Modellbrno 2013

The only thing I don't like about Modellbrno is driving from Prague to Brno   It's the worst highway I know ... with "speed bumps" (cracks in the orad) every 10 meters - and this for 200 kms - from Prague to Brno   But once I got to the exhibition grounds - all was forgotten   Outside were several army displays of military material of the last big war   Including a fully functional Kübelwagen   You could eat something - if you didn't mind queueing in the hot sun (again 30+ degrees C)   There was an old operational steam train - first steam train I ever saw in action   But we were here for the little models - inside one of the big exhibition halls   Every 2 years KPM Brno organizes Modellbrno - one of the biggest model shows on the European continent   A lot of awards to be won...   A real OT-64 "Skot" A type you don't see that much at scale model exhibitions - certainly not in the 1/1 scale   And a Spitfire ! Really ! It was a very awesome sight in a model show exhibition - even if it was a very realistic replica   Model clubs from all over Europe had a spot   KPM Bratislava promoting their exhibition "Plastic Winter" - held at the end of the year   A Model club from nearby Poland - which is only about 100 kms north   The Panthers, from Prague region (Prosek in fact)   HPH promoting their models   Including a new 1/32 scale Me-410   But I still like their 1/48 scale Beagle   Eduard had a large corner - were you could shop around happily   And were you could subscribe to their Bunny Fighter club   A lot of promotion for their new 1/48 scale Spitfire kit - of course...   Including a beer ! With a Spitfire replica in the room - and a beer... I have to conclude Czech model shows are the best in the world Mr Eduard himself, Vladimir Sulc, was serving the beer   MPM folks   Yes - finally the new Caproni Ca.310 in Italian markings was available This was at the top of my buying list   Kora models   Time to start taking pictures   To be honest I felt completely lost It was all too much Too many magnificent models - and I only had 2 or 3 hours   This was most of the aircraft section... Oh boy !   I was walking around numb - not knowing where to start So eventually I started clicking away in the 1/72 scale helicopters category 1/72 Canadian EH-101 Cormorant (Italeri) in lovely colours - it put me right in the mood   Something quite unusual - I had never seen (nor heard of) before - a Zeppelin Staaken E-4/20 in 1/72 scale Apparently the first 4-engined all-metal heavier-than-air aircraft ever built It was a Classic Plane & scratch build project   Iljušin Il-62 - in 1/72 scale - and I can tell you it is BIG Probably the resin HPH kit   Another type I like - the Iljušin Il-18... also in 1/72 scale - from A-Model   Yes, somebody really liked Iljušin types... the Iljušin Il-76 Md - in 1/72 scale Though this is the A-Model kit   An 1/72 scale Yak-18 with open engine - splendid work on the A-Model kit   Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk.I R7205 - in 313 Free Czechoslovak squadron markings Note the plates obscuring the exhaust flames - first time I see these on a Spitfire   1/72 Dornier Do-217N-1 from Italeri   Another 1/72 Airfix Spitfire, this time the Mark 22 - note the very fine rivetting   Ta-152C-0 prototype in 1/72 scale - from Dragon   A real classic, the Matchbox PB4Y-2 Privateer in 1/72 scale   With hand painted pin-up nose art   Fw-190 in the snow... somewhere in Hungary... in 1/72 scale Again a fabulous (rivetting) job   The Italeri Macchi Mc.205 Veltro (1/72 scale)   Czech model shows always have some oddball types in the contest I just love them A Brewster Bermuda from Special Hobby - in 1/72 scale   Tamiya P-47M bubbletop (1/72 scale)   Heinkel He-111H-8 cable cutter - the 1/72 Hasegawa kit   The all new P-51D - from Airfix - 1/72 scale - looking fantastic   1/72 Heinkel He-111H-6 with an attractive scheme displaying a white fuselage   A Flying Barrel - or a Grumman F3F-3 - from MPM (1/72)   Tupolev ANT-6A - 1/72 - ICM kit Very Impressive Work Indeed   A conversion job on the Revell/Monogram 1/48 kit - a He 111E A type you rarely see in this bigger scale   Petlajkov Pe-3bis in Finnish markings in 1/48 scale - nice build from the MPM kit Note the ski's   What you can do with a Tamiya Dora in 1/48 scale - love it !   