SA Scale Model Expo 25

Saturday 11 to Sunday 12 October 2025

Open to public 9:00am - 4:00pm Saturday and Sunday

Come and see aircraft, armour, ships, automotive, sci-fi, dioramas PLUS MUCH MORE!

80 Years on from VE DAY; VJ DAY

Formula 1 in Adelaide

Big, Stompy Things

2025 marks 80 years on from the end of World War Two with first “Victory in Europe” (VE DAY) on May 8th and then “Victory in the Pacific” (VJ DAY) on August 15th.

Expo 2025 is commemorating these significant events in world history, so bring along your Armoured Fighting Vehicle, Aviation, Figure, Vignette, Ship and Diorama models from those final months leading up to the end of hostilities in both major theatres of war.

Your models can be entered simply as “Display Only” (free entry) or cross-entered in the appropriate “Competition Category” (with payment of the competition entry fee).

Further details will be posted on the website and our facebook page closer to the event, but get building now to enter.

November 2025 marks 40 years since the first FIA Formula 1 Grand Prix was held on the streets of Adelaide.

The event ran for 10 years until 1995 and created some great moments in F1 history and heart stopping results which determined the world championship on several occasions. It was also a time of iconic F1 cars that still hold legendary status, such as the McLaren MP4/4, Williams FW14b, the Jordan 191 to name a few.

To celebrate this milestone SA Scale Model Expo 2025 is holding a themed group build and display of any F1 car that ran between 1985 and 1995, and there are some great kits that depict these legends. There is a link to a list of kits here. https://sapma.com.au/adelaidef1/

We are looking for models that represent these cars, not necessarily in their Adelaide configuration, but which ran during this era.

Cars can be entered for judging or display only on the themed display table and be eligible for special F1 themed prizes.

Further details will be posted on the website and our facebook page closer to the event, but get building now to enter.

Modelers who prefer the grandeur and imagination of Sci-Fi, Gundam, Mecha, large monsters, along with majestic animals have their own exciting theme, Big, Stompy Things. Bring your favourite creations to life, whether it’s a Gundam, Mecha, a monster from film, anime, gaming figures, or real life.

The models can be big (and bad if you want) and stompy – anything you would not want to be front of you in real life. You might have a towering Gundam model in full flight of battle; a fearsome Mecha; Godzilla destroying a city; a Titan from myth or fantasy; a threating dragon, or a giant creature walking majestically across the plains.

Show off your skills and artistic flair in capturing these brilliant models and bringing the figures to life.

Further details will be posted on the website and our facebook page closer to the event, but get building now to enter.

Location

John Dunning Centre, Prince Alfred College, Dequetteville Tce Kent Town.

Entry is at the rear of the school via The Parade West (look for the Pirie St entrance). Enter through the school gates with car parking found on the left. The hall is approximately 50m further on via a path (will be signposted).

About the EXPO

Are you under 17 years old? 2025 is a great year for you at the SA Model Expo!!

Whether you are just starting out or have been modelling for
some years, ENTER this year’s competition in one of the two the junior
categories for a chance to win a great PRIZE. Every entry gets a chance to win!

Under 14 & Under 17s

ALL subjects welcome; Warhammer, Mechs, Gundam, Spaceships or just a
classic Aircraft, Tank or Car model like your dad builds.

FREE entry for up to 3 models

General Admission Charges

Entrants : FREE

Adults: $10.00 (2 Day Pass $15.00)

Concession and Students: $5.00 (2 day Pass $7.00)

Family (2 adults, 2 children) $15.00

Children 12 and under: FREE (must be with an adult)

Entering the EXPO

Conditions of Entry

All expo entries either for technical judging or display are subject to our conditions of entry. Please read carefully before lodging your entry.

Technically Judged $8.00 (inclusive first 3 entries) (Fourth entry onwards) $3.00 each

17 and under FREE

Click here to download a copy of the Conditions of Entry

References for your entry

The one thing which can mean the difference in winning or placing in the model expo is the references that are supplied with the model. Many times the expo judges have judged great models at the expo but the models references have been nonexistent or wrong and this has prevented a worthy model from placing, or in some cases even winning.

Ensure your referencing is succinct and make sure you include the relevant details relating to the build. Box art, kit instructions, aftermarket part (if used) instructions, modifications which you may have made in the build and any corrections that you may have made to kit flaws or inaccuracies. If you have corrected flaws or enhanced a model, provide some photographic or drawing references. If some of the references or photos that you used are in a book or books then photo copy the relevant material and include it.

Please make sure the supplied references are relevant to the subject modelled. This is also especially important if you choose a different scheme or markings than what was supplied in the kit. If the accuracy of the references to the subject doesn’t match then this will lose you points.

