Scale Model World 2025
Strangely, for someone who is a Telford local and a maker of tiny models, this was my first trip to Scale Model World, but it certainly won't be my last! The Telford International Centre is a huge space, and IPMS UK (International Plastic Modellers Society UK) managed to fill it with models of all shapes and sizes - mostly small sizes, and mostly either aeroplane or tank shaped. Honestly, it was all a bit of a whirlwind, and it was difficult (impossible, even) to take it all in, but I certainly did see lots to inspire my own model making, and even work out my place within the world of the model-making. I didn't get talking to many people, but those I did chat to were interesting and insightful. It truly was astounding to see the variety of methods of craft and display that were on show. There were lots of stand-alone models, but the displays that caught my eye were, of course (being a diorama guy), were those with some scenery – and one that employed a fantastic use of a prop, which I'll get into later. Allow me to guide you through my experience of Scale Model World 2025…
First Impressions.
Being a member of IPMS, entry for me was free! I had my Dad with me, and he had to pay £25. I appreciate the cost of hosting the event influences that, but it does feel like they'd get more outside interest if the cost wasn't so high. For example, my partner was going to attend, but she didn't want to pay that much if she was just going to be attending with me. Which is a shame, because there was stuff there that she would have been interested in. Still, entry sorted, it was time to get in there. This is the last I'll mention about prices, and I appreciate that this is on TIC, but we got a drink each. Two pints cost £16, which was pretty wild, but that’s on TIC.
It took us a while to get going, because the first table we got to locked us into a conversation. In fairness, he was certainly a colourful character, and clearly a master of his craft. He was an airbrushing detail specialist, capable of airbrushing incredibly intricate detail, and very delicate masking. He showed us an example of text he airbrushed that looked about 1mm tall, but was perfectly legible, very crisp and sharp. I think that was the longest we spent at any table, because the rest of our day there was a combination of taking in as much as possible, and finding the Shropshire table, because it turns out one of my Dad's friends is with the group.
None of the models featured have been made by me.
Planes and Tanks
Something that we both commented on was the fact that a lot of displays were a bit samey. This is something I did worry about before the show, how much of it was going to be military themed. This was particularly notable with the stand-alone models. With respect, in a hall full of planes and tanks, it's difficult for any individual plane or tank on it's own to stand out, especially when they have camo paint schemes. I know that the IPMS was started by and for people making model kits that are military themed, and I know the dominant demographic loves this stuff, but I'll be honest, it's not really my thing! Maybe it's my fine art background, or the fact that my models are more about experiences I can relate to, but I'm not really into military stuff. If I do make a model with military-themed content, it's more likely to be about the horrors of war, or a vehicle in a state of disrepair. I really don't mean any disrespect to the chaps and chapettes making these models, they're skilled and dedicated craftspeople, and it's genuinely nice to see people beaming while telling folks about these things they've spent hours making. It’s just not what I like in a miniature model.
I'd just like to point out that I don't hate military models! The diorama pieces with scenery were excellent, the research into the intricate details of the engineering of the real vehicles (and how they are expressed in model form) is amazing, there were plenty of 'non-standard' or unique colour schemes that were nice to see, the giant but still small compared to the real deal) model planes and RC tanks were amazing, and there were some military dioramas that I really loved – either for the craftsmanship, or the stunning content of the scene. I just wish that there were more representation of non-military models (not including civilian cars, there were plenty of those to be fair). As I mentioned, this was a fear I had going in, having read a few issues of the IPMS magazine: it's going to be nearly all old men, and nearly everything is going to be a plane or a tank. No disrespect to either, I'm just saying some more variety would be nice, and would also draw in some new blood to keep model making alive well into the future!
On that note, it was nice to see more women and children in attendance than I expected, and I overheard one attendee saying he'd never seen so many women and children there, which was nice to see and hear. It was also nice seeing a booth for young kids to have a go at making a basic model – get them started early! All of this plays into one of the things I mentioned I wanted out of this weekend: to find my place within this world of model making. My place is being part of a new cohort of model-makers, who want to bring that variety to the scene. I want to show all kinds of people that big things come in small scales!.
