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Post by John Tapsell on Oct 12, 2021 22:15:23 GMT
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Post by John Tapsell on Sept 6, 2021 20:49:08 GMT
Noel,
IPMS (UK) and Southwater Events Group will operate Scale ModelWorld under whatever UK Government regulations are in place in November 2021. Whatever your personal views on the matter, we have no choice but to abide by those regulations if we wish to run the event. It's not optional, it's not negotiable, it isn't a matter for debate. As Company Directors, we are required to abide by the law - we have no say in the matter.
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Post by John Tapsell on Jun 16, 2021 20:25:11 GMT
There isn't a right or a wrong answer to your question. Some modellers will insist that a primer coat is essential whilst others will argue that it's not. I'm definitely in the prime-before-paint camp but all my experience is with acrylics so I'm not sure that's entirely helpful to you.
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Post by John Tapsell on Nov 9, 2020 11:14:39 GMT
There are several 'official' IPMS Facebook pages and many of our Branches and SIGs have their own Facebook groups too. IPMS (UK) Workbench (general chat and discussion on modelling stuff - open to both members and non-members) www.facebook.com/groups/154243277932214IPMS (UK) Society Business (specific to society activities and administration - no modelling discussions - open to IPMS (UK) members only) www.facebook.com/groups/447978405375447IPMS (UK) SMW2020 (as the name suggests this specific to information and discussion about the show) - we'll launch a 2021 group in due course. www.facebook.com/groups/543286466226964IPMS (UK) Trader News (for traders to use to advertise new products etc, rather than for general modelling) www.facebook.com/groups/1521257178103720/All these groups are 'private' - that means you can't see the content or participate unless you join the group and answer a couple of basic questions about why you want to join. We've done that to increase privacy and security. There are also a wide range of excellent independent groups on Facebook (there are some less-than-excellent groups as well - but you could say the same of some of the older-style discussion forums). Almost all the kit manufacturers and many of the aftermarket producers also maintain active Facebook pages and mostly nowadays, that's where you'll see the first news of their new and future releases.
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Post by John Tapsell on Sept 28, 2020 8:21:29 GMT
Unfortunately, most of the active forum members who used to visit here on a regular basis have long since jumped onto Facebook. There are pros and cons to both mediums but most people seem happier with the broader 'chat' format that FB uses rather than the long-form message format used on forums. It's also a lot easier to set up groups on FB so we have lots of very active Branch and SIG Facebook groups for example as well as the corporate IPMS Facebook groups. I don't use Facebook for social activities, but I do use it on a daily basis for the group functionality. The search function on Facebook is poor and content often slips down the tree very rapidly as new posts arrive, which can be very frustrating (I prefer the more traditional forum format for that reason). I still visit a number of forums on a daily basis, but they are specific to my interests and even the big ones are seeing a drop-off in user-generated content. Where I used to see 15-20 posts a day, I'm now seeing 5-10 posts a day at most.
I also visit a number of Facebook groups each day, in part because it's just a more convenient way to communicate, post photos and to get a rapid response to questions. I'm dealing with many of the same people I used to deal with on forums, but through a different format.
This forum has never gained the traction that the big indpendent forums have (ARC, Armorama, Britmodeller, Hyperscale, Missing Lynx etc) so we've never reached a point anywhere in its history where this forum generates enough content to make it a must-stop place for the wider modelling community. Even at its busiest, there was a core of just 15-20 members who posted regularly and drove the conversations (which is typical of most forums if you take the time to analyse them). Comparison with other Society forums (IPMS-USA and AMPS to name two that I frequent), show the same lack of regular input. Typically you get one or two people posting semi-regularly and then only 2-3 times per month if that, so it isn't a problem unique to IPMS (UK).
In the current circumstances many Branches and some SIGs have gone 'virtual' and make use of Skype or similar communication tools to hold regular meetings. Such software is easily accessible and free, so it makes it practical for groups to set it up and use it themselves. My own Branch meets on our usual club nights via Skype and we maintain an active Facebook page, so we can chat socially and also exchange more detailed information when we want to.
We are looking at revamping the forum soon but it will be a much smaller, more streamlined environment (a lot fewer themed areas). If it generates sufficient interest we can expand it, but if it doesn't then we'll maintain it as a smaller environment.
