▋Who should we find but brother John-san! He is always a huge help as a member of the Zoukei-Mura team at the IPMS National Conventions held in the U.S., and this year he came all the way to the Telford show to help out! Thank you, John-san!!

▋All of our boxes sent from Japan arrived safely!
And so begins this year’s dynamic Zoukei-Mura booth.
Just look at the big smiles on everyone’s faces, all ready to go!

▋Zoukei-Mura has participated in Scale ModelWorld in Telford many times already, so we are used to the setup routine. Everything comes together at a brisk pace.
We’re ready to welcome all of the modelers coming to the show with our lineup of kits including our headliner 1/32 Hs 129 as well as tools and accessories.

▋After a full day of preparation, the Zoukei-Mura booth is all set up!
In front are the 1/48 F-4 Phantom models! And the main display has a complete Hs 129 B-2/RIII kit as well as a mockup of the B-3 type dominating the space.

▋Check this out! Our Master Finisher, Naoki Kobayashi, has come to Telford again, bringing from Japan an abundant lineup of Zoukei-Mura tools and brushes for plastic models. Many customers purchased these products after seeing Mr. Kobayashi’s demonstrations firsthand at this table. Thank you for your patronage!

▋Here the optional parts are all lined up, sure to make your SWS kit even more enjoyable! This variety was selected especially for modelers at Telford.
Now our Zoukei-Mura logo banner is displayed high and proud, with the Japanese characters for Zoukei-Mura (literally “sculpting village”), chosen to mean “a place where sculptors gather and work together.”

▋Just look at the majesty of this pyramid-like stack of Hs 129 kits!
The names affixed to the mountain of boxes are the customers who reserved a kit in advance through this very blog. Thank you so much!! I give my most respectful salute to all these SWS brothers!
Now a night of nervous anticipation falls upon the Zoukei-Mura booth. The opening day tomorrow is sure to be a very busy day!!

▋At last the morning is here! Only an hour left until opening!
In the photo to the right is the very first modeler in line at our Zoukei-Mura booth. Thank you, thank you! I’ll give you a big hug of thanks, as is our tradition at the show!

▋The show has not even begun yet, and the Zoukei-Mura booth has a long line as usual! I’m not sure whether it is because they simply cannot wait any longer, or if it is all part of their battle plan to appear impatient, but you can just feel the intense pressure on us to hurry up and start selling. The gentlemen in the photo on the right got his 1/48 Ho 229 right away! You can tell he’s pleased with his “victory” sign. Thank you!

▋And now begins the charge of those who reserved their 1/32 Hs 129 kits in advance!
I made the long journey of thousands of kilometers just to see your smiling faces.
Thank you all, thank you so much! You are the first modelers in the world to get your hands on this kit, congratulations!!

▋Oh ho! I see you’ve gotten your very own SWS 1/72&1/144 Ho 229 kit! This kit has lots of the charm distinctive to SWS kits. Please enjoy it!
And we see Mr. Thomas here has gotten his kit that he reserved in advance. The rumors have it that SWS kits will change your life—and on top of that you’ve gotten our newest kit, the Hs 129. Thank you for your purchase. Those rumors are true, you know!

▋And what do we have here but a fine young lad buying an SWS kit! And an Hs 129 on top of that! Hats off to the discerning eye of this young man!! Now that you’re hooked on SWS kits at such a young age, your modeling life is sure to be like the brightly shining Pacific Ocean!! (What I mean is that many of your dreams are bound to come true.)

▋This happy lady has gotten an SWS F-4 NAVY, Hs 129, and even a Hobby Base! All of us from Zoukei-Mura are so happy that customers like you enjoy collecting our products!
And the gentleman in the photo on the right has the Hs 129 kit and a decorative Diorama Base to display it on! We’re so happy for you!! Your smile makes all of our hard work and toil worth every effort.

▋This smiling gentleman has now gotten his beloved SWS Hs 129 into his welcoming arms. What a lucky man! Thank you for your purchase, we hope you enjoy it! And in the right photo we have a customer with our 1/32 Ta152, Hs 129, and a Diorama Base! Thank you!

