It's hard to believe that BufCon is less than 2 months away! This is a signature event for our club and our largest source of financial support to our treasury. As such, I know Tom Brown Sr. is looking for some judges to assist the category coordinators at the show. If you're interested, please see Tom at the next meeting. It's always great to have support early in the process. At the March meeting, judging training will be discussed.

IPMS Niagara Frontier Meeting Agenda - February 17, 2020

7:00 PM to 7:10 PM - Place models on tables with description forms.

We would like to encourage all club members to join the national IPMS. Help support your hobby on a national level. IPMS provides the insurance that allows us to have our events, and membership includes a nice monthly magazine. The website can be found at: IPMS, and an application form can be found HERE.

Here is the schedule of presentations for upcoming general club meetings:

• February: possible modeler website review or painting marble effect
• March: round table discussion
• April: pizza party, E-board nominations
• May: E-board elections

Club member John Doerr had a couple of figures on display at Section 8 Hobbies. They were removed and brought to the last club meeting, but John wasn't able to attend to pick them up. The figures were a large figure of a female and a werewolf/monster figure. If anyone has them, John would really appreciate getting them back - thanks!

Club member Brian Yurko has started a group on a new social media app called Telegram. This app will allow club members to join and chat about modeling and club activities. The app can be found at Telegram, and is available for PCs, Macs and Android and Apple phones. If you install the app, visit this page to join the IPMS Niagara Frontier group.

The club has a number of shirts that have not been claimed by the members that ordered them. Please see Tom Faith at the next meeting to pick up and pay for your shirt. Tom also has a few extras, so see him if you are interested in getting one.

At the most recent E-Board meeting, the topic of contest judging came up, and a document was passed around that discusses judging criteria. If you have any interest in judging at our shows, or just how it works, you can read the Judging Criteria article for more information. Printed copies will also be available at the next meeting.

At the December 2018 club meeting, the membership passed an amendment to the club constitution that added a non-discrimination clause. Unfortunately, the actual update of the document on the website never took place, until now. The newly revised constitution is available on the website Forms page, and can also be viewed HERE.

Your newsletter editor ran across an interesting group of videos on YouTube recently, which does an in-depth evaluation of available paints intended to produce a chrome-like finish. Since this is a subject of interest to aircraft and automotive modelers in particular, they can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE. Take a look, but be prepared to spend some time - the videos total around 3 1/2 hours total.

The February 2020 newsletter of the IPMS Patriot chapter is available HERE.

A NOTE TO NON-MEMBERS

The minutes from the January 2019 general meeting are included below. Thanks to our Secretary, Al Germann, for the meeting minutes.

Jan 20th - President Rich Bernecki led the meeting.

• Rich brought up the previous meeting's minutes and there was a motion to approve them. There was a second to the motion and the minutes were open for discussion. There were no questions or comments and the general membership voted to approve them.
• Old Business:
  • Tom Faith stated that there are several club shirts that members ordered never picked up or paid for. If these members do not want the shirts, inform Tom as they can be offered to other members and the club can recover some of the associated cost.
• New Business:
  • Club finances were highlighted with Rich stating that revenue was down last year and vendor tables for BuffCon are off to a slow start. While the club finances are stable, it is an area of caution or concern. Some ideas were briefly stated with one of them being the start of a 50/50 raffle at the monthly meetings starting in February.
• BuffCon #37, April 5th, 2020:
  • This is our club's primary event and Rich asked everyone to help out.
• NorEastCon #49 May 1-2, 2020:
  • No updates.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Comment/reminder that there is a Highland Hobby Shop on Route 5 in Derby NY.
  • HeritageCon in Hamilton Ontario in March.
  • AMPS show in May in Harrisburg PA.
  • TorCon in Toronto area in October.
  • There was a request that 2 of the figure models that were given away from the club's display case at Section 8 be returned at the next meeting.
• Members' models on the tables were presented via "passing the mic".
• This month meeting had the round table discussions.

To promote greater transparency regarding the operation of the club and the EBoard, action items from the previous month's EBoard meeting will be published in the newsletter. These will not be detailed minutes of the meetings, but highlights that the general membership should be aware of.

February 10 - President Rich Bernecki led the meeting.

