January 19, 2025 • 21 mins
Dave Mason, of the Mid-Michigan Model Makers, joins us for a fascinating look into the world of February model shows, particularly the much-anticipated 4M Model Mayhem event at Saginaw Valley State University. We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of the event's rich offerings, from the evolution of judging systems to the broadening categories now including Gundam and gaming miniatures. Despite the potential for snowy weather in northern Michigan, Dave assures us of the club's knack for hosting successful shows during this time. With an expansive venue and a plethora of vendor tables, this event is a testament to the flourishing model hobby scene early this year.
Our journey doesn't stop in Michigan—get the scoop on other exciting February model shows across the country. Discover the unique attractions of ModelZona 2025 in Phoenix and Sprue Bowl 2 in Fresno, each with their own themes and special awards, like commemorating the Vietnam War's 50th anniversary. Whether you’re gearing up to showcase your work or simply eager to mingle with fellow model enthusiasts, these events promise a rewarding experience. We also offer practical travel tips, drawing from past snowy adventures, to ensure your journey is as enjoyable as the destination. Prepare to embrace the camaraderie and vibrant social atmosphere these model shows have to offer!
Get all the details below:
4M Model Mayhem Show Information (Mid-Michigan Model Makers)
ModelZona Show Information (Craig Hewitt Chapter, IPMS Phoenix)
Sprue Bowl II (IPMS Fresno)
BlizzCon (Eddie Rickenbacker Chapter, IPMS Columbus)
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mike (00:17):
well, dave, it's time for our january installment of the
model show shout out, which isgoing to feature some shows in
february.
We are not one for shows infebruary.
If you want to go to one yeah,I know it's amazing.
Kentucky Dave (00:30):
I remember when the when the model season didn't
start till the end of february,with with blizzard con and
stuff like that now.
Now you're getting shows injanuary, you're getting shows in
very early February.
It's amazing.
Mike (00:46):
Well, most of them aren't in our geography, but one of
them is Yep.
It is Surprisingly the folks wekind of unfortunately dissed
last year.
Kentucky Dave (00:56):
Yes, I made the terrible mistake of saying that
Columbus was the first contestin Region 4, and that's not the
case, because there's a contestin Region 4 that occurs about
three weeks before Columbus thatI was unaware of.
Mike (01:16):
And that show is the 4M Mayhem put on by the
Mid-Michigan Modelers up inSaginaw.
Kentucky Dave (01:23):
Yep.
Mike (01:24):
And we had a representative from that club
come on the show and give us aspiel about their upcoming show
February 1st.
And let's hear what he had tosay, dave.
Kentucky Dave (01:33):
You got it.
Mike (01:39):
Kentucky, dave, february seems to be loaded with shows.
Yes, it is, and it seems a lotof them are coming up early.
And one of those, dave, is the4M Model Mayhem from the
Mid-Michigan Modelers Club.
And tonight we've got Mr DaveMason from Mid-Michigan on to
talk to us about this show.
And Dave Mason, how are youdoing tonight?
Dave Mason (02:01):
I'm doing good.
Mike (02:01):
Well, good.
Well, we hear you got a littlemodel show coming up.
Won't you tell us when andwhere and we'll get started with
that.
Dave Mason (02:10):
All right, it's going to be February 1st.
Doors open at 8 am.
It's going to be at the SaginawValley State University, 7400
Bay Road University Center,Michigan, which is Saginaw.
Okay, We'll have plenty ofvendors, concession 35
(02:30):
categories.
We keep growing.
Kentucky Dave (02:33):
Now, aren't you all taking quite a risk running
a model show in northernMichigan in barely February?
Dave Mason (02:45):
Yeah, actually, since we moved it from the
beginning of April, end of March, whenever we could get a free
date, we had more weathercancellations, power outages,
ice storms than having it thefirst Saturday in February.
We haven't had any major issuessince and it's been over 10, 12
(03:11):
years now.
Kentucky Dave (03:12):
That's amazing.
I would have thought that thefirst week of February in north
central Michigan would have beena high propensity for, you know
, heavy snow, ice, that type ofweather.
But it's pretty amazing thatit's less difficult in early
(03:33):
February than it is in April.
Dave Mason (03:37):
Well, the Saginaw Bay kind of tempers us
Everything.
Our weather is shifted a monthor so later than everybody
else's oh, okay and we're farenough east to where the lake
effect that comes off from lakemichigan usually doesn't get to
us, or very little when it doeseven better.
Mike (04:01):
Yeah, this show.
Is it a standard IPMS formattedtype invitational?
Dave Mason (04:09):
Actually it's an open system, ah okay.
We use the IPMS standards asfar as quality of build.
I think our first show was a1-2-3, and then we went to the
modified Chicago open system.
Mike (04:27):
Ah, gotcha.
Well, we're familiar with that,so you've been doing that for
how long now?
Dave Mason (04:32):
40, 40 years or so.
This is our 40th show.
