BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 03/25/2025

Part 1 starts promptly at 7:30 PM EST.
Part 2 starts at 8:10 PM if we need more time.

Members and guests are cordially invited to join our group for our weekly online meeting!

All are welcome! If you would like to join, DM us your email address and name so we can include you in the email list with Zoom Meeting details (meeting numbers and passwords)!

On the agenda:

BPMS Club News.
IPMS News.
Other clubs news.
Hobby News.
What's on your workbench?
Featured Discussion: Gimme a break!

First, thank you to everyone who helped make BPMS the IPMS Northeast Region Chapter of the Year for two years in a row. Congratulations. And now, back to our regular program.
Tell us about the modeling tool, or tools, you broke and how you broke them. Tell us what we shouldn't be doing. 

 

March In-house Meeting - "Green" Night + Decal swaps

 Another full house was in attendance for Green Night + the Decal swap. In addition the membership got the news that for a 2nd year in a row, the BPMS was named R1 Chapter of the Year! 

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 3/11/25

Topic: A Thousand Words – What’s your favorite box-art? Has the box top picture made you buy the kit?

Reminder: There is NO BPMS Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, Mar 18.

The BPMS Live meeting is this Friday, March 21, at the Bergen Beach athletic center – It’s decal swap night and Green Model theme night in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!  Bring whatever you built that’s Green.

Last Tuesday, Mar. 11, Eleven people attended the BPMS Zoom and talked about their personal favorite box art.

New kit release news from Lu announced the arrival of the 1/35 M10 Booker from Magic Factory and the new 1/35 Jagdpanzer and Panzer IVH from Border Models. 

Lu’s own favorite box art memory was from the ancient Revell 1/72 scale F-111A and B. He recalled a tour of the Grumman facility in Calverton Long Island when he saw the Navy’s F-111B on the assembly line. Years later, during a California visit to Hughes Aircraft, he was treated to a surprise F-111B flyover.

Vaughan showed progress on his Tamiya 1/48 Mosquito and critiqued the uninspiring cover art on an otherwise nice kit.  He observed, “When I was younger, knocking off a model a weekend, I’d cut the box art off and had a huge folder of ‘em.  New box art is not very exciting.”

Kevin showed is hand sculpted Martian from Five Million Years to Earth and recalled, “I really got into the Aurora monsters and dinosaurs. You’d get into the box art and then get into the plastic.” One of his Aurora favorites remains the grisly Forgotten Prisoner.

Frank G. recalled the inspiring art of James Bama on old Aurora kits. He favorites was the  box top painting of the Hunchback of Notre Dame with a resemblance to actor Anthony Quinn. “The model looks like Lon Chaney, but it really transported you when you’re a kid.” Franks other Aurora favorites were the depictions of the Dick Tracy Moon Coupe, and the Seaview submarine and the associated Flying Sub from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.  

Mark recalled the impact of the dramatic rendering on Revell’s old B-7 Flying Fortress kit and admitted, “To a 14-year-old kid, this was pretty amazing.” He also acknowledged, “Tamiya had awesome box art when we were kids. Nowadays, I notice bad box art. The I Love Kit company has some of the worst box art. The AMK F-14D box art looks backwards.” He concluded that packaging is still important to what modelers buy, “Bad box art doesn’t sell. It can be greatest kit ever, but If you see good box art, that can really sometimes stoke your interest.”.

Angelo showed of his 1/72 Revell RF-4E in an attractive black commemorative scheme. His favorite box art today comes from Warhammer vehicles.

Bobby offered, “I like any of the Japanese anime boxes. The box art is just beautiful.”

Jimmy talked about his 1/35 Tiger in progress and the value of Tamiya panel liner To pick out fine wheel decals.

Gil recommended using the Looper glue applicator to apply panel liner and explained. “You have a lot more control than the brush that comes with the bottle.” Gil’s own favorite box art is that from an otherwise mediocre Revell kit of the Volkswagen beetle.” His most recent projects is a figure of the demon Lilith.

President Tom recalled, “The box-art I remember and love the most were on the Airfix airplane kits from the late 1960s. I used to take the box tops, flatten them out, cut them with a paper cutter just above the Airfix name have a perfect picture. I used to save those -- the Me110 was my favorite.”

