Modelfiesta

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF ALAMO SQUADRON

MODELFIESTA 45

Scale Model Contest, Seminar & Vendor Show

★ COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US ★

THEME: WE'RE GOLDEN!

February 19–20, 2027

New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center
New Braunfels, Texas

--Days
--Hours
--Minutes
--Seconds
2Days
10Classes
136Vendor tables
700+Models

ModelFiesta is the longest-running annual modeling event in IPMS Region 6. Since its early beginnings, the contest has steadily grown in both scale and quality, now averaging over 120 vendor tables and more than 500 contest entries each year. With a consistently strong international turnout, including modelers from across Latin America, ModelFiesta has become one of the most unique, diverse, and highly respected IPMS events in the region.

In affiliation with Modellers Without Borders and Help Heal Veterans.

★ NEWS & UPDATES ★

★ SCHEDULE ★

Registration Opens

Packet pickup and badge printing. Vendor load-in continues at the north dock.

Museum Bus Tour

Departs the hotel entrance. Pre-registered guests only; back by five.

Model Entry Opens

Early entry for travelling modelers. Bring your entry forms filled out.

Welcome Reception

Cash bar, light fare, and the first swap table of the weekend.

Contest Room Closes

Room is locked and secured overnight.

Registration & Model Entry

Entry closes promptly at noon. No exceptions.

Vendor Hall Opens

Sixty tables. Bring cash — not every dealer takes cards.

Clinic: Airbrush Fundamentals

Salon B. Ninety minutes, live demonstration, questions welcome.

Make-and-Take Opens

Free for ages twelve and under with a registered adult.

Judging Begins

Contest room closed to the public until four.

Clinic: Weathering Armor

Salon B. Oils, pigments, and the restraint to stop.

Contest Room Reopens

Judging complete. Come walk the tables.

Awards Banquet

Doors at six. Ticket required.

★ EVENT INFO ★

There is no food or drink for sale at the venue, but several good restaurants and bakeries are a short walk away. There is no ATM on site either — most vendors take cards, though it is worth carrying cash for the ones that don't.

Alamo Squadron is collecting model kits, supplies and reference materials for U.S. military veterans, and a collection bin will be at the event. Anything you can spare goes to Help Heal Veterans (HealVets). Donations are gathered by Alamo Squadron.

FLOOR PLAN LAYOUT

ModelFiesta floor plan

Click to enlarge

DISPLAY TABLES

Display models are eligible for special awards.

Judging gives modelers useful written feedback, and that takes time, so contest entries have to be capped. Display-only models do not — bring as many as you like, at no charge. Put one on an award's sign-up list and it competes for that award; sponsors judge their own categories faster because they don't write feedback.

You are welcome to show awards a display model has already won, and to put your name beside it. If you are bringing ten or more, tell the organizers ahead of time so there is room for them.

MAKE N' TAKE

Make N' Take

© Polina Ponomareva/Dreamstime.com

Kids build for free. Each child picks one model from a range of easy builds, with experienced modelers on hand to help.

Hosted by

INTERVIEWS

ModelFiesta interviews

See what people who come to ModelFiesta have to say about it — modelers, vendors and first-timers, filmed on the floor at ModelFiesta 43.

EVENT T-SHIRTS

ModelFiesta event T-shirts

Official ModelFiesta T-shirts are sold at the registration table during the event. Designs, availability and pricing will be announced closer to the date. Note that T-shirt sales are cash only, so come prepared.

RAFFLE

Hourly drawings through the day and one big prize at the end. Tickets are $5 each and are also sold at the door — buying here saves you the queue.

Indicate amount. Tickets are also sold at the door.

★ CONTEST ★

ModelFiesta 45

THEME: WE'RE GOLDEN!

Alamo Squadron turns 50, so this year's theme award is “We're Golden!” Every model is eligible — display-only or judged entry, if it meets any one of these:

  • The entry is at least 50% GOLD color
  • The number 50 is prominently displayed on the model
  • The subject is directly connected to the year 1977. Examples include:
    • Movies: Star Wars, Smokey and the Bandit, Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind
    • Aircraft: MiG-29, Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
    • Automobiles: Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, Chevrolet Camaro Z28
    • Military Vehicles: Flakpanzer Gepard, M88 Hercules
    • Ships: HMS Invincible, USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)

RULES

ModelFiesta 45 is open to everyone. IPMS/USA or chapter membership is encouraged, but not required to enter.

Every entrant registers their own models in HOBBYSHOW MANAGER™, whether they bring them to the show themselves or have someone enter them by proxy.

Every entry must be the work of the person named on the form. Commercially built or finished models are not eligible.

Download the Rules

CLASSES

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JUDGING GUIDELINES

Judging follows IPMS guidelines, which come down to these basics:

  • Proper alignment of parts (wings, landing gear, wheels, etc).
  • No visible glue marks.
  • Smooth paint finish is smooth and without blemishes.
  • Decals properly aligned and free of silvering.
  • Seams properly addressed and not visible in the finished build.
Judging procedures video

Helping members improve is part of Alamo Squadron's DNA, and clear feedback is the fastest way there. Judges will name what each entry does best, point out the type and location of any problems, and score every model on construction and finish, presentation, and degree of difficulty.

