Fifteen people attended, including Keith (IPMS/Race City Modelers, Troutman, NC) who we met at Ft . Wayne. Welcome, Keith. Hope you can stick around.
No Tuesday Zoom next week; the in-person meeting is Friday 8/21/26 at the Community Center. It's Pizza Night and the 3rd quarterly contest. Doors open around 5; pizza arrives around 7:30. Come early, help set up, or work on a kit, or just hang out.
Julio arranged another group build at Pier 57 in Manhattan on 9/5/26. Details to follow. Thanks, Julio.
The lucky few who went to Ft . Wayne gave their opinions of the event and shared some photos. No doubt they'll do it again on the 21st. Kevin has already asked for write ups and photos for the Bulletin.
Lou reports Glencoe's 1/76 Vanguard rocket with gantry and the following 1/35 AK Interactive kits are available: FJ43 SUV W/hard top, FJ43 Pickup W/DShKM, FJ43 Pickup W/SPG-9 Recoilless, FJ43 SUV W/Soft Top, IDF &LAF 1, Infantry Support Weapon DShKM, IDF Accessories, Breuer IV Rail Shunter, Automotore FS206/207/208, Land Rover 88, Land Rover 88 Station Wagon, Land Rover 88 Crane Tow Truck, Photographers (Different Eras), Children Set #1, SD.KFZ.234/2 Puma, Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D Africa Korps (three versions), and '53 Studebaker (Mr. Speed)
Gil found an inexpensive, slotted metal C Track online. Screwed to a firm base and using suitable clamps, it ensures the part stays flat.
We saw Vaughn's Skycrane and the weapons tray he's scratch building for his Vigilante modification. Hugh spent time correcting a decaling error, and Chuck is still polishing out the turpentine damaged glass nose on a B-25, using Flitz metal polish, followed by Mother's Magnesium and Aluminum polish. We also saw Frank C's F-102 and C-5.
Ft Wayne acquisitions included several Tamiya RSO/01s, at least one Squadron B-24 J, and bargains from the three vendor rooms. Aftermarket RSO decals from Star Decals and Gecko's early production Otter were also acquired.
The topic was tools. Keith recently started using glass files and he's pleased with the results. Vaughan's go-to is the toothpick. Good for applying paint or glue, holding parts in place or clean clogged orifices; they're versatile and expendable. Lou thinks the Flex Shaft attachment for his Dremel makes it a lot easier to use.
Hugh recommends a clear plastic flexible ruler with distinct demarcations. Lee had two favorites, GodHand nippers and Tamiya's 3mm model scribing hard edge tape. Jimmy likes Tamiya's nippers and Dspiae's sanding sticks.
Kevin says his Gaahleri Serenair airbrush compressor is small, quiet, and easy to use. The only downside is that it appears to be designed for acrylics. After the meeting Simon put together a list of his favorites: pocketknife, surgical scalpels # 10,11,15 (available online, Bard Parker is best), X-Acto #235 micro saw , Xuron small wire cutters, Barbasol cuticle cutters, #100 and 240 sanding sticks , wedge shape preferred, tweezers scissors and hemostats from disposable suture sets, 150 and 200 grit sandpaper, little plastic clamps, rubber bands, pin vise and drill bits.
Gil relies on digital calipers. Extension sets make them even more useful. Frank is a fan of sanding sticks. And # 11 blades are essential, he learned, for separating 1/144 decals.
Bobby gets inexpensive emery boards and nail files from different manufacturers to ensure he has the right grit for the job. Needle files and silicone scrapers are also good to have. Russ has a 6" offset tweezer that's equally good at reaching inaccessible areas on a model and retrieving items that fell under the bench.
The next meeting is Friday, 8/21/26 at the Community Center. It's time for Pizza and the 3rd quarterly contest.
The next Zoom meeting will be Tuesday, 8/25/26 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you on Friday, or on Tuesday or both days .
~Russ
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