Frank C still collects box art in digital form, either picking the best renderings off  the internet or occasionally scanning old boxes.  One of his favorites remains the early C-130A from the Revell kit – a series of paintings meant for young modelers to collect.

Remember – BPMS meeting this Friday – with some big news for the club!

 ~Frank C.

 

BPMS Meeting: March 21, 2025

ACTIVITIES DIRECTING

By Bobby Pokorny

Welcome to MARCH! To finish up the first quarter on BPMS activities we have:

Decal Swap Night: Bring decals you no longer need to swap or sell with other members. You might find that markings that have been looking for!

Green Model Night: The big holiday for March is St Patrick ’s Day and what better way to observe it than with GREEN MODELS. It’s not a contest simply a theme for models to bring. You are welcome to bring back something old to show the group, or if it ties into the theme in some way, it would be great. Be prepared to tell the group a few words on your models.

Of course, everyone is welcome to bring any other new work that has been completed.

You also still have time to declare your model pledge. Speak with me about it. April is the cut off for declarations and the October is the due date for finished models.

BPMS Bulletin by Kevin K in PDF format

  

Meeting date: 

March 21, 2025

Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.

Feel free to come early!

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: March 4th, 2025

Eleven people attended. 

 
Lou reports Border Models' 1/35 Japanese Zero, HK's 1/48 USMC PBJ Mitchell and DML's 1/35 Kubelwagon (command), SdKfz 251-6 (command) and Israeli M-60 (w/reactive armor) are available. 

 
Jimmy is looking for a Spitfire pilot in 1/72. Contact him directly if you have one to spare. 

 
We saw Vaughn's Fiat G-55 and Mosquito, Erasmo's Hurricane night fighter, Mr. K's Hurricane, SU-122, P-51, F-104, Me-328 A and B, Erik's Draken, Kevin's scratch-built Martian Insect (from Five Million Years to Earth), Minister of Silly Walks and Mothman figures and, a Reptile figure (from The Reptile), 

 
Frank C's KC-135 and Russ' French 75 and Katyusha. 

 
Acquisitions included: MB- 411, Widgeon, TP-63E, Vickers Viscount, Native American Big Chief figure and RAF ground crew. 

 
No tool this week, so there was time to talk about helicopter technology, history of the G-55, why a KH-AI-3 kit went from stash to trash, upcoming shows and events in Freeport, Wayne, Manhattan and Brooklyn, AK Interactive paint markers and making your own decals. Then, we got around to the featured topic, special markings. Many felt elaborate, special event markings made military aircraft look like clown cars and were more interested in mission markings than commemorative markings. The exceptions, a Katyusha in parade colors and Mr. K's F-104, which will carry Tiger Meet markings. Eventually. 

 
The next meeting will be Tuesday 3/11/25. Frank C will host and send the invites. Hope you'll be there. 

 
~Russ

Bulletin Archive in PDF Format

 

Bulletin 2025 03

Bulletin 2025 02

Bulletin 2025 01

 

Bulletin 2024 12

Bulletin 2024 11

Bulletin 2024 10

Bulletin 2024 09

Bulletin 2024 08

Bulletin 2024 07

Bulletin 2024 06

Bulletin 2024 05

Bulletin 2024 04

Bulletin 2024 03

Bulletin 2024 02

Bulletin 2024 01

 

Bulletin 2023 12

Bulletin 2023 11

Bulletin 2023 10

Bulletin 2023 09

Bulletin 2023 08

Bulletin 2023 07

Bulletin 2023 06

Bulletin 2023 05

Bulletin 2023 04

Bulletin 2023 03

Bulletin 2023 02

Bulletin 2023 01

 

Bulletin 2022 12

Bulletin 2022 11

Bulletin 2022 10

Bulletin 2022 09

Bulletin 2022 08

Bulletin 2022 07

Bulletin 2022 06

Bulletin 2022 05

Bulletin 2019 06
Bulletin 2019 05
Bulletin 2019 04
Bulletin 2019 03
Bulletin 2019 02
Bulletin 2019 01

