ModelRama 4

ModelRama 4

(…A unique, fun-filled plastic model show)

February 11, 2002

Three weeks ago on Saturday, January 19^th, I attended the ModelRama 4 Show. It was held at The National Conference Center at the Ramada Inn in East Windsor, New Jersey, (just off of Exit 8 on the N. J. Turnpike).

As the show’s title indicates, this was the fourth one that the organizer of the event, Tim Lingle has held. (It had been a number of years, though, since Tim’s previous ModelRama Show had taken place).

Getting Started

The morning of the show started out with a major question mark up in the air. A “substantial” snowstorm was scheduled to arrive in the area later on that day and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

However, at around 9:15 am, my eldest son Anthony and I got into the car and made our way up north to the show. We both had a number of models that we were bringing for the popular choice contest that was being held.

I had several sci-fi spacecraft – (the Jupiter 2 from the Lost In Space Movie and one of my Babylon-5 Starfuries), along with a large 1:6 scale Horizon DC Comics STEEL figure.

In addition, I had picked up two of Tommy Kortman’s kits the previous evening for the contest - (his 57’ Chrysler 300C and his USMC AAVP7A1 - Amphibious Assault Vehicle).

Anthony brought along with him three of the Gundams that he had built last year, along with a Liger Zero “model” (Zoid) that he had obtained from a Toys R Us store the day before. Anthony had promptly assembled the 125-part kit when he arrived home – nothing like enthusiasm for model building in kids to help them complete a kit. (Maybe I can borrow some of his)?

We arrived at the show at around 9:45, shortly after it had started. My first indication of what was in store for us was when we ran into fellow DVSM club member Bob Doebly in the parking lot. (It's nice running into a familiar face at an unfamiliar location).

Anthony and I unpacked our stuff and made our way into the Ramada Inn. In addition to the models, I had also brought along materials to conduct a clinic on Basic Seam Filling and Sanding.

A couple of minutes later we were in.

I paid the $5.00 per person admission fee, spoke a bit with Tim, and proceed to set up my models. The tables were already full, so finding room turned out to be a challenge. However, very shortly the models were out on display.

The Crowd, Attendees and Vendors

As I mentioned, it was real nice seeing a whole lot of familiar faces at the show. There were 6 or 7 members from the Central Jersey Plastic Modeler’s Society - (a club that I use to belong to) in attendance.

In addition, there were also around 11 Del Val members and their kids in attendance. Included were Craig Bennett, Fred Bowers (and his son Joshua), Jim Rosado (and his daughter Christiana and niece Andrea), Bob Doebly, Carmen Guzman, Ed Isnardi (and his daughter) and Ariel Hernanzez. In addition, there were probably some other club members on hand as well, (whose names I can't recollect - a thousand pardons, guys).

All in all, the crowd ended up numbering around 100, despite the threat of the approaching snowstorm.

I also recognized quite a few Vendors who were on hand, from model shows that I had attended in the past. There were probably around 6 – 8 vendors occupying 20 tables that were situated along the room’s perimeter.

The Contest – A Popular Choice with a Twist?

The contest that was held at this particular ModelRama Show was different from previous ones. While they had traditionally been popular choice contests, this go-round Tim decided to have categories set up according to the Modeler’s Skill Level, as opposed to the model’s subject matter. This, in effect found dissimilar types of models competing against each other.

The following categories were set up: a Junior Division, a Novice Division, an Intermediate Division, an Advanced Division, along with a Diorama Division, (that was opened to all skill levels).

Five individual awards were given out in each category, along with a Best of Show Winner.