Helsinki; Model Expo 2012, pt 2

So how did it go? Well, my large scale LCVP ended up on 2:nd place. Besides that I got two 1:st, another 2:nd and a 3:d place. All in all I'm very happy, I might come back next year.



When going to a show one has to shop a bit. A set of Lifecolor's US Navy dedicated colours. There is a second set for late WW2 colours. A flask of Lifecolor's thinner to go with the set.

Found and bought four Osprey books for a decent price. Viking long ship? Yep, you just wait and see.

A Finnish modelling magazine had a nice rewiev of Italeri's LVT-2. Will have a friend translate the text. Squadron/Signal's book on Tank warfare on Iwo Jima happened to slip into my bag...

At last I have AFV Club's LVT-4 in my possession! OD and shark mouth or three-tone camou? We'll see how I'll finish it.

Now, this is weird if something: In the Finnish paper Hufvudstadsbladet there was a full spread of amphibious cars on the day we arrived in Helsinki. An extra god thing is that the paper is in Swedish, the second official language in Finland.

As you can see there was a veritable gold cup rain over the models. So, if you now feel like go there,just do it!

You can se more models here and a bit of the fair here

Helsinki; Model Expo 2012, pt 1

Together with some friends from my modelling club IPMS Stockholm I took the opportunity to visit Helsinki in Finland for a couple of days. Main reason was to participate in the Model Expo model competition arranged by IPMS Finland. As a show it is of medium in size but it is just a small part in a huge play/children/handicraft/hobby fair. Rather centrally situated in Helsinki it attracts thousands of people. Above is the Littorial Combat Ship LCS-2 competing in the general ship class. I brought eight models and ran them in six classes. The only amphibious models made by me were the two below.

Here are my two contributions in previously mentioned class: Italeri's LCVP in 1/35 and Trumpeter's LCM 3 in 1/144.

A dozen of judges did their job for a few hours. Myself judged three vehicle classes.

A great little dio of a LVT-4 splashing about. The water must have been of silicone or so.

A Schwimmwagen in 1/35, a popular model.

Hmm, maybe not considered a amphibious warfare craft but if you think about it a kayak is actually very much a tool for a man with a mission. Designed for hunting in a very hostile environment, guns and harpoons are carried and a stealthy tecnique is required. This one was a beauty and I wish I had done it.

This Schwimmwagen was a small part of a rather grand diorama containing quite a number of figures, a huge railway gun , rocks and vehicles.