Tony W.'s 2022 Wonderfest Show Report is finally done!

[AntMan]

Hi,

I just finished putting the final touches in on my report of this year's Wonderfest Show.
(I think my picture count came in at an all-time high, just under 1,500 pictures).

You can check it out here: https://www.scififantmodmadrealm.com/Wo ... 022-1.html

(Happy reading)!

[Heavy Metal Spike]

Hi,

I just finished putting the final touches in on my report of this year's Wonderfest Show.
(I think my picture count came in at an all-time high, just under 1,500 pictures).

You can check it out here: https://www.scififantmodmadrealm.com/Wo ... 022-1.html

(Happy reading)!

Oh hell yeah !!!!! - this'll be fun . . . so HUGE thanks in advance Tony


.

[AntMan]

Hey guy,

Thanks!

(As Terrell Owens once said: "Get your popcorn ready, 'cause I'm gonna put on a show").

This report feels quite lengthy, for some reason...

[tay666]

I'm gonna save this for the weekend, but definitely looking forward to it.

[AntMan]

Thanks, Trevor.

[Buc Wheat]

Tks!! Looking fwd to going thru it, Shippie!

[Tim Fortuna]

Always a good read and some great pictures. Thanks Ant for taking the time to do this.

[AntMan]

Thanks, Tim.

You know, (not meaning to toot my own horn or anything here) but I've found myself going back and re-re-re...reading old
Wonderfest Reports of mine.

Firstly, I'm kind of surprised seeing similarities between different reports and different shows.

However, I also find myself going back and reliving previous experiences and recapturing previous thoughts and feelings when
looking at some of those previously posted pictures from earlier years.

[tay666]

However, I also find myself going back and reliving previous experiences and recapturing previous thoughts and feelings when
looking at some of those previously posted pictures from earlier years.

I completely know that feeling.

I love going back and reliving things by looking at old reviews.
It's half the reason I keep doing them.
So when I am older and more addle-minded, I can remember things.

[tay666]

I've made it to just before you go into the dealers room. Will be breaking this read into a few sessions.

I completely get the relaxing feeling of the drive to the show. This year was one of the smoothest ever for me. Totally stress free and relaxing. Wish the rides home would be the same way, but they never are. After a jam packed weekend, the last thing I want to do is drive for hours on end. But going there, yeah, it's great.

I also tend to go off-script when taking painting classes. I take what information I need from the instruction, but then apply it the way I want to. Which is one of the beauties of these classes.
It isn't about do this exactly like this, it's more like try this this way and see what you think.
Of course, I have only done 2 classes so far. An AFM boot camp a few years ago, and the Iwata dino class this year.
Another great thing about the classes is getting introduced to new materials. The bootcamp opened my eyes to miniature paints and how much better they do some stuff. We were using Reaper paints in that class, but since then, I have expanded into some citadel and army painter stuff.
This year I got to try out some Comart airbrush paints. My first ever paint specifically designed for airbrushing. It was so nice not spending so much time fiddling with thinners and such.


Oh yeah. That line Friday night for tickets and entry forms was ridiculously long. Don't think I have ever seen it that long before.

[Heavy Metal Spike]

.

Just started page 9 and spotted this . . . (the "Paul" alien, not Jimmy's head)

• • • • • • 

Now THAT is a must-have!

Enjoying the "ride" so far Tony - that's some great scenery on your drive down (how did you get those photo's? - dashcam?)

This must have taken you AGES to to get organised and typed-up / uploaded . . . SOOOOOOO good

Off to do the rest of page 9 onwards.


.

[tay666]

Just finished up. Some really great shots of the contest.
And the total on the contest entries was 844. I know, it didn't seem like there were that many but there were.
It think part of the perception is the abundance of busts. They don't take up as much table space.
Also the minis are having a strong showing as well.

Hey, you actually got a pic of me (well the back of me)
Your last pic of Cultman's table. I recognize my pony-tail, my Papa Roach shirt, and my bottle of Code Red

Yeah, that line to get awards. Your report gave me flashbacks. [shudder]

We love hitting Hometown Pizza. It's close, it's good, and the price is reasonable.

[timetraveler]

Thanks' Tony for that fantastic collection of photos!

[AntMan]

However, I also find myself going back and reliving previous experiences and recapturing previous thoughts and feelings when
looking at some of those previously posted pictures from earlier years.

I completely know that feeling.

I love going back and reliving things by looking at old reviews.
It's half the reason I keep doing them.
So when I am older and more addle-minded, I can remember things.

Hey Trevor,

I hear you!

Wrt that "older and more able-minded", I've found that my memory has become like a sieve, with me forgetting thing which
occurred two years ago, at the W-Fest show. (At least I've continued to retain my memories from last year's show...for now)!?

[AntMan]

I've made it to just before you go into the dealers room. Will be breaking this read into a few sessions.

I completely get the relaxing feeling of the drive to the show. This year was one of the smoothest ever for me. Totally stress free and relaxing. Wish the rides home would be the same way, but they never are. After a jam packed weekend, the last thing I want to do is drive for hours on end. But going there, yeah, it's great.

