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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: 11/10/2026

Featured Discussion: Using markers in the hobby: Thoughts? Is it cheating?

Nine people attended. Several of our regulars are on vacation or otherwise unavailable, but we still managed to run out the clock. Apologies to Simon, who got cut off in
mid-photo share.

No Tuesday meeting next week. The November in person meeting is Friday, 11/20/26 at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5pm, and the meeting starts around 7:30. You don't want to miss the BPMS Super Raffle or the 4th quarterly contest.

The Long Island Miniatures Collectors Society Show is Friday, 11/20/26 (6 -9 pm), and Saturday,11/21/26 (9-4 pm), at the Freeport Recreation Centre, on Long Island.

Julio, Bobby, Jeff, Gordon, Floyd, Chuck, Michael C, Michael D, and Russ were among the eighty people (yes, eighty - check the Facebook page) at last Saturday's Japan Village Group build. BPMS donated several kits to the raffle and handed out Club contact information. Thanks to Julio and the other organizers for your efforts.

The 2026 Holiday Party is Saturday, 12/5/26 at Wheeler's, 1705 Sheepshead Bay Rd, Brooklyn, at noon. Menu to follow. The price is expected to be $50. 00 per person (cash). Let the officers know if you plan to attend.

Who is that guy in the aisle at Bayshore Hobbies in the video Atlantis Toy and Hobby recently made and posted on their Facebook page?

We saw Chuck's vintage Ki-46 Dinah (a Japan Village build), Simon's CR. 42 and He-115, Mark's M-24 Chaffee and Porsche 935 (he plans to build more), Bobby's Death Star II and Star Destroyer (another Japan Village build), and Russ' Starship Enterprise. Jimmy acquired Academy's 1/35 M-113 Fitter, with Israeli and Australian marking options.

The topic was Paint markers. Lou likes Molotow's Liquid Chrome marker. He mentioned that a lot of paint marker reviews are online. Jimmy likes AK Interactive Real Colors markers but found they don't exactly match AK's standard colors. Chuck observed that some marker sets have colors that are not suitable for military subjects. Michael C has experimented with alcohol markers, acrylic markers, and gel markers. He found fine tipped (0.7mm) markers from GANA. They're great on things like cockpit instrument panels. Just one problem; they only come in black or white. Mark likes the convenience of not having to clean paintbrushes or airbrushes. Most markers have a color-coded top. Storing them upright in a jar or cup makes it easy to find the color you want. Have a paint marker story we should know about? That's why they invented "Reply All."

The next meeting is Friday, 11/20/26 at the Community Center. it'll be busy with the 4th quarterly contest and the Super Raffle. As Samuel L Jackson might say, how many Super Raffle tickets are in your wallet?

~Russ 

at 11/11/2026 09:28:00 PM 0 comments
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November 20, 2026, BPMS Inhouse Meeting!

The November meeting is one of our busiest all year! A LOT going on!

Contest Night - 4Q: This is the final instalment of the quarterly contest so bring in your work to collect some extra votes. With any luck I should have the numbers crunched and the awards ready for the December meeting.

Super Raffle: The prolific get rewarded. For each new model you brought in during the last year you get one Super Raffle Ticket. In addition, if you completed your Pledge model by last month, you get an additional FIVE Super Raffle tickets. We usually have a nice selection of prizes, but if anyone wants to donate anything, feel free to bring it in to this meeting.

Meeting Date: November 20, 2026
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!
 
at 11/11/2026 08:57:00 PM 0 comments
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Friday, November 06, 2026

BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting: November 3, 2026

Ten people attended. Frank is waiting for confirmation of our IPMS charter renewal. Mark doesn't think we'll have a problem.

The Japan Village group build is this Saturday, 11/7/26, from 1-6 pm, at 934 3rd Ave, in Brooklyn. in addition to the usual activities, the BPMS cutting mat will be introduced to the public.

Lou reports AFV Club's 1/35 T-34-76 with complete interior is available.

Following up on last Tuesday's topic, Frank G reminded us that bag clips make useful clamps.

Bobby is looking forward to trying out a set of Doloha acrylic paint markers he got recently. Frank C is happy with the looks he can achieve with Vallejo's Metallic Paint, and Mark has found a lot of inexpensive, basic color (black, white, silver, etc.) paint markers online.