We had a few years in therethat COVID and 9-11 and a few
others.
We used to have our show at aArmory Inn after 9-11 and a few
others.
We used to have our show atArmory Inn Ended after 9-11.
Mike (04:50):
Yeah, that's when they built a fence around it, right?
Dave Mason (04:52):
Yeah.
Mike (04:56):
Well, that's interesting.
I know we've talked to quite anumber of clubs since we started
these spotlights and gosh.
I want to think maybe we'reapproaching.
Maybe half of the ones we'vetalked to at this point are
running some kind of somethingother than the IPMS 1, 2, 3.
Kentucky Dave (05:13):
Yeah, I do think that you have more shows than
people are aware of that aresome sort of gold, silver,
bronze, open type system.
Mike (05:26):
If it's been going on for 40 years almost, I assume it's
received pretty well and folkslike it up there.
Dave Mason (05:31):
Yes, the challenge of judging has gotten, because
the quality of models hasincreased tenfold.
Kentucky Dave (05:41):
Yeah.
Dave Mason (05:42):
That's the only challenge is the volume of high
quality models is so high.
It's which is good to see onall fronts, and your show you.
You hold it at a universityyeah, we used to hold it at the
vfws any hall that afford.
(06:03):
Well, now those are pretty muchgone, and plus we kept
outgrowing them.
We ended up with barely a threefoot aisle, with the tables
crammed at a couple of spots,and now we've got more room than
we can fill at the moment,which is a good problem to have.
Kentucky Dave (06:25):
Yes, it is.
Dave Mason (06:25):
We got plenty of room to continue expanding.
We're using all the tables thatthey have and if we run out of
those, we can run them and keepexpanding.
Kentucky Dave (06:35):
Typically in a typical year.
How many models do you usuallyend up with on the table for a
show so early in the year?
Dave Mason (06:46):
The last few years we've been either over 500 or
460s.
It's in the 400s to 500 sinceCOVID ended.
Mike (06:57):
That's pretty good.
Kentucky Dave (06:59):
Yeah, that is particularly that time of year
and 15 years ago we were 250.
And who says this hobby isdying?
Right yeah.
Dave Mason (07:11):
Yeah, we keep getting more and more models.
Plus, we've opened it up toGundams have their own category
and the minis from the gamingworld are welcome.
If it's a miniature, it'swelcome.
Kentucky Dave (07:24):
Now, I assume you have vendor tables at this show
.
Dave Mason (07:28):
Yes, we're getting close to 60 sold so far.
Nice, if we run out of tables,like I say, we can always rent
more.
We've got room.
Mike (07:38):
Any notable vendors in attendance?
Dave Mason (07:40):
Dean's Hobby Stop.
Kentucky Dave (07:42):
Yeah.
Dave Mason (07:43):
We don't have Tamiya or anybody that wants to come
to Michigan in the wintertimeyet.
Mike (07:49):
Mostly regional folks and the private table holders Most
of the-.
People moving their stashes andthings.
Dave Mason (07:55):
yeah, Most of them that hit the Region 4, plus all
the guys cleaning their garagesout.
Mike (08:03):
Sometimes those are best.
Kentucky Dave (08:04):
Now do you all draw much from Canada.
Dave Mason (08:07):
We've had I wouldn't say a large contingent, but
we've had representatives fromCanada quite often.
Kentucky Dave (08:15):
Gotcha.
Dave Mason (08:16):
We're only two hours two and a half hours from
London and less than two hoursfrom Windsor and Sarnia, so we
do get a few guys in London.
Kentucky Dave (08:29):
Yeah, those Canadians are hard, hardy
modelers, so it wouldn'tsurprise me if some show up to
your show.
Dave Mason (08:37):
Oh, they're more than welcome.
Mike (08:38):
Well, what's the theme this year if you've got one?
Dave Mason (08:41):
We actually have two themes this year, since it's
our 40th show.
We have fabulous 40s.
It's anything that has a 40 onit, like a race car with the
number 40, to a GT40 Ford, fromthe 60s to a P40 aircraft,
(09:01):
anything that has to do with the40s.
Gotcha and the other theme isanything from 1985.
So anything, any subject ormodel that's 40 years old, good.
Kentucky Dave (09:16):
That's a good thing.
I like that.
Mike (09:18):
And both of those should be pretty broad and draw up some
interest.
Dave Mason (09:22):
Yeah, we kind of left them wide open to
interpretation and that'll bethe head judge's job to yes or
no on whatever it is.
Kentucky Dave (09:32):
Do you have on-site concessions or do people
go to food nearby?
Dave Mason (09:38):
We have both.
We have just outside theentrance to the room with the
models in.
It is a concession stand thatcollege will be providing.
I believe they said they'regoing to have barbecue
sandwiches and plus your normalconcession stand food, and
there's quite a few restaurantswithin two miles.
(10:00):
There's some right around thecorner from the college and into
town.
Just south of the collegethere's the whole strip that has
every fast food you could andsit-down restaurants.
