SCALE MODEL NEWS

MAT IRVINE AND PAUL FITZMAURICE brought another gathering of sci-fi modellers to the English village of Hanslope. Here’s our first bunch of pictures taken at the Smallspace show, held on 17 July, 2022. It’s been an annual event, but this was the first since the start of the Covid pandemic, and it was fingers-crossed for the management team as the show restarted.  But they needn’t have worried, as hundreds of sci-fi model fans turned up, and the K-9 Cafe ran out of bacon butties, a sure sign of success. As you can see from the pictures ( below ), there was a huge variety of items on show. Perhaps this writer’s favourite was a resin-cast Martian figurine, entitled ‘Quatermass and the Pit’ ( bottom pic ). The Martian in question was an ET featured in a TV series that aired on the BBC, way back in the late 1950s. The three Quatermass series (the pit was the third) were hugely successful, and Quatermass is well worth looking up if you’re a fan of silver-age science fiction. Keep tuned f...

WE'D LOVE TO SAY THE SHOW GOES ON but Media Modelling 3 is another casualty of the war against the coronavirus pandemic. SMN report: However, here's a look at what might have been, and for steampunk fans, a taster for an event that would have featured your fantasy enthusiasm. Here's the poster for MM3, sadly but sensibly, cancelled for the time being. Ian Crichton ( below ) has won previous 'Best in the Solar System' trophies, not once but twice. His steampunk skills made him a natural to judge this year's event. More examples of Ian's steampunk world ( below ). Coronovirus is the culprit behind the cancellation of Media Modelling 3. A huge shame, but very sensible in the circumstances. We're looking forward to seeing Ian judging in future. However, there's plenty of steampunk elsewhere at SMN – click here to find out.

COMING THIS SUNDAY - the sixth and best mega show from the Hamex team. Click here for full details of the unmissable event.

IF YOU’VE BEEN A HAMEX MODEL SHOW ADDICT then you’ll be interested in a special one-off show that’s coming on Sunday, October 2. SMN report: One of the HaMeX organisers, Mat Irvine, is having a Grand Clear Out of his kit collection, and this will be a huge opportunity to grab some bargains. Like other HaMeX events, Mat ’n’ Paul Unplugged will be held at Hanslope Village Hall, Newport Road, Hanslope, Bucks MK19 7NZ, UK. Mat ’n’ Paul Unplugged will feature the two HaMeX show organisers, Paul Fitzmaurice of Modelling Tools ( below left ) and Mat Irvine ( right ). So buy a kit from Mat, get your tools and paint from Paul. Mat ’n’ Paul Unplugged opens at 0800 hr Sunday, and will run all day until around 1800 hrs. Refreshments will be available as usual at the K-9 Cafe. Click here for more information.

The first-ever Model Market hit the public on February 2, as an experiment to see how successful such a show could be so early in the year. It was run by HaMeX, the group of model shows based in Hanslope, UK, and run by master-modelmaker Mat Irvine and supplies-meister Paul Fitzmaurice. Mat Irvine: The Model Market now takes the HaMeX score to four a year, including the one that kicked things off, the Hanslope Model eXpo, a swapmeet and model display held just before Christmas. HaMeX targets those last-minute moments to snap up a present, even if it happens to be a reward just for yourself! In May, Automodellismo roars in. It specialises in model cars, though we also feature the real things, on gleaming display in the car park. In July, Smallspace comes in to land, concentrating on space, science-fiction and fantasy. This has been the most popular show so far - a horde of full-size Daleks roaming round the car park probably help. The Model Market (TMM) was created to cater for the pos...

The Model Market will run on Sunday February 2, 2014. That’s good timing, neatly on schedule to stock up on all those new kits you promised yourself for the coming year. And perhaps also to get the tools you need to finish the unbuilt stuff, left over from 2013… The Model Market is primarily a dealer show, though the Bedford Model Club and New City Model Club will be mounting impressive displays. As with all other HaMeX shows, The Model Market will be held at Hanslope Village Hall, Newport Road, Hanslope, Bucks MK19 7NZ, UK. Aim to get there bright and early, as The Model Market runs on just the one day from 1000-1600hrs, a timing schedule it will share with other HaMeX shows running at the same site. If you get hungry, the K-9 Cafe will open for ace bacon sarnies and plenty of coffee. Kits aplenty, club displays, lots to see and buy, hot grub on hand - what better way for a model maker to spend a winter’s day?! Info on The Model Market here. More on The Model Market and other shows at...