Jerseyfest 2015 – show overview

Jerseyfest Model Kit and Statue Fair 2015 – Aug. 29 & 30
Marriott Hotel Exhibition Center, Whipanny NJ

I attended the Jerseyfest Model Kit Fair over the weekend of Aug. 29th/30th. The overall theme this year was Godzilla and Kaiju, but any kind of model kit could be entered or displayed in the contest room. The convention included a model kit contest, several building, sculpting, painting, and airbrushing classes, and the wonderful work by Jon LeGrande (LeGrandzilla), whose 25 or more Godzilla and Kaiju kits were on display for public viewing.

 

There were some incredibly well built and beautifully painted kits running the gamut from Cartoon subjects to Disney characters to horror films. They even had a category for builders under 13. Following the main theme there were many excellent giant monster kits to view.

 

I even entered a couple of kits myself and it was enjoyable to see people stopping by the table and taking photos of my Godzilla vs. Gamera diorama.

 

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In the vendor room were dozens of companies selling kits, modeling and sculpting supplies, and paint. I found some great deals in the room for traditional styrene plastic kits.

 

There were tons of spectacular resin and garage kits from small companies. Some of my faves included the futuristic Scooby Doo and Shaggy and the Monster versions Sesame Street style characters from Monster Dork Studio.

I also liked the pin-up style kits from Kit Kong including Rosie the Riveter, Ultraviolet and Nancy (Jessica Alba) from Sin City.

Resin Crypt had a booth with their awesome Hammer Films and classic ’60’s horror kits including the newest ones Veronica Carlson and the Black Sunday kit. Below is the London After Midnight kit.

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On Saturday night I attended a presentation where several modelers talked about their kit builds and techniques.
Robert Troch had a huge diorama depicting a scene from Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster. The diorama was an ‘in-progress’ build featuring the MM 28 kits, Ghidorah, Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra (larvae stage) which are HUGE.

 
Next up was Matt Evangelista from Kaiju Modeler speaking about his Godzilla kit which stood about 2 and 1/2 ft tall.

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Then Jon Legrande took center stage discussing techniques he applied to his Godzilla 2014 diorama and his Gamera build. Check out his Youtube Chanel LeGrandzilla for videos

 
Lastly Bill Newell relayed some detail about his Kaiyodo, 1962 Godzilla sculpted by Sakai. You can look up Bill’s work at Godzillabadger.

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Although I had originally intended to leave on Sunday Morning, I was able to stay for the 2nd day (my daughter got someone to fill in at her job). Sunday afternoon I attended a painting class by Jordu Schell (Avatar, Hellboy, Batman Returns). I don’t use airbrush myself, but Jordu was an entertaining speaker and I enjoyed seeing his work.

 

There were many great prizes and trophies for the top kits. This was a great weekend for the model kit builder at any level and with this year’s theme any Godzilla fan too!

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I purchased these kits for excellent show only prices!

 

Mobeus Mummy with the Boris Karloff replacement head for $30.
The Munster’s Koach $19.
The Polar Lights Creature w/Julie Adams $25.
Polar Lights Robby the Robot $20

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Some other vendors I’d like to mention include:

Creative Beast Studio for some awesome colorful dinosaur kits – www.Creative-beast.com (David Silva)
Cretaceous Creations for their realistic looking dinosaur and prehistoric animal kits – www.cretaceouscreationsofamerica.com (Shane Foulkes)
Sceners.net for some awesome Aurora Monster Scenes add-on kits – www.sceners.net
Starlighting Projects for their one of a kind light up accessories, candles, torches, light up illusions, Frankenstein Castle light-up machinery – www.starlightingprojects.com
Kit Kong – www.modelmansion.com
Monster Dork Studio – www.monsterdorkstudio.com 
Cthulhu Gizzard Customs – Facebook
Resin Crypt – www.resincrypt.com

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These are only a fraction of the kits on display and for sale at JerseyFest 2015 – There will be much more to view at the Galleries on the JerseyFest website (will be posted soon), including previous years and winner listings.

Display and contest room gallery:

Jon Legrande Gamera

Jon Legrande Gamera CU

Jon Legrande GMK

Jon Legrande – Godzilla special

Jon Legrande Godzilla 2014 diorama

Jon Legrande Kaiju Kong kits

Jon Legrande Aurora Godzilla

Salems Lot

Dragon Slayer

Frankenstein

Scorpion attack

The Munsters

13 and under category

Bela Lugosi bust

Frankenstein bust

Bust Table

Talos – Jason and the Argonauts

Voyage to the bottom of the sea

More Kaiju kits

Bill Newell Rodan – 4 ft tall

Bill Newell Mothra

Bill Newell Godzilla 1962

Polar Lights Godzilla

Enterprise entries

What Lurks beneath – Creature diorama

Creature diorama pic 2

Creature diorama pic 3

AC Meets Frankenstein kit

PK King fantasy kit

Looney Tunes – Hazel

magic carpet ride kit

Headless Horseman

Mermaid kit

Happy Halloween pin-up kit

Triceratops – Cretaceous Creations

Ripley from Aliens

the Monster

Cthulhu

painting class

Vendor room and misc. gallery:

Vendor Room

Psycho – Mama

Trash Can Grouch

Cookie!

