Brussels for the Modeller
By Knut Erik Hagen
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A good starting point for a modeller regardless of interest is Parc
du Cinquantenaire.
The easiest way to get there is by Metro 1 to either Schuman or Merode
stations. If you arrive by air just take the train from the airport to
Brussels Central and follow the signs to the Metro station, total cost
of the journey less than 5 Euros. Metro trains in Brussels have a sign
that says 40 seated and 170 standing passengers, I do not know if it is
max capacity or an average number - you may have to fight your way to
the door when at the correct station… The other option is by taxi, not
much faster and a lot more expensive.
At Parc du Cinquantenaire you will find four great museums: Autoworld
has 450 cars on show, both Belgian products like the Minerva and cars
from all over the world, one speciality being cars of the rich and famous.
Admission fee is 6 Euros, open 10-17(18) every day in the week. See https://www.autoworld.be/
for more information
Nearby will you find Musées royaux d´Art et d´Historie which holds a lot
of ancient artefacts gathered from all over the world, figure painters
and diorama makers will be able to find new inspiration here. Lara Croft
would feel at home in this place. https://www.kmkg-mrah.be/index.html
for information if you understand French or Dutch, English summary on
https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/brusscard/participants.php?mid=23
On the opposite side of the park are in my opinion two of the finest military
museums in the world, Musée royal de l´Armée et de l´Histoire militaire
with Le musée del´Air adjacent. See https://www.klm-mra.be/
for info, museum has free entry and is open all week except for Mondays.
Opening hours are 09.00 to 16.45, most of the museum is closed for 12.00-13.00
but the aircraft hall and the café located there is open to the public
during lunch.
 I
have spent two days here and still haven`t made it to visit the WW2 department!
The military museum has the greatest display of WW1 uniforms and artillery
pieces I have ever seen, many more items are on display here than for
instance in England's IWM. Most of the guns are still in their original
colours and there are examples on show of the three major tanks used by
the Allies in WW1.
There are also impressive displays of earlier arms and uniforms in other
halls. In the courtyard are WW2 and later tanks on display as well as
two small vessels. A large hall (170x70x40m) contains the aviation museum
with 130 aircraft and 100 engines (I did not count them, figures from
the museums web site - but it is a lot). You find unique aircraft from
before WW1 to modern days, including a RE8 and two German two seaters
of WW1, with Bristol Blenheim and Fairey Battle representing rare WW2
aircraft.
The museum does not have just military aircraft, there are also civilian
aircraft with a Ju 52 and a Caravelle mounted on poles inside the hall
being the largest, the smaller between the wars aircraft just as interesting,
but more easily overlooked. Some of the aircraft on show are waiting to
be restored by the museums staff and volunteers and you can watch the
work taking place while other show what can be achieved in the workshops.
The hall is well lit so it is easy to take photographs, but there have
been problems with water dripping onto exhibits, fortunately repairs are
being made to the roof this summer.
Other events do also take place in the hall, during my last visit more
than 50 full size horse statues were being painted by artists for an outside
display - a bit difficult to avoid them being visible on photos from the
hall. Besides a fully licensed café in the aviation hall there is a decent
gift and bookshop in the museum, they have a couple of kits for sale,
but the selection of books is much better. English is spoken by some of
the staff, but most of the printed information in the museum is only in
the two Belgian languages (Dutch and French).
If you still have more time/money left and your feet are willing to carry
you further are there two shops worth visiting about 15 min walk from
the museums. You turn your back to the park and walk down Avenue de l`Armee
/ Leegerlaan (The same street may have two names in Belgium, one French,
one Dutch - can be quite confusing) towards a Metro station named Thieffry
and Rue de l´Escadron.
 There
you find a model shop called "Au 16eme Escadron", a good old fashioned
shop with a lot of old and new kits as well as decals for sale. Worth
taking your time browsing the shelves there, they have a bit of everything,
lots of figures and airplane models. Open 10-18 (closed for lunch). English
spoken and the usual cards accepted.
 Across
the street is what appears to be just another news stand, but like a Tardis
is it a lot larger inside than you think when seeing it from outside.
Inside Libraire de l´Escadron is an impressive selection with books and
magazines covering military, aviation and modelling. Many books from France
and Germany for sale, but a lot of odd items from all over the world can
be found. Everything is wrapped in plastic so no chance to browse before
you buy - you have to judge the books and magazines from its cover. Basic
English understood with a bit of sign language thrown in when needed…
Open from 08 in the morning to at least 18. Entry to Metro station Thieffry
next door to shop.
Don`t forget to stock up with Belgian chocolate before leaving the country,
they do also have some inventive beer variants that you can spend a couple
of evenings trying out. It is a bit like visiting Paris except that you
are more likely to find someone willing to understand English and less
likely to get run over by a car when crossing the streets…
General info on https://www.brusselsinternational.be/wabxlint/visitor/index.jsp?lg=EN
and https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/home/index.php
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