Greetings to all IPMS Niagara Frontier members!

Model Table Round-up from the August meeting

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

Tom Faith completed his Hobby Boss 1/35th scale German WWII Land Wasser Schlepper. Tom used a wide variety of after-market photoetch brass and resin details. As is his usual style, he painted and weathered it using a variety of media. This was Tom's contest entry for this year.

Tony Gliszczynski finished his challenge entry this year. It's the 1941 Willys pick-up truck. Tony related that there were so many problems with the kit, there are too many to mention. He did add a Corvette grill and a blower hat to the kit. It was finished in Nason car paint.

With deep shame, Matt Keysa admits that he failed to finish his contest challenge, the FW-190. He did attempt to redeem himself by bringing in some kits he bought after a recent road trip to New York City and Pennsylvania.

Patsy Schwab completed her contest entry with the Hasegawa "Osprey Egg Plane". She used Tamiya paints for the final finish via the airbrush and darkened the panel lines with a marker. Patsy chose this subject because "it's too darn cute".

Bob Raithel also finished his entry. The DML Focke-Wulf TA-152C-O. Bob used Tamiya and Polly-S paints for the finish and he said the fit of the kit is "awful".

Frank Blonski's finished entry is the 1/25th scale 1972 Corvette. Frank used Nason automotive paints for the final finish along with Alclad chrome for the windshield trim. He exchanged the kit's small block for a big block engine, fit a round exhaust and a hinged hood.

Mark Budniewski's completed contest entry is the AMT 1960 Ford Ranchero. He used Testor's One Coat lacquer along with Polly Scale and Humbrol paints to finish it. Mark added pad-printed tires, wheels pulled from his parts box and scratchbuilt some details including the rear-view mirror and ignition wiring.

Sam Kuminecz presented his completed contest entry, the Lo Models 1/72nd AT-3 "Chu-Tiang" aircraft kit. Sam said that this is a rare subject and the kit is cheaply made. He finished it with Tamiya and Model Master paints and added inert bombs and sidewinder missiles.

Samantha Hanna completed her entry, the Hobby Boss BA-2 Soviet armored car in 1/35th scale. She said the parts didn't fit well and finished it with Vallejo acrylics along with artist oils and powders for weathering.

Jacob Gadek finished his contest entry, the Moebius "Invisible Man" figure kit. Jacob added details to the base to simulate wood floor boards and despite some "chalking" of the paint due to high humidity, he was able to correct the problem.

Thomas Brown, Jr. presents his finished entry. He chose the 1/350th scale "USS The Sullivans" US Navy ship. Junior's inspiration for the build is that he is a member of the US Navy Sea Cadet Corps and his unit is stationed on the museum ship "The Sullivans" at the Buffalo Naval and Serviceman's Park. He used Rust-O-Leum light grey spray paint and added black details.

Thomas Brown, Sr. showed us his entry, the 1/24th scale Revell Ferrari 458 "Italia" kit. Senior built this kit for his boss who has one to drive around in. Tom used a variety of paints including Humbrol, Testor's and craft store acrylics to finish it.

Jim Wolfe finished the MiniArt 1/35th scale "Polish City Building". He added wood hand rails to the balcony and angle iron as well. Jim relates that he used a variety of paints to complete the project.

Al Germann completed his 1949 Mercury "Chop Top" project for the challenge. Al added some really neat paint effects, including chipping, oil washes, and heat-affected welding marks to the simulated metal and pastels for effect.

Renaldo Hanna finished the Airfix 1/72nd scale "Shrike" airplane in time for the contest. He painted the model olive drab and light grey. When asked if there were any other details he added or modification done, Red simply replied, "it's classified".

Justen Hanna met his objectives with the Classic Airframes rendition of the Bouton Paul "Defiant" Nightfighter in 1/48th scale. He says he built it out-of-the box and used "very dark blue and dark oranges" from the Tamiya range of acrylics. Subtle panel gradations were accomplished with the airbrush along with some exhaust stains.

Larry Osolkowski showed us a newly acquired kit of his, the Aoshima 1/20th scale McLaren MP4/2 Formula 1 race car. He also obtained the Aoshima detail set to go along with what's offered in the kit - carbon fiber decals, photo-etch, hose fittings and seat belt material. Larry says it "looks great in the box."

Larry was unable to finish his contest entry, Hasegawa's 1/24th scale YHP Nissan R89C", but did bring in what he was able to finish.

Mark Gadek finished his contest entry in the form of Revell's 1/32nd scale Arado AR-196B German aircraft from WWII. Mark finished it strictly "out-of-the-box". He finished it with Tamiya, Vallejo and Model Master Metalizer paints. Some details he did add were stretched sprue for the rigging. To enhance the panel lines, Mark used Tamiya Panel Line Wash and highly recommends this product. Overall, this is a "fuss-free kit, outstanding detail and a great value for your money".

Dick Schulenberg brought in his collection of 1970's-era vintage aircraft kits denoting the Spanish Civil War. These are all in 1/72nd scale and built out of the box. The finishes are all Polly Scale acrylic over Tamiya spray primer followed by Testor's Dullcote: Matchbox Heinkel 70; Airfix Henschel HS-123; Heller Bf-109B; Hasegawa Bf-109E-1 and a Heller He-113.

Dick also showed us some "works in progress": Airfix's newly tooled Spitfire I and Hurrican Mk. 1 in 1/72nd scale. Dick brought them in unpainted to show us how well these new kits from Airfix fit together. He says he is going to attempt to brush paint them with Vallejo acrylics.

Jason Ignatjew finished the Jimmy Flintstone 1961 Oldsmobile Super 88 in time for the contest. Jason explained that the body was warped, but was straightened when it was glued to the frame. He used Testor's "One Coat" products for the finish.

Nick Carluccio completed his 1969 Dodge Charger. He used Testor's Metal Flake "Root Beer" as the final finish. He related that he "loves Dodge Chargers and the working steering was a pain to assemble".

Dave Schwab brought in his completed challenge entry, a Fine Molds US Army Infantry caricature figure in approximately 1/12th scale.

Jeff Usiak finished his Emhar 1/72nd scale "Gokstad" Viking boat kit. He used a variety of Tamiya, Model Master enamels and acrylics along with dry brushing techniques and washes for the weathering. Jeff went the added distance by adding Emhar's Viking crew set of figures and replaced the kit's vacuum formed sail with a scratchbuilt one, furled on the yard arm of the boat.

Lastly, John Zaranek finished two kits for the challenge: Airfix Hawker Siddeley Harriers, GR.1 and GR.3. John says these are also newly-tooled kits by Airfix and are a real treat to build. He used Tamiya acrylics for the pain schemes followed by a Future clear coat. A dark enamel wash was applied to enhance the panel lines. Everything was sealed with a final coat of Tamiya Semi-Gloss.

Finally, some remaining items on the tables, and a few around-the-room shots of the meeting.

Thanks to Larry Osolkowski for the photography, who apologizes for the quality of some of the pics; his phone camera was apparently having focus issues that night.