BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: June 27, 2023

Nine people attended the meeting. Next Tuesday is July 4, so the zoom meeting is canceled (it's hard to compete with fireworks). Lou reports MiniArt's Modern British and WW2 German (France) tank crews are available in 1/35 as are their Allied Jerry cans in 1/48. 

In progress and completed work included: Chupacabra (Kevin used static grass to represent hairs along the spinal ridge), Michael Landon/Teenage Werewolf bust, A 6-E Intruder, MS 09 Dom (Jeff convinced Bobby to "take the robot", a phrase familiar to anyone who has attended an in-person meeting) and R3-Y Tradewind. Acquisitions included: Wolfie (3D printed Groovie Goolies character) and USAF aggressor decals. 

This week's tool was a wire bending jig. Good for right angles, curves and complex bends, it's inexpensive and widely available. 

Random tips: Have you seen those packages of 3 garlic cloves in the grocery stores? Well, the sleeves holding them have modeling potential and, they can be glued, according to Bobby - vinyl caulking can be used to create seascapes, according to Don. 

The featured topic was organizing your paint supply. Most felt the best way is to organize by color, rather than paint type or brand, although one guy maintained that "organization is for losers". Storage systems included cigar boxes, pencil boxes, plastic cases, office supply carts/Ikea furniture and repurposed nail polish display racks. Paint intended for future needs should be stored separately. Spreadsheets only work if you keep them updated. 

We had time for a spontaneous discussion about modeling in general, kit reviews, what we do/don't enjoy, personality types we've encountered, why manufacturers are increasing parts counts, experiences with judges and what can happen "when a hobby becomes a religion".
Next meeting is Tuesday 7/11/23 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. 

Have a safe and happy Independence Day. 

~Russ

Remember The Member Theme Contest: June 16, 2023

 JUNE 16^TH 2023

REMEMBER THE MEMBERS

THEME CONTEST

During the quarantine the BPMS shaken with losses of multiple members To remember them, the club will have a remembrance contest to honor those members and what they built in the hobby. It will be a simple contest, since the BPMS is all-inclusive and we love all branches of the hobby, so you can display what you like. We will be preparing special awards for the four specific members we are focusing on:

· Tim Greeman: he primarily built 1/72 armor, loved Shermans, and built occasional figures.

· Ray Keegan: he built everything but was known best as a sci-fi guy, esp Star Wars and Gundam.

· Joe Barrett: known for his 1/35 WW2 German armor and cars, he also enjoyed sci-fi.

· Andy Yanchus: his name is well known in our hobby, especially for his role in Aurora in the early days. Mostly he built sci-fi. Figures, and loved toy conversion. He, also, sponsored one of your earliest theme contest: Humor in Modeling.

There you have it. It will be easy to build for, and we hope to see plenty of work on the tables for this one. Feel free to contact the sponsors with and questions or comments!

EDIT 6/22/2023: The theme contest was last week. I had no idea what to expect. This group has been wearing a perfect poker-face every time I made an announcement so I had no idea what to expect in terms of turn-out. Historically we see anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five entries. What we did get was NEARLY FIFTY! An amazing showing of work by the group, each entrant  with a different  heart-warming story about his build. 

The winners:

1st Place: Tom K - Panther D

2nd Place: Joe B - for his display

3rd Place Frank C - for his display

 

HM:

Mark Mullen - for his display

Steven N - Nashorn

Charlie N - for his display

Russ H - Sherman Calliope

 

Special Awards:

ANDY YANCHUS AWARD: Frank C - That's No Parking!

JOE BARRETT AWARD: Tom G - The Last Ride

TIM GREEMAN AWARD: Mark Mullen - Sherman Display

RAY KEEGAN AWARD: Kevin K - Howl Runner

 

 I want to thank EVERYONE who built for this event and for the high level of quality work. The members of the BPMS have always been a special group and to see so much work on display for this most-meaningful theme was outstanding. Thank you all so much!

 

~Bobby P.

