March 19, 2025 • 39 mins
The unmistakable energy of model show season pulses through the latest Plastic Model Mojo episode as we journey from coast to coast exploring two major spring modeling events. Our cross-country virtual tour begins in sunny Florida with Don Buerger of the Pelican Model Club, who shares details about their upcoming April 26th show near Tampa.
Don walks us through the evolution of Pelican 2025, highlighting their shift to the increasingly popular gold-silver-bronze judging format where models are evaluated on individual merit rather than through direct competition. With 65 vendor tables already sold out, a movie and television theme ("Lights, Camera, Action!"), and special awards honoring club founders, this Florida event promises to be a highlight of the southeastern modeling calendar.
The conversation then pivots dramatically northwestward as Martin Paietta introduces us to the Seattle Spring Show happening the same weekend. This impressively large one-day event boasted 900+ entries from 220 modelers last year, making it one of North America's largest single-day model exhibitions. The Seattle show maintains traditional IPMS 1-2-3 judging but keeps the model room open during judging, allowing continuous viewing of entries throughout the day.
What emerges through both conversations is a fascinating look at how model shows are evolving while maintaining their core purpose: bringing together diverse modeling communities from across regions and disciplines. Whether you're fascinated by aircraft, armor, science fiction, or scratch-built dioramas crafted from yogurt containers, these gatherings showcase extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship.
Whether you're planning to attend HeritageCon in Hamilton, Pelican 2025 in Tampa, or the Seattle Spring Show, this episode offers valuable insights into what makes model shows such vital gathering points for hobbyists. Connect with fellow modelers, find inspiration, expand your collection, and experience the joy of seeing hundreds of meticulously crafted miniature masterpieces in person!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mike (00:13):
all right, mojovia show season is in full swing now.
Oh man, is it ever.
Kentucky Dave (00:19):
Uh, not only are you going to get to be at your
first contest for the year.
The spring and the fall arejust the model show seasons, and
we are really hitting thestride in spring.
Mike (00:33):
Well, we'll talk about us at the end, but we got a couple
on opposite ends of the countryto feature tonight and they both
sound like fairly sizable showscompared to what we're used to.
Kentucky Dave (00:44):
Yeah well, I would love to attend either one
of these shows.
Mike (00:47):
Well, I'd really like to attend the first one, because
it's in sunny Florida, down inthe greater Tampa area, held by
the Pelican Model Club downthere in the Tampa area, and
it's a Pelican 2025.
So let's see what that's allabout, dave.
Okay, see what that's all about, dave.
Okay, dave, we got a doubleheader this month for the show
(01:12):
Spotlight, and our first one iscoming from sunny Florida.
We've got Mr Don Berger fromthe Pelican Model Club with us
down in the greater Tampa area.
Don, how are you doing tonight?
Oh, pretty good.
Donn Buerger (01:24):
It was a beautiful sunny day.
I was out on the balcony.
Actually a little too hot, 83degrees.
Kentucky Dave (01:31):
Well, you know what?
It was rainy here, but at leastit's been warm the last few
days.
But I got to tell you Tampa, StPete, is one of my favorite
parts of Florida.
I love the place.
Donn Buerger (01:44):
We're west of Tampa but we have Dunedin and
Safety Harbor and all theseplaces that are beaches.
The spring training is going onhere right now and it's just.
Even with the hurricanes.
They get that stuff and put itback into order quicker than the
whistle.
Kentucky Dave (02:02):
Yeah.
Mike (02:04):
Well Don?
We hear you're hosting a showdown there coming up in the
coming month.
Yeah, why don't we start off byyou introducing yourself and
your role with the club andmaybe a little bit about your
modeling background, and thenwe'll get right into the who,
what and where of the show?
Donn Buerger (02:20):
Okay, yeah, I'm originally born in Detroit and
lived there in junior highonwards.
After I went to my high school,I joined the Toledo Modeler
Group there.
That was an IPMS chapter and weput on conventions and things.
I went to the original used togo to the original squatter shop
in Detroit in John R and 9 MileRoad or whatever People are
(02:42):
familiar with that.
Oh yeah, john R and.
Kentucky Dave (02:44):
Nine Mile Road or whatever, people are familiar
with that.
Donn Buerger (02:45):
Oh yeah, I was in there almost 20 years and left
because I was buildingarchitectural models.
You weren't going to buildtanks and airplanes when you're
doing that for a living.
So I kind of quit modeling fora while.
But then I moved down toFlorida in 2008, basically and
eventually joining the PelicanModel Club, and we have a pretty
(03:08):
large membership.
We average 35 folks at themeetings.
We have about six women in ourclub too, and they all build
one-painting flats and they goto that Atlanta show.
Kentucky Dave (03:22):
Those are impressive.
People who can do that arereally talented.
Donn Buerger (03:27):
We were involved, I think, in the 1999 Nationals
in Orlando and then our club puton the 2012 Nationals in
Orlando at Disney World there.
Kentucky Dave (03:39):
Great.
Donn Buerger (03:39):
Nationals.
People say that I was actuallyin the club at that time, but I
went Sunday to the show and thenit was like a whirlwind.
You couldn't take it all in.
I wish I had done the entireweekend.
I had quit modeling and then Ipicked it up the worst way when
(03:59):
I moved down here.
I had nine kids to my name andnow I have over 200.
Mike (04:07):
Yeah, that seems to be a common theme I have more tools
modeling tools than I do models.
I probably do as well.
Well, tell us about your showcoming up, when is it, and all
that.
Donn Buerger (04:21):
It's April 26th.
We got a new venue this year.
It's St Lawrence Higgins Hall.
It's basically a Catholicschool, middle school,
elementary school, but they havea hall that is all of them is
just 10,000 square feet.
Beautiful place out there.
And I don't know if you'refamiliar with Florida, but we
have a number of conventionsthat happen during the year.
(04:42):
But we have a number ofconventions that happen during
the year.
Jaxcon just happened about twoweeks ago, three weeks ago, and
they got 150 entrants and 551models in their contest.
We kind of trade every otheryear with Space Coast and us
because we don't do one everyyear.
There's Pamscon in June, thenthere's the Nationals, then
(05:06):
there's Modelpalooza in Orlandocome October.
So after COVID hit, we kind ofwent from two-day affairs to
one-day shows.
They seem to be the trend thesedays and it's gold, silver,
bronze.
That's what Jacksonville does.
I think a lot of people aregoing toward that where every
(05:28):
model if you would bring in fivemodels, they would all be
judged on their merit and out ofwords as such Seems to be
really successful people likethat.
We have 27 categories and 11special awards, including
Judge's Bestest Show, one of ourfounding members, the club
(05:50):
founded in 1970, 72, somethinglike that Charlie Hess.
He was featured in the latestIPMS journal and he passed away
just real, suddenly out of theblue.
So then we have a US MarineAircraft Special Award and then
one of our members worked forthe Artemis program with NASA
and he was a Marine helicopterpilot.
(06:12):
35th anniversary, desert Shield, desert Storm.
So it's Saturday from 9 tilltill 6 and there'll be a food
truck there and we expect I knowit's hard to say, you know
things have picked up sinceCOVID and the main theme I'm
sorry the main theme is lightsaction, camera action, so it's
(06:36):
anything that's related tomovies or TV is the theme of the
show.
Kentucky Dave (06:42):
And I assume you have a theme award.
Yeah, yeah, and I don.
You have a theme award.
Donn Buerger (06:46):
Yeah, yeah, okay, and I don't you know.
Spray Gunner, yes, yeah, well,they're in our backyard here.
It's about 15, 20 minute drivehere In 2023, we did a
convention at the Hampton overthere in Oldsmar and they were
right behind us so they had acook up for us and prizes and
tickets and they're going to beat the show.
(07:07):
There's a book that an employeeand a member of ours, nestor,
did that big ammo sales.
I paint cars and he's going todo a demo.
Mike (07:19):
He's had some amazing work at the national conventions of
late.
Yeah, he did win a couple ofyears ago.
Yeah, a big, big, big car model.
Donn Buerger (07:28):
Yeah, he'll be at our meeting this Monday and so
he's going to bring some raffleprizes for for our raffle, which
seems to be growing by leapsand bounds, so we're expecting a
pretty good show.