Kit Kong – Catwoman

Kit Kong – female creature

Saul Alvarez – painter and builder

Cretaceous Creations

Starlighting Projects

Giant entry display for the show

Carpet Ride

R2D2 talked to attendees as they entered the convention

 

20 Million Miles To Earth – Ymir – Model Kit

20 Million Miles To Earth – Ymir – Model Kit

This is the Geometric, Ymir model kit. It’s a fantastic kit with excellent detail.

It was fun painting the kit because the skin detail really worked well with dry brushing techniques. I started with a dark green base coat and worked with lighter greens and finally yellow for highlights.

It didn’t come with a base so I made a custom base for it.

I made the title placard with clay. I printed out the movie title image and pasted it on.

 

And don’t forget to watch the video inspired by this kit: Monsters on the Mantle

Monster Wars – Model on the Mantle

Monster Wars – Episode One
Monster Model on the Mantle

Ok, so here’s a short video I posted on youtube. Any married man that has his guy toys should be able to relate to this. The wives’ never want our guy things in the general expanse of the home; they think they should stay relegated to the man cave or specially cordoned room. See what happens when I try to expand my influence into the rest of the house…

The video gets a little shaky in the middle. I didn’t want the wife to know I was recording. I’ll post some better pics of this model at a later date.

The model is Ymir, 20 Million Miles to Earth by Geometric

Model Kits – Gorgo – Monarch Models

 

Gorgo Model Kit – Built and painted

Here’s my Gorgo Model Kit.

Gorgo was a 1961 film, directed by Eugene Lourie, about a prehistoric beast that terrorizes London. It used ‘suitmation’ for effects, like the original Godzilla.

This Gorgo Model Kit is brand new from Monarch Models. It is the same size and scale as the original Aurora monster kits, Godzilla and King Kong.

As soon as I got it, I built it. I mean the day it came in the mail, I started to glue.

I sanded and puttied all the seams. I gave some extra attention to the joint at the neck and body. Otherwise everything fit together nice and snug, better than many kits on the market.

screenshot from the film, Gorgo

Gorgo in the film is a very dark creature and I painted my kit dark green to reflect the film. It had red eyes.

I did all my highlights in orange also to reflect the film.

I love the destroyed buildings and ruble around the base.

 

The Aurora Monsters (2010) – movie review

The Aurora Monsters: the Model Craze that Gripped the World
documentary (2010)

The Aurora Monsters is a documentary chronicling the rise of monster model-kits as a hobby and collector item and solidifying its place in Americana. It is hosted by Friday Night Horror movie host Zacherely, and his Muppet-looking dragon, Gorgo. (from the NY area late 1950’s – 60’s)

It is a series of interviews with those who began at Aurora Model Kit Company, worked on projects and designed the kits, as well as, newer model-kit designers and collectors. The hosting shtick is a bit silly and seemingly geared toward children but the interviews are informative and entertaining. Among the interviewees are: Artist, James Bama — Andrew Yanches, product manager of Aurora models in 1960’s and 70’s — Ray Meyers, sculptor of the famous kits, Godzilla, The Bride, and Ghidrah — Dave Cochram, artist and sculptor. All of these men were players in the original monster model scene.

There are also interviews with newer model kit makers and aficionados, including: Jeff Yagher who sculpted models that looked closer to the film characters, quite often by using Bama’s original artwork as his guide. Actor, Daniel Roebuck shows us his collection of model kits from the early Aurora models to some newer kits. Frank Winspur of Moebius Models tells the story of how he was a fan of the kits when he was young and later went on to purchase many of the original molds to save them from the scrap heap and to re-issue many of the old monster model designs. Matt and Tom from Sideshow Collectibles discuss the Aurora influence on the items they produce and sell.

If you are interested in the evolution and history of monster model kits, or are inclined to start your own collection and want to get familiar with what is on the market, this would be a great place to start. For me it was a nostalgic look back to my childhood. When the other kids in the neighborhood were excelling at sports, I had my model kits to keep me busy.

 

available through:
www.monstersinmotion.com
www.amazon.com