All the major chain type arethere.
Kentucky Dave (10:16):
When does the show open, when does
registration close and when doyou all give out the awards?
Dave Mason (10:31):
We open our doors at eight.
Registration starts right away.
Noon.
We shut down registration andstart judging right away, and we
usually try to get done.
I think on our flyer it saysawards are at four.
If we can get them goingearlier, we do, because usually
we have most of the venues we'veever been in.
We had to be out by five so wegot our system down to tear down
(10:53):
and get out quick.
So as soon as judging is donewe give out the awards.
Mike (10:59):
Well, normally I would think it would be the judging
system.
Is there any other thing that'sunique to your show that might
differentiate you from othertypical shows in the region?
Dave Mason (11:08):
Well, we do the like .
I say, we do the open judging.
We don't close the room down,but everybody can continue to
look at the models while we'rejudging.
We just asked that when you seethe group of guys judging or
gals, we've got everybodyjudging.
Just to give them a little bitof space, let them do their job,
to get in and out of therequicker, and we have a pretty
(11:29):
decent raffle.
Kentucky Dave (11:30):
Well, that's nice that you keep the room open
during judging people anopportunity to see the models
that they might otherwise loseout on if they get there right
toward the end of registration.
It's nice that your crowds arecooperative enough to give the
(11:53):
judging teams the space theyneed.
Dave Mason (11:56):
Yeah, usually we don't have any issues.
If someone gets too close, youjust say, hey, could you give us
a second?
Most of them back off with noissues.
Mike (12:05):
Well, that's good.
Is there anything else youthink you might need to mention
about the show?
Dave Mason (12:11):
The weather's going to be fine, come on out to it.
We covered pretty mucheverything.
We got plenty of parking.
With the college there, I wouldsay well, I just remembered.
If you are coming, it's parkinglot E is what we would like you
to use.
That'd give you the shortestwalk.
Kentucky Dave (12:30):
All right.
So what's the date and timeagain?
Dave Mason (12:34):
February 1st, 8 am to 4 pm At the Saginaw Valley
State University, 7400 Bay RoadUniversity Center, michigan.
Mike (12:46):
Is there a web source for the flyers and contest
categories?
Dave Mason (12:49):
Yes, you can fill out your registration forms.
Have everything pre-filled out.
It's midmichiganmodelmakerscomslash contests.
Mike (12:58):
Now, when you say pre-filled out, you mean they
can print them out and bringhard copy, or you have an
electronic system.
Dave Mason (13:04):
We haven't got our electronic system finished yet,
but we're.
We got the PDF forms, fillablePDFs.
You can fill everything out.
Print it, that way we can readthem.
All right, I know I can't fillout a form with it.
I can't read it myself when I'mdone.
Kentucky Dave (13:21):
I'm right there with you, yeah.
Dave Mason (13:25):
Plus, I never remember what I did to the model
.
Kentucky Dave (13:28):
Yeah, exactly.
Mike (13:30):
All right.
Well, dave, thanks for joiningus for this spotlight, and we
wish you success on your showand hope the weather trend holds
and hope you get those 500 plusmodels holds and hope you get
those 500 plus models and whenyou do, please take photographs
at your show and post them onthe dojo.
Kentucky Dave (13:48):
Let people who are maybe a little far away or
maybe snowed in here down in thesouth get a chance to
experience what's going on inmid-Michigan.
Dave Mason (14:00):
I will do that.
One more thing I forgot tomention is we do have trophy
sponsorships available.
You can get all the info on thewebsite if you're interested in
sponsoring a trophy.
Mike (14:12):
Well, dave, we'll let you go.
Have a good evening and thanksfor joining us.
Dave Mason (14:15):
Thanks for having me .
Mike (14:17):
You're welcome.
Stay warm we will, we're tryingwell, it's surprising that they
they haven't been snowed out,but maybe their snowed out is
different than our snow yeah,well, a, I suspect that is the
case.
Kentucky Dave (14:36):
They are hearty people up there, but but yeah,
no color.
Me shocked that they haven'thad weather problems in early
February and they did haveweather problems when it was in
April.
That's just, that's amazing tome.
Mike (14:54):
I remember one time when I was at the University of
Tennessee in April, right afterspring break.
It snowed enough to cover thegrass to the tops of the grass
blades one April afternoonduring school, but by the end of
the day it was all gone.
I imagine that's not the casein mid-Michigan.
Kentucky Dave (15:11):
I imagine that's not the case in mid-Michigan and
it hasn't been the case here inLouisville or Lexington.
I'm telling you, I want thisstuff to go away.
It looks like tomorrow we'reactually going to get some
weather above freezing, sohopefully that'll do some good.
Mike (15:30):
Well, if we don't and you can get out of town on February
1st, there's a couple of warmeroptions, Dave Yep.
Mr Mike Mikowski from the CraigHewitt chapter IPMS Phoenix
reached out to me and wanted usto promote a show and I
apologize.
