Clubs

[vergilius]

Recently I was thinking how lucky I am living here in Antwerp, Belgium. Several great clubs and a lot of great shows throughout the year in this or neighbouring countries. I've been to the states and canada and I guess things can be very different, depending where you live.
So what's your story? Are you all alone in the middle of the Australian dessert or the Brazilian rain forest?
Are there many clubs and how big are they?
My club is AMSS of Antwerp and we have about 33 active members. I guess that's not bad for this fairly unpopular hobby.
How are things where you're living?

 

[tonydawe]

The most isolated figure modelling club in the world

Well Vergilius, Perth is about as far away from anywhere as you can get, and still be on Earth!! Even here, on the edge of the Australian outback, we have six active modelling clubs.

My club is Historical Miniature Figure Society (HFMS) which has about 20-25 active members, ranging in age from 12 to late 60's. The other clubs in Perth cater for AFV's, aircraft, cars and sci-fi modellers.

Our club meets monthly and we usually pull between 10-15 people to each meeting. Meetings are very informal and usually involve a lengthy period of chatting/gossip/ smoking and reading the latest editions of modelling magazines or examining with envious eyes someones latest purchase .

Club members are encouraged to bring along their WIP's and their latest finished pieces. Those who do bring along a figure are invited to share their experience with their clubmates and pass on their tips and techniques.

Being a member of this club has really enriched my enjoyment of figure modelling, and I've learnt so much from my fellow clubmates. Hopefully I've also helped some of them too.

We only have one major show in Perth each year , WASMEx (Western Australian Scale Model Expo) which is an open comp for all classes and categories of models .

Personally, being a member of a figure modelling club like HMFS has helped keep me involved in this hobby after 30 years of modelling, most of that at home on my own. Along with my mates on pF, my clubmates help renew my passion for figure modelling and encourage me to keep improving.

The main thing I get from my club is friendship and fun.

Cheers

 

[vergilius]

Sounds very familiar what's happening in your club. a shame you guys can't come over every month.
I didn't know there 're so many moddelers in Perth. Great to hear that !

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Ah

You all should be members of our club in Malta, the Society for Scale Modellers IPMS Malta, we own our club house and meet every Wednesday all year round, we have a cool young president who happens to paint as well, that means me ... and not to forget our annual expo History in Scale around March ... what else do we need, just a bridge to EU as we pay alot for visitiung other shows as we are an island and need to fly to our destination ... but we cnnot have everything ... eh!

Ivan
www.ipmsmalta.com

 

[vergilius]

Hello Ivan
How many members does our club count?

 

[Chevalier de Malte]

Hello vergilius

Excuse my late reply, we are a mixed bunch - figurine, afv and aircraft builders, and right now we are 40 paid members ... but we are proad to have most of the Maltese [and the best] painters under one roof. Our pride is that all our members have been recognised in one way or another in a foreign expo ... a good acheivement for such a tiny country!

If you'll be spending couple of days in Malta please do pay a visit, our club is open every Wednesday and any visitor is more then welcome!

Happy paiting!

Ivan

 

[vergilius]

x

I certainly will !
Malta is on our list (unfortunatly it's a long, long list)

 

[Roc]

Due to my work commitments I do not belong to any clubs, but I know they are very helpful.

Cheers
Roc

 

[vergilius]

Roc, Do you know something about clubs in the states?
Are there many and where?

 

[Roc]

There are many clubs in the States. when ever there is a show, there is usually a club behind hit.
In Philadelphia I know of two: THE MFCA and the Delaware Valley scale model.

Cheers
Roc