Coronavirus Measures

Announcement.

In view of the continuing Covid-19 crisis and the Government's restrictions the Branch Committee have decided with immediate effect to suspend all club meetings until further notice.

The Rotunda, the branch's newsletter will continue to be distributed to members via email (with printed version posted to those who do not have internet access).

Avon Show

This coming Sunday, 4th August IPMS Birmingham will be attending the Avon Show at Thornbury.

Please feel free to drop by our stand for a chat or just to say hello.

New Mid Week Meetings

This coming Thursday, 7th February, sees the first of our new Mid-Week Meetings.

These meetings will be "build nights", so bring along a model (or two) that you are currently working on, tools, glues, paints etc. but most importantly your cutting mat to protect the church's furniture. The aim is to share modelling techniques and skills with other members as well as inspire others to try something different, whether it's a new subject, genre or style.

The new mid-week meetings will be held at our regular venue, Longbridge Methodist Church, but in one of the smaller backrooms rather than the cafe/reception area, between 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm on the first Thursday of each month. There will be no competitions on these nights and very little "official business". It is hoped that a number of existing members as well as potential new members will benefit from these new meetings, especially those who find it difficult to attend the "main" monthly Sunday meetings owing to other commitments.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Happy New Year 2019.

Happy New Year to all our members, friends and followers.

 

 

We already have some news about the club for 2019:

 

 

As of today Martin Deakins takes over the role of Newsletter Editor from John Duffield.

 

 

From February we will be having two meetings a month in stead of just one, the new meeting will be an evening 'build session' on the first Thursday of the month, more details to follow

 

 

The theme for our monthly competitions this year will be:  

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile the theme for the Transatlantic (Across the Pond) Challenge, chosen this year by our friends from IPMS Syracuse, New York, is The Korean War 1950-3.

 

 

Season's greetings

May Santa bring you all the kits you desire.

Shropshire Model Show, RAF Museum, Cosford

 At tomorrow's Shropshire Model Show at the RAF Museum, Cosford we will have some

 FREE KITS 

to give away on our stand, but please be aware that most have something wrong with them; e.g. missing parts/decals or have been started. Some of our members have been clearing out their stashes and would like to make these kits available free to other modelers who can make use of them rather than binning them.

All that we ask is that is that, in return, you consider making a donation to the charity that we are supporting this year:

Birmingham Children's Hospital Critical Journeys Appeal. 

The appeal's target is raise £2M to equip four ambulances with the latest life support equipment.


So please come along and take look, our club display will situated in the Cold War Hall under the nose of the Handley Page Hastings.

We look forward to meeting friends old and new.

Owing to the weather and the possibility of further snow today's club meeting has been postponed. We are hoping to rearrange it for next weekend subject to the venue being available.

December meeting cancelled.

Owing to the heavy snowfall overnight which is forecast to continue all day in Birmingham, THIS AFTERNOON'S CLUB MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

IPMS Avon Show

The next show the club will be attending is the IPMS Avon Show  at Thornbury Leisure Centre, Gloucestershire.

Why not drop by our stand for a chat?


Avon show website.

The 2017 Bill Nichols Charity Trophy was Karl Robinson with his Messerschmitt BF109 G-10.

A great turn out & fantastic standard this year. Un-built kits are subject to a £3 'fine' which is added to the £85 lucky dip money already raised. The final amount raised will be announced soon.

We are making some changes to our membership fees geared towards making membership fairer for casual attendees or members who can't attend many meetings

If you attend 5 meetings or less, then you won't be required to pay the full £20 annual cost. Instead you can be an Associate Member, which is priced at £3.50 per meeting you attend up.

Attending more than 5 meetings will require the full £20 annual membership fee, mostly because you are actually better off paying for a full membership by then.

Join us this coming Sunday 19th March at Longbridge Methodist Church, starting at 3:30pm for a bumper meeting. March's meeting sees the judging for our annual charity competition; the Bill Nichols Charity Trophy, in addition to our usual competition table.

The photo is the 2016 Winner.

The February 2017 Competition Table Winner

Join us on Sunday 19th March to see March's winner PLUS judging for the Charity Trophy Winner

Committee Changes

IPMS Birmingham announce a few changes to the roles within the branch.

Roland Turner now combines his position of club chairman with his new role on the National Committee as International Liaison Officer.

Gareth Thomas has taken up the role of Branch Secretary.

Matt Nicholls has taken up the role as Midland Expo Booking Secretary

2017 Diary - April

Our normal meeting - the third Sunday of the month - clashes with the Easter Sunday services being held at Longbridge Methodist Church.

We've confirmed a revised date of Sunday 9th April at our normal time of 3:30pm until 6:00pm

Midland Expo 2016

 

It now just over a week until our show, Midland Expo 2016. 

For up to date information please go to the Midland Expo website.

Bill Nicholls, one year on.

One year ago today we lost one of our longest serving members and staunchest supporter, Bill Nicholls.

For full details of Bill's life and contribution to the club go to; The Bill Nicholls In Memoriam Page.

First meeting of 2016.

A reminder to our members (or anyone who would like to come along and see what we do) that tomorrow we have our first meeting of the year at the new venue; Longbridge Methodist Church Reception/Cafe area, 1654/8 Bristol Road South, Longbridge, Birmingham. B45 9TY at 3.30 PM.

For full details please see the "About IPMS Birmingham" page

John Carter

We have received tragic news of the sudden death of one of our younger members John Carter.

At the moment we have very few details and understand that the matter is in the hands of the coroner.

Meanwhile, our thoughts and sympathies are with John's family at this distressing time.

AGM and New Venue.

The Sunday 15th November meeting included the club's Annual General Meeting for the election of the branch officers for the coming year. On this occasion there were no changes and all of the previous incumbents were re-elected unopposed.

George Green proposed that the competition theme for 2016 should be "The Best of British" - anything that is predominantly British in content, which was unanimously approved.

The major decision was the move to a new venue in the new year. While we have had no problems with the management and staff of Kings Heath Community Centre, regrettably the same cannot be said of Birmingham City Council Finance Department who, despite us having paid in advance for the room hire, persist in sending payment demands culminating recently in our Treasurer, Matt Nicholls receiving a communication from a debt collection agency. This is a totally unacceptable situation which has forced us to seek an alternative venue and Matt fairly quickly located somewhere suitable.

So, from January 2016 our new venue will be:

Longbridge Methodist Church

Reception/cafe Area

1654/8 Bristol Road South,

Longbridge,

Birmingham.

B45 9TY

Meetings will continue to be on the third sunday of each month but will start half an hour later than at present - 3.30 to 6.00 PM.

Meanwhile, the December 2015 meeting/Christmas party will be at Kings Heath Community Centre as usual.