needed to make your model unique!

E.g. many made Dioramas such as this one.



Some folks would build the di0rama from scratch and the model in it as some sort of kit. Or you could buy a complete diorama such as these.



When you are building a diorama you might require some grass, trees, bushes and so on. And specialised shops are catering for your needs!



So you build something like this!!



You can also buy just about any kind of model. From planes to houses, ships to tanks, to busts of figures (as you will see later) or for instance this resin kit of a steam tractor, which I almost bought!



There is a vast range of different models on display. Just to give you a small sample of the variety of models on display.

Not sure about this, but some sort of fantasy/sci-fi/steampunk theme?



The owner/builder was being interviewed and had dressed for the occasion. :)



Something very different altogether



Zooming in (Check out the model of the Nautilus in the background!)





The amount of different model kits for sale was staggering. I like to think I am reasonably aware of the various kit manufacturers, but I saw stuff I had never seen before.

A nice set of Russian planes



Our son Thomas is into Warhammer. It's both model building as well as a game.

The last time we visited there was quite a bit of Warhammer out here, this time not so much.

Let's see some more (plane) models



Mirage I believe (Note the toolbox on the wing!)



Probably the most famous bomber of WW2, the Lancaster.



So many models to be seen, only about 1000 images will fit on the memory card of my camera!





A gorgeous Gloster Meteor. I love the metal look finish. Incredible. The Gloster Meteor was for many airforces around the world, their first jet fighter.



This is a diorama of how a Mig 21 is displayed in a Polish Aviation museum!



A kit of the F8 Crusader. It was known as "the last of the gunfighter" as it was the last fighter to have guns as primary weapons.



When you are building these sorts of planes, at this sort of level of expertise you might invest in some of these "lettering masks".



And you will need a spray gun too. You are in luck as both could be found on this exhibition.



Stubled upon this model of a lovely little tug! Which I also nearly bought!



Model kit anybody?



Paint anybody? Seriously, I don't think I have ever seen so many different kinds of paint anywhere! It's staggering! In my teens, we had Humbrol pain, about 80-90 different colours. That was all!



There is a whole industry catering for model builders. Very often, small companies. But it is a very international industry with vendors from all over Europe and even from Japan!







Of course, as I was expecting, a lot of special parts are 3D printed. Look at all these boxes of guns, ammo and so on.





Lots of books and magazines on various topics for sale as well.





As I mentioned earlier, I came across several kits and manufactures of kits I had not heard of before. I really liked this selection. I really liked the British Scammel Pioneer.



Some more (Russian-designed/built) fighters



I am a bit confused about the colours on this Mig. That looks like the Dutch Air Force, but I am pretty sure the Dutch Air Force never ever flew Migs.



Every model builder is acutely aware of how fragile these plastic models are. Every model builder's nightmare is their mum and or spouse thinking your models need dusting. Which usually leaves your display looking as if it was hit by a tornado!

A lot of these sorts of signs could be found everywhere around the display areas!

More models, more kits, more accessories!







I liked this model. I always like "wreckers" as the Americans call these. I have been looking at building a metal one from scratch as a future project. I need to find some good examples, preferably a set of technical drawings.

Till then I will just drool over this:



Look at the detailing of these:





There were a number of ships on display as well. Always a bit tricky to get a good shot of them.







Many people would be familiar with this one: HMS Victory



Amazingly, you can still visit the original HMS Victory. A visit to Portsmouth is a real treat for anybody interested in merchant and navy seafaring.

https://www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/por...rd/hms-victory

This model depicts an important American initiative in WW2. It became known as the Doolittle raid.



Source: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-...ttle-raid.html


Let me tell you; it takes some balls to take off with a B25 from a carrier, knowing that you won't return to it and are likely to have to ditch at the end of your mission.

On display are some nice-looking car models too!









Many people might think, this is some sort of gimmick or joke. But it is true. the Germans designed these sorts of "floating rescue buyos.



From Wikipedia

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_buoy_(Luftwaffe)

Do note that the Hulk in the background is not to scale! Also, historians are pretty sure the Hulk was never seen anywhere near the North sea!

I did not take many images of some of the figures and "busts" on display. Some of these would be completely handmade, some are from a kit. Some of the competition classes are purely on the best paint work on these figures. You could buy them from these two lovely young ladies.



And if you practice your painting skills for many years, you might end up with something like this:



Do you need a nice base to display your model? No worries, we saw at least four different companies selling endless varieties on the "theme" base.



Of course, when you take your modelling seriously you need to equip yourself with some of this specialised workshop kit



Some of the model building clubs were present and they were building their models during the two days of this exhibition.