Bulletin 2018 12
Bulletin 2018 11
Bulletin 2018 10
Bulletin 2018 09
Bulletin 2018 08
Bulletin 2018 07.pdf
Bulletin 2018 06.pdf

Bulletin 2018 05.pdf
Bulletin 2018 04.pdf
Bulletin 2018 03.pdf
Bulletin 2018 02.pdf
Bulletin 2018 01.pdf

Bulletin 2017 12.pdf
Bulletin 2017 11.pdf
Bulletin 2017 10.pdf 
Bulletin 2017 09.pdf
Bulletin 2017 08.pdf
Bulletin 2017 07.pdf
Bulletin 2017 06.pdf
Bulletin 2017 05.pdf  
Bulletin 2017 04.pdf
Bulletin 2017 03.pdf
Bulletin 2017 02.pdf
Bulletin 2017 01.pdf

Bulletin 2016 12.pdf
Bulletin 2016 11.pdf
Bulletin 2016 10.pdf
Bulletin 2016 09.pdf
Bulletin 2016 08.pdf
Bulletin 2016 07.pdf
Bulletin 2016 06.pdf
Bulletin 2016 05.pdf
Bulletin 2016 04.pdf
Bulletin 2016 03.pdf 
Bulletin 2016 02.pdf
Bulletin 2016 01.pdf

Bulletin 2015 12.pdf
Bulletin 2015 11.pdf
Bulletin 2015 10.pdf
Bulletin 2015 09.pdf
Bulletin 2015 08.pdf
Bulletin 2015 07.pdf
Bulletin 2015 06.pdf
Bulletin 2015 05.pdf
Bulletin 2015 04.pdf
Bulletin 2015 03.pdf
Bulletin 2015 02.pdf
Bulletin 2015 01.pdf

Bulletin 2014 12.pdf
Bulletin 2014 11.pdf  

Bulletin 2014 10.pdf 
Bulletin 2014 09.pdf 
Bulletin 2014 08.pdf
Bulletin 2014 07.pdf
Bulletin 2014 06.pdf
Bulletin 2014 05.pdf
Bulletin 2014 04.pdf
Bulletin 2014 03.pdf
Bulletin 2014 02.pdf
Bulletin 2014 01.pdf

Bulletin 2013 12.pdf
Bulletin 2013 11.pdf  
Bulletin 2013 10.pdf
Bulletin 2013 09.pdf
Bulletin 2013 06.pdf
Bulletin 2013 01.pdf

Bulletin 2004 06.pdf

Bulletin 2001 06.pdf

Bulletin 2000 05.pdf

Bulletin 1996 07.pdf  

Joe B - Fleshtones and Eyeballs.pdf
Spotlights [old] - Holcomb Alvarado Kasza[x2] Ferrara Gertner Reinert Keegan Rosati Maroney Batterman Pokorny Eng.pdf
Weathering Models by Eric Reinert.pdf
Spotlight - Rob Garitta.pdf
Spraying Gloss Finishes by Bobby Kasza.pdf
That 50s Display.pdf 

SPOTLIGHT - Rosati - Maroney - Batterman - Pokorny - Eng.pdf
BPMS By Laws V2.pdf  

BPMS By Laws.pdf

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: Feb 25, 2025

Featured Discussion: What have you built after seeing one on TV or in the movies?  

 

Fourteen people attended. We're trying something new for the Long Live the King theme contest in June.  Everyone on the mailing list can enter by sending a photo of your king related model by 6/15/25. Photos will be displayed alongside the actual models at the June in-person meeting. If you still haven't figured out screen sharing, this is a good way to show off your work. 

Lou reports Trumpeter's 1/16 Tiger 1(late), 1/72 A6E TRAM, 1/350 HMS Argonaut and 1/35 German AA crew are available. Jimmy posted several new Rye Field kits on the BPMS Facebook page. 

In what became a "Let the Buyer Beware" discussion, Kevin told us about a scammer using Facebook to sell vendor's tables at shows and reminded us to only deal with the event's official representatives. Then, Frank C recalled ordering a "too good to be true" deal from Amazon that never arrived. Fortunately, Amazon refunded his money. And the high-priced Airfix Vulcan that Vaughan found on E-Bay was no better than the MPC Vulcan he planned to trash. The good news is that buyer took it back. The bad news is that the newer Airfix Vulcans are expensive.

