KENTUCKY FRIED SCIENCE-FICTION - WONDERFEST HOBBY EXPO COMING ON MAY 26-27

SMN REPORT:

The WonderFest Hobby Expo is a weekend-long feast of science-fiction, horror, and fantasy modelling that’s held every summer in Louisville, Kentucky. This year, there’ll be a star-packed lineup of movie special effects guests, and a mega-size model contest for sci-fi, horror, and comics-related subjects. Model and toy dealers will be there, as will seminars to entertain and improve sci-fi hobbyists of all ages.

Louisville's glittering nightscape.

Huge range of models, collectibles and events

There’s more - WonderFest features the how-to University, plus after-hours parties and get-togethers. There will be modelling demos, even a cinema. And of course, there’ll be plenty of collectibles from around the globe to inspect and buy. All of which sounds ace to the SMN crew, and a top get-go if you’re free and available. 

WonderFest - a growth story

WonderFest began as a modelling swap meet in August of 1990, called simply: 'The Louisville Plastic Kit and Toy Show.' The show was renamed WonderFest in 1992, and has been an ever-growing annual fixture since, with its model competition now the biggest of its kind in the world. A further part of the WonderFest draw is the guest list - famous faces who appear at the show. 

Hot 2012 guest lineup

The guests will give you a chance to meet the creative talents behind your fave movies, TV shows, books and comics. They’ll be giving talks and discussions, and for collectors, there will be scheduled autographing times. Here’s an alphabetical-order sprinkling of the talent on offer:

Julie Adams - actress

The star of Creature from the Black Lagoon will surface at WonderFest to celebrate her autobiography The Lucky Southern Star: Reflections from the Black Lagoon.

Joanna Cassidy - actress

Blade Runner star Joanna Cassidy appeared as Zhora, the beautiful and deadly replicant assassin from the groundbreaking sci-fi movie of 1982. It’s a role that’s made her a legend in genre film circles.

Eric Chu - designer-illustrator

Concept artist for the SyFy Channel revamp of Battlestar Galactica, acknowledged as a modern classic, and packed with believable - and highly modellable - star-spanning spacecraft hardware.

Who’s this? SMN’s own Mat Irvine!

The trainer and operator of K-9, Doctor Who’s original robot dog, will materialize at WonderFest, thanks to CultTVman’s Fantastic Modeling and Hobbyshop. Best known for his work on Doctor Who, for which he was a Visual Effects Designer, Mat worked in the BBC's VFX Department for more than 20 years, and contributed heavily to other classic British sci-fi shows, such as Blake's 7 and Edge of Darkness.

*** Upcoming - Mat’s Marvellous Model Museum book

Mat will also be trailing news of his in-the-works MMMM ebook, for online sale this summer. Keep an eye on this space for news and information on this exciting project - and if you’re at WonderFest, ask Mat for a signed MMMM mini-card!

Bill Moseley - actor

If you like horror, here’s the star of such features as Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Army of Darkness, House of 1000 Corpses and many more.

Giorgio A. Tsoukalos - alien expert

Star and Consulting Producer of 'Ancient Aliens - The Series' and publisher of Legendary Times Magazine, the only ancient astronaut publication in the world. 

*** There's a glitch on the link below, so visit WonderFest here.

Summation - should you go?Absolutely - as the WonderFest organizers put it: “If you dream of collecting models and toys - or simply love the movies they’re based on - you’ll GO APE over WonderFest! 

For more information visit WonderFest here.

THE HAMEX MODEL EXPO - H-DAY VIDEO RELEASE

The HAMEX (Hanslope Model Expo) went off OK, and for a first-time event it really seemed to do the stuff. Mat Irvine demonstrated Doctor Who’s K-9 robodog and showed groups of science fiction enthusiasts various props and models from BBC TV series that he has worked on, including Blake’s 7 and Moonbase 3.

We made the quickie video above with an iPod Nano, which gives pretty good results bearing in mind it’s little bigger than a stick of chewing gum. The tiny machine is particularly impressive for its closeup abilities - even in fairly dim lighting the pimple-sized lens can give sharp results when recording objects as close as 20-30 mm (1 in) away. Simply amazing, especially when paired with the iMovie video editing software that comes free with any Apple computer.

Take a look at iPods here.

THE HAMEX MODEL EXPO - H-MINUS 5 DAYS...

Here’s another trail for the HAMEX event we’re involved with this coming Sunday, November 29. If you’re in reach (there’s a map on the link below), it’ll be well a visit, so do come along and visit us if you can.

HAMEX (Hanslope Model Expo) is masterminded by Mat Irvine, who will be bringing along lots of his BBC Special Effects models and props, including the Doctor Who K-9 robodog, the Liberator spacecraft from the classic Blake’s 7 TV series, and a world-first: space models from the 1973 BBC science fiction series Moonbase 3.

Mat will be hosting two informal question-and-answer sessions, one at 1130, one at 1430 - and if you’re a dog-lover (or a robot fiend) then K-9 will be in rolling-robot demo mode!

HAMEX co-host Paul Fitzmaurice of Little Cars will be there too, with a galaxy of tasty tools and accessories for model makers.

David Jefferis (‘Mr J’) of Scale Model News will show a fascinating range of items from the SMN vaults, and with luck we’ll be showing some videos too.

Check out the Hanslope Model Expo here.

Check out Little Cars here.

Mat Irvine’s site is here.

THE HAMEX MODEL EXPO - H-MINUS 24 DAYS AND COUNTING...

Here’s a trail for a UK model event later this month. If you’re in reach (there’s a map at the link below), here’s the date for your diary: Sunday, November 29. It’ll be the first - of many we hope - model events that SMN will be co-sponsoring.

HAMEX (Hanslope Model Expo) is masterminded by Mat Irvine, who will be bringing along lots of his BBC Special Effects sci-fi stuff, including the Liberator spacecraft from the classic Blake’s 7 TV series (top pic above), the Doctor Who K-9 robodog (bottom) and much more besides.

HAMEX co-host Paul Fitzmaurice of Little Cars will be there, with a galaxy of tasty tools and accessories for model makers.

David Jefferis (‘Mr J’) of Scale Model News will present the Win-A-Prize competition, plus a fascinating gallery of items from the SMN model vaults, and with luck we’ll be projecting some videos too.

Check out the Hanslope Model Expo here.

Check out Little Cars here.

Mat Irvine’s site is here.

HAMEX - A ONE-DAY EVENT FOR UK MODEL FANS

If you’re in reach of the UK’s Milton Keynes area, here’s a date for your diary - Sunday, November 19, which will be when the first model event (of many we hope) that SMN is co-sponsoring opens its doors.

The Hanslope Model Expo (HAMEX for short) is being masterminded by Mat Irvine (pictured above) who will be bringing along lots of his BBC Special Effects stuff, including Doctor Who’s K-9 robodog, the Liberator spacecraft from the classic Blake’s 7 TV series, and much more besides.

HAMEX co-host Paul Fitzmaurice of Little Cars will be there, with all sorts of tasty tools and accessories for model makers.

David Jefferis (‘Mr J’) of Scale Model News will present the Win-A-Prize competition, plus a fascinating gallery of items from the SMN vaults.


Check out the Hanslope Model Expo here.

Check out Little Cars here.