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Sunday, July 13, 2025

July 8, 2025 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Twelve people attended, including Paul F, who we haven't seen in a while. Kevin was our moderator. Sad news, former IPMS President and ex Long Islander Jack Kennedy passed away. Years ago, I met him at a Convention and told him I was with BPMS. He remembered the club and asked about several members by name. He was glad to hear we were still active. RIP, Jack. 
 
No Tuesday Zoom next week. The in-person meeting is Friday, 7/18/25 at the Community Center. The theme is NACA/NASA. Don't be confused, it's all explained in the Bulletin, which went out this morning. 
 
Lou reports Academy's 1/35 Israeli M-113 Fitter ARV is available. Kevin mentioned an injection molded Mothman kit is in the works.
 
We saw Vaughn's F-104 (he managed to fit in a pilot and instrument panel) and Ju-88, Paul's large scale '67 Mustang (Elanore, from Gone in 60 Seconds) and Space Ark (from When Worlds Collide), Gil's customized Trailer and 3D printed Nicholas Cage figure (to accompany Eleanor), Chuck's P-47, Erik's Panther G (he said the  blitz kit looked good, was cheap and fun to build) and Skyraider, Erasmo's F-101 Voodoo, Yak 38 and Hurricane, Gordon's Prototype Gundam (he showed us how to improve reflective surfaces with vinyl cutouts and UV Resin), Kevin's Bedford Falls sidewalk and a scratch-built spooky tree you'd never see in Bedford Falls, Frank C's A-4F Skyhawk (with "Lady Jessie" markings). 
 
Just one acquisition, Ukrainian M1 -A1.
 
Gil's tool of the week was armature wire. Slip an alligator clip on the end and you have a flexible paint stand. Kevin uses a wooden clamp when sculpting, but he thinks a short length of 2x4, a wood block and a carriage bolt would work just as well. 
 
The topic was building to a deadline. Depending on who you speak to, deadlines can focus our attention, make us rush/make mistakes, or take the fun out of building. Some build to deadlines but don't enjoy it. Others set deadlines and never meet them. Most memorable deadline stories? Repairing a damaged aircraft in a hotel bathroom the night before the entry was due and working on a kit in the back of a van while being driven to the venue. 
 
We had time for several spontaneous discussions, the December British science fiction theme contest,  the status of the only S-60 helicopter ever built, the story of Jessie Beck and her connection with VA 164 and filling small cracks with UV resin.
 
The next meeting is Friday, the 18th at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5:30 pm. No invites needed. Bring your NACA/NASA builds. Bring your dues if you haven't done so already. Stay cool, see you next week. 
 
~Russ 
 
  

Wednesday, July 09, 2025

BPMS MEETING: JULY 18, 2025

 ACTIVITIES DIRECTING

By Bobby Pokorny

Welcome to JULY! I hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July! 

NACA/NASA THEME NIGHT:  While we realize that not everyone is a Real Space Modeler, the rules are that any plane/support vehicle does not have to have the NACA/NASA logo on it – only that you provide the reason it belongs in this exhibit.

For example, if you show an F-15 that doesn’t have NASA logo on it, it will still count of you can say that F15s were typically used by NASA as chase planes, and fill the role of escort aircraft during research missions. Or that the F-15s are used by Armstrong research pilots for routine flight training required by all NASA pilots.

For the car guys, did you know that most of the Apollo astronauts drove gold Corvettes? Light bulb!

Got it? Let’s see what the club tables will look like! ~KK


Meeting Date: 
JULY 18, 2025
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!
 
 

July Bulletin by Kevin K in PDF Format

Friday, July 04, 2025

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

Thursday, July 03, 2025

Bulletin Archive in PDF Format

All links should be updated to MEGA at this time.
Please comment and let me  know if you find bad links! ~Editor
 
 
 
 
 

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
Bulletin 2018 06

Wednesday, July 02, 2025

July 1, 2025 - BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report

Eleven people attended. 

