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Sunday, May 10, 2026

Army Painter Discount

 Want to try Army Painter paints? Need to restock your colors? Army Painter has a discount for you. I personally have their Speed Paints 2.0 and love it (KK)

 


at 5/10/2026 09:30:00 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, May 06, 2026

BPMS Inhouse Meeting: May 15, 2026

Welcome to MAY! Time flies! We’re already up top our second quarterly contest and the first theme contest is around the corner.

CONTEST NIGHT 2Q26: By the model counts each month everyone has been pretty busy getting models done. So now we have our quarterly contest so that members can accumulate more votes for the annual awards in December. Feel free to bring back models that you haven’t placed in competition previously.

PARTS BOX NIGHT: We all have parts boxes. If you like, please bring yours to share with the group in case there’s something someone else has been looking for… Or you can bring extra parts to toss into the club’s communal parts box. That thing is like a treasure trove!

STRAIGHT UP! Reminder! You have one month to prepare for the Vertical Take Off Theme Contest.

Meeting Date: MAY 15, 2026
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!
at 5/06/2026 02:30:00 PM 0 comments
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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
at 5/06/2026 02:00:00 PM 0 comments
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Inside the Abandoned Aurora Plastics Factory: The Tragic Death of Slot Car Racing

Another interesting historical video regarding the hobby:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWiu8dYDj94 

at 5/06/2026 01:31:00 PM 0 comments
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Inside the Revell Factory: How America's Model Kit Empire Was Abandoned

A very interesting video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWL3xwL4LnY 

at 5/06/2026 01:27:00 PM 0 comments
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Tuesday, May 05, 2026

BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting Report: 05/05/2026

Fourteen people attended. No Zoom next Tuesday. The in-person meeting is Friday, 5/15/26, at the Community Center, in Brooklyn. Be there for Parts Box Night and the second Quarterly Contest, not to mention cake and coffee.

There's a group build at Japan Village, 934 3rd Ave, in Brooklyn, from 1-6 pm on Saturday, 5/23/26. Thanks to Julio and the co-organizers for setting it up.

Lou reports Heller's new 1/72 E 2C Hawkeye, with folding wings, is available.

We saw Vaughn's F-101 C and Sikorsky S-38, Nestor's DC-3 to LC-47H conversion, Mr. K's Challenger (the British tank, not the American car), IL 28 (marked as a Finnish target tug), Bristol Beaufighter (another target tug paint scheme), '56 Chevy Bel Air and '32 Ford Street Rod (both painted with nail polish), Simon's Ju-52 (the old Airfix kit), Saab B16, Kawasaki P1, Westland Wyvern, and Mitsubishi A5M, Kevin's 3D printed Alce in Wonderland figure, Frank C's AV-8B Harrier, Bobby's 'Buddy Cuthulhu' and Russ' Vigilante RA 5C. Acquisitions included: T34-85 (the 1/16 kit was free, provided it gets built), 3D printed Kubelwagon crew in winter gear, marbling masking tape, US Civil War Zouave, two 3D printed female figures copied from 19th century paintings, Preiser German and Soviet Infantry figures (see, not everything is 3D printed), and a headband magnifier.

The tool of the week was the Peasug deburring tool. Designed for heavy duty work on metal, it's also good at cleaning up softer material, like 3D printed parts, or wood, or plastic. Gil got it from Amazon. Similar tools are available elsewhere.

3D printing was the featured topic. No one disagreed when Simon said 3D printing was the future of scale modeling, yet half the people at the meeting had little to no experience with 3D printed parts or kits. Joe commented on the detail of the 3D printed N scale railroad equipment he found. Jimmy, a convert from photo etch to 3DP, is very familiar with manufacturers and suppliers from around the world. He's impressed with all the aftermarket he's seen - AFV tool clamps, brush guards, and woven mesh engine vent covers, jet exhaust nozzles, and ordnance, pilots, and military figures, in any scale you need. And if you can't find what you want, you'll probably find a STL file you can have printed. Just Google the item name with the letters STL added or visit the Cults 3D website. Other observations: Prints from resin printers are more detailed than prints from filament printers. High resolution printers were mentioned but not really discussed. t's a good idea to wash the printed piece before handling it, especially if it's tacky or has a strong odor. Bobby says exposure to full spectrum light can eliminate the odor. Play it safe and wear gloves until the piece is thoroughly cleaned (ask Julio). Removing large items from their supports is usually easy, not so for small scale items. Frank C found this out after getting a 1/144 aircraft ground support crew and equipment print. Gil thinks an oscillating knife would work, but it's not cheap. A soak in hot water, a hair dryer, a razor saw and patience may be the way to go. Surface imperfections caused by removing supports can be filled with UV curing resin. Finally, be aware that hollow or partially hollow printed pieces must breathe. They need a functioning vent hole, or else the piece will self-destruct.

