Leeds Open
Scale Model Show
Our fourth show in a row was this time at Leeds Royal Armouries in the New Dock Hotel on Sunday 9th March 2025. Despite attending four shows in four weeks I was happy to see that there were plenty of new models on display that I haven’t seen before. I particularly like the diverse array of models on display now at shows compared to ten years ago when I visited my first scale model show. There was of course the usual Aircraft and AFV models on display, however, there was also ships, cars, apes, soldier models, as well a sea creature, the transformer Bumblebee, a few dinosaurs, a couple of borgs and even the Grim Reaper made an appearance. This week I walked around the majority of the tables before the show opened and a few clubs were still setting up so once again I have not had the privilege of seeing all the models on display. I did however, pick my favourite very early on, this week Nigel also chose his favourite model of the show and not surprisingly we differ greatly in what catchs our eye!
I have split them up into the following types:
Flying Items - anything that flys, belongs in the sky or space either real or fantasy
Ground Vehicles - Anything that moves along the ground
Buildings
Figures - Any type
Miscellaneous
Flying Models
The pink and purple Typhoon particularly stood out to me as our daughters very first model at age 5 was a pink and purple spitfire, seeing this typhoon brought back some happy nostalgic memories. The amazing B29 Super Fortress built by Joe and Tim from the Sheffield South Group was impressive both in size and the skill that went into painting the model. It was hard to believe that the metal effect was created with just a single colour of paint. I also like to see the increasing number of modellers who are modifying their kits either through scratch building and/or after market parts to show off the engines and inside the aircraft. The constant strive to make modelling better and push the boundaries of what is possible is one of the many great things about the modelling community. Modellers of all abilities and ages are welcomed and for the majority they are happy to show lesser experienced modellers new skills and techniques. Nigel’s favourite model of the show was the Convair B-36 “Peacemaker”, he particularly thought the finish on it was excellent and that the model is one that you don’t see very often at shows.
Ground Vehicles
Spoiler Alert!!…. My Favourite Model of the Show is in this category - Can you guess which one?
Whilst I am still a novice I do feel more at home with the ground vehicles than those in the sky! I think road vehicles are my genre and maybe just maybe one day I will finish my own VW Samba T1 I currently have sitting on a shelf! One model which caught my eye was the wonderful Cafe Montmatre Diorama Scene with the Citreon 2CV. Another was the trio of tanks by Merseyside Model Club, two of which were done by Jon Shelley. The attention to detail on the US M16 makes the model look like it has just driven down a muddy lane, Great Work. The figures on the Sherman VC Firefly and the Churchil MK V bring the models to life. The Old Fashioned Fire Truck and ladder model also caught my attention. I also liked the firestation with the ambulance and Ice Cream Truck outside. The Early bird and Waiting the Call Dioramas were also particularly impressive, as was the Cromwell MK IV in the After the Rout Scene. As you can tell the Ground Vehicles really caught my eye this week and there are too many to mention them all.
Character and Figure Builds
My Favourite character models on display had to be the two Borg models on the Staffordshire Model Group Table, with the Lady Proxima Model on the Cleveland Model Club Stand and The Grim Reaper Diorama on the IPMS 1/6th Sig table a joint close second. Now I admit I might be a little biased here as I am a huge Star Trek fan and not particularly keen on Star Wars, however, I can see the brilliance in these three models. The two borg models have some brilliant painting to bring out all the key mechanical features the Borgs are known for, comparing the Lady Proxima Model with other versions online I can see how well done this version is. The Grim Reaper diorama is still a work in progress according to the note with it, if this model isnt finished I can’t wait to see the final result because it is already looking impressive. As I have said all along my favourites are picked by how drawn to them I am, something about them caught my eye and made me pay attention. There were so many impressive character and figure models on display, it would be impossible to mention them all.
Miscellaneous and Everything Else
There were some fantastic building models on the 144 Sig table this week and I especially liked the White Rose House mini diorama. I also liked the Boothbay Maine Lobster Boat too and particularly liked speaking to the builder about it. It is also fantastic seeing Rolife Kits being displayed at shows.
My Favourite….
This one attracted me to it straight away. A huge well done to the modeller, a lot of time and effort had to have gone into this build and it really looks fantastic.