Any Scale Model Expo & Competition in Canada ?

[Rompy]

Hi pF,

I am planning a trip to Canada in 2015 and was wondering if there are any scale model expo/show or competitions that i should not miss out on.

The dates of travel are not fixed yet so if possible i plan to schedule my trip around the expo/shows etc.

Thanks

 

[bwildfong]

Hello Rompy,

If you're in Ontario for part of your trip, there's a great show in Ajax (near Toronto) in the last week of October. As well, there's Heritagecon which is held in Hamilton usually in February - it's got the added bonus of the venue, the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, a collection of Canadian aircraft from pre-WWI - present, including one of the few remaining Avro Lancasters in flying condition -the display tables are almost under its wings! Your admission to the show includes admission to the museum as well - a very cool day all around.

If you're in the Ottawa/Montreal/Quebec City are, there's Capcon in Ottawa in September, although it's held every 2 years and I think 2015 may be an off-year for them. There's a show in Montreal (IPMS RealCoté in May) and one in Ste. Foy near the Plains of Abraham (Wolfe & Montcalm and all that) just outside the old walls of Quebec City - an awesome visit even without the show; I've never been to the Quebec shows but the Quebecois modelling fraternity is extremely talented - they always clean up at the Ontario shows they attend! Don't know the dates but I'll check and try to get back to you.

Vancouver BC and Edmonton AB also have shows, although maybe Glen Hamilton can give you more details on them.

Hope this helps - let us know when you'll be in the area and we'll give you all the assistance we can!

Cheers,

Brian

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Hi Rompy - if you are willing to cross the border there are also some big US shows - eg Chicago in October. There are no Canadian shows of a European calibre sadly. Let us know if you would like some hints on what to see.

Colin

 

[bwildfong]

Colin's right - there ain't no Euromilitaire this side of the 49th, although the local shows are often quite respectable (especially if Colin's there with his stuff!) . Here's a link to IPMS Canada's site - it may come in handy: http://www.ipmscanada.com/

One thing you will get with Canadian shows - awesome scenery in no matter what part of the country you end up in.

Cheers,

Brian

 

[Rompy]

Thanks brian and colin !

 

[Rompy]

Hi Rompy - if you are willing to cross the border there are also some big US shows - eg Chicago in October. There are no Canadian shows of a European calibre sadly. Let us know if you would like some hints on what to see.

Colin

Hi Colin,

I am mainly into figure painting so would be great to see the works of other painters As you have mentioned, i think most of the figure painting centric conventions are in europe (euro, monte san savino etc ..)

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Brian is way too kind and as I am sure you know is a world class modeller of figures I can't even see We have a small group that I am sure we could convene for a half day's conversation and fun if you are in south-west Ontario and want to spend part of your vacation in that manner.

Colin

 

[Rompy]

Brian is way too kind and as I am sure you know is a world class modeller of figures I can't even see We have a small group that I am sure we could convene for a half day's conversation and fun if you are in south-west Ontario and want to spend part of your vacation in that manner.

Colin

Thanks Colin I will keep that offer in mind as i chart out out the travel plans

 

[ChaosCossack]

I think there's an IPMS show in Oshawa (half hour east of Toronto) in late June or early July.
You may notice a trend that the shows are armour/plane/ship-centric and the figure catagories are a near-afterthought.... there has been a good showing of figure painters at the last few but nothing like the European shows or Chicago and Valley Forge in the States. Maybe one day

Brian, isn't there a show in London this year?

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

I think there's an IPMS show in Oshawa (half hour east of Toronto) in late June or early July.
You may notice a trend that the shows are armour/plane/ship-centric and the figure catagories are a near-afterthought.... there has been a good showing of figure painters at the last few but nothing like the European shows or Chicago and Valley Forge in the States. Maybe one day

Brian, isn't there a show in London this year?

