Scale Model World 2020 announcement

[peebeep]

It is with a great deal of regret that IPMS (UK) has to announce that Scale ModelWorld 2020 has been cancelled.

The level of uncertainty regarding the long term impact of Covid 19 means that despite our best efforts, it will not be possible to hold the event as scheduled on 7th and 8th November 2020. This will be the first time we have had to cancel our annual IPMS (UK) national show since our inaugural ‘National Championships’ took place in 1967. The decision has been a tough one to make but it is clearly the right one in these circumstances.

Over the past four months IPMS (UK) has considered several different formats in order to allow us to host Scale ModelWorld in some form. We have engaged with the traders who were planning to attend Scale ModelWorld as well as our extensive Branch and Special Interest Group network to seek their views on a number of aspects relating to the show. We would like to thank both the traders and our Branch and SIG Leaders for all the constructive and positive feedback we have received.

We have also continued to maintain contact with the Southwater Event Group, the company that operates The International Centre in Telford where Scale ModelWorld has been held since 1998. IPMS (UK) and the Southwater Event Group have a close working relationship, developed over the last two decades and this has allowed us to explore a range of options. Unfortunately, the rapidly changing Covid-19 situation in the United Kingdom during late July and early August has made it abundantly clear that despite our best efforts, neither party can offer any confidence that it will be possible to hold Scale ModelWorld in any form this year.

We are therefore extremely grateful to the Southwater Event Group for offering us the opportunity to cancel this year’s show with no financial penalty. At the same time, we are renewing our relationship to cover the next three years and are rolling over our deposit payment from 2020 towards that end.

Finally, the Executive Committee would like to express their thanks and appreciation for the level of confidence and support expressed to us by so many members of IPMS (UK) and the wider modelling community in these difficult times. We are sorry that we will have to disappoint everyone who was looking forward to attending Scale ModelWorld 2020 but also reassured that you appreciate the work we have undertaken to try and make it happen.

We look forward to seeing everyone again on 13th and 14th November 2021.

The IPMS (UK) Executive Committee

[Kidge]

Some sad news to wak up to...I was planning to make the trip up for the first time this year but 2021 will be bigger and better i imagine. 😀

[Peter s]

Sad but sadly also predictable... Frankly I'm writing this year off, trying not to plan so much as a haircut in advance and just doing what I can on a day to day basis. If you book anything odds are you'll end up disapointed and out of pocket. We can't afford a second lockdown so large gatherings simply aren't going to be allowed any time soon. Fingers crossed it blows over soon and 2021 is a bit more normal. 

[DavidJC]

Sad news but inevitable.

 

There would have to have been so many restrictions in place - social distancing, one way systems for instance which would have been impossible to keep to - as well as international traders and visitors, many of which are under their own restrictions, would have made the show so small and/or impossible to be viable.

[Cliverdee]

Correct decision.... I joined IPMS last year and even though a solitary modeller it was worth the cost just to get into Scalemodelworld free and without queuing in the rain.... I renewed my membership during this August despite fully expecting Telford to be cancelled so it was no surprise to hear of its cancellation. Would I have renewed? ... yes of course, as support for the guiding body for plastic modelling is crucial to keep our hobby going on the national & international stage. I would not have gone to Telford  this year anyway as my wife has had to be shielding and due to the inevitable close proximity to others... but fully hope we will all be back Novemmber 2021 ... fingers crossed all vaccinated!