BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: April 9, 2024

Twelve people attended. We welcomed Alyssa, an aircraft modeler from Massachusetts with a special interest in helicopters. 

There's no Tuesday Zoom next week as the in-person meeting is Friday the 19th. Doors open around 6pm and the meeting starts around 7:30. It's Work in Progress night. Details are in the Bulletin, which is in the mail. 

 
Lou reports Academy's 1/144 EC 121, 1/72 Leopard 2 A-4 and 1/35 USMC M4-A2 are available. 

 
Several club members went to Mosquitocon last Saturday. Charlie's F-8 Crusader placed. Gordon's photos are on the BPMS Facebook page. Thanks, Gordon. 

 
In progress and completed work included: S-67 Blackhawk, M117 Guardian, Jaguar E, Schwimmwagen and Cthulhu. Acquisitions included: MG RX77 Gundam conversion, Zvezda 1/48 Mi-8, C130A book and Bandai 1/48 T34/76. 

 
Frank C was our tool man this week. His find was two inexpensive photoetch saws from AliExpress. The offset blades are about 1.5" long, just right for those hard-to-reach places. This led to a discussion on how to get discounts from AliExpress. 

 
The featured topic was dealing with ejector pin marks. Although Lou knew a guy who used a hot screwdriver, most of us either cut them down or fill them flush. To cut, we use rotary tools, blades, micro saws, files, sanding sticks and custom-made sanding blocks. For fillers, we use proprietary (Tamiya, AK, Vallejo, etc.) modeling putties, automotive glazing putty, modeling epoxy putties and sprue dissolved in glue. While pin marks that can't be seen are usually left alone, some exposed marks are intentionally overlooked (once you convince yourself they look like structural details). 

 
The next meeting is Friday, 4/19/24 at the Community Center, in Brooklyn. No invites needed. Hope to see you there. 

 
~Russ