Get ready for Replicon in Freeport, LI on 3/22, Mosquitocon in Wayne, NJ,  on 4/5, two group builds at Pier 57 on 4/19 and 8/2 and another at Japan Village, 934 3 Ave, in Brooklyn, date TBD. 

We saw Vaughn's S-38, Mosquito and Fiat G-55,  Mark's T-55 Enigma, T-62, Predator drone, Mercedes C9 and Porsche 911 G+3, Erasmo's Hawker Hurricane night fighter and Lockheed Electra, Kevin's Kh AI-3, Gil's 3D printed Oriental Queen bust and Frank C's F-84 E and KC 135. 

Acquisitions included: Silver Knight and Nightmare figure (based on the painting from 1871). Kudos to Frank G for identifying the artist, Henry Fuseli. 

This week's tool was a pipe cleaner. Gil has used them to clean air brushes clamp parts and streak paint and he challenged us to find more uses.

We discussed the movies, shows and comics that influenced our model building habits. Here's a partial list: 633 Squadron, Battle of Britan, Sahara, When Worlds Collide, Destination Moon, Star Wars franchise, Space 1999, Battlestar Galactica, MASH, Dukes of Hazard, car race films, Batman, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants, Walt Disney's Man in Space TV shows from the 1950s, Macross, Anime and comic books. 

 

The next meeting is Tuesday,  3/4/25, at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. 

 

~Russ

 

 

 

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: February 11, 2025

Fifteen people attended. Nestor was one of them. Welcome back! 

 

No Tuesday Zoom next week, the in-person meeting is Friday, the 21st, at the Community Center. It's the ever-popular Show Us Your Tool Night (for all you Gil wannabes) and the first Quarterly Contest. Also, we're still collecting dues.

 

Lou said three Hobby Boss kits are available, 1/35 T-54, 1/48 F-18E Super Hornet and 1/72 TBM Avenger with folding wings. He believes this is the first 1/72 kit with folding wings and he should know.

 

We saw Nestor's 727-200 conversion to 727-100, Vaughan's S-38, Jimmy's Panther G, Frank C's F-84 E, Gil's Thunderbird 3 (3D printed in 3 colors), Frank G's Pan Am Space Clipper and Erasmo's Lockheed Electra and Hurricane. Seeing the Electra and the 727 got several people talking about aircraft designs and personal histories, which happens, from time to time, at the Zoom meetings. 

 

Acquisitions included: Airfix Vulcan (the MPC kit isn't working out), Little T hot rod (a nostalgic purchase from eBay), Sasquatch figure and the book, Wings Over Water.

 

Sometimes a modeling tool is right under your nose and you don't realize it. Case in point, the toothbrush. Gil uses old ones for clean-up and weathering/splatter effects. Don uses them to strip paint. Has anyone ever used one to hold parts?

 

A few weeks ago, we asked Kevin to talk about his scratch-built Bumble from 1964's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer TV show. The result was a PowerPoint presentation on sculpting with in progress photos of the Bumble, a discussion on materials and techniques used and a list of YouTube channels and books with information on sculpting miniatures. Don't worry if you missed the meeting. Kevin agreed to repeat the presentation at a future in person meeting. Thanks, Kevin.

 

The next meeting will be Friday, the 21st, at the Community Center in Brooklyn. No invites needed. Doors open around 5pm. Wondering how many Valentine tanks will be entered in the Quarterly Contest? Come to the meeting and see for yourself. 

 

~Russ

 

 

BPMS Meeting: February 21, 2025

On the agenda:

 

Contest Night: The first installment of the BPMS Annual Contest. This is your first opportunity to gather votes across our various categories. If you brought something to the December theme contest that you would like to bring back, that would be fine, although I am not sure if your Build Like An Eleven Year-Old entry will fare well in this contest...

 

Show Us You Tool! One of our more vulgar sounding yet hugely fun activities. We invite everyone to bring in some tool, product, or process to let the group know about as it might help others. 