The next meeting is Friday, 5/15/26 at the Community Center, 2303 Bergen Ave, in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5pm. Parts Box Night and the second Quartey Contest. Hope to see you there.

~Russ

at 5/05/2026 10:16:00 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, April 30, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 04/28/2026

Featured Discussion: Plans to build for the USA's 250th Birthday? If so, how did you find decals? 
  
Fifteen people attended. It's getting busy, the Japan Village group build is 5/23/26, in Brooklyn, and June's Vertical Flight theme contest (and BPMS Picnic Night) is 6/29/26. The Pier 57 group build will be in September, in Manhattan.
BPMS is supporting the 2026 IPMS Nationals in Ft. Wayne, IN, with an ad in the Convention Journal and sponsorship of the "Mecha Non-Gundam, less than 8 inches tall, All Entries" category. 
Floyd, Jimmy, Jeff, and Michael C met at the MFCA show near Philadelphia last week. Jimmy posted photos to the club's Facebook page, and he shared many at the meeting. Overall impression, the models were great, the vendors were "OK".
We learned why aircraft have Buzz Numbers, why you shouldn't leave a spray paint can in a baby bottle warmer for more than 30 seconds and how long it can take to restore the family car's readiness codes after the battery has been removed (it takes a long time).
We saw Vaughn's Sikorsky S-38 (a challenging build with equally challenging decals) and F-101C,  Chuck's Do-17 and B-25, Gil's 3D printed jig for building 1/6 scale wire wheels, Frank C's Harrier, Mark's Porsche, Toyota, and Honda (he's in painting mode), Erasmo's Macci C-200 and Cuban Missile Crisis F-101, Bobby's VF 1A Valkyrie, and Russ' RA-5C Vigilante. Acquisitions included: BAC TSR-2 and bases from Orange Lion DIY.
The tool of the week was from Amazon, a tube/handle arrangement with an assortment of cosmetic sponges, which should be good for stippling, applying pastels, and dry brushing. Link to follow. 
A few people are thinking about red, white and blue models for the July meeting, but no one is building anything to commemorate the nation's Semiquincentennial (aka 250th anniversary). At least not yet. Aside from the decals Jimmy found for the USMC's 250th anniversary, there's not much available for modern military equipment.  
The next meeting is Tuesday,5/5/26 at 7:30. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.
  
~Russ 
at 4/30/2026 02:06:00 PM 0 comments
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Saturday, April 25, 2026

BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting: 04/21/2026

Featured topic - always and never: What should a builder always do, and what should a builder never do? And remember, we're only talking about building models.

Erasmo shared photos of the very large Luchtvaart Hobby Shop, aka avationmegastore.com, near the Amsterdam Airport, where actual aircraft hang from the ceiling, and the Royal Military Museum in Brussels, where aircraft, armor, artillery, uniforms, and more are on display. Thanks, Erasmo. Mark shared photos of the Hudson Valley club's Pokémon make & take. But to be honest, he was more excited about sharing a photo of his new grandchild.

Kevin was impressed with the work he's seen on Box Dioramas.com and Frank C was impressed with the Harrier decals he got from Twobobs. 
 
We considered the pros and cons of allowing professional model makers to compete with people who build as a hobby. What's your opinion?

We saw Vaughn's F-101 C and Sikorsky S-28 (anticipating masking difficulties, he painted the components prior to assembly), Kevin's Star figure (from The Lost Boys) and Gigantor, Gil's 3 D printed Wedge car trailer, Jimmy's Ornithopter (from Dune), Mark's Honda Prelude and M 5 A1 Stuart (he says the National Archives website is a good source for reference photos), Hugh's captured FW-190 F8 in US markings and Bobby's VF 1A Valkyrie. Jimmy acquired a lot of aftermarket items including an Angry Kitten ECM pod, which led to an interesting technical aside.

The tool of the week was a handheld, single AA battery powered, Ansai reciprocating sander, about $16.00 on Amazon. It comes with a selection of 3D printed sanding heads. Gil believes another 3D printed attachment could turn the sander into a light duty saw. We'll see if he's right.

