...or News from the Nameless One
Summer is finally upon us, folks. For the most part, that means chores and other seasonal interests that can take us away from modeling. Many of us take some time away from the bench for fun in the sun, work in the garden or time on the water. With all of that other stuff going on, I like to take the summer months to either finish up something that I started and abandoned, or build something small and (for me) novel. These are projects that I won't invest a lot of time or emotional energy into and really are a nice change of pace. I use summer to essentially try and shake off any latent AMS (Advanced Modelers Syndrome) symptoms.
The last couple of years have found me participating in our club's Tim Horton's Challenge, which suits my above goals to a tee: I don't have to have a perfect build, just a completed one. I tend not to be too worried about making a masterpiece, just moving steadily through it from start to finish. For the sake of time, I almost have to avoid aftermarket accessories. I tend not to sweat the seam that's just "off" and only I notice. The result is a model that I truly enjoyed building. What's more, the finished builds have been surprisingly good in my opinion. I credit this to the no-pressure expectations that I'm placing on myself and the kit.
I guess what I'm getting at is that sometimes "good enough" has its place. (See the February Dizpatch regarding Kid's Class.) Perhaps, sometimes "good enough" is better.
Okay, enough philosophy, on with business. The teams are set, the kits chosen, and this year's Timmy's Challenge is off and running. Dick Schulenberg has graciously included a copy of this year's Memorandum of Understanding and a list of the teams later in this newsletter. Those that have signed up, please take a look at who is on your team. Your coffee, and your very honor are dependant upon each of your teammate's styrenic motivation. Please bring in your projects for a little progress report.
Also this month, Joe Szczygiel will be doing another one of his awesome demos. This one will be a weathering demo using oil paints in two parts. The first part will be the application phase at the beginning of the meeting, and the second closer to the end of the meeting to allow for some drying time. It's a pretty interesting and useful technique that I recommend checking out. Again, the first part of the demo will start at the beginning of the meeting at 7pm.
This month's meeting is in our usual spot, the Harlem Road Community Center Basement on June 20th at 7pm. Please bring any project that you may be working on and/or a friend!
Until then,
Justen Hanna
President
IPMS Niagara Frontier
IPMS USA #45680
Notes from the May 2011 Meeting
The moderator for the May Model Table was Bob Conshafter.
Alan Gryfe brought an Old Timer's Nash Rambler from Aurora. He got it at a garage
sale and it is partially built. The model dates back to the 1960's and the instructions
were included.
An unbuilt M1114 Armored Vehicle in 1/35 scale from Bronco was brought in by John
Doerr. He purchased the model from Lucky Model in Hong Kong for nearly half the list
price. He also picked up the Dragon Infantry figures to go with it. Using first-hand
reference from his son, John is replacing the M2 with the M240 turret. John's son is
putting together a spreadsheet with all the details about the Humvee that he is using
in Bagdad.
An unbuilt 1964 Ford Falcon from Trumpeter was brought in by Mark Budniewski.
He reports that there are some problems with the kit and that the price was too high.
An Academy 1/35 scale H-13 Sioux M.A.S.H. helicopter in its unbuilt state was
shared by Brian McFee. Brian is building this model for the Tim Horton Challenge.
John Zachritz had an Oryctes Nasicornis model on hand, which, as everyone knows,
is a Rhinoceros Beetle. The 13 piece model is John's choice for the Timmy Challenge.
The finished model will be displayed in John's classroom and used in his biology lessons.
Bob Collignon's partially build M4 "Jumbo" Sherman Tank is from Formations. Bob
plans to use pieces of wedding veil to simulate summer field matting, which is steel
webbing similar to chain link fence. The two resin figures are also from Formations
and are made up of different parts. Bob reports that the tracks are proving to be a
challenge. He also says that the Formations kit is a really good kit!
Bob also shared a photograph from a Rochester model show showing a line of IPMS
Niagara members bellied up to the bar in matching IPMS Niagara shirts. The photo shows
nice composition with incredibly attractive subject matter.
Justen Hanna displayed his P-51A Mustang in 1/48 scale from Accurate Models. It
has the markings of the 1st Air Command group stationed in World War 2 Burma. He has
extensively used armor weathering techniques on the plane's finish. Justen used a
Prismacolor pencil to simulate chipped paint.
Tom Faith shared his 1/35 scale German Field kitchen, which Tom entered in the
Timmy Challenge last year. After taking the model to the Rochester Show Tom decided
the model looked too black under the lights there, so he got some products from Mig
Products called filters. After adding some blue filter and a touch of gray filter
to the kitchen, which in reality was made of metal, Tom was satisfied with the contrast
between the wooden wagon front and the metal kitchen. Tom also brought some "Mud in a
Pot" from Reality in Scale, which he claims is a perfect scale mud.
A 1/144 scale Minicraft DC-3 was shown by Dave Schwab. He painted the metal
finish with Alclad and the rest is decals. The model is part of his 'planes that
flew into Buffalo' collection. Dave also brought a Civil War scene that he finished
a couple of years ago. The 1/32nd scale DML figures have been out of production for
some time.
Joe Saccommano displayed his Tyco slot car, which a friend of his painted.