I also tend to go off-script when taking painting classes. I take what information I need from the instruction, but then apply it the way I want to. Which is one of the beauties of these classes.
It isn't about do this exactly like this, it's more like try this this way and see what you think.
Of course, I have only done 2 classes so far. An AFM boot camp a few years ago, and the Iwata dino class this year.
Another great thing about the classes is getting introduced to new materials. The bootcamp opened my eyes to miniature paints and how much better they do some stuff. We were using Reaper paints in that class, but since then, I have expanded into some citadel and army painter stuff.
This year I got to try out some Comart airbrush paints. My first ever paint specifically designed for airbrushing. It was so nice not spending so much time fiddling with thinners and such.


Oh yeah. That line Friday night for tickets and entry forms was ridiculously long. Don't think I have ever seen it that long before.

No problem...Take your time with it...

Thanks, about that whole relaxing-trip-down-there thing. I wasn't sure if I had captured some of those good vibes in my report, which I got and get when driving over to Louisville. I have to admit that it got sketchy there, at times when taking those pictures WHILE driving the car. (Probably not one of my wisest decisions I made).

Also I wasn't sure how posting all of those pictures of trees would work in the report.

Thanks as well about your comments about that AFM's Boot Camp class. YEAH!!!! You're right! There's nothing wrong with my doing things my way in the class.

I think that having fun in the class should be the first target, and finishing up with something that you really like should be the second.

Wrt all of those lines, I guess conversely that showed that many, MANY people were at the show this year, (right)?

[AntMan]

.

Just started page 9 and spotted this . . . (the "Paul" alien, not Jimmy's head)

• • • • • • 

Now THAT is a must-have!

Enjoying the "ride" so far Tony - that's some great scenery on your drive down (how did you get those photo's? - dashcam?)

This must have taken you AGES to to get organised and typed-up / uploaded . . . SOOOOOOO good

Off to do the rest of page 9 onwards.
.

Thanks as well, HMS.

You know, I completely missed that picture of those aliens giving each other the finger.

Thanks also for your compliment of my scenery pictures. I actually ended up taking them on my return trip, (but don't tell anyone).
I was kind of focusing on my drive out their initially. However, when I got through those mountains and the road and landscape started getting flatter, I thought "You know, I should have gotten some shots of the areas I just traveled through."

Then, going back at times I was balancing my 35 mm camera on my car's steering wheel, while other times I was just pointing to the trees in front, to the left and to the right, all the while thinking "Well Tony, if you end up crashing from taking these pictures at least you've paid the extra for the rental insurance. Soooo, everything will be covered".

Also, thanks for your 'Enjoying the "ride"' pun.
(It' so hard to find folk who appreciate "good humor" nowadays).

Wrt the hand editing of each of the picture, along with organizing them, I literally started working on the pictures, along with writing it directly after the show, and I seem to be getting better at it. Last year it "only" took me a couple of months to finish and post the report, (unlike several years ago, when the task was a real toil! I don't think I was finished with the report until December of that particular year).

However put a feather in my cap for my persevering on it.

[AntMan]

Just finished up. Some really great shots of the contest.
And the total on the contest entries was 844. I know, it didn't seem like there were that many but there were.
It think part of the perception is the abundance of busts. They don't take up as much table space.
Also the minis are having a strong showing as well.

Hey, you actually got a pic of me (well the back of me)
Your last pic of Cultman's table. I recognize my pony-tail, my Papa Roach shirt, and my bottle of Code Red

Yeah, that line to get awards. Your report gave me flashbacks. [shudder]

We love hitting Hometown Pizza. It's close, it's good, and the price is reasonable.

Hello thirdly Trevor. Thanks again about your complement on my pictures.

Yep. After I posted the report I read somewhere else that someone had reported an all-time-high of 844 entries in the contest.
There were quite a few miniatures in the contest this year. Also many of them looked really, really nice there.

This one: ?

I think I DO remember seeing ya at the show, along with seeing you at previous W-Fest shows. (One of these years I'm going to have to make a point of searching you out and introducing myself).

Yes also about Hometown Pizza, (or Craft Town Pizza, which they are now called).

[AntMan]

Thanks' Tony for that fantastic collection of photos!

Thank you, TimeTraveler.

Much appreciated!

[tay666]

We've actually 'met' a couple times at the show.
By that, I mean we have crossed paths in the hallway and said hi before we rushed off to where ever we were already heading.

I wouldn't worry too much about snapping pix while driving. I do it all the time and haven't had an issue.
Especially on open highway. I almost always bring my camera with me when driving in the fall.
Never know when I will see a really beautiful display of fall color.
I also shoot Halloween displays while driving around at the end of October. Granted, usually I stop to take pics, but sometimes there really is no where to pull off, so I just drive slow and shoot out the side windows.

In previous years I have even done Cincinnati skyline photos while driving into the city on I79.
Nothing really amazing, but nice reminders of the drive.