I had every intention to reachout to their show chairman, as
he suggested, to get them on totalk about this show, but Mr
(15:52):
Kidneystone got in the way of myforward planning so I didn't
get that done.
But he sent a show flyer.
Kentucky Dave (15:59):
Yep.
Mike (16:00):
So we appreciate that Model Zona 2025.
Kentucky Dave (16:04):
Having attended three nationals in Phoenix, I
can tell you Phoenix is great.
And now when I went it was Julyand August.
I can imagine in February it'svery pleasant?
Mike (16:18):
It probably is.
Well, they've got a newlocation because they had to
move because of venueavailability.
They are now at the el zaribashrine auditorium at 552 north
40th street in phoenix, arizona,and we'll put all this in the
show notes, but we're going toread it here.
Yeah, we'll put all the shownotes to keep everybody current.
(16:40):
Saturday, february 1st, justlike the show in MidMichigan, 9
am to 5 pm.
They got some special awardsDave Best Moving and Transport.
Subject Best F4U Corsair Hellmodel airplane maker might need
to go down there.
Kentucky Dave (16:56):
Yeah, I was going to say.
I can hear Chris Wallacerunning for the airport as we
speak.
Mike (17:01):
That'd probably be a welcome change from Ottawa.
Kentucky Dave (17:04):
Yeah, I'll bet you it is.
Mike (17:05):
February and the Raleigh Williams Craftsmanship Award,
which I assume is acommemorative from one of their
past members.
Check it out, folks.
Model Zone I know from ourfriend Ed Barrett that they draw
as far as Southern California,so hopefully Model Zone 2025 at
the new venue will be a rousingsuccess.
Kentucky Dave (17:25):
Yes, go get some sun.
Mike (17:28):
Well, if you can't make that one and you're still up for
a model show on February 1st,Dave, there is one more, at
least one more that we know of.
Kentucky Dave (17:37):
Right.
Mike (17:38):
Spru Bowl 2.
Spru Bowl 2.
Hosted by IPMS Fresno ScaleModelers, so they're in Central
California, there Central Valley.
Kentucky Dave (17:46):
Yes, that's Mr Budzig's stomping ground.
It is.
Mike (17:50):
Theme of this show is the 50th anniversary of the end of
the Vietnam War, so that's kindof just like Bran and Jacob and
their show there in Texas.
Kentucky Dave (18:00):
Yep.
Mike (18:00):
Saturday February 1st, again 9 am to 4 pm.
Yep.
Saturday February 1st, again 9am to 4 pm at the CPDES
Portuguese Hall of Fresno, 172West Jefferson Avenue, Fresno,
california, straight, ipms typeshow, plenty of vendors, all
that stuff.
So again, we'll get this showalso in the show notes so folks
(18:21):
can check it out.
Kentucky Dave (18:26):
So February 1st, Dave, seems to be a popular date
.
Yep, yep, if, if you've beenhibernating, if you've been
trapped trapped at home modelingand you've gotten, you've
gotten some things done over thethe winter.
Now is the time to bring themout, go to a show and socialize
with your fellow modeler.
Mike (18:47):
Well, Dave, we'd be remiss to skip our own region of IPMS.
Kentucky Dave (18:51):
Well, we did, we got mid-Michigan.
That's our region too.
Mike (18:56):
We're kind of crazy situated.
We've talked about this before.
I mean, those guys are a lotfarther from us than some of our
friends down in region three.
Yes, so we're kind of on thefence?
Yes, we are, but there isanother contest.
We got another show, dave, inour region.
Won't you let us know what itis?
Kentucky Dave (19:14):
Well, blizzcon, the IPMS Columbus show, is
February 22, 2025, from 9 am to4 pm at the McCoy Center.
That's M-A-K-O-Y Center, 5462Center Street in Hilliard, ohio.
(19:35):
Is that where it was last year?
Yes, that's exactly the sameplace it was last year.
Hilliard, by the way, is just asuburb of Columbus, greater
Columbus.
Blizzcon has a long as they sayin Animal House, a long history
of existence.
It's a great show and I go toit.
(20:01):
We get to connect up with a lotof people in our region that we
haven't seen for a while andit's a great place to reconnect
with fellow modelers and you'vegot something that you could
take and enter.
Mike (20:19):
Almost.
It'll probably be done by theend of February, but I'm not
quite there yet, Dave.
Kentucky Dave (20:23):
You're close.
Mike (20:24):
I'm very close.
Well, I'm trying to think howmany times I've been to Columbus
and I think, well, last year Igot a little dodgy driving up.
Kentucky Dave (20:33):
Yeah.
Mike (20:33):
Yeah, almost lived up to its namesake.
Kentucky Dave (20:37):
Yes, yes, we drove through significant
snowfall, but we survived.
Mike (20:44):
We survived.
It wasn't so bad on the wayhome and I remember one time an
old MMCL trip I went up thereand there was like tons of snow
on the ground.