• A motion was made to approve the minutes of the January E-board meeting, which passed.
• Old Business:
  • Tom Faith stated we have 45 paid members so far for this year. There was also the news of 3 new members to the club.
  • Dick asked for the latest draft revision to the Club's Constitution be finalized with the non-discrimination clause. This was reviewed and discussed in the past. This will be pursued.
• BuffCon #37, 2020:
  • Paul Hines and Ed Button will be placing the order for the trophies by Monday Feb 24th. Paul discussed a couple of ideas to reduce the cost of trophies, at least slightly. The theme award trophy for "Worn & Weathered - Seen Better Days" still needs to be quoted and ordered. This will be at Paul's and Ed's discretion.
  • Rich stated he additional checks for 7 more vendor tables, bringing the total to 11.
  • Dick reported on sponsorship with 8 exchanges for other clubs with another 3 possible. 7 are paid with another couple expected.
  • Lead people for front door registration are Paul Hines and Frank Blonski.
  • Tom Brown as Chief Judge lead discussion on category judges and passed around a sheet on judging criteria. Larry has action item to include in newsletter. Further discussion included the need of getting people to participate in judging.
  • One of the suggestions was to use the round table discussion format to cover judging criteria. Pointing out that knowing and having judging skills leads to being a better modeler.
  • As a benefit to club members that help set up for the event, there will be no charge for general admission if participants arrive prior to 7:30 am.
  • Tom Faith has action item to acquiring event posters of a size that can be displayed in area hobby shops or similar businesses.
  • Pursuing TV commercials on Spectrum.
  • Rich stated that planning and action items are progressing without major issues.
• New Business:
  • Discussion on the date for BuffCon #38 in 2021. Agreed date is April 11th, Sunday, still at the same location of The Knights Hall. Dick has action item to tell Frank Blonski and Rich will communicate this out to the general membership at the next meeting. Frank has the action item to prepare the event flyers.
  • Demos for the general meetings are planned as follows:
    • February: possible modeler website review or painting marble effect
    • March: round table discussion
    • April: pizza party, E-board nominations
    • May: E-board elections
• Miscellaneous:
  • Additional sites for the E-board meeting were identified with the following members volunteering hosting it at their homes.
    • March: Paul Hines, Depew
    • April: Al & Maryann Germann, Williamsville
    • May: Dick Schulenberg, Silver Creek
• Floor open for discussion:
  • A 50/50 split raffle is planned for the February general meeting.

Member Name: Nick Carluccio

What kind of modeling? What scale?
Automotive.

Member Name: Paul Hines

What kind of modeling? What scale?
I built the larger 1/12 scale cars for 12 years, then I built different scale wooden ship models for 10 years. In February of 2012 I started automotive and aviation art and have been enjoying it ever since.

Model tables from the January meeting:

Tim Grieve brought in four models to display. The first was a Revell 1/48 A-10 Warthog. He used Testors, Model Master and Model Color paints for finishing, with a dull coat over the top. Tim said he had no real issues with the kit, but it was a challenging and fun build.

Tim's next three models were all Chevy Corvettes. The first was an AMT 2009 Corvette Coupe, painted using Testors colors. He said he tried an experiment to get a gold flake effect in the burgundy color by mixing gold with the burgundy paint, but it only produced a gold wash effect. Tim said the fit of the kit was very good, and he got it because it was cheap. He also mentioned that the Corvette decal disintegrated, but fortunately spares were included.

The second Corvette kit came in a bag with missing pieces - he had to come up with clear parts and wheels. The model was again finished with Testors paints, along with nail polish and Future. Tim said he used pinewood derby wheels and couldn't use the engine and transmission because of the change in axles. He thought it was a good experiment.

Tim's last Corvette was an AMT 2010 Convertible. This model was painted with Testors colors and a Future top coat. Tim said the decals went on very easily and there was very good molding relief on the dashboard. No issues, and the kit was cheap.

Prodigal son Bob Raithel returned to the club (welcome back, Bob) with a collection of pieces that he created on a new Anycubic Photon liquid resin 3D printer. Bob painted the Baby Yoda figure with Poly-S and Tamiya acrylics over a Tamiya spray primer. He said 3D printing is tricky, messy and stinky. Bob mentioned that he got into 3D printing because he wants to design and make his own ideas, and was happy to answer questions about the process.

