...or, Man, Is It Really Christmas Again!
I mean, really? Already? Good thing I never finished taking the lights down from last year. But that's the great thing about white lights. You can use them year round and it looks chic. However, colored lights in summer just make you look lazy. Funny how that works... But I digress...
Our December meeting is on Monday the 20th at 7PM in our usual hang-out, the Harlem Road Community Center.
Annually, the December meeting is my favorite. Not just because of the pizza, (okay, it's honestly like 40% because of the pizza) but because of the generally joyous and generous mood that everyone is in. It really is the culmination of everything right with Christmas and the Holidays in general. Too bad we can't have family gatherings that go half as well as December at IPMS Niagara Frontier :-) ...again I digress.
As usual, we will be collecting for Toys for Tots. These gifts go to needy children in our area and can really make all the difference in the world for a kid at Christmas. It's easy to forget in our annual holiday rush that there are so many people far less fortunate than us. By helping out with your donation, you are part of that difference. If you can, please bring you donation of any unwrapped, unused, still packaged toys to this upcoming meeting. Last year we filled two huge tables (one was a pool table if I remember correctly); let's see if we can beat it this year.
I mentioned pizza. Yes, Virginia, there is a pizza party. We'll have our annual pizza and wing feast accompanied by any desserts that folks would like to bring and share. We are set on paper products this year, so no need to bring those.
As we begin the Holiday-Season Calorie Intake Extravaganza 2010, we will get through the around-the-room-question that I completely forgot to pose last month. (I really should refer to my notes, which is why I write them after all.) In March, we will be doing a short series (four evenings) of demos at Niagara Hobby. What sorts of demos would you put forth? Remember that not everyone attending these seminars will have modeling experience. With that in mind, what topics should we touch upon?
In other news, I have the unfortunate duty of announcing Dan Marafino's resignation from the e-board. Due to family issues, Dan has, regrettably, had to step down. Dan has served on our e-board now for many years and has been a great contributor. Good luck, Dan and thanks for everything.
Our annual Kids' Class starts in about a month. If you can participate, please see Bob Conshafter for details and to complete that form that is required by the Youth Center. This is a really fun and rewarding event. We only have one more meeting prior to the start of the program on January 22nd, so please sign up as soon as possible.
Finally, a note about our January and February meetings: These two meetings will fall on the 4th Mondays of those months due to holiday closings of the Community Center. The e-board meetings for those two months will be held on the 3rd Mondays. Please let me know if there are any questions.
Looking forward to seeing you all on the 20th!
Justen Hanna
President
IPMS Niagara Frontier
IPMS USA #45680
Notes from the November 2010 Meeting
The November model table was well populated with really cool stuff! Matt Keysa was the
table moderator.
We welcomed guest Scott Uvade to the meeting.
Dave Armitage displayed a holiday-themed diorama, using HO scale buildings he had built
over the years for a client who had disassembled his train layout and wanted the custom made
building made into a display that would fit on his mantle. Dave succeeded in creating a
winter wonderland complete with lights and seasonal music playing from a hidden speaker in
the church! A great way to get the holiday spirit kicking in!
Dave used a product called "Plastic Snow" for the ground cover and created ice for
the skaters with Envirotex.
Dave also brought a shadow box display of a reference photo of a wagon loaded with
Civil War era skeletal corpses. Dave used 1/16 scale skulls from Verlinden and sculpted
the bodies in clay.
Dan Marafino had two Monogram Blue Angels F-18 models on hand. He repainted the previously
built model in light and dark ghost grays using a hand brush. He originally built it for a
shadowy figure named "Sugar Daddy," but he already had 82 specimens of this particular aircraft,
so Dan has kept them for himself.
Frank Del Russo showed a Testors 1/72 scale airplane kit that he started for the Timmy's
Challenge, and photos of the original of which is at the Udvar Hazey Museum in Washington. This
is the first kit Frank's built since he was a young lad and is one of his favorites. A lively
discussion about the museum ensured with Stan Keysa proving to be a wealth of information about
its history. At no point does Frank actually identify what the name of the airplane is! I'll
have to ask him at the next meeting. (It was a 1/48 Testors/Hawk Ryan PT-20 - thanks, Dick!)