It didn't snow on the way up orback, but it had already
happened and you had to dealwith it once you got there.
Kentucky Dave (20:59):
Of course, that's no different than Louisville or
Lexington right now.
That's true, no different thanLouisville or Lexington right
now.
Mike (21:04):
That's true.
Well, folks, that is at least abrief look at the show scene
for February.
We hope you get out and make aneffort to attend one of those.
It's great fun and we totallyrecommend it and know you'll
enjoy it.
Kentucky Dave (21:18):
Yeah, whether you enter or not, if you're not
going to shows, you're deprivingyourself of a really great part
of modeling, and that issocializing with fellow modelers
.
Mike (21:32):
All right, let's let folks get to their show travel
planning.
You got it.
Bye.
well, dave, it's time for our january installment of the
model show shout out, which isgoing to feature some shows in
february.
We are not one for shows infebruary.
If you want to go to one yeah,I know it's amazing.
Kentucky Dave (00:30):
I remember when the when the model season didn't
start till the end of february,with with blizzard con and
stuff like that now.
Now you're getting shows injanuary, you're getting shows in
very early February.
It's amazing.
Mike (00:46):
Well, most of them aren't in our geography, but one of
them is Yep.
It is Surprisingly the folks wekind of unfortunately dissed
last year.
Kentucky Dave (00:56):
Yes, I made the terrible mistake of saying that
Columbus was the first contestin Region 4, and that's not the
case, because there's a contestin Region 4 that occurs about
three weeks before Columbus thatI was unaware of.
Mike (01:16):
And that show is the 4M Mayhem put on by the
Mid-Michigan Modelers up inSaginaw.
Kentucky Dave (01:23):
Yep.
Mike (01:24):
And we had a representative from that club
come on the show and give us aspiel about their upcoming show
February 1st.
And let's hear what he had tosay, dave.
Kentucky Dave (01:33):
You got it.
Mike (01:39):
Kentucky, dave, february seems to be loaded with shows.
Yes, it is, and it seems a lotof them are coming up early.
And one of those, dave, is the4M Model Mayhem from the
Mid-Michigan Modelers Club.
And tonight we've got Mr DaveMason from Mid-Michigan on to
talk to us about this show.
And Dave Mason, how are youdoing tonight?
Dave Mason (02:01):
I'm doing good.
Mike (02:01):
Well, good.
Well, we hear you got a littlemodel show coming up.
Won't you tell us when andwhere and we'll get started with
that.
Dave Mason (02:10):
All right, it's going to be February 1st.
Doors open at 8 am.
It's going to be at the SaginawValley State University, 7400
Bay Road University Center,Michigan, which is Saginaw.
Okay, We'll have plenty ofvendors, concession 35
(02:30):
categories.
We keep growing.
Kentucky Dave (02:33):
Now, aren't you all taking quite a risk running
a model show in northernMichigan in barely February?
Dave Mason (02:45):
Yeah, actually, since we moved it from the
beginning of April, end of March, whenever we could get a free
date, we had more weathercancellations, power outages,
ice storms than having it thefirst Saturday in February.
We haven't had any major issuessince and it's been over 10, 12
(03:11):
years now.
Kentucky Dave (03:12):
That's amazing.
I would have thought that thefirst week of February in north
central Michigan would have beena high propensity for, you know
, heavy snow, ice, that type ofweather.
But it's pretty amazing thatit's less difficult in early
(03:33):
February than it is in April.
Dave Mason (03:37):
Well, the Saginaw Bay kind of tempers us
Everything.
Our weather is shifted a monthor so later than everybody
else's oh, okay and we're farenough east to where the lake
effect that comes off from lakemichigan usually doesn't get to
us, or very little when it doeseven better.
Mike (04:01):
Yeah, this show.
Is it a standard IPMS formattedtype invitational?
Dave Mason (04:09):
Actually it's an open system, ah okay.
We use the IPMS standards asfar as quality of build.
I think our first show was a1-2-3, and then we went to the
modified Chicago open system.
Mike (04:27):
Ah, gotcha.
Well, we're familiar with that,so you've been doing that for
how long now?
Dave Mason (04:32):
40, 40 years or so.
This is our 40th show.
We had a few years in therethat COVID and 9-11 and a few
others.
We used to have our show at aArmory Inn after 9-11 and a few
others.
We used to have our show atArmory Inn Ended after 9-11.
Mike (04:50):
Yeah, that's when they built a fence around it, right?
Dave Mason (04:52):
Yeah.
Mike (04:56):
Well, that's interesting.
I know we've talked to quite anumber of clubs since we started
these spotlights and gosh.
I want to think maybe we'reapproaching.
Maybe half of the ones we'vetalked to at this point are
running some kind of somethingother than the IPMS 1, 2, 3.
Kentucky Dave (05:13):
Yeah, I do think that you have more shows than
people are aware of that aresome sort of gold, silver,
bronze, open type system.
