AMPS Nats. April 26-28 2012 Auburn, Ia.

[406 Silverado]

Nine days until the show.... ;D looking forward to it.

Will try to take some pics while there. I am sure there will be far too many models to take pics of them all, but we'll try. I know of five forum members who will be at the show so we'll represent the forum well.

[spud]

lol i think rob is looking forward to this one

[bigjohn]

LOL Dicky,

I'm taking my camera. Mainly to get some group shots of the MSC members. I don't think I'll have enough flash card for all the models, LOL

[406 Silverado]

jackwagon, you got it bro. I found my charger so now I can take pics.....if I have time ;D

Spud, you bet bro, very excited. First good big show of the year. Next one is a two day show in Sept.

[406 Silverado]

After seeing the last couple show reports from jackwagon and Chris I can't wait to get to Auburn. Only 4 days to go. There will be a few of the MSC gang there.
Anyone going to the AMPS show, be sure to stop by the AK Interactive tables and say hello.

[bigjohn]

uuuuhg, 4 more days of work untill the show.......it's killing me.

[406 Silverado]

three days John. I'll do all my packing on Wednesday, grab a few hours sleep and then head out.
I'll give you my cell number per email....same with Clay.

[bigjohn]

LOL Dicky. why do you think my nic is [glow=red,2,300]BIG[/glow] john

Edit reason: Bad speller

[406 Silverado]

yeah jackwagon the big boys will be there and I'll try to get some interviews from them too. ;D

Two days and a wake up. Will pack things up on Wed. Will be tough putting my model next to theirs ...but it's all fun ey

[bigjohn]

ahhhhhhh, Dicky meant big name guys.........not big fat guys, lol

[406 Silverado]

[spud]

lol

[eastrock]

Even Tarzan build entering the AMPS right?

[406 Silverado]

nah jackwagon, I doubt that bro, but thanks just the same. I will be thrilled to place mine on the same table as Mig's models and seeing how things go.
Am printing out the interviews right now, we'll see what victims I find there..((LOL))

[bigjohn]

LOL Dicky, I so pumped up about going to the show, I’m not thinking straight.

Wouldn’t you know it, the front brakes on my truck started squealing like a stuck pig on my way home from work tonight. Will stop on my way home from work tomorrow and buy the parts to do a front brake job tomorrow night.

[406 Silverado]

Sorry to hear about the brakes John, hope you can still make the show.

[bigjohn]

No worries rob, I'll make the show. I'll do the brake job tonight. It's just one more task to get ready lol.

[bigjohn]

Some photo updates from the AMPS 2012 show. I left before the awards ceremony, so I don’t know who scored gongs yet. It was a long drive home and I’m ready for some sleep, so I’ll do a couple of pics tonight, and update with some more soon.

Rob and Ken working the AK table.



Ken doing some last minute detail painting before he entered his model.



From left to right. Multicam, Big John, ClayK, Ken, Ian, and in the front, the Boss man Rob.



And Big John with “THE MAN”

[TRM]

Great stuff BJ!!! Thanks for posting the pics!!! Looks like it was a great time!!! Wish I could have made this one!! There will be others Sir!!! Looking forward to seeing g more pics...from you and others as they filter in from the show!!!

[bigjohn]

Some random Models.

[bigjohn]

[TRM]

WOW!! Thanks again BJ!!! Those are great! What an odd feeling seeing something I built in a pic from somewhere I wasn't!!! I can tell you as well, it is just an honor to show up in a string of pics with Rick Lawler's "Burden of Sorrow"



One of the more thought evoking and provocative pieces I have seen. The courage to portray this and the talent to pull it off the the dignity and respect it deserves!!! This is my BOS!!

Thanks for posting!!

[bigjohn]

Some more pics,

This thing was huge, look at the 1/35 scale models around it!

[bigjohn]

Sorry guys, I didn’t include a report first. I was extremely tired after cramming about 7 hours of driving and the show in in 2 days and totally forgot. LOL.

I didn’t enter anything in the show, I mainly went up to hang out with the MSC and SMA crew and spend some money with the venders. There were a boat load of models, and they were judged behind closed door, so through out both days, we kept seeing new entrees show up on the tables.

Poor Rob and Ken stayed very busy working the AK Table. Product was literally flying off of the tables. I think it was the busiest table at the show and they sold out of a lot of products.

It was very nice to meet the members of the forum that attended and hang out with them. Friday after the show, we went to dinner with Mig and Carlos. After which, went had a few drinks at Mig’s room. I saw some friends from years gone by and meet some new ones.