Bob Collignon brought an unbuilt resin figure of the Slim Pickens character from the movie
"Dr. Strangelove." He is depicted in a "Yee-Ha!" pose riding a thermonuclear bomb as it plummets
towards Hollywood history. The kit is made by Squadron and is available at Section Eight Hobbies
and 3 Guyz Hobbies. Very cool!
A Lindberg Blue Devil destroyer model was displayed by Ernie Yuhnke. The large scale ship is
motorized and can be programmed to sail in different directions.
Joe Saccomanno had an HO scale Xtraction Autoworld '55 Chevy Nomad slot car on hand which
he got at Niagara Hobbies. Joe did a lot of modification to the original model. Joe reports that
it runs fast too!
Joe Szczygiel had his Challenger II tank conversion on display. It is an engineering vehicle
called "Trojan." Joe is scratch building the modifications on the British tank's lower hull.
A model of a Cro-magnon Hunter-Gatherer and a pirate figure were shared by Jim Wolfe. The
models are in the same vein as the old Aurora kits from the 1970's and were made by a company
called "Precision."
Illya Grinburg brought his un-built MI-24 Hind in 1/72 scale and manufactured by Zvezda in
Russia. Illya believes that the high quality of this kit renders all other versions of this
subject obsolete! The kit boasts detailed engines and landing gear and was made with consultation
from the actual designers of the original craft. Illya says the kit is available from Dragon, but
he got his from a friend in Moscow.
Steve Weller's 1/72 scale T-34 tank took third place at the Cleveland Model Show, so he
brought it in for bragging rights! As if that wasn't enough, he also brought his 1/72 scale
P-38-extensively weathered - which took third place in its category! Well done, Steve!
Larry Osolkowski brought his un-built Chaparral 2D automobile kit. The kit is a re-issue
from Fujimi, and up until now, has been a very hard model to find. Larry got it on Hobby Search
for a very good price. The model depicts a curb-side model with no engine compartment and Larry
reports that it is a nicely made kit.
Also on hand was a Revel Germany model of an Audi A4 DTM the Larry got from Hobby Linc.
This one has a full engine and interior and it also is a nice kit.
Brian McFee showed off his Commonwealth [Grumman] Wildcat, which he has painted and decaled
[in a Western Desert scheme] and is now working on the model's base, by sanding first then putting
a bit of gravel on it to simulate walkways on the ground.
Brian also had an after-market ejection seat assembly for a Tamiya Skyraider. Rather than use
the kit's seat, he will replace it with a Martin Baker one to make a Marine version.
Bob Collignon had his winning Da Vinci "Battling Top" on display. Ted Paris gave the primitive
fighting machine to Bob, who had a lot of fun painting it, but reports that the fit was poor. He
used the 'hairspray' technique to weather the wooden planks.
Justen Hanna brought his Polikarpov in 1/48 scale, which won best winter subject at the
Cleveland show. He proudly showed off his trophy. Repeatedly.
John Zaranek brought his in-progress model of the H.M.S. Illustrious from Dragon Models
in 1/700 scale. He also had an in-progress USS Yorktown that comes with realistic water for
the ship to sail on! Cool! He had to sand a lot of out of scale panel lines off the decks.
John also brought a pair of Javelin FAW.9/9R aircraft kits in 1/72 scale. One kit was a
FROG kit, the other an Airfix, obtained from 3 Guyz Hobbies.
Ed Button showed an in-progress Douglas Dauntless in 1/48 scale, an old 1988 Monogram kit.
Ed separated the rear control surfaces, made copies of the dive brakes to separate them,
drilled out the holes, added radio equipment from a Devastator, replaced the rear gunner seat
and added after-market parts. A lot of kit-bashing and a lot of fun!
John Doerr took a break from aircraft to build some 1/72 scale armor. There was an M2-A3
Bradley from Dragon that John says is a beautiful kit. He is going to re-work one to replicate
the one his son rode in Bagdad. He also had an Academy M1126 Stryker and a Hasegawa M2 built
right out of the box and had fun weathering them.
