This summer my father and I took a long road trip from Las Vegas to Omaha to attend the 2017 IPMS Nationals. Each of us brought many models to enter in competition against the Nation's most seasoned model builders.

The convention took place over 4 days. Each day was filled with various modeling seminars, talks, and tours. We were fortunate to attend some outstanding seminars on how to weather armor with oil paints, an impressive talk on scratch building from a true master, and a how-to clinic from Badger Airbrush on airbrush care and maintenance.

 This beautifully weathered scratch build has already graced the
cover of Fine Scale Modeler magazine.





There where many Games Workshop models entered in the competition.













 





 


 My local chapter put together this Star Wars group build.

The below Machinen Krieger diorama was my favorite build of the convention.


 




 













 

Part of the convention was a tour of the Strategic Air Command Museum just outside Omaha. Included in the private tour was a dinner under the belly of an SR-71 Blackbird. What a treat!

 


 








 















 Close up picture of items like this make for great reference when
scratch building details for your projects.


   

And back to the competition...
















 This helicopter was completely scratch built!





This collection of 1/72 scale armor was quite impressive.











and the winners are... okay so I only got pictures of some of the winners, but here they are.






and my models that took an award...





I encourage anyone interested in competing or even just observing to come by the 2018 IPMS Nationals to be held next year by my local chapter in Phoenix, Arizona.