Club Info

Who are we

IPMS-Gent is a non-profit organisation with a number of model-making enthusiasts as members.
The club distances itself from any form of religion, politics or ideologies that are not in keeping with propriety.
The aim is to enjoy the hobby of model-making, which mainly involves plastic model-making, in a spirit of friendship.

What we do

We meet monthly to admire and discuss model-making projects or finished models. On these Tuesday evenings, we often focus on a specific theme.
On these evenings, we do not immediately start building on the spot (although everyone is free to do so); most of the time is spent discussing, learning and acquiring knowledge.
Once a year, there is a statutory meeting for the members of the non-profit organisation. Every two years, IPMS-Gent organises a large international model building fair called Artevelde Challenge. This fair celebrated its tenth edition in 2017. The thirteenth edition took place in 2024.

Become a member

It’s quite simple: you are welcome to attend the meetings without obligation. After a few times, you can decide whether you want to become a member.
The annual membership fee is 30 EUR per person (15 EUR for under-16s).

History

The name IPMS (International Plastic Modelling Society) is known worldwide and familiar to every seasoned model maker. There is a national association (IPMS-Belgium) and various associations in the provinces use this name subject to certain conditions.
In East Flanders, pioneers Mr. Wim Vergauwen and Mr. Marcel Dietens have been meeting since 1989 to discuss model building in Ghent. Coincidentally, the club was founded on 6 June (D-Day) in 1989. Among them was Mr. Pierre Verborgh (one of our founding members), who was certainly one of the driving forces behind the club.
The first meetings were organised at Pierre Verborgh’s home (18 September 1989, first members’ meeting in the model-making shop) and later took place in our first meeting room on Drongensesteenweg in Ghent. The original club board in the first three years of our existence was as follows: chairman: Marcel Dietens, secretary: Wim Vergauwen, treasurer: Willy Jacxsens. In 1992, Jean-Pierre Strobbe was appointed as the new chairman.
Due to the increasing number of members, we had to look for a new location. This became the school at Antonius Triestlaan 10 in Ghent, where we were able to stay for many years.
Meanwhile, the club became a non-profit organisation and every two years a real model-building fair was organised, known as the Artevelde Challenge (the 10th edition took place in 2017).
For several years, meetings were held in Reinaertstraat, Ghent. Since August 2017, meetings have been held in the Sint-Godelieve banquet hall in Wondelgem. Jean-Pierre Strobbe made the club a successful and enjoyable model-building club. In 2021, he passed the torch to Filip De Cock. Currently, the meetings are held in Loods 25, Vissersdijk 1, near the Watersportbaan in Ghent.
For the correct and additional meeting dates, please refer to our calendar. You are welcome to come and have a look without any obligation. Keep an eye on the news column.