The topic was things we should always do and things we should never do. Lou kicked it off by saying we should always buy kits and never return them. Nobody disagreed. We heard a lot of things to always do: Study the instructions before starting, look for errors or alternate construction sequences. Look for a YouTube build of your kit. Look up the history of the prototype. Wash any release agents from the parts. Add aircraft nose weights early in the build. Have all paints, tools, and aftermarket items on hand before starting. Once you pick the variant to build, don't change your mind halfway through. Double check part numbers. Put each part in a secure container, not the kit box as soon as it's off the sprue. Pick up a part as soon as you drop it. Dry fit parts and sand mating surfaces before gluing, especially on older kits. As for things we should never do: Never work when you're tired. Never give up, just walk away and return to the problem with fresh eyes. Never try new paint types on your model, use a paint mule. Never have too many (you pick the number) half-built kits on your bench. And never miss a zoom meeting. The next one is Tuesday, 4/28/26 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. 
 
~Russ


at 4/25/2026 12:17:00 PM 0 comments
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Friday, April 24, 2026

Next Collaboration Event


Model Build Day at Japan Village, Saturday, May 23, 2026.

at 4/24/2026 01:48:00 PM 0 comments

Saturday, April 18, 2026

April General Meeting Minutes

 

General Meeting Minutes

 

Date: April 17th

Attendance: 29 Members, 2 Guests

Models on Tables: 25

Meeting called to order at 7:35PM

 

Tonight’s Agenda – Work in Progress Night

 Outreach Group Build –was a March meeting at Japan Village, 934 3rd Ave., Brooklyn 11232. It was quite successful with more than 50 attendees.

 Member reports were given for both the Replicon and MosquitoCon shows. Members report well run shows and a good time was had by all. See more elsewhere in this issue.

 Lee Lovejoy made a third visit to the club according to the BY-Laws it qualifies him for membership. He accepted the nomination, and was unanimously voted into the club. Congratulations!

 Next Month – May 15 - 2nd Quarter Contest plus Parts Box Nite. Looking for a lost or missing part, you may find what you need!

May 23rd – Japan Village Group Build.

 BPMS Apparel – The club is happy to be able to offer BPMS T-shirts. The shirt will have the club logo embroidered on the left chest, and is being offered in a number of colors. The prices are as follows: T-shirts - $35, Polo shirts - $45, Crew Neck Sweatshirts - $45, and Hoodies - $65. Contact Bobby P.  His email is on the back page.

 Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM

at 4/18/2026 10:36:00 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, April 16, 2026

NYC FLEET WEEK UPDATE!!!

From Michael "Mido" 

Thought I would share that Fleet Week NYC is a little bit different this year. Info is not the most clear, but here is what I have found:

1) They are moving the date from the traditional Memorial Day weekend slot to coincide with July 4th. So: July 3rd - 8th

2) It will coincide with Sail4th 250. That means we will have ~30 tall ships from around the world visiting NYC Harbor. Maybe the largest gathering ever! 


3) I’ve read somewhere, but hard to verify, that a number of foreign navies will send active ships. Maybe 40!

4) Blue Angels and an airshow(?) will be in the harbor. 

Hope more info becomes available soon!
at 4/16/2026 12:39:00 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, April 09, 2026

Can Am Con 2026 RESCHEDULED !

 One of New England's fastest growing scale modeling shows has been rescheduled from April 11 to a new date May 9. 


 

at 4/09/2026 11:58:00 AM 0 comments
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BPMS Inhouse Meeting: April 17, 2026

BPMS ACTIVITIES

By Bobby Pokorny

Welcome to APRIL! We are one third of the way through 2026. This is your final month to declare pledges.

MODEL PLEDGES: This is the final month to declare Model Pledges for the year. In case you aren’t sure how this works, for each new model you bring in you get credit for ONE ticket for the Annual Super Raffle in NOVEMBER. By declaring (by this month) then completing that PLEDGE MODEL on or before OCTOBER earns you an additional FIVE Super Raffle tickets.

WIP NIGHT: What are you working on? Bring something(s) that you are working on to show the group. For those who have already declared their Pledges, this would be a good time to show your progress. Please be prepared to tell the group a few words on how the build is going and your approach to dealing with things.

Meeting Date: APRIL 17, 2026
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!

BPMS BULLETIN IN PDF FORMAT
at 4/09/2026 08:08:00 AM 0 comments
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Wednesday, April 08, 2026

BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting: April 7, 2026

Featured Discussion: Putty Do's and Don'ts
 
Thirteen people attended. Somebody asked how long we've been having Zoom meetings. I looked it up later. Our first Zoom was Thursday, 4/2/20. Happy Sixth Anniversary to the eight of you who attended!
There's no Tuesday Zoom next week; the in-person meeting is Friday, 4/27/26, at the Community Center in Brooklyn. It's Work in Progress night and your last chance to declare your 2026 Pledge Model. 
Several BPMS members were at Mosquitocon in Wayne, NJ, last Saturday. Jimmy talked about the entries (lots of Gundam), the vendors (he'd like them to put prices on their kits) and parking (lots of spaces at 8am, not so many by 9am). Lunch, as usual, was at Grasshopper Too. Photos are on the BPMS Facebook page. 
 