Some more models and dioramas





A very unusual combo. The Virgin Galactic space fleet. The pretty unusual plane on the left takes the little shuttle on the right up to 45000 feet at which point it is released and climbs another 40 miles or so.



This little twin-engine (trainer) jet is very special to me. Its the Fouga Magister. And I got to fly and pilot one, almost 10 years ago whilst in the USA. Despite its size it is a proper jet fighter. It has seen action in various theatres around the world, mostly as close air support.

It was an easy plane to fly, with excellent and very light controls. The famous French Airforce Display team Patrouille de France used them for many years.



Some more planes:



F105 Thunderchief or Thud as their crews called them affectionately. The Thnderchief was the first supersonic attack bomber designed specifically for that task. It is a sizeable plane, if not to say huge and could carry a massive payload in bombs. It flew many missions in particular in Vietnam where it also incurred heavy losses.



F111 Aardvark, notice the moveable wings. Also, some great detailing on this model!

It is impossible to even begin to share how enormous this event is. The venue's size is not that large. But as they are displaying relatively small models, there are literally thousands of models on display.

I took about 140 images and I am sharing about 100 of them. I hope it gives a good impression of this event/exhibition and how diverse this model-building hobby is.

Some very different models from all the planes, tanks and cars we have seen so far.











This is a recreation of a very famous photograph. The original photographs look like this:



It has become known as "lunch atop a Skyscraper". What I did not know, till I read it on Wikipedia; the whole thing was staged!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch_atop_a_Skyscraper

Irrespective, somebody made it into a model



No points for guessing what the original of this one is



I am ending this thread with some more images of models that speak for themselves. The detailing on all of these models, dioramas and other displays is out of this world. Really impressive.

Wow, just wow! What a collection Jeroen!
This must be heaven on earth for those into modelling. Even for those who like to see a beautifully done piece of art.

First of all a big thank you for sharing this with us. Accurate & detailed scale modelling is an art in its own right, scratch building and making dioramas take it to another level.
My congratulations to these master craftsmen...clap:

Its indeed thrilling to see such a vast variation in the types of models, dioramas and scales...mind blowing.


The MiG 21 is of the erstwhile Czechoslovakia, the roundel is similar to the RNLAF.

I am sure surplus stuff is sold there (model kits, accessories, paints..etc). However, are any of the models displayed especially the dioramas for sale?
I'm sure they'll cost a bomb & rightfully so considering the time, attention & skills gone in creating them.

In all honesty, I don’t know. I did not see any evidence of it.
What was evident was the fact that a lot of people in the competition area knew each other or knew of each other and their work. I overheard multiple conversations in as many languages to this effect. At this level of expertise these competitions tend to bring together a small group of folks.

What is also interesting is that the organisation calls the real top builders “artist”. Initially I thought that sounds a bit over the top. But on second thoughts sounds appropriate. Some of this work is truly unique, requires extreme skills and creative imagination.

So I assume some of these artists might sell some of their work. But I have no idea where to look for it.

Jeroen

This is seriously awesome! Thanks for sharing this.

A guy could get happily lost in there :D

It is just so nice to see some of the best ones preserved so well. I got happy and sad at the same time watching these scale models.

I have two scale-sized monsters in my house, whom we call my kid and his cousin and their only motto is breaking all scale model cars and structures that I and my brother ever got and built :( Hopefully, they will grow up soon and we all can start working on it constructively.

Thanks for sharing , love the Migs :)

How to they transport these fragile models especially across continents?
Whenever I had to move countries I had to leave my whole model collection behind and start building a new one from scratch.

What a treat for the eyes! Thank you so much for sharing. The details on each model is unbelievable.

Just like the "Lunch atop a skyscraper" photograph, this too is a recreation of an original photograph (shown below).



Anyone who want know more about the expedition, can read it here.

I thought you might appreciate the Migs,

In all honesty I have no idea how they transport these models. Very, very carefully, I imagine!

There is a difference of course here, most, if not all of these folks bring only one, maybe a few at best to this exhibition. So I imagine, big boxes with lots of cotton, bubble wrap and various plastic glues on standby! :)

Jeroen

That wouldn't work for sure for delicate models as the delicate parts would break off. Also gluing broken parts never brings them back to the perfect state.

Here is how I transported my models from Hyderabad to Delhi and then Lucknow in the trunk of my car (Hyderabad to Delhi the car was on a truck). I must have spent 6-7+ hours packing them each time. Ended up with a few broken pitot tubes, landing gear and missiles.

Thanks for that information, I had no idea! Amazing story!

Jeroen