Finally, the deadline looms for the Tony Bartozek Memorial "I'm Not A Modeling Loser" contest. It's the weekend before the club meeting on Monday - iff you've entered, is your model done? Or, will the paint still be drying on Monday evening at 7pm? Your cocky club president over-committed himself this year. It is most unfortunate that I won't be finishing the LAV-25 "Piranha" to Buffalo Police Tactical Vehicle like I originally hoped. I will, however, have two 1/72nd scale Airfix Harriers completed. I did underestimate the length of time that these would take to complete, so I had to make an executive decision: finish two of the three or none of the three. This, if my math is correct, is a 66% completion rate. Maybe next year I won't be so confident on my finishing abilities.

Model Table Round-up from the July meeting

Thanks to everyone who participates in our Round Table model offerings every meeting. We are a scale modeling club and it's great to see members who do, indeed, build models!

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

Larry Osolkowski brought in a newly obtained Tameo Brabham BT49 1980 F1 in 1/43 scale. He explains that this is part of his 1980 collection and Tameo kits "are excellent".

Larry also updated us on his "Tony Challenge", the Hasegawa 1/24th scale Nissan R89C LeMans race car. He's building it out of the box and is using Tamiya, Alclad and Model Master paints. He's also added a black wash to the radiators to give them depth. Larry says the build is "so far, so good" and it's pretty straightforward.

Dan Nethercott showed us his 1/50th scale "Drop Deck Trailer". Dan explains that the trailer is scratchbuilt and all major parts (toolboxes, frame rails and suspension) are all bare styrene. He's used Testor's spray paints for the color coats and Minwax stain for the wood decking. Bare Metal Foil was used for the trim. Dan says he had some difficulties with the foil, but it did eventually bend to his will. Dan's inspiration was to refine his scratchbuilding techniques, add to his heavy equipment collection and to enter it into an Ohio contest at the end of July.

Rich Bernecki brought in the brand-new Tamiya kit of the DeHavilland Mosquito Mk. IV in 1/32nd scale. He said the kit was first made available via the Canadian market and he purchased it at Hornet Hobbies.

He also brought in his "Tony Challenge", the Tamiya Bristo Beaufighter in 1/48th scale. Rich built it "out of the box" for the contest and used the supplied decals for the seat belts.

Jason Masarik demonstrated some very eclectic and interesting modeling pieces last month. A "Spacemarine Helmet", "Witchking of Angmar Battle Helmet" and a "Tusken Raider helmet/mask". Materials used to create these impressive scratchbuilt projects include: machined aluminum, tomato paste cans, pop bottle caps, brass plumbing pieces, leather wraps, monk's cloth and liquid resin. It just goes to show how using non-traditional modeling materials and creative "imagineering" can produce masterful results.

Matt Keysa showed us his works in progress for this month. His "Challenge" is the FW-190A-5 in 1/48th scale. He says the engineering of this kit is poor, but he's working through it. He's also working on the Dragon 1/35th scale BRDM armored car. This kit is "rough" and he's using it to practice his painting techniques. Lastly, Matt is building the Mirage 1/72nd scale 7TP "Twin Turret". Matt also explained that he uses copper coated steel BB's placed in his paint bottles to help mixing the paint when shaking the bottle. Nice tip, Matt - thanks!

Clint Keidel brought in some cars he built a while ago. First is a Monogram 1/25th scale 1934 Ford Cabriolet hot rod. The body is channeled over the frame, uses wheels from a '41 Plymouth, scratchbuilt wiring, carb stacks, exhaust and he flocked the interior. He used Testor's red and white for the paint job. His second model is a Monogram 1949 Mercury Coupe - Chopped. Clint says this is an "on and off" project. So far, he's removed and chopped the windshield posts, made side trim and skirts from plastic sheet, Frenched headlights and scratchbuilt the tail lights. The bumpers are from an AMT "Parts Pack". Lastly, he showed off a Monogram '31 Ford Coupe. He kit-bashed parts to create the final model, including wiring, screen for the grill insert, and a masking tape roof insert. He used Rustoleum primer and Testor's paints, and hand brushed the flames on the car body.

Mark Bundiewski demonstrated a work in progress, a Berkley Models 1/25th scale Jaguar. In fact, this is a retro kit from the early 1950's made of balsa wood. Mark explained that someone else started the build and apparently abandoned it. The original builder carved too much away in some spots, so he's going to have replace and refinish these errors. Mark further relates that this will have to be put aside for a while so he can finish his "Tony's Challenge" entry in time.

Matt Klukowski is planning on building a "War Bond" diorama and using this Master Box "Pin-Up" in 1/35th scale. He's used Citadel and Vallejo paints to finish it and said that the sanding and painting was "not a problem".

Justen Hanna is especially proud of his recently completed Special Hobby 1/48th Sopwith Schneider. He used Tamiya paints throughout the project and weathered it with artist's oils. He said this was the first time he used the "dot filter" technique of weathering. He further related that there was lots of pinning to get the struts to seat correctly and the nose needed extensive re-working as it didn't fit.

Justen also showed us his "Tony's Challenge" project, the Classic Airframes 1/48th scale Boulton-Paul "Defiant" night fighter. Much attention had to be placed on alignment and plenty of body work was needed to get it looking right.