Most everyone knows that Sylvester and Tweety Bird are cartoon adversaries, but Michael C was surprised to learn his cat had it in for the 1/72 P-51 Mustang he left unattended. Modelers with cats, be advised!

We saw Vaughn's Bf-109E, Bf- 108, modified B-26 bombardier figure and A-5 Vigilante, Lee's Alan Shepard, Mark's Porsche 935, Simon's Shorts Skyvan, Frank C's starship
C-57 D and Mars Attacks figure, Russ's starship Enterprise, and what was let of Michael's Mustang. The aircraft guys got to talking about the shortcomings of the BF-109, the development of the Fw-190 and the evolution of aircraft control systems. Now, I may not have summarized the conversation correctly and I'm sorry if it's confusing, but, hey, I build armor.

The topic, apropos of Election Day, was how do you decide what to build next. Some make long range plans - examples of squadron markings, weapon loads, theaters of operation, for the same aircraft. If there's a theme contest, many of us will build something related to the theme, even if it's an unfamiliar subject. Or we see a prototype in a museum, or a photo of it, or read about it, and it winds up on our workbench. Sometimes we finish it, sometimes it joins the line of works in progress. We build hoping to understand how the prototype works, and we get mad when we know the slats are supposed to droop when the plane is on the ground, but the kit's manufacturer doesn't. And, sometimes, we just build the last thing that caught our eye.

The next meeting is Tuesday, 11/10/26 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.

~Russ
at 11/06/2026 01:30:00 PM 0 comments
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Sunday, November 01, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 10/27/2026

Eleven people attended. There's a group build at Japan Village (934 3rd Ave in Brooklyn) on Saturday, Nov 7, from 1-6pm.
Mark reported there were about 300 models at the Hudson Valley Scale Modelers show in Poughkeepsie last Saturday. A dozen BPMS members were there as well. It was good to see Gil, Mark, and Vaughan in person. Mark shared photos of the show; many more are on the BPMS Facebook page. 
We saw Vaughn's Bf-109 E, Michael C's RQ 4 Global Hawk, Simon's He-115 on floats, Frank C's starship C-57 D (from Forbidden Planet), and Angelo's "It's only a flesh wound" vignette (from Monty Python & the Holy Grail). Jimmy picked up a FA-18 F Super Hornet and got the replacement for the ACV-P damaged in shipping. 
The topic was tools, basic, special, and improvised. Vaughn, and others, use toothpicks for many things - applying glue or paint, positioning decals or small parts, holding parts for painting, cleaning up canopy framing. Many of us use clothespins and reversed clothespins as clamps. Chuck uses a single edge razor blade to restore panel lines, and he likes a pin vice to gradually enlarge holes, rather than scraping them out with a blade. Regarding blades, Simon prefers surgical scalpels, #15, #10, and #11. They're inexpensive and available online. Bard Parker is better than McKesson, in his opinion. Michael C showed us a silicone tipped brush for decal placement, a 3D printed block sander, a hand drill, a circle cutting compass and a thin diamond file that fits into an X-acto type holder. Bobby is using a three-claw grabber instead of tweezers and Russ turned two expired membership cards into a hand vice for cleaning up photoetch. We also talked about masking. Vaughn likes Parafilm, although it can be finnicky to use, and Angelo has used masking from Painters Mate Green. Or you could avoid masking altogether and get pre-painted kits from Border Models or Sebunas. 
     
The next meeting is Tuesday, 11/3/26 at 7:30 pm, so there's plenty of time to vote. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. 
 
~Russ

 
  
at 11/01/2026 08:47:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

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 10/28/2026 09:00:00 AM 0 comments
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Sunday, October 18, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: 10/20/2026

Featured Topic: Under the influence - How much does kit sophistication, price, and box art influence your purchases?

Thirteen people attended. We heard that the 10/16/26 in person meeting was well attended, with pledge models, spooky models, and snacks in abundance. Kit sales were brisk, just ask Michael C or Israel.

The Hudson Valley show is this Saturday, Oct 24 at the Elks Lodge, 29 Overrocker Rd in Poughkeepsie from 10 am to 4 pm and the next Japan Village group build is Saturday, Nov 7 from 1 to 6 pm at 934 3 Ave in Brooklyn.

The Holiday dinner will be Saturday, 12/5/26 at Wheelers, 1707 Sheepshead Bay Rd, in Brooklyn. Details to follow.

Lee outlined rules for a contest he thinks of as malicious compliance. Should be interesting.

