SPECIAL REPORT - Model Expo 2003

Text by Lorna Jenkins
Photos by Shane Jenkins
Best of show: Bell 412 South Australian State Rescue Helicopter by Lawrence Parry

Fancy a day out looking at models? Chatting to people about modelling? Finding some modelling bargains to take home and maybe enter a contest as well?

Well, you could have done no better this month than to attend this year's Model Expo in Melbourne, Australia. Held over three days, there was plenty for everyone with more traders selling, more clubs displaying and more models in the contest than at any previous show. Visitors came from many parts of the country and carried contest medals and purchases back home. It doesn't matter how far away a show is, if there's one in the offing modellers will go to it if they can.

Everything is located under one roof so you can wander from looking at the competition models (some 600!), to the trade stands to the club displays and back again. There were two displays on the Centenary of Powered Flight (with one of them winning Best Club display - nice work by the Waverley Scale Model Club) but the one that really caught my eye was the RAAF "What-if" display. Models with RAAF markings, some of which were considered for the airforce at one point but dropped, others which were only considered by the modeller in question make for a very interesting display.

On the Monday of the event I was amazed to see just how strong the desire for a bargain was in all modellers. Monday is when the Swap and Sell event is held and everyone is there looking for a bargain. The "feeding frenzy" is incredible and even more amazing is the fact that with all those people there you can still come away with a bargain or two.

Model Expo is held every year on the second weekend in March. It's well worth making the time to go next year.

NB: Please note that a lot of these images were taken "after hours" and IM thanks the Model Expo Organising Committee for this.