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Post by John Tapsell on Sept 1, 2020 8:41:37 GMT
Please use the 'Contact Us' page on the IPMS (UK) website if you have any comments or questions you wish to send to members of the Executive Committee. ipmsuk.org/about-2/contact-us/Regards, John
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Post by John Tapsell on Aug 25, 2020 20:16:39 GMT
IPMS (UK) regrets to announce that Scale ModelWorld 2020 has been cancelled with immediate effect. The challenges of putting on the show in the current, rapidly changing circumstances meant that neither we nor the venue would be able to guarantee any form of viable show was possible. We have therefore come to an agreement with The International Centre that allows us to cancel the 2020 event with no financial penalty and at the same time, lock in dates for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Further details can be found on The IPMS (UK) website. John Tapsell IPMS (UK) Publicity Officer
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Post by John Tapsell on Jun 11, 2020 20:34:11 GMT
We're publishing a weekly blog on the IPMS (UK) website. That's the best way to keep up to speed with what our plans for Scale ModelWorld are. As of today (11th June 2020) we are still planning on the basis that Scale ModelWorld will go ahead. As you point out, it's still five months until SMW takes place and judging by the speed with things are changing (some of them slowly and others much quicker) it is almost impossible to predict what the show environment will look like by November. ipmsuk.org/category/viewpoint/Regards, John
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Post by John Tapsell on Mar 23, 2020 10:32:46 GMT
The IPMS Board is actively monitoring the situation and will make any decisions we have to at the appropriate time. It's too early yet to start worrying at postponing or cancelling Scale ModelWorld but we will be thinking about contingencies over the next few weeks. It's completely unknown territory so we simply don't know how things are going to pan out.
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Post by John Tapsell on Jan 16, 2020 12:30:54 GMT
Hi Adam - although we maintain this forum as a member service, the use has reduced significantly in recent years as more and more members transfer to other social media platforms. Our IPMS (UK) Workbench Facebook page for example is very active. Whether or not you feel it's as varied and versatile a platform is a moot point - the members seem to be more comfortable in that environment and inevitably, it has had a negative impact on older generation internet communities such as discussion forums.
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Post by John Tapsell on Jul 5, 2019 9:31:01 GMT
Contact ITA directly - they may be able to help. www.insidethearmour.comITA don't do much in the way of kits anymore - mostly it's books. However, Chris Meddings is still active and I last spoke with him at the Milton Keynes show in May (he's also just been appointed as Editor of Scale Aircraft Modelling). Regards, John
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Post by John Tapsell on Feb 5, 2019 12:24:28 GMT
It depends... many of the units that landed in Tunisia after Operation Torch used green-painted vehicles so green would be OK for one of those regiments. The units that were pushing west from Libya (the 8th Army) retained their desert schemes.
For a 1943 desert scheme you are looking at a plain desert sand/stone colour, possibly with a dark green or Tarmac/NATO Black disruptor (not a pure black), depending on the unit.
Regards, John
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Post by John Tapsell on Jun 14, 2017 21:36:06 GMT
1992 was at Donington
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Post by John Tapsell on Nov 14, 2016 18:28:52 GMT
The competition attracted 1100 entries this year from across the world - I'd hardly call that a 'devalued' event.
The competition is a major draw for the event and we want to ensure that they get to see all the models that were entered and have a chance to admire them. I think you'll also find that virtually every other two day event also expects competition entries to be left on the tables for the whole show, so it's not an 'odd' rule at all and not unique to IPMS.
Most IPMS members actively choose NOT to enter the competition. It typically runs at around 5% of the membership who do. That has been true for many years, despite the membership increasing steadily. We've doubled our membership in the past 13 years (it now exceeds 3,500) and yet the proportion of entrants/non-entrants has remained stable.
It is the model that needs to be on the competition tables for both days - there is no rule that states the modeller must be in attendance for both days. We have competition entrants who can only attend on one day and as long as they arrange with a friend or colleague to collect the model (or indeed to deliver it if they can't be there on the first day) then that doesn't raise a problem. Equally, if you do have problems with attending both days, then contact the Competition Secretary and see whether you can be granted an exemption.
Turning your argument on its head for a moment - If I can only attend the show as a visitor on one day (out of two) should I not expect to see and admire the same breadth and quality of models on display on either day, especially if I'm paying to get into a major public event?
Regards, John
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Post by John Tapsell on Nov 2, 2016 23:05:00 GMT
Hi Keith,
Yes there will be a barrier system but as far as I'm aware the 'zig-zag' bit is only for non-members - IPMS members will queue along the wall as I stated. If I'm wrong, then please request assistance on the day and we will ensure you can use the most appropriate entry route for your needs.
With regard to wristbands, we are definitely distributing them well before 9.00am in the foyer on Saturday as we did last year. Abi Brewin is actively planning on doing the same this year and we already have the desk location sorted out and volunteers to run it.
Likewise, we'll be selling public tickets in the foyer from around 9.30-ish - again, it worked really well last year and we will do it again this year.
Regards, John
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