I didn’t stay for the awards ceremony, so I’ll have to let some one else report on that.

Too bad it flew by and is already over.

Oh yeah, The museum had a very nice collection of softskins and rare German vehicles. I think I counted 4 RSOs.

[TRM]

Glad to know it was a great time BJ!! Thanks for posting all the pics too!!!

[wouter]

Nice photos of some great models BJ, and as T says, glad you had a great time!

Cheers

[spud]

hey T how did you sneak that pziv up there......

Asome pics bj some very cool builds there

[robbo]

Nice to see you all together

[ClayK.]

Thanks for your report, John, you big sloppy joe eating machine!

This was my first ever all armor show that I've attended. I wasn't sure what to expect. I drove up from Indy on Thursday afternoon, and got into Auburn around 7:30. I found the AK table pretty fast and met Iain, Ken, and Rob right away. After a bit of looking around, I found the seminar room and was able to catch most of Adam Wilder's PE soldering demo. The AK boys were busy thrashing getting everything set up and ready for Friday.

After we got booted out of the show we all car pooled up to the next exit and had supper at Aplebee's. Now I'm not too cool to admit that I wasn't going to be in awe of Mig and Adam once I did meet them. They were part of the reason I wanted to go, and I was hoping to meet these two Legends. So we all sit down for dinner....Iain, Kristin, Carlos, Rob, Ken, Charlie Pritchett, me, and of course Mig. And as it shook out, I found myself sitting directly across from Mig. Holy crap.......what am I doing here I thought! LOL But he was great. So down to earth, and about as unassuming as you can get. He was always happy, and in a good mood.

Friday Rob and I got to the show early, and found none of the others there and tons of people ready to buy! LOL Rob had his hands full, but he managed to take care of all the customers until the rest of the crew arrived. Friday was wide open as far as people milling around and buying. The AK table was slammed all day long. The days all run together, but I think it was on Friday when John arrived too. I was glad he came, it gave me someone to hang out with and BS with while the others were busy. And I think Nate showed up on Friday afternoon as well. I didn't enter either. My hope was just to meet all these guys, see how most armor models look on a contest table and do some shopping. And I accomplished all that! I also got to talk to Adam a few times in person and that was really cool after only emailing with him for so long.

The building was huge. One end was an automotive museum, the other end was the military museum, and the middle held the contest/vendor area. As I went through the car side, it was a bit weird because I was the only one in there. I had this huge room(s) all to myself. And it was so quiet. The military museum was really cool as well. And equally as creepy. It was dark in most of it, and dead quiet. Add in lots of mannequins in full German uniforms in complete silence, and it was enough to really weird a guy out! But they have some really cool stuff in there.

After we were again kicked out of the hall on Friday, we hit up Applebee's again,and this time had the whole group plus Big John and Rick Lawler. Rick was another one of those guys that was really cool to meet and talk too. He's really laid back, and is a huge wealth of knowledge. And like the others have said, his dio was amazing.

I ended up taking off around mid day on Saturday, so didn't get a chance to get a shot of myself with Mig like John did, but it was cool to just be around him all weekend and watch him deal with people and work on models. The guy has so much energy and passion for armor modeling it's hard not to catch some of his enthusiasm being around him.

It was also really fun hanging out with Rob of course, and Ken. Even though they were busy, they always made time for me, and answered all my questions.

OK, enough of my novel......here's some of my pics. ;D

Mig prepping his test subject before his demo started. A room packed full of people waiting for him and he was sitting at the AK table all by himself working away. And Rob thinking......" I wouldn't do it like that amigo....." LOL





Getting ready to start the seminar. Iain, and Carlos making sure it all went smoothly.



Iain, Ken, and Rob's back at the booth....



And another one of Carlos' group shots, this time with my camera. Thanks Carlos!



Even though there were a few slow times since I was by myself, I'm still glad I went. There was a lot to take in, but the chance to meet all these guys and spend time with them was priceless. It will probably be a long time before this many big names will all be in the same place again, and I'm glad I was not only there, but got to be right in the middle of all of it! Big thanks to Rob for putting up with me, and Ken and Iain, and Kristin for letting me hang out with them.

Clay

[TRM]

Very cool Clay!!! Looks like you have a splendid time!!! Wish I could have went this time. Honestly you belong there amongst the rest Sir!!! Always a decent time when the good guys get together!!! Thanks for posting some of your pics!!!