This past Saturday (Sept 8) I participated in the NCMSS Show here in Washington DC. I entered 7 miniatures into the competition and received a bronze for my Thief of Hearts, which was pretty neat considering I had painted her to attempt and get a prize at the APG show, this past Summer. Robert E. Lee came away with another honorary mention. I'm happy. Special congrats go to WAMP's MamaGeek (Joy Schoenberger), Shades (Mike) and Jim (who I just met at the show!) for the rewards you guys got.


I learned a lot more this go round in regards to competing in shows with miniatures. I realize that I desperately need a box to transport them in, and I need to figure out some way in making a nice stand to place them on. I'm thinking of possibly gluing the wood I got from Hobby Lobby (post I mentioned a while back) and then either stapling the material I bought onto that, or glue it on. That way it's tight against the wood and will look nicer! :) Also, I plan on getting a mirror to place in the back so people can see the back of the miniatures without having to mess with them. I also think I'm going to get myself a small plaque with my name on it.. hmm, what to do? I always love going to the shows and getting fresh new ideas.


There were not many entrants into the show, maybe about 30 total. The entries varied from historical, wargaming, to fantasy and the sizes ranged just as much. All of the miniatures were quite lovely so I'm willing to bet the judges had a hard time in voting. Voting consisted of the judges going around to each entry as a group and then coming around separately to see which entries they each liked most. I guess then it was all tallied up and winners were chosen.


Tim and I went to the vendor quite a lot while there. The "flea market" was huge with a wide variety of historical miniatures and other things. I managed to walk away with a box of WWII paratroopers that I will be painting up sometime. I'm going to choose one to paint in remembrance of my grandfather, who was a flight engineer during the war. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed. I also walked away with some plinths for future creations at a really nice price! We also found a 54mm miniature from a company that I am not overly familiar with, Stormtrooper Miniatures, of a beautiful renaissance looking female. I hope to paint her soon enough and enter into the next contest I do! That's probably coming up here, soon enough.


When it came to any painting seminars, there was only one, and I missed that as Tim and I went out to lunch. The seminar was on painting lace, which I don't really do anyway, so it wasn't a huge biggie.. though I'd have liked to go if I had been there.


The weather was beautiful until the end, when we got a huge thunderstorm and had to take shelter during a tornado warning. The show ended up ending earlier due to this, which wasn't bad, considering the power was out.


Will I go next year? Maybe. I'm not sure if I'll stay the whole day again, like I did this time. We made the mistake in coming very early and staying up until the end, which was at 5 pm. It was a fun experience, though!