 

 

Meeting date: 

February 21, 2025

Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.

Feel free to come early!

 

 

February 4, 2025, BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Twelve people attended. Bobby wasn't among them, and Frank C agreed to be our Moderator for the evening. Thanks, Frank.

 

Lou reports Border Models 1/35 FW 190 A6 and Stug 3 G, late (with interior) are available.

 

Returning moder Eric asked about 1/35 Tigers, and was surprised to learn how many kits and manufacturers there are. Good points and bad points of various kits were noted. Any Tiger geeks who missed the meeting are encouraged to share their recommendations here.

 

We saw Vaughan's Vulcan and S-38 (poor fits, missing pieces, old decals - nothing deters this guy), Kevin's Mangalore,  Mark's Porsche 934, Chuck's Albatross, Gil's 3D printed Mysteries (?) figure,  Frank's F-84 E and Russ' French 75 (some say artillery is the KING of the battlefield . Get the hint?). Acquisitions included:  The Reptile (from the Hammer film of the same name), Kh-AI-3 aircraft,  B-26, Schwerer kliner  Panzerkampfwagen and an inexpensive LED work light from American Science and Surplus, suitable for a small workbench. 

 

A Bauer cordless screwdriver from Harbour Freight was the featured tool. Fitted with a glass/tile drill bit and working at low speed, it's good for drilling 3D printed and resin parts. 

 

Most of us have built the same kit more than once. Sometimes it's intentional, like building the same aircraft with different squadron markings, camouflage patterns or ordnance loads. Sometimes it's not, like when you build a kit that you built when you were a kid but forgot about. Or, being nostalgic, you build that old kit again, hoping for a better result. Some people anticipate building a second kit to correct mistakes they made the first time. Most of us have built the same object in different scales. Then there's "comfort plastic", like Tamiya's M-113 or Italeri's F-5E. Can't have too much comfort. 

 

The next meeting is Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there and hope you're lucky with your Super Bowl box pool picks.

 

~Russ

 

June 2025: Long Live the King!

 

 

Long Live the King

Theme Contest

The theme for the June 20, 2025 contest is "Long Live the King". The rules are simple, any scale, any genre, fictional or real. Some examples: King Tiger, Sea King, aircraft of VF - 92 (Silver Kings), Kingfisher, Cobra King (first US tank to enter Bastogne), King Kong, HMS King George V, a King from Lord of the Rings, a King from Shakespeare, Sky King, Elvis (aka the King), Richard Petty (aka the King). Anything with a King association. 

And we're encouraging the guys and gals who only know BPMS through Zoom to build something for the contest and share the photos at the June 24th Zoom meeting.

Frank C, Kosta L and Russ H. are the sponsors.  

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: 01/28/2025

Featured Discussion: Looking for Decals 

 

Fifteen people attended. Mark reminded us the Nationals will be 8/6-9/25 in Hampton, Va. See the IPMS website for details on hotels, etc. Mark also thanked Bobby and Julio for their suggestions on Gundam categories for future IPMS contests. 

 

Julio's next Pier 57 group build will be 4/19/25. Save the date. 

 

Jimmy posted several new 1/16 AFV kits on the BPMS Facebook page, which led to a discussion on the appeal (they're cool) and practically (who has room?) of large-scale kits. 

 

Vaughan's attempt to bleach a yellowed vac form canopy by prolonged exposure to sunlight was successful, much to his surprise. 

 

In progress and completed work included: P-51 Mustang, Porsche 934 (Mark's article on painting it will appear in the Club's Bulletin), Kingfisher, Abominable Snowman & Rudolf (both sculpted by Kevin), 3D printed paratrooper pinup figure (a Lieutenant, according to Gil), USS Jimmy Carter (Michael found that brush painting a 1/700 submarine can be challenging) and F-84 E. 

 

Acquisitions included: Kubelwagon, Mangalore (from The 5th Element) and Inspector Kemp (from Young Frankenstein).

 

A set of drill bits for tile was the featured tool, highly recommended for drilling resin or 3D printed parts. 