Download Judging Guidelines

★ AWARDS ★

BEST OF AWARDS

Best of Show Best of Show Sponsored by The Model Box
Best Young Modeler Best Young Modeler Chris McLain and Texas Hill Country Scale Modelers
Best Aerospace Best Aerospace Sponsored by Lee Forbes
Best Military Vehicle Best Military Vehicle In Honor of 1st Armored, 3rd Brigade 'Bulldog'
Best Automotive Best Automotive Sponsored by John Pham
Best Ship Best Ship Sponsored by Lee Washburn
Best Figure Best Figure Sponsored by Austin Scale Modelers' Society
Best Fictional Vehicle Best Fictional Vehicle Sponsored by Don Weaver
Best GunPla Best GunPla Sponsored by Col (Retired) Karen A Pike
and Brett P Sholten
Best War Gaming Best War Gaming Sponsored by Juan Noltenius
Best Diorama Best Diorama & Vignettes Sponsored by Lee Forbes
Best Miscellaneous Best Miscellaneous Sponsored by Lee Forbes

SPECIAL AWARDS

Theme Award Theme Award
We're Golden: 1977, 50 Sponsored by Dibble's Hobbies
People's Choice Award People's Choice Awards Sponsored by HobbyTown
Tamiya Award Tamiya Award Sponsored by Tamiya
WOW Factor Award WOW Factor Award Sponsored by Modellers without Borders
US Veterans Award US Veterans Award Built by Veteran or Active Military
Sponsored by Thomas Zimdahl
Outstanding Ford Vehicle Outstanding Ford Vehicle In Memoriam of Herb Scranton III
Iron Resurrection Award Iron Resurrection Award Classic Car Render or Restoration
Sponsored by Rob Booth
Ayrton Senna Award Ayrton Senna Award Outstanding Open Wheel Racer
Sponsored by HobbyShow Manager
Jolly Green Award Jolly Green Award Outstanding Rotary Wing Model
Sponsored by Rob Booth
The USAF Award USAF Award Outstanding USAF Aircraft
Sponsored by A.D. Stephenson
Best Korean War Award Korean War Subject Award Outstanding Korean War Aircraft
Sponsored by Lee Forbes
Airlifters Airlifters: WWII - Today Military Transport or Cargo Airliner
Sponsored by Jerry Barker
The Minuteman Award MinuteMan Award Outstanding Air or Army National Guard, US Reserve component aircraft. If markings not specific to ANG or Reserve, Model description must state represented unit.
Sponsored by Col. (Ret) Karen A. Pike
In Cinere Aircraft In Cinere Aircraft Sponsored by Richard Kern
Red Star Memorial Award Julian Lynn Red Star Memorial Award Outstanding Soviet / Russian Military Vehicle.
Sponsored by San Antonio Armor Builders
Mike Picard Memorial Award Mike Pickard Memorial Award Outstanding Allied Military Vehicle or Sci-Fi Ground Vehicle.
Sponsored by San Antonio Armor Builders
Real or SciFi Spacecraft Out of this world. Outstanding Real or Sci Fi Spacecraft
Sponsored by Hobby Town

★ REGISTRATION ★

Alamo Squadron is proud to announce that ModelFiesta 45 will be using HOBBYSHOW MANAGER™ to handle registration and support judging operations throughout the event. Participants can expect a streamlined check-in, better management of entries, and clearer communication during the show.

Pre-register online, register your models on-site from your phone, or have event staff enter them for you at the registration table — either way you spend less time in line and more time enjoying the show. And now with PayPal online payments during registration, you can skip the lines altogether and walk straight to the model tables to place your models.

SELECT A VIDEO TUTORIAL

To register, visit the HOBBYSHOW MANAGER™ ModelFiesta portal. If you created an account for another event that uses the app, your existing login works here too. Otherwise, click Register to continue.

These video tutorials walk through each step, from creating an account to entering your models. Still stuck? Send us a note through the contact form.

★ VENDORS ★

Tables are $45 each, 6' x 2.5', the same as last year. Alamo Squadron assigns and adjusts table locations to fit as many vendors as possible. Wristbands are handed out at vendor setup on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Tables not paid in full by January 1, 2027 go to vendors on the waiting list. If the show is cancelled everyone is refunded; an individual refund is issued when a table can be resold, or at the steering committee's discretion.

Selling or trading anywhere on New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center property, including the parking lot, is limited to paid vendor tables.

Questions go to our vendor coordinator through the contact form.

REQUEST VENDOR TABLES

Download the Vendor Request Form in PDF Format.

Select a number of tables. You can submit this request now and pay later.

* Any refund will be paid by check and mailed to the address provided above.

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CURRENT TABLE AVAILABILITY

Reserved already? Pay here

★ HISTORY ★

PREVIOUS MODELFIESTA WINNERS

The first ModelFiesta was held in Wonderland Mall, now called Crossroads Mall, in 1982 and has been held each year since that first contest, with the exception of 2021 due to COVID-19. Our ModelFiesta event has traditionally been scheduled for early to mid-February on a Saturday preceding or following Valentine’s Day.

ModelFiesta 30, Live Oak Civic Center
ModelFiesta 30. February 2011
Live Oak Civic Center
ModelFiesta 35, San Antonio Event Center
ModelFiesta 35. February 2016
San Antonio Event Center
ModelFiesta 40, New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center
ModelFiesta 40. January 2022
New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center

★ CONTACT ★

Questions or inquiries? Send us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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NEW BRAUNFELS CIVIC/CONVENTION CENTER

375 S. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX. 78130

Alamo Squadron 50 years