IPMS Butch O'Hare, 13 November, 2004
For this part of the country, the last show of the year is the annual IPMS Butch O'Hare event. This is held just south of Chicago in a school in an upscale neighborhood. You know, the kind that has carpeting in the halls instead of linoleum or bare concrete. The event was held in the gym as it has every time I've attended.
Doors opened at 9AM and when I arrived a bit after, there was a small line at the registration table. Fee was $7 for the first model and a buck for each additional. There were tables available for those who needed to fill in their forms. No categories in this one other than the most basic (aircraft, armor, cars, figures, ships,juniors..) as the club uses AMPS or 'Modified Chicago' judging where each entry is judged based on a set of standards rather than against other modelers. I very much prefer this method as it is just patently more fair than the 1st, 2nd, 3rd method (no whining about 'sweeps'). Of course, it is also much more 'judging intensive' and despite starting to judge at 11 AM, they were still not finished by the 4 PM awards ceremony time. With this style judging, the judges can start as soon as the first model hits the table at 9AM and this might not be a bad idea.
The club offered all the show info and forms on their website. They had mailed me a packet earlier in the year with this and I simply scanned the forms. This way, I had them all filled out except for entrant number when I arrived. The form is cut in half with all personal info kept by the club. In that way, there is no name attached to the model at all.
Before heading for the show area, I purchased my usual batch of raffle tickets. 6 for $5 and over 200 prizes (actually, I think it was closer to 300). I managed to do well, though I have to confess that a number of the items won were less than premier. However, this is just the luck of the draw as there was a Trumpeter 1/32 F-105, Revell 1/72 U-boat, Academy 1/32 F-18 and a few other big prizes there. I'd suggested that it might not be a bad idea to ask entrants to go through their stashes for complete but unstarted kits to donate to the raffle. It would be a great way for folks to help out the local club as the raffle is a big part of most events.
Once in the gym, which was very well lit, there were contest tables at the front of the room and vendors in the back. The vendors tables were full and included both shops and individuals. CRM Hobbies, North American Hobbies, Dean's Hobbies, Paul Milam Models and Al's Hobbies were there with Al offering some incredible bargains. There were a number of other retail sellers there, but their names escape me. Needless to say, it was not difficult to scarf up on some deals and some rather hard to find things were available as well. Fine Scale Modeler was also there taking photos and offered some raffle prizes as Milwaukee isn't that far away.
The tables were full of superbly done models and that is what makes for a great show. Naturally, when one attends events in the same general area, one sees some items more than once, and this was no exception.
There were refreshments in the form of coffee, sodas and bakery goods offered for sale at most reasonable prices. Overall, the atmosphere is extremely friendly and one is made to feel welcome. I saw little more than smiling faces and happy people during the day, which was really nice. It also seemed that some of the rudeness had gone away as some of the folks who bumped into me actually said 'excuse me'. I was shocked but pleased.
In reference to bumping, either modelers are going to have to get rid of some butt and gut or the spaces between tables are going to have to be increased as things were rather tight. Even more so in the vendors areas. Though it happens all the time, it is more noticeable when things are tight, but there were the usual people carrying on general conversations while blocking the aisles and the usual modelers who plant themselves in front of their models and regale whomever is in earshot about what was done to their model. I see it everywhere and it never fails to amaze me!
There were oodles of places to eat within a few miles so finding good food wasn't a problem when it came time for lunch. I don't recall the club asking for help with judging so that means that they had enough on hand. I heard a few of the judges mention that they didn't enter the competition because they were judging. Things like this help to get rid of the 'home cooking' phenomena that is prevalent in some clubs, but I've not seen much of this behaviour at BOH. Besides, with the way judging is done, there isn't that much of that going on anyway.
I left a bit early, just before the awards ceremony, but with the large number of awardees, it is usually a bit longer than usual.
The Butch O'Hare event is the right way to cap off a season of shows. For me, they do everything right and other than the cramped aisles (which goes to show how popular the event is), I can find little to complain about. If you are in the area for next year's event, you really need to take the time to attend as you'll have a great time.