2012 IPMS Nationals - Who's going, and what are you bringing?

My wife and daughter are coming also.  Already have the room reserved.  I'll probably just grab some crappy thing off the shelve to fly down with.  That way I don't have to worry about it getting busted up or getting judged.   That way I can relax and enjoy the show and not worry about placing or not.   I've won a couple of firsts at nationals, and I have discovered it doesn't matter at all. I guess I'm not the competitive type. I think we're just going to see Disney World and a convention happens to be going on at the same time.  GREAT room rates also. 

Doug

Yeah, I've grabbed stuff off the shelf when I didn't finish the model I planned to take.  It was such a last minute decision that I ended up having to wash the models with soap water in the hotel room!  I'm not particularly good at planning ahead, as this has happened to me more than once.  In 2010, I had to finish a model in the hotel room, and that really made the trip suck big time.  I had to do stuff like mix colors from pen ink and paint!  To avoid this from happening again, my buddy suggested the "Mickey Mouse Challenge" for next year.  I don't wanna wear the ears, so I have to finish!

The guys in our local club who regularly attend the National Convention are really good modelers and are known as the "Hawaii Mafia", so there is pressure to perform well in the contest.  I do try to build to the best of my abilities and have snagged a few awards, but I prefer my bags to be filled with vendor room finds rather than heavy plaques.  The thing I like best about model contests is seeing what amazing works the other guys come up with.

It is good that you got your hotel reservation in, as I have heard that the block for the IPMS rooms are going fast.  My boss who is a Disney nut told me that the $129 a night room rate is really cheap compared to the standard rate.

Neal

As I remember, at the '94 Omaha convention, I just grabbed this Challenger tank model I had built a few years before.  It had this striking weathering job I did as an experiment, sort of burnt umber oil over the desert color.  I wasn't happy with it really, but the guys here liked it.  It had a broken tool bracket on it, but I was told to bring it by the guys I rode out with.  Well, it took a first place award.  And I had to blow all the dust off it as well.  Maybe that's where I broke the tool bracket.   Finishing models in the room is not an unusual  thing.  At Phoenix a couple of years ago, I had driven down and had brought my air compressor and airbrush.  A buddy came up to  the room and did some finishing touches on the paint job of his model and then won a first as well.  I was happy to help out.  I won't be that prepared next year,  just build something nice and look all the good stuff.  It's a blast.

Then in 2013 it will be just an hour or less away.  Now that will be fun, if I have time.  I'm sure I'll be doing something there instead of just hanging out.  A double edged sword so to speak.

Doug

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Doug,

Hoo hoo, the housekeeping staff must love it when guys airbrush in the rooms!

It's hard for me to pack much more than a rudimentary tool kit, as I have to fly in no matter where the Nats is.  Last year it was really harrowing trying finish a model in the hotel, knowing that any major ***-up would essentially doom my entry.  I broke off a part and promptly lost it, so I had to ask a buddy for a bit of sprue from a kit he had just purchased, so that I could fabricate a replacement.  I also had to borrow his red permanent marker to use as pigment to dye some paint to match the rest of the model.  And staying up all night for two nights trying to attach a set of landing gear and control wire rigging just killed it for me.  I think that was the first time I actually went to the trouble of making some alignment gauges to set the wings level.  When the super glue set, I discovered that the gear was twisted a bit, so I had to use the bracing wires to counter the twist.  It drove me bonkers!  I'm just not used to so much chaos in my life.  Maybe others deal with hotel room building better than I do.  I'd rather be prowling the vendor's room or checking out the local scene rather than staying up all night cursing at a model.

So for 2012, I hope to get my act together and finish my model before leaving for the airport!

Neal

The wife's job will be taking us back to my home state of Florida. Our house should be completed by late Dec and ready for closing 1st week of Jan. We will be about a 20--30 minute drive from Mickey's pad so I can't wait. The moving has stopped my building time since everything is in storage. Hopefully I can build a couple of additional pieces to enter once we start unpacking in January. 

The IPMS website rocks!   ....Sorry ,  I was just surfin around on it and got all excited to go build something. 

We just got our plane tickets for Orlando, and I pre-registered.  It seems to be official for us now.  I still don't know what I will bring.  I know it won't be  an airplane or a ship.  According to the NASA schedule there is a rocket launch for Aug 9, time TBD.  It's the day after the convention tour, so we might rent a car, my wife really wants to see a rocket lanch.  Hope it happens on schedule.

Doug

Can't make it to Nationals this year, but I am needing someone to Proxy for me so I can enter a few models in the Juniors category, it's my last year as I am 17. Look like a fun event though!

I am not an IPMS member. No entry on my part. Just visiting. This is my first one. How much time should I allow for viewing all of the models and vendors tables? It is one day for us as we have to be somewhere else by 6pm that evening.

Felix,

One day should be fine to see the models and go through the vendor rooms.  The best day to see the models is on Saturday, as there are last minute entries that slide in on Friday.  But the best day to hit the vendor's room is on Wednesday, at 2:00 pm when the doors open.  When I was able to get there on time, there was a lot of great stuff that disappeared in half an hour.  The general rule is: if you see it, want it, then buy it!  Don't tell yourself "I'll just cruise around for a bit then circle back to get it", because it migh not be there when you get back.  I missed out on a stack of 1/48 Testors SR-71s and YF-12As going for $25 one year.  Some vendors cut prices and make deals in the last hour of business on Saturday, but the merchandise is usually pretty picked over by then.  So in the end, the choice is up to you whether you want to shop or see the entries.

Hope that helped.

Saturday is a big day, but be aware that the contest and vendors rooms closer earlier that day.  The contest room closes at 3pm and the vendor room at 2pm, because the vendor room needs to be set up as the banquet room.  Then judging happens after 3pm.  The rooms open at 9am for the contest room and 9:30 for the vendors.  Check out the IPMS and Contest site for more information.

Doug

 Driving up from Miami on Saturday. Should be there by 10am. Then leave by 4pm. I guess 3pm in view of the schedule above.

I plan on going and will bring my wife along. The only thing I dread is being close to the Disney circus. Overrated and way overpriced! I wish I could have made it to Omaha last year.

My wife and I are flying down from Michigan. I have a friend who's driving down bring my 1780 Chebec. hope the rigging makes the heat  and the bad roads.

I'm going Wed an Thurs, and bringing my wallet!!!

I wish I could go... If only I had the $$$

This will be my first Nationals do you have to be an IPMS member to attend the seminars or go on the tours.

Badbird,

No, all you need to do is pay to get into the venue.  You will have free access to the contest room, vendor's room, and seminars.  The only exception is if a seminar has a hands-on workshop.  Ususally you have to pay a fee for supplies and such.  You can sign up for a tour, but they are on a first come, first served basis.  As they say, hurry, supplies are limited.

Linky: http://www.ipms2012.org/ 

HTH

How long would it take to view the contest room? Family is also desiring to visit the other theme parks.

Bringing the wife and the ATM card....

Made a day-trip over from Sarasota to Orlando on Saturday to check  out the show.  First time ever at the Nationals.  

Some really mind-boggling models.  I would hate to be a judge.  

I also managed to resist temptation in the vendor's room...

Mark

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Felix,

Sorry I didn't respond in time - my computer is at work and I took off from last week Monday to prep for the trip.  I guess you already know the answer now.  Hope you had a great time!

I was dumbfounded at the size of the Disney World property!