 

In our "Go Fish" game of decals, Eric is looking for 1/48 Israeli A-4 markings and Russ is looking for 1/48 Sea Harrier markings. Everyone else is standing pat.

 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 2/4/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Whether or not the Groundhog sees its shadow on Sunday, we'd like to see you on Tuesday. 

 

~Russ

 

January 21, 2025 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Featured Discussion: Mistakes - Your mistake is someone else's learning moment. What did you do wrong and how did you correct it?  

Eric sent some photos from a large hobby shop near Edinburgh, Scotland (Hmm, I wonder what fits better in a carry-on, a 1/24 Spitfire or a 21-year-old single malt?) 

 
Anyhow, twelve people attended the meeting. We heard about spam emails, supposedly from IPMS, asking people to buy gift cards. Details are on the IPMS website. 

 
Lou reported Academy's 1/144 USN P-8A Poseidon, I Love Kits' 1/16 M4-A1 76mm Sherman (late) and 1/35 cargo trailer and 2 1/2-ton truck & howitzer are available now. Trumpeter's 1/700 Midway, (with straight or angled deck option) is on the way. 

 
Julio set up another Pier 57 meet-up up for April 19. Details to follow. Julio also gave us a word of warning. He recently got several injection molded kits from AliExpress. After working on them, he developed a severe rash on his hands. He suspects it was a reaction to a mold release agent or, possibly, the plastic used to make the parts. After lots of soap, water and skin lotion, he's getting better. Thanks, Julio, for the heads up. 

 
In progress and completed work included: Fiat G-55, Vulcan B-2, The Mouse (from The March of the Wooden Soldiers), Abominable Snowman (sculpted by Kevin), '53 Ford pickup, Space Marine figure, F15 C, F-104, U-2 , Cat Saber figure and large-scale 3D printed female figure. An S-38 was the only acquisition. 

 
This week's tool is something many of us have but never used for models, a hot glue gun. Gil uses it for tacking large scale resin or 3D printed figures. He reminded us to point the tip up when applying the glue because hot glue is runny. Speaking of glue, Don likes RUglue for gluing wood.
It seems many of us have made the same mistakes, not paying attention to instructions, rushing, not bothering to dry fit, and, the big one, cutting in the wrong direction (towards your body instead of away from body). Some other helpful tips, don't open several boxes at the same time, check your fingers often for glue and paint during construction and don't throw away the box until the model is complete - you'll need it to store that shelf queen 

 
The next meeting is Tuesday the 28th at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.
 

~Russ

 

Schedule Of Events: 2025

January

Kit Sale Night

Declare Model Pledge

February

Show Us Your Tool

Contest Night 1Q25

March

Decal Swap Night

Green Model Night

April

Work In Progress Night

May

Parts Box Night

Contest Night 2Q25

June

Long Live the King Theme Contest

Summer Picnic Night

July

Theme night

August

Pizza Night

Contest Night 3Q25

September

Swap Night

Theme Night / Clinic

TBA

October

Model Pledge Night

Nominations

November

Contest Night: 4Q25

Super Raffle

December

TBA Theme Contest

Holiday Dinner / Desserts

2024 BPMS AWARDS CONTINUED....

 

FRANK TRIPOLI - TOP GUN AWARD

MARK MULLEN

 

BERT BERG AWARD

JULIO GUADALUPE

Return of the BPMS Zoom! January 7, 2025

Featured Discussion: New Year, New Build -OR- Finishing Up Old Projects?

 

Twelve people attended. No Tuesday Zoom next week. The in-person meeting is Friday, the 17th, at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Bring your money for the kit sale and bring your unbuilt pledge model for Bobby to register. While you're at it, pay your Club dues for 2025.

Nothing to report at the moment, but Lou expects that to change next week. 

 

The June theme contest, sponsored by Frank C, Kosta L and Russ H, is "Long Live the King". Details to follow. 

 

Following up on an old discussion topic, Frank G shared photos of the supplemental shelves he made for his Ikea display cabinet. These particular ones are good for 1/72 aircraft but, the basic design has many applications. 

 

Mark rekindled his interest in cars, particularly in painting them. We can expect to see an article from him in a future Bulletin. 

