IPMS Quad Cities Modelers, Davenport IA, 6/7 May 2005. Regional.
This year, Quad Cities hosted the Regional. As such, it was a two day event. The venue was the same hotel that they've been using for the last several years and it is a great place to hold this event.
But first, the preliminaries. The club sent out flyers to previous contestants and also had all the information available on their website. This included entry forms, which, unfortunately, could not be downloaded, for some reason. I don't recall this being a problem last year. Directions were given, but if you've been there once, it is really easy to find. We hit the road at 4 AM and arrived a bit after 9AM. No traffic to speak of so we made good time.
As it was a regional, the entry fee was $20 for all the models you could bring. This year, I just couldn't justify the cost for the two models I was going to bring so brought nothing to enter. It was $3 to go in and look around. Things were very much like last year with the contest area separated from the vendors. The rooms were full of both models and vendors by the time judging started. I was told that there were over 450 entries. Maybe not a lot for some places, but for Quad Cities it was not bad.
One thing I really liked was that it was warm this time. Normally this contest is in March when it is cold and nasty. There were a very good selection of vendors offering all sorts of wares and while most were hobby shops, the deals were there to be had, even on the second day of the event. In particular was one vendor who was liquidating the assets of a closed shop and had all their wares on what looked like bread carts. Sort of a mini-maze that provided quite a few neat surprises. North American Hobbies, CRM Hobbies, Michigan Discount Hobbies, Milam Models and a few others of note were there as well.
The raffle offered 6 chances for $5. A nice selection of prizes were available and as I've done at other shows this year, I basically donated my raffle money, winning no kits, though I did get one dog-eared 'in action' and one old car model magazine for my $30. Raffles were held each hour from 10 or 11 until about 3 PM. In this case, you picked out of a box to determine your prize. No separation into categories, so it could be that you'd get something you didn't exactly want. No problem as I saw lots of trading and sales going on after prizes were picked. Overall it went well and is an improvement over previous years when it was a grab-fest.
Contest room was well lit with lots of room for entries. Some sections were basically devoid of subjects while others were full to the brim. There were 78 categories. I found a lone display table with one model on it. Had I known one was available, I'd have brought some stuff to put there.
Lots of restaurants were available within a short drive, and the hotel had a restaurant itself. There were sufficient places to sit and rest for those who didn't spend the entire time on their feet (as I usually do when I go to these things).
The contest hall was emptied around Noon-12.30 for judging to get underway. They were done around 3.30. However, none of our party knew if they'd won anything by 5PM when we left to return. You see, Quad Cities had a banquet for the event (tickets were sold out by the time we arrived Sat AM), and it was then that the awards were to be given.
Now I know that few Regional events do banquets any more as folks are anxious to get home, but Quad Cities did one. Makes me wonder how those without tickets would have been able to get their awards, even if they did wait until 8PM when the awards were given out. (I was later told that the awards ceremony was held in the vendor's room so banquet tickets were not required. Still makes me wonder about those folks not at the banquet who had to sit around for hours awaiting their awards.) Personally, I think this is not a good idea. If you want to have a banquet, fine. But at least give out the awards around 4 PM so those not attending the banquet (as those who couldn't get tickets) can have their awards in hand before they get on the road for the long drive home. As it was, we headed out about 5 PM and were back home around 10-10.30 PM that night.
I'll have to say that this is a show I try hard not to miss. It is always a good turnout in terms of vendors and entries. The folks at Quad Cities are friendly and helpful (though they did seem a bit strained by later in the afternoon). There were a number of special awards like their 'King of Battle' that seems to be a trademark from when they met in the armory. If you are able to attend next year's event, then by all means do so. You'll be glad you did.