spent a real nice long week end in Danbury Ct. at the Ampseast model show. it was my first time ever at a show or contest and I must say I was awestruck by some of the models and huge dioramas! All the guys I met there were friendly,helpful and not stuck-up or snooty–I also got a chance to help judge other guys models(with the help of ‘experienced’ judges). Of the number of models entered, I noticed a large amount of Sherman varients and many KV-2s,Panthers, Tiger Is and IIs–mostly I noticed alot of top class workmanship-- there was also a built up ‘Dora’-- talk about huge – if you have never seen one,you cannot believe how big it actually is. I took many pictures, but unfortunately most came out to dark to post-- I am kinda bummed out by that.
I also spent about 10 minutes shooting the breeze with Thomas Jentz, co-author of all the panzertracks series and he was kind enough to autograph my copy of ‘Gemany’s Tiger Tanks D.W. to Tiger I’
On Sunday my wife and I went to the Military Museum of Southern New England-- open hatch --you get to climb on and in the various tanks and AFVs (they must have good insurance–LOL–I almost broke my- er-- posterior-- jumping down off an M60 ! )
After the score cards were tallied up, I came home with a Silver medal for the KV-1 built for the Kursk GB, Gold medal for my T-34/85 and the Peoples Choice Award also for the T-34–I am extremely thankful and happy!—here are a couple pics that didn’t come out to dark–I look CRAZY[}:)] in the last pic (me in an M47)----tread[8D]
Sorry I missed you. Wish we could have talked. I was also at AMPSEAST for my first show. Saw your entries and I have to say the medals were well deserved. [bow] I’ll tell you, I gave you my vote for Peoples Choice (along with many others at the show). Your’s was the talk of many in the display room.
Hopefully we can run into each other at another east coast show.
Glad you enjoyed yourself. The AMPS CT guys really know their stuff.
I recall the first AMPS Show I attended as well. Great time. Now look at me… I’ve been roped to be the VP and even took on the job of heading up the national convention next year in Auburn IN.
Although not without its headaches, it’s been tons of fun seeing it come together behind the scenes. If you liked Jentz, know that he’ll be one of twelve seminar presenters for the IN show, including three surviving WW2 tank veterans, a Yank, a Brit and a German.
I strongly encourage the East coast modellers to consider the drive or fly out to the midwest. For many years, we in the Midwest headed out to Aberdeen as just a rite of Spring. I know that things in the East tend to be very proximate with great density of everything. However, pls consider the trip to Indiana next April!
Congratulations brother Tread! [#toast] You put a lot of time in that T-34, a masterpiece BTW, and I’m glad that you efforts were rightly appreciated.[#toast]
I don’t know what took the Gold, but it had to be a hell of a model to beat out that T-34. Congratulations and I look forward to the national in April…I’ll be there!
AMPS has multiple levels of gold…intermediate, advanced and masters in each class of completition. There may be multiple, or no, golds in any of these classes. Each model is judged by a team of four who assigned up to 1.5 points on about 9 areas of construction to a total of 10. The low score is dropped, the other three are added and gold, silver or bronze is awarded accordingly. The higher the level, the higher the requirement to gain gold. Once a gold is awarded in intermediate, the builder must move up to advanced.
Side question - is there any sort of service or even part of this site about upcoming events? Letting people know what’s going on and who’s attending? It would be pretty sweet to finally be able to meet some of you guys…somewhere…at one of these shows. I know that pretty much everywhere is quite a drive for me, but I’d definitely be willing to visit the “FSM forums” section if it means I can bump into some familiar fellas face-to-face!
Dupes: I frequent this site, Armorama, Missing-Lynx, Track-link and Planet armor. I run into numerous people I’ve connected with in the various forums. It’s really kinda cool to put faces to names (or site “handles”). I think the AMPS Nats and IPMS Nats is the place to be, especially since we all have name tags. “Oh YOU’RE Roy Chow!”
Finally, I forgot to congratulate you on your Peoples Choice award. I saw the pictures of the T-34 and said:“WOW”
tread, that was one awesome T34 you did for the Interior GB. I still go back to the thread and look at your pictures as inspiration and reference for my 1/48 T34. Congrats on the win.
hey guys[:)]-- thanks for all the ‘congrats’-- really appreciate it more than you know! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Redleg12-- I wish we could’ve met and talked–You would’ve found me to be a bundle of nerves-- I was melting down-- LOL[:P]
AJLafleche --I wish we could’ve met and talked also-- glad you got ‘good’ pics of the models on display-- mine were all crappy --I copied yours!![:D]
steve Crockett – I did get the gold!!-(and Peoples Choice)-now I move move up to ‘advanced’ category-- and congrats to you on your panther in this months FSM – they should’ve given you a much bigger pic-- your excellent work warrants it
There is an events listing under the resources tab on the front page of the forums. But the only way to know if anyone is going to a particular show is to ask.
Next time I’ll be anywhere near you is Granitecon in Nashua NH 21 October. “Durr” was there the last couple years and I met him last year. Click Here for full details.
[:-^]Yeah theres a surprise… the T 34 won Gold and the peoples choice award…gee who would have ever guessed that would happen. That Tank should be a feature article AND on the Cover of FSM. Hello FSM staff…are you out there? Well done tread. [C):-)]
