SCAHMS 2011 Show Report

Every year like clockwork, the folks at SCAHMS (Southern California Association of Historical Miniatures) put on their 27th annual “California Show”. On a gorgeous spring day in March, Charles Reading and I both attended the first day of the show held in Orange, California. The Double-Tree hotel used for the show for at least the past 8 years is but a stone’s throw (perhaps using a catapult) from Disneyland in Anaheim. This would be my 8th trip to SCAHMS and I have enjoyed all the past shows. This one would be no exception.

What I do love about the 2-day show is that it is indeed two days. It use to start late on Friday but the past couple of shows have opened earlier on Friday. What I also enjoy about this show is that it is a very social affair. The show has all the ingredients of a typical show; tutorials, contest entries, vendors, awards, and raffles. In addition they hold an auction of world-class miniatures made by some of the clubs master figure artists like Bill Horan, John Rosengrant and others. Sadly this year I opted not to go to the auction so I can’t really report on what happened there. I am also sad that I missed Anders Heintz’s sculpting seminar. I wish the show was longer. I swear no matter how long they are the time always seems to rush by. This is mostly due to the many people I get to meet and talk to at the event. And it’s not just me, there always seem to be people engaged in active discussions when I make my way around the room to shoot photos or just people watch. It’s most definitely a social event. And modelers need that I think.

Writing this has given me pause to consider starting an editorial portion to KitMaker. So if this sort of thing interests you (the future of shows/events in a post-Internet world) than stay tuned for more. And now… back to the show.

Note to Readers: You can click through the numbers at the top or bottom of this page to view all the pages of this story.