 

Jimmy wonders if anyone else is interested in a BIG MODEL group build - 1/16 vehicles, 1/32 B-17s, 1/72 submarines - anything that takes up a lot of space on the display table. 

 

In-progress and completed work included: Ta-152, Fiat G-55 (Vaughn is trying sunlight to bleach its yellowed vac form canopy), Vulcan, PKZ-2 (Erasmo is building the WW1 era helicopter as a teaching aid in a presentation), Ju-87, B-17 G,  F-25 C and '53 Ford pick-up. Acquisitions included: Panther G (blitz kit), F-35 C and 1/16 Tiger 1 aftermarket main gun.

 

This week's tool is a 9.5"x5" plastic pegboard and hooks from the Dollar Store. Sections can be joined together to create as large a surface as needed.

 

Except for Erasmo and his PKZ-2, it seems everyone else is starting the new year by completing their partially built kits. Well, at least that's what they said. 

 

The next meeting is Friday, the 17th, at the Community Center. Doors open around 6pm. It's time to pay your dues, declare your pledge model and hunt for bargains. Hope to see you there. 

 

~Russ

  

 

 

A list of the BPMS Theme Contests over the years

1997 – Science Fiction
1998 – The 50s
1998 – To the Rescue
1999 – Israel
1999 – Conceptual
2000 – On Patrol
2000 – The Marines
2001 – Humor
2001 – Diorama
2002 – Space
2002 – “Old Model”
2003 – Things With Teeth
2003 - A Moment in Time
2004 – Adversaries
2004 – US Military
2005 - In the Movies
2005 - Cats
2006 – Worn, Weathered, and Working
2006 – Star Wars / Star Trek Anniversaries
2007 – Vintage 1965
2007 – We Mean Business
2008 – Warsaw Pact
2008 – NASA
2009 – A Mad, Mad, Mad Theme Contest
2009 – Size Matters
2010 – Naval Aviation
2010 – Things That Sting
2011 – Classic Monogram
2011 – The Twilight Zone
2012 – That 70s Theme
2012 – End of the World
2013 - Television
2013 - Sloppy Seconds 
2014 - Asian Invasion 
2014 - Western European Tour 1944 - 1945 
2015 - Modeling With the Stars 
2015 - New Kids on the Block 
2016 - Basic Black
2016 - Island Hopping 
2017 - Star Wars 40th Anniversary 
2017 - Peaceful Plastic 
2018 - WWII - 1946 
2018 - Rivets!
2019 - NASA: 50th Anniversary of the Moon-landing 
2019 - D-Day to The Battle of the Bulge - 75th Anniversary
2020  (no themes due to COVID-19)

2021  (no themes due to COVID-19)
2022 - 70 Years of Aurora Models

2023 - Remember The Members

2023 - Legends

2024 - Invasion of Normandy / D-Day

2024 - Build Like an 11 Year Old 

2025 - Long Live The King

 

December Theme Contest: BUILD LIKE AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD!

December 20, 2024

 

  Build like an 11 Year Old!

Do you remember that youthful excitement of buying a model around the corner? Getting it home and built within a day? That sense of satisfaction? It wasn’t perfect but it was done! For the BUILD LIKE AN 11 YEAR OLD Theme contest we are hoping to recapture that magic! We have some of those old models that are rough and would be an enormous undertaking to complete with our adult sensibilities. We are challenging you to go let go and build with reckless abandon. Pull that dusty old model off the shelf and knock it out in a weekend. We aren’t looking for perfection. We want to see members bringing some of these old memories back.

• What we aren’t looking for: Filled seams, perfect decals, perfect paint finish.
• What we are looking for: Getting something done to put on the table. Please track your hours. Use your imagination. HAVE FUN!

If you don’t have some old kits laying around, ask the officers, we have some donations for this theme.

Questions? Ask the officers or sponsors.

