Happy New Year!
Mr. Schulenberg requested that I keep the January DIZ' short, so
"...just the facts Ma'am, just the facts...", J.FRIDAY
Our next meeting is at 7 pm, January 25 in the basement classroom
of the Harlem Rd. Community Center - as usual.
Our February meeting - please note use of capital letters for emphasis (yeah I'm yelling a bit) - is on the 4TH MONDAY, NOT THE 3RD MONDAY THAT IT USUALLY IS!!! Our January and February meetings are ALWAYS the 4th Monday due to the fact that the third Mondays of those respective months are Federal holidays - that February meeting date is February 22 - all other meeting info remains the same.
I want to thank all of you that donated to our "many annual-ed" USMC Toys for Tot's drive. Look at the pics of the TOY PACKED!!! (yelling again:)) billiards tables. Thanks to "our" Marines for collecting the toys. I think they really enjoyed the food!:):):) And thanks to Tom Brown Sr. (who wasn't able to attend) for getting "our" Marines there! I don't know what it was but for some reason this year's Holiday party was especially fulfilling! Terriffic job guys!!! Thanks to all of you from both the E-Board and Me - Da Prez.
Frank Blonski will be doing a bit of a "Resin Casting Part II", piggy-backing on Joe S's excellent casting demo in November. Frank will be showing us how he does his intricate molds that make undercut castings! Next month, Joe will show us how to make scale plans with a computer and a photograph, scratch builders technique nirvana:)! Mark B., are you ready to show us your casting demo again?
We'll probably have had our first "Kid's Class" by the time you read this and we'll have a first day "review" at the meeting. Bob "the 'Shaft" Conshafter will have the "I am not a felon" sign up sheets at the meeting. If you haven't already filled one of these out and want to help with the classes, you HAVE do one, no exceptions; sorry it's the law - really "the law"! Pre-thanks to all the guys who will be showing up.
Wait till you guyz seez the new BuffCon trophies that Paul Hines has come up with! Just about the nicest I've ever seen - good job Paul, thanks. Paul, if you still have the "test bed" example could you bring it to the meeting please?
Finally, and I hope I've not gone too long.... guyz, go to the website at www.ipmsniagarafrontier.com and check out the upcoming shows that Lar'O has listed. There are two TERRIFIC shows in Canada coming up in February, and close too. Remember you HAVE TO HAVE either a passport and/or the NYS Enhanced Drivers License. We'll have Jeff Belling and/or Dave Krygier clarify for us about crossing the border at the meeting.
See Youz Guyz Monday,
Bestest Regardz
PrezB
We started out the December meeting by welcoming Marine Sgt. Harris and Marine Sgt. Quimi who joined us for the meeting, our pizza and wings feast and then hauled away the generous club contributions for the “Toys For Tots” drive.
We also welcomed some new faces: Matt (didn’t catch the last name) who builds a bit
of everything and Jordan Zachritz whose main interest is Science Fiction.
After the introductions, it was time for the Dollar Store Challenge in which
contestants were required to purchase a $1.00 item and use it creatively as a tool
or modeling resource.
Bob Conshafter used fabric from an ice scraper to fashion tarp covering for
soft-body vehicles.
Frank Blonski gave a stunning presentation on using mouse and rat traps to
eliminate frustrating model issues.
Peter Gajowka got 750 flat toothpicks with an unlimited number of uses.
Dan Marafino discovered using Silly Putty for masking camouflage. He also
reports that the egg-shaped containers come in handy at Easter time.
John Doerr found a useful pair of small pliers.
John Zaranek uses cheap picture frames to use as backdrops for models.
Dave Armitage demonstrated using recycled guitar strings for airplane rigging
and cables.
Frank Russo spent a dollar on 5 paint brushes.
Mark Budniewski brought a retractable utility knife and 10 mini storage
containers.
Tony Bartoszek brought some scented disks that have adhesive on top, which can
be used for holding small parts.
Tony Gliszcynski found a cool motorized nail polisher, which makes an excellent
mini sander.
Joe Szczygiel did a short demonstration on using picture hanging wire to make
cables and small scale chain.
Bob Collignon used a $1.00 roll of masking tape as a solution for last-minute
model construction.
And the winner:
Frank Blonski won with his cheerfully violent use of rodent traps to
spectacularly destroy a car model that, I guess, he just didn’t want anymore. Lots
of fun!
Congratulations Frank!
On to the model table!
John Doerr brought in a 1/32 scale Bf-109E. The kit is manufactured by Eduard.
Dave Armitage shared a 1/72 scale Fokker Tri-plane with a blue and white color
scheme, a bust of Maj. General John Buford, a figure of Russia’s Santa Claus -
“Grandfather Frost,” a reconditioned truck and fire engine which are to be donated
to the Medina Railroad Museum, and finally, photo reference of a building he is
rendering in HO scale.
Justin Hanna showed an Eduard biplane in a black and mauve color scheme with
meticulously rendered wood grain in the cockpit interior. He added a chair from
a Dragon figure kit.
Chuck Nichter took a departure from automobiles and displayed a 1/48 Skd-222
armored car which he hand painted with acrylics.
Dan Marafino showed his 1/350 scale model of the Destroyer “The Sullivans.”
The ship was painted by hand.
Frank Blonski brought examples of his resin casting projects.
John Zarenek switched from airplanes to armor and presented his 1/35 scale
British Challenger Mk3 tank.
Ed Buttons shared a book he got a great deal on at Borders Books called
“Aircraft Anatomy.”
Joe Vallone brought some first hand research on re-building an Aracobra
that was recovered from a river in Russia.
Larry Osolkowski brought in an unbuilt Formula One kit in 1/20 scale. It is a
multi-media kit made from resin and features turned aluminum rims. Larry got the
kit from www.stradasports.com.
He reports that it is a very nice kit.
Stan Keysa shared his copy of “Picture History of World War 2 American Aircraft
Production” from Dover books. The book contains a lot of information on the Western
New York role in combat aircraft production.
The meeting ended with our traditional holiday pizza-and-wings feast.