Colin

Colin - I had a look re London and there is a show in September. http://londonscalemodelshow.ca/ and http://londonscalemodelshow.ca/wp-content/uploads/Flyer-2014.pdf

Colin

 

[ghamilt1]

Hi Rompy;

Here is a link to the Western Canadian Model Contest.
http://www.wcrmc.ca/
It is an IPMS style show which caters mostly to aircraft, armour and car enthusiasts. The show used to alternate locations between Edmonton (June 2, 2014) and Calgary. To be honest, there are about three or four guys here who are into figures as a main focus. There's me; then there's Mark Hopkins (Lancer on the planet), Ray Welshman and of course Rick Taylor. I hope I haven't left anyone out. So the contest might not be the main attraction, but the Canadian Rocky Mountains are an hour outside of Calgary (Banff), and a three and a half hour drive west of Edmonton (Jasper)! And as if that wasn't enough, sometimes Ray, Rick and I get together to talk figures over a coffee, and you'd be more than welcome to join us!!

 

[tock24]

Could try the Ontario Model Soldier Society? I used to be a member, and in those days was a pretty good show! They've had their 2014 show [held at Fort York - downtown Toronto - early May] but next years will be May/June...

www.omss.ca

Ian

 

[Paul Kernan]

Ian:

I remember hearing about the glory days. It used to be held at Casa Loma and my impression, it was part of the MFCA, MMSI and SCHAMS circuit (Shep et al would attend). Unfortunately IMHO, the show (and club) was side tracked by toy soldier collectors and has dwindle to a shadow of its former self. I was not able to attend last years show but I was pleased to see it held at Fort York.

 

[Rompy]

Hi Rompy;

Here is a link to the Western Canadian Model Contest.
http://www.wcrmc.ca/
It is an IPMS style show which caters mostly to aircraft, armour and car enthusiasts. The show used to alternate locations between Edmonton (June 2, 2014) and Calgary. To be honest, there are about three or four guys here who are into figures as a main focus. There's me; then there's Mark Hopkins (Lancer on the planet), Ray Welshman and of course Rick Taylor. I hope I haven't left anyone out. So the contest might not be the main attraction, but the Canadian Rocky Mountains are an hour outside of Calgary (Banff), and a three and a half hour drive west of Edmonton (Jasper)! And as if that wasn't enough, sometimes Ray, Rick and I get together to talk figures over a coffee, and you'd be more than welcome to join us!!

Thanks ghamilt1

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Ian:

I remember hearing about the glory days. It used to be held at Casa Loma and my impression, it was part of the MFCA, MMSI and SCHAMS circuit (Shep et al would attend). Unfortunately IMHO, the show (and club) was side tracked by toy soldier collectors and has dwindle to a shadow of its former self. I was not able to attend last years show but I was pleased to see it held at Fort York.

I went in 2013 and you are not wrong Paul. Strange how two so closely related sides of what is essentially the same hobby can't gel. Everybody loses.

Colin

 

[Paul Kernan]

Colin

Hugh McLachlan tried to resurrect the club a number of years ago (10+). He contacted the figure painters he knew, asking us to come to the meetings. Respectful of Hugh, I attended a couple..........chilly reception from a cliquey crowd I guess it takes a lot of concentration and skill to line up those pieces of tin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Paul I asked one of their officers about joining last year while at the show thinking they might be happy to see some new blood. Same result. But you are right, Hugh was always a great guy to talk to.

I too recall the days of their excellent shows in the Casa Loma conservatory and later in the large hotel across from Maple Leaf Gardens attended by many of the name modellers in the North East US. Then it turned to meetings in the Legion and the quality and quantity of non-toy entries fizzled. Not sure what happened but it happened relatively quickly. I suspect it had something to do with the Toronto WE which was privately organized without the local club (which is a voting member of the federation).

If the Society really wants to signal an interest in attracting back so called connoisseur figure modellers, they might want to start by posting their show info and maintaining some sort of presence on this site or timelines.

Apologies to Rompy for delving into local hobby politics and moving off topic.

Colin

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Benjamin - lets us know where you will be in the country. We have enough Canadian members here on PF that I am sure we can guide you to some interesting historical and non-historical sights in pretty much every province. If you are inbound from Singapore, I would hazard a guess that you will be in the western part of our rather large country but if you get to Ontario we will be more than happy to weigh in with some ideas.

Colin

 

[Paul Kernan]

" I suspect it had something to do with the Toronto WE which was privately organized without the local club (which is a voting member of the federation)."

I was part of the CME and later the WE organising committees. We can chat about the OMSS then

Ben, I second Colin's invitation.

Paul

 

[ChaosCossack]

Third

The other Colin