Greetings Armor Enthusiasts,
The AMPS 2025 International Convention is less than 50 days away. It’s time to add that flat coat and mount that entry on a base and get geared up for a fantastic armor-filled weekend with fabulous subjects, dioramas, vignettes and figures. And let’s not forget the visit by Lady Lois, a restored M3 Stuart, on Friday, May 16, 2025 at the convention site. Below are a few items to take note of if you missed them the first time and some new show news.
Hotel Reservations:
The Penn-Harris Hotel is beginning to fill up as we approach show time. Now would be a great time to make reservations online via the AMPS homepage (https://www.amps-armor.org) at and get the AMPS show rate to ensure your room for the convention weekend. Penn-Harris Hotel is conveniently a few steps away from the convention location along with several restaurants, so attendees can grab a meal and get back to the show in plenty of time.
Pre-registration:
AMPS Pre-registration will remain open until May 11, 2025, but why wait till the last day. Between now and May 11th, modelers will have plenty of time to pre-register and write out all the work done on each entry before the show. Simply visit the AMPS homepage (https://www.amps-armor.org) and follow the simple instructions to get your entries paid which grants access to all the entry forms you will need. Remember–your model entry paperwork does not have to be completed at the time you pre-register and, if you’re ambitious enough, you can add more models to your pre-registered ones and print out your forms up to Saturday, May 17, 2025. If you need help pre-registering, please contact Neil Stokes, Brian Eberle or Chuck Rothman on the AMPS website.
Model Registration: IMPORTANT NOTICE–Please read!
For those who choose not to pre-register but still wish to register their models for the contest, we are offering digital registration on-site during the show. Handwritten registration forms will not be accepted for AMPS 2025!
AMPS will have a separate Walk-In Registration area for those who did not pre-register for the show. A laptop and printer will be provided for members to complete the registration process and enter their models. AMPS will also provide Registration Coaches to assist members as needed.
Avoid the lines, delays or having to type out your registration forms while your friends are in the vendor room. Pre-Register today and experience the ease of Walk-In registration!’
Seminars:
Members who pre-register for the AMPS 2025 Show can also sign up for one of our eight seminars. Four of the seminars include “How to Do” seminars that are sure to be a hit. All of the “How to Do” seminars will cost between $10-$15 dollars each to cover the expenses necessary to deliver these seminars to our members. Reservations for the “How to Do” Seminars are limited to 25 members. The complete list of seminars can be found on the AMPS homepage (https://www.amps-armor.org) and cover a variety of topics for modelers that are sure to please. Seminar seats on all “How to Do” sessions are quickly filling up, so don’t hesitate; pre-register today.
New “Best of Award”:
This year’s show features a new “Best of” award for “Best Fictional, Futuristic or Proposed Vehicle” sponsored by the AMPS Membership Coordinator. This award will be presented to the best entry in Category XIV. All skill levels are eligible for this award and encouraged to entera subject into this category.
Juniors Registration:
Junior modelers, in case you didn’t know, AMPS has a model entry category tailored for your modeling interests? Here’s the scoop, AMPS entry category XIV “Fictional, Futuristic or Proposed Vehicles” is a perfect fit for Mecha, Gundam, Maschinenkreiger, SteamPunk, Warhammer, among other interest areas. These builds need only to operate primarily on the ground to be eligible.
AMPS has Junior skill levels for all model entry categories. In each category, all junior model entries are eligible for Gold, Silver and Bronze awards based on the quality of each build at the Junior skill level. Every entry in the AMPS show receives constructive written feedback from the judges on their builds. This feedback is a great way for individual modelers to improve and learn more about the hobby.
AMPS also has a separate category just for Juniors (Category XV (Juniors)) who don’t wish to enter in another category. All entries in category XV compete for the Best Junior award in addition to the Gold, Silver or Bronze awards. Junior modelers are aged 17 or younger.
Come join us at AMPS 2025 to showcase your modeling builds, and to get the well deserved recognition for your efforts.
As an incentive, the first 5 Juniors who register for the AMPS 2025 show will have their registration fees paid for by AMPS. All other Juniors will need to pay the regular $15 registration fee. Visit the AMPS homepage to pre-register.
We hope to see you and your family at AMPS 2025 at Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, May 15-17, 2025.
Call for Judges/Judges training:
AMPS is always looking for more judges to help spread the work around and allow more modelers to participate in the various activities during the show. Sharing in the judging duties allows others to enjoy the show who might be otherwise be working several judging shift and the added benefit is being able to view very cool models up close and provide useful feedback. If you would like to get a jump on training, feel free to review the on-line AMPS Judges Training modules that can be accessed on the AMPS home page (https://www.amps-armor.org). Another judges’ training opportunity will be held at the show where AMPS will be providing judges training for Table Captain, Diorama and Vignette judging as well as Field Judge training. If you thought about taking AMPS judges training but kept putting it off, this would be a great time to jump in see for yourself what all the positive vibes are all about.
Category Sponsors:
There are only a few AMPS sponsorship slot available and are going fast. Frank Froment, our sponsorship coordinator, has sponsors for almost all the categories and “Best of” awards supported and we are attempting to get all categories sponsored before the show. Category sponsors are $20 per level (Basic, Intermediate and Advanced) and $60 to sponsor the whole category. “Best of” sponsors are $60 each. Sponsorships are an excellent way for individuals and/or chapters to support the AMPS convention. Contact Frank through the AMPS homepage (https://www.amps-armor.org) if you have any questions. Available categories and “Best ofs” can be viewed on the AMPS homepage.
Donations:
AMPS convention raffles are one of the very best that always includes an excellent selection of kits, aftermarket items, figures, diorama accessories, tools and great reference materials. Vendors, model manufacturers and individuals have consistently provided quality items for the AMPS raffle over the years. Each year AMPS attempts make the raffle the biggest and best yet, so to continue to make this year’s raffle the very best, AMPS is asking show attendees to look through their stash for newer kits, reference materials, unused aftermarket/conversion sets and make a donation. Proceeds go directly into the AMPS treasury to help finance future shows and preservation projects. You can contact Georg Eyerman, AMPS Raffle Coordinator on the AMPS homepage (https://www.amps-armor.org) and let him know what you would like to donate. Raffle winners will be glad you did.
Don’t forget to visit the AMPS homepage for the list of vendors.
Cheers!
chuck