ONLY a few keen modellers dropped by when the Illawarra Plastic Modellers Association held its first show and expo 15 years ago.
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Today, the NSW Scale Model Competition and Expo is widely regarded as one of the biggest events of its kind in Australia with the best modellers from across the country exhibiting their latest work.
The event has gotten so big that organisers were forced to move to bigger premises - the 2015 edition this weekend will be held at Illawarra Sports Stadium on Hooka Creek Road, Berkeley. In previous years, hundreds of scale modellers converged on the much smaller Koonawarra Community Centre for the two-day event.
Organisers are confident of attracting more modellers and up to 3000 people on May 2-3.
Illawarra Plastic Modellers secretary/treasurer and keen modeller Darren Dickerson said the standard of models was world class.
"The great news is that we'll have even more displays and traders this year because our new venue is much bigger," he said.
The association president, Patrick Brady said the timing of the move coincided "nicely" with the anniversary.
"It is a special year for us and the show. To celebrate it is going to be bigger and better than ever," he said.
Mr Dickerson said the good thing about the event was that the model show and expo catered for all skill levels.
"We have 47 different categories, including some specifically for juniors," he said.
The entry fee to compete is $3 per model. Prizes and trophies will be presented to category winners on Sunday.
The expo and show at Illawarra Sports Stadium will run from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and 9am-3pm on Sunday.
Entry is $4 a person or $5 for a family.