Greetings! We have a bunch of stuff going on this month, so I'll get right to it. First of all, about eighteen
of us attended the club outing to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Serviceman's Park on October 5th. We pretty
much had "free reign" of the ships the USS The Sullivans (US Navy destroyer), the USS Little Rock (US Navy heavy
cruiser) with Talos guided missiles and the USS Croaker, a WWII era fleet submarine converted to a hunter/killer
configuration during the Cold War. Thanks to club treasurer Tom Faith, we were treated to a continental breakfast
and a catered lunch on the fantail of the Little Rock. A splendid time was had by all. Rumor has it that the next
club outing may be at the Pierce-Arrow/Buffalo Automotive Museum in the not-too-distant future.
Secondly, we have two "new" club members who have agreed to share some of their modeling techniques at this month's club meeting. The first is Johnny Newman, who, you may recall, beautifully paints those very small military and fantasy gaming figures. Johnny is going to show us how to use a "wash" to add that next bit of detail to figures. Second, Dan Nethercott, who works with heavy equipment, has also agreed to show us his weathering techniques that he uses on his construction equipment models. Washes and weathering techniques, though they're being demonstrated on miniature figures and construction equipment respectively, directly translate to other modeling subjects (after all, everything gets dirty, right?) so these are some demonstrations all modelers won't want to miss. Thanks Johnny and Dan for stepping up and showing us your secrets. We're always looking for members to show the club some of your modeling techniques, so if you're interested in doing a demo, please let me or any E-Board member know and we'll put you onto the schedule.
Thirdly, we are one month into the President's contest and those who've committed to finishing a model have about two months to go to get it done. I strongly encourage you to bring your in-progress kits to the meeting to show us your progress and maybe to get some help and advice if you're stuck. A list of participants and their projects are listed below. Just so everyone knows, this contest is sponsored by me and not by the club. This is to ensure we stay within IPMS USA by-laws.
President's Challenge Entries:
- John Zaranek: AMT 1/24th American LaFrance Pumper
- Justen Hanna: Focke-Wulf FW-190
- Tom Brown, Sr: Dueling Pistols
- Alan Gryfe: Port Authority Shuttle Bus
- Nick Carluccio: 1968 Dodge Challenger
- Jim Lewis: 1957 Chevrolet 1/12
- Ron Frink: Focke-Wulf FW-189
- Carlos Martinez: 1/32 Hawker Hurricane
- Mark Budniewski: 1965 Olds 88
- Frank Blonski: Salemi Dragster
- Bob Butry: F8F-1 Bearcat
- Mike Butry: F-15C Eagle
- Mike Szadek: 1936 Chevrolet
- Matt Klukowski: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette
- Dan Nethercott: Snowplow
- Mike Martinez: Sturmtiger
- Tony Gliszczynski: 1955 Jukebox Ford
- Jerry Fuglewicz: T-34 Soviet Tank
- Cindy Klukowski: 1962 Chevrolet Impala
- Matt Keysa: T-50 Soviet Tank
Fourthly, we are conducting the second and final round of the model kit sale. The same rules will apply as last month. All kits are $5 each, cash and carry only. Tony G is the "sale master" and he's in charge. There will be approximately the same amount of kits as last month, so if you're interested, bring plenty of cash and remember, the cash will solely benefit the donor of the collection.
That's it for now, see you at the meeting and keep on building.
John R. Zaranek
President
IPMS Niagara Frontier
IPMS USA No. 47993
Model Table Round-up for September 2013
Mark Budniewski is showing his AMT Oldsmobile 1965 Delta 88. He's converting it from a dirt track vehicle to a
NASCAR model. This is also his "President's Challenge" entry.
Tom Brown, Jr. demonstrated his sci-fi project - the Bandai USS Voyager spacecraft model. Junior said that the kit
is a "snap fit" and has a fiber optic lighting kit. It took him about four hours to complete and he had a lot of fun
in doing it.
Brian McFee offered up his work-in-progress, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 50 fighter jet in 1/48th scale. He plans
on using the Tiger Meet livery as the markings on the completed model. Brian also showed us a beautifully printed decal
sheet for an English Electric Lighting fighter, which will be his project after the Falcon is done.
Frank Blonski showed a product he's using for filling body work on models that has "excellent adhesive properties."
