The IPMS Bolton showcase is in my opinion, the best one-day show in the UK. It’s perfect mix of clubs societies and traders draws in a huge number of enthusiasts, helping to create a vibrant, friendly and often memorable event.
19th January 2025
I mentioned yesterday that I was going to be at the Bolton show today and so that proved to be the case. Accompanied by my good friend Haris Ali, we made the hour and half journey up into the North West of England to not only experience all that the show had to offer, but also the almost Baltic weather when we arrived! My God it was bloody freezing! Fortunately, we only had to deal with the walk to and from the car, unlike seemingly hundreds of people that had a set up a huge car boot sale in one of the arena’s car parks and would thus spend the morning in the freezing cold. Seriously, how much would you have to want to sell your odds and sods, to stand in -3 degree temperatures, at 8.30am on a Sunday morning?!
As usual, the event was superb. No doubt helped by being the first date in the diary each year the IPMS Bolton showcase is in my opinion, the best one-day gathering in the UK. It’s perfect mix of clubs societies and traders, draws in a huge number of enthusiasts, helping to create a vibrant friendly and often memorable event. This year was no different in that regard, allowing everyone to see plenty talk a lot and undoubtedly, part with a few pennies to add kits and materials to their collections.
This year included one of those ‘what the hell?’ moments thanks to a chance conversation with my good friend Ian Hartup. Having started to chat about natural metal finishes, Ian pointed out that Tamiya’s LP72 Mica Silver was a direct equivalent to my much-loved AS-12 Bare Metal Silver from their aerosol range. The same, just bottled. But there was more. He also then revealed that their LP48 Sparkling Silver, rather than being a metal-flake finish that was useful when painting cars, was in fact, Chrome.
Having pointed that out to a rather incredulous audience, he brought over one of his superb car models to reveal four of the most perfectly chromed wheels I have ever seen. Mind. Blown. Here, over a polished gloss black basecoat, was a truly stunning finish that I could only conclude, had a mass of applications, and not just during the creation of car models. My immediate thought was, if only had this bloody paint when I was painting my Airfix 1/48 Bulldog…
This highlighted a number of points that I felt worthy of further comment. Firstly, that it is always great to talk to other modellers because you never know what snippets of information they will impart during those often, all-too brief chats. Secondly, Tamiya sort yourselves out. That name on those bottles is rubbish and really misleading! If only a handful of people are aware that it is a chrome paint and the rest of us assume it is of no use, you are missing a massive trick! Tell us what it is, after all you aren’t so shy to label your standard acrylic X11 as Chrome Silver, so why not your new lacquer?!
To everyone who came over and spoke to us today, thank you! Thanks especially to Ian for the advice, AnnMarie for the quiche and Mike Richardson for kindly returning a book to me that was sent out in error.
What a great day. See you again tomorrow.
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: WHY HAVE I NEVER BUILT A LIGHTNING?
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A TRIP TO BRISTOL…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: A RELAXING DAY…
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: HOW MANY MORE KITS DO I HAVE, HALF STARTED?!
- A MODELMAKER’S LIFE: 2025 ALL WRAPPED UP!
Spenser Lucky to escape with 1-1 with the saints. Still very good reading your daily comments and the last book…
Wow! I built a dozen back around 1980. Entered them as a collection at the IPMS USA Nationals. Didn’t win…
Yes, stop procrastinating……build a Lightning🤣
Who knows, you might even consider publishing another bookazine on building the BAC Lightning as well?
I am glad that the man was talked down. It’s definitely hard to see without knowing the outcome, until later.…
SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
MDP had a full range of the LP paints, except LP48. I wonder where those went?
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Agreed, Bolton would ordinarily be the first show of the year. This year it wasn’t. Here in deepest Kent we all headed across to Airfix HQ in Margate (Hornby Visitor Centre) for their first ever ‘Wonder Works’ Model Show – on the Saturday 18/01.
More here
https://falkeeinsmodel.blogspot.com/
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I started using Tamiya LP-11 lacquer for bare metal finishes (if I recall, it was your suggestion, Spencer) and I love the stuff. If laid down on a good primer, you can mask it ’til the cows come home and it won’t pull off the model’s surfaces. I used to rely on Humbrol 11 metallic for “shiny” metal surfaces, but Humbrol must have changed their formula for that paint because later tins I purchased didn’t seem to have quite the luster as the old ones I had on my workbench. It is good to see Tamiya coming out with new paints, and since I have used lacquer thinner for over 65 years to thin everything from enamel paints to Tamiya’s acrylics, the new lacquers are a welcome addition to Tamiya’s paint line.
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