Brazilian IPMS National Convention at a glance
June 14-15, 2003, PAMA facilities, São Paulo, Brazil

by Rogerio "Rato" Marczak
BR IPMS Nats, 2003

This is a short report focused on this year´s Brazilian IPMS Nats, held during June 14-15 at São Paulo. Our Nats are always held in São Paulo since its first edition (1981 I guess). I think it is because there are not enough well organized IPMS chapters along the Country inclined to assume the responsability of such important event. 

It was a great, well organized convention. The organizing comitee must be congratulated for choosing one of the PAMA (Aircraft Maintenance Aeronautical Park) hangars to held the exposition. PAMA is a division of BAF (Brazilian Air Force) directed to aircraft maintenance and overhauling. Currently is it full with many BAF versions of the Northrop F-5, but other types can be found as well. The exposition area was crowded with race cars, motorcycles, and other stuffs. A M-113 AFV was holding guard at the hangar entrance, while an ex-Brazilian Navy Grumman S-2 Tracker was receiving the modelers at PAMA´s main gate.

Because the F-5 maintenance area was partially open to the public, the result was a perfect place for a modeling convention, with several "1:1 models" acting as an inspiring background to the exposition tables.  

As usual, many hobby shops stands attended the convention, where you could find interesting goodies from new releases to collectors items (well, I finally got my 1/32 Revell F4F Wildcat there). Another high point is the good number of beginners attending the conference (not necessarily young people).

Like previous years, large scales are not a strong point of our nats, and this year was not an exception. So, I´ll just show you some interesting pics of the place and a few large scale models wich deserved a photo.

Your editor (center) scorted by Heliandro "the 1/285 scale AFV´s man" Rosa (left) and master car modeler Pedro "one day I´ll build a C-47" Manfrin (right).


Inside the F-5 maintenance area. Interested in diorama ideas?


Inside the F-5 maintenance area. Detail of the nose area.


Aha! This would be a simpler diorama.


Same as above, but on the other side. Note the differences between yellow and green zinc chromate.


Same as above. Closer look in the nose.


Exhaust tubes. Note the steel burned areas.


See? Just like we do, but slightly larger. This F-5 is waiting for the final cammo. The markings areas are previously paper printed and layed out to spot the correct positons.


This is what could be seen far behind the exposition tables. No entrance allowed...


A couple of these TF-5 worked as a beautiful wallpaper for the exposition area. Now, any of you BAF fans still want to discuss about gloss x flat painting on these birds?


A de Havilland Caribou, I guess,  (BAF designation: Bufalo) being re-assembled after major overhaul.  
THE MODELS

As I mentioned above, not really many large scale models, and among them, only a few deserved a picture. A fellow there appeared with a 1/72 C-5 Galaxy (vacuum formed), just to prove that you can get large planes with small scales...

Of course, there were hundreds of 1/72 and 1/48 aircraft, not to mention cars (let me hit them, "what the hell these guys see in scale model cars? They always look like toys to me" :-) ). So here are a few choices of mine, all in 1/32 unless indicated (sorry guys, one day I´ll buy a larger memory card for my digicam) :
 
A beautiful IAF F-4. I was told it won gold in 1/32 class.


Another view of the IAF F-4.


F-5´s are always present in Brazilian nats. This year was no exception.


Another view of the above F-5.


Another F-5, this time in cammo scheme.


Same as above, another view.


Now this is interesting: a very weathered Boeing P-12E in BAF markings.


Another model we don´t find every day: a Niewport 21 in BAF overall aluminum dope.


Hasegawa Me-163.


I guess this is one of those William Brothers Wright Cyclone engines in 1/8 scale. Even more beautiful alive.


Altough not in our usual scale, this diorama depicts the PAMA hangar itself in 1/72. In real life, the exposition tables occupied the lighter floor of the diorama.

SUMMARY 

Well, it was a great show and a wonderful place to meet old friends and make new ones. Congratulations to the guys at IPMS-SP, GPPSD, and all who worked on the convention this year.

After talking with many modelers, I left São Paulo with the impression that the level of the convention could be even higher, had more modelers from other states brought their models. As a direct consequence of the convention being always held in São Paulo, these modelers (me included) don´t take courage to box their masterpieces and travel hundreds of miles every year. On the other hand, we don´t have another option for the moment - I guess - since most other chapters are not mature enough to organize such an event, making São Paulo the only choice for our nats. I just hope next year´s convention can be held in the same place.

Me again, after inspecting that M-113.
© 'Rato' Marczak 2003