Al Germann showed us his Revell 1/25 '57 Ford Gasser Wagon. He used Krylon Shimmer Silver paint for the finish, which is a heavy metalflake. The model is being built out-of-box, and was a gift from his son. Al said he always wanted to build a gasser drag car.

Maryann Germann displayed her progress on her most recent project, a 1/12 figure of Archduke Ferdinand from the Armored Knight series. She used Tamiya titanium silver and Vallejo steel to finish it, and will be using a marbling technique on the base. Maryann said she may rebuild the sword, but otherwise had no issues with the kit.

Jim Greenfield brought in an interesting project, a 1/35 scale kit-bash of two Glencoe Air Jeeps. Jim said it's like a puzzle where you make up the pieces, and he picked the subject because "it's crazy".

Dan Marafino displayed a pair of SBD-3 Dauntless aircraft. The first was a Trumpeter in 1/32 scale, and the second was an Academy in 1/48 scale. Dan used Vallejo acrylics, hand brushed over a coat of Vallejo primer. He said both models were built out-of-box except for stretched-sprue antenna lines. Weathering included lightened base color with pastels, and exhaust and wear with chalks. Dan said the 1/32 kit had problems joining the fuselage halves, and the 1/48 kit went together more easily. Dan is hooked on the Battle of Midway, which provided inspiration.

Tom McGuire showed us his Eduard 1/48 DH-2. It was finished with Vallejo air white, and was built out-of-box. Tom said he had no issues with the kit, and always thought it was a cool-looking airplane.

Larry Osolkowski again displayed his progress on his Hasegawa 1/24 BMW 2002tii. The chassis is complete, and he showed the grill and headlight assemblies, taillight assemblies, and scratch-built arm rests for the door panels. Larry also displayed the body trim pieces, ready to be mounted when the body is painted. He also found some pre-finished BMW roundels on eBay that will add a nice touch.

Dave Armitage brought in another collection of models for us to see. The first was a Model Trailways 1/12 1895 Horse-drawn Hearse. He painted it with acrylics, Rustoleum gloss black and Testors gold. Dave added skyboards and ornamental castings from his stash of circus wagon parts, and made handles for the casket. He picked the model for its time period and subject.

Dave's second subject was another Model Trailways 1/12 model, an 1890 Hook & Ladder Wagon. He finished it with acrylics and rattle can red. Dave said he had to use his own strip wood where the kit was deficient, and a metal part was missing but a call to the company got him a replacement. Dave loves the subject matter and time period.

Dave's next model was a 1/76 (OO scale) London E-1 class Tram. It was finished with acrylics, and figures were added from his stash. Dave said it was neat and different, and he can use it on his HO layout. He bought the kit from Al Germann at the last club meeting.

Dave also had another Horse-drawn Hearse, this one in 1/87 scale by Jordan, finished with the usual acrylics and Testors gold. Dave said some parts were VERY small, and the model shows the disparity of the two scales - it fits inside the casket of the 1/12 hearse! He said it will eventually get a driver and two horses with harnesses.

Finally, Dave had an O-scale narrow gauge boxcar, finished with Floquil paint and dry transfer lettering. He said the model was scratch-built except for the trucks, couplers and brake wheel. It was weathered with washes, and was built for a friend. Dave said it represents an O scale (1/48) narrow gauge car which runs on HO gauge track.

Paul Hines showed us four new paintings based on an aircraft theme. The first was a P-51 Mustang entitled "Mission Accomplished Returning Home"; the second was a Grumman Hellcat called "Wheels Up"; the third was a Dauntless Dive Bomber titled "Ready to Strike"; the fourth was a Piper J-3C Cub circa 1940 called "Old Classic".

Steve Weller brought in a collection of small scale naval subjects including a couple of Black Swan Class ships and an F6F-3 Hellcat with a section of carrier deck for a base. He also had some color charts with conversions between paint brands and color standards.

Tom Faith displayed his completed military diorama, but the info sheet was unfortunately not available.

Another collection of old model magazines was available to new homes.

There were a few unidentified items on the tables. Please make sure that Larry Osolkowski gets your info sheet before you leave.

Finally, some around-the-room photos.

Thanks to Rich Bernecki for passing the microphone around for the tables, and Larry Osolkowski for the photography.