I recently attended the 2025 International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) National Convention in Hampton, VA. As someone firmly rooted in the “wooden sticks and strings” side of the hobby, this was my first IPMS event — and I even took the plunge and booked a vendor booth for SeaWatch Books. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I came away impressed by the scale of the show and the enthusiasm of the community.
The convention filled the Hampton Convention Center for four full days. With more than 100 vendors, several hundred contest models, and well over 1,000 attendees, it was easily one of the largest modeling events I’ve attended — certainly bigger than our annual Northeast Joint Clubs Conference.
Continue reading “A Wooden Ship Guy at the IPMS National Convention” →
As we continue preparing for the return of Ships in Scale next year, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes — lining up talented authors, developing fresh content, and connecting with advertisers who share our passion for ship modeling. There’s a lot happening, and we’re excited to bring you along on this journey.
To help us make Ships in Scale the best it can be, we’ve put together a short survey to gather input from ship modelers and readers like you. Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the magazine and ensuring it reflects the interests of our community.
Please take a few moments to share your thoughts with us:
👉 Take the Ships in Scale Survey
Thank you for your support and for helping us bring Ships in Scale back to life. We can’t wait to share more with you in the coming months!
Fair winds,
Mike Ellison
Publisher, Ships in Scale and SeaWatch Books
The Philadelphia Ship Model Society in partnership with the Battleship New Jersey is hosting ModelCon7 and is ready to receive your RSVP by July 19th!
Come and hang out with fellow modelers, enjoy a free tour of the ship and promote our hobby with interesting conversation with the ship’s public visitors. Exhibit space will be in the ship’s WARDROOM which is on the main deck (no stairs), is air conditioned, and close to the restrooms. Donuts and coffee in the morning and a pizza lunch will be offered. Space is limited. Free to registered guests and members of the Philadelphia Ship Model Society.Please feel free to bring any type of nautical model – even work in progress! There is free parking nearby for exhibitors. If you can attend and would like to exhibit a model, please head to https://www.philadelphiashipmodelsociety.com/modelcon/ for details and to register.
Thanks! See you this August on the iconic Battleship New Jersey (Museum).
The 42nd Annual Northeast Joint Clubs Conference, held on April 26th in New London, Connecticut, was a resounding success! The Ship Model Society of New Jersey (my club) proudly hosted this year’s event, which drew approximately 110 attendees and showcased over 50 models across a diverse range of categories. Alongside the SMSNJ, the participating joint clubs included the Connecticut Marine Model Society, NY Shipcraft Guild, Philadelphia Ship Model Society, and USS Constitution Model Ship Guild.
Continue reading “Northeast Model Ship Enthusiasts Gather for Joint Clubs Conference” →
I’m thrilled to share something I’ve been working on behind the scenes for months: Ships in Scale magazine is returning.
Thanks to a new agreement between SeaWatch Books and the Nautical Research Guild (NRG), we’ve acquired the rights to the Ships in Scale name—and we’re officially bringing the magazine back to life, with a relaunch planned for 2026.
Continue reading “Ships in Scale Sails Again!” →
