World of Plastic Modeling

Text: Petr Vacek

Greetings from Brno! At the time of posting of the December issue of our newsletter we are halfway through the The World of Plastic Modeling event, which takes place at the Brno Technical Museum from September 17, 2025 to March 22, 2026. The total number of models has stabilized at an incredible 1,352 pieces from 111 modelers.

I have heard the idea of ‘I have seen those models at other exhibitions, so what new can I get out of this?’, but you won’t see models without the crowds, displayed on glass shelves at different heights, including at eye level, and with good light like this anywhere at a another competition, where the models are mostly crammed close together, on low tables, with limited light and visible only from one side. You are also pressed up against a crowd with backpacks and phones in their hands….

At the Technical Museum in Brno it is different. There is calm, light, models to see in a way you don't normally see, and spaces containing other displays that are also worth seeing. Everything is topped off by a pleasant restaurant, which you can access directly from the exhibition of steam engines and aircraft engines.

Currently, one of the largest Christmas markets around is taking place in the center of Brno, in five squares in total, and these are also worth seeing.... There is nothing better than combining the pleasant with the even more pleasant and taking the family to Brno at this time, going to an exhibition and also soaking up the Christmas atmosphere.

On weekends we conduct improvised model workshops in the Technical Museum, conducted by my colleagues, including myself on Sundays. We can discuss many modeling issues, you can learn about unusual modeling techniques, or even about the best way to start or return to this hobby after years of being absent from it. For example, during November we built the new Avia S-199 from Eduard’s new Hybrid approach to kit design philosophy.

The average daily attendance is about 230 people, and it tends to increase as weather improves The exhibition is open Wednesday to Friday between 9:00 - 17:00 and Saturday and Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00h. Since its opening on September 17th, 2025, as of the date of this report on 10/11/2026, the exhibition has been visited by over 10,000 visitors.

PS. Currently, in an improvised workshop right in the exhibition hall, you can see tools such as modeling lamps, and of course you can try them out. During December, we should test an ultrasonic wireless knife for trimming 3D printed parts, this emerging trend in our hobby being probably irreversible. A large part of the accessories is essentially made using 3D printing technology. Several companies already produce entire kits using 3D printing. After our experience with the Avia S-199 Hybrid edition kit, my colleague and I decided that an ultrasonic knife will be an integral part of the modeling table in the future. And what better way to witness this than over a weekend at the Technical Museum, to try out the knife and share our experiences. Information about events outside of the classic weekend modeling can always be found on our FB page, World of Plastic Modeling. I would also like to thank all our colleagues who provided us with models for the exhibition.