IPMS, worth joining?
Discussion
I've been a member for over 30 years (with a small break period in the late 1990s). I'm a member of Farnborough IPMS who are a very well established group and have been going since around 1975. I think they are a great bunch of guys (plus we have a couple of regular female attendees) who I would now consider as amongst my best friends.
Apart from the usual modelling related chat we do natter about all sorts of things, often not even vaguely model related. We also have a regular core of members who attend model shows and we usually have a Farnborough stand at these shows.
Up until Covid struck we had our own quite large model show but have struggled to find a new venue since lockdown ended. We hope to get a show sorted at some point.
I know from experience that model groups can vary tremendously. Some can be very tight knit and nerdy and some (like Farnborough) can be very open and welcoming. You won't find out until you pop along to a group and assess them for yourself.
If you are ever in the Farnborough area, do pop along to one of our meetings.
Apart from the usual modelling related chat we do natter about all sorts of things, often not even vaguely model related. We also have a regular core of members who attend model shows and we usually have a Farnborough stand at these shows.
Up until Covid struck we had our own quite large model show but have struggled to find a new venue since lockdown ended. We hope to get a show sorted at some point.
I know from experience that model groups can vary tremendously. Some can be very tight knit and nerdy and some (like Farnborough) can be very open and welcoming. You won't find out until you pop along to a group and assess them for yourself.
If you are ever in the Farnborough area, do pop along to one of our meetings.
If you plan on attending Scale Model World in Telford for both days, then you recover the cost of your annual subs as that is less than the admission costs to the show. The magazine is not a bad read. There are a few sellers who offer a 10% discount to IPMS members, and these are listed in the magazine. The society also keeps a library of kit instructions, and a decal bank. I've used both in the past and found it very useful. Finally, there are a few shows that only allow members to enter their competitions (if that's your scene).
dr_gn said:
I joined just for the free/early entry to SMW, plus the magazine.
I assume joining an IPMS group would involve meeting a group of similarly middle aged men in the back room of a pub to discuss RLM colours and the relative benefits of different fillers?
Yes and no on the local clubs, in my case (like Eric) they are a great bunch..not all blokes…middle ish aged but very welcoming of all ages. Very willing to share knowledge and no ‘snobbery’. Anything from a £5 Airfix aldi special to the latest mega kit gets it’s place.I assume joining an IPMS group would involve meeting a group of similarly middle aged men in the back room of a pub to discuss RLM colours and the relative benefits of different fillers?
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