Mike (05:26):
If it's been going on for 40 years almost, I assume it's
received pretty well and folkslike it up there.
Dave Mason (05:31):
Yes, the challenge of judging has gotten, because
the quality of models hasincreased tenfold.
Kentucky Dave (05:41):
Yeah.
Dave Mason (05:42):
That's the only challenge is the volume of high
quality models is so high.
It's which is good to see onall fronts, and your show you.
You hold it at a universityyeah, we used to hold it at the
vfws any hall that afford.
(06:03):
Well, now those are pretty muchgone, and plus we kept
outgrowing them.
We ended up with barely a threefoot aisle, with the tables
crammed at a couple of spots,and now we've got more room than
we can fill at the moment,which is a good problem to have.
Kentucky Dave (06:25):
Yes, it is.
Dave Mason (06:25):
We got plenty of room to continue expanding.
We're using all the tables thatthey have and if we run out of
those, we can run them and keepexpanding.
Kentucky Dave (06:35):
Typically in a typical year.
How many models do you usuallyend up with on the table for a
show so early in the year?
Dave Mason (06:46):
The last few years we've been either over 500 or
460s.
It's in the 400s to 500 sinceCOVID ended.
Mike (06:57):
That's pretty good.
Kentucky Dave (06:59):
Yeah, that is particularly that time of year
and 15 years ago we were 250.
And who says this hobby isdying?
Right yeah.
Dave Mason (07:11):
Yeah, we keep getting more and more models.
Plus, we've opened it up toGundams have their own category
and the minis from the gamingworld are welcome.
If it's a miniature, it'swelcome.
Kentucky Dave (07:24):
Now, I assume you have vendor tables at this show
.
Dave Mason (07:28):
Yes, we're getting close to 60 sold so far.
Nice, if we run out of tables,like I say, we can always rent
more.
We've got room.
Mike (07:38):
Any notable vendors in attendance?
Dave Mason (07:40):
Dean's Hobby Stop.
Kentucky Dave (07:42):
Yeah.
Dave Mason (07:43):
We don't have Tamiya or anybody that wants to come
to Michigan in the wintertimeyet.
Mike (07:49):
Mostly regional folks and the private table holders Most
of the-.
People moving their stashes andthings.
Dave Mason (07:55):
yeah, Most of them that hit the Region 4, plus all
the guys cleaning their garagesout.
Mike (08:03):
Sometimes those are best.
Kentucky Dave (08:04):
Now do you all draw much from Canada.
Dave Mason (08:07):
We've had I wouldn't say a large contingent, but
we've had representatives fromCanada quite often.
Kentucky Dave (08:15):
Gotcha.
Dave Mason (08:16):
We're only two hours two and a half hours from
London and less than two hoursfrom Windsor and Sarnia, so we
do get a few guys in London.
Kentucky Dave (08:29):
Yeah, those Canadians are hard, hardy
modelers, so it wouldn'tsurprise me if some show up to
your show.
Dave Mason (08:37):
Oh, they're more than welcome.
Mike (08:38):
Well, what's the theme this year if you've got one?
Dave Mason (08:41):
We actually have two themes this year, since it's
our 40th show.
We have fabulous 40s.
It's anything that has a 40 onit, like a race car with the
number 40, to a GT40 Ford, fromthe 60s to a P40 aircraft,
(09:01):
anything that has to do with the40s.
Gotcha and the other theme isanything from 1985.
So anything, any subject ormodel that's 40 years old, good.
Kentucky Dave (09:16):
That's a good thing.
I like that.
Mike (09:18):
And both of those should be pretty broad and draw up some
interest.
Dave Mason (09:22):
Yeah, we kind of left them wide open to
interpretation and that'll bethe head judge's job to yes or
no on whatever it is.
Kentucky Dave (09:32):
Do you have on-site concessions or do people
go to food nearby?
Dave Mason (09:38):
We have both.
We have just outside theentrance to the room with the
models in.
It is a concession stand thatcollege will be providing.
I believe they said they'regoing to have barbecue
sandwiches and plus your normalconcession stand food, and
there's quite a few restaurantswithin two miles.
(10:00):
There's some right around thecorner from the college and into
town.
Just south of the collegethere's the whole strip that has
every fast food you could andsit-down restaurants.
All the major chain type arethere.
Kentucky Dave (10:16):
When does the show open, when does
registration close and when doyou all give out the awards?
Dave Mason (10:31):
We open our doors at eight.
Registration starts right away.
Noon.
We shut down registration andstart judging right away, and we
usually try to get done.
I think on our flyer it saysawards are at four.
If we can get them goingearlier, we do, because usually
we have most of the venues we'veever been in.
We had to be out by five so wegot our system down to tear down
(10:53):
and get out quick.
So as soon as judging is donewe give out the awards.
Mike (10:59):
Well, normally I would think it would be the judging
system.
Is there any other thing that'sunique to your show that might
differentiate you from othertypical shows in the region?
