2022 Best of the West

So did anyone else attend the contest?  The stats were: 150 entrants, 50 of which were IPMS national members, and 794 models entered.  It was a good show, with lots of stunning models on the table.

Contest-wise I crashed and burned, but a buddy got 2nd place in the ship category.  The vendors were located in the contest room, so access to wallet-depleting mechandise was easy and convenient!

I set a new personal record with no wins and no model purchases.  Aside from the gobs of food from Trader Joe's and Ethel M's, my only other purchases were a pin vice from Japan One, a hoodie from the Shelby Museum, and... a nail clipper to deal with a chipped fingernail.    The hoodie was my favorite purchase, as the plane ride to and from Hawaii was punishingly cold.

I'm in the process of uploading photos to my Flickr account, so please stand by.

Looking forward to them G. I hadn't heard of it. I will be attending SuperCon in Irving on the 17th. I'll bring a token kit or two, fully not expecting to win anything and of course spend much cash in the vender room. Most of my kits were damaged or destroyed in the move so at least that clears out my completed shelf. Thankfully the Akagi, AT-ST and MRAP were spared any damage and the Akagi and AT-ST won Texas State Fair ribbons. I'll show the Akagi next year at the Dallas regionals and then retire her. Maybe I can find a museum to donate her to.

Yeah, my friends suggested Orange Con next year, but I'm gonna need a new build.

But if Japan opens up in 2023, that's where I'll be.

   IF the stars align, IF my health holds, IF I get rich, IF I build something Japan sounds like fun. It would cover two bucket list items....fly in a 747 or 777, and go to Japan. Not to sure about local cuisine but there may be a McDonalds near by.

armornut

   IF the stars align, IF my health holds, IF I get rich, IF I build something Japan sounds like fun. It would cover two bucket list items....fly in a 747 or 777, and go to Japan. Not to sure about local cuisine but there may be a McDonalds near by.

 

Right now, Japan is only allowing foreign citizens to visit on guided tours as a Covid control measure. No do your own thing currently allowed for us Gaijin. We are waiting on that to change to visit our son when he will be stationed in Japan. Keep your fingers crossed on that to change.

   I will keep them crossed for you Stik. I think I was just poating out loud as I can barely get out of my own town much less leave country. Life is life and it is nice to dream. Your son stationed at Yokuska?

Okay gents, here is part 1 of my report.

The contests stats were: 150 entrants, of which 50 were registered IPMS members, and a total of 794 models entered.  The general quality of the models was high, with some stunners and a bunch of really creative entries.  So without further ado, here are pictures as promised!

The first batch of contest photos can be viewed here:

Best of the West 2022-Juniors | Flickr

Best of the West 2022-Autos | Flickr

Best of the West 2022-Ships | Flickr

Best of the West 2022-Figures | Flickr

Best of the West 2022-Sci Fi | Flickr

I'm still compiling the air and armor pics.

Armornut, your dream of going to Japan can be a reality!  When our club organized its first trip, we laid out the general costs and factored in "mad money" for those interested.  The trip was planned 2 years in advance, so the monthy required savings amounted to less than $200.  If you don't travel with someone who has been to Japan before, it is better to go on a tour.  Food is not expensive, unless you go to high-end restaurants.  And there is always McDonalds and KFC if you have to punt.

Like Stik, I'm waiting for Japan to open up again.  I had to scuttle a 2020 trip that was fully planned and paid for.  If I don't hurry, my cousin's kids will be all grown up before I have a chance to see them again.

I can't believe Japan is still closed. This Covid this has gone way too far IMO.

Anyway, of course I clicked on the ships first. Nobody can get their water right....except the ship going off the edge of the world. Now that was good water. The SciFi looks great, especicialy the rebel cruiser.

armornut

   I will keep them crossed for you Stik. I think I was just poating out loud as I can barely get out of my own town much less leave country. Life is life and it is nice to dream. Your son stationed at Yokuska?

 

Thanks for that. Every little bit helps.  Currently my son is stationed at Osan in Korea, but his tour there is almost over and he'll be headed for Yokota next. 
And yes, it's very nice to dream. We wanted to go to Korea in the spring for their cherry blossom festival and to visit him, but Korea has a long quaranite period for  international travelers, so that plan got nixed due to time constraints.

Great photos so far Real G! Thanks for sharing them! I have seen some of those builds elsewhere, and I'm sure that some of those will turn up here at Modelzona in November. I really love that cat in the mecha suit! I know the guy who did the ship sailing off the edge of the world. He's a master ship builder and does superb work.

Stik, here's the armor, just for you!

Best of the West 2022-Armor | Flickr

Steve,

I think the guy that built the Rebel Blockade Runner was the same guy that did the Hammerhead thing at last year's Nats.  But he missed the pinup poster in the bridge!  How can you go that far and miss such a simple detail?  

The aircraft entries are being worked on and will be posted when done.

G, thanks for the armor 

Ill check back for the aircraft later on... 

And finally, the aircraft:

Best of the West 2022-Aircraft | Flickr

The 1/32 He-111Z was bazongas!

Gah, it's finally all posted!  It has been a hectic week - returning from Vegas on Monday, my cousin from Hilo arriving on Tuesday to get surgery on Wednesday, then flying out today, and I have to fly out to Hilo tomorrow for a project punchlist.  And friends are coming over on Saturday.  I think I need another vacation!  And a hair cut.

Thanks G for the wonderful pictures. Those models are quite impressive. Guess I have a lot of learning to do.And I mean alot.

Lurch,

I was also impressed by the caliber of modeling on show.  So much so that if I ever go back, I'll have to go in with all guns blazing!

Thanks for posting all that eye candy!  I really like the c-47 dio.

G that level of modeling is way above my skills but it also gives me something to shoot for.. Maybe one day I will be that good. Especialy with the help from people from this site. I am also trying to improve my skills in the RC realm. So I have alot of work to do to get to that level of expertise. I amlooking forward to it and I bet I am going to love every second of it. Again thanks for posting the pictures. There was some fantstic work there.

Exactly Lurch, that's the approach.  By steps progressively getting more advanced, your accumulated experience will result in contest-competitive models!

Or you can be like me and just be roadkill.  

But seriously, contest models really do require your "A" game, and then some.  I'd be afraid to enter a 1/48 P-51D, Bf-109G-6, or 1/35 M4-anything Sherman.  But as Alfred said to young Bruce Wayne, "Why do we fall?  So we can learn to pick ourselves up."  I have been told of unsuccessful contest models being slipped into the trash bin by the builder on the way out.  That's taking things way too serious...why so serious?

The good modeler always remembers that it is a hobby to be enjoyed.  When it stops being fun, it's no longer a hobby.

Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

No problemo PatW!  

keavdog

Thanks for posting all that eye candy!  I really like the c-47 dio.

 

That C-47 diorama was here at Modelzona last November.

stikpusher

 

 

keavdog

Thanks for posting all that eye candy!  I really like the c-47 dio.

 

 

 

 

That C-47 diorama was here at Modelzona last November.

 

I think it was inspired by the Monogram diorama sheet that was included in the initial release of the C-47.  Such heady days, perchance to dream...