Announcement: Midland Expo 2014 Venue and Date

We are pleased to announce that Midland Expo 2014 will take place on Sunday, 27th July 2014 and the show will be returning to The Leasowes Leisure Centre, Halesowen.

 As the show flyer says, IPMS Birmingham will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014, having been formed in 1964 - the year following the founding of the International Plastic Modellers Society and we would like Midland Expo 2014 to commemorate this milestone.

The return to The Leasowes has been prompted by the many adverse comments we have received regarding car parking at Cocks Moors Woods. While an excellent venue in many ways with a large car park the popularity of its other facilities including swimming pool, gym and golf course meant there was high demand for the available spaces. With the Leasowes there are no competing facilities and the on-site parking will be almost exclusively available for show visitors, traders and exhibitors. Although the total floor area is slightly smaller we believe that with careful planning we will be able to accommodate all of our regular supporters.

The Midland Expo 2014 poster is now available to download in PDF format here.

Class winners Midland Expo 2013 competition.

 

Photo montage of the the competition class winners at Sunday's show. Photographs courtesy/copyright of Terry Walton.

Last Minute Update

With everything coming together for tomorrow's show there have been a few alterations and changes to the list of clubs attending. Regrettably Locate and Cement will be unable to attend  but we have had two new, last minute bookings from RAF Germany SIG and St Athan Model Club. For the full list of clubs attending please go to the Exhibitors page.

For those entering the competition please remember when filling in your entry slips to PRINT your name and the model details clearly and legibly. Should you be a winner and the organisers have difficulty reading the slip your name may be mis-spelt or, worse, appear to be for someone else altogether.

The weather forecast for the Birmingham area is for a bright morning and sunshine and showers during the afternoon. Temperatures should be a little cooler than of late but we will probably still need to open the exterior doors at some point for ventilation, as those of you at the show the past two years will know the hall can become uncomfortably hot at times.

We look forward to seeing you at the show and hope everyone has a great day.

Almost There

Yes, we're nearly there, Midland Expo 2013 is this Sunday 28th July and all the preparations are now just about completed.

There are a couple of things we need to remind and inform visitors to the show about.

First, for those people coming from outside Birmingham, although it has been widely reported in the media, please be aware that the Queensway tunnels, St Chad's and Paradise Circus are both closed for renovation and upgrading. This is causing considerable congestion in Birmingham city centre as people seek alternative routes, even on Sundays. So if your satnav wants to take you via the A38(M) Aston Expressway from J. 6 (Spaghetti Junction) in towards the centre of Brum, best to ignore it and carry on down the M6 to J.4 and take the M42 south to J.3 and  follow the instructions on the Venue/Directions page.

There will be a charity tombola at the show run by the local Red Cross shop staff with all proceeds going towards the financing of an accommodation unit for the families of service personnel being treated at Military Wing of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Selly Oak in Birmingham. A truly worthwhile cause we think everyone will agree, and urge you to part with some cash and perhaps win something for yourself as well.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Two weeks to go!

Midland Expo is now just a fortnight away and while there are no more trade spaces available we have had a couple of club cancellations which means that there is a small amount of exhibitor space left. So if your club, IPMS branch or SIG has not yet booked but would like to come please contact Rob Barwick the Exhibitor Booking Secretary without delay,









As ever there will be a show competition and details of the classes and rules are now available to download as PDFs, please click on the following links;
Competition Classes and Competition Rules.

One Month to Go

Midland Expo 2013 is now just one month away and we now have a timetable for the show.

As last year the hall will open at 07.30 for traders to set-up with clubs, branches and SIGs being admitted from 08.30.

Click here to download a PDF of the above timetable.

N.B. this timetable is subject to alteration as required by circumstances.

Midland Expo on YouTube

There is now a video slide show of Midland Expo photos from recent years on YouTube.

Early May Update

Preparations for this year's show are progressing rapidly now and all available trade spaces have now been taken - for the full list go to the Traders Page.

Rob Barwick

Meanwhile the exhibitor's spaces are going fast, so if your club or SIG want to display at Midland Expo 2013 you need to book your space without delay by contacting Rob Barwick, Exhibitor Booking Secretary.

April update

It is now just three months until Midland Expo 2013 and both trader and club bookings are filling up fast.


For up to date lists of confirmed bookings please see the Traders and Exhibitors pages. If you want to trade or exhibit at the show please submit your bookings to Roger Hartill (Traders) and Rob Barwick (Exhibitors) without delay, all  bookings are now on a 'first come first served' basis.


We have confirmation that our friends from the Forever Forties Group will again be putting on a display outside the centre's main entrance.

Change of Exhibitor Booking Secretary

Dave Marsh has stood down as  Midland Expo Exhibitor Booking Secretary owing to heavy work commitments.

His place has been taken by Rob Barwick with assistance from other management committee members while he learns the role.

Our thanks to Dave for his efforts over the past two years and to Rob for taking on the role at short notice.