WrightCon 2026 brings 74 categories and open entry to Dayton modelers

The best reason for a miniature painter to cross over to WrightCon 2026 was the shopping as much as the judging. The Wright Field Scale Modelers brought their signature annual show to the Washington Township RecPlex in Centerville, Ohio, with 74 categories, unlimited entries for registered modelers, and a vendor and swap-meet scene that made the event useful even for anyone who came mainly for figures, busts, and display ideas.

IPMS/USA listed WrightCon 2026 as a Region 4 - Great Lakes event hosted by IPMS/Wright Field Scale Modelers, with Eric LaRotonda as contest chairperson. The club said the show was open to all modelers and modeling-related vendors, and that IPMS membership was not required to enter. That openness mattered for painters who have never stepped into a formal IPMS contest before, because it lowered the barrier to entry while still offering the full contest-day experience.

The category spread was the real hook. Aircraft, military vehicles, automotive, ships, science fiction, Gundam, juniors, and miscellaneous subjects all shared the same room, alongside out-of-box classes, dioramas, busts, fantasy figures, robots, and mechas. For a figure painter, that meant one stop could cover everything from weathered armor references and basing supplies to crisp civilian subjects, anime kits, and fantasy pieces that reward clean blends and strong presentation. The model room closing during judging and awards also gave the day the feel of a true contest floor, not just a casual meet.

For painters hunting practical value, the vendor tables and swap meet were the crossover draw. The format suited anyone looking for tools, airbrush gear, basing materials, spare parts, and display inspiration, and it fit the club’s pitch that WrightCon is a place to showcase work, be inspired by other modelers, and shop vendors. The show’s scale also made it a solid weekend destination: the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright Brothers Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and the Packard Museum all sat within a short drive.

WrightCon’s continuity gave the 2026 edition extra weight. The club preserved WrightCon 2024 and WrightCon 2022 results pages, and IPMS/USA listed WrightCon 2024 as the Region IV Convention at the University of Dayton’s Daniel J. Curran Place with Dave Koukol as contest chair. That run showed WrightCon as a repeat anchor for the Miami Valley hobby scene, not a one-off.

The only detail that needed checking was the schedule itself. One listing put the event from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. EDT, while the club page showed 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but the core appeal stayed the same: a broad, friendly regional show where miniature painters could compete, shop, and walk away with ideas they could use immediately.