IPMS Keighley Show 2025
Carlton Acedemy Keighley, Greenhead Road, BD20 6EB
Visited September 21st 2025
After covering the Fen Model show, I thought I’d extract my digit and make more effort into covering other model events.
After all, I know there’s a lot of effort goes into organising them, I’ve had that experience, so I should take time to get some photos and write a short article.
The last time I was at the Keighley show was prior to Covid breaking out, so that must’ve been in 2018, since then there have been events held by the club, but I’ve missed them due to family holidays, so I was glad to return to what I remember as a friendly show, not overly large, but with some decent trade stands, the usual IPMS club displays and one or two ( OK, several actually ) nice models in a small competition.
WHAT A SHOCK I HAD !
Maybe I wasn’t paying attention back in 2018, but WOW the quality of the models in the competition, the superb pieces on the club displays…… Where have all these come from ?
Well, to be honest, all over the north of the country as Keighley nestles in the north of the Yorkshire Dales, so it’s pretty central to attract clubs from Lancashire and Yorkshire, along with one or two from Merseyside.
The venue is well lit, and spread through a large entrance hallway and two halls giving plenty of room to house the vendors, club displays and competition.
The organisers seem to have things very well under control, so much so that apart from the staff on the door, they are almost invisible, their need to sort problems is either done quickly, quietly, or any problems simply done exist.
The show is of course held under the umbrella of the IPMS, so a heavy accent is on aircraft, vehicles both military and civilian, with only a small number of figure subjects and Sci-fi / fantasy pieces on display.
But that’s no detriment, there is simply a very broad spread of model subject matter, and a lot of it is produced to a very, very high standard.
Competition judging seemed fair and logical, although there were only 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes given in each class, and that would be my only feeling of sadness that so many models that were really well produced and presented, missed out on being recognised with a prize.
As I say though, judging appeared very fair and good - and I’m not saying that because I won, I actually gained a couple of second places – it just appeared that although some very difficult decisions had been made, the winners in each class did seem to be the best pieces.
So my congratulations to all the winners, also to the judges for doing a great job, and to the organisers for choosing the right people to do it.
I’ve mentioned a few times about the quality of the models at the show, so I make no apology for the amount of pictures I’ve included here. I have had to cut the mount down from those I took, so apologies to the many modeller’s pieces that have effectively hit the cutting room floor.
My thanks to all involved in setting up and organising what was a very enjoyable show, and I’m hoping to return in 2026.
With that, I’ll leave you to look at the pictures and encourage you to look out for the dates for next year’s show.