You know it's in the I-4corridor all the way down there.
That's a problem with Florida.
The state is region 11, but notthe whole state.
(07:50):
The west end is in a differentregion.
We're kind of sitting out hereby ourselves, right in the
middle of hurricanes.
Mike (07:59):
Let's go back to the judging a little bit.
You're right, since we've beendoing these shows Spotlights and
a little over a year now, thinkdave.
I think that's right.
We've not been seeking theseout, in particular to to find
and feature, but it seems like asurprising number, at least to
me, have have gone to thatformat either in part or
(08:21):
completely.
And how long have you beendoing it that way?
Donn Buerger (08:26):
Well, we canceled a couple of shows during the
height of COVID, but we kind ofpicked it up.
This is our third show, I think, using the coins and doing it
that way.
I prefer that.
It's just because it giveseverybody a chance.
Naturally, not too many goldsare given out and there's more
(08:46):
silvers and bronze.
You know that way, meet acertain standard of quality,
you're gonna, you're gonna walkaway with something and, uh, and
if you don't meet that,unfortunately you won't.
So people were really happywith our last contest and I, I
believe, jacksonville, theirconvention, they just did.
Does it the same way?
Um, monopalooza, does the coinstoo?
(09:08):
I think they might judge alittle differently.
Mike (09:11):
I'm not sure and is that, I guess, attendees?
Now, just that's just the amatter of fact, the way that
show's going to be and, uh, justgenerally accepted without any
kind of pushback or anything.
I mean, we like it too, butwe're curious with the number of
shows that have gone this wayand everybody seems to be
(09:32):
enjoying it.
Donn Buerger (09:33):
Yeah, I've literally heard no complaints
about that and you know IPMSneeds to.
I mean, they've talked about it, they've sent out surveys and
things.
But you know, old ways are hardto die sometimes, you know.
Kentucky Dave (09:49):
What do your vendors look like at your show?
Donn Buerger (09:52):
Well, we have Cult man TV there.
Kentucky Dave (09:54):
Okay, well, that's always a good one.
Donn Buerger (09:57):
You know, jacksonville gets more of those
because they're you know,they're on the border of Georgia
there.
So we had a real small venue inour last show and we had 40, 45
vendor tables.
We we have 65 and they're thelast one sold yesterday, so
we're a little more than a monthoff from the show.
You know it's local people andsometimes others that I say
(10:20):
usually call it man.
You know, it's really strangebecause this is the first time
when we had an Oldsmart thatthere were more space sci-fi,
gundam models entered, actualmodels at the tables and there
were aircraft and armor and it'slike wow, where did that come
from?
Kentucky Dave (10:39):
Yeah well, the Gundams and sci-fi are becoming
really, really popular, as isreal space.
So you say the show opens at 9to the public and you're done
with judging by when.
Donn Buerger (10:56):
Let's see Awards.
Well, it says our fly awards at4.30, but that probably
happened.
They're going to judge as soonas models come in.
It's not like Amp's style ofjudging.
Well, they kind probablyhappened.
They're going to judge as soonas models come in.
It's not like AMPS style ofjudging.
Well, they kind of judge whenthey come in.
But I think we're going to thejudges meetings at noon and we
have experts, hopefully in eachof their fields there, and then
(11:20):
we'll probably, during theawards, just mention the golds
and the special awards, becausewe have to be out of there by a
certain time.
The other thing with putting onthese conventions in COVID is
they're so expensive now To puton a show.
You're looking at hall rentalsand things and table rentals.
(11:40):
You're looking at $5,000, $6,000.
Kentucky Dave (11:44):
if you're lucky, you're looking at $5,000, $6,000
if you're lucky.
Well, and that is that it's oneof the things that I can tell
you the national faces in tryingto get local chapters to bid
for the national contest is thatwe're already priced out of the
really big markets.
There's just no way aconvention of our size can
(12:07):
afford it, and you're right,that trickles down to the
chapters.
Even though they're using muchsmaller venues and only using
them usually for a day.
You still have that problemthat prices are going up
everywhere.
Donn Buerger (12:24):
So that settles down In Florida.
Things are really expensivebecause it's a tourist state.
Sure, You've got to find thoselittle nooks and crannies.
It's like trying to find ameeting place for your group.
Kentucky Dave (12:37):
So now does your show have a raffle.
Donn Buerger (12:40):
Yeah, we wrote regular manufacturers.
We've got a $5 raffleaffle andwe got a regular raffle and we
might have guest bags and things, hidden bags, or you might win
that and there might be avariety of things in there
modeling related.
Yeah, we're going to have.
(13:00):
You know you got to always havethe raffle and whatever we're
going to have.
You know you got to always havethe raffle and whatever.
And we're going to have Nestordo the demo and probably do
something to do with the booksthat he wrote.
Kentucky Dave (13:10):
So yeah, so is that the only demo at the show,
or do you have any others goingon?
Donn Buerger (13:15):
No, just that one, you know, with a one-day show
you're kind of Sure, you'relimited, limited.
Mike (13:21):
Most don't have one at all , exactly One day show.
So if you've got that as afeature, that's a good thing,
that's a plus.
Donn Buerger (13:28):
Yeah, no, it's kind of like a regional.
I don't know if we really havea regional here, because
everybody calls their show aregional and they're all big.
I mean PAMS.
They do it up by Polk County,that's over by Lakeland, and
they throw a huge show in Juneand they have about 500-some
(13:49):
models show up.
We consider all these localshows In Orlando same thing.
They do it at a big hotel,expensive hotel in Kissimmee and
they always put on a good showModel Palooza.
Mike (14:02):
Well, you said there was a food truck on site.
Well, we plan on getting one.
Okay, yeah, you're still abouta month out.
Well, that shouldn't be tootough, but the in the event
that's not appealing to everyoneor you don't get that worked
out, is it convenient to otherthings?
Donn Buerger (14:17):
well, we will have food at the show one way or
another.
Um, the vendors have to, youknow, be served, and if they're
by themselves without somebodyhelping them out, then that'd be
.
Yeah, it's at the northeastcorner of Tampa International,
and right at that intersectionthere's a Wendy's there too, so
(14:40):
it's not like there's not foodnearby, but there you go.
We found a service that will getyou a food truck in a certain
price range they demand the onemy co-chairman there, Ozzy, got,
was they need $800 worth ofsales and their average food
(15:01):
price is like $15.
So if you go 50 times 15,that's somewhere around $50.
But if we don't make that $800,then the co-op's got to make
the balance.
Mike (15:13):
Ah, okay, interesting.
Yeah Be something for folks tokeep in mind if they're thinking
about food trucks.
Kentucky Dave (15:19):
Yeah, yeah.
And with the popularity of foodtrucks and I know here in
Louisville we've got tons ofthem.
And with the popularity of foodtrucks and I know here in
Louisville we've got tons ofthem.
So you know, you go around.
If you don't like what you hearfrom one food truck, there are
plenty of others and some whoare really hungry for business
and you can find one of thoseand they'll meet your needs.
Donn Buerger (15:41):
Yeah, just finding one on a Saturday if you do it
during a weekday.
Yes, weekends are kind of takensometimes.
There'll be food at the siteone way or another, even if I
have to make peanut buttersandwich and jelly sandwiches.
Kentucky Dave (15:56):
Well, I'm sure those should be good.
Mike (15:59):
Well, where can folks find information about the show?
Donn Buerger (16:02):
Well, you go to the IPMS website.
We're listed as upcoming shows.
I'm reading the latest journal.
Somehow we missed that deadlineof putting our show flyer in
there.
But you can go to our website,which is the
wwwpelicanmodelcluborg andPelican spelled differently.
(16:22):
It's P-E-L-I-K-A, no C butPelican all one word
pelicanmodelcluborg.
And it will take you to aGoDaddy site and one of the
first sliders on the side isPelican 2025, opening
pre-registration.
So you can take care of allthat online with credit card or
(16:46):
whatever, safely.
$15 is pre-registration.
Day of the show is $20.
Up to five entries.
That includes up to fiveentries, $5 for juniors and $8
for walk-ins and the date againand place April 26th at St
Lawrence Higgins Hall in Tampa,Florida.