The next Pier 57 group build is Saturday, 8/2/25, in Manhattan. The IPMS Nationals are 8/6-9/25, in Hampton VA. Mark and Don talked about the plans for this year's convention and others shared their good (and less good) experiences at recent Nationals. 

We saw Mr. K's Fireball Dragster, Lockheed 12, Model 18 Twin Beech and P-40E, Kevin's George and Mary Bailey figures, scratch-built, guitar playing, Cheech (maybe it was Chong) from Up in Smoke and evil Cheshire Cat with scratch-built tree, Bobby's Sabre Cat and space forklift (?) and Gil's Phantom Ford Econoline van (it's a long story). Acquisitions included: Jagdpanther, Flash Gordon figure and Porsche tractor. Speaking of acquisitions, Joe H said A&N Model Trucks is a good place to find truck parts and accessories online. 

Leaving the Dollar Store, Gil found this week's tool at Home Depot. It's a 10' long by 6" wide roll of aluminum flashing, estimated to be around 0.02" thick. It can be easily cut and shaped and has many possible uses (think schurzen for a Jagdpanther or bulkhead/firewall for an aircraft or vehicle). 

The topic was rebuilding kits to bring them up to your current skill level. Some people feel a model has a life cycle. It's built, stored, entered in a contest, displayed at home, or stored. Some leave their old work as is, to remind them what went wrong. Frank C doesn't rebuild. Instead, he takes old, partially built kits off the shelf and completes them. He's usually happy with the results. Kevin will repaint figures if he wants to try a new technique. But most of us don't look back, especially if we have an embarrassingly large stash. 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 7/8/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

~Russ
 
  

Saturday, June 28, 2025

June 24, 2025 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report

What better way to deal with the heat than by sharing your knowledge of modeling snow and ice and applying winter camouflage?  Want more? OK, Gil will explain how to make your own paint!   
 
Thirteen people attended. Turnout was good for last week's Long Live the King theme contest. Could it be because it was also Picnic Night? Check the photos on the BPMS Facebook page and judge for yourself. 
 
Online registration for the IPMS Nationals closes on June 30.
 
The next Pier 57 group build is Saturday, 8/2/25. Details to follow. 
 
We saw Mr. K's Chinese Cruser, Dodge Ram V 12 and Fairey Battle Mk 1, Angelo's WW Toons Panther G, Frank C's A-4 Skyhawk, Frank G's Mummy's Chariot and Russ' M-109. 
 
Acquisitions included: F-4E (Turkish markings), F-4 B, Pz-4 H, Tornado, Kubelwagon,  Jeep, several ResKit aftermarket sets, '56 Chevy Del Ray, Mr. Gasser and Porsche 962 C.
 
We talked about the pros and cons of using a marker to highlight mold seams prior to sanding.
 
Mark found several useful tools in the jewelry section at Hobby Lobby, a sticky pad to keep small pieces from getting lost and a sticky pencil to pick up and place those small pieces. He also reviewed the Keshi rotary tool and Dspiae reciprocating sander.
 
Gil explained how to make paint. For acrylics, add a small amount of pigment powder (earthpigments.com is a good source) to Golden Varnish or Minwax Polycrylic. Mix well. For lacquers, add pigment to Testors Dullcote.
 
We discussed modeling snow and ice and applying winter camouflage. Lou remembered a time when modelers used powered chalk for snow. Model railroad accessory companies, like Woodland Scenics, have a variety of winter effects. Simon used Spackle (not speckle) as a snow layer on dioramas. Mark sprinkled Micro ballons for his snow cover. Frank G put white paint on a toothbrush and flicked it with his thumb to speckle (not Spackle) his model. We saw how Bobby (brush painted) and Jimmy (airbrushed) applied multiple layers of heavily thinned white paint over the base paint to create realistic finishes on their 1/72 and 1/35 scale armor kits.  Erasmo asked for paint recommendations for a winter camouflaged Sepecat Jaguar he plans to build.  Suggestions included an Ammo by Mig winter color and weathering set and Mr. Surfacer white primer. Can you offer any other suggestions? 
 
