The Brooklyn Plastic Modelers Society

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

Thursday, January 29, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 01/27/2026

Thirteen people attended. There's another group build at Japan Village, in Brooklyn, on March 21. Thanks, Julio, for setting it up. See the club's Facebook page for details. And while you're there, click the link the 2026 Nuremberg Toy Fair.

We saw Vaughn's F-105 and T-34, Erasmo's Corsairs, Gil's Hover tank, Simon's Mosquito, Chuck's F-106, P-38 and P-47, and Frank C's A64-A Apache and Angolan Mig-23. Kevin will be acquiring a 3D printed Saab LX from Gil.

This week's tool was mentioned in passing last week, a spring tube bender for bending (Duh!) soft metal hollow tubes. In the real world they're used for industrial machinery, but sets come in sizes that modelers may find useful.

The topic was kit bashing which can mean anything from swapping weapons or equipment from different kits to replacing/rebuilding major components of kits to literally bashing a troublesome kit into the wall. Simon is reluctant to cut up newer, expensive, kits but old kits, if you can find them, aren't always cheap. Erasmo accepted the idea that you need three poor kits of the same aircraft from different manufacturers to build one good model. Michael C has swiped parts to repair original parts, but he prefers incorporating household objects into his models when he can. Same for Gil. The hull of his Hover Tank was a vintage desk telephone base, the engines, asthma inhalers. Frank C thinks it wouldn't be too hard to kitbash a Mirage 5COA, but...

The next meeting is on Tuesday, 2/3/26, at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. It's the day after Groundhog Day, so you won't have that Bill Murray movie marathon to distract you.

~Russ

Saturday, January 24, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting - 01/20/2026

Featured Discussion: There are lots of reasons to bend plastic: fabricating parts, fixing warped pieces, vacuum forming, etc. Tell us how you do it and be specific.

Twelve people attended. We met Steve G, the new Prez of the Hampton Roads Scale Modelers IPMS chapter in Virginia Beach. He wants to see how other clubs operate, especially clubs that have been around for a long time. Welcome aboard, Steve. Hope you can join us again.

Lou reports Revell Germany's 1/32 Gloster Meteor F8/Fr 9 and 1/72 Me P 1099 are available.

We saw Vaughn's F-105 and T-34, Chuck's P-47, Kevin's Yak-36, Simon's Fw-190 and Gil's 3D printed female figure.

Acquisitions included: F-16 I, M-50 Mk2 Super Sherman, and VMFA 242 bat decals.

Because the topic was bending plastic, Gil's dental vacuum forming machine was the featured tool. Angelo has one as well, no surprise there. But it was a surprise to see several people still had their Matell Vac-u-forms, even though they don't use them so much.

The low-tech way to bend or de-warp (is that a word?) plastic or resin is, clamp it to a board, heat it, shape it, and let it cool before removing the clamp. The heat source will depend on the size of the piece and the complexity of the bend. We heard about hot water, steam, a heat gun, an incandescent light bulb, a coffee mug warmer, and a candle. We probably missed a few, but you get the idea. When the discussion got to stretched sprue, Kevin offered a tip for making pitot tubes. The plastic shafts on those cheap Q-tips can be heated and stretched to make very small diameter tubes.

The next meeting is Tuesday, 1/27/26, at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. And if you're getting ready for the big snow, stay safe.

~Russ

BPMS Group Build at Japan Village! 3/21/26 1-5 PM

Message from Frank D.

I have found a home for Bert's Skyraider. It will be on display in a case within Hanger B at Floyd Bennett. I have long-range plans to conduct a guided tour there on the last Saturday in March. Please let the gang know. I will keep you updated.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

BPMS - Ware

We should be discussing this during a meeting very soon. A local business that I am familiar with pitched an assortment of shirts with BPMS logos on them. Prices will be as follows:

$35 t-shirt
$45 polo
$45 crew-neck sweatshirt
$65 hoodies

Monday, January 12, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: January 6, 2026

Eleven people attended.

No Tuesday Zoom this week. The January in-person meeting is Friday, the 16th at the Community Center, in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5pm; meeting starts around 7:30. Come early to help set up and participate in our first group build, then stick around to declare your pledge model, buy or sell some kits, and pay your 2026 dues.

Vaughn finished his F-102 and was pleased with the result. Kevin is reworking his Angel and Demon vignette as an OSL painting exercise. Gil is busy cranking out figures on his 3-D printer. Acquisitions included: Santa bust, Gaahleri gloss metal paint pens, TARPS pod for an F-14 and other items posted on the club's Facebook page.