Julio has arranged two more group builds, one at Japan Village, in Brooklyn, on 5/23/26 and one at Pier 57, in Manhattan, on 9/5/26. Both are accessible by public transit. Details to follow. 
Lou doesn't expect Tamiya's 1/35 M-24 Chaffee to be available until July. 
We saw Vaughn's completed F-106 (the old Hasegawa kit builds up well) and F-101 A (the Valom kit doesn't), Erasmo's Macci C.200 (the old kit needs a lot of work), Kevin's Salome and Star figures, Gil's post-apocalyptic "Lock and Load" bust (made into a figure by adding legs), Mark's 1/48 Stuart and 1/35 tank crew figures (cheap ones, to practice painting faces) and Frank C's AV-8B Harrier. Acquisitions included ICM's new 1/72 S 64A (Vaughn couldn't resist) and Tamiya's old 1/35 Schwimmwagen (neither could Jimmy). 
The tool was UV resin, aka light curing putty, a UV curing multipurpose adhesive repair filler with the consistency of Vaseline. This led neatly into our featured topic, putty. One thing was clear; nobody likes to use putty. Better to dry fit and adjust as necessary to eliminate/minimize any gaps. You'll and save time and aggravation. If you have to use putty, there are a lot of products to choose from, like Tamiya's White Putty and Basic Putty (White is thinner and smoother than Basic), AK Interactive 103 Modeling White Putty and Vallejo Plastic Putty. They have different consistencies, drying times, and hardnesses. Some are easier to apply and clean up than others. Check manufacturers' websites and modelers' videos to see what works best for your situation.  Aves Epoxy Sculpt and Milliput are popular two-part epoxy putties. We've used household and products, like spackle or wood filler(for large applications) or BIC Wite Out or plain old white glue (for very small applications). We've also used automotive bodywork products, like Nitro Stan Glazing Putty or Icing Polyester Finishing Putty. Some people mix chopped up styrene with liquid glue to repair nicks and fill holes. Gap filling super glue is good as long as you sand away the excess as soon as it sets. If we didn't mention your favorite product, let us know. Thanks in advance.
 
The next meeting is Friday, the 26th at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5pm; meeting starts around 7:30 pm. Bring your latest Work in Progress or any other model you'd like to display and talk about. Hope to see you there.
 
~Russ 
at 4/08/2026 01:37:00 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, April 02, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: March 31, 2026

Featured Discussion: Decals Dos and Don'ts

Fourteen people attended. We heard that seventeen BPMS members and two former members were at Replicon last Saturday, where Nestor's 727-100 was a winner. Congrats. Photos are on the BPMS Facebook page. Mosquitocon is next Saturday at the PAL Hall in Wayne, NJ. Pictures, please. Speaking of shows, Mark suggested people participate in judging whenever the opportunity arises, not so they can criticize others but to develop their powers of observation and improve their own work.

We saw Vaughn's F-106 A and F-101C (the Valom kit is a delightful mix of styrene, resin and photoetch parts) and Frank C's Harrier. There were acquisitions too, thanks to the vendors at Replicon: F-15, Phantom II Wild Weasel, Hornet, and A-4 M.

Gil found a new tool, a silicone stamper. It's designed to decorate fingernails but also works on models. Goblin Hobbies has a video on their website showing how to use their stamping set for miniature figures. Even if you're not into Warhammer (yes, Angelo, there are such people), the video shows how useful silicone stampers can be, even the cheap ones available online.

Decal dos and don'ts was the featured topic. We focused on waterslide decals. Dry transfers are hard to find, since Archer went out of business. Decaling can be stressful. Quality is unpredictable, particularly with aftermarket decals. Test the sheet with a decal you don't need for your build. Decal bonders are recommended for old or fragile decals. Frank C's favorite, Testor's Decal Bonder, is out of production, so he's trying Krylon Workable Fixative. Several people use Microscale Decal Film. Decals look best when applied to a layer of clear gloss paint, but must you gloss the entire model or just the parts that get decals? That depends on what you're building. Ships have few markings, armor has more, aircraft still more, and race cars can be completely covered in decals. Many companies make decal setting solutions. A lot of us use the two-part Micro Set - Micro Sol system. Walthers Solvaset is stronger so be careful using it. Tamiya's Mr. Mark is another product we've used. Dspiae recently came out with a setting solution, and Michael C will be trying it out. The amount (use a shallow tray) and temperature (warm is better than cold) of water makes it easier to manipulate the decal as it soaks and to remove the decal from its backing. Some slide the decal directly on the model; some remove it from the backing with a sponge or with tweezers. 
 
