The Military Miniatures Society of Illinois "Chicago Show"

> By James Hohenzy
>
>
> The 27th Annual Military Miniatures Society of Illinois "Chicago Show" was
> held at the Hyatt Hotel, Oakbrook, Illinois, 10, 11 and 12 October, 2003.
>
> For those of you not familiar with MMSI, the Society began in 1949 as a
> gathering of North Shore-Chicago military historians and figure painters.
> Membership has swelled into the several hundreds, with artists and
> enthusiasts across the three countries of North America and
> representatives on most other continents. (Pretty good for a local club,
> huh?)  Its founding 54 years ago certainly makes MMSI one of THE senior
> modeling-art-military history societies in the greater scale-modeling
> hobby.
>
> This being their 27th (fall) Show, MMSI XXVII was familiar, friendly
> territory. The Society organizers and planners have their chops down, as
> musicians say. Smooth. The whole MMSI Show experience is event is pure
> pleasure, quietly and competently performed in every aspect. As the MMSI
> Chicago Show was not only one of the first figure shows (debuting in '76)
> and continuing for 27 consecutive years, the format is familiar to the
> repeat attendee and delightfully, first time visitors will have no
> difficulty navigating, either.
>
> Located in a  suburb of Chicago, some 15 crow-fly miles due  west of the
> city's center, the Chicago Show is really easy to get to. Oakbrook is
> veritably on top of the junctions of 294, 90, 355 and 290. The Hyatt is a
> big, lush hotel with plenty of (free) parking...
>
> ...and if one or one's traveling companion is of that ilk, 'tis a paltry
> two blocks to Oakbrook Mall, one of THE primo shopping destinations on
> this planet. Nieman-Marcus, Nordstrom, Tiffany's, Coach, Marshall Field's,
> Sax 5th Avenue...
>
> ...well over two hundred "A" grade stores and restaurants and a big,
> first-run cinema. Everything about Oakbrook Mall is top drawer, period.
>
> The afternoon of Friday the 10th saw setup and many exhibits arriving, as
> well as a first round of judging. Cleverly, Friday entrants received white
> cards for their exhibits, the Saturday ones, blue. This allowed the judges
> to make their first pass Friday night, lessening their work load Saturday.
>
> Since each exhibit stands on its own merit in contention for (numbers
> solely determined by quality of and number of exhibits) Gold, Silver or
> Bronze medals or Certificates of Merit or special awards, one really only
> "competes" against themself--against the "ideal" for that level  (The
> "Chicago Rules" of judging).
>
> Therefore, more in the spirit of (an art) exhibition than (IPMS)
> "competition," artists' names are displayed on the card accompanying each
> exhibit. This enables (and encourages) people to speak with the artists,
> who are often readily identifiable by their name tags. Lighting in the
> exhibition hall is surprisingly good, conducive to viewing and
> photography. Several lobbies are nearby where one can take a load off
> their feet or chat with new or old acquaintances. Even the temperature is
> ambient. Remember, this is taking place in a luxury hotel; hospitality IS
> their business.
>
> As always for MMSI, the exhibition hall remained open during judging.
> Categories as usual were (compared with IPMS norm) few; Novice, Painters,
> Advanced, Ordnance (something without figures), wargame figures, toy
> soldiers and Junior, as well as several special ones, like "Theme." By the
> way, the banquet-tables risen-to-viewing-level on-pvc pipes (now so
> familiar at model shows) allegedly got its start in Chicago-MMSI in '76.
>
> Friday evening was the traditional cocktail party. Since a goodly number
> of folks come from a distance and stay in the hotel (as do many northern
> Illinoisians), this event is always fun.
>
> Saturday is the big event, open to the public at 0900 and vendors and
> entrants a bit earlier. Parking is no problem, as the hotel has a huge (no
> fee) lot.
