My scale modeling-filled weekend began early yesterday morning (6 May). I departed home at 2:30 am and began the drive to Omaha, Nebraska to attend OmaCon, IPMS/Fort Crook's model contest and swap meet. Counting stops for fuel and refreshment, I arrived at the show venue, the Omaha Police Officers Association Hall, around 9:30 am.
After registering my models and paying the fee, I placed my three contest entries in the contest room. I then made my way around the facility, admiring the other contest models already on the tables and purchasing raffle tickets. I also shopped among the vendors and chatted with people I knew. It was good seeing people I know in the hobby and felt most welcome at this show. I was the only one from the St. Louis area to make the trip.
At midday, I helped to judge contest entries in Space/Science-Fiction and Automotive categories. After carefully evaluating the entries with my fellow judges, I helped to determine the top three finishes in these categories.
I did win one ship kit and one armor detail set in the main raffle, and some plastic sheets in the "second chance" raffle held for unclaimed prizes. Additionally, I did purchase two aircraft kits from a vendor, I know.
In the contest, two of my entries won awards. My PT109 earned Second Place in Ships (split category: Surface Ships), while my A6M2 Zero took Third in Aircraft: 1:48 Small Prop. This was the third contest that the Zero won awards (having done so at last month's Fleacon and MOSS CON), while PT109 was honored at Fleacon.
After packing my models and saying goodbyes, I got in my car and began the drive home. Strangely, I didn't feel fatigued at all on the way home, which included a stop for fuel and food. On the way home, I listened to that night's St. Louis CITY SC match at FC Dallas on my smart phone's Audacy app. The match was drawn at nil in the 50th minute when lightning forced postponement of the match. (The match will be resumed in the 50th minute at a date to be determined.)
Around 10:30 pm, I arrived home, tired but happy, after a journey of 890.2 miles (1432.6 km). I brought in my models and kits, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and then went to bed.
After a good night's sleep, I woke up this morning. I made a mid-morning trip to the Kirkwood Community Center for the Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis (MMVA-- STL) Spring model contest and swap meet. I was there to help staff IPMS/Gateway's display table there. Bill Wagner and I brought some models and club literature, including flyers promoting our Invitational in September. We chatted with quite a few visitors to our table, and most picked up our show flyer. I also got to browse among the vendors and admire the car models in the contest.
The show wrapped up around 2 pm, as Bill and I packed up our models and literature to leave. After leaving the community center, I bought a car charger at Walmart, got my car wash, and treated myself to a McFlurry from McDonald's before coming home.
Later.
Links to Websites of Entiries Mentioned in this Post:
IPMS/Fort Crook: www.fortcrookipms.org
IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)
St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)
Audacy/Y98: St Louis Pop Music Station - KYKY-FM | Y98.1 FM (audacy.com)
Kirkwood Community Center: City Of Kirkwood, MO | Home ParksRec (kirkwoodparksandrec.org)
Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis: Stl_Mmva | Facebook