Curtiss Hawk 75a in French colors (1/48 scale Academy kit)   And an Eduard (Airfix reboxing) Spitfire Mk.22 in Syrian Air Force markings (1/48)   Red 754 - an awesome build of a MiG-25RBT in 1/48 scale - from Revell I almost confused the Bulgarian Air Force markings for Soviet Air Force markings   The Revell Junkers Ju-52 in 1/48 scale - it's BIG   Adolf Galland his Me-109E-4 in 1/48 scale - Eduard kit An award winning model   First time I see the 1/48 scale Roden OV-1A Mohawk kit build in Very nice display work   An A4SU Super Skyhawk (1/48) - in Republic of Singapore Air Force markings   Sukhoi Su-33 Sea Flanker - build from the 1/48 Academy kit - with the SOL conversion   A pretty sharp Jet Provost - build from the 1/48 Fly kit   Two Czechoslovak MiG-21s - left an MF version, right an MFN version - both Eduard kits in 1/48 scale   I liked the missile carrier   1/48 scale MiG-19 wreck... I almost overlooked this fabulous model - really !   Moving to the 1/144 scale contest tables   Antonov An-12 in 1/144 - in Rus Air markings I loved that dirty rear fuselage   There were even more models in the 2 Junior categories - definitely more then 100   No time to take pictures of them all - but I liked this display with 1/144 scale MiGs   I had only one hour left - and some people were already packing up So I moved to the military vehicles tables - starting with the small scales   1/72 KV-I - from Trumpeter - in a clean and perfect display   A Su-122 in 1/72 scale - in a very original winter camo scheme   An abandonned KV-2 in 1/72 scale Note the soldiers on the horses...   1/72 Faun ZR + tank transporter with a Pz.38(t) Build from the Planet Models and the UM kit Note the removed engine panel   Sd.Kfz 9 Famo with an 88mm Flak - in 1/72 scale   An 1/72 scale BA-6 from Al.by in Spanish civil war colors - loved the animals   Mark IV male - the 1/72 scale Emhar kit   Tatra 6500/111 in 1/35 scale - from Hauler   1/35 scale Morris Commercial CS8 + QF2 pounder   Caterpillar D9R from Varja Models (1/35 scale)   Mercedes L-3000 - in France 1940 - in 1/35 scale   Airbase Bagram (Afghanistan 1981) MAZ-537L in 1/35 scale - from Trumpeter   Nice work on this 1/35 Elefant & crew   E-25 in 1946 - from Trumpeter (1/35)   A Tamiya 1/35 scale Jagdtiger & crew   1/72 scale CV-33s in company of English soldiers   Always good to see the 1/76 scale Bedford truck from Airfix   1/35 scale Polish Army 1944 improvised armored car "Kubus" by ToRo Model   I took a small break to get a drink - which I really needed   Back to work - at the diorama categories - which were the tables with always lots of people around them Very difficult to get pictures of the models Subject speaks for itself.... The Secret of Hangar 5 (1/48 scale)   1/48 scale ICM Yak-7A in a snow diorama I loved the snowman - especially since it was 30+ degrees C outside...   Most original diorama... Salata brata Silesiana - from Aero B a Lidl (famous discount store chain)   An 1/72 scale Luftwaffe Hangar   Bob & Bobek - from Eduard (1/144 scale) All joking aside - that's some nice weathering on that MiG   1/87 scale Skoda 706 MTTN - from MM Brno   I have a soft spot for these old trucks Great weathering on this 1/87 scale Tatra T-138 - also from MM Brno   Tatra T-111S - again in HO scale   Moving over to the figurines With this little tank lady   Soldiers on investigation   I liked this one - nice original work   Soldiers getting a free ride on a Panzer IV   Very fine paint work on that dress   The Pirates of the Somali Sea....   A diorama based on a painting Another first for me   Les dernières cartouches A famous painting - representing a scene from the Battle of Bazeilles during the Franco-Prussian War (1870)   1/24 scale Trabant mit Dachzelt - neat !   Chevy Cameo from AMT - in 1/25 scale   1/720 scale Graf Zeppelin - from Revell   I liked this 1/720 scale Gato submarine display   IJN Type A midget submarine - from Finemolds   Splendid work in close up   There were several big scale Japanese warships All astonishing work   Molga Zoid - from Kotobukyia   Ornitoptera - from Industriamechanika Note the cockpit - and the steam engine.... I guess this is SteamFly modeling ?   More and more people were packing up - it was time to go home   ... after having spend some money AZ Model did a promotion - buy 2 - get 3 kits   So I got myself these 3 kits all together for 600 CZK - which is 23 Euro   From RS Models I picked up these two boxes   And from MPM I bought these - incl the Caproni... It was a very tiring day - I was overwhelmed like never before on a model show Next time I really need to schedule myself more time   All comments, remarks, suggestions and especially corrections (about pictures or my English) are welcome... since this page was put together rather in a hurry Thank you

William De Coster / Belgium e-mail  Page created : 21 August 2013 Page edited : 27 August 2013