This last weekend, IPMS Will Cook in extreme northeastern Illinois held their invitational event. Though their contest info may have been on a website, I had a flyer with a copy entry form that was picked up at an earlier event.

The event is held in the lunch room of an elementary school and has been every time I've attended. The club raises the display tables on sections of PVC pipe to make it easier to see the entries without having to bend over (and therefore deprive some viewers of 'big guy's butt cracks'). I was grateful. Along the edges of the lunch room are various vendors tables, using the lunch room tables, which is really great as this provides a place to sit during the awards ceremony after the vendors have packed up.

The registration was swift and well done with no personal information accompanying the entry to the contest tables. Entry fee was $10 for all you can bring and $4 for walk-ins. Juniors, were, I believe, $5. The club has 45 categories and while the flyer intimated that some might be split, for those few that had a quite large number of entries (1/72 aircraft and powered ships, come to mind), this did not occur. Several of the categories had no entries (1/48 German single engine prop, for instance), and several had fewer than three. In fact, the overall event seemed sparsely attended with only 126 entries. There were also a couple of dozen in a special 'Models that had won awards' category that was voted on by entrants and included several nationals awardees.

The club was selling sodas and muffins/donuts for 50 cents so no one could complain about going thirsty. The vendors were a nice mix of commercial concerns and folks selling off collections. I found several kits I was seeking at most reasonable prices. The raffle was outstanding. No dog awards with a huge pile of kits and accessories. Tickets were 6 for $5 and it seems everyone was able to get something nice. I know I won several nice Dragon and Trumpeter armor kits.

There was also a display of real military equipment out on the back lot with a nice Dodge staff car and other military paraphernalia from WWII. The club members are really first rate and made everyone feel welcome and at home. There were places to sit down when the feet got tired and a number of very nice restaurants close by.

Judging started at noon and the club asked for volunteers. The awards ceremony started at 4 PM and was over by 5. A bit long, but not unreasonable. A power point presentation accompanied the ceremony, but it was a generic presentation (no model photos) and went off without a glitch, much to my relief.  Due to the rather thin number of entries, most who entered were able to take home an award or two. I would hope that next year's event would attract more entries. One can blame fuel prices, but I think it was just because it was a very nice day and many had other things to do. Regardless, it was a fine event and I fully plan on attending next year.