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2007 IPMS/USA National Convention - Orange County, California
Latest Update:  August 30

I was fortunate to be able to attend this year's IPMS/USA National Convention being held from Aug 23-25 in Anaheim, CA.  Here is my report.


Thursday, Aug. 23
Drove from Phoenix to Anaheim with Jim Pearsall, a buddy from the Craig Hewitt Chapter of IPMS in Phoenix.  I'm the chapter president this year and Jim is treasurer.  The plan was to get to O.C. by mid afternoon, then do the Real Space Modelers Seminar at 4:45 pm.  I'll be showing off Tomas Kladiva's 1/48th scale Lunar Module detail set and Mike Idacavage and David Weeks have presentations.  Photos from the seminar are below

To look at a photo, click on the link at the right and it will open in a new window.
Guys at the seminar
Group shot at seminar
Thursday dinner



Friday, Aug. 24
Being a Head Category Judge means I have lots of meetings today, including the Judges Forum, What Judges Look for, and the National Contest Committee meeting.  The the pre-contest judges meeting is at 6 pm and judging starts at 7 pm.

To look at a photo, click on the link at the right and it will open in a new window.
Judging the Space and Sci Fi categories
Paper space models
Judging
Judges group shot  (sorry - I'll add names later)
Real Space entries
Dave Carlton's "Rocket Science" Goddard rocket, best in category 600
Sputnik launcher
Dave Carlton's docking probe and Vanguard (?) engine
This X-15 took an out of the box award
Large 1/70th scale rockets.  People FLY these.
Dave Week's Apollo 9 recovery diorama won best in the Misc Diorama category
Detail of Dave's Apollo 9
Edwards AFB experimental aircraft group entry
X planes
X-24B and X-38
M2-F2
This B-52 with X-15 was in kit conversions.  It was NOT the Monogram version with the X-15.
Mike McFadden's scratchbuilt 1/48th scale LRV in the Triathalon
Real Space Modelers SIG table.  We really need to plan this better.
A nice X-24C in scratchbuilt


Saturday, August  25

The day was spent browsing among the models and vendor room.  The food at the banquet was good but the slide show bombed and there were no photos of models.  They only announced major category winners.

Space modelers at reception before the dinner



More info on the contest:   Tally of entries per category:
600.  Real Space - 19 entries 
  1st place - Dave Carlton's Rocket Science
  2nd* place - xx
  3rd* place - xx
605.  Sci Fi & Fantasy from Kits.  Splits:
605a.  Mecha - 32 entries
605b.  Others - 35 entries

610.  Sci Fi & Fantasy, kit bash + scratchbuilt - 10 entries
699.  Paper space and sci fi - 9 entries

(* unofficial results, as I did not keep a copy)

2179 total entries in the contest, 713 people registered for the convention.
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This page updated Aug. 30, 2007