Personal Highlights.
With some of the moaning out of the way, let's get on to what I enjoyed from the show! There were a host of creative and well-built scenes that caught my eye, as well as things that were a bit different from the majority of the models on display, like figurines. Seeing Pokémon figurines was a lovely change of pace! Amongst the figurines, there were all manner of pop-culture icons represented – too many to name! Some that caught my eye were; Wallace and Grommit, Smeagol, Slimer from Ghost Busters, and a few Xenomorphs. If I were boil down everything that caught my eye into favourites, there's two that I'm still thinking about days after the show. I'm not sure of the titles, or who made them (damn social anxiety made it so I only briefly chatted to the makers of one of these pieces), but I will go into detail on them below...
Dry Dock Street Scene
This piece was made by a Belgian group, and it was a big piece – around a metre in length! The centrepiece of the scene was a large white boat, which I was told was missing two huge masts, that detail adding to the narrative of the vessel being in dry dock for repair. The dock was surrounded by buildings, nicely framing the model with a busy-looking street scene. The piece featured figures and lights, breathing life into the whole scene. Cafe lights on, a welder's torch periodically glowing, electricians checking lights on the boat. The buildings themselves almost let the piece down. They were block constructions with textureless decals providing the brick detail. That's just a personal criticism of mine, because I like making buildings, and it's clear that the focus of the artist was on the dock and the boat. The boat itself looked amazing! The narrative of the scene was that the boat was in for repairs, and it looked in a suitable level of disrepair. As mentioned, the artist said the vessel was missing two large masts but before that, the weathering sells the idea of this being a craft that is some way from being seaworthy! There are figures on the boat that are busy working. The artist, from a Belgian group, joked that “He's not very good at welding, he's been doing this same spot for two days and still isn't finished!” I guess he's being paid by the hour!
Metal Case Scene
This piece was probably my overall favourite, the craftsmanship was stunning! The model itself was encased in a metal box that looked like it was some form of military case. I got hold of a jerry can a while back, and have thought about doing something similar. The final product of this was superbly finished. The case itself was matte grey, an almost black grey, and most of the surfaces are plain metal, with folds and rivets and a handle on top, all but one small nearly-square window, about 100mm wide. Looking through the crystal-clear window reveals a highly detailed wartime scene, with soldiers on a tank, an ambulance, injured soldiers, and fire in the background. The scene is beautifully lit, giving the impression of it being a cold night (also illustrated by a medic breathing on his hands to warm them). The scene within the box was so detailed, I can't possibly list them all here, but the lighting and shading was also perfect. It was a cold, muddy scene, and every detail really sold that narrative well. The overall presentation of the scene was incredible, truly a Mini Marvel!
Shopping
The last aspect I'll talk about was the array of merchants and vendors present at the show. There was everything from corporate giants like Airfix, to small vendors and resellers of legacy kits. Specialists in scenics and paints, literature, and even a booth from a company that can scan you and make a 3D printed model of yourself! There was so much to buy, it's a shame I didn't have a lot of spending money! I did have enough to get some bits and pieces, though, and I was on the hunt for some trees for my Christmas Diorama Kits (coming soon to the BBMM store). I made a rather rushed purchase of a model of a narrowboat. I should have asked about the construction of the model: I wanted a kit I could make an interior for, but it was just a 3D printed block, designed to sit on a flat surface. Still, I can make a nice model of it, and also us it to create a kit of my own.
Another thing that slightly disappointed me about the shopping was the same thing I felt about the event as a whole, it was so hard to find something that wasn't military related. Again, I understand the demand for it with the typical demographic, but model-making can be so much more! I was impressed with the variety of scenics available, as well as the variety of tools and materials.
Final thoughts
All-in-all, I did really enjoy Scale Model World, and found it to be useful for insights into how I want to do business. It was lovely to see makers from all sorts of places coming to Telford to show off their creations, and it was nice to see so many people from all sorts of places coming to see them. The free tote bag on entry was a nice touch, and there was so much to see and do, it was impossible to fit it all in one weekend. I didn't see any of the competition, and I wish I talked to more people, but I still had a great time. I'll definitely be back next year!