▋Here we have Mr. Martin and his 1/48 F-4 and 1/32 Hs 129. Your pleased thumbs-up says it all!! Please enjoy all the unbelievable content in these SWS kits. To the gentleman on the left with the pleased expression as if to say “I choose this one too, and it’s all mine now!”—I share your feelings completely. The 1/32 Henschel is truly amazing. You’ll get to experience every little detail, just like building a real airplane!!

▋Check out these two with their grins saying “I got mine too!!” Thank you for waiting for this. We were able to work hard to develop this kit because we were so eager to bring it to customers like you. And it was all worth it! Thank you so much. We’ll keep working hard!

▋I see you have purchased a Ki-45 Toryu, also known as “Nick.” This kit is full of the passionate emotions of Japanese people. Please take your time to fully enjoy that spirit contained within this model.
And to the right, this gentleman has forged through the crowded SMW convention hall, all the way to the especially crowded and bustling Zoukei-Mura booth. You have quite the determination, but don’t worry; we will develop our kits with enough enthusiastic zeal to compete with yours!

▋And here’s another Ki-45 and an Hs 129! Thank you for your patronage!! I’m sure that you will find yourself exclaiming, “I can’t believe they took plastic models this far!”
As you can see on the right, the long queue at the Zoukei-Mura booth is unceasing. Please accept my apologies that we had to make you all wait so long.

▋And look at this! You’ve got two German aircraft in one go! Lucky you!! Starting tomorrow, every day will be full of fun! And to the right, I see you have a firm hold on your Hs 129 and Diorama Base! Zoukei-Mura is so lucky to have customers like you. Thank you!

▋We create our SWS kits just to see that smile of yours. And thank you for purchasing the Diorama Base as well! And the gentleman to the right—if I recall correctly, you are the one whom I met in the supermarket the night before when I was out shopping. I can’t forget how happy (and a little jealous) I was to hear from your wife that you planned to purchase the Hs 129 as your birthday present. Thank you very much. (I’m sorry if I’ve mistaken the identity of the gentlemen in the photograph!)

▋I can read it on your face—“Check it out, I’ve got the P-51D, Hs 129, and even the Concept Note book and Diorama Base!” I can tell you’re serious about this! Thank you!!
To the right is a pair, perhaps a married couple? I cannot thank you enough for purchasing the Hs 129 with such fantastic smiles on your faces! Please enjoy it.

▋And here we have another twofer! Thank you for purchasing the P-51D and Hs 129. Congratulations! Both are kits certainly worth building. You’ll have fun every day.
This Hs 129 is sure to change the modeling life of Mr. Andy on the right forever. Please take your time to enjoy every last detail.

▋This gentleman with a lovely smile has—of course—an Hs 129 in his hands! His smile is infectious! And the reason for the gentleman on the right’s lovely smile is of course the Hs 129 as well. You’re not going to believe the content of this kit and the way it comes together…!

▋It was worth coming all the way to England to see this smile that seems to say “This is it! I got it!” And thank you to the gentleman with the quiet smile on the right for purchasing the Hs 129! Don’t rush with your build, please savor every second of it!

▋I can just imagine you saying, “It’s decided, this is the highlight of this year.” The kit takes about one week to build when following the manual. That is the amount of time that you can enjoy this historic kit for yourself. And I can see that the gentleman on the right has chosen the 1/72&1/144 Ho 229. You’ll be surprised at all the dense detail packing into this little aircraft.

▋“I know. This is it, right? The highlight of my year is the Hs 129!” I can imagine you saying this just by seeing your expression. Thank you! And to the gentleman on the right, I see you have purchased the Ki-45 kit and its Concept Note together!! I’m sure the Ki-45 is pleased with your choice as well. Thank you very much.

▋Oh my! You’ve chosen the Do 35 A-12!! This kit is simply overflowing with wonderful content; I can’t even describe it with words! I will never forget the sense of accomplishment and joy I felt when it was complete. To the right, I see a Ki-45 and Hs 129 in your hands!! And our Zoukei-Mura staff member is holding your Concept Note! Thank you for your purchases.