We saw Vaughn's Bf-109E (some movie trivia - the Bf109s and He 111s used in the 1969 film, Battle of Britan, were Luftwaffe aircraft given to Spain in the 30s and purchased from Spain for the film. Thanks, Vaughn), and B-26 (from ICM), Simon's B-26 (from Aurora), Kevin's original sculpture of Tim Curry as Darkness (from Legend), Lee's Apollo 14 Alan Shepherd, Mark's Porsche 962 and Mini Cooper, and Frank C's Iraqi Mirage F-1, Forbidden Planet Flying Saucer and F-18 Legacy Hornet.

The tool of the week was another dollar store find, a clear plastic (flower?) box that Gil repurposed as a dust cover for 1/24 cars and similarly sized items.

We asked what influences your purchases, kit quality, price, box art or, maybe, something else. Lou feels that box art can make or break a kit, especially figure kits. Erasmo appreciates the Hasegawa aviation art of the 80s and 90s. Chuck likes the box art of vintage kits, as does Gil. Michael C uses box art from new manufacturers to judge a kit's quality before spending any money. Jimmy prefers certain manufacturers' box art to others. Lou Frank C thinks box art can be inspiring. Kevin, on the other hand, was disappointed by some box art when he was younger, and it hasn't been important since. Vaughn and Lee aren't box art guys either. They're more interested in the subject. If research is required, so much the better. Experience has shown us which manufacturers (usually) produce quality kits, so we're comfortable buying their products; price is a secondary concern. And you can't forget the fun of impulse buying. Again, just ask Michael C or Israel.

The next meeting is Tuesday, 10/27/26 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. If you go to Poughkeepsie, take pictures. And say Hello to Mark, and Vaughn and Gil. 
 
~Russ 
at 10/18/2026 07:37:00 PM 0 comments
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: October 6, 2026

BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting

Featured Discussion: Stupid Questions
 
Ten people attended. No Zoom next Tuesday, 10/13/2026, the in-person meeting is Friday, 10/16 /26, at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5pm, meeting starts around 7:30 pm. Bring in your pledge model and get five extra tickets for the November Super Raffle. If you've got a Spooky Model, bring that, too.
 
Technical problems sidelined Lou. He later messaged Tamiya's 1/48 F-14 B is available. By happy coincidence, Jimmy shared Tamiya's photos of the kit, which comes with towing tractor and cardboard flight deck section. 
Jimmy, Michael, Kosta, Jeff,  Floyd, and Gil attended Armorcon in Southbury CT last Saturday morning. The consensus was poor lighting, more models in the judges' room than the display room, and few paint vendors made for a less than stellar show. However, a nice lunch and light traffic made it a good day.
We talked about different ways to remove dust from models. Some use Murphy's Oil Soap, some use Windex and some take them into the shower. Enough said. 
We saw Vaughn's Bf-109, B-26 and A-5, Kevin's Flash Gordon bust (with corrected ray gun) and seated Ghost sculpture, Simon's Fiat CR-42 in Swedish markings and He- 115 on floats,  Frank C's Iraqi Mirage F-1 and Russ' Jagdpanther.
 
Acquisitions included paint bottle stirrer, plastic four shelf model display cabinet (but Amazon sells it as a baked goods case), Hanebu, M-109, T-10, and Abominable Snowman. 
Gil's tool for the week is a DIY rivet applicator. A link to the video will be forwarded shortly. Frank has already forwarded the link for the display case.
Stupid questions was the topic. Some were rhetorical. Why don't accessory kits fit kits produced by the same manufacturer, like ICM's B-26 and B-26 aircrew? Some were technical. What's the difference between lacquer and enamel paints? What, exactly, is varnish? And one question on double action airbrushes sparked an exchange of experiences and, thanks to Michael C, tips on converting a double action airbrush to single action.  
The next meeting is Friday, 10/16/26 at the Community Center. Bring your pledge model, Spooky Model, and any stupid questions we didn't address Tuesday. Hope to see you there. 
 
~Russ 
  
 
  
at 10/13/2026 11:48:00 AM 0 comments
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October 16, 2026, BPMS Inhouse Meeting!

Where has the year gone? It’s already OCTOBER so let’s see what’s cooking!
 
Model Pledges: You declared your pledge model earlier this year. Bring your model, complete or not to this meeting. Of course, completed pledges earn an additional FIVE Super Raffle Tickets.
 