The tool of the week was a set of two (chisel and pointed) silicone tipped nail art tools from the dollar store. Gil likes them for bending colors and applying paint. Bobby found small, sponge tipped nail art tools at Hobby Lobby. He plans to use them with thinned out paint to get that weathered and worn look. Actually, we spoke at length on painting - tints, shades, color saturation, color modulation, post shading vs. pre shading, paint manufacturers (Angelo likes that Kaleido primer doesn't lift when masks are removed), and so on.

We discussed the different techniques needed to weather large scale and small-scale models, which fit nicely with the evening's topic, what's your favorite scale. Turns out, the scale we build depends on what we build (1/48 for fighter ac and 1/144 for bombers, 1/35 for a Tiger 2 and 1/16 for a Pzkw 1), how large the finished model has to be to be seen and appreciated, how much display space you have and it's the only scale available for that kit you've been hunting for years (is that why Frank C has those Tamiya 1/100 jets?). Bobby has a different approach, one he picked up from Andy Yanchus, the finished piece has to be 8" or smaller. Maybe that's where Box Scale comes from?

The next meeting is Friday the 16th at the Community Center. Invites aren't needed, but your dues are. Just kidding. Hope to see you there. Hope you pay your dues. Kidding , kidding.

~Russ

Monday, January 05, 2026

BPMS In-house Meeting: January 16, 2026

ACTIVITIES DIRECTING

By Bobby Pokorny

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2026! I hope you had a delightful Holiday Season!

Kit Sale Night: After the Holidays it seems like a perfect time to re-evaluate our stacks and maybe part with some kits we might have updated, and pay some bills. Feel free to bring in models to sell. Bring some extra cash, too! You never know what might show up and there are no tabs at this bar!

Declare Model Pledge: Pledges for the year are OPEN! What does this mean? Select an unbuilt model from your stack, tell BOB about it so he can add it to the list, and you have to build it for PLEDGE NIGHT in OCTOBER. Pledge Models can be declared up through APRIL.

Planning for the Year: We have some commitments for June 2026. STRAIGHT UP! It's a VERTICAL TAKE OFF theme with plenty of options to build for. Sponsored by Frank, Joe and Angelo. For the end of the year we are looking at celebrating the anniversaries of STAR TREK / STAR WARS. More on that as we get closer.

Meeting Date: JANUARY 16, 2026
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!

Full Bulletin In PDF Format

Saturday, January 03, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: 12/30/2025

Twelve people attended. Bobby noted the January in-person meeting is coming up fast. Don't forget to select your pledge model and bring it in for registration.

Lou had nothing to report, but Jimmy told us about the new ACV-P from Zimi Model and the FW-190 D from Hobby Boss.

Chuck, who is fabricating a clear disk to simulate an aircraft's spinning propeller, asked how to determine its appropriate thickness. Contact him directly.

Frank C, courtesy of his wife, introduced us to the concept of wabi-sabi, the appreciation of imperfection and incompleteness, which is something all modelers can relate to.

Frank G pointed out 2025 was the 100th anniversary of the film, Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney.

We saw Vaughn's F-102, Kevin's Romulan Bird of Prey, Chuck's P-38, Frank C's Mirage 3C-J, and Simon's I-15.

Acquisitions included: F-18A & aftermarket HARM and Sidewinder missiles, RMS Queen Mary, 3D printed 1/144 A-6, and Boomdakka Snazzwagon (a Warhammer thing).

A Grecell 300 portable power station was the featured tool. It's great for those of us who don't have electrical outlets where we need them and are forced to use extension cords. It's also good for real world problems, like when the power goes out in the neighborhood. Many companies make similar products.

The featured topic was "next year I'm going to build..." When his F-102 is finished, Vaughn will start his F-105, followed by his F-10, but Kevin will just reach into the pile and pull something out. and Russ will try out more MERDC camouflage variations.

Other discussions centered on aerodynamics and using food dehydrators to dry paint.

The next meeting is Tuesday, 1/6/26 at 7:30. Invites will follow in a few days. All the best to you and your families in the New Year.