Dave Mason (11:08):
Well, we do the like .
I say, we do the open judging.
We don't close the room down,but everybody can continue to
look at the models while we'rejudging.
We just asked that when you seethe group of guys judging or
gals, we've got everybodyjudging.
Just to give them a little bitof space, let them do their job,
to get in and out of therequicker, and we have a pretty
(11:29):
decent raffle.
Kentucky Dave (11:30):
Well, that's nice that you keep the room open
during judging people anopportunity to see the models
that they might otherwise loseout on if they get there right
toward the end of registration.
It's nice that your crowds arecooperative enough to give the
(11:53):
judging teams the space theyneed.
Dave Mason (11:56):
Yeah, usually we don't have any issues.
If someone gets too close, youjust say, hey, could you give us
a second?
Most of them back off with noissues.
Mike (12:05):
Well, that's good.
Is there anything else youthink you might need to mention
about the show?
Dave Mason (12:11):
The weather's going to be fine, come on out to it.
We covered pretty mucheverything.
We got plenty of parking.
With the college there, I wouldsay well, I just remembered.
If you are coming, it's parkinglot E is what we would like you
to use.
That'd give you the shortestwalk.
Kentucky Dave (12:30):
All right.
So what's the date and timeagain?
Dave Mason (12:34):
February 1st, 8 am to 4 pm At the Saginaw Valley
State University, 7400 Bay RoadUniversity Center, michigan.
Mike (12:46):
Is there a web source for the flyers and contest
categories?
Dave Mason (12:49):
Yes, you can fill out your registration forms.
Have everything pre-filled out.
It's midmichiganmodelmakerscomslash contests.
Mike (12:58):
Now, when you say pre-filled out, you mean they
can print them out and bringhard copy, or you have an
electronic system.
Dave Mason (13:04):
We haven't got our electronic system finished yet,
but we're.
We got the PDF forms, fillablePDFs.
You can fill everything out.
Print it, that way we can readthem.
All right, I know I can't fillout a form with it.
I can't read it myself when I'mdone.
Kentucky Dave (13:21):
I'm right there with you, yeah.
Dave Mason (13:25):
Plus, I never remember what I did to the model
.
Kentucky Dave (13:28):
Yeah, exactly.
Mike (13:30):
All right.
Well, dave, thanks for joiningus for this spotlight, and we
wish you success on your showand hope the weather trend holds
and hope you get those 500 plusmodels holds and hope you get
those 500 plus models and whenyou do, please take photographs
at your show and post them onthe dojo.
Kentucky Dave (13:48):
Let people who are maybe a little far away or
maybe snowed in here down in thesouth get a chance to
experience what's going on inmid-Michigan.
Dave Mason (14:00):
I will do that.
One more thing I forgot tomention is we do have trophy
sponsorships available.
You can get all the info on thewebsite if you're interested in
sponsoring a trophy.
Mike (14:12):
Well, dave, we'll let you go.
Have a good evening and thanksfor joining us.
Dave Mason (14:15):
Thanks for having me .
Mike (14:17):
You're welcome.
Stay warm we will, we're tryingwell, it's surprising that they
they haven't been snowed out,but maybe their snowed out is
different than our snow yeah,well, a, I suspect that is the
case.
Kentucky Dave (14:36):
They are hearty people up there, but but yeah,
no color.
Me shocked that they haven'thad weather problems in early
February and they did haveweather problems when it was in
April.
That's just, that's amazing tome.
Mike (14:54):
I remember one time when I was at the University of
Tennessee in April, right afterspring break.
It snowed enough to cover thegrass to the tops of the grass
blades one April afternoonduring school, but by the end of
the day it was all gone.
I imagine that's not the casein mid-Michigan.
Kentucky Dave (15:11):
I imagine that's not the case in mid-Michigan and
it hasn't been the case here inLouisville or Lexington.
I'm telling you, I want thisstuff to go away.
It looks like tomorrow we'reactually going to get some
weather above freezing, sohopefully that'll do some good.
Mike (15:30):
Well, if we don't and you can get out of town on February
1st, there's a couple of warmeroptions, Dave Yep.
Mr Mike Mikowski from the CraigHewitt chapter IPMS Phoenix
reached out to me and wanted usto promote a show and I
apologize.
I had every intention to reachout to their show chairman, as
he suggested, to get them on totalk about this show, but Mr
(15:52):
Kidneystone got in the way of myforward planning so I didn't
get that done.
But he sent a show flyer.
Kentucky Dave (15:59):
Yep.
Mike (16:00):
So we appreciate that Model Zona 2025.
Kentucky Dave (16:04):
Having attended three nationals in Phoenix, I
can tell you Phoenix is great.
And now when I went it was Julyand August.
I can imagine in February it'svery pleasant?
Mike (16:18):
It probably is.
Well, they've got a newlocation because they had to
move because of venueavailability.
They are now at the el zaribashrine auditorium at 552 north
40th street in phoenix, arizona,and we'll put all this in the
show notes, but we're going toread it here.