He's going to try it out and report back as to how good it is. Frank is also letting us know that his "cottage industry"
is up and running: FAB Resinworks. In collaboration with other modelers, Frank is producing some fantastically detailed
model accessories in resin. One of the samples he showed us is the transmission for the Blackhawk line of helicopters.
This is a drop in replacement for the kit part which has no detail at all. Frank will be adding more products to his line
as soon as they can be created.
Frank also showed his "President's Challenge" entry, the Salemi Dragster. This is a mostly scratch-built model of
a local drag racer's car that Frank has been working on for around 47 years. The body is also available from FAB Resinworks.
Young Renaldo Hanna showed us his nicely rendered Dauntless dive bomber in 1/72nd scale
Miniature painter extraordinaire Johnny Newman brought in his Warhammer Infantry Razorback and Rhino Hellboy projects.
More Warhammer subjects were offered by Justen Hanna. His excellently painted Warpsmith was accomplished with an Alclad
base with Citadel acrylic overcoats.
Justen also showed us the Focke-Wulf FW-190 that he's trying to finish (or finish off) for the "President's
Challenge".
New member Dave Safe brought in another of his impressive dioramas. In this case, it's a derelict pick up truck left
abandoned. Dave used a die-cast truck and distressed the paint work to make it look as if it were left out in the elements
for decades. He used the truck as the focal point of the diorama and built the scene up around it. Dave also builds his
own display cases to protect his creations.
Dan Nethercott brought in some works in progress: a collection of snowplows in various stages of completion.
One of them will be his entry in the "President's Challenge".
Another new member, Nick Carluccio, showed us his work in progress, a 1968 Dodge Challenger which he's also
working on for the "President's Challenge".
Jim Lewis is working on a huge 1/12 scale 1957 Chevrolet. It's being torn down and he's adding a whole slew of
scratchbuilt details. It's another "President's Challenge" entry.
Al Germann brought in an excellently done Willy's Jeep in 1/35th scale. This is Al's Tim Horton's Challenge entry.
Club secretary Dick Schulenberg displayed his Verlinden resin kit of the V-150 armored car. He portrayed it in
the "demonstrator" scheme and it was brush painted with Polly Scale acrylics. Just goes to show that models can be
beautifully finished without an airbrush. Well done, Dick!
Alan Gryfe is showing an ambitious work in progress - cross kitting a toy bus with a cherry picker to create a
tour bus for the "President's Challenge".
Tom Faith brought in the Trumpeter 1/35th kit of the Aerosan Soviet snow sled. Very nicely painted, weathered and
includes a scratchbuilt interior.
John Allen Price is working on a Douglas A-20C Havoc and plans on painting it in reverse lend-lease markings. John
Allen also brought in plenty of detailed references to help him in achieving an accurate model.
John Zaranek also brought in another work in progress, the AMT kit of an American LaFrance Century Series Pumper fire
engine. John is planning on recreating a miniature version of those used by the Buffalo Fire Department in the mid to late
1970's and will need to create custom decals.
Matt Klukowski is working on a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette for the "President's Challenge",and a 1985 Camaro Z-28 just
because.
Mike Butry is busy working on an F-15C Eagle for his "President's Challenge" entry, and a Willys coupe for fun.
Cindy Klukowski is working on a 1962 Impala SS for her "President's Challenge" entry.
Matt Keysa is frustrated with a Maquette kit of a T-50 Soviet tank. Matt called the kit all kinds of foul names
including "putty bomb" and "ejector pin pock marked fool". He said to help hide these blemishes he'll cover it in mud
or sink it into a swamp. Good luck, Matt (count to ten.. it helps). This is another "President's Challenge" entry.
Tom Brown, Sr. is well involved in recreating some 1/1 scale kits of 18th Century dueling pistols for the "President's
Challenge" - non-functional when complete, we hope.
Carlos Martinez will be working on a 1/32 Hawker Hurricane for his "President's Challenge" entry.
Bob Butry's "President's Challenge" entry is an F8F-1 Bearcat.
Mike Szadek is working on a 1936 Chevrolet for his "President's Challenge" entry.
Jerry Fuglewicz has a T-34 Soviet Tank in progress for the "President's Challenge".
Last, but certainly not least, Vice President Tony G. is working on a 1955 Ford Jukebox Pickup truck
for his entry in the "President's Challenge".
Finally, some around-the-room shots of the tables and the meeting.
Thanks to Cindy Klukowski and Tony G. for the photography!