▋At last we’ve come to your place in the queue. This Hs 129 is sure to be a fantastic addition to your collection. And Mr. John on the right, you will surely enjoy the world of SWS with these two kits. Thank you!!

▋Nice one!! I am so grateful for your smile. Thank you for confirming that SWS makes modelers happy. And we’re so happy to see your smile and your Ki-45 purchase on the right! Please read the Concept Note thoroughly before starting your build. I don’t have the words to truly thank you for your interest in Japanese Army aircraft!!

▋This gentleman has chosen the 1/48 F-4J NAVY. We developed it to recreate the pinnacle of short nose aircraft in kit form. I am sure it will become one of your favorites.
To the right, I see you’ve purchased the 1/32 Ho 229! When you complete building this kit, you will have a deep understanding of the Horten brothers’ genius and their struggles, as well as the aircraft’s eventual fate.

▋A big round of applause for Mr. Seddon’s fine taste and choice! Once SWS kits have captured the heart of a modeler, they will never let go. And another good choice by the gentleman to the right! I hope every day is enjoyable for you as you conquer your SWS kit. I’m sure you will be surprised at our innovative design.

▋Thank you for waiting so long in the queue. At last the Hs 129 kit has come into your arms. It’s all up to your skill to recreate that beautiful silhouette and all of the fine details. To the right, I see you have the Hs 129 and Diorama Base! When you are finished, I’m sure you will be enamored with its gallant figure. The SWS goal for kit development is to recreate that accurate and beautiful shape.

▋Look at this! Here is Mr. Vincent who made his reservation in advance. Thank you for purchasing the Hs 129 kit. This surely is only one of many SWS kits that have found their way into your home.
The gentleman to the right chose the 1/72&1/144 Ho 229 kit. I promise you that you will find these models to be unbelievably detailed and gorgeous when you build them.

▋I see you’re braving into the world of SWS as well. You’re sure to learn all about the engineering and mechanics of the actual Hs 129 aircraft as you build this model kit.
And the gentleman to the right has chosen the Hs 129 as well. Thank you!!

▋Mr. Ivan is holding his Hs 129 kit, I am holding the Ki-45 Concept Note, and Zoukei-Mura staff member Anne is holding the 1/72&1/144 Ho 229 kit and Diorama Base—we’ve got our hands full!! Your workshop is going to become so much more fun and you’ll be quite busy indeed! Mr. Simon on the right has his Hs 129 too! That famous Henschel will stun you with a level of expression that can only be reached with plastic, the magical material.

▋Thank you for purchasing the 1/72&1/144 Ho 229! If you build the 1/32 and 1/48 Ho 229 SWS kits as well, you will surely realize just how incredible the Super Wing Series is.
Look at this stunning smile from the gentleman to the right! This is the biggest reward of all for the Zoukei-Mura Development Team. Thank you!!

▋Thank you for waiting. The Hs 129 will at last be added to your collection, making it shine even more brilliantly. Please enjoy it to the fullest. And it looks like I’m about to be high-fived by the gentleman to the right. Please take your time to enjoy the world that only SWS can show you.

▋Oh my! You’ve got your hands on the SWS 1/32 Ta 152 and its Concept Note! How wonderful. This Ta 152 is one of the early SWS kits, developed when we were still inexperienced. However, through this kit you will be able to appreciate the progress that we have made in our recent kits. I hope you enjoy it!
And on the right, you’ve chosen the newest kit 1/32 Hs 129. Thank you. You’ll learn all about the secrets of that so-called “tank-buster” Henschel.

▋My wish is that young modelers will challenge themselves with SWS kits! This young modeler has chosen our kit, as if to grant that wish. Thank you! I hope that this changes your view of scale modeling in a fantastic way.
And on the right, Mr. James Goddard is back again for the Hs 129 kit. Thank you for your continuous support!!

