However, registration for the Nationals was the order of the day and this was easily accomplished in the registration area set aside in the vast Armour Training Wing which also hosts the “Big Willie” auditorium. Big Willie was the second prototype land combat vehicle to be successfully displayed in England at the end of January 1916. The entire building was utilised for the Convention with no less than four display areas.

Big Willie

Interconnecting the display area is a foyer which served as the trading area. No less than 10 vendors offered the latest conversion, aftermarket and conventional kits for sale. More than 1800 kits were on sale. Two international concerns were officially represented: MiG Pigments from Spain and Martin Blundell who represented various international concerns. All the way from the UK - Martin Blundell visited our Nats once again while at the same time representing various manufacturers of modelling goods abroad. Pierre Victor from “Veg” magazine and Karel Zaayman from the Aviation Shop also attended. Officially launched at the show was the new 1/72 Oryx conversion set by BaxMods Models and the “70 Years Dak Excellence” decal sheet for use on the Heritage Aviation 1/72 TurboDak conversion kit. The new TpDak decal sheet proved a huge success.
 

Registration area.	Veg Magazine & MiG Pigments
Martin Blundell.	New Oryx conversion kit.

Throughout the afternoon members with greater distances to travel arrived. The subsequent unpacking, registration and displaying of the various works of art and precision resulted in ongoing activities throughout the afternoon. Some of the traders did very good business with items exchanged for cash before they were even unpacked on the tables! However with their models on display, the initial greeting of old friends and quick scout around the vendor tables completed – it was not uncommon to see many of the members heading towards the armoured cars and tanks on display “armed” with a tape measure (Yes these guys are serious!), a notepad with pencil, parts of kits and some form of digital harvest product to collect that all import aspect for their latest scale model project by referencing the actual subject.