The clear vacu-formed Lexan car body was painted on the inside surface. This has
resulted in an amazing gloss finish! This model will not be used on a race
track - it is for display only.
John Zaranek brought in an Israeli Merkava 1 Tank in 1/35 scale from Tamiya.
To simulate the 'ball and chain' anti rocket grenade attachments on the turret's
basket, John used the tiny spheres from a length of pull-chain attached to short
pieces of jewelry chain. The results are perfect! An animated discussion about
the best method for painting these creations ensued.
Dick Schulenberg showed two unbuilt 1/72 scale glider models - a Franklin
PS-2 and a Schweitzer SGS-28 (TG-2), both made by Czech Master Resin. These models
were less than $20.00 and are unique subjects.
Dave Armitage brought a Bald Eagle models from Lindberg. The kit is an old one
that was recently re-issued. He reports that there were some problems with seams and
fit but he got it assembled and perched it on a block of mahogany. Dave also had a
DaVinci Tank on hand. The Academy kit is more suited for a child's toy as it winds up,
but Dave eliminated the toy features and it has resulted in a very cool model. In
addition, Dave showed a Civil War shadow box featuring a Verlinden figure called
"Wounded Confederate." After an exhaustive search, Dave tracked down the two remaining
figures to Verlinden, even though they were discontinued. He used spice called 'summer
savory' for ground cover and a broken tree branch to create a tree for the background.
He also used a Lindberg cannon kit he got from Model Shipways and calendar pictures as
a backdrop. The entire project took 3 weeks to complete. Finally, Dave displayed HO
scale bill boards he made as a dedication to Marty Phelps' friend Linda. One billboard
is from a kit, but it proved to be too small for his purposes, so he scratch built a
larger one. There was also an HO Model T mail truck and a 1/12 scale chair on display.
An Apache Attack Helicopter in 1/32 scale from Revell dating back to the
1980s was brought in by Brian McFee and is a project he's building for his
employer's main office. The company he works for is manufacturing the gas masks
being used in the new Apache Helicopters. Brian is detailing the model and
correcting some manufacturing flaws.
A copy of "Forever Young" featuring our own Tom Faith in his French and Indian
War re-enactment garb was brought in by Steve Weller. Bob Collignon informed us that
Tom has been depicted in a figure bust sculpt.
Last, but not least, Ed Button displayed his in-progress 1967 Revell model of
a Lunar capsule. Ed is sanding off the details and re-building them to accurize the
model. Ed is adding photo-etched parts from Czechoslovakia and has found some missing
parts to add. Ed also brought a Gemini Capsule.
Finally, some photos of members around the room and the model tables.
Renewal of our Special Offer for All IPMS Niagara Frontier Members for 2011 - 2012
We had another good year at BuffCon so the Executive Board has determined that we
can extend our special IPMS USA national membership support offer for a third year,
through the end of April 2012.
We will rebate ½ of the cost for a one-year membership to IPMS USA for new national
memberships and renewals. The tangible benefit to this membership is 6 bimonthly copies
of the excellent modeling publication IPMS Journal.
Adult memberships are $25.00 per year and Juniors (17 years old and under) are $12.00,
so your rebates are $12.50 and $6.00 respectively.
You complete and submit the application (you can get one from Dave Schwab) along with
your payment directly to IPMS USA or do it on line at the
National website.
You will receive a membership card in the mail a few weeks later.
To get your rebate, you just have to show your current IPMS USA member card to Dave
Schwab and he will give you money. How simple is that?
The E-Board encourages everyone to take advantage of this offer. It's a good way to
get your feet wet and see what IPMS USA is all about.
2011 Tim Horton's Challenge Teams
| Justen Hanna's Team | Bob Collignon's Team |
| Justen Hanna | 1/48 Me-163 | Bob Collignon | Fantasy space ship |
| Tony Gliszczynski | 1/25 1940 Ford Convertible | Samantha Hanna | 1/35 M151A2 |
| Bob Raithel | 1/72 Sdkfz-234 armored car | John Zaranek | 1/48 Su-25 Frogfoot |
| Joe Szczygiel | 1/48 F-16C/J | Jerry Fuglewicz | 1/24 NASCAR Cartoon Network |
| Frank Del Russo | Storch | Mark Budniewski | 1/25 1932 Ford Coupe |
| Joe Saccomanno | 1/25 Don Garlits Dragster | Scott Udave | Weird-Oh Hot Dog Hang Ten |
| Kayla Nichter | P-51B Mustang fighter | Rich Bernecki | 1/48 MiG 3 |
| Dave Schwab | Thermonuclear Rodeo figure | Dan Marafino | 1/32 Bf-109E |
| Brian McFee | 1/48 Bell 47E | Steve Weller | 1/2400 Oklahoma |
| Bill Borkowski | 1/72 Apollo 27 rocket | Larry Osolkowski | Sauber Mercedes C9 |
| Tom Brown Sr. | 1/1 Miquelet pirate pistol | Tom Faith | GAZ-AAA |
| Dick Schulenberg | 1/35 UE armored carrier | Frank Blonski | Shelby Cobra 427 S/C |
| Jacob Gadek | Will bring to June meeting | Mark Gadek | Will bring to June meeting |
