IPMS Israël annual contest 

Tel Aviv, December 20th 2006

by Laurent "Angus" Beauvais

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On December 2006 I was on a professional trip in Tel Aviv.  Using my virtual D520 as an example of aerospace design, an attendee of the training told me "Hey, I have seen your article on ARC, it's the annual IPMS Israël contest this week, would you like to come", of course I did.

And so, with an enormous chance, A French guy on a trip in Israël could see this meeting thanks to ARC, funny no?

As you can see on the above photo, this is not a big show in term of size, but don't forget that Israël is a small country of 6 million people, IPMS Israël does represent about 200 persons. But the small number of persons does not mean small passion, and this meeting was really cool.

First of all, honour to my guide, Ken Keshales, that creates mainly artwork. I did add copyrights on these postcards as they are sold at the IAF museum, and as the avia illustration will be used in a book to come on this aircraft.

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First surprise in this meeting, there were a lot of paper models.

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Second surprise, armour was quite all WWII German tanks, including a very nice diorama with these 2 kids. When I told them my surprise it was clear that this was of not a concern for them.  Despite the fact I'm a aircraft plastic modeler, I must admit that the weathering is always wonderful on this vehicles. 

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 Let's start to talk about aircraft, with a figurine I would not have imagined here too. Honour to the French wings with what was at the beginning a Mirage III. When I asked "but what could they put inside this nose to make it so big, the answer came very calmly "he is jewish" :-)

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Of course there were plenty of colourful F16 and F15, (I could buy a decal sheet directly from Isradecal's boss) and other interesting things I let you discover. Danny, sorry, I failed taking the picture of your winning 1/48th Monogram B17.  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

And just to make you feel like visiting Israël, Tel Aviv in December in the afternoon.

You know the most funny thing, several persons telling me "Hi Laurent I have seen your D520 on ARC", earth is a small planet.

Angus

Photos and text © by Laurent "Angus" Beauvais