(17:07):
It's over by the big airportTampa International.
It's at 5225 North Himes Avenue, Easy to get to.
It's not too far from the HardRock Casino and I-4 and all
those spots.
Mike (17:22):
All right.
Well, thanks for joining us andgiving us the ins and outs, and
we wish you all the success atyour show.
Kentucky Dave (17:47):
Yeah, I appreciate the time and the plug
.
I've been listening to you.
Get down to Florida in Aprilwill be able to see what you all
had.
Donn Buerger (17:58):
Great, fantastic.
I will.
Mike (18:01):
Thank you All.
Right Don Thanks again, and wewish you all the luck.
Okay, thanks for the right DonThanks again, and we wish you
all the luck.
Okay, thanks for theopportunity, eric 500 entries is
a typical, that's not bad.
Kentucky Dave (18:13):
That's not bad.
And not only that, but Floridain March.
I mean, how can you beat that?
Go to a model contest, then goto the beach and grab some
seafood.
Mike (18:27):
That sounds awfully nice.
Well, they're benefiting fromthe population density down
there, I'm sure, yeah.
So, folks, if you're in thegreater Tampa area at the end of
April time frame, make a pointto get to this show.
Kentucky Dave (18:39):
Yes, absolutely.
I mean, why would you not, ifyou're a modeler, anywhere
within decent driving distance,go to the show man, enjoy
yourself, Make a weekend of it,Dave.
Mike (18:55):
the next one takes us out to the complete opposite end of
the country.
Yes, it does Diagonally.
Even Yep Up in the PacificNorthwest.
We have the Seattle Spring Showfrom the Seattle Club, seattle
IPMS, out there, and if youthought 500 was big, they've got
an even bigger one out therefor a one-day show.
Yeah, yeah it frankly rivalsHeritage Con in size as far as
(19:24):
number of entries.
Our second one for the eveningis going to be the Seattle
Spring Show from those guys outon the West Coast, and tonight
we've got Mr Martin Pietta withus to give us a little bit of
ins and outs.
Martin, how are you doingtonight?
Martin Paietta (19:38):
I'm doing great.
How about you and Mike and Dave?
Mike (19:41):
We're good.
It's been a little rainy, butyou're probably used to that out
there.
Martin Paietta (19:45):
Oh yeah, it was dumping today.
Mike (19:49):
Well, Martin, we're not too familiar with many of the
West Coast shows.
Why don't you tell us aboutyour club a little bit first?
Martin Paietta (19:53):
Well, the club's been around since 1962.
It started out with about sixto seven people and it was in
the history and industry whichis now the MOHAI, and, from what
I was told that the rooms thatthey used were geared towards
(20:15):
elementary school kids and sowasn't so comfortable to sit
down for a meeting.
Mike (20:22):
Little tables and chairs.
Martin Paietta (20:24):
Yeah, I mean, I can imagine how that was back in
the day.
We've done national conventions, from the first one in 1965,
1972 and 1992, and currently weare meeting at the bellevue
Community Center and we have140-plus members and we meet the
(20:48):
second Saturday of the monthstarting at 1030.
Kentucky Dave (20:52):
That's a good-sized club.
That's about the size of ourlocal club here in Louisville.
It is, of course, now you'vegot a much bigger metro area.
You've got that huge Seattle ormetro area.
You've got that huge Seattle.
How many IPMS and non-IPMSclubs are there in the
Seattle-Tacoma?
Martin Paietta (21:12):
area.
We have the one club that Iknow of that I go to, and then
the Northwest Scale Modelers,which you guys are familiar with
with Jim and some of the otherpeople, and then there's the Am
and I got you.
I know there's a couple morelike.
Mike (21:29):
There's gundams and there's car groups, but I'm not
familiar with those as wellgotcha well, sounds pretty well
covered, which means it'sprobably a great place to have a
show yes, we have a lot ofpeople that come well, won't you
tell us about your show?
Martin Paietta (21:47):
well, some of the the history last year was we
had 220 modelers thatregistered and there was 902
entries that we had.
We had a great raffle and lotsof vendors, food there and
(22:09):
everything else.
It was a great show.
Kentucky Dave (22:12):
Do you always do it around the same time in the
spring every year?
Martin Paietta (22:16):
Yes, yes, we do.
Kentucky Dave (22:18):
And so what's the date this year?
Martin Paietta (22:20):
The date this year is Saturday April 26.
This year is Saturday April26th.
The doors open at 9 am and theawards are at 3.30 and things
start to close up right afterthe awards are issued and we all
break our butts to help cleanup.
Mike (22:39):
And where is it again?
Martin Paietta (22:41):
It is at the Renton Community Center, which
is 1715 Maple Valley Highway,Renton, Washington, 98057.
Kentucky Dave (22:53):
Now you all do.
You said you try and get theawards done around 3.30.
That's a trend that Mike and Iare seeing in a lot of shows
(23:31):
where you to be able to make ita one-day show and get back home
.
Martin Paietta (23:32):
Well, I kind of misspoke, dave.
The awards start at 3, 30 okay,and they do go, but they try
and get through them reallyquickly.
It's usually done by 4 or 4.30.
Good, you know they're onlydoing really the first and
second place and you know themain awards that are issued.
Kentucky Dave (23:54):
That's another trend that Mike and I have seen.
Now you're using a fairlytraditional IPMS 1-2-3 system
with a modified version of theIPMS categories.
Martin Paietta (24:10):
It is a traditional IPMS Nationals award
, but we don't close the modelroom, so judges will be walking
around working.
I haven't had any issues withpeople and I don't know if we've
had any issues.
Pretty chill.
Kentucky Dave (24:28):
That's great.
That's another trend that weare I think Mike and I have
observed, as we've been doingthese show spotlights is that
and I understand why judgeswanted closed judging rooms,
because there were occasionallyissues, but I do think that
people have gotten morecomfortable and if you leave
(24:51):
that room open, I think thatreally enhances the show for
people who may have arrivedright toward the end of
registration and want to get achance to see the models on the
tables prior to the awardceremony beginning.
So I really am happy to seethat.
Martin Paietta (25:13):
I agree with that, you know, especially when
it's a one-day show and peopledon't have a lot of time to
actually see them.
Donn Buerger (25:22):
You know.
Martin Paietta (25:23):
A lot of times myself I'm running through, or
last year I volunteered to takephotos of the show and the
models out there.
I found out yesterday that I'mnot even going to be able to
make it because we are comingback from visiting my
grandfather, who is 100, and inJune will be turning 101.
Kentucky Dave (25:48):
That's important.
Martin Paietta (25:50):
It is.
My wife, gwen was like well,can you do this, can you do that
?
I'm like there'll be othershows.
Grandpa won't be there forever.
Kentucky Dave (26:02):
That is the proper attitude and the proper
perspective.
Good on you.
Now you mentioned food at theshow.
Is there food at the show?
Is there food nearby the show?
Do you all bring in food trucks?
How is that handled for boththe vendors and the attending
(26:27):
public?
Martin Paietta (26:29):
So there'll be both food at the show and there
will be food close by.
There's Angel City Deli, whichwill have coffee and pastries
for sale in the morning andlunch.
Options include a rib plate,roasted chicken plate or hot dog
and Polish sausage.
Include a rib plate, roastedchicken plate or hot dog and
polish sausage with a variety ofsides.
(26:50):
And there's a whole bunch ofrestaurants nearby too.
Kentucky Dave (26:55):
Now, where do you all draw from?
I assume you get some folkscoming down from Canada and up
from California and Oregon andyou draw from Idaho and maybe
Utah, colorado.
What's your general area forattendees?
Martin Paietta (27:18):
The big areas are obviously local here, but
the Canadian club comes down andthey're always a huge help with
volunteering for judging andeverything else.
Great people One of my firstlead judges that I learned from,
who's now passed away theywould come down and help judge
(27:41):
and the organ group is alsoheavily involved with
healthiness.
They're a bunch of great people.
You know quite a few of themand they come up and help judge
also.
Kentucky Dave (27:57):
Canadian.
Nice is a stereotype for areason.
I've yet to meet a Canadianthat wasn't just the most
friendly guy on the planet.
