2024 IPMS/USA Nationals. July 17-21 in Madison, Wisconsin.

[kerick]

The only schedule information I've seen is the screenshot picture below. I'm thinking that judging of models will mostly take place on Friday after 5pm and Saturday after 4pm.

From what I can make out the vendor and model rooms close at four. I'm not sure that's right, it's very hard to read.

[philp]

Friday night it closes at 5 for Judging.  That usually runs to about midnight.

Saturday it closes at 4.  Some awards will be placed with the winners while it is closed and the Banquet and Awards Ceremony take place.  The model room will open after the Awards Ceremony and all models need to be picked up Saturday night.

[buzzbomb]

Well clearly my plans for the USA Nationals this year did not work out.. so I now have 2025 on the drawing board... in Virginia if the internet is to be believed.

Have a stellar time and spend heaps on stuff you may not need, but just might have to have 

[kerick]

2026 will be in South Bend IN. Pretty near me so that will be a go!
Spent plenty in Madison but each thing has a connection to the Junkyard Dog or another project in my mind. That way lies madness and a sort of hoarding!

Seadude; I saw your USS Wisconsin and it looked as great as ever.
I didn't enter anything as I didn't think I was up to snuff. Each model there was absolutely top notch and inspiring!

[seadude]

The 2025 IPMS/USA Nationals will be held in Hampton, Virginia. I don't know the exact date though.
The 2026 Nationals will be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

As much as I'd love to go to the Nats next year in Hampton, it is just too far away and would cost too much. It would be great to go as it's near so many military/naval areas with probably lots of ships to see. Plus the USS Wisconsin museum is in that area. Would love to take all my Iowa battleship models to that event as I'd bet people would love them.

I didn't win any awards, but that's ok. Just knowing that the Nats was in my home state of Wisconsin and that I was able to finally go to a Nats (My first one actually.) was award enough for me. Now I can cross it off my bucket list.

@philp:
Two items.
1. The awards ceremony/presentation really needed to be shorter. A LOT shorter.
2. Couldn't the lighting in the larger contest room (Aircraft, Ships, etc.) have been brighter?

[kerick]

The 2025 IPMS/USA Nationals will be held in Hampton, Virginia. I don't know the exact date though.
The 2026 Nationals will be held in

The 2025 IPMS/USA Nationals will be held in Hampton, Virginia. I don't know the exact date though.
The 2026 Nationals will be held in Fort Wayne, IN

@philp:
Two items.
1. The awards ceremony/presentation really needed to be shorter. A LOT shorter.
2. Couldn't the lighting in the larger contest room (Aircraft, Ships, etc.) have been brighter?

Fort Wayne is correct. I spoke too soon.
I hope to attend and enter some builds.

[seadude]

Here is a photo gallery that someone created of most of the models that were at the 2024 Nationals.
https://www.svsmgallery.com/Top-level/Contests/IPMS-USA-Nationals-2024?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2K855dFt60RkjQE8AINWKfLHxUugr3ZtlOoL5_H56HYvQvIgOPxGWways_aem_NbyXeZuUDErpXezVmC7yRA

[The Rat]

Hampton is an eleven and a half hour drive for me, basically a walk in the park for someone who lives in Ontario!    So I'm tempted to go...

[zenrat]

...Two items.
1. The awards ceremony/presentation really needed to be shorter. A LOT shorter.
2. Couldn't the lighting in the larger contest room (Aircraft, Ships, etc.) have been brighter?

Goes for the Australian Model Expo as well.  I can forgive the length of the awards ceremony as I can't see how they could make it quicker.
The lighting is abysmal though.  I know it comes with the hall but surely some portable work lights could be "obtained".
Sponsorship maybe?  Coates Hire is just up the road.  It'd be good exposure for them to all those MEN.

[philp]

The 2025 IPMS/USA Nationals will be held in Hampton, Virginia. I don't know the exact date though.
The 2026 Nationals will be held in

The 2025 IPMS/USA Nationals will be held in Hampton, Virginia. I don't know the exact date though.
The 2026 Nationals will be held in Fort Wayne, IN

@philp:
Two items.
1. The awards ceremony/presentation really needed to be shorter. A LOT shorter.
2. Couldn't the lighting in the larger contest room (Aircraft, Ships, etc.) have been brighter?

Fort Wayne is correct. I spoke too soon.
I hope to attend and enter some builds.

Agree with the Awards Ceremony.  It has been an issue for as long as I have been going (this was my 18th).  I think the current Board is all over this item according to the emails I am getting.  We shall see if we can come up with a better solution for next year.
I was with Jeff Herne in the rooms on Wednesday night and he thought the lighting needed to be increased.  I don't know if that happened or not.  The room was plenty bright when I took pics Thursday night and Friday.

I loved seeing the Battleship with railguns in person.  Still love the look and the blue hull.

Judging Friday night seem to go pretty good with the aircraft guys finishing up in record time.  I think one thing that helped there were splits were decided Thursday night and models moved accordingly so we could get right to judging on Friday.

Overall I had a great time.  The Tiger Meet was a hit and looks like it will continue for at least the next two shows.  We really need to get a What If SIG table for those.

[seadude]

Here's a link to the awards presentation for the 2024 IPMS/USA Nationals in Madison.
https://www.svsmgallery.com/Top-level/Contests/IPMS-USA-Nationals-2024/Awards-Presentation-Slide-Show?fbclid=IwY2xjawET2lZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVgfUn9tgQ9ftmmCkcqgPtCqnUb_FgvQJAlHYkcsuEHKK92MSV2VHNQcfA_aem_IxZOJbVFS7DqQHyCfAu-8w

I was with Jeff Herne in the rooms on Wednesday night and he thought the lighting needed to be increased.  I don't know if that happened or not.  The room was plenty bright when I took pics Thursday night and Friday.

No, I didn't notice any increase in the lighting in the large room that had the aircraft, ships, dioramas, etc. Only the smaller room that had the armor and junior models had decent bright lighting.

I loved seeing the Battleship with railguns in person.  Still love the look and the blue hull.

Thanks. 
There was also a what if modernised Yamato battleship next to my blue hulled Wisconsin. Not really sure how I feel about that model. It looked nice, but the placement of various weapons, sensors, etc. just didn't look right and wouldn't work.

We really need to get a What If SIG table for those.

I thought about setting up a What If SIG table, but declined for various reasons.

[kerick]

I would definitely be interested in manning a what if table in 2026 in Fort Wayne as it will be fairly close to my house.

[philp]