Now
that I am over 50, annual events seem to arrive with startling speed. Unlike
certain yearly medical procedures, the annual Spring Show from IPMS-Seattle is
something worth anticipating, since it is typically one of the largest shows in
the western US. Lots of models, lots of vendors, and some really fine work on
display.
One of
our concerns for the show is usually weather. In years past, we've had it snow
in the week before the event, and we've had it hit near 80 degrees. Both of
these conditions will imperil attendance. This year it hit a happy medium, with
mostly sunny skies and a temp of the upper 60s.
I was
there as a vendor, doing some stash reduction, though I did a lot of flashing
back to my Supply Depot days of being an online retailer. Just second-hand
kits, though I did offer a free dead spider from my garage with every purchase.
Since I've been doing some vending on ebay for the last year, some of these
kits were items I didn't really want to sell, but did so for financial
reality's sake. The net total at the end of the day was pretty much what I was
expecting, so I consider it a successful sales day.
Halfway
through the event I got hit with a migraine. If any of you are sufferers from
this, you know that about the only thing you want to do is stay in a dark room
for the next 12 hours. Not exactly possible in the middle of a sizeable model
show! My symptoms are very classic: weird vision disruptions and a bullhammer
of a headache.
Since
my time was mostly spent at the sales table, I didn't have too much time to
spend looking at the models. Luckily I was sharing the table, so my
co-conspirators covered while I at least went out and photographed the 1:72
examples. That is my main interest in any case. The crop of 1:72 was impressive
and nicely done, though I don't think in many cases the choice of subject was
particularly adventurous. That is to be expected at shows; if you are building
for competition, you tend to select the better kits as a starting point. Still,
having 3 1:72 707s in the contest has to count for something!
Over
the next couple of days I will be displaying some of the photos, along with
commentary and additional details. If you don't want to wait, or would like to
see the entire set, here is a link to the Photobucket album for this year's
show. Sorry, but the other scales are not represented. You'll need to go to the
IPMS-Seattle website to see those. 2014 Spring Show entries
Thanks
and congratulations to all of the IPMS-Seattle fellows whose hard work has
consistently made this a great show. There were around 650 entries, with a
couple of hundred display only items. There were two vendor rooms. I thought
the spectator / walkup traffic seemed considerably heavier than the last few
years, but I'm waiting on confirmation on that. But if you are ever in Seattle
(actually location: Renton) on the weekend of the show, it is worth your time
to get there.
