Episode 60: World Model Expo Versailles 2025

Incredible art, great camaraderie, a beautiful and historic locale—and some sketchy organization, long lines with overflow crowds, and none of the artist’s names on any of those incredible pieces! In this episode, Jim (who could not attend) and Barry (who could and did) discuss the good and the bad about the twelfth World Model Expo, which took place from July 4 to 6 in Versailles, batting it all around with special guests Joe Berton, Pat Vess, Joan Biediger, and U.K. correspondent Chris Meddings of the Model Philosopher podcast.

According to the organizers, the event featured more than 5,000 pieces on exhibit, and the show represented the efforts of 200 volunteers, 70 judges, 1,107 exhibitors (a word we prefer to “contestants”), and 90 vendors, drawing more than 8,000 viewers. Any one account is bound to miss plenty—there’s a reason we have so many voices on this episode—though there’s certainly been no shortage of opinions online, pro and con, informed and otherwise (read: agenda-laden). When assessing any of it, including this episode, bear in mind three things:

1. It’s a tremendous accomplishment that the show happened at all. Félicitations tous!

2. The participants and attendees provided plenty of evidence about the health of this hobby/art form, and...

3. That art illustrated peak achievements in the evolution of this pursuit, inspiring everyone who saw it. Below is a visual guide to some of the highlights cited by our guests and Barry in this episode—look as you listen! But: Did we mention we wish we knew the names of all these artists? Argh!

UPDATE JULY 27: Some of our loyal listeners contacted us to fill in the blanks for names for artists we didn’t have when we recorded or first posted this blog. The “egg” below is by Elisabette Visentini; Kirsten Dunst on the cover of Vogue is by Gabi Tysarzik, and the colorful jazz saxophonist flat is by Carla Cases. Chris Meddings did give us the name of the artist behind “Trashed,” Rico Chia, but somehow we missed it during our conversation. (You know what would have helped? Yep: Names on the exhibits!)

Above: Some of Joe Berton’s favorites paid tribute to the show’s locale. Below: Best of Show Fantasy, painted by Painted by Erik Swinson and sculpted by Victor Aguilar, followed by some picks by Joan and Barry and Chris Meddings.

We do know the artist of the work in progress below: the great Marijn Van Gils, who’s been chronicling this epic project on Flickr.

Above: Agincourt by Mike Blank, and an intense diorama depicting the crossing of the Berezina.

And: Some photos of drawbacks mentioned in this episode, including those long, long lines and folks crowding around the figures and sometimes ignoring the ordnance.

No doubt the majority of visitors to Expo from outside France tacked on a few days before or after for a visit to Paris, a mere 23.5 kilometers away. The Chicago and Utah contingents certainly did, and here are some photos of them in vacation/sightseeing mode. (The photo at the bottom shows MMSI diehards Tony Stencel, Bud Bowie, Pat Vess, and Joe Berton, while Dr. Joe Salkowitz joined the Berton tour of Musee de l’armee.)

Finally, as noted, BARRY HAS A NEW BOX DIORAMA! (It’s his first since 2022.) Here’s a photo of it on display snapped by Joe Berton at a point when the batteries were still alive and the lights were on. Plus: rare, rare photo of its creator and your co-host in goofy tourist mode. À la vôtre!