Greetings and salutations to one and all! Before I get started, I just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be at this months meeting. The family and I are going on vacation starting Saturday for some sun, fun, food, liquid refreshments and a lot of RC racing which will be taking place over the course of five days. I know, I know, you all will miss me, but have no fear as I'll be back next month (haha). So in my place, Sir Dan Price, our Vice President will be leading the way.

Just remember, our club challenge needs to be completed by the August meeting.

This meeting will consist of simply a build 'n' bull session, so bring in your current project and enjoy some time with fellow members and build away.

Well that about wraps it up folks, and the next meeting will be on Tuesday July 19th, 2022. And I'll see you folks at the August meeting! Happy modeling,

IPMS Niagara Frontier Meeting Agenda - July 19, 2022

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.

The monthly general club meeting will be on Tuesday, Julu 19th, starting at the usual 7:00pm at the usual meeting room in the rear building. No special safety requirements are in effect at this time. There will also be a 50/50 raffle held at the meeting to help raise funds for the club.

Section 8 Hobbies is now holding a build night every Wednesday from 4 to 9pm. All are welcome to bring their latest projects and work on them in the company of other modelers.

A link to the current Sprue and Glue News has been added in recent months to the Newsletter Blast emails provided by National IPMS. For those readers from other chapters, and anyone else who might be interested, our website has a Newsletter page with buttons to select any of our newsletters from the current year. There is also a button on that page to access the Archive page, which has links to all of the newsletters published since September 2007.

A NOTE TO NON-MEMBERS

The minutes from the June 2022 general meeting are included below. Thanks to our Secretary, Al Germann, for the meeting minutes.

June 21 - President Mike Butry led the meeting.

• Old Business:
  • Mike B. congratulated all elected Executive Board members. Mike also restated the E-board is off for the summer months. Resuming in September.
  • Maryann G. provided update on two of the potential locations. General discussion and debate proceeded. Some members have opinion that there is not enough savings to change locations along with continuing the 50/50 raffle will aid in the delta. Current location is preferred for monthly general meetings as well as BuffCon.
  • Brief update and discussion on NorEastCon #51 2023 as this might be co-hosted by multiple local IPMS clubs. Members had questions that included staffing and finances.
• New Business:
  • None.
• BuffCon #38, April 2, 2023:
  • Dan P. and Frank B. have action item to finalize flyer.
• Miscellaneous/Open Floor:
  • 50/50 raffle was run at this meeting with 129 tickets sold resulting in a $65/64 split.
  • Jeff K. led the presentation of members' model on the tables.

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.

June 13 - President Mike Butry led the meeting, held at Section 8 Hobbies.

• Old Business:
  • Maryann updated E-board with alternative location for the general meeting. She presented two best locations and price. This will be reported again at June general meeting.
  • Mike was able to retrieve club's model kits stored with John Z. Mike stated that some of these are classic kits with a higher value and proposed the club can get a vendor table at an out of town model show and put them up for sale. Others or unsold kits can be kits for the raffle at BuffCon. E-board members agreed with proposal and the next Rochester show will be the event for the sale. Mike has action item to follow up with acquiring a vendor table. Storage of all club's kits are with Al G.
  • Continued discussion on recent and future Region 1 / NorEastCon based on communications with Dave Schwab. Mike B. and Tom F. have action item to pursue more information from Dave S.
  • Discussed demos at general meeting with Dan P. to present "modeling disciplines" that can transfer between model categories. Also plans to bring back round table discussion groups.
• New Business:
  • Mike congratulated E-board members after elections and welcomed new members.
  • Tom B. Sr. stated he is stepping down as Chief Judge and as a member of the club for personal reasons. (He subsequently rescinded this decision after resolving some issues.)
  • 50/50 raffle at general meeting will continue but club will not accept back the winner's portion. Al G. will continue leading raffle.
• BuffCon #38, April 2nd, 2023:
  • Need to finalize flyer by September. Areas of focus are categories of Sci Fi and Fantasy. Dan P. has action item to finalize.
    • Frank B. to confirm Auto categories.
    • It was suggested there should be a statement to encourage new modelers to enter.
    • Brief discussion on "out of box" category but this will not be as there is a trend away from this in the hobby.
    • There was agreement to not have limits on number of entries by any single entrant.
    • General admission price will be $10.
  • Website to be up by September. Action item not assigned.
  • Discussion on appointing a Show Chair and this will need to be followed up on. Also, we need to identify subject matter experts for functions and areas along with alternates. Tom F. will take position of Trophy Coordinator.
  • Brief discussion to continue with an incentive to participate as a judge.
  • Judging criteria and feedback was discussed.
  • Brief discussion on low junior entries.
  • Brief discussion on use of table raisers and agreement to keep using them.
  • Suggestion to invite vendor Two Bobs. Mike has action item to contact Sprue Brothers and other vendors and sponsors.
  • Al G. has action item to compile list of actions and milestones for preparation of BuffCon.
• Miscellaneous:
  • The train caboose at the old Niagara Hobby store was recently moved off site.
  • Resin model manufacturer Ted Paris recently passed away.
  • No update on model manufacturers in Ukraine.

