Thousands attend Scale Model World show at Telford - with pictures and video

Scale Model World, by the International Plastic Modellers Society, was held at Telford International Centre, and was said by organisers to be the biggest yet.

About 10,000 people are expected to have visited over the weekend, to take in the 160 traders stalls, 170 displays from modelling clubs and also see some of the 30 to 40 overseas clubs who travel in to take part.

Publicity Manager, John Tapsell said this year had seen over 1,100 entries into the annual competition, from about 26 different countries.

Among the clubs with stalls was the Shropshire Scale Modellers, who meet at Horsehay Village Hall. There, members were displaying model aircraft, dioramas, cars and a host of other static models.

Member Andrew Tomlinson, from Newport, said the club had been coming to the exhibition in Telford for 20 years.

Mr Tomlinson said: "It is excellent, it runs over two days but you really need three days to see everything.

"I believe this year has been record breaking on Saturday with the number of visitors.

"Every year the Telford club assists with the show's exhibitions and setting up."

Trying his hand out at some modelling was Alexander Barker, 5, from just outside Colchester in Essex.

He was at the event with mother Samantha and father Guy.

Samantha said: "My husband has been coming here since the 80s, and his father as well. Alexander has been coming for five years.

"We go all over the country. Alexander loves it, it is a weekend away, he enjoys the whole event."

Lorenzo Lazzarini had come from Italy. He said he has been visiting the show for the past five years.

He said: "I am a model man, I build anything.

"The show is very nice, it is very interesting."

Martin Hronsky and his girlfriend had come from Slovakia to take part. They were in England for five days and would be seeing the sites after spending the weekend at the show.

He said: "She makes cars, I like ships bit they are difficult to transport."

Mr Tapsell said attendance was up, but in line with previous years.

He said they were very pleased with the quality of exhibits that had been entered into the competition this year, of which 40 per cent came from overseas.

This year was the 50th that the show has been held and initially started as a national competition but has got bigger and bigger.

He said he thought the competition, and the social element of the show, combined with all the trades stalls was what made it such a success.

As the event always falls on remembrance weekend, Mr Tapsell said next year, organisers would be planning something special.

He said: "We always have a minutes silence and to hear an exhibition of this size fall silent is always one of the elements that make the show."

One of the category winners was 25-year-old Ricardo Pedro, originally from Portugal but now living in Ireland.

He only began his hobby a year ago, but won best civilian vehicle for his Alfa Romeo model.

He said: "I started in November last year when I came to Ireland and the weather is not that great and I like to do something with my hands.

"I chose this model because it is my dream car."

All of the winners from each category go together before an overall show champion is picked, which, this year was a a silver Spitfire.