It's really nice that your clubactually gets the folks who are
coming from out of town notonly to participate in the show
(28:18):
I mean enter and all that butalso to actually help out,
because, man, that can be a bigslog.
Now you all are a large club soit's not as bad for you.
I know that many smaller clubs,when they put on contests, they
struggle with that.
Martin Paietta (28:36):
I can just imagine, you know, you do get
some people that and I'm surethis happens in a lot of clubs
where you have a ton of people,or you have a few people that
are doing a ton of work and thenyou have a few people that are
pitching and here and there, butall that adds up to definitely
a great show.
(28:57):
You know, everyone kind ofgives what they can give.
Some they push it a little bitharder.
Our show coordinator, rickTaylor, has been doing this for
a couple of years, but his wifehas said this is the last year.
Kentucky Dave (29:14):
I understand.
Mike (29:16):
Well, what's your registration process?
Is it all day of, or do youhave something online or forms
available, or can it be doneelectronically?
What do you have for yourregistration system?
Martin Paietta (29:26):
download the form and then you bring it to
the contest for registration andthe cost of the registration is
adult entries are $20 forunlimited, junior entries $5,
(29:49):
unlimited and spectators are $5.
And it's cash only.
We don't have a way to takecredit cards and so forth, and a
lot of the vendors are the sameway they want cash only.
So those are the best ways todo that and then, once you have
the form, you'll be in line,you'll bring your model through,
(30:13):
you'll register and then youcan go set your model out on the
table in the assigned areas.
Kentucky Dave (30:21):
So you mentioned vendors.
What are your vendors like asfar as the number of tables, and
have you sold out the show?
Maybe mention one or two of thevendors that may have the
larger presence at the show.
Martin Paietta (30:36):
So we have 80 vendor tables.
There's 67 tables that are soldso far and we have 41 vendors.
I guess the sprue man group isplanning on bringing 6 000 plus
models to sell oh wow.
And then we have several othervendors.
One of our local model shopstores has not signed up yet.
(31:00):
He's usually always there whichis skyway models oh yeah we're.
I mean that he'll be there.
The vendors are always, there'salways stuff to look at and we
usually have kinetics there.
I don't know if they will bethere this year, but there's a
ton of models to buy.
Kentucky Dave (31:22):
Well, good, it sounds like you need to bring a
lot of cash.
Martin Paietta (31:25):
You do need to bring a lot of cash.
Mike (31:28):
Good, we could ask about a show theme or, and in addition
to that, is there anything elseabout the show that you would
consider unique to what you guysdo versus some of the other
shows in your region?
Martin Paietta (31:39):
I think it's just that we have a huge amount
of models.
It's a large show and fromthere we just don't.
You know, we include everyone.
There's a lot of Gundam there,there's a lot of dioramas there
and fantasy stuff.
I'm always impressed with whatthey had or what different
(32:03):
people have.
Last year we had this young kidthat he made this anime castle
that's on feet.
I'd never seen it for, but hescratch, built everything out of
like garbage and like yogurtcontainers and so forth like
(32:25):
that.
And the paint job that this kiddid was so good that even if it
had been a kit I would havebeen impressed.
But knowing that it was garbagewas something even more, and I
mean you couldn't tell it wasgarbage.
I mean there was rivets andeverything like that.
So it's amazing to see whatthese modelers do and see their
(32:48):
imagination.
You can see new things thatthese creative people do and
it's great.
Kentucky Dave (32:58):
Now, do you all have any seminars?
Do you put on any seminars atthe show while the show's going
on?
Any presentations or anythinglike that?
Martin Paietta (33:07):
There's not presentations at this show.
Usually we're leaving that tothe Northwest Scale modelers.
There is I forgot to mentionmake and take for the kids.
Kentucky Dave (33:20):
Great.
Martin Paietta (33:21):
So the kids can come in and they can build a
model and then take it with them, and that's provided by the
club.
Kentucky Dave (33:30):
I was going to ask.
Mike (33:31):
That's great.
All right, it sounds like areally big show for a one-dayer.
Yeah, that's maybe.
Yeah, that's pretty impressive.
We're looking at.
Oh gosh, most, of most showsdown.
Kentucky Dave (33:42):
There are like what, Dave, between 300 and 500,
something like that yeah,between 300 and 500 is a typical
show, maybe a little larger fora regional, but here in the
Midwest 900 is an impressivenumber of models.
220 modelers showing up ispretty darn good.
Martin Paietta (34:00):
I think we had even more right after COVID.
Oh yeah, everybody did.
It was amazing, everyone pentup and so forth.
We usually have a display tablealso that people can bring, but
we're not doing that this yearbecause of running out of room
and we had the same issue thelast couple of years, gotcha.
(34:22):
But I'm sure if you just have adisplay, you know something you
want to display, notnecessarily add it to the thing
that makes the room, gotcha.
Mike (34:31):
Well, it sounds like a good one to get to in your area.
So let's let folks know onemore time when and where, and
then let's hear the web addressagain where they can find
information online.
Martin Paietta (34:41):
It's Saturday, april the 26th, the doors open
at 9 am, contest entries closeat 12 noon and it's at Renton
Community Center, 1715 MapleValley Highway, renton,
washington, 98057.
(35:02):
And the website isipms-seattleorg.
Kentucky Dave (35:09):
Well, I hope you have a great show.
I hope you get a really bigturnout.
I'm sure that between now andApril 26, those remaining 13 or
so vendor tables will get soldand I'm sure it'll be a huge
success for you.
Martin Paietta (35:27):
I'm sure it will be.
Usually those tables are goneand people are looking for more
and luckily, when talking withthe kit mask people last year,
they were able to make it down.
I don't think they're going tomake it down this year.
I haven't talked to them so Idon't know but it was really
great to meet them and I reachedout to them after listening to
(35:51):
them on your podcast, and sothey've been really great people
to talk with.
Kentucky Dave (35:57):
Kevin and his wife are good people.
There's no question.
I'll tell you what.
We'll see them at Hamilton in afew days, so Mike and I will
mention your show to them.
Martin Paietta (36:07):
Yeah, definitely .
I love Kevin and Janelle.
They're really nice people.
Mike (36:11):
Yeah, good people, all right.
Well, thank you for joining us.
We're happy to help you promotethe show and we wish you great
success.
Kentucky Dave (36:19):
One last request when the show have somebody I
know you're not going to be ableto make it, but have somebody
at the show take some picturesand post it on the Plastic Model
Dojo on Facebook, so that thoseof us who can't get to the West
Coast can see some of thesefantastic models we do actually
(36:40):
have photographers.
Martin Paietta (36:42):
Normally I would be photographing also with a
group of other guys.
We do post those on the websiteand we can put a link on your
guys' Facebook.
Kentucky Dave (36:54):
That would be great, thank you.
Mike (36:56):
All right.
Well, thanks again for joiningus, and we look forward to
hearing how it went.
Martin Paietta (37:01):
Sounds good.
Mike (37:01):
Thank you, gentlemen 900 in a one-day show.
That's not HeritageCon, that isbig, that is.
Kentucky Dave (37:13):
That is a very impressive show.
Mike (37:16):
I hope we see some imagery from that one.
Yeah, after the fact, becauseI'd really like to see what that
looks like.
They got some galleries ontheir website.
I need to go back and look atthe others.
Kentucky Dave (37:26):
I would really like to go.
You know, tie a trip out to seeJim in with that show, Maybe
next year, who knows.
We'll see Well.
Mike (37:35):
Dave, by the time this drops, we'll be getting ready to
attend our first big show ofthe year.
I've already started packing,man.
Well, I don't have a lot topack, but I guess I've started
packing too.
We are going to be up atHeritageCon in Hamilton, ontario
, the Canadian Warplane HeritageMuseum, and we look forward to
seeing all our fine Canadianfriends and the folks from the
(37:56):
Hamilton Club and just seeing anabsolutely terrific model show.
Kentucky Dave (38:09):
And, guys, if there is any way you can get to
Hamilton now, keep in mind theshow's on Sunday, but if you can
get there, go.
If I were to name the threemost impressive model shows in
North America, most impressivemodel shows in North America,
(38:34):
the three that always are justsuper impressive and a cut place
to see the art of figures,which is just so different, so
special.