>
> Not only does the Hyatt have several food and drink sources, but veritably
> every sort of restaurant from McD's to several posh a la carte' emporiums
> are available within a few blocks. One may chow down as casually or dine
> as elegantly as one chooses.
>
> Five American dollars admits the attendee to view some of THE finest
> figure painting and sculpting to be seen ANYWHERE in the world, as well as
> perhaps the finest figure, book and accessory purchasing-opportunities you
> will ever find. Among the artist-manufacturers, Sr. Carlos Andrea of
> Andrea Miniatures made the trip from Spain to be at MMSI. Fine Scale
> Modeler magazine, was there, as well as other publications and
> manufacturers, like Terry Worster of Worster Miniatures, from California.
> Entry fees are not high, encouraging exhibitors to show more than one
> piece.
>
> In congruence with long practice, arriving early and making for the
> just-opened vendor areas was this reviewer's first destination. Happily,
> several coveted figures and a book or two got snatched up, a couple at
> bargains, another at fair price. Vendors range from the enormous Red
> Lancers' booth-display with thousands and thousands of figures, mostly
> exotic European at full retail, plus tax, to local folks at a half banquet
> table selling old Rose figures with a 30 year-old coat of paint, just
> waiting for you to dip them in your stripper and have a fresh go at
> them...for a paltry two dollars. Bases, airbrushes, accessory parts,
> groundwork, books and magazines, resin armour kits, military prints
> galore, are available. Militaria collecters will find a smattering of
> swords, caps, helmets, medals, buttons...'tis not a challenge to acquire
> treasures and part with money at MMSI.
>
> The raffle usually features a single figure which represents the state of
> the art, by an outstanding artist.
>
> The (Saturday afternoon) figure auction typically has a dozen or more
> painted pieces by world-wide Society members, and bidding is often quite
> enthusiastic. This is one's opportunity to add a figure to their
> collection, superbly done by a favoured artist, as some pieces go at
> positive bargains, others...into the several hundreds of dollars.
>
> A number of painting and other modeling-related seminars are featured
> throughout Saturday and Sunday, allowing attendees to learn techniques
> from some of the best artists and sculptors.
>
> Awards are in the late afternoon, and a friendly banquet is in the early
> evening.
>
> One cannot help but be amazed at the state of the modeler's art displayed,
> year after year. Visitors are assured of at minimum, being overwhelmed by
> the massive capabilities of many of the artists. One tends to be
> open-mouthed at the sheer volume and broad subject matter of the exhibits.
> There are of course substantial numbers of  well done planes and vehicles
> and boats, but by and large, the MMSI show is about things which breathe.
>
> Soldiers of the Roman Empire...Vikings...Knights in armour...Napoleon's
> infantry...the Wehrmacht in Russia...grunts in 'Nam and Tikrit...Lawrence
> of Arabia, Dracula. Many eras, many subjects...a street scene from
> Victorian Paris...Native Americans hunting bison...Civil War
> artillery...Samurai...an 18th century cannon-casting foundry pit...movie
> and fantasy figures from cinema and animation.
>
> MMSI is not just endless tables of machinery like Focke-Wulfs and Tiger
> tanks (though a truly fine diorama this year featured a European barnyard
> scene with a piece of rather impressive armour titled, "Crouching Cow,
> Hunting Tiger"). You will be awed, you will be inspired by the quality and
> variety of subjects.
>
> As a member, one receives full information in the Society's magnificent
> publication, Editor Dick Pielin's "The Scabbard." However, non-members, do
> not despair; one can readily access Society and pre-show news in a number
> of mags (e.g. FSM) as well as at www.mmsichicago.com
>
> Overall assessment: Virtually all "problems" associated with all aspects
> have come to light and been addressed in the past 26 years. The Chicago
> Show is a polished function, put on by veterans. Simply, come to MMSI next
> year and enjoy it. Highest recommendation, from a still-enthusiastic
> 30-year MMSI member who has never missed a Chicago Show.