Pleins Feux sur le Maquettisme 2014

The first model show of the year   Is in the south of the country - a 1.5 hour drive away   I left extremely early... for a Saturday morning   When many people were still sleeping   But you have to arrive early at this show   Because there is only limited parking space And I didn't want to drive around 30 minutes, looking for a parking spot - like I often had to do in the past   Pleins Feux sur le Maquettisme (Spotlight on Modeling) is one of the major shows in Belgium   People were still unpacking   ... as it was still early in the morning (only a little after 9AM)   But I could already admire models at some early set up club stands This one being from a visiting French club   World War One is getting more and more popular.... one wonders why   In a small corner I found a nice collection of French 1/72 scale airliners from an unknown gentleman   Very impressive - even in 1/72 scale - was this Latécoère 521 "Lieutenant de Vaisseau Paris"   The mythical 1/75 scale Arc-en-Ciel from Heller - I think it's the first time I see one up close and personal   And a (1/72 scale Broplan vacuform) Languedoc, one of the more elegant French post war aircraft   The competition area was still mostly empty   But there were already some early entries So I could start doing my "job" Grand Treasurer Thomas von "Merheim" - Battle of Grunwald, 1410   "Despicable Him" - Retrokit bust figure   Pleins Feux sur le Maquettisme is mainly about figure models   It is actually one of Europe's leading shows on this subject   And though I'm not an expert on figures   I do know I like to watch the work of very talented people   Very much !   Imagination rules this world   "The Phantom of the Opera"   Most figure models were presented in a small collection   There were even awards for presentations of collections   Though picture wise I preferred to focus on individual pieces "Steampunk"   Exceptional work in the scratch build category   Another category was the Fantasy category   "Illumina"   Beautiful black and white paintwork "Garde Pretorien"   Fabulous work on many details Note the skull on the ground   There was "attractive" work as well... "Alexandra - Rome - 76AD"   Time passed and more and more models were appearing on the contest tables   About 2/3 of the models in the contest were figures Usually - on other shows I visit - it's barely 10%     Fine work on some ghastly subjects Note the Grim reaper in the right - I liked that floating, spooky sense of movement   Fabulous work on this Andrea figure of Henry VIII - anno 1537   Mountaineer   "Tirailleur Sénégalais 1913-1914"     I liked this subject No hero - just an artisan doing his job   It was not the first time I saw this model - but only now I could take a decent picture of it   "Germanic Warrior"   La Lancière       "Signifer - 1st Century AD" The look in those eyes is spot on   This was probably the most funny model in the contest "Haut ab!" (stop it!)   Little Red Riding Hood - with a twist   "Il faut sauver le soldat George" (We need to save Private George)     "Gwen"   Not my best picture - but I liked this fisherman   "Robots have all the fun" Really a great title for the amazing work on this Scale 75 figure (75 mm)   Ulf the Lumberjack - a 45mm Black Smith miniature   "Mushroom picker"   Try to have a look at the wolf !     "Gnom"   Willi Waller     "Bill Sikes - by Charles Dickens"                 Amazing paintwork on... "Beethoven"   And finally... One of my favorite figure models - with a very natural look and posture   Of course there were also the usual other categories Such as the Military Vehicles diorama categories... Where also great work could be admired   Such as this 1/35 scale Famo and trailer   A Ferdinand in the background - while soldiers ask for directions (1/35 scale)   SdKfz 231 in the Nafusa mountains, Libya (1/35)   "Le bourbier Hongrois" - or the quagmire in Hungary A fitting title for this little 1/35 scale diorama   "Les vieux amis" - or Old Friends.... (1/35)   "Scoot Toujours - Djanet 1958" - (1/35)   Something we don't see so often A Japanese bunker in 1/72 scale - with a rather well done Kurogane Type 95 jeep in the picture   "Autant en emporte le vent" (Gone with the wind).... again a nice title for a diorama (1/35 scale)   Char D2 in 1/72 scale   Afrika Korps diorama in 1/35 scale   1/35 scale Bergepanther Ausf.D with an Ferdinand in tow - during operation Zitadelle   Another Japanese bunker in 1/72 scale And again very well done work   I was happy to find models from Czech visitors in the contest - like this Praha V3S truck in 1/87 scale   There were a few naval subjects in the contest This Liberty ship dio being the most impressive Jeremiah O'Brian - 1943 - 1/500 scale   Naturally there were also several military vehicles in all scales in the contest   Afrique du Nord - 1942 (1/35)   1/35 scale Puma - of the Panzer Lehr Division   1/35 scale SA-8 Gecko   1/35 scale Leopard of the Panzertruppenschule - in a very fitting camo scheme   "Cherbourg - July 1944" - 1/35 scale   T-62A Liberté - in 1/35 scale   It's the first time I see a Valentine tank in this desert camo scheme (1/35 scale)   Moving to the aircraft categories   An unidentified (to me) Vought Corsair biplane in a nice display setting (1/72)   Spitfire F.22 in 1/72 scale   Sea Hurricane in 1/48 scale   A very nice Battle of Britain diorama in 1/48 scale ... apparently inspired by a painting   Ta-183 in 1/48 scale   Albatros D.V in 1/32 scale   1/72 scale A7M1 Reppu   Me-262 with a 50mm gun - in 1/48 scale   1/72 scale Mirage III   B-25 gunship in 1/48 scale   Messerschmitt Me-109 Emile in 1/48 scale   Polikarpov I-15bis - in 1/48 scale   Zeppelin Staaken on floats - in 1/72 scale   This was a magnificent diorama - with many lovely, little details   The diorama was in a big glass display case   So taking pictures was not easy (hence a few "foggy" spots)   It got very busy in the contest area So I decided to explore the show (3 floors!) And walk by all the club stands again The folks from Amay - a small Belgian city in the center of the country   Almost all club stands had nice work on display   I had never seen so many Eagles - I loved it !   There was a big collection of 1/43 scale cars (by Retro Racing Car 43)   All in neat little diorama's Mercedes 180 D - in the Mille Miglia rallye   Porsche RS60 - during the 24 hours of Le Mans 1960   Ferrari 330 TRI - during the 24 hours of Le Mans 1962   Model Club from Alsace (France)   An Airfix DB6 in progress on one of the club tables   Which also offered this Jag collection for viewing pleasure   Time to shop ! The vendors area was in the local schools large greenhouse   Well... it's a change   But plenty of light to snoop around the tables of the many vendors   Oh my God ! Now I see there was an ICM Su-2 for sale - for 5 euro ! I've been looking for that kit for a good price for some time already...   4 models for 10 euro I resisted...   SyHart Decals from France   With expert decals on special schemes   Black Dog from Czech republic   Blitz   With their new World War I Knox tractor in 1/35 scale   And they have more nice exotic military models in (sadly for me) 1/35 scale   DES kit - from France   With some of their models...   I left for home, somewhere in the afternoon   Cars were parked everywhere in neighboring streets   I didn't buy so much this time   Only some necessities   And 2 new kits... Thank you for your interest and support All comments, remarks, corrections, suggestions are welcome

William De Coster / Belgium e-mail  Page created : 1 March 2014 Update (Henry VIII identified as an Andreas figure - not the old Airfix figure) : 25 January 2015