The next meeting is Tuesday, 7/1/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.
 
~Russ 
 
  

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Bpms Zoom Mini Meeting: June 10, 2025

Six people attended. One left early, one came late so we had five people in each session. Vaughn was the moderator; Frank C took care of posting on line searches to the chat. Thanks a lot, guys.
 
No Tuesday Zoom next week, the in-person meeting is Friday, the 20th at the Community Center. It's Picnic night and the Long Live the King theme contest. Picnic night may have replaced BBQ night, but it still costs money, $15.00. Jeff will be collecting. The contest sponsors are encouraging those who won't be in Brooklyn on the 20th to send a photo of their King related build by the 15th for display at the contest.
 
Lou is anticipating the availability of Tamiya's 1/72 F-35C, 1/35 M-36 and Valentine.
Vaughn shared photos from last week's Warbird Weekend at the Connecticut Air and Space Center. 
 
We saw Kevin's scratch-built Miner (not minor) from Galaxy Quest, Russ's King Tiger, Frank's A-4 Skyhawk and Vaughn's Ju-88 and F-104 pilot modification. 
 
Acquisitions included: Space 1999 Hawk, Thunderbird 2 and Witch Lair.
 
Although the featured topic was modeling disasters, attendance as so low that we had time to discuss multiple topics. 
 
Disasters: Some are the manufacture's fault - when the assembly sequence is critical but the instructions don't show you the sequence and some are self-inflicted -we didn't pay enough attention to the instructions to recognize differences in similar parts, airbrushing when it's humid, cutting out vacuform canopies, paint smears, glue marks, mishandled broken parts. Lessons learned, a fogged clear flat coat can be corrected by over spraying with a clear gloss coat and, when dry, re apply the clear flat.
 
December theme contest: What not so obvious sources qualify, HG Wells stories like The Time Machine, War of the Worlds, First Men in the Moon or something from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or from the 1939 or 1976 movie The Shape of Things to Come? And don't forget the 1985 movie, Lifeforce.
 
Trends in the hobby: larger scale kits, fewer military models, more Gundam, fewer re issues 
Aircraft histories: F-107, A-4
Saving old decals: Testor's decal Bonder Spray, Micro Scale Liquid Decal Film
On line resources:  Scotts Model Workshop
 
The next meeting is Friday, 6/20/25 at the Community Center. Doors open at 5 PM. Picnic night, Long Live the King contest and visitors from out of state, what more could anyone want? Hope to see you there.
 
~Russ 

BPMS MEETING: JUNE 20, 2025

 ACTIVITIES DIRECTING

By Bobby Pokorny

Welcome to JUNE! AS we approach the start of summer, our JUNE meeting has some fun things going on!

LONG LIVE THE KING THEME CONTEST:  It’s finally here! The LONG LOVE THE KING Theme Contest is finally upon us. The sponsors have challenged the group to build something that can be connected to the theme in some way. We are eager to see how the theme is interpreted by the members!

SUMMER PICNIC NIGHT: We’re trying something a little different this year. The BBQ is fun, except for the crew doing the cooking and set up. It’s been pretty hot and the mosquitoes are unrelenting, so this year we are trying heroes instead. $15 per person. Feel free to bring sides, snacks, desserts, etc.



Meeting Date: 
JUNE 20, 2025
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!
 
 

June Bulletin by Kevin K in PDF Format

Thursday, June 05, 2025

June 3, 2025 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report

Twelve people attended. 

Mark shared photos of last month's Lego Show in Warwick, RI and WonderFest in Louisville, KY. 

We saw Vaughn's Ju-88 and F-104 pilot, Simon's P-40 C and BV-138, Erasmo's Mirage F-1, Kevin's Aztec Princess and Razor Crest (the Bandai kit impressed Kevin), Mr. K's Gollum figure, mounted Ringwraith, female hunter with saber tooth tiger and Vampirella, Gil's 3 D printed Landmaster (from Damnation Alley), Frank C's A4-E (his long-awaited pledge model) and Bobby's Witch King. BTW, have you decided which king you'll enter in the June theme contest? 

