Happy Thanksgiving to our fellow IPMS Niagara Frontier members!
Since our President, John Zaranek, recently started a new job and is catching up on the real world, our already overburdened newsletter editor (just kidding, John) will just note some upcoming activities.
At the last eboard meeting, an interesting idea was suggested for our next meeting. We would like every member that is coming to the general club meeting on Monday, November 16th to bring the oldest completed model you have in your collection. We'll have a show-and-tell in addition to the usual model table stuff. It should be entertaining.
There have also been discussions at recent eboard meetings regarding whether we should continue to have a raffle at Buffcon. There are pros and cons, so think about it and we'll discuss it at the general meeting.
The eboard also discussed changing the name of the newsletter to something less "dated". A naming contest was suggested, with a prize of a gift certificate to a well-known local hobby shop. Details will be announced at the meeting.
The December club meeting will be focused on our annual Christmas party. Pizza, wings, pop will be provided for all current, dues-paid members. As per usual, we are asking anyone who would like to provide "dessert" in the form of cookies, pies, cakes and what-not to share with the club, we greatly appreciate it.
Since the "Secret Santa" event was a great success last year, we're going to do it again. If you'd like, please bring in a wrapped, un-built model kit without a name or tag on it, to share in a gift exchange with other modelers who also opt to participate. The only thing we ask is not to "bust chops" and bring in any junk. It doesn't have to be an expensive kit, just one that's complete. Again, note that this is for the DECEMBER meeting.
And last, but not least, it is also our honor to host our annual Toys For Tots campaign to assist the United States Marine Corps in helping children who are less fortunate than perhaps ourselves at Christmas time. Here are the guidelines, should you wish to participate: bring in a new, unwrapped, unmarked toy, game or other amusement to the December meeting and place it on the designated table. Again, it doesn't have to be expensive ($10 to $20 range is typical of what we see from year to year) but it does have to be NEW, UNWRAPPED and UNMARKED (no names, no cards, no notes). When choosing gifts, please consider the older children. There some nice MP3 players out there in that price range that would make some kid's day that wouldn't have any use for Thomas The Tank Engine, because they're a bit older. Thanks very much for your consideration. Also, I believe a representative of The Corps will be here to collect the toys and join us for the party.
That's all for now, and I hope to see you all at the meeting.
Keep on modeling,
Larry Osolkowski
Second Vice President
IPMS Niagara Frontier
IPMS USA No. 40566
Model Table Round-up from the October meeting
Thanks again to Matt Keysa for directing the model table commentary.
Matthew Kinkowski displayed his HO scale storefront, which included the Chinese Kitchen Restaurant, Allison's
Neighborhood Bar and a purple music store. Matthew used Citadel and Vallejo paints with a simple wash for weathering,
and added extra signage and lettering to the storefronts. He says he's building his own train layout and loves making
the buildings.
Dave Clark brought in a Trumpeter kit of a 105mm Howitzer mounted on a French light tank hull. Dave mentioned
some issues with the armor in the superstructure being too thick, but picked the subject because it's unique, being
a part of the "Becker Program" to fit light tanks with big guns. The actual vehicle was encountered in Normandy by
the Allies. Dave added figures with some interesting poses, and will use the "Panzers in Saumer" book as a reference.
Frank Blonski showed us his continuing work on converting an AMT 1941 Plymouth coupe into a Pro Mod drag racer. Frank
had to cut the body completely apart and insert sections of styrene to rough out the desired shape; the changes include
a sectioned main body, chopped top, stretched hood with a pie cut, and a rear wing scratch-built from Evergreen sheet.
Dick Schulenberg had a group of three interesting aircraft for us to examine: a Hasegawa He51, an Airfix Spitfire I,
and an Airfix Hurricane I. Dick brush painted all of them using Tamiya white primer and Vallejo colors, and used painted
decal strips for the canopy frames. All three models were build out-of-the-box except for added rigging to the He51.
Dick added that the He51 is from the early Spanish Civil War Condor Legion, the Spitfire is 1938 vintage, and the
Hurricane represents the Battle of France in 1939.