For some model kits supplied references can be problematic. Many figures or Sci-Fi kits come from low-production manufacturers and sometimes kit instructions or box art are scant or non-existent. In this case Google is your answer. If someone has kitted a subject then that subject must have some information be somewhere online

Click here to view judging notes.

Categories for Judging - New Category changes for 2025!

AK1 – Animal Kingdom (Open all scales)
Sponsored by TBA

AV1 – AFV (Small Scale tracked and wheel driven) 1/72 and smaller
Sponsored by BNA Model World

AV2 – AFV (Medium Scale tracked and wheel driven) 1/36 to 1/71
Sponsored by Aeroworks

AV3 – AFV (Large Scale tracked) 1/35 and larger
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

AV4 – AFV (Large scale Wheel Driven) 1/35 and larger
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

CA1 – Civil Aircraft (open All Scales)
Sponsored by Model World

CR1 – Cars (Small Scale) 1/43 and smaller
Sponsored by TBA

CR2 – Cars (Medium/Large Showroom Stock) 1/42 and larger
Sponsored by Somerset Models

CR3 – Cars (Medium/Large Competition) 1/42 and larger
Sponsored by BNA Model World

CR4 – Cars ( Medium/large Kustom) 1/42 and larger
Sponsored by Hobbies Australia

DR1 – Dioramas (Small) < 900cm2
Sponsored by Supercheap Hobbies

DR2 – Dioramas (Large) > 900cm2
Sponsored by Phil Pojer

DR3 – Dioramas (Civil – Open All Scales)
Sponsored by Somerset Models

FG1 – Gaming Figures (Open All Scales)
Sponsored by 3D Mat

GD1 – Gundam (Open all scales)
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

HF1 – Historical Figures (open all scales)
Sponsored by TBA

JT1 – Jets (Small): 1/72 to 1/99
Sponsored by Aeroworks

JT2 – Jet (Medium scale): 1/36 to 1/71
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

JT3 – Jets (Large Scale): 1/35 and larger
Sponsored by Peter Reljic

MA1 – Micro Aviation 1/100 and smaller
Sponsored by Spruecutter

MB1 – Motorbikes (Open all Scales)
Sponsored by Keith Thomson

ME1 – Mecha (Open all scales)
Sponsored by Canberra Hobby Centre

PR1 – Prop Single Engine (Small Scale) 1/72 to 1/99
Sponsored by Andy Stockings

PR2 – Prop Multi Engine (Small Scale) 1/72 to 1/99
Sponsored by BNA Model World

PR3 – Prop Single Engine (Medium Scale) 1/36 to 1/71
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

PR4 – Prop Multi Engine (Medium scale) 1/36 to 1/71
Sponsored by Aeroworks

PR5 – Prop (Large scale) 1/35 and larger
Sponsored by Peter Reljic

RH1 – Rotors & Helicopters (open all scales)
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

RK1 – Rockets Space and Missiles (open all scales)
Sponsored by Dave Langfield

SF1 – Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Movie Figures (open all scales)
Sponsored by Chaotic Kraken Hobbies

SF2 – Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Movie Busts (open all scales)
Sponsored by 3D Mat

SF3 – Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Movie Vehicles (Small) Up to 15cm in length, width or height
Sponsored by Hobbies Australia

SF4 – Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Movie Vehicles (Medium) between 15cm and 30 cm in length, width or height
Sponsored by Marie Baker

SF5 – Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Movie Vehicles (Large) greater than 30 cm in length, width or height
Sponsored by Kookaburra Hobbies

SH1 – Ships (Open All Scales)
Sponsored by TBA

SH3 – Submarines (Open All Scales)
Sponsored by Military Hobbies

TR1 – Trucks Bobtail and combination (Open all scales)
Sponsored by TBA

UN1 – Unnominated / Scratch Build
Sponsored by TBA

J14 – Junior (Modelers Aged under 14)
Sponsored by Davit Couche

I17 – Intermediate (Modelers Aged 14 – 17)
Sponsored by Hobby Jamboree

Best of Show – Judges Grand Award

Special Awards Categories:

Best Aviation Entry
Sponsored by AB&S Enterprises

Best Auto Entry (Memorial – Darrel McKay)

Trader tables

SA Scale Model Expo has tables available to commercial traders for sale of a wide range of scale model related items.

Traders must be commercial traders and hold a current A.B.N.

If you are interested in being a trader please send through your details to ExpoDirector@SAPMA.com.au

SA Scale Model Expo 2025 thanks the following sponsors for their generous support:

Avonmore Books

Military Hobbies