This past Sunday was Pasadena Modelers Society’s annual model contest; Valley Con. I forced a good number of the model build group folks to coming out and entering. Granted the PMS club is a little bit of a good ole boys club, but I go for the inspiration of different kits and build styles.
I’m slowly getting more folks to finish competition level kits, so it’s great to see a full table of gunpla. I’m looking forward to Orange Con in October as I’m sure I can get even more folks to enter in the fall. So long as I keep the model build gatherings going and keep pushing folks to finish projects and such. I entered Dan’s (Funaka) Sazabi as he has work on Sundays, Terry entered his RGM-79[G], Travis with his Hygogg, Angel with Mega Maid(MG Perfect Zeong) and Refined Zeta Gundam, and I entered the Nu twins and the recently completed Musha Gundam.
Brandon and I entered our anime figures into the “60mm and larger figure” category. There was a Science Fiction Creatures category, so we decided that our figures fit better into the first category. I think we got snubbed because of our category choice. Oh well. At Orange Con, they actually have a fantasy or anime figure category under the “Figure” umbrella. Brandon brought his Cammy he finished earlier in the week, and I brought my Asagi, Yoko, and Kanu.
There were a few helicopters on display, but here are the two that really caught my eye.
Cars on display. One of these days, I need to build a second car.
Tons of props.
Jets
Armor
This guy came into the show very late, so I don’t believe he actually entered, but just put up his stuff for display. Looking closely, one can start to pick out the various household items he used to build his little contraptions. Very inventive and creative.
The show was a good time, I think the women folk that Angel brought were bored to tears; good thing these events only happen once every so often. I did get to leave with a little award in the Science Fiction Hardware category for the Musha Gundam – which kinda annoyed some of the other folks that entered into the same category. But the problem is that with this and a good number of other contests; science fiction is not sub categorized well. Take some of the armor and aircraft for instance, we get pre wwII, wwII, post wwII, division by props, division by tracked or wheeled, division by soft skinned, etc etc. Science Fiction is still the red headed step child. Enough people known to discern Star Wars, Star Trek, and others; some contests actually discern things with mechanical bipedal vs mechanical vehicle.
The folks in the model community complain that the hobby is slowly dying, but they continue to work to stifle things that a younger crowd may be interested in, mecha, anime, science fiction, etc. A good number of sci fi modelers are excellent armor, car, and aircraft modelers. Ok enough of my soap box. Again, Orange Con actually has a good level of sub categories for science fiction, and it isn’t a blanket category to cover all. There is an actual standalone “Gundam” category within the umbrella of science fiction.
I took almost 200 pictures from the event, so click here for all the pictures
Enjoyed seeing yours and your fellow modelers work at Valley Con and I enjoyed your photos of show. I know that Sci Fi and Fantasy is always treated poorly comparied to the other models catagories like armor and aircraft. Shows like Valley Con just don’t know what to do with Sci Fi. I don’t know how many people are in the Pasadena club that are into Sci Fi, but I know there is just a few of us in LAMS. That is one of the reasons John and I are trying to start a club that is only Sci Fi, Fantasy and Horror which would include Anime and gaming. I don’t know if you saw our flyers out in front. But if you are interested please feel free to contact me.
I’m the one who did the UFO and the Batmoble and John did the four busts that included The Predator.
Here’s our flier:
If you are into Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy Figure Modeling or Kit Building Then We Are Looking For You.
A new club is forming up in the San Fernando Valley with like-minded people who enjoy this area of the modeling field.
Our goal is to share different aspects of Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy model building (garage kits, gaming miniatures, scratch building, etc.), tools, painting techniques and other tips. And have a place to show our work and to get honest criticism in order to improve our skills and share ideas.
Our founding members are award winning modelers who share a passion for this aspect of the hobby field.
If you are interested and live in the Los Angeles area and would like more info, please contact me by email at the following address:
SciFiModelerSFV@aol.com
Thank you,
Paul Papp
Hey, There!
I was the “late arrival” to the show and the sci fi portion of the contest with the “garbage models” (as I like to call them) and in-progress NYPD “future-Bronx” diorama.
Thanks a bunch for posting pics of my work and giving me a mention in your blog!
Crazy day and a bummer we didn’t get to chat — the work on the table was pretty amazing… Maybe we’ll all get to talk shop at Orange Con.
Speaking of which, has anyone got info or a link to Orange Con…? Don’t know when, where, what the categories are, etc.
Thanks again, pal! Have a good one.
Regards and Aloha,
Johnny B.
Thanks again, GB! And I appreciate posting the Orange Con link as well!
Hope ta meet you and your crew at some future (no pun intended) event — you’ll know me because I’ll be the guy emptying his garbage can out onto the contest table! ;) Who knows, maybe I’ll break down and even build an actual kit by then! :)
Keep up the good work , amigo!!
Regards and Aloha,
Johnny B.
Paul, I really dug that Batmobile.. pretty funny ‘for sale’ sign in the window.
Johnny. Your ‘garbage’ was pretty cool. I thought it was a great idea of a way to recycle some old stuff. It reminds me of old photos from sci-fi movie models from before cgi… when things were made from whatever was found.. cool stuff.. inspiring actually.. heh
Bhop, thanks, I like adding a bit of whimsey to my models. If you can’t have fun doing a kit, whats the point?
Heya, Bhop,
Ditto on your kudo’s ta Paul’s work! Not only is Mr. Papp a fine modeler, but he’s got a good sense of humor ta boot! :)
And thanks for the kind words on my garbage models… It’s always fun to combine kit parts with various containers and other discarded bits to create new designs… Recognizing the sci fi ship potential in “garbage’ always keeps me looking for interesting things — and helps keep trash out of the dumps.
I’m a big fan of movie miniatures , too — my “future Bronx” diorama not only incorporates cast off items (the base is toy packaging) and kitbashed kit parts, but also utilized cast resin parts used in the film “The Fifth Element” as well as other resin bits out of the spares box from buddy of mine who worked on that film and quite a number of others…
Thanks again for the kinds words… Have a good one, Bhop!
Regards and Aloha,
Johnny B.
Gamera,
I was looking at your commission pieces (very nice) and was interested in your use of a purple cleaning fluid and an ultrasonic cleaner. Can you give me more info? Right now, I use Simple Green to clean my kits. It works, but I like the idea of the ultrasonic cleaner. And does it work on brushes?
Gamera,
Thanks for the info. I will look into the ultrasonic cleaner. I know my wife was thinking of getting one for her the things she does. I like the idea of not have to scrubbing the parts either. Also thanks for the link you gave Johnny B for the Orange Con. Looks interesting. Will you and your friends be attending SCAHMS California show next week? It’s going to be at the Doubletree Hotel in Anaheim on March 20th and 21st. Again thanks for the info.
Yeah, I plan on hitting up scahms next week, probably on friday and a little bit on saturday.
Cool! I normally do Saturday only since I have to drive from the SVF and trying to get to down there on a Friday night is a killer. Do you plan to enter anything?