18 September 2019

2019 IPMS Gateway Invitational

The Gateway Chapter of IPMS (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) hosted its 13th annual Invitational model contest and swap meet last Saturday (14 September). The event was held at the Holiday Inn St. Louis SW--Route 66 (https://www.reservationcounter.com/hotels/show/603baca/holiday-inn-st-louis-sw-route-66-st-louis-mo/?cid=sem::TPRC::BA::Reservation%20Counter%20%3E%20US%20%3E%20Midwest%20%3E%20Missouri::US%20%3E%20Missouri%20%3E%20St%20Louis%20%3E%20Holiday%20Inn%20St%20Louis%20SW%20-%20Route%2066%20%3E%20did-603baca::holiday%20inn%20st%20louis%20sw%20route%2066::e&creative=79439801789260&device=c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=holiday%20inn%20st%20louis%20sw%20route%2066&utm_campaign=Reservation%20Counter%20%3E%20US%20%3E%20Midwest%20%3E%20Missouri&iv_=__iv_m_e_c_79439801789260_k_79439974866367_w_kwd-79439974866367:loc-4105_g_1271035803255914_n_o_e__h_89382_ii_55418_p_2_b_be_d_c_vi__&msclkid=de26eacbf18d16485679b74973e25ad00) in Sunset Hills, Missouri.


I arrived there just after 7:00 am, well before the show opened to the public at 9:00 am. I helped make sure all was in readiness with the contest and vendor rooms, and set up the admissions desk. Regina Morris (Marion's wife) and I staffed that desk, taking money from the attendees. Each received a wristband letting people know they had paid. I asked the attendees where they came from and how they learned about this show. This information was taken down to help is in planning for future shows.


I did enter two models in the contest, which I have entered in other contests this year. One was the British submarine Turbulent; the other was an alleged alien craft I did in Soviet markings.


Around 11:30 am, I and other contest judges reported to the judges meeting, organized by the contest chairman, Marion Morris. We went over judging procedures, formed up teams, and received category assignments. My team judged ships and miscellaneous, although I had to recuse myself since I had entries in two categories. There were 237 contest entries, with some superb models in competition.


I then browsed among the vendors, making a couple of small purchases, and buying raffle tickets. Late in the day, the contest results were announced and the awards given out. Yours truly took Third in Ships 1/351 scale and Smaller for my Turbulent. I was happy to win this award.


With that, the show ended. Attendees packed up and headed for home. We had 194 attendees for this show--a good turnout. We had plenty of praise from attendees for this event.

IPMS Gateway will present its next show on Saturday, 12 September 2020.

Later.