NATIONAL PROGRESS:
READERS will no doubt see the first of the advertisements on the outside back cover of this issue for the International Plastic Modelling Society's National exhibition and competition which is not much more than a couple of months away now. It is at this time of the year that many of us think of what we have to exhibit, do we stand a chance with this or that model or should we give the whole thing up as a bad job. IPMS are, this year, in almost the same situation for they have taken the plunge and forsaken the almost time honoured venue of Stoneleigh for a much larger and suitable exhibition centre in Peterborough. There will be many of us who will be sorry to see the back end of the Warwickshire venue as it was central, we all knew where to go and almost what to expect, but progress is something that cannot be halted.
It is interesting to recall the early days of the society when the first Nationals were held in a London venue over a large pub and lasted for an afternoon and evening. Membership was somewhat smaller in those days. The move to the RAF Museum was something that we all looked forward to but then the advent of new members, the example set by the United States IPMS with their annual weekend extravaganzas and the almost hard fought attempts to get the UK branch to do the same were something that is now history. I well remember a meeting held in the cafe at the RAF Museum where several of us put forward the idea of taking two days for the event. There was opposition from several influential members but thankfully the experiment was tried. The first trade stands consisted of ourselves, Hannants and the Aviation Hobby Shop. Nowadays, there is a fight to get trade stands at the Nationals and exhibitors even hold up the release of new models and products so that they can have something new to sell at what has become one of the premier model events in the United Kingdom.
The next step has now been taken. Apart from the costs, the Nationals have completely outgrown Stoneleigh and when one finds trade stands in the corridors and poked away in any odd corner that can be found, then the time has come for a change. The Peterborough venue offers a great deal more and the accommodation will be far better than in previous years. The IPMS committee have a very hard job on their hands to get used to the new situation, arrange the organisation so that as many people as possible cannot only be accommodated but satisfied with what has been done. There is no doubt that things will be different and we wish them well.
Peterborough is just as centrally situated as Stoneleigh, the space available will be heaven sent and we should be happy that the move has been made. Now it is up to everybody, members and non-members alike (for remember, there is a very interesting open competition), to support the enterprise and the enthusiasm that the IPMS committee has shown with models and displays that will be remembered in time for the 1992 event which will doubtless be bigger and better than the first.