Spooky Model Night: It IS October. So if you don’t have a pledge (or even if you do) why not bring in something that can be considered spooky. Eg: Obvious -  Dracula or The Mummy. Less Obvious – F-4 Phantom
 
Officer Nominations: Two years are up for the guys at the top seats. Who will we select next? 
 
Holiday Luncheon: During the September Meeting  Russ reported that WHEELER'S penciled us in for December 5. We will continue to iron out details for the event.
 
Golden Age of American Sci-Fi Theme Contest: 12/18/2026 is coming quickly! Are you being yet?  
 
Club Group Build 2027: Julio pitched the idea of the group building the same robot kit, with everyone having the freedom to customize as they like.  The group seemed very interested so we will iron out those details in the coming months. The final outcome will likely be the activity for Sept, 2027.

Meeting Date: September 16, 2026
Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.
Feel free to come early and hang-out!
 
  
at 10/13/2026 10:06:00 AM 0 comments
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Saturday, October 10, 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 - Golden Age of American Sci-Fi Theme Contest 
 
 
2027 - TBA (Things That Bite & Sting) (Out of Your Comfort Zone) (Hot Wheels)

 
at 10/10/2026 10:01:00 AM 0 comments
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Thursday, October 01, 2026

BPMS Zoom Mini-Meeting Report: September 29, 2026

Twelve people attended. Thanks to Jimmy for stepping up at the last minute to moderate. 

Armorcon is this Friday and Saturday in Southbury, CT. A flyer is on the BPMS Facebook page. 

Lou reports MiniArt's 1/48 FW-190 D, 1/35 US Airborne tank riders, Roden's 1/72 C123 Provider, Takom's 1/35 Chieftain, M4A1 76 W HVSS, and SdKfz 250 /4 /7, are available. 

Undeterred by bad weather, Gil and Nestor attended Patcon 2026 last Sunday. The show was well attended. The lighting was poor, but the quality of work, particularly for the Juniors, was high. Nestor shared photos of the show, with emphasis on the category sponsored by BPMS. Gil had a good experience as a vendor and Nestor's Boeing 707 took a 3rd place award. 

We saw Vaughn's Bf-109, B-26 subassemblies and, for Simon, his Saab aircraft collection, Mark's nicely painted Chaffee, a less successfully painted Mini Cooper (rescued with the help of a Hasegawa polishing cloth), Wildcat, and Porsche, Gil's 1/24 Tiki Trike, Frank's FA -18 Hornet, and Russ' Jagdpanther. Vaughan acquired another flying boat, Anigrand's 1/72 S-44. 

This week's tool was a set of four pics from Harbour Freight. Cost, $2.00. Not high strength steel but useful, nonetheless.

Museums for modelers - First, thanks to everyone who took the trouble to put their recommendations in an email to the group. Your efforts are appreciated. 
 
Thirty-six museums were recommended at the meeting. The US museums are: Pima Air and Space, (and Davis Monthan boneyard) (AZ), National Museum US Air Force (OH), USS Intrepid (NY), American Air Power Museum (NY), New England Air Museum (CT), Naval Aviation Museum (FL), Warhawk Air Museum (ID), American Heritage Museum (MA), Aviation Museum on the Beach (FL), National Museum of the Pacific War (TX), National WW 2 Museum (LA), Planes of Fame (CA), Yanks Air Museum (CA), Connecticut Air and Space Center (CT), Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome (NY), Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum (CO), Hill Aerospace Museum (UT), Empire State Aerosciences Museum(NY), Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (DC), Smithsonian Udvar Hazy Center (VA), and Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (U-505 and Ju-87 Stuka) (IL). The overseas museums are: The Italian Air Force Museum (Bracciano), the RAF Museum London (UK), Muzeum Locnictwa Polskiego (Poland), Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History (Belgum), Luchtvaartmuseum Aviodrome (Netherlands), Swedish Air Force Museum(Sweeden), Aviation Museum Kbely (Czech Republic), The Tank Museum (UK), Musee de Blindes (France), Musee de la Figurine (France), and unspecified air museums in China (old MiGs), Tiwan(old US planes) and Argentina (TA-183 / Pulqui II).

The next meeting is Tuesday, 10/6/26 at 7:30 pm invites to follow. If you have photos of the museums, share a few of them next Tuesday.

~Russ
 
  
at 10/01/2026 08:52:00 PM 0 comments
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