Greetings fellow IPMS Niagara Frontier members!

Model Table Round-up from the September meeting

Thanks again to Matt Keysa for directing the model table commentary.

Nick Carluccio showed us his 1959 Pontiac (model kit and scale was not provided). Nick modified the chassis to accept thinner axles. He used DupliColor Medium Garnet Red Metallic as it's final finish. He also used Bare Metal Foil for the chrome trim.

Dan Nethercott brought in an interesting weathering comparison of some die-cast heavy equipment models. They are in 1/50th scale and he left one as it came "out of the box". The other exact same machine, he weathered with AK47 powders, thinned paint and acrylic dull coats.

Dan also showed us a mostly scratch-built project of a Niagara Mohawk service truck, with a nice reference photo.

Larry Osolkowski was planning on building the Aoshima/BeeMax 1/24th scale Chevrolet Cruze WTCC Race Car for a friend who owns the full-size version and is a racer. Unfortunately, he passed away last month and it will be a gift for his wife. Larry explains that Aoshima is releasing some very unusual and interesting subjects lately, and this kit looks good in the box. He also included the Aoshima detail set for the kit.

Larry is also participating in the club's next "group build" featuring any model kit related to Buffalo and Western New York. He's selected the Pyro 1/32nd scale 1932 Pierce Arrow Custom Convertible kit. Larry relates that the kit is old, pretty rough in spots, yet has surprisingly fine detail in others. He's planning on scratchbuilding the side vents, but the rest of it will take some work to get a good looking replica.

Clint Keidel offers us his 1/48th scale Revell P-40B. Clint is also doing this for the Buffalo-themed group build. He says that it's an older kit lacking in detail. He's added photoetched details by Teknics and cast some of his own parts in resin. He used a variety of paints including those by Tamiya, Vallejo, Testor's and Model Master. Weathering and details were picked out with artist's oils and washes.

John-Allen Price is working on his Lockheed P-38F Lightning by Airfix/Heller, depicting an aircraft flown by the 1st Fighter Group in North Africa in 1943. John-Allen states that despite heavy rivet detail, dimples, sink marks and holes in some parts, it built up into a pretty good looking model. He hand-brushed the finish with Polly-S and Humbrol paints. Multiple shades of olive drab and neutral grey were used to show wear and maintenance efforts.

Ilya Grinberg brought in his kit-bashed Hawker Hurrican Mk. II model of unspecified scale (I believe it to be 1/72nd). The back of the fuselage is by Heller, which has the best fabric effect and the front fuselage and wings are by Hasegawa. He also added resin details by CMK.

He also brought the BTR-70 kit by ACE. He explained that the kit is very well engineered and no putty was used at all. He made his own grab handles and steps using brass wire. The only downside is that the machine gun is slightly over-sized and he's looking for a replacement for it.

Ilya completed his presentations this month with a Studebaker US-6.

Eric Hillebrand showed off his Italeri "Kangaroo" in 1/35th scale. Eric built it straight from the box and used Testor's spray paint to finish it.

Eric also brought in a nearly completed Airfix 1910 "B-Type" Bus. Eric explains that it's a very old Airfix kit and he chose it because it's "weird". He used basswood and a variety of paints, washes and pastels.

Al Germann is also nearly finished with his project. The Hasegawa 1/72nd scale Vanship from the anime "Last Exile" series. Another nearly finished project is the Sea Bottom Buggy Submarine kit by Imar in 1/72nd scale. It was originally a rubber-band powered toy and Al performed some modifications to make it a static display model including fixing holes, adding sheet styrene and building the torpedo cradles.

Frank Blonski is really going "to town" on his most recent project. He's converting the AMT 1941 Plymouth into a pro-mod drag body. He's re-shaped the fenders, sectioned the body, chopped the top and re-shaped the front nose. He's also added a rear spoiler, split the body down the middle to fit the chassis and re-shaped the running boards. The body is roughed in and the filling and sanding will commence soon.

Paul Hines showed us yet more of his artwork. The first is a picture of a Top Fuel Dragster At Night, and the second is an Extreme Hot Rod Shooting Out Flames which is all done in acrylic paint. Next month, Paul says, "it will be a trip back in time to the early 1900's automobiles."

John Zaranek brought in his first place award at the Rochester model show. His recently completed Italeri 1/72nd scale Westland Wessex helicopter has used by the Royal Navy in 1982's Falklands conflict. It took first place in the helicopter category.

Finally, some remaining items on the tables.

Thanks to Larry Osolkowski for the photography.