Sponsors:

• Kevin K
• Bobby P

 

BPMS ANNUAL AWARDS - 2024

AIR Category

HM: (2) Israel Alvarado, Russ Holcomb

3^rd: Steven Nelson

2^nd: Frank Colucci

1^st: Charlie Nelson

 ARMOR Category

 HM: (3) Kevin App, Guy Ferrara, Charlie Nelson

3^rd: Russ Holcomb

2^nd: Ray Whitton

1^st: Howell Serkin

FIGURE Category

 3^rd: Kosta Lukyanov

2^nd: Kevin App

1^st: Kevin Kilkenny

SEA Category

HM: Russ Holcomb

3^rd: Kosta Lukyanov

2^nd: Guy Ferrara

1^st: Mark Mullen

SCI-FI Category

HM: (2) Gordon Cheung, Bobby Pokorny

3^rd: Mark Mullen

2^nd: Tom Govia

1^st: Julio Guadalupe

MISC Category

HM: (2) Tom Govia, Kosta Lukyanov

3^rd: Steven Nelson

2^nd: Mark Mullen

1^st: Tony Mancuso

 

MOST POPULAR

1Q: Mark Mullen - Grogu

2Q: Julio Guadalupe – Cargo Drone

3Q: Frank Colucci – A-6E Intruder

4Q: Charlie Nelson – Grumman F3F-2

 

Top Gun will be announced in January....

BPMS Holiday Luncheon: December 14, 2024

Photo by Gordon C

The annual BPMS Holiday luncheon happened on Saturday, December 14, 2024. We had twenty-five members, friends, and family in attendance at Dinosaur BBQ in Brooklyn. 

Good friends!

Good food!

Good times!

 

BPMS December Meeting: 12/20/2024

Big Meeting this month!

 

On the agenda:

 

BUILD LIKE AN 11 YEAR OLD THEME CONTEST. Build one of those old models that you don't want to invest your current skill-set into. Slap that old Monogram kit together like you would've when you were 11. It's strangely therapeutic! 

 

ANNUAL AWARDS. The numbers are crunched. Let's see who YOU voted for!

HOLIDAY DESSERTS! We'll make the coffee, you bring the treats. A perfect way to finish up the year!

Meeting date: 

December 20, 2024

Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.

Feel free to come early!

 

 

Don't forget, the BPMS Holiday Luncheon will be on 12/14/24 at Dinosaur BBQ in Brooklyn at 1PM! 

 

12/10/24: BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Fourteen people attended the last Zoom meeting of 2024. Missed it? Don't worry. Like the Terminator, we'll be back - 7:30 pm Tuesday, 1/7/25, to be precise. Invites to follow. 

The holiday lunch is 1 pm this Saturday, the 14th, at Dinosaur BBQ, 604 Union St. The December in-person meeting is Friday, the 20th - build like an 11-year-old theme contest, holiday desserts and Awards Night. Doors open around 5:30 pm. 

 
Lou reports Tamiya's 1/48 F-35C and Ryefield's 1/35 T80 UK and USA/MC JLTV and M1102-02 trailer are available. 

 
If you're reluctant to ask Santa for another model because you already have a lot, consider the guy who admitted to having 2100 unbuilt kits in the stash. 

 
In progress and completed work included: TA-152 (poor decals), Fiat G-55 (poor fit), Yak-38, Skyray prototype, Skyflash, Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition (who expected that?), Red Knight of Vienna, P-38, Satellite Explorer rocket and Ar-234B. Acquisitions included: 1/16 M-113, USS Bainbridge and Fireball dragster. 

 
This week's tool was an "LED Tracing Pad" from the 5 Below store. A light box, but thinner and powered by a USB plug. Could have applications as a work light, an illuminated base or lighting for a box diorama. See what you can come up with. 

 
Not many of us have built paper models but we still remember seeing great paper models made by Tomaz, Nestor and Charlie. Kevin had quite a few real space paper models, but they were ruined by exposure to humidity. A lesson learned. 

 
Kevin recommends Neil Paper Models on YouTube as a source of inspiration for beginners. Other tips- glue the parts pages to heavier paper for extra stiffness, Aleen's tacky glue works well on paper models, damaged parts can be reprinted, it's easy to change scales with a photocopier and a stash of unmade paper models doesn't take up that much space. 

 
Hope to see you at lunch on the14th and at the in-person meeting on the 20th. Season's Greetings to all. Stay safe and glue responsibly. 

  

~Russ