Jason Ignatjew brought in his 1961 Oldsmobile Super 88 Jimmy Flinstone resin kit. Despite the warped body, Jason got it straightened out and painted it with Testor's One-Coat Firey Orange followed up with Testor's One-Coat Lacquer.

Samantha Hanna is working on a Hobby Boss Soviet BA-3 Armored Car in 1/35th scale. She's not impressed that the engine doesn't fit the frame.

John Zachritz was very busy these past few months and has FIVE items on display. The first is Fine Molds 1/48th Jiro's "Bird Plane" from the Wind Rises anime series. John said that the fit of the kit was so good, that it could have been a snap-tite kit. He simulated the spinning prop by cutting out some plastic from a blister pack and a fine point Teal Sharpie pen was used to draw the cross design on the pilot's robes. He dry brushed the engine block edges and rust the exhaust stacks the same way.

His second model is an "ATAT Dog Drinking From Toilet". The ATAT was obtained from an old MPC "Battle For Hoth" diorama kit and he brazenly stole the toilet from his wife's dollhouse. He also sourced some detail from tile cut from samples obtained at the Home Depot.

Third, the MPC Brontosaurus kit from 1982, built by club member, the late Ray Weicke. John puttied and painted it. He also used lily pads obtained from Hobby Lobby's clearance aisle. John may include this in a water diorama in the near future.

Fourth, another model obtained from Ray's estate is the California Condor from Revell's Endangered Species series. The diorama includes a dead coyote amidst gravel to indicate a rock slide as the "cause of death".

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the Emhar 1/72nd scale Mark IV Female British Tank from the Great War. John says that the build was straightforward and he drybrushed rust and steel for highlights. The anti-ditching sticks were simulate by cutting the bristles from a push broom. The decals are from the anime show, "Girls Und Panzer". He will be adding scale chains to the model shortly.

Ilya Grinberg brings us three models this month: a US-G Studebaker, an ACE T-60 and an ACE BTR-70, all in 1/72nd scale.

Tom Faith is demonstrating the progress on his "Tony's Challenge", the Hobby Boss "Land Wasser Schlepper" in 1/35th scale. Tom is "going to town" with loads of aftermarket details including Grandt Line nuts and bolts, Voyager brass and an engine from a Panzer IV. He's also scratchbuilding the engine compartment. Despite all the glorious detail, Tom is lamenting the fact that the photoetch brass parts are "too small to handle".

Our resident artist, Paul Hines, brings us some fine automobile drawings: "Green 5" window coupe with triple carbs; "Chopped 3" window beautifully proportioned with flames; "Outlaw Anglia" popular gasser and "Willy's Gasser" jumping off of the line. Paul says he's planning on more "cool hot rods" then later in the year will being doing some vintage 1900 cars.

Al Germann obtained some interesting kits from a recent trip to Japan. A Bandai "Cosmo Zero", Hasegawa "Space Wolf", an Aoshima "Gorilla Mini-Bike", a BanDai "Magella Attack Tank" and another BanDai "Attack Spacecraft" along with some accessories. Al says these kits aren't available in the States and the exchange rate was pretty good.

Jacob Gadek presented his Moebius "Invisible Man" project. He painted the floor boards different shades of earth, tan and beige and cleared it off. He then applied wood stain to the paint and wiped that off to get an authentic wood look to the plastic. Despite all of his efforts, some of the effects turned gray on him and it had to be done all over. Jacob says he discovered the "world of humility" - welcome to the club, Jacob! He used clear silicone to glue the clear parts to the tables and used a sticker set to add stripes to the Invisible Man's tie. Jacob is continuing to build his series of "old time" radio and TV show themes.

Tony Gliszczynski brought in his "Tony's Challenge", his Monogram 1941 Willys. Tony is not impressed with the overall poor fit of the kit and stated, "IT NEEDS RE-TOOLING"! Despite his tirade, he plans on painting it purple when it's done.

John-Allen Price did some extensive work on his Airfix 1/72nd scale Heinkel He-111-H4 Night Bomber as it appeared in Norway in 1940. He added a "bathtub" insert and an semi-open dorsal gun position "borrowed" from a Matchbox kit. John-Allen brush painted the kit in the standard Luftwaffe "day bomber" scheme to reflect the modified "emergency night bomber" finish for this particular squadron (KG-26). This included a black wash over 2/3rds of the upper wings, a black "speckle" patter on the aft fuselage and tail plane. He also added wear marks as well. John-Allen feels that this paint scheme give this aircraft a "sinister" look to it.

Last, President John Zaranek showed us what happens when we're not careful when we try to "fix" plastic parts. John's work in progress is Heller's 1/400th scale "DeGrasse" Cold War French Anti-Aircraft Cruiser. The fore and aft deck parts were slightly warped, so he decided to immerse the parts in hot water to soften them and place them under heavy books so they would lie flat and attach to the hull without issues. Apparently, the water was too hot and rendered the plastic unusable. John then scratchbuilt replacement deck part by tracing the appropriate sections of the hull onto sheet plastic. He cut and sanded the replacement parts to shape and found that they were a "near perfect" fit. Any remaining gaps he filled with a combination of superglue and "Microballoons" sanded smooth. All that remains is to cut out or scratchbuild the missing deck fittings from the damaged parts and apply them to the new decks. Lessons learned: leave kit parts alone, or, nothing you do isn't fixable - take your choice.

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

Thanks to Larry Osolkowski for the photography.