Acquisitions included : Blackburn Skua, PWS-26, PBY-5A Catalina (buying the Atlantis kit lets Mr. K keep the Monogram kit in his stash) and Hiller X 18 Convertiplane (Aurora kit). 

The tool was a 3 D printed V block, good for holding / assembling / painting cylindrical and other shaped items. No 3D printer? No problem, you can find them in stores and online. 

The topic was things we avoid and why. Photoetch can be more trouble than it's worth. Aircraft kits with raised panel lines were mentioned. Kits by A Model, Kitty Hawk, Unicraft and Monogram were said to have poor instructions, be too crude, too complex, required major clean up or modification, or just not interesting. But, as Kevin pointed out, if it's the only game in town, you complain as you build. For paints, the high cost of AKI paint, a bad experience with Mig's British Armor paint set, a general dislike of acrylic paint and problems brushing Tamiya (which, we learned, can be eliminated by using their retarder), were noted. Quick tip, Micro Sol can attack Vallejo paints. Use a good clear coat. Some of us avoid resin because of concerns about dust. Then Gil showed us (for the second time, actually) the dust collector box he built for his shop vac. 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 6/10/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. 

~Russ
 
 

Thursday, May 29, 2025

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 05/27/2025

Eleven people attended. 
 
Bobby reports Hobby Lobby is having a 40% off sale, so this might be a good time to pay them a visit. Their newest store is in lower Manhattan on Murray Street, between West and Greenwich. We saw lots of cars and Gundam, some aircraft and ships, very little armor and a good selection of paints, tools and supplies. The discounted prices are reasonable. For online consumers, Jimmy recommends visiting BNA modelworld.com and Mr. K recommends the Draw Decal website. 
 
Russ shared photos of the USS New York, in town for Fleet Week. A photo of the ship's Sea King is attached to remind everyone of June's Long Live the King theme contest. 
 
We saw Vaughn's Mosquito, Comet Racer and Hornet, Chuck's Panzer 2, Mr. K's Vampirella figure, Tiger Meet F-104 and F-14, Kevin's Aztec Princess figure, Gil' s Veronica bust and Mark's Porsche 959. Acquisitions included Canadian Universal Carrier decals, German tank crew figures, 1/72 aircraft details/ordnance (from Jet Passion), KC-130, Yak - 200, Leo Mobile Suit and two Angel Interceptors (from two manufacturers). 
 
This week's tool was a collapsible silicone paint brush washer from the dollar store. 
 
The featured topic was ways to mix paint. Many use coffee stirrers but Gil prefers a glass stirring rod. It's easy to clean and convenient for transferring paint drop by drop. Bobby likes using old paint brush handles. Some put stainless steel ball bearings in the bottles before shaking them up. Magnetic mixers and vortex mixers can work well but we were reminded that if you need a power tool to reliquefy the paint, it may never dry properly. 
 
The next meeting is Tuesday, 6/3/25 at 7:70 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. 
 
~Russ

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

 

Andy Yanchus

1944-2021

A name that will be familiar to many 1960’s-70s modelers is Andy Yanchus (1944-2021).  Andy was a long-time member of the BPMS, and worked with Aurora Plastics in West Hempstead, NY, beginning in the mid-1960swhere he one of the two Project Managers there. Andy came up with the Monster Scenes idea, a smaller version of Aurora’s classic monster kits, but presented in ‘scenes. 

Andy moved on from Aurora to Marvel and during his 17-year career there, he contributed to several ongoing titles such as UNCANNY X-MEN, ALPHA FLIGHT, and NEW WARRIORS. 

Although Andrew had left his kit modeling career to pursue coloring comics, his passion for the community and his hobby never waned. He later co-wrote a definitive book about Aurora called Aurora Monster Scenes — The Most Controversial Toys of a Generation (2014). He also wrote for Starlog, Fantasy Modeling, and Collecting Scale Models magazines.