“This event could very well be the largest scale model convention and contest ever to be held in North Carolina. The scope of this event is tremendous,” says Sam  Morgan of the  local modelers’ society.

“We’re expecting several hundred participants and anywhere from 500 to 750 scale models of everything under the sun from science fiction to dinosaurs, from cars, trucks, aircraft, and military vehicles to sailing ships and submarines.

“People attending for the first time are usually astounded by the three-dimensional works of art all around them. One of our members is scratch-building a one-to-one scale of R2D2 out of foamcore and illustration board. We’ll have members dressed in “Star Wars” Stormtrooper attire as well to go along with our science/sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk theme. It’s going to be a hoot!”

When: The International Plastic Modelers Society Arm/Air Chapter’s 20th Scale Model Convention is Saturday. Registration begins at 9 a.m., awards will be presented around 5 p.m. and the public is invited to come and check it all out.

Where: First Ministry Center (the old YMCA), 220 N. Fulton St.

Theme: Science Fiction/Fantasy/Steampunk

Categories: There will be  54 different categories under the headings of Space/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Steampunk; Figures; Scenics; Ships; Novice; Automotive; Aircraft; and Military Vehicles.

Major awards will be presented for the best in each category, plus a Judges’ Grand Award.

This International Plastic Modelers Society chapter was founded in 1973 and the second oldest in North Carolina. The men first met at the Hobby Shop in Salisbury, then the Chartreuse Caboose. The chapter’s name changed to IPMS Arm/Air in 1977, when members seemed evenly divided in their interests between armor and aircraft.

For many years, the modelers’ group was as strong as the hobby shops they supported. With the disappearance of independent toy stores and hobby shops, few young people know anything about scale models and, likewise, have no clue the Arm/Air Chapter exists.

The Arm/Air Chapter meets twice a month at the Spencer fire station — at 1:30 p.m. on the first Sunday and 7 p.m. on the third Friday.

To learn more about the convention and IPMS Arm/Air Chapter, contact Sam Morgan at samiam262@carolina.rr.com

In additon, see the Mark Wineka/Jon Lakey story at: http://www.salisburypost.com/2015/04/23/some-assembly-required-scale-modelers-share-a-passion/#sthash.pDJ5lPYV.dpuf