Club member Bruce Mathes contributed another collection of photos of his aircraft builds. He starts with a 1/72 VFR computer generated resin kit of the Piper Warrior, with paint masked & sprayed from factory photo.

"VFR's computer enerated kit of Piper Apache. My masked & sprayed paint job."

Bruce's next model: "Piper Twin Comanche from Eadia Bonanza & Revell Do.28 for engines, card stock used for surfaces from 1/72 scale drawings."

"1/72 Hasegawa Israeli F-16I. I got it in Albany."

"Resin Curtiss P-1 I got from Marty Snow with no instructions."

"A series of pics of old Lindberg Battle Damaged Phantom that I tried my hand at doing the damage. I did put in a complete new cockpit though."

"I used up an old Micro Scale decal sheet anyway on this."

"A 1/72nd kit of a Japanese "LORNA", world's first dedicated ASW plane. Looks like a small Ju-88."

"This old absentee member keeps on building..."

John Doerr sent in some photos of his builds over the years, at least the ones he still has. The first group is in 1/32 scale.

John's second group is in 1/48 scale.

John's last group is in 1/72, and includes an 2A3, with a picture of the Bradley his son was assigned to in Baghdad..

Dave Armitage sent in some pics of his latest projects. The first was a shadow box diorama of the Metaluna mutant from movie This Island Earth, 1955.

Dave's second item was a 1941 Ford Woody, built from a 1/25 scale AMT kit.

Moving to the model tables, Maryann Germann displayed her 1/24 Ianis Master Box LTD, or Sly Ianis. The figure was finished with Vallejo paints, with a leather technique on the apron using a sponge and various paints. She will be adding space junk (machine parts) to surround the subject. Maryann said she found the subject interesting, and had no issues with the kit.

Bill Borkowski brought in his latest project and entry for the "I am not a modeling loser" contest, a Tamiya 1/24 New Volkswagen Beetle. It's in the early stages, so there's no paint on the body yet. Bill said it's not a sports car, so it's a change of pace.

Gregory Fox showed us his Moebius H.G. Wells Invisible Man. He used acrylic paints for finishing, including Vallejo wood and leather colors, and weathered the bandages, gloves, shirt and pants.

Robert Heiss displayed his Polar Lights Curly figure, finished with Tamiya paints. He used oil stains and drybrushing, and said he had no issues with the kit. Robert loves the Three Stooges.

Al Germann brought in a Revell 1/25 1948 Ford Woody Wagon, "Driftwood". He used a variety of paints in the finishing process, including Alclad, Testors acrylic, Vallejo, Krylon, Tamiya and artists oils. Al build the model out-of-box, but with a lowered suspension. He described his weathering techniques: "bare steel was first scuffed up with 150/220 grit, followed by a light coat of Krylon red primer. It then received a combination of Alclad aluminum and gun metal using a dabbing/stipple effect, trying for a variation in color. The wood panels got a base coat of gray and the outer strips were tan, followed by multiple brush coats of Testors acrylic washes. The roof started with Krylon semiflat black topped with custom mixes of Vallejo black, blue and gray that were airbrushed, dab-brushed and used as washes." Al's first attempt at a distressed leather effect for the seats started with Tamiya brown, then had thin lines of Tamiya khaki added, followed by a wash of burnt sienna artist oil. Al said he will be redoing the seat because he thinks he can do better. The rusty undercarriage was done with Krylon red primer, black and Tamiya brown. He mentioned that he's had this idea for a while, and the challenge build provided the opportunity to try it.

Mark Gadek showed us his Trumpeter 1/32 P-47 Razorback, finished with Tamiya paints. Mark added some photo-etch detail to the interior, along with metal gun barrels and painted decals. He said the kit went together without any issues, and he built it because he got tired of looking at it on the shelf. Mark got the kit from Rich Bernicki.

Mark also brought in an IBG 1/32 P2L-11, finished in Pactra Polish Khaki. He said it was built out-of-box, and photo-etch, resin and masks were included in the kit. Mark weathered the model with AK Interactive washes and pigments. He mentioned that you must follow the assembly sequence in the instructions or else everything is out of whack. Mark chose the subject because it's Polish (can't argue with that!)

Tim Grieve displayed his Revell 1/72 B-25J. He used Model Master paints in white, olive drab, light sea gray, red, green, gun metal, flat black and silver, with an oil wash in dark brown. Tim said there were no issues with the kit, which went together easily. He said he needed a B-25.

John Doerr brought in three subjects this month. The first was a Tamiya 1/48 BF-109E-3. He used Polly S RLM02 and RLM71, along with Tamiya gloss black, RLM66 and NATO black, and added a Tempera wash and wipe. John said the kit was typical Tamiya fit, and he taped off the hard edge camo, which worked well for brush painting.

