Who is going to WonderFest 2027?

General Discussion Scale Model Events
1

The title says it all. This will be the first time I will be attending WonderFest in Louisville, KY. I have been aware of the annual event for some time, but never thought I would ever get the chance to make it over there. But a friend who goes to a lot of model shows has shown me how much fun it can be to go places I have never been. Yeah airfare costs are up, but I no longer go nuts at the vendor’s rooms. No, really. Pinkie-promise. Well, we’ll see.

I have also received encouragement from members of the forum to attend, so I ask who is planning on going next year? If possible, I’d like to meet everyone face to face and maybe have a nice lunch get together like the FSM Mob did in Las Vegas a few years back.

And is it taboo to discuss contest entries? Do people normally like to shroud their projects in secrecy for an exciting reveal at the show? Or maybe to throw a competitor off the scent trail?

As some here will know, I have no shame and I cannot keep a secret. So yeah, my entry will be Halcyon’s Aliens Drop Ship. But I want to make a real effort to bring some other kits to keep the fun factor up. I haven’t decided what they will be yet, as I want to focus on the Drop Ship and get it done.

I know I will have to work really hard, because unlike an IPMS contest, EVERYONE will be building similar stuff, and the judging is Gold-Silver-Bronze. I have had good luck entering weird models in IPMS contests, thus avoiding crowded fields like “1/48 P-51D Mustangs, bubbletop canopy, serving in the European Theater, with D-Day stripes, 1944”. And until recently, sci-fi was kind of soft in IPMS. But now everybody is really good, and one cannot hope only unpainted kits show up. But that is the challenge. Plus G-S-B judging pits the builder only against himself.

So who is planning to go, and if you can let on, what are you bringing?

Also, for the WonderFest veterans, any tips on the contest, venue, and good places to eat?

1 Like
2

I would love to go to Wonderfest some day. But…it’s just too far away, too costly, and a modeling friend does not like to drive very far out of state.
Even if by some miracle I could go, I don’t have any sci-fi/fantasy models that would be contest worthy. I’d probably go just to take pictures of stuff and browse the vendor room instead.

1 Like
3

Well, you guys have already done a pretty good job of talking me into wanting to go. :joy:

I don’t have any sci-fi models built—or even any in the stash yet—so I’d basically be going as an observer, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes I go to shows just to look around, see what everybody is building and enjoy the show.

Of course, there are some Bandai kits that could eventually change the “nothing in the stash” situation. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

And as for not spending any money at the vendor booths… good luck with that. :joy:

@RealG I’m looking forward to seeing your dropship!

4

You know I’ll be there! As far as talking about entries - it’s highly encouraged! Because WF uses an Open Judging System (GSB), you’re competing against yourself, not others. Each model is judged on its own merit.

WonderFest has embraced technology and has online entry forms. A few years back after feedback from the community, they instituted Friday evening contest entries so you can pay and enter your models Friday without standing in line and missing the Dealer’s Room on Saturday. Makes the whole contest process seamless!

Highly encourage you to frequent the WF website (www.wonderfest.com) for updates on guests, demos and other activities. You’ll quickly see that they pack a lot into 3 days so plan accordingly.

If there’s something you absolutely want, I recommend getting an Early Bird pass that allows you early access Saturday 2 hours before the Dealer’s Room opens to the general public. Some vendors only bring limited stock, so keep that in mind. The majority of Dealers accept Credit Cards, but cash is king. The hotel ATM will run out early Saturday and usually isn’t restocked over the weekend.

After hours is where WF really shines. For most of us, it’s like a family reunion. Lots of parties and get togethers in various rooms. Don’t be afraid to show up and introduce yourself. We don’t bite (mostly).

5

Rob,

WhatifRebel - Sorry you can’t make it!

Samphoto - So you are coming? If so, I look forward to meeting you in person!

Rob - Thank you for the pointers! Regarding the vendor’s room, I don’t think I’ll need to get in early to find that “grail kit”, as there isn’t really much left that would make me jump. I have been buying fewer kits every time I hit a vendor’s room for the last several years. I used to blow over $600 at hobby shows in my early years, but nowadays it is more like around $100 or less. I think the last show I went to I spent $25. But my friends are another story! They still load up their suitcases every time we go to a hobby show.

I would be delighted to be proven a liar and find something that I didn’t know I could not live without at the vendor’s room!

The one nice thing about the US sci-fi kit market is that makers are turning out good quality, accurate models of classic properties like the soon to be released Star Wars Landspeeder and TIE Bomber. It kind of makes irrelevant buying expensive, hard to source, hard to build resin kits that carry their own baggage of quirks. Sure, we might have to wait years for that one special model, but for guys like me with a huge stash, we can wait.

Anyway, good luck to everyone planning on taking models to the contes!