▋Could it really be?! Is this beautiful young lady really an SWS fan? How wonderful!
My smiling son Kuni is happy to help here at SMC in Telford.
And to the right is Mr. Poncini of Switzerland, holding a sample model of Hs 129. Thank you for your contribution to our Concept Note.

▋A toast to this gentleman giving the thumbs-up! I am so happy just imagining you building the Hs 129. Everyone who got this Henschel kit is really lucky indeed.
And a here’s the grey 3D printed mockup of our upcoming 1/48 F-4E on display at the show!! A further improvement on our highly-praised short nose F-4 series, this new F-4 with brand-new tooling is coming for all you F-4 Phanatics!! Look forward to it while you wait a little longer! I promise to bring you a truly majestic kit.

▋The steady advance of Hs 129 customers still continues! And just look at their fantastic smiles!! Actually, these gentlemen are the lucky winners who were able to purchase the few kits that had been reserved but not picked up. Having had their names drawn makes the purchase twice as exciting…No, at least three times as exciting!
The gentleman on the right also had Lady Luck smile upon him today. Thank you!!

▋You did it!! At last, the Hs 129 is in your arms!! You’ll be entertained day and night! And this nice bearded gentleman has gotten his Hs 129 as well! You are one of the very first in the world to own this SWS kit. Please enjoy it thoroughly!

▋And the Hs 129 lands in the arms of this young man as well! I hope that SWS brings you much happiness in your modeling life. And the gentleman to the right has gotten the 1/32 Ho 229! I cannot even imagine how you will feel the moment you finish building this kit. Will you be moved with emotion, or feel inspired? Likely both!

▋Here we have a gentleman who has chosen the Ki-45 Toryu, with “Developer T” from the SWS Development Team on one side and my son on the other! Thank you, sir!! This is the “Toryu” Dragon Slayer that selflessly fought against the B-29 Flying Fortresses. I am sure that it will shine a whole new light on your collection. And the gentleman on the right has selected the Toryu as well. Thank you very much. It was well worth bringing it all the way from Japan.

▋What’s this now, all of a sudden?! This gentleman has brought his fantastic SWS Hs 219 model to the Zoukei-Mura booth! All of the days we spent working hard to create “the very best He 219 Uhu the world has ever seen,” from examining the actual aircraft to creating the blueprints to designing the molds, seem to come alive before me. Thank you so much for going out of your way to bring it to our booth!!
As you can see from the photo on the right, the Zoukei-Mura booth is still bustling.

▋We were somehow able to borrow a meeting room for the raffle drawing this year, thanks to the helpful arrangements of the IPMS Scale ModelWorld staff. Thanks to their assistance we were able to hold a more calm and enjoyable raffle for everyone. Thank you very much to the staff members in charge!!
The raffle was quite popular, so much so that there was not enough seating room for everyone. We value all of the questionnaire responses we received and will take everyone’s kit requests into consideration for our future kit development.

▋Before the raffle began, I started my usual “Inquisition of Terror,” questioning the audience: “Does there happen to be anyone in this crowd who has every single SWS kit ever released in their collection?”
And lo and behold, one gentleman raised his hand!! He is pictured to the right. Thank you, thank you! To think that you have every type of SWS kit! You are just like me!! Truly wonderful.

▋Here are all the happy smiles of the lucky raffle winners. We brought the prizes, fit for this special day, all the way from Japan just for this moment.
We are so moved and grateful for all of these scale modelers who support Zoukei-Mura, a small plastic model company born in the Far Eastern country of Japan, and we feel so close to all of you.
I was able to make another one of my dreams come true: “to bring happiness to customers through hobby.”
And at the end of the raffle, we wrapped it up with a Japanese-style “Banzai” pose. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude for all of your warm friendship and thoughtfulness. Thank you all so much!!

▋Even after the raffle was finished, everyone seemed reluctant to leave the room. I can still feel the warm handshakes and hear the kind words of encouragement that are so distinctive of the show in Telford. “Keep up the good work.” “Let’s meet again.” “Thank you, Zoukei-Mura!” No, let me thank YOU!