BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: May 28, 2024

Twenty-two people attended. We met modelers from IPMS's Bay Colony, Niagra Frontier, Patriot and Wings & Wheels chapters. Thank you, Mark for spreading the word and thanks to the "new" guys who told us what they like to build. We also caught up with people who missed a couple of meetings. Happy birthday, Mr. K! 

Lou reports HK Models' 1/32 A20 J/K, Havoc/Boston IV and 1/48 Avro Lancaster Grand Slam, ICM's 1/35 Ukrainian Sapper team, Magic Factory's 1/35 M-2A4 Bradley and Takom's 1/16 Big Box (two Tiger 1s, one figure) and 1/72 M60A1&A3 with ERA are available.
 

Last Saturday, twenty-two people attended the group build at Pier 57 in Manhattan. Photos are on the BPMS Facebook page. Thanks, Julio, for setting it up. I expect we'll see photos from Fleet Week at upcoming meetings. Erasmo gave a brief report on last Saturday's Scalefest 2024 in Grapevine, Texas.
 

In progress and completed work included: Sikorsky S-55, S-67 Blackhawk, Macchi 202, Fiat BR-20 (a "brutal" kit), T-72 B3, RAF Rescue Launch, RGC-80 GM Cannon, (Gundam), Elf and Owl shadowbox, Dracula and victim bust (from Dracula, AD 1972), '23 Model T Depot Truck, Werewolf and Vampire figures (from Dark Shadows), Space Ghost figure (3D printed) and F-16 (Frank's weekend build). Acquisitions included: F-104, KA-15 anti-sub, English Knight-15th Century and Flakpanzer 341. This week's tool was the Badger Hobby Pal, a suction tool for picking up small items. Gil has tried similar tools and prefers this one.
 

We asked what surprised you about the hobby and we heard: the lack of models from the Golden Age of Aviation, the rapid improvement of 3D printed items and the cost of 1/32 multi engine aircraft kits. Two memorable answers - "I'm from New York, nothing surprises me" and "I make my own surprises".
 

Don't be surprised when you get your invite to the next meeting. It's Tuesday, 6/4/24, at 7:30 pm. Hope you can make it.
 

~Russ

 

 

BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting: 05/21/2024

Eleven people attended. We welcomed Erasmo, naval aviator, industry consultant and builder of 1/72 scale aircraft. Hope we'll see him again. 

 

Lou reported Academy's 1/72 Merkava 3, AFV Club's 1/35 M-15 "Special" CGMC with 40mm gun, DML's 1/35 M-113 (Yom Kippur War), 

 

Pz 4 (late),  SdKfz 250 (75 mm gun), SdKfz 250 (50mm gun) and 1/72 T-34/76 (cast turret) are available.

 

The next few days will be busy. Fleet Week has begun (check their website for details), there's a modeler's meet-up this Saturday at Pier 57 (Daffodil classroom) in Manhattan from noon to 5 on the 25th and the Bethpage Air Show is this Saturday and Sunday at Jones Beach. 

 

In progress and completed work included: B-26 (Vaughn spoke briefly about the construction and performance of the actual aircraft), S-55 (the vintage kit doesn't include clear parts for the cabin windows), Sherman Firefly, elf & owl vignette,  Flying Taxi (from The Fifth Element), Shinden, Corsair, Dr.1, Seahawk, two P-47 Ds (1/144 and 1/48), Mitsubishi F-1, Zaku tank and Cthulhu.  Acquisitions included:

3 D printed Panther tool racks, wet pallet and Trog figure (Kevin said it was from a low budget film where Trog's costume was half of a monkey suit leftover from 2001: A Space Odyssey).

The tool of the week was the Klick Fix pen holder. It's good for organizing and securing tools on horizontal or vertical surfaces.

 

The featured topic was modeling accidents and steps taken to prevent them from reoccurring. Cuts were common. Lessons learned - always cut away from you, if you must use a knife to pry something apart, lay it on your bench, not on your hand, and don't try to catch a falling hobby knife between your knees. There were painting accidents, too. Lesson learned - always check the orientation of the paint can nozzle, never wear your good clothes when you paint. There were no stories about superglue and skin. 

 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 5/28/24 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. Hope to see you at Pier 57.

 

~Russ

 

BPMS Bulletin, May 2024 (by Kevin K)

Minutes from the April Meeting

Attendance: Members – 23, Guests – 1, Models – 28
President Tom G. gaveled the meeting to order at 8:00PM.
Business: Tonight’s meeting is WIP nite.

