Guess what time it is? I think we all know that there is only one more month to until "The Show of Shows" - BuffCon33! From what I understand we have nearly sold out the vendor tables, so that promises to add more income for the club, offer more selections for sale and generally lead to more visitors and participants at future shows. I just want to note here, that we've added a brand-new judging category for the contest: "Fantasy and SciFi Wargaming (Figures & Equipment)". We're hoping this will attract a whole new genre of modeler this year. With the leadership of interim board member, Johnny Newman (who has years of experience painting and engaging these types of models) we are going to see folks who truly enjoy this branch of modeling. I'm sure their presence will be felt at the show, and please extend them friendship and courtesy when you meet them.

Model Table Round-up from the February meeting

Thanks to Al Germann for taking us through the tables.

Eric Hillebrand has a 120mm WWI French soldier figure on display. Eric doesn't remember the name of the manufacturer, but it's made of resin and suffered from some air bubbles and fit problems. He's added slings to the fifle and the haversack and used Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics along with artist's oils for the paint work. Weathering completed the model with washes, glazes and oils.

Nigel Usiak completed a 1/35th scale Bayardi Ancient Catapult. He selected this particular kit "because it just stood out from the rest of the models." Nigel finished it with Model Master and Vallejo paints.

Paul Hines brought in some more of his artwork: A Ferrari 250 GTO 1962 V12 290HP which can gain speeds upwards of 175 mph. He's also done one of a horse because "variety is the spice of life".

Mike Butry provided us with his Tamiya M20 in 1/48th scale. Mike selected it because "it's a cool subject and I have always liked the M8/M20 series of armored cars." He says it was a straight forward build, primarily out of the box, except he added tarps made out of aluminum foil. Paint is by Tamiya thinned for airbrushing in various tones of olive drab and khaki. It was finished and weathered with a variety of Windsor & Newton oil paints, Mig Products enamel washes and pigments.

Jim Wolfe delighted everyone at the meeting with his working, motorized Tamiya 1/35th Mark IV WWI tank. It broke a club meeting land speed record of 0.05 mph across the floor. Jim says it's built out of the box and painted with Tamiya acrylics and has yet to be weathered.

Jim is also working on an urban diorama. He's finished the tank, a 1/35th scale IS-2 Soviet battle tank by Dragon. He needed to raise the hull by 2mm to accommodate the resin road wheels. He's used oil paint rendering, pastels and oil filters for the weathering.

Mark Gadek showed us his "work in progress", the Kitty Hawk 1/32nd scale Kingfisher sea plane. Mark states the kit fits very well once the "huge" attachment points are removed from the edges of the plastic. The kit provides photoetch details and decals for 6 different versions. Mark relates that "it was a gift and something different than the usual Bf109's and Spitfires" and hopes to have it completed in time for BuffCon33.

Mark also has the Trumpeter 1/32nd Yak-18A on hand for us which was built straight out of the box. Mark had difficulty with the windscreen; it's a poor fit and the model liked to sit on its tail. He added an ounce of weight in the nose and it still wants to tip back. Mark's used Aeromaster paints, "Russian Colors" and kept the build clean. The real aircraft was a trainer and was kept up by the air crews. He bought the kit at the last BuffCon for $10 and saw the real plane in a Polish air museum and has photos for reference.

Jacob Gadek continues to amaze us all with his finely crafted monster kits. This one is "Bela Lugosi" by Moebius. Jacob says that the build was easy - not many parts - and it snapped together "beautifully". The model and scene were painted with Vallejo acrylics and Humbrol Metalcote. The stonework was painted black and dry brushed over until he got the right look. He used flesh colored paint for the face and hands and used make-up to get the correct skin tones.

Jeff Usiak is continuing work on his "Buffalo Build", the 1/72nd scale Grumman F9F Cougar modified to look like the aircraft at the Kenney Field playground in the Town of Tonawanda (corner of Colvin Boulevard and Brighton Road). Jeff says he selected this theme because it brought back "good memories as a kid". He had to do some modifications to the kit: rebuilt the nose, filled in the engine intakes and adjusted the canopy. He's brushing on colors from Model Master and Vallejo.

Al Germann has started a new project entitled, "Rain Forest Ferrari". He's taken a "bag of Ferrari parts" - of which most are missing - and used ceiling tiles as a beginning for the project. He's planning on scratchbuilding scenery, including a palm tree, along with rust and chipping techniques for the car. Al chose the project because he likes the Ferrari 308 GTB and wants to experiment with scenery.

Geraldo Hanna, the junior member of the Hanna model-building team, brought us a 1/72nd Star Wars X-Wing by Revell.

David Safe shows us his nearly completed (lacks miniature people) 1/24th scale "Safe Family Pavilion" which is an architectural model of the real building out at his property. Dave relates that it is 100% scratch built including the trees, wood planks, roof, tables and swing. His goal was to replicate the real building in miniature and admits having difficulty trying to get the parts in scale. Dave used an interesting "torch" technique, to compliment traditional weathering, to add age to wood and trees.

Nick Carluccio had parts from various kits "laying around" and combined them to create his 1964 Ford Mustang finished in Gloss Powder Blue (by Krylon). Nick replicated the chrome pieces by using Bare Metal Foil and added depth to the panel lines by using a black wash.

Frank Blonski's 1941 Plymouth ProMod project based on the AMT Plymouth Coupe was back again with incremental progress.

John Zaranek has nearly completed two entries for BuffCon33. The first is the French Main Battle Tank AMX-30B2 by Meng in 1/35th scale. The model, as built, depicts units deployed to Iraq during the first gulf war (Operation Daguet to the French) in 1991. The Meng kit is one of the finest he's ever built. There's high parts count, but worth it because every part is exquisitely detailed and easy to work. The individual track links were a bit daunting at first, but he got it sorted in the end. John used AK Interactive primers and Vallejo acrylics Dark Sand and Burnt Umber for the desert camouflage colors. He made an oil wash using odorless turpenoid and dark brown paints over a Johnson Wax Future clear coat. When the wash dried, the excess was wiped off with cotton buds and the entire model was give a coat of Vallejo Matt Varnish. Chips were replicated with Vallejo German Camouflage Brown and a fine brush in random, but logically worn areas around the tank. Desert Yellow pastels by Warpigs are being applied to give the model its finishing touches.

John's also almost finished with the Revell 1/35th scale SpZ "Puma" tank hunter in use by the German Army (Bundeswehr) today. He used AK Interactive's Black acrylic primer and laid grey in the center of the panels to bring the highlight/lowlight effects. Tamiya NATO Green, Black and Brown were applied to the tank in the typical Bundeswehr "splotch" pattern with the airbrush and masks made with Silly Putty "ropes". Each of the NATO colors were slightly lightened and again, highlights sprayed in the center of panels for more fading/wear effects. A tarp was scratchbuilt from epoxy, a camo net from 4x4 gauze bandage and a tow cable sourced from the jewelry department at Hobby Lobby. A clear coat of Future was applied and a wash of AK Interactive's Black for NATO Vehicles was applied and wiped off when dry. Again, he hopes to have it ready in time for BuffCon33.

Bill Borkowski brought in a new release from Tamiya, the current Mazda MX-5, formerly known as the Miata. Bill said it looks like a really nice kit in the box.

There were a few books and periodicals displayed on the tables.

And, a few around-the-room shots of the meeting.

Thanks to Larry Osolkowski for the photography.