The other one that I wouldthrow in is the one here locally
which is Wonderfest.
But Mike and I are fans ofcontests, as you all know.
(38:58):
But if you can get toHeritageCon, you should do so.
You will not regret it, youwill, I guarantee you.
You will have a good time.
Mike (39:11):
Well, we will be there.
Kentucky Dave (39:13):
Yes, we will.
Mike (39:15):
If any of you listening out there in attendance, please
come by the table and introduceyourself and say hello, and we
look forward to meeting you aswell as seeing all our old
friends.
So yes looking forward to it,man.
Kentucky Dave (39:25):
Yep, I am too.
Well, we'll see how much, howmuch coverage we can get at the
show up there.
Mike (39:32):
Get to a show, folks.
It's a lot of fun, it is.
all right, mojovia show season is in full swing now.
Oh man, is it ever.
Kentucky Dave (00:19):
Uh, not only are you going to get to be at your
first contest for the year.
The spring and the fall arejust the model show seasons, and
we are really hitting thestride in spring.
Mike (00:33):
Well, we'll talk about us at the end, but we got a couple
on opposite ends of the countryto feature tonight and they both
sound like fairly sizable showscompared to what we're used to.
Kentucky Dave (00:44):
Yeah well, I would love to attend either one
of these shows.
Mike (00:47):
Well, I'd really like to attend the first one, because
it's in sunny Florida, down inthe greater Tampa area, held by
the Pelican Model Club downthere in the Tampa area, and
it's a Pelican 2025.
So let's see what that's allabout, dave.
Okay, see what that's all about, dave.
Okay, dave, we got a doubleheader this month for the show
(01:12):
Spotlight, and our first one iscoming from sunny Florida.
We've got Mr Don Berger fromthe Pelican Model Club with us
down in the greater Tampa area.
Don, how are you doing tonight?
Oh, pretty good.
Donn Buerger (01:24):
It was a beautiful sunny day.
I was out on the balcony.
Actually a little too hot, 83degrees.
Kentucky Dave (01:31):
Well, you know what?
It was rainy here, but at leastit's been warm the last few
days.
But I got to tell you Tampa, StPete, is one of my favorite
parts of Florida.
I love the place.
Donn Buerger (01:44):
We're west of Tampa but we have Dunedin and
Safety Harbor and all theseplaces that are beaches.
The spring training is going onhere right now and it's just.
Even with the hurricanes.
They get that stuff and put itback into order quicker than the
whistle.
Kentucky Dave (02:02):
Yeah.
Mike (02:04):
Well Don?
We hear you're hosting a showdown there coming up in the
coming month.
Yeah, why don't we start off byyou introducing yourself and
your role with the club andmaybe a little bit about your
modeling background, and thenwe'll get right into the who,
what and where of the show?
Donn Buerger (02:20):
Okay, yeah, I'm originally born in Detroit and
lived there in junior highonwards.
After I went to my high school,I joined the Toledo Modeler
Group there.
That was an IPMS chapter and weput on conventions and things.
I went to the original used togo to the original squatter shop
in Detroit in John R and 9 MileRoad or whatever People are
(02:42):
familiar with that.
Oh yeah, john R and.
Kentucky Dave (02:44):
Nine Mile Road or whatever, people are familiar
with that.
Donn Buerger (02:45):
Oh yeah, I was in there almost 20 years and left
because I was buildingarchitectural models.
You weren't going to buildtanks and airplanes when you're
doing that for a living.
So I kind of quit modeling fora while.
But then I moved down toFlorida in 2008, basically and
eventually joining the PelicanModel Club, and we have a pretty
(03:08):
large membership.
We average 35 folks at themeetings.
We have about six women in ourclub too, and they all build
one-painting flats and they goto that Atlanta show.
Kentucky Dave (03:22):
Those are impressive.
People who can do that arereally talented.
Donn Buerger (03:27):
We were involved, I think, in the 1999 Nationals
in Orlando and then our club puton the 2012 Nationals in
Orlando at Disney World there.
Kentucky Dave (03:39):
Great.
Donn Buerger (03:39):
Nationals.
People say that I was actuallyin the club at that time, but I
went Sunday to the show and thenit was like a whirlwind.
You couldn't take it all in.
I wish I had done the entireweekend.
I had quit modeling and then Ipicked it up the worst way when
(03:59):
I moved down here.
I had nine kids to my name andnow I have over 200.
Mike (04:07):
Yeah, that seems to be a common theme I have more tools
modeling tools than I do models.
I probably do as well.
Well, tell us about your showcoming up, when is it, and all
that.
Donn Buerger (04:21):
It's April 26th.
We got a new venue this year.
It's St Lawrence Higgins Hall.
It's basically a Catholicschool, middle school,
elementary school, but they havea hall that is all of them is
just 10,000 square feet.
Beautiful place out there.
And I don't know if you'refamiliar with Florida, but we
have a number of conventionsthat happen during the year.
(04:42):
But we have a number ofconventions that happen during
the year.
Jaxcon just happened about twoweeks ago, three weeks ago, and
they got 150 entrants and 551models in their contest.
We kind of trade every otheryear with Space Coast and us
because we don't do one everyyear.
There's Pamscon in June, thenthere's the Nationals, then
(05:06):
there's Modelpalooza in Orlandocome October.
So after COVID hit, we kind ofwent from two-day affairs to
one-day shows.
They seem to be the trend thesedays and it's gold, silver,
bronze.
That's what Jacksonville does.
I think a lot of people aregoing toward that where every
(05:28):
model if you would bring in fivemodels, they would all be
judged on their merit and out ofwords as such Seems to be
really successful people likethat.
We have 27 categories and 11special awards, including
Judge's Bestest Show, one of ourfounding members, the club
(05:50):
founded in 1970, 72, somethinglike that Charlie Hess.
He was featured in the latestIPMS journal and he passed away
just real, suddenly out of theblue.
So then we have a US MarineAircraft Special Award and then
one of our members worked forthe Artemis program with NASA
and he was a Marine helicopterpilot.
(06:12):
35th anniversary, desert Shield, desert Storm.
So it's Saturday from 9 tilltill 6 and there'll be a food
truck there and we expect I knowit's hard to say, you know
things have picked up sinceCOVID and the main theme I'm
sorry the main theme is lightsaction, camera action, so it's
(06:36):
anything that's related tomovies or TV is the theme of the
show.
Kentucky Dave (06:42):
And I assume you have a theme award.
Yeah, yeah, and I don.
You have a theme award.
Donn Buerger (06:46):
Yeah, yeah, okay, and I don't you know.
Spray Gunner, yes, yeah, well,they're in our backyard here.
It's about 15, 20 minute drivehere In 2023, we did a
convention at the Hampton overthere in Oldsmar and they were
right behind us so they had acook up for us and prizes and
tickets and they're going to beat the show.
(07:07):
There's a book that an employeeand a member of ours, nestor,
did that big ammo sales.
I paint cars and he's going todo a demo.
Mike (07:19):
He's had some amazing work at the national conventions of
late.
Yeah, he did win a couple ofyears ago.
Yeah, a big, big, big car model.
Donn Buerger (07:28):
Yeah, he'll be at our meeting this Monday and so
he's going to bring some raffleprizes for for our raffle, which
seems to be growing by leapsand bounds, so we're expecting a
pretty good show.
You know it's in the I-4corridor all the way down there.
That's a problem with Florida.
The state is region 11, but notthe whole state.
(07:50):
The west end is in a differentregion.
We're kind of sitting out hereby ourselves, right in the
middle of hurricanes.
Mike (07:59):
Let's go back to the judging a little bit.
You're right, since we've beendoing these shows Spotlights and
a little over a year now, thinkdave.
I think that's right.
We've not been seeking theseout, in particular to to find
and feature, but it seems like asurprising number, at least to
me, have have gone to thatformat either in part or
(08:21):
completely.
And how long have you beendoing it that way?
Donn Buerger (08:26):
Well, we canceled a couple of shows during the
height of COVID, but we kind ofpicked it up.
This is our third show, I think, using the coins and doing it
that way.
I prefer that.
