Club History

IPMS Torbay & South Devon was initially known as Torbay Military Modelling Society and was formed in 1971 by four local military modelling enthusiasts:-

Hendryck Stopczynski
Ian Richards
Ken Knight
John Binmore

In a front room one Sunday afternoon in June, the society was formed with the idea of bringing the hobby of Military Modelling to the attention of other people in the area. Only one of the four founders remains with the society today.

The society’s first title in 1971 was Torbay Military Collectors Society. In 1972 it became Torbay Model Soldier Society before again changing in 1975 to Torbay Military Modelling Society.

We held our first Annual Exhibition in July 1974 at St Andrews Hall, Sands Road, Paignton which was sponsored by a local heating firm, Interheat. Since then our exhibitions have been held at Oldway Mansion and Torquay Town Hall, with great success.

Torbay Model Show @ Torquay Town Hall

The society affiliated to the International Plastic Modellers Society (IPMS) in 1999 and in 2000 became a branch under the banner of IPMS Torbay and South Devon.

Our first chairman was Mike Head, an author for Almark Books on French Napoleonic uniforms of the 70’s. Our second chairman was the late Ken Knight – a modeller of great renown.

From these beginnings the society has grown to become one of the best known and respected clubs in the country, producing 5 National Champions and a Gold Medal winner at a recent Euro-Militaire as well as numerous ‘Best In Show’ winners in the South West. It has also been responsible for many innovations that other club and modelers now take for granted within the hobby today.

Currently meeting monthly in Marldon Village Hall (just outside Paignton), the society welcomes new members and caters for all aspects of modelling – military and non-military.

New members will find that their more experienced counterparts will be only too happy to assist them in any way with advice and instruction. They will also find that informality is the keynote of our meetings. Any aspect of modelling can be arranged if new members require. There is plenty of experience and talent available in the society and the many top modelers at the club are always ready to help others.

We attend most shows in the South West and IPMS Scalemodel World (IPMS Nationals). We also continue to host an annual show here in Torbay.

Torbay Model Show