Helpful tips: Scan the kit decals. The scans can be used as spares. Also, scans allow faded or damaged decals to be restored. In the absence of a gloss undercoat, lay a warm sponge on top of the decal. For smaller decals, scrubbing the model surface with a clean coffee filter smooths the surface almost as well as a gloss coat. Cut long decals into manageable sizes. A LIGHT overspray with a mist coat of the base color blends the decals into the paint scheme. 
 
The next meeting is Tuesday, 4/7/26 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.

~Russ
 
at 4/02/2026 01:39:00 PM 0 comments
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Wednesday, April 01, 2026

2026 Ralph Forehand IPMS/USA Scholarship Fund Applications Close April 15th!

 

Dear IPMS Member, 

If you, your children or grandchildren are attending college, university or trade school or planning to attend in the fall, you need to know about the Ralph Forehand scholarship! Applications close April 15, so act now. Details are below.


IPMS/USA is proud to partner again in 2026 with the family of the late Ralph Forehand to offer a scholarship program to IPMS/USA members, their children and grandchildren. For those who didn't know Ralph there are some details of his longstanding service to IPMS/USA and his life in the image below, as well as information about how to apply for the scholarship. This year there will be up to two $500 scholarships available, thanks to the generosity of the Forehand family. Applications must be submitted by April 15, 2026, and the winner(s) will be selected on May 15, 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year. Use this link or the QR code below for more information.

Please join the Executive Board in thanking the Forehand Family for their generosity and thoughtfulness.

Happy modeling, 

John Noack

President, IPMS/USA


at 4/01/2026 09:52:00 AM 0 comments
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Thursday, March 26, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: 03/24/26

Discussion Topic: Scribing, and dealing with mistakes
 
The sixteen people in attendance heard Mark confirm that BPMS was the IPMS Region 1 Chapter of the Year for the third year in a row, something no other chapter has done, to the best of his knowledge. More good news, our own Julio L was named Region 1 Member of the Year. Congratulations all around.
Several BPMS members were among the 60 or so modelers at last Saturday's Japan Village group build. Photos are on the BPMS Facebook page. 
Replicon is Saturday, March 28 at the Freeport Recreation Center in Long Island and ValleyCon is Sunday, March 29 in Chicopee, MA. Whichever one you attend, take photos for the people stuck at home. 
Lou reports Border Models' 1/35 He-111 and Dragon's 1/48 Bf-109 E4 are available. Not surprisingly, Jimmy has already acquired the 109 and he gave us an impromptu in box review - 3D printed engine (with piping and wiring), single piece rear fuselage, different colored sprue. It comes in a plastic box with a cardboard sleeve, in case you're interested. 
We saw Vaughn's F-105, Kevin's Gamora and Medusa busts (Medusa is mounted on a wedding cake pillar), Mark's Goliath (he tried AK quick gen paint for the figures) and Porsche 935 (he stripped the wrinkled paint from the body by soaking it in isopropyl alcohol), Angelo's World War Toons Panther and Egg Plane Osprey, Russ' Huey Cobra and Vigilante and Gil's 3D printed RDA Helicopter (from Avatar). An Ornithopter (from Dune) and VMFA 232 decals were also acquired. 
This week's tool was from Amazon, not the Dollar Store. It's a set of flexible metal scribing templates from Hasegawa. Very useful for scribing geometric shapes.
We use various tools for scribing: the back of a hobby blade (#11or #12 or #22), a model company's scriber (like Tamiya's), a model tool company's scriber (too many to name), an awl, a wood chisel (for larger scale models), carbide scriber, old dental tools, and micro saws.  "Official" scribing guide tape is available but label maker tape, flexible rulers, and masking tape work too. Kevin has used a coat of UV curing resin to fix scribing mistakes, and Michael C used a thin layer of Nara air hardening clay (available at Hobby Lobby), to fix mistakes. Just remember to sand it before painting. Simon has used Mr. Surfacer 1000 and Tamiya's Surface Primer. Even though we use different tools and different techniques everyone agrees the key to successful scribing is to work slowly and carefully.
The next meeting is Tuesday, 3/31/26 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. Or in Freeport. Or in Chicopee. 
 
~Russ 
 
 
at 3/26/2026 02:32:00 PM 0 comments
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