 

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: June 20, 2023

Featured Discussion: Most vehicles have mirrors. How do you represent them? How can you avoid them?

Thirteen people attended the meeting. For those who missed last Friday's in- person meeting, Bobby spoke about the response to the "Remember the Members " theme. Nearly 50 models were presented to honor the memory of 4 BPMS members we lost during the quarantine, Joe Barrett, Tim Greeman, Ray Keegan and Andy Yanchus. Look on the club's Facebook page for photos. If you're wondering about the hooks and wires on Mark M's collection of small-scale vehicles, they're there so he can hang them on his personal Christmas tree. Friday was also BBQ night. Thankfully, there are no photos of that. But seriously, the food was great and thanks again for the hard work done by the cooks, servers and clean-up crew. 

Lou reports Trumpeter's 1/32 F8F1B Bearcat and DML's 1/35 Sd. Kfz. 252 Munitions carrier w/ trailer are available. Also, watch for Italeri's 1/32 Machi 202. Mark N shared photos and stories about the AMPS and IPMS chapters in the Hudson Valley. We also shared stories and tips (some worked, some just created new problems) on pest control: fire ants, moles, rabbits, gophers, etc. I only mention this to prove that model builders go outside, from time to time. 

In progress and completed work included: A-6 (with a troublesome tailhook), Corsair and ground crew at Bougainville (Tom modified the figures by heating them over a candle), T-55, Sheridan, Sherman Jumbo, '72 VW van, AE-6, planetary rover (Frank converted a toy), Eagle (Space 1999), B-25, Sherman Calliope, R3-Y2 Tradewind, Dougram (from Fang of the Sun - Bobby's 2-day build) and Bumblebee the Autobot. 

This week's tool was a toenail clipper. Inexpensive and readily available, they're particularly useful for radial cuts. 

Representing mirrors was the featured topic. Silver or chrome paints were the most common method. A leather punch can make round mirrors or headlight reflectors from foil/thin plastic.
Next meeting is Tuesday, 6/27/23 at 7:30. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.  

 

 

6/6/23 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report

Nine people attended. Technical glitch delayed the start of the meeting. Note was made for it being the anniversary of D-Day.

Lou reports the following new releases - Hobby Boss 1/144 Shaanxi KJ-500 plane with AWACS dome, 1/35 Russian Vityaz Rocket launcher. Waiting on Revell Germany Hurricane, and the Trumpeter shipments are delayed.

Current WIPs, completions, and new acquisitions include: a WIP Revell EA6 (with lots of problems), Panzer 4, Panzer 3 tracks, Jag Panzer metal barrel, EU Star Wars spaceships, 1/72 Japanese anti submarine patrol bomber- Lorna, RS Models proto-type Lightning, AC 130-A, MPC's two pack of Dark Shadows' Barnabas Collins and the Werewolf, a 1/24 scale Mary Jane (Spiderman) figure, 1/24 scale Revell Germany VW Bus - excellent details, MIG 23, Phantom 2, F104, Mirage 3, resin Baby Yoda, Cthulhu, 1/72 B-26 (plan for a metal finish).

Tool of the Week was a Silicone Brush similar to the clay shapers. Different colors = different densities, can be used to smooth out putty over a seam etc...helps minimize sanding. https://tinyurl.com/554vhz6u (Link is for reference only, not endorsement to buy)

Topic for the week included your favorite build category or era: As expected answers were wide, including - Everything, Modern AFVs, WW2, real space, sci-fi, experimental and/or prototype aircraft, figures, post war jets, early anime mechs.

Discussions included speed paints, trying Amazon.jp for easy, inexpensive way to get Japanese kits, reading/watching OOB kit reviews vs. actually building the kit, dry fitting and pre-sanding before gluing parts then have to use lots of putty. Achieving camo color edges with glazes by brush vs. getting closer by removing needle tip guard (Iwata) and lowering pressure of airbrush.

No Zoom next week as it the in-person meeting. Next Zoom meeting will be 6/20.

Submitted by Kevin K