Pleins Feux sur le Maquettisme 2015

The first model show of the year   ... is a 1.5 hour drive south for me   Weather forecasting predicted snow (Later - it turned out to be the only day we had some snow that winter)   And indeed, we had some snow   So I arrived with a little delay ... and I had some troubles finding a parking spot - it took me about 10 minutes   Pleins Feux sur le Maquettisme (Spotlight on Modeling) is one of the major shows in Belgium   It focusses heavily on figure models ... and it is probably one of the bigger shows in Europe on this subject   But I started with taking pictures of the aircraft models   1/48 scale : Fw-189A-1 'Uhu'   "Le crépuscule d'un aigle" Note the soldier with the camera... 1/72 scale : MiG-25   The twilight of an eagle   1/72 scale : Aero L-39 Albatros   "USS Wasp, April 20th 1942" 1/48 scale : Seafire and Wildcat   1/72 scale : Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker   "Snow Hunt" 1/48 scale : Fieseler Fi-156 Storch   The military vehicle categories were at the other end of the long table   "France 1944" 1/35 scale : M16 Half track   1/35 scale : Willys MB "Jeep" with added armor   "Malaisie 1941" 1/35 scale : Type 95 Ha-Go   "Montcornet, 17 Mai 1940" 1/72 scale : Renault R35   One of my favorites Look at those figures... in 1/72 scale ! 1/72 scale : Knox Artillery tractor with a Schneider CD artillery tractor   "Berlin 1919" 1/35 scale : Ehrhardt M1917   "Operation Frühlindserwachen - Hungary, March 1945" 1/35 scale : Jagdpanzer IV/L70(V)   1/35 scale : SdKfz 232 8 rad   Note this is a diorama in a helmet ! 1/35 scale : Büssing NAG prototype panzer   "Think Tank - Mark IV male - Cambrai, November 1917" 1/35 scale : Mark IV male   "Knock out" 1/35 scale : T-34 wreck   "Bagdad 2034"   There were a few car models in the contest 1/43 scale : Citroën DS 19 convertible   1/24 scale : 1970 VW Beetle convertible   Time to check out the Figure Model categories And there were a lot of them...   Starting in style ... with a sculpture from Allan Carrasco Medusa   There are 2 main Figure Model categories in this contest Officier 36e regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne 1809   Historical figures - and Fantasy figures (of which more later...) Capitaine de Hussards - 4e régiment - Compagnie D'élite - 1806-1812   Very funny...   ... though things can get terrifying too ! Kamikaze   A combination of a painting (background) and figure models Very original idea... L'assassinat d'Henry IV - 1610       Rendez - Vous   Jean Baptiste - Bessières       I liked this warrior's look   Tenente dei Granatieri - Regio Esercito -1915   There are 3 levels in each category   Novices, Intermediate and Masters Marilyn Monroe   You can participate in the level of your choice   Napoleon in Egypt, 1798-99 - from Pegaso Models   Geisha     Georges Guynemer     The Fantasy category...   Both the Historical and the Fantasy category had more or less the same number of entries   Blue moon   Time for walkies...     Maître   Who's next ?   Somehow I liked this horrific, yet magnificent vignette     Arielle - from Guild of Harmony Miniatures   It's very difficult to bring miniatures to life ... but it was done with success on this guy   Luna's soldier - from Nocturna Models     Amazing painting skills... Just wow ! Ugg the troll cook - from Black Sailors     Space hunter   Ainariël   Rise Children, rise !   Orc Shaman   Simply beautiful   The broken wings ... and showing us her back The subject speaks very well for itself   Great presentation Unworthy         It's good to see animals in the contest too   Kinda brutal... Very brutal           Two categories which have every year more and more entries ... are the "Flat" and the "Bas relief" figures         I liked this one It has a nice atmosphere...   Variations...   ... on the same theme   This show is also known for the many visiting model clubs ... with their display tables   ... and their work tables Full of wonderful models   Though I always look forward to visiting the vendors area Which is in the big greenhouse next door (... a former orangery - now the municipal greenhouse)   The new, recently released Airfix Dornier   Somebody had a lot of A-300's... and wants to get rid of them   Classic Airfix kits Though these were pristine, empty boxes... for collectors   If you're looking for something for your library   Aha... the new Bristol Bombay is in town !   It was on my shopping list   Promotions...   ... and they ware valid for these Omega Models kits   5 euro per kit...   Of course there were a lot of vendors selling figure models and miniatures   DES Kit with their impressive range of goodies   Retrokit with their RetroSF range ... lots of minions !   Bargain box ?   3 euro for all of this...   You really have to look everywhere - even under the tables Ardpol kits for reasonable prices   29 euro   There were also several private sellers   ... with interesting stuff   Mr Wallet started to complain by now So I drove home ... the snow was gone   Ow yes... I also picked up some tools   Thank you for your interest and support All comments, remarks, corrections, suggestions are welcome

William De Coster / Belgium e-mail  Page created : 15 March 2016