2003 International Paper Modelers Convention

The Card Modelers Online table right after setup on Froday evening, with sample articles for visitors to read, examples of downloadable models reviewed in the "First Looks" column or in other articles, and a collection of built up models, including several reviews in recent issues of the e-zine. Card Modelers Online sponsored a free raffle, with tickets going to anyone who stopped by the display for a chat (and a recruiting pitch for reviewers).

Exhibitors and other early arrivers gathered on Friday evening to set up their displays and renew acquaintances. Here, Alan Wheeler and Tom Pleiner greet each other.

Ralf Schnurbusch setting up the Lighthouse Models display. He and Pete Heesch of H&B Precision Card Models shared a long display area, centered around an impressive display of Wilhelmshaven ship models, many of which were build by Ralf.

The Wilhelmshaven display case (before even more ships were added).

More of the H&B / Lighthouse Models display area.

Peter Ansoff greets visitors at the entrance to the exhibit area. Admission was free, and every visitor who wanted one received a free model.

Rick Steffers of cardmodels.net enjoys a "building break" as the visitors start to arrive.

Steve Brown of Card Modelers FAQ reknown kept busy throughout the convention, whether taking pictures or building a Fiddlers Green Hellcat at his exhibit table.

Al Wheeler (foreground) set up a beautiful display of Fiddlers Green aircraft, Ralph Currell rockets and other items next to Roman Detyna and the Digital Navy display.

Roman Detyna's Digital Navy offerings gathered a lot of attention from visitors -- understandably so. It was an impressive display. I enjoyed an opportunity to talk with Roman about his designs and his plans for upcoming models.

The Bensons had a wonderful and very eclectic display, ranging from large commercial architectural models to small "freebies" of road building equipment. The unbelievably complex USS Monitor model from PMI sat side by side with the tiniest passenger train I've ever seen. All of their work was impeccably done.

Robert Tauxe's display showed what can be done with silver paper for aircraft modeling. He also showed some prototype Micromodel-like designs of modern cityscapes, as well as some beautiful pioneer era aircraft. The red telephone in the background is from Kell Black's display.

Tom Pleiner flew in from Germany for the convention, and for a personal introduction to his Prinz Eugen design, just released by CFM. It comes in a daunting, centimeter thick A3 format book. Here Tom autographs a copy for Newlon Tauxe.

Photo courtesy of Steve Brown

Buying new models is always a part of the IPMC. Here several visitors (and Jeff Cwiok, who had his own display table) pour through the H&B stock, assisted by Ralf Schnurbusch and Pete Heesch (visible in the mirror). A common topic of conversation is the impact of the conference on the deteriorating (i.e., growing) buy-to-build ratio of most card modelers' collections.

Pete Heesch helps Rick Steffers and Jeff Cwiok part with a few more dollars at the H&B table.

Dave Caldwell and Tim Ryan ("Chauncy") held the fort for Fiddlers Green this year, with loads of "supersize" models on display, along with some of the new FG book style publications (lighthouses in particular). Here Dave helps a visitor to the FG display.

A. G. Smith has designed dozens of card model books for Dover Publications. He was a featured speaker on Saturday morning, and shared with us some of the problems and rewards of freelance card model design for a major publishing house. His display included most of the Dover books still in print, along with some finished models and a wonderful prototype Stonehenge.

The "make-n-take" table is always a big hit with the smaller visitors. It was busy throughout this year's convention.

More of the make-n-take table. Peter Ansoff stops by to chat and make sure the table is well stocked with free models.

As usual, Kell Black was there to show us that paper could be a wonderful three-dimensional medium for artistic creativity. He offered a number of his whimsical "rooms," along with some tongue-in-cheek mounted "bugs," a red hot-line "phone" and other treats.

Tony Cole took the prize for traveling the greatest distance to attend -- from Japan. Tony had a magnificent display of extinct animals, all done in colored craft paper, all of his own design, and all beautifully constructed with almost invisible seams formed from interlocking tabs. None of the models have so far been published, but there was tremendous interest in seeing them made available to the card modeling community.

The dodo, extinct in the 17th century, was the largest and most impressive of Tony's exhibit. Though constructed of relatively lightweight craft paper, the models held their shape extremely well despite the size.

The highlight of the Saturday banquet is always the auction, held to raise funds to help defray the cost of the following year's convention. This year's auction was the most successful ever, raising over $700 toward the 2004 gathering.

Mad Ludwig's castle, part of the H&B display.

Peter Zorn could attend only on Saturday, but brief as it was, his exhibit displayed some of the most remarkable creations in card that I have seen. It even had me asking if it was "really paper." Take his uncovered Bleriot. Apart from the rigging and some piping, it was completely constructed of paper!

Photo courtesy of Steve Brown

Some additional detail of Peter's Bleriot.

This is Peter Zorn's MG chassis (yes, it's paper...), still in progress. Peter talked about his design and construction techniques to a standing room only audience during the presentation session on Saturday morning.

Peter's MG Magnette.

Group photo of the convention attendees.

Photo courtesy of Steve Brown