Scale Model World 2020

[Howard of Effingham]

On decision for me for a variety of reasons given my experience of lockdown especially in school.

I will want to see what arrangements TIC and the Executive come up with with the local council.

My wallet will sing for joy if its cancelled though.

[Nick]

I was confident of SMW2020 happening until I read this piece on Facebook from an events organiser.
I know some of us have seen it but I'd best share it here for all to consider.

As part of my job involves herding the general public he does make some very relevant comments. The amount of changes we've had to make at work regarding Covid-19 is remarkable.

Chris Marston

The email which arrived last night from John (UKLO) is interesting reading, more so, as I am presently embroiled in the implications for organising and managing trade stands at other future events... coupled with that I am also involved in running community based events in village halls, where new legislation is horrendous, and that is before you factor in the compliance that a governing body for the sport or activity are now imposing upon clubs for their safe return.

However - I fully realise that the AEV (Event industry) information has got to be absorbed by TIC, who in turn have got to establish a format to make the venue COVID-secure, and get that approved; then pass that down to those who host events (eg IPMS) who then have to pass down to us (Clubs, SIGs, and Traders).

Links to event industry information for anyone wishing to peruse it:

https://www.aev.org.uk/.../Industry-All-Secure-Standard.pdf

https://www.essa.uk.com/covid19

https://www.aev.org.uk/__m.../COVID-EGUIDE-APPENDIX-2020.pdf

This industry information takes time for everyone to implement, and time is also ebbing away fast now to get this in place in the next 8 or so weeks.

It is a knock on effect .... BUT until the venue can issue you some guidelines and we all gain an insight on what you as a society are even thinking of what you would consider doing in a cutdown form – it is not easy to confirm whether we club/sig/trader would want to attend. I am sure I am not alone in thinking this?

New risk assessments are going to be needed by all. I am sure the TIC will insist on those, like village halls are, and governing sports associations are when relying on them for the insurance!)

But, I know from comments on forums that many have already decided "No to 2020" come-what-may.

Attending is not a cheap weekend – just with the essentials such as petrol, meals, hotels etc.

But If you have got to queue for ages to get near any and all traders, the interaction and on-spec aspect of mingling and buying is going to be reduced, and consequently traders are going to take a hefty hit in reduced sales via a lack of impulse and on-spec purchases from the few who are there.

A major part of the weekend for many especially SIGs is meeting up and catching up over a beer with people you haven't seen for ages. If chairs and seating are reduced, both behind display areas, and in-food/beverage areas – where are people going to sit – the floor is not really an option.

What are the implications for displays – and soft surfaces such as fabric; and the need for perspex?along with the cleaning we will have to do?

Is the one-way aspect going to mean that to get from hall 2 to hall 3, you have got to go via hall 1 and out and round and back in again, in a loop – race-track style. How about if you want to just go to the toilet? Getting from one side of a hall to the other and down that long corridor, which must surely be only one-way as it is narrow.

The queuing up and limiting access to traders will mean less impulse buying as those present will just not be able to get to see and ponder the same as previous years, and leaves me, at least; and I am sure I am not alone in thinking – I might just as well order with those same traders, but do so from home this year, and save myself the hassle.

What will the access and setup implications be? and how many we can have around a display, or how we can get models in from those who are not part of the setup crew – Will there be limits on getting in and moving things from cars for setup?

It is going to take an awful lot of effort from a reduced few to fill 12 x 4 spaces (which is why you are asking us to take less space). Where will the rest of the members get to rest, what time will they be allowed in? It will not be much fun for them, if they have to have timed slots for throughout day and get allocated mid afternoon, and have paid out for a weekend away.

For many Telford is a dedicated 3-day 2-night weekend away due to distance; it is not somewhere you just nip to for a couple hours like combining a trip into town to your local modelshop with a trip to Marks and Spencers over an afternoon.

Who is going to manage and marshall all of this? Who will be required to provide all the anti-bac handstuff everywhere? How will you ensure everyone is compliant and doing it throughout the day?

Managing a ticketed pre-booking and pre-organised entry system – if I need to go back to car for some reason; will I have lost my entry allocation and be at back of queue for getting back in again ?

One in one out like the supermarkets are??

I appreciate – that there is a lot in the air, and there is still a lot that clubs and SIGs will have to do to be compliant if it should go ahead ....

There really is just TOO much to do, in such a little time now. Organise a virtual show this year, Surely the TIC know you cannot do all this in such a short timeframe, when you are not doing this in a professional capacity and all have other lives/jobs etc.

My personal view – the event should be cancelled/curtailed/heldover/whatever word is appropriate to 2021.

But, once I know more, on what you are thinking of doing, I can advise further.

[Howard of Effingham]

Thanks Nick for sharing that.

Useful to do and no i had not seen it before.

[Mossie]

I understand the difficulties, I'm involved in putting together changes at work so we can bring students back.  The list is mind boggling.

Given that the government has announced they're 'pressing the break' on relieving lockdown I think it's going to be difficult for SMW to go ahead.

[Martin H]

After a quick poll of the SIG membership in the SIG members area of the forum to gauge opinions, It has been decided that the IPMS(UK)What if? SIG will withdraw from this years event. Thats if it even goes ahead.

That means our next display at Scale modelworld will be in November 2021.

[NARSES2]

Just to say I've already had  8 responses to the notification I've sent out on Martin's behalf and all were understanding and supportive. Half were not planning on attending anyway

[Howard of Effingham]

After a quick poll of the SIG membership in the SIG members area of the forum to gauge opinions, It has been decided that the IPMS(UK)What if? SIG will withdraw from this years event. Thats if it even goes ahead.

That means our next display at Scale modelworld will be in November 2021.

Thanks Martin. 

That seals it for me.

See you at SMW2021.

[NARSES2]

Had a few more responses, all supportive.

[Thorvic]

Project Cancelled have officially withdrawn,neither Joe or myself were willing to take the risk,and frankly with the restrictions being mooted, should it go ahead than i fear it would be such a disappointing and frustrating let down of what we expect SMW.

Hopefully see you guys in 2021, but that is far from certain

[The Wooksta!]

Having spoken to the branch secretary of my local club (first meeting back was yesterday), unless TIC actually cancel the event (and if IPMS did that, the cost would run into thousands), we as a branch are going.  He's willing, so am I and whoever else in the club is up for it too.

This means that there will be some sort of WHIF SIG presence.  I'll try to make sure that it isn't just Spitfires.

[Martin H]

Ive just had an email from the IPMS exsec.
Quoted in its entrity

Dear Branch and SIG leaders
Below is a press release announcing the cancellation of Scale ModelWorld 2020, this is not a decision that has been taken lightly by the EC.
As things stand now we will be starting to plan for 2021 sooner rather than later, I would imagine that most of your members have more than the average new builds due to the lockdown situation and with an extra year to prepare I envisage 2021 being a really spectacular show. I would like to thank all of you who replied to my request for confirmation of attending and will reassure those who made the completely reasonable decision not to and that they will not suffer any penalties at SMW 2021 as a result.
Best regards and stay safe.
John White(UKLO)


   

IPMS (UK) – The Society for Scale Modellers



MEDIA RELEASE

25 August 2020

Cancellation of Scale ModelWorld 2020       



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     

[kitbasher]

Yep, e-mail just arrived.  No surprise really.

[PR19_Kit]

That's that then.

Not really surprising of course.

[kitbasher]

So should Nick's idea of a socially-distanced SIG gathering be pursued?

[Howard of Effingham]

So should Nick's idea of a socially-distanced SIG gathering be pursued?

I think it should.