Russ

Friday, January 02, 2026

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

2025 - British Science Fiction Invasion

2026 - Vertical Take Off

2026 - TBA (Star Wars / Star Trek)

2027 - TBA (Things That Bite & Sting)

Thursday, January 01, 2026

Schedule Of Events: 2025

January

Kit Sale Night

Declare Model Pledge

February

Show Us Your Tool

Contest Night 1Q26

March

Decal Swap Night

Green Model Night

April

Work In Progress Night

May

Parts Box Night

Contest Night 2Q26

June

Vertical Take Off Theme Contest

Summer Picnic Night

July

Theme night

August

Pizza Night

Contest Night 3Q26

September

Swap Night

Theme Night / Clinic

TBA

October

Model Pledge Night

Nominations

November

Contest Night: 4Q26

Super Raffle

December

TBA Theme Contest

Holiday Dinner / Desserts

Saturday, December 27, 2025

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: December 23, 2025

Nine people attended. Bobby summarized December's in-person meeting. The British sci-fi theme contest had nearly thirty entries, and the number of Holiday Desserts was only slightly less. The Annual Awards were presented, and the last raffle of 2025 was held. Details and photos are available on the BPMS website or Facebook page.

June's theme contest is Vertical Flight. Details HERE.

We learned that AAA Hobbies and Crafts in Magnolia, NJ will close in 2026. Subsequently, Frank C sent the group a link to the story.

We saw Vaughn's T-34/85 and F-102, Frank C's Mig-23 and Mirage 3C J, Gil's Lady of the Lake, and Russ' Mk2 Dalek.

Some guys couldn't wait for Santa and acquired Fairey Firefly Mk-7, F-14 D, SAAB B-18, and F-84 kits.

This week's tool was a silicone tipped mascara applicator Gil found in the Dollar Store. Use it like a paintbrush. We heard about other tools, too. Simon uses cuticle clippers in place of sprue cutters. Vaughn likes pocketknife scissors for cutting photoetch and Bobby recently got a right-angle ruler for aligning parts.

The question for discussion was what belongs on a modeler's naughty and nice lists? Tamiya's F-14 D, Hasegawa's Canadian Hornet, Fine Mold's Phantoms, and a Harbor Freight airbrush holder made it to the nice list. Pre-owned, partially built kits were on the other list. Frank C spoke for many when he said the new stuff is nice but buying it is naughty.

With only nine in attendance, there was time to raise other questions, like how do you tell non modelers about the hobby and with AAA and others are going out of business, how long will your supplies last? We also had time for a painting tip from Bobby - a red base coat makes a gold topcoat pop.

The next meeting is Tuesday 12/30/25 at 7:30 pm. Join us and start your New Years Eve early. Invites to follow.

~Russ

Monday, December 22, 2025

June 2026 Theme Contest: BPMS STRAIGHT UP!

BPMS Theme Contest June 2026

Historic Aircraft - The Tail-sitters, Part II—Convair | Naval History Magazine - August 2013 Volume 27, Number 4

BPMS STRAIGHT UP!

For the June 2026 BPMS Theme Contest, build anything that takes off and lands vertically – helicopters, jump-jets, superheroes, spaceships, balloons, or birds. Entries can be anything as long as it flies Straight Up and lands Straight Down. Frank, Angelo, and Joe are looking for controlled vertical flight, so no ballistic missiles or artillery rockets. Get your propeller beanies workin’ and think what goes Straight Up!

Friday, December 19, 2025

BPMS Annual Awards: 2025

Air

1^st: Charlie Nelson

2^nd: Frank Colucci

3^rd: Steven Nelson

HM: Chuck Contrino, Nestor Menar

Armor

1^st: Joe Bergman

2^nd: Kosta Lukyanov

3^rd: Charlie Nelson

Hm: Kevin App, Howell Serkin

Figure

1^st: Kevin Kilkenny

2^nd: Joe Bergman

3^rd: Mike Isenberg

Hm: Mark Mullen, Frank G

Sea

1^st: Mark Mullen

2^nd: Steven Nelson

3^rd: Charlie Nelson

Hm: Guy Ferrara, Angelo Takos

SciFi

1^st: Julio Guadalupe

2^nd: Gordon Cheung, Mike Isenberg

3^rd: Kevin Kilkenny

Hm: Angelo Takos

Misc

1^st: Kevin App

2^nd: Tom Govia

3^rd: Tony Mancuso

Hm: Tom Knoll, Jimmy Tissot

Most Popular Entry

1Q: Charlie Nelson, IL-2 Shturmovik

2Q: Mike Isenberg, Rainbow Connection

Kevin Kilkenny, Iroquois

3Q: Joe Bergman, Mr Hyde

4Q: Charlie Nelson, Sea Vixen

TOP GUN

Charlie Nelson

Bert Berg Award

Jeff Eng

Sunday, December 14, 2025

BPMS Inhouse Meeting: December 19, 2025

ACTIVITIES DIRECTING

By Bobby Pokorny

December. There it is. Another year in the books! So this is what you can look forward to at the final meeting of 2025.

