New Years Resolutions...
I don't make them - well, not on New Years Day as tradition dictates, but usually multiple times
during the year. My usual modus operandi involves two major concepts: Organization and Finishing What
I Start. If anyone visits our website and clicks on the link for "model gallery" then choose "Member's
Workshops" and scroll all the way to the end, you'll see a series of photos of my workshop. Once the
kids left the house, I commandeered a room for myself and my obsession, er, hobby (possession IS 9/10ths
of the law and this shall prevent any "moving back in" attempts). I planned the room layout: I have a
primary workbench, a bench for photography with a home-made photo booth, my Dad's tavern trestle desk
stores spare decal sheets, holds my awards and also serves as my reference center for modeling. I
constructed a customized paint rack and actually have rhyme and reason as to the layout of the drawers
and workbench top content. I have all the media I need to completely enjoy my time with my favorite
hobby - television to watch the Sabres AND build models (I could die right now and be happy). All is
right in my universe. However, in my typically erroneous thinking, I felt assured that this effort would
increase my model construction completion and I could build all of those favorite kits of my beloved
subjects that I've been collecting over the years. Here's where nirvana ends, folks - I forgot one
important element: I am neither organized nor committed to finishing projects.
I have every desire to start and finish a project but something usually happens to submarine my
efforts. Some of my excuses are: 1) I'm stuck on a technique so I'll put it away until I figure it out
(translation: I'm bored with this.) 2) This kit is too complex (resin, photoetch, etc.) so I'll put it
away until my skills improve (translation: I'm bored with this.) 3) I don't feel like finishing this kit
(translation: I'm bored with this.) And on and on it goes... this seems to be my modeling life. I
estimated last week that I have at least 40 kits that I've started and have yet to finish. I further
estimate that I have another 100 kits that I've opened the box and fondled plastic, but haven't started.
My finished projects total 12 in the last 10 years; this is a lousy completion percentage. If you want
to translate this into a hockey analogy, try this - if Ryan Miller had this lousy of a save percentage
he'd be acting with his wife in California and not minding the net in Buffalo. So, I resolve at least
three times in a calendar year to totally clean and reorganize my room to its original concept so that
I can finish more kits. I also pledge to myself to pick a kit and focus, focus, focus until it's built.
It never seems to work. I always seem to have to work on something else, or have multiple projects going.
It amazes me, sometimes, that I can hold down a full time job.
I could come up with a logical, medical reason for this: Adult Attention Disorder, Dyslexia,
Depression, or whatever the trendy medical names for afflictions are these days, but what it really comes
down to is this - I have a desire to build everything in my collection, but I don't have the time to do
this (at least a good job anyway). So, do I subconsciously think that if I start a kit and not finish it,
in my mind's eye I feel that it is done? I think I may have a severe mental disease. I'm going to stop
writing now and work on my Hasegawa 1/72 US Navy E-2C Hawkeye kit that I started last Saturday; wait,
where did I put that newAirfix 1/24 scale Harrier?
See you Monday!
John Zaranek
President
IPMS Niagara Frontier
IPMS USA No. 47993
Model Table Round-up for December 2012
This was our annual holiday pizza and wings party. We had 55+ members and visitors in attendance,
including a representative from the US Marines who was there to accept our donations to Toys for Tots.
Your generous donations filled 2 tables. You guys always come through for the kids. Thank you on their
behalf.
The revived gift exchange seemed to be successful as well, with a nice pile of items to exchange.
Thanks go to Carlos Martinez for suggesting we do this again.
John Zachritz suggested another revival, this time for a decal exchange or bank where unwanted
decals could be made available to club members. When we did this before, the logistics were a little
cumbersome, but it is definitely worth revisiting. What brought this up is that John is looking for
some Turkish air force decals (red square/white border) if you have some.
Besides the good food, we had some interesting items on the display tables. Katie Brown led the
discussion for us.
New member Matt Klukowski showed us his Chevy Beretta from the old MPC kit. He's working on custom
printing decals for his lime green paint job.
John Zachritz brought in a large T-Rex skeleton model that he picked up for $3 at a rummage sale.
It was prepainted but John added his own touches as usual. He uses it in his classroom. In addition,
John had a 1/100 scale diorama featuring a motorized WWII Zero fighter. It was also prepainted but John
cleaned up the model generally and added washes and highlights to make it a bit more lifelike.
John's daughter Melanie also brought in a dinosaur model, a visible Raptor as an anatomy study.
The raptor sported a Santa cap.
Ed Button came in with a diorama of the Apollo Lunar Lander by Monogram, posed on the kit provided
base. This is an older model that still looks good. Ed visited the Smithsonian for inspiration and references.
Tom Brown Jr. is deep into collecting and painting 25mm Warhammer fantasy gaming figures. He had quite
a range to show: space marines with lasers, dwarf cannons with their crews and a selection of standard
bearers with thunderers.
Mike Martinez also showed a number of Grenadier Models fantasy figures, but to a larger scale. Mike
modified most of them before painting and washing them and finds the work quite relaxing. An interesting
diversion. Mike also showed his Tamiya Panzer IV. This is an old kit which Mike found to be rough and
difficult to work with. Came out OK though.
Larry Osolkowski made some good progress on the Airfix 1/32 Mini Cooper he's building and modifying
as a Christmas present for his son who owns one. Larry built a master for new wheels and had Frank Blonski
cast a set for him. He also converted the car to left hand drive for the North American market.
Brian McFee showed his 1/48 Hasegawa F4G well underway. It's in the gray over gray camo and will be
marked for an Air Guard unit. There's still a lot of detail work to do.
Al Germann had a couple of projects in progress too. First was a heavily customized 1/24 scale '51
Chevy with a neat removable windshield. His second project was a "Tijuana Taxi" that started out from an
old Pyro 1908 Renault kit that Al picked up as a $1 glue bomb. It's heavily modified on a big chassis
with a big engine and blower. We'll look forward to seeing the progress on these models.
Frank Blonski showed an interesting kit for a 1/6 scale 1948 Ford flathead engine. It's a reissue of
an ancient Hawk kit the should be an interesting build. (No photo of the kit, but here's one of Frank.)
Tom Faith had a couple of things to share. First was a collection of German Army field kitchen equipment.
Tom added a lot of detail to the base kits and painted and weathered them to emphasize the differences in
texture of the various materials. His current project is based on a 1/35 Trumpeter LCM-3 landing craft.
Tom's done a lot of opening, replacing and detailing to upgrade the lack of finesse in the existing details
and add some life to the model. The cockpit is almost totally from scratch. Tom plans to finish this as a
supply craft.
Bob Collignon showed a glimpse of a large scale model of a WWII 40&8 European box car he and Dick
Schulenberg are working on with a local photographic artist. It is intended as a frame for photos of
French children lost in the Holocaust. There will be three of these cars all together for a 17 foot long
(hopefully permanent) display.
Finally, Joe Coyle shared his newest project, a neat base for a wheeled vehicle diorama. It's his
first try at something like this. He used celluclay on a trophy case, then added some rocks from broken
pieces of cork, all blended together with some excellent groundwork. Joe's not sure what he'll put on it
yet. Pretty nice all by itself, if you ask me. (Sorry, no photo.)
Of course, the holiday meeting wouldn't be complete without the pizza party.
Here are some additional shots of items on the modeling tables.
The kits to be used for the Rat Rod Group Build were on display.
Club members helped out with loading up the Toys For Tots donations.
Finally, some around-the-room shots of the meeting.
Good meeting all around and good to see you all.
Thanks to Bob Collignon for the photography.