It's just because it giveseverybody a chance.
Naturally, not too many goldsare given out and there's more
(08:46):
silvers and bronze.
You know that way, meet acertain standard of quality,
you're gonna, you're gonna walkaway with something and, uh, and
if you don't meet that,unfortunately you won't.
So people were really happywith our last contest and I, I
believe, jacksonville, theirconvention, they just did.
Does it the same way?
Um, monopalooza, does the coinstoo?
(09:08):
I think they might judge alittle differently.
Mike (09:11):
I'm not sure and is that, I guess, attendees?
Now, just that's just the amatter of fact, the way that
show's going to be and, uh, justgenerally accepted without any
kind of pushback or anything.
I mean, we like it too, butwe're curious with the number of
shows that have gone this wayand everybody seems to be
(09:32):
enjoying it.
Donn Buerger (09:33):
Yeah, I've literally heard no complaints
about that and you know IPMSneeds to.
I mean, they've talked about it, they've sent out surveys and
things.
But you know, old ways are hardto die sometimes, you know.
Kentucky Dave (09:49):
What do your vendors look like at your show?
Donn Buerger (09:52):
Well, we have Cult man TV there.
Kentucky Dave (09:54):
Okay, well, that's always a good one.
Donn Buerger (09:57):
You know, jacksonville gets more of those
because they're you know,they're on the border of Georgia
there.
So we had a real small venue inour last show and we had 40, 45
vendor tables.
We we have 65 and they're thelast one sold yesterday, so
we're a little more than a monthoff from the show.
You know it's local people andsometimes others that I say
(10:20):
usually call it man.
You know, it's really strangebecause this is the first time
when we had an Oldsmart thatthere were more space sci-fi,
gundam models entered, actualmodels at the tables and there
were aircraft and armor and it'slike wow, where did that come
from?
Kentucky Dave (10:39):
Yeah well, the Gundams and sci-fi are becoming
really, really popular, as isreal space.
So you say the show opens at 9to the public and you're done
with judging by when.
Donn Buerger (10:56):
Let's see Awards.
Well, it says our fly awards at4.30, but that probably
happened.
They're going to judge as soonas models come in.
It's not like Amp's style ofjudging.
Well, they kind probablyhappened.
They're going to judge as soonas models come in.
It's not like AMPS style ofjudging.
Well, they kind of judge whenthey come in.
But I think we're going to thejudges meetings at noon and we
have experts, hopefully in eachof their fields there, and then
(11:20):
we'll probably, during theawards, just mention the golds
and the special awards, becausewe have to be out of there by a
certain time.
The other thing with putting onthese conventions in COVID is
they're so expensive now To puton a show.
You're looking at hall rentalsand things and table rentals.
(11:40):
You're looking at $5,000, $6,000.
Kentucky Dave (11:44):
if you're lucky, you're looking at $5,000, $6,000
if you're lucky.
Well, and that is that it's oneof the things that I can tell
you the national faces in tryingto get local chapters to bid
for the national contest is thatwe're already priced out of the
really big markets.
There's just no way aconvention of our size can
(12:07):
afford it, and you're right,that trickles down to the
chapters.
Even though they're using muchsmaller venues and only using
them usually for a day.
You still have that problemthat prices are going up
everywhere.
Donn Buerger (12:24):
So that settles down In Florida.
Things are really expensivebecause it's a tourist state.
Sure, You've got to find thoselittle nooks and crannies.
It's like trying to find ameeting place for your group.
Kentucky Dave (12:37):
So now does your show have a raffle.
Donn Buerger (12:40):
Yeah, we wrote regular manufacturers.
We've got a $5 raffleaffle andwe got a regular raffle and we
might have guest bags and things, hidden bags, or you might win
that and there might be avariety of things in there
modeling related.
Yeah, we're going to have.
(13:00):
You know you got to always havethe raffle and whatever we're
going to have.
You know you got to always havethe raffle and whatever.
And we're going to have Nestordo the demo and probably do
something to do with the booksthat he wrote.
Kentucky Dave (13:10):
So yeah, so is that the only demo at the show,
or do you have any others goingon?
Donn Buerger (13:15):
No, just that one, you know, with a one-day show
you're kind of Sure, you'relimited, limited.
Mike (13:21):
Most don't have one at all , exactly One day show.
So if you've got that as afeature, that's a good thing,
that's a plus.
Donn Buerger (13:28):
Yeah, no, it's kind of like a regional.
I don't know if we really havea regional here, because
everybody calls their show aregional and they're all big.
I mean PAMS.
They do it up by Polk County,that's over by Lakeland, and
they throw a huge show in Juneand they have about 500-some
(13:49):
models show up.
We consider all these localshows In Orlando same thing.
They do it at a big hotel,expensive hotel in Kissimmee and
they always put on a good showModel Palooza.
Mike (14:02):
Well, you said there was a food truck on site.
Well, we plan on getting one.
Okay, yeah, you're still abouta month out.
Well, that shouldn't be tootough, but the in the event
that's not appealing to everyoneor you don't get that worked
out, is it convenient to otherthings?
Donn Buerger (14:17):
well, we will have food at the show one way or
another.
Um, the vendors have to, youknow, be served, and if they're
by themselves without somebodyhelping them out, then that'd be
.
Yeah, it's at the northeastcorner of Tampa International,
and right at that intersectionthere's a Wendy's there too, so
(14:40):
it's not like there's not foodnearby, but there you go.
We found a service that will getyou a food truck in a certain
price range they demand the onemy co-chairman there, Ozzy, got,
was they need $800 worth ofsales and their average food
(15:01):
price is like $15.
So if you go 50 times 15,that's somewhere around $50.
But if we don't make that $800,then the co-op's got to make
the balance.
Mike (15:13):
Ah, okay, interesting.
Yeah Be something for folks tokeep in mind if they're thinking
about food trucks.
Kentucky Dave (15:19):
Yeah, yeah.
And with the popularity of foodtrucks and I know here in
Louisville we've got tons ofthem.
And with the popularity of foodtrucks and I know here in
Louisville we've got tons ofthem.
So you know, you go around.
If you don't like what you hearfrom one food truck, there are
plenty of others and some whoare really hungry for business
and you can find one of thoseand they'll meet your needs.
Donn Buerger (15:41):
Yeah, just finding one on a Saturday if you do it
during a weekday.
Yes, weekends are kind of takensometimes.
There'll be food at the siteone way or another, even if I
have to make peanut buttersandwich and jelly sandwiches.
Kentucky Dave (15:56):
Well, I'm sure those should be good.
Mike (15:59):
Well, where can folks find information about the show?
Donn Buerger (16:02):
Well, you go to the IPMS website.
We're listed as upcoming shows.
I'm reading the latest journal.
Somehow we missed that deadlineof putting our show flyer in
there.
But you can go to our website,which is the
wwwpelicanmodelcluborg andPelican spelled differently.
(16:22):
It's P-E-L-I-K-A, no C butPelican all one word
pelicanmodelcluborg.
And it will take you to aGoDaddy site and one of the
first sliders on the side isPelican 2025, opening
pre-registration.
So you can take care of allthat online with credit card or
(16:46):
whatever, safely.
$15 is pre-registration.
Day of the show is $20.
Up to five entries.
That includes up to fiveentries, $5 for juniors and $8
for walk-ins and the date againand place April 26th at St
Lawrence Higgins Hall in Tampa,Florida.
(17:07):
It's over by the big airportTampa International.
It's at 5225 North Himes Avenue, Easy to get to.
It's not too far from the HardRock Casino and I-4 and all
those spots.
Mike (17:22):
All right.
Well, thanks for joining us andgiving us the ins and outs, and
we wish you all the success atyour show.
Kentucky Dave (17:47):
Yeah, I appreciate the time and the plug
.
I've been listening to you.
Get down to Florida in Aprilwill be able to see what you all
had.
Donn Buerger (17:58):
Great, fantastic.
I will.
Mike (18:01):
Thank you All.
Right Don Thanks again, and wewish you all the luck.
Okay, thanks for the right DonThanks again, and we wish you
all the luck.
Okay, thanks for theopportunity, eric 500 entries is
a typical, that's not bad.
