AMPS 2002
8th Annual International Convention
April 19-20, 2002

The 2002 Armor Modeling and Preservation Society International Convention, AMPS 2002 has come and gone, and what a show it was!

This year we had 188 registrants for the convention, who placed 472 models in the annual competition. Over 500 people paid to visit the show, bringing their families with them and setting a record for overall attendance.

Entertainment was provided by seminars from noted modelers and researchers Tom Gannon, Tom Jentz, Kurt Laughlin, Steve Zaloga, and artist Ron Volstad, as well as a “Stump the Stars” roundtable discussion with Bob Oehler of Tamiya America and Spencer Pollard, editor of the UK model magazine “Military in Scale”.

While the Aberdeen Proving Ground Museum is essentially off limits to the general public, military members may take guests in to visit, and several AMPS members rose to the occasion. Record holder was Floyd Werner, who personally took the time to get 29 people out to the museum.

Also new this year was the first class of AMPS Certified Judges. These modelers underwent a 3 1/2 hour class in judging on Thursday night and then proceeded to run herd on the judging over the next two days as team chiefs of teams of four judges each. Each new certified judge received a special numbered pin to commemorate his accomplishment. These classes will now be conducted every year, and we even have our first woman candidate to become a certified judge for the 2003 class!

This year’s competition theme was “Desert Warfare” covering 103 years of armored combat in the deserts of the world. At the awards for the show, a total of 323 medals – 97 Golds, 132 Silvers, and 94 Bronzes – were awarded to the competitors. Big winner of the night was Charlie Pritchett of St. Peters, Missouri, who entered an amazing Iraqi T-72 model that took a Gold in the Advanced Level, the award for Best Small Army Entry, the theme award for Best Desert Warfare Subject, and the Best of Show Judges’ Grand Award. Most Popular Model was “Bridging the Gap” by Tony Zadro from Atlanta, Georgia.

The people attending the show also voted for their favorite new items from 2001. Winners of the AMPS Manufacturers’ Bests Awards were:

Best New Plastic Kit – Marder III by Tamiya (Japan)
Best New Multimedia Kit – M1A1 Ward LaFrance Wrecker by Accurate Armour (UK)
Best New Plastic Accessory – Sherman Track Extenders by RHPS (USA)
Best New Multimedia Accessory – 76mm Sherman Turrets by Chesapeake Model Designs (USA)
Best New Figure/Figure Set – US Bazooka Team by DML (Hong Kong)
Best New Modeling Product – German Uniform Patches by Archer Fine Transfers (USA)
Best New Reference Work – “Israeli Sherman” by Tom Gannon/Darlington Productions (USA)

Many thanks to the people who made the show memorable and the big success that it was. These include (but are not limited to!): Chuck Rothman and Sue “Keyboard Queen” Bibeault, data logging; Howie Belkin, T-shirts; Bob Collignon, pins and special awards; Bob Clifton, mugs and the certification class manual; Mike Siggins, the new diorama judging rules; Ben “Ticket Goon” Cliche, Mike “Mini-Goon” Dunlop, and the rest of the “Goon Squad” who took care of administration and security; Bill Shuey, who helped out on administration and the front desk; Paul Roberts, Lynn Kessler, and Dave Kahn, assistant chief judges and steadying influences; Mike Memmo, raffle; the dozens and dozens of volunteers and judges who made the show work; and especially the 1000 or so of our “closest friends” who came and enjoyed our hospitality and shared in our camaraderie. On the behalf of the AMPS officers, I thank you one and all for a great show!

Cookie Sewell
President
Armor Modeling and Preservation Society