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One of the most important European happenings is for sure the "Mondiale de la Miniature", held in this year in Paris in June. The participation of the modelers was not so big, but the average quality of the models was very high, with many points of excellence. In the same time of the contest, the expo offered many stands, in which were shown some absolute news for the European modeling market, among which some of great interest for the modelers, specially for the bigger scales.

Beautiful was the new Jumo engine, built by Vincent Kermorgant for MDC to detail the new Fw.190D-9 Hasegawa kit. Interesting the new wheels from the artisan Philippe Morvan for 1/72 and 1/48 classic subject, cast with a mix of resin and aluminum powder and with "real" PVC empty and narrow tires.

About the contest, besides military vehicles and figures it could be said that the high quality compensated the small quantity of the pieces in show (about 40). The contest prized very good models in the categories "Masters" and "Promotion". For the Masters a gold medal went to M. Camoin for an outstanding 1/48 AEG bomber HiTech, a Silver medal to M. Corin for a 1/72 Rafale A and a Bronze medal to an Albatros DIII O.A.W in 1/48 from Eduard by Sylvain Guitton. Ever for the "Masters" the "best in show" price went to Vincent Kermorgant for his Finnish Me.109G-6 Hasegawa in 1/32, with MDC decals and accessories, while a "Grand Prix Master" was for a P-51B and a P-47D both Tamiya in 1/48 built by Julien Haccoun. For the "Promotion" a Gold medal went to a F-6 (a recce P-51D) in 1/48 of Jean-Philippe Camus, Silver to a New Zealand A-4K Skyhawk built by Laurent Stern, while a Bronze medal went to a Jaguar A in 1/48 from Heller super detailed by Jilles Galvao, who made a good two seater Do.335 too. Another Bronze went to an Alouette II Heller in 1/50, built by Reza Azimi. In the "Promotion" category, the "Grand Prix Promo" went to Franck Oudin for a beautiful B-26 in 1/48 from Monogram re-scribed and with self designed insignia, printed by Mike Grant.

Besides these models we recall other outstanding models: a Pitts S2S in 1/48 of Nicolas Gohin; a S-3B Viking in 1/48 from Italeri with folded wings and good detail; M. Pondaven presented two good 1/48 Hasegawa models, a P-38 "Beautiful Lass" and a Ju.87D; a Tigercat in 1/72 from Revell in diorama; a large Blohm und Voss BV.222 idroplane from Revell in 1/72 and a Ki-44 Shoki from Hasegawa in 1/48 of the same author; a Bf.109B-2 of M. Alvarez from Hobbycraft in 1/48; a beautiful Tomcat in 1/72 from Hasegawa; a delicious Albatros from Roden in 1/72.
In the firms' stands were excellent models built to illustrate recent releases: two Focke Wulf Fw.190D-9 Hasegawa in 1/32, one by Olivier Soulleys and one of the "Papagei Staffel" built by Nordin Kader; a MiG-21UM Trumpeter 1/32; a Nieuport XI in 1/72 from AJP Maquette.
The "Mondiale" demonstrated the great vivacity of the French modelers and market, confirming that Latin people lost any sense of inferiority with Anglo-Saxons, the "official" inventors of this hobby. Special thanks to Filippo Rossetti for collaborating in this reportage.