Kentucky Dave (18:13):
That's not bad.
And not only that, but Floridain March.
I mean, how can you beat that?
Go to a model contest, then goto the beach and grab some
seafood.
Mike (18:27):
That sounds awfully nice.
Well, they're benefiting fromthe population density down
there, I'm sure, yeah.
So, folks, if you're in thegreater Tampa area at the end of
April time frame, make a pointto get to this show.
Kentucky Dave (18:39):
Yes, absolutely.
I mean, why would you not, ifyou're a modeler, anywhere
within decent driving distance,go to the show man, enjoy
yourself, Make a weekend of it,Dave.
Mike (18:55):
the next one takes us out to the complete opposite end of
the country.
Yes, it does Diagonally.
Even Yep Up in the PacificNorthwest.
We have the Seattle Spring Showfrom the Seattle Club, seattle
IPMS, out there, and if youthought 500 was big, they've got
an even bigger one out therefor a one-day show.
Yeah, yeah it frankly rivalsHeritage Con in size as far as
(19:24):
number of entries.
Our second one for the eveningis going to be the Seattle
Spring Show from those guys outon the West Coast, and tonight
we've got Mr Martin Pietta withus to give us a little bit of
ins and outs.
Martin, how are you doingtonight?
Martin Paietta (19:38):
I'm doing great.
How about you and Mike and Dave?
Mike (19:41):
We're good.
It's been a little rainy, butyou're probably used to that out
there.
Martin Paietta (19:45):
Oh yeah, it was dumping today.
Mike (19:49):
Well, Martin, we're not too familiar with many of the
West Coast shows.
Why don't you tell us aboutyour club a little bit first?
Martin Paietta (19:53):
Well, the club's been around since 1962.
It started out with about sixto seven people and it was in
the history and industry whichis now the MOHAI, and, from what
I was told that the rooms thatthey used were geared towards
(20:15):
elementary school kids and sowasn't so comfortable to sit
down for a meeting.
Mike (20:22):
Little tables and chairs.
Martin Paietta (20:24):
Yeah, I mean, I can imagine how that was back in
the day.
We've done national conventions, from the first one in 1965,
1972 and 1992, and currently weare meeting at the bellevue
Community Center and we have140-plus members and we meet the
(20:48):
second Saturday of the monthstarting at 1030.
Kentucky Dave (20:52):
That's a good-sized club.
That's about the size of ourlocal club here in Louisville.
It is, of course, now you'vegot a much bigger metro area.
You've got that huge Seattle ormetro area.
You've got that huge Seattle.
How many IPMS and non-IPMSclubs are there in the
Seattle-Tacoma?
Martin Paietta (21:12):
area.
We have the one club that Iknow of that I go to, and then
the Northwest Scale Modelers,which you guys are familiar with
with Jim and some of the otherpeople, and then there's the Am
and I got you.
I know there's a couple morelike.
Mike (21:29):
There's gundams and there's car groups, but I'm not
familiar with those as wellgotcha well, sounds pretty well
covered, which means it'sprobably a great place to have a
show yes, we have a lot ofpeople that come well, won't you
tell us about your show?
Martin Paietta (21:47):
well, some of the the history last year was we
had 220 modelers thatregistered and there was 902
entries that we had.
We had a great raffle and lotsof vendors, food there and
(22:09):
everything else.
It was a great show.
Kentucky Dave (22:12):
Do you always do it around the same time in the
spring every year?
Martin Paietta (22:16):
Yes, yes, we do.
Kentucky Dave (22:18):
And so what's the date this year?
Martin Paietta (22:20):
The date this year is Saturday April 26.
This year is Saturday April26th.
The doors open at 9 am and theawards are at 3.30 and things
start to close up right afterthe awards are issued and we all
break our butts to help cleanup.
Mike (22:39):
And where is it again?
Martin Paietta (22:41):
It is at the Renton Community Center, which
is 1715 Maple Valley Highway,Renton, Washington, 98057.
Kentucky Dave (22:53):
Now you all do.
You said you try and get theawards done around 3.30.
That's a trend that Mike and Iare seeing in a lot of shows
(23:31):
where you to be able to make ita one-day show and get back home
.
Martin Paietta (23:32):
Well, I kind of misspoke, dave.
The awards start at 3, 30 okay,and they do go, but they try
and get through them reallyquickly.
It's usually done by 4 or 4.30.
Good, you know they're onlydoing really the first and
second place and you know themain awards that are issued.
Kentucky Dave (23:54):
That's another trend that Mike and I have seen.
Now you're using a fairlytraditional IPMS 1-2-3 system
with a modified version of theIPMS categories.
Martin Paietta (24:10):
It is a traditional IPMS Nationals award
, but we don't close the modelroom, so judges will be walking
around working.
I haven't had any issues withpeople and I don't know if we've
had any issues.
Pretty chill.
Kentucky Dave (24:28):
That's great.
That's another trend that weare I think Mike and I have
observed, as we've been doingthese show spotlights is that
and I understand why judgeswanted closed judging rooms,
because there were occasionallyissues, but I do think that
people have gotten morecomfortable and if you leave
(24:51):
that room open, I think thatreally enhances the show for
people who may have arrivedright toward the end of
registration and want to get achance to see the models on the
tables prior to the awardceremony beginning.
So I really am happy to seethat.
Martin Paietta (25:13):
I agree with that, you know, especially when
it's a one-day show and peopledon't have a lot of time to
actually see them.
Donn Buerger (25:22):
You know.
Martin Paietta (25:23):
A lot of times myself I'm running through, or
last year I volunteered to takephotos of the show and the
models out there.
I found out yesterday that I'mnot even going to be able to
make it because we are comingback from visiting my
grandfather, who is 100, and inJune will be turning 101.
Kentucky Dave (25:48):
That's important.
Martin Paietta (25:50):
It is.
My wife, gwen was like well,can you do this, can you do that
?
I'm like there'll be othershows.
Grandpa won't be there forever.
Kentucky Dave (26:02):
That is the proper attitude and the proper
perspective.
Good on you.
Now you mentioned food at theshow.
Is there food at the show?
Is there food nearby the show?
Do you all bring in food trucks?
How is that handled for boththe vendors and the attending
(26:27):
public?
Martin Paietta (26:29):
So there'll be both food at the show and there
will be food close by.
There's Angel City Deli, whichwill have coffee and pastries
for sale in the morning andlunch.
Options include a rib plate,roasted chicken plate or hot dog
and Polish sausage.
Include a rib plate, roastedchicken plate or hot dog and
polish sausage with a variety ofsides.
(26:50):
And there's a whole bunch ofrestaurants nearby too.
Kentucky Dave (26:55):
Now, where do you all draw from?
I assume you get some folkscoming down from Canada and up
from California and Oregon andyou draw from Idaho and maybe
Utah, colorado.
What's your general area forattendees?
Martin Paietta (27:18):
The big areas are obviously local here, but
the Canadian club comes down andthey're always a huge help with
volunteering for judging andeverything else.
Great people One of my firstlead judges that I learned from,
who's now passed away theywould come down and help judge
(27:41):
and the organ group is alsoheavily involved with
healthiness.
They're a bunch of great people.
You know quite a few of themand they come up and help judge
also.
Kentucky Dave (27:57):
Canadian.
Nice is a stereotype for areason.
I've yet to meet a Canadianthat wasn't just the most
friendly guy on the planet.
It's really nice that your clubactually gets the folks who are
coming from out of town notonly to participate in the show
(28:18):
I mean enter and all that butalso to actually help out,
because, man, that can be a bigslog.
Now you all are a large club soit's not as bad for you.
I know that many smaller clubs,when they put on contests, they
struggle with that.
Martin Paietta (28:36):
I can just imagine, you know, you do get
some people that and I'm surethis happens in a lot of clubs
where you have a ton of people,or you have a few people that
are doing a ton of work and thenyou have a few people that are
pitching and here and there, butall that adds up to definitely
a great show.
(28:57):
You know, everyone kind ofgives what they can give.
Some they push it a little bitharder.
Our show coordinator, rickTaylor, has been doing this for
a couple of years, but his wifehas said this is the last year.
Kentucky Dave (29:14):
I understand.