Yeah, we'll put all the shownotes to keep everybody current.
(16:40):
Saturday, february 1st, justlike the show in MidMichigan, 9
am to 5 pm.
They got some special awardsDave Best Moving and Transport.
Subject Best F4U Corsair Hellmodel airplane maker might need
to go down there.
Kentucky Dave (16:56):
Yeah, I was going to say.
I can hear Chris Wallacerunning for the airport as we
speak.
Mike (17:01):
That'd probably be a welcome change from Ottawa.
Kentucky Dave (17:04):
Yeah, I'll bet you it is.
Mike (17:05):
February and the Raleigh Williams Craftsmanship Award,
which I assume is acommemorative from one of their
past members.
Check it out, folks.
Model Zone I know from ourfriend Ed Barrett that they draw
as far as Southern California,so hopefully Model Zone 2025 at
the new venue will be a rousingsuccess.
Kentucky Dave (17:25):
Yes, go get some sun.
Mike (17:28):
Well, if you can't make that one and you're still up for
a model show on February 1st,Dave, there is one more, at
least one more that we know of.
Kentucky Dave (17:37):
Right.
Mike (17:38):
Spru Bowl 2.
Spru Bowl 2.
Hosted by IPMS Fresno ScaleModelers, so they're in Central
California, there Central Valley.
Kentucky Dave (17:46):
Yes, that's Mr Budzig's stomping ground.
It is.
Mike (17:50):
Theme of this show is the 50th anniversary of the end of
the Vietnam War, so that's kindof just like Bran and Jacob and
their show there in Texas.
Kentucky Dave (18:00):
Yep.
Mike (18:00):
Saturday February 1st, again 9 am to 4 pm.
Yep.
Saturday February 1st, again 9am to 4 pm at the CPDES
Portuguese Hall of Fresno, 172West Jefferson Avenue, Fresno,
california, straight, ipms typeshow, plenty of vendors, all
that stuff.
So again, we'll get this showalso in the show notes so folks
(18:21):
can check it out.
Kentucky Dave (18:26):
So February 1st, Dave, seems to be a popular date
.
Yep, yep, if, if you've beenhibernating, if you've been
trapped trapped at home modelingand you've gotten, you've
gotten some things done over thethe winter.
Now is the time to bring themout, go to a show and socialize
with your fellow modeler.
Mike (18:47):
Well, Dave, we'd be remiss to skip our own region of IPMS.
Kentucky Dave (18:51):
Well, we did, we got mid-Michigan.
That's our region too.
Mike (18:56):
We're kind of crazy situated.
We've talked about this before.
I mean, those guys are a lotfarther from us than some of our
friends down in region three.
Yes, so we're kind of on thefence?
Yes, we are, but there isanother contest.
We got another show, dave, inour region.
Won't you let us know what itis?
Kentucky Dave (19:14):
Well, blizzcon, the IPMS Columbus show, is
February 22, 2025, from 9 am to4 pm at the McCoy Center.
That's M-A-K-O-Y Center, 5462Center Street in Hilliard, ohio.
(19:35):
Is that where it was last year?
Yes, that's exactly the sameplace it was last year.
Hilliard, by the way, is just asuburb of Columbus, greater
Columbus.
Blizzcon has a long as they sayin Animal House, a long history
of existence.
It's a great show and I go toit.
(20:01):
We get to connect up with a lotof people in our region that we
haven't seen for a while andit's a great place to reconnect
with fellow modelers and you'vegot something that you could
take and enter.
Mike (20:19):
Almost.
It'll probably be done by theend of February, but I'm not
quite there yet, Dave.
Kentucky Dave (20:23):
You're close.
Mike (20:24):
I'm very close.
Well, I'm trying to think howmany times I've been to Columbus
and I think, well, last year Igot a little dodgy driving up.
Kentucky Dave (20:33):
Yeah.
Mike (20:33):
Yeah, almost lived up to its namesake.
Kentucky Dave (20:37):
Yes, yes, we drove through significant
snowfall, but we survived.
Mike (20:44):
We survived.
It wasn't so bad on the wayhome and I remember one time an
old MMCL trip I went up thereand there was like tons of snow
on the ground.
It didn't snow on the way up orback, but it had already
happened and you had to dealwith it once you got there.
Kentucky Dave (20:59):
Of course, that's no different than Louisville or
Lexington right now.
That's true, no different thanLouisville or Lexington right
now.
Mike (21:04):
That's true.
Well, folks, that is at least abrief look at the show scene
for February.
We hope you get out and make aneffort to attend one of those.
It's great fun and we totallyrecommend it and know you'll
enjoy it.
Kentucky Dave (21:18):
Yeah, whether you enter or not, if you're not
going to shows, you're deprivingyourself of a really great part
of modeling, and that issocializing with fellow modelers
.
Mike (21:32):
All right, let's let folks get to their show travel
planning.
You got it.
Bye.
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