John's second item was a Nichimo 1/48 B5N2 Kate. This model received Tamiya IJN gray, green and cockpit green, plus MM enamels in flat black, aotake, lacquer steel, aluminum and engine gray, and gloss green, with a Tempera wash. He picked the subject to remember Pearl Harbor, and said the kit was extremely detailed with some nice options.

John's last subject was a Monogram 1/72 F8F Bearcat, which is his challenge entry. He used Tamiya German gray, NATO black, dark gray and gloss black, along with MM steel lacquer, Tamiya semi-gloss spray can Navy blue and clear gloss. He said there were nothing beyond normal issues with a kit this old, and it was a straightforward build.

Paul Hines continued with more aircraft subjects for his current set of paintings. The first was a P51 Mustang, "one of WWII's most effective fighters. It was designed for long range bomber escort. It's range was 1,600 miles, and it's maximum speed was 440 mph. It carried 6 machine guns with over 1,800 rounds."

Paul's second subject was a Grumman TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber. Paul said it first saw action in 1942 in the Battle of Midway, and it was the most effective and widely used torpedo bomber of WWII.

Alan Gryfe showed us a scrap Lionel tank car, miscellaneous Child Guidance Building Set pieces, and a Model Power HO (1/87) Wonder Chair Factory (x2). He used random rattle can spray paints, and kit-mingled into a bus garage and office. He hasn't started the weathering yet, and mentioned that problems/issues did not apply since the first thing he did was throw away the instructions. Alan said that when he first saw the kit, its generic design suggested numerous possibilities. He said the buses are from American Precision Models (the older ones, from a Buffalo company that's now unfortunately out of business), and from Busch (of Germany - the newer ones).

Mike Butry had a couple of subject for us to see. The first was a 1/48 Accurate Miniatures SBD-3 Dauntless. He used Model Master enamels for the interior, and added weathering using a mix of drybrushing (with Model Master), a Tamiya weathering set, and a No. 2 pencil for the scrapes and chips. Mike built it basically out-of-box except for the aftermarket seat which came from Ultra Cast. He said that with this kit manufacturer, you have to follow the instructions to a "T", and even when you do, there are a lot of fit/gap issues. Mike said he took part in a Battle of Midway group build, and this aircraft was flown by Lt. (jg) Robert Elder, who was his dad's director while assigned to Flight Test at NATC Pax River.

Mike's second item was a 1/35 Tamiya Jeep, his build subject for the Tony Bartozek "I am not a modeling loser" challenge. He said the model is just in the beginning stages with only the wheels being primed using Tamiya rattle can gray primer. He plans to build it out-of-box.

Larry Osolkowski brought in yet another new kit, a 1/24 Nunu Platz BMW 320i [E46] from the European Touring Car Championship from 2004, along with the separate detail set. Larry said he's a sucker for BMW race car kits, and this looks like another nice one, with an interesting paint scheme that shouldn't be too difficult since it's white with lots of decals.

Larry also showed his progress on his Tony Bartozek Challenge entry, a 1/43 Marsh Models 1966 Sunoco Lola T-70 Roadster. This is a multimedia kit with resin, white metal and photo-etch parts. Larry mentioned that after starting to work on it, he noticed that one of the rear tires was the wrong part and wouldn't fit or match the other. He emailed Marsh Models, and received a new part from the UK in around a week, for no charge - nice customer service! Larry has primer on the tires, the wheel inserts are painted Sunoco yellow (Scalefinishes airbrush enamel), the floor is painted Chaos Black from Citadel and has the photo-etch radiator installed, the interior floor is ready to go, the seat is painted semigloss black (Zero paints) and the engine is finished. The dashboard is done, some body bits are painted in Sunoco blue (again, Scalefinishes airbrush enamel), and the body has a coat of white primer with the headlight covers painted in Sunoco yellow.

Jim Greenfield displayed his Tamiya 1/35 Matilda Tank Modified. Jim used Tamiya, Citadel, Mission Models and Vallejo paints, with washes and drybrushing for weathering. He modified the turret and scratchbuilt an interior. He said the kit went together nicely.

Jeff Keenan displayed two new models this month. The first was a 1/72 Uni Model Sd.Kfz. 140/1 Recon Tank. He used Tamiya and Vallejo paints, with just an oil wash so far, but it's going to be muddy and dirty. Jeff said the kit included some photo-etch, but the table and playing cards are scratch-built, along with some added rivets. He mentioned that the only issues he had were with the tracks. Jeff picked the subject because he wanted to improve his weathering skills and make a small diorama.

Jeff's other model was a 1/72 Hobby Boss EF-2000B Eurofighter Typhoon. So far, it only has Vallejo paint for the cockpit. Jeff said the fit is horrible, and he had to blank off the air intake so you can't see through it. He mentioned that he's doing this model for the Tony B. challenge and "I thought it would go together quickly. I was wrong." Jeff said this one will definitely have a goal of "done" rather than "happy with it".

There were a few other miscellaneous items on the tables.

Finally, some around-the-room shots.

Thanks to Jeff Keenan for handling the model tables. Photos provided by Larry Osolkowski.