Mike (29:16):
Well, what's your registration process?
Is it all day of, or do youhave something online or forms
available, or can it be doneelectronically?
What do you have for yourregistration system?
Martin Paietta (29:26):
download the form and then you bring it to
the contest for registration andthe cost of the registration is
adult entries are $20 forunlimited, junior entries $5,
(29:49):
unlimited and spectators are $5.
And it's cash only.
We don't have a way to takecredit cards and so forth, and a
lot of the vendors are the sameway they want cash only.
So those are the best ways todo that and then, once you have
the form, you'll be in line,you'll bring your model through,
(30:13):
you'll register and then youcan go set your model out on the
table in the assigned areas.
Kentucky Dave (30:21):
So you mentioned vendors.
What are your vendors like asfar as the number of tables, and
have you sold out the show?
Maybe mention one or two of thevendors that may have the
larger presence at the show.
Martin Paietta (30:36):
So we have 80 vendor tables.
There's 67 tables that are soldso far and we have 41 vendors.
I guess the sprue man group isplanning on bringing 6 000 plus
models to sell oh wow.
And then we have several othervendors.
One of our local model shopstores has not signed up yet.
(31:00):
He's usually always there whichis skyway models oh yeah we're.
I mean that he'll be there.
The vendors are always, there'salways stuff to look at and we
usually have kinetics there.
I don't know if they will bethere this year, but there's a
ton of models to buy.
Kentucky Dave (31:22):
Well, good, it sounds like you need to bring a
lot of cash.
Martin Paietta (31:25):
You do need to bring a lot of cash.
Mike (31:28):
Good, we could ask about a show theme or, and in addition
to that, is there anything elseabout the show that you would
consider unique to what you guysdo versus some of the other
shows in your region?
Martin Paietta (31:39):
I think it's just that we have a huge amount
of models.
It's a large show and fromthere we just don't.
You know, we include everyone.
There's a lot of Gundam there,there's a lot of dioramas there
and fantasy stuff.
I'm always impressed with whatthey had or what different
(32:03):
people have.
Last year we had this young kidthat he made this anime castle
that's on feet.
I'd never seen it for, but hescratch, built everything out of
like garbage and like yogurtcontainers and so forth like
(32:25):
that.
And the paint job that this kiddid was so good that even if it
had been a kit I would havebeen impressed.
But knowing that it was garbagewas something even more, and I
mean you couldn't tell it wasgarbage.
I mean there was rivets andeverything like that.
So it's amazing to see whatthese modelers do and see their
(32:48):
imagination.
You can see new things thatthese creative people do and
it's great.
Kentucky Dave (32:58):
Now, do you all have any seminars?
Do you put on any seminars atthe show while the show's going
on?
Any presentations or anythinglike that?
Martin Paietta (33:07):
There's not presentations at this show.
Usually we're leaving that tothe Northwest Scale modelers.
There is I forgot to mentionmake and take for the kids.
Kentucky Dave (33:20):
Great.
Martin Paietta (33:21):
So the kids can come in and they can build a
model and then take it with them, and that's provided by the
club.
Kentucky Dave (33:30):
I was going to ask.
Mike (33:31):
That's great.
All right, it sounds like areally big show for a one-dayer.
Yeah, that's maybe.
Yeah, that's pretty impressive.
We're looking at.
Oh gosh, most, of most showsdown.
Kentucky Dave (33:42):
There are like what, Dave, between 300 and 500,
something like that yeah,between 300 and 500 is a typical
show, maybe a little larger fora regional, but here in the
Midwest 900 is an impressivenumber of models.
220 modelers showing up ispretty darn good.
Martin Paietta (34:00):
I think we had even more right after COVID.
Oh yeah, everybody did.
It was amazing, everyone pentup and so forth.
We usually have a display tablealso that people can bring, but
we're not doing that this yearbecause of running out of room
and we had the same issue thelast couple of years, gotcha.
(34:22):
But I'm sure if you just have adisplay, you know something you
want to display, notnecessarily add it to the thing
that makes the room, gotcha.
Mike (34:31):
Well, it sounds like a good one to get to in your area.
So let's let folks know onemore time when and where, and
then let's hear the web addressagain where they can find
information online.
Martin Paietta (34:41):
It's Saturday, april the 26th, the doors open
at 9 am, contest entries closeat 12 noon and it's at Renton
Community Center, 1715 MapleValley Highway, renton,
washington, 98057.
(35:02):
And the website isipms-seattleorg.
Kentucky Dave (35:09):
Well, I hope you have a great show.
I hope you get a really bigturnout.
I'm sure that between now andApril 26, those remaining 13 or
so vendor tables will get soldand I'm sure it'll be a huge
success for you.
Martin Paietta (35:27):
I'm sure it will be.
Usually those tables are goneand people are looking for more
and luckily, when talking withthe kit mask people last year,
they were able to make it down.
I don't think they're going tomake it down this year.
I haven't talked to them so Idon't know but it was really
great to meet them and I reachedout to them after listening to
(35:51):
them on your podcast, and sothey've been really great people
to talk with.
Kentucky Dave (35:57):
Kevin and his wife are good people.
There's no question.
I'll tell you what.
We'll see them at Hamilton in afew days, so Mike and I will
mention your show to them.
Martin Paietta (36:07):
Yeah, definitely .
I love Kevin and Janelle.
They're really nice people.
Mike (36:11):
Yeah, good people, all right.
Well, thank you for joining us.
We're happy to help you promotethe show and we wish you great
success.
Kentucky Dave (36:19):
One last request when the show have somebody I
know you're not going to be ableto make it, but have somebody
at the show take some picturesand post it on the Plastic Model
Dojo on Facebook, so that thoseof us who can't get to the West
Coast can see some of thesefantastic models we do actually
(36:40):
have photographers.
Martin Paietta (36:42):
Normally I would be photographing also with a
group of other guys.
We do post those on the websiteand we can put a link on your
guys' Facebook.
Kentucky Dave (36:54):
That would be great, thank you.
Mike (36:56):
All right.
Well, thanks again for joiningus, and we look forward to
hearing how it went.
Martin Paietta (37:01):
Sounds good.
Mike (37:01):
Thank you, gentlemen 900 in a one-day show.
That's not HeritageCon, that isbig, that is.
Kentucky Dave (37:13):
That is a very impressive show.
Mike (37:16):
I hope we see some imagery from that one.
Yeah, after the fact, becauseI'd really like to see what that
looks like.
They got some galleries ontheir website.
I need to go back and look atthe others.
Kentucky Dave (37:26):
I would really like to go.
You know, tie a trip out to seeJim in with that show, Maybe
next year, who knows.
We'll see Well.
Mike (37:35):
Dave, by the time this drops, we'll be getting ready to
attend our first big show ofthe year.
I've already started packing,man.
Well, I don't have a lot topack, but I guess I've started
packing too.
We are going to be up atHeritageCon in Hamilton, ontario
, the Canadian Warplane HeritageMuseum, and we look forward to
seeing all our fine Canadianfriends and the folks from the
(37:56):
Hamilton Club and just seeing anabsolutely terrific model show.
Kentucky Dave (38:09):
And, guys, if there is any way you can get to
Hamilton now, keep in mind theshow's on Sunday, but if you can
get there, go.
If I were to name the threemost impressive model shows in
North America, most impressivemodel shows in North America,
(38:34):
the three that always are justsuper impressive and a cut place
to see the art of figures,which is just so different, so
special.
The other one that I wouldthrow in is the one here locally
which is Wonderfest.
But Mike and I are fans ofcontests, as you all know.
(38:58):
But if you can get toHeritageCon, you should do so.
You will not regret it, youwill, I guarantee you.
You will have a good time.
Mike (39:11):
Well, we will be there.
Kentucky Dave (39:13):
Yes, we will.
Mike (39:15):
If any of you listening out there in attendance, please
come by the table and introduceyourself and say hello, and we
look forward to meeting you aswell as seeing all our old
friends.
So yes looking forward to it,man.
Kentucky Dave (39:25):
Yep, I am too.
Well, we'll see how much, howmuch coverage we can get at the
show up there.
Mike (39:32):
Get to a show, folks.
It's a lot of fun, it is.
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