• May will be both Parts Nite and 2Q Contest.
• IPMS Region 1 has chosen the BPMS as Chapter of the Year, as well as our own Bob P. as Member of the Year. Congratulations!
• Steve N. as volunteered to be BPMS’ rep for the IPMS Nationals in WS.
• The Facility we meet at asked that the club buys a ticket to their function. Discussion was held and since we do not get involved in politics in any way, the club was leaning toward a no vote, until Treas. Jeff E., offered to donate $ from his model’s sales toward the ticket. Additionally, Vinny R., Mark M., Ray W., Guy F., and Frank C. also donated, and the ticket will be bought.
• Similar discussion was had for sponsoring a prize packet for the IPMS Nats. Discussion was leading toward a no vote. VP Kevin K. volunteered to buy the packet. With that a number of other members also donated $ towards the packet. So, the BPMS WILL be involved. Kevin wasn’t as smart as Jeff to take down names, so a gracious THANKS to all those who donated. You know who you are! (Kevin is writing this so he CAN make fun of himself).
• A break was then called. The meeting reconvened at 8:50 with the monthly raffle. There were 9 winners. Final activity of the night is the Show & Tell.
• The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM, next meeting is May 15.

 

Next Meeting:

May 15, 2025

Events:

Contest: 2Q24 

Part Box Night

Location: BBSC

 

Full Bulletin in PDF format

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 05/07/2024

Twelve people attended. No Tuesday Zoom next week. The in-person meeting is Friday, the 17th at the Community Center. Time for the quarterly contest. Details are in the Bulletin, which is the mail.
Its rumored Academy will re-release their CH-54E.
Jimmy was impressed by the work he saw at the Miniature Figure Collectors of America (MFCA) show last Saturday. Photos from the show are on the club's Facebook page.
Bobby found a good selection of reasonably priced Atlantis kits at Ollie's.
Get ready, Fleet Week is 5/22-28/24, the next Pier 57 meet-up is Saturday 5/25/24 and the D-Day theme contest is coming up in June.
In progress and completed work included: S-67 Blackhawk (with scratch built stretched sprue minigun), vintage Sikorsky H-19 (cockpit details added), Wildcat, Flying Taxicab (Gil is using a Leroy pen with Amsterdam acrylic resin ink to do the checkerboard markings) and P-47D. Acquisitions included: aftermarket Panther and King Tiger tracks, Quinta decals for the SdKfz 251 and Panzer crew figures.
We saw another tool from the cosmetics aisle, wedge-shaped sponges. Gil likes them for weathering, setting decals and stippling. He challenged us to find more uses.
The topic was what gets you excited about modeling. Everyone is excited to get new items, especially when they're bargains. Opening the boxes is another high point. Finishing a kit is exciting. Finding errors after completion is exciting, but not in the same way. Guess who said 'anything having to do with a Phantom' is exciting? Kits with lots of parts are exciting for some and discouraging for others. Some people are experiencing a lack of motivation while others acknowledge having too many partiality-built kits on the workbench. Well, we all bounce between those two groups, don't we?
The next meeting will be Friday, the 17th at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Doors open around 6pm. Because no invitations are needed, you never know who will be there. Intrigued? See you Friday.
~Russ

 

 

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: April 30, 2024

Fourteen people attended. On short notice, Gil moderated the meeting. Thanks for stepping up, Gil. 

 
Lou reported ICM's 1/48 B-26 Marauder, 1/35 Studebaker US6 truck and SdKfz 251 ambulance kits are available. He also told us about the new EPA ban on methylene chloride, which many of us use, especially for plexiglass. Production will be phased out over time. Check the EPA website for details. 

 
Get ready to visit Manhattan. Fleet Week is May 22-25 and the next modeler's meet-up at Pier 57 is on May 25th. 

 
In progress and completed work included: S-67 (Vaughan has been busy correcting the intakes, rear deck and rotor droop), 1/8 scale Eleanor Mustang (from Gone in Sixty Seconds), Sherman Jumbo, F-104G, Phantom (Frank finally got the Hellenic AF colors he was looking for), Schwimmwagen, Merkava 3, M1A2 SEP Abrams (it was on Gordon's shelf of doom for a long time) and Flying Taxicab (from The Fifth Element). Acquisitions included: George Bailey & Mary Hatch vignette (from It's a Wonderful Life), Flash Gordon bust, 1/72 German AFV antennae and No-Name's battery powered airbrush. 

 
Switching from Moderator to Tool Guy, Gil introduced us to the Vinyl Weeder (aka scrap collector). Designed to remove scraps of vinyl from blades, it looks like it could be used to remove tape (think masks), decal backing or anything that collects on your blade. 

 
The topic was model mistakes discovered after the project was finished. We heard about cutting wires too short on kits with electrical components, misspelling hand painted vehicle markings, using incorrect decals, not realizing a kit part was oversized until it was attached and attaching pieces upside down (on the plus side, this led to an interesting discussion on the crawler NASA used for the Space Shuttle and how it operated). Kevin, who never considers his kits to be truly finished, corrects mistakes as he finds them, even years later. Other guys put the kit back in the box if it didn't come out right. 

 
But don't you make the mistake of missing the next meeting, Tuesday, 5/7/24 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. You should be back from the Kentucky Derby by then. 

 
~Russ