Larry Osolkowski brought in another two new kits for our perusal: an AMT 1:537 scale USS Enterprise NCC-1701 cutaway from
Star Trek (reissue), and a new tool Revell-Germany 1/24 BMW i8 sports car hybrid. The Enterprise kit was "too cool to pass up",
and Larry mentioned that this will be a large model - around 22" long. For the BMW, some aftermarket resin wheels were obtained
from a new company called Plamoz, and correct a size issue as well as add detail to replace the kit wheels. Some correct factory
color paint has been ordered from Scalefinishes, and the kit looks good in the box.
Renaldo Hanna displayed his Star Wars Y-Wing, which was a pre-painted kit. He said he picked this subject "for fun". Nice
work, Renaldo!
Michael Butry had an unusual item to show us: a trench art P-38 ashtray. Mike explained that the item was homemade while
serving in New Guinea circa 1944 with the 865th Engineer Aviation Battalion. The subject is very rare and a piece of history.
Another unusual item came from Mike Martinez - an HO scale scratch-built railroad tress/overpass. Mike used acrylic
paint over a home brewed base. The model was built for a hobbyist's shop for show, but is currently unfinished, still
requiring highlighting and foliage.
Eric Hillebrand returned with a now-completed Airfix Ol' Bill Bus. The model is based on a city bus modified to
military "Old Bill" style, using basswood, Testors and Tamiya paints, and washes and pastels. Eric mentioned that this
was an OLD kit with many fit issues, but it's way cool and he had a lot of fun with it.
For our monthly collection of automotive art, Paul Hines provided a 1917 Wells Fargo Express Truck, a 1914 Model T
Speedster, and a 1909 Packard Runabout. Paul says that his mission is "to capture the history and beauty of automotive
design."
Clint Keidel showed us his Revell 1/48 P-40 work-in-progress. Clint is using Tamiya, Vallejo and Testors Model Master
paints, and is adding further detail using a resin cockpit, and removing raised panel lines and trying to rescribe them (his
first time attempting this). He mentioned that the kit doesn't have much detail, but he loves P-40s and they were made in
Buffalo.
Jason Ignatjew displayed his 1965 Plymouth Satellite, painted with Tamiya gold and Testors 1 Coat clear.
Alan Gryfe had a couple of items to show us. The first was a Jo-Han 1/25 1960 Oldsmobile Scenicoupe box with some
miscellaneous parts that was a $2 garage sale find (sorry, no photo). The second item was a Kibri HO scale Bausatz
(Town Hall?) Alan made a paper mock-up to test the kitbashing concept before actually cutting plastic, using a color
photocopier. He got the kit on eBay for a great price. Alan also mentioned that he originally planned to have a flat
roof, but the mock-up made him realize that the building looked better with a peaked roof and slate shingles.
Tom Brown Sr. brought in his "Spruester To Be" for the All About Buffalo display at Buffcon 33. The model started out as
a Buster Bison, and Tom took a bench grinder to his hat, chest, back and base. Tom noted that "resin stinks when you grind it".
He also mentioned that he collects bobble heads and wanted a Spruester (the IPMS Niagara Frontier mascot). Mysteriously, another
item appeared next to the Spruester, the "IPMS Little Rock". The anonymous description mentions that no paints were used, there
were no modifications or aftermarket detail parts, the weathering is "natural", and the model is "a part of the past, and must
go to the future". It came from the front sidewalk outside the meeting hall.
Tom Faith provided a Hobby Boss 1/35 LWS for display. He used Floquil, Tamiya, Testors and Citadel paints, and Sennelier
dry oils. Tom said he scratchbuilt the interior and engine compartment, and added resin details from Tank Workshop, Aber
photoetch, Frui tracks and AFV mines, and a Royal Model wharf. He weathered the model using washes in oil and water base,
powders, and dust. Tom noted that he had difficulty seating the top on the hull after building the interior. Tom's
motivation was the Tony Greeland book from 20-30 years ago.
Finally, there was one remaining unidentified item on the tables.
Thanks to Larry Osolkowski for the photography.