British Sci-Fi Invasion Theme Contest: You’ve been building for this for MONTHS. Now is the time to bring in your model(s). Sponsored by Israel and Jeff, the group was challenged to build something that British based Sci-Fi. There are lots of options so we are expecting quite a variety!

Annual Awards: Your humble narrator and BPMS secretary has been crunching the numbers for the annual contest and now we get to see the results of who YOU chose in each category, most popular entries, and who will be the TOP GUN!

Holiday Desserts: We encourage members to bring desserts to the December Meeting for our in-house year-end celebration.

Holiday Dinner: At the time this is posted the Holiday Luncheon will have taken place. We are tried out a new place this year: Wheelers. Everyone seemed to be very happy with the food and service. Of course, it’s always a fun time with friends and family.

THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERSHIP FOR ANOTHER AMAZING AND MEMORABLE YEAR!

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND A SAFE AND WONDERFUL 2026!

Meeting Date: DECEMBER 19, 2025
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!

Saturday, December 13, 2025

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: December 9, 2025

Naughty or nice, 12 largely contented modelers signed on to the BPMS Zoom last Tuesday to talk about their work in progress, what they want for Christmas, and what they’ve already treated themselves to leading up to the holiday. Local BPMS members enjoyed the holiday luncheon last Saturday at Wheeler’s in Sheepshead Bay. Frank G concluded, “The food was good, and the company was really nice.”

BPMS’s in-house kit supplier Lu reported the hoped-for Tamiya F-14D in 1/72 scale has yet to arrive. Like the new-technology DML Bf-109E3 kit in 1/48 from DML, the new Tomcat may be on-hand in time for the BPMS Holiday Meeting on Friday, December 19.

Wishing for nothing in particular, Vaughan renewed his New Year’s resolution to build more models than he buys. He conceded that he failed miserably in 2025. Vaughan’s 1/72 scale Meng F-102 continues to make good progress and awaits decaling. His 1/35-scale T34 is being upgraded with aftermarket tracks, gun barrel, and grillwork. Vaughan gave a brief history of the T34 and the Soviet design considerations that shaped the classic tank.

Jimmy admitted, “I just buy whatever I want whenever I want it.” An on-line sale at Flying Leathernecks brought in decal sheets and alternative noses for 1/48 scale F-18 Hornets. Jimmy said, “I have so many markings, I don’t know what I want to do.”

Incoming BPMS president Kevin echoed, “I buy what I want when I want,” with the caution that limited-run fantasy figures can disappear quickly. He continues work on an early Romulan ship inspired by Star Trek fan fiction.

Among several works in progress, Simon showed off his classic Airfix Whirlwind in 1/72 scale and a Polikarpov I 153 from the old Heller kit. He awaits a reissue of the relatively new-tool 1/72 Halifax bomber from Revell and noted, “They sold it only for a short while.”

Chuck declared, “I’m keeping my credit card in my pocket,” and added, “I’ve got to get some things built before I buy some more.” A new ergonomic gaming chair for Chuck’s modeling bench waits for his birthday in July.

Godon continues working on his Stormbringer GunPla robot and said, “I don’t have anything for Christmas, nothing new. “ He nevertheless fancies the updated Striker mobile gun system from Ryefield Models with the caveat, “It’s not something I really, really need. It’s not my priority.”

Undeterred by such Grinchly thoughts, Frank C finally acquired the still-new-tool 1/72 Vulcan bomber from Airfix. He continues work on the Special Hobby Mirage IIIC in 1/72 scale and hopes the company follows through with plans for the Mirage IIIE and subsequent delta fighters.

Frank G was making quick work on the classic Revell (Monogram) Wright Flyer and wished for reissues of the Captain America and Superman kits from Aurora.

Bobby continues work on a thumb-size sci-fi tank, but decaled, “I’ve been nice not naughty. I’m selling stuff off from eBay, making space and making money at the same time.” Bobby stil confessed an urge for models of the cars he once owned, including a four-door Ford Maverick 302 and sort-of classic Chrysler Royal.

Gil also continues to thin out his plastic kit collection. “I think I have everything I want. With printers and resin, I can make my own stuff.” Gi’s latest figure project was a 1/16 scale Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, 3-D printed from on-line STL files. In far-off Connecticut, he continues his quest for new tools -- Harbor Freight offers a set of small brushes to clean out airbrush passages. Gil voiced a Christmas wish shared by the group: “To be healthy for myself and everyone else to build the models.”

There is no BPMS Zoom meeting this coming Tuesday, but the live, in-person meeting Friday, December 19 will feature our British Sci-Fi theme contest and contributed desserts!

See ya there!

~Frank C

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Friday, January 30, 2026

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