Tony Gliszcynski displayed his M-41 Walker Bulldog built in a Viet Nam era version with lots
of parts from the spares box. His plan is to cover it in stowage to basically hide the tank! He
got some extra stowage from Joe Szczygiel.
Finally, some photos of members around the room and the model tables.
Appeal for Volunteers for The Kids' Model Building Class
6 Saturdays from 10am to 12pm
January 22-February 26, 2011
By Bob Conshafter
Yep, it's that time again! 2011 will be my 10th year of volunteering with the Kids'
Model Building Class. Where does the time go? The 2010 class was attended by thirty-three
children, five of whom were girls. I think that's the highest percentage of girls we've
had so far and I'm glad that the interest in modeling has endured with these kids as many
have returned year after year. It was also nice to see a high level of parental involvement
and club member turnout meant that most kids came away with a positive experience with
modeling even though we had an ice storm on Awards Day!
Our club members who volunteer to help with this event have also returned year after
year and it would be nice to see some new faces. Many thanks to the Old Guard: Frank Blonski,
Tom Brown, Bob Collignon, Stan Keysa, Matt Keysa, Brian McFee, Nick Morris (who returned
this year for the first time as a Mentor after many years as a builder), Dick Schulenberg,
and some new faces who came when they could, Ed Button and Alan Gryfe. Eight tables are used
for the event and, as you can see, we're kind of spreading things a bit thin, particularly
if we hit our limit of 35 kids.
Please consider being a Mentor. It's okay if you can't make every session. Whatever time
you can provide will be greatly appreciated by your fellow members and especially the kids.
Every year we strive to make improvements to the Kids' Class and your involvement and
suggestions are greatly appreciated. Our main goal is to have every child come away from the
class with a finished model and a positive experience with modeling. Remember, it would be
great if you could volunteer for the whole class but its okay if you can only attend some
sessions. A sign up sheet will be passed out at the next 3 club meetings. The class starts
on January 22nd and runs for the following five consecutive Saturdays (10am to 12pm) until
Awards Day, February 26th.
2011 Kids' Model Building Class Kit Appeal
The club will graciously accept any and all of your donations. At this point in time we have
A LOT of airplanes. More specifically, we are looking for new or pre-owned, un-built plastic
model kits and will gladly accept anything you can provide. We're a little short on the following:
1/35th scale armor
Small scale modern civil/warships
1/25 scale cars
Snap-together kits for young builders
If the kit you are considering donating is not new or sealed in plastic, please take the
time to make absolutely sure all parts, clear pieces, decals, and instructions are present.
Donations will be gladly accepted by our President, Justen Hanna or any member of the E-Board.
Club members were very generous last year and I would like to thank all of you who donated and
thank in advance those who will donate this year.
Best wishes always, Bob
YOUR 2011 DUES ARE DUE IN JANUARY
Your club dues for the 2011 calendar year are due at the January 2011 meeting.
Regular memberships are still $10.00 per year and Juniors (under 18) are still $5.00.
You can pay the Treasurer Dave Schwab at the meetings or by mailing a check to Dave at
28 Wanda Ave., Cheektowaga, NY 14211. Please make checks (or money orders) out to Niagara
Frontier Chapter IPMS.
Make sure that you share any updated information like addresses and e-mail addresses with
Dave as things change.
Reminder - Special Offer for All IPMS Niagara Frontier Members
We will rebate ½ of the cost for a one-year membership to IPMS USA, our national "umbrella"
organization for new national memberships and renewals until BuffCon 2011. The tangible
benefit to this membership is 6 bimonthly copies of the excellent modeling publication IPMS Journal.
Adult memberships are $25.00 per year and Juniors (17 years old and under) are $12.00, so
your rebates are $12.50 and $6.00 respectively.
You will be responsible to complete and submit the application along with payment to IPMS
USA. Dave Schwab has application forms. You can also do this on line at the
National website.
You will receive a membership card in the mail a few weeks later.
To get your rebate, you just have to show your current IPMS USA member card to Dave Schwab
and he will give you money. How simple is that?
The E-Board encourages everyone to take advantage of this offer. It's a good way to get your
feet wet and see what IPMS USA is all about.
