September 10, 2024 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Featured Discussion: Are you really gonna use all that aftermarket stuff? How much photoetch and resin have you used successfully?  
 

With some usual suspects on travel and otherwise engaged, ten people attended the September 10 BPMS Zoom meeting. There is no Zoom meeting this Tuesday, but the real, live BPMS meeting will be Friday, Sept. 20 at the Bergen Beach Sports Complex.  The Friday meeting will include a workshop on weathering aircraft and, as a special draw, hot dogs aged from barbecue night!

Lou reported few new kit arrivals – the 1/48 scale US Marine Corps F/A-18D and Australian Air Force F/A-18A Hornets from Kinetic and a 1/ Renault S Turbo motorcycle from Tamiya. He also shared an observation on the apparent value of resin, photoetch, and 3D-printed aftermarket accessories to his customers: “One out of 10 buys resin. Photoetch, forget about it.” Aftermarket bombs and missiles for aircraft find more buyers.

Vaughan updated his progress on his 1/48 Stinson painted in an attractive white-and-gold scheme. Still to be mastered is the neat green piping running from nose to tail. “This thing is turning into experiment.” Suggested approaches include fine-bristle nail-finishing brushes and fine-point paint markers.  

Jimmy showed two packs of new AK Real Color paint markers. The line includes specialty colors for wheels, tracks, and other tactical vehicle details. Jimmy remains a regular user of aftermarket accessories including metal gun barrels for armor kits. He revealed a 3D-printed F-35B gun pod from Galaxy Models and a 3D-printed set of 1/12 scale motorcycle wheels. “I can’t build anything out of the box. I have to add something to it.”

President Tom noted the value of aftermarket parts to replace missing kit details. Erasmo showed off his handsome de Havilland DH.88 Comet built without aftermarket from the ancient Airfix kit and a Polish RWD-6 monoplane racer. He acknowledged, “I love aftermarket. The only problem is I don’t know how to use it very well.” Don suggested using a belt sander to trim resin parts for plastic kits.

Kevin finds little call for aftermarket parts when building fantasy figures and other specialty resin kits. His work-in-progress was Fred Flintstone’s neat roadster with a troublesome droopy resin sunshade. Moderator Frank showed his Monogram F-8E with a replacement seat more representative of early Crusaders but noted resin cockpits seem like more trouble than they’re worth when compared to typical Monogram and Hasegawa cockpits.

Chuck talked about the challenges building the new Airfix B-17 with all its out-of-the-box interior details and said he was not confident using photoetch parts to punch-up aircraft details. With an accountant’s eye, IPMS Region 1 Member of the Year Bobby concluded “I have no interest buying parts that triple or quadruple the cost of the kit. . . If I buy something, it’s because I want to build what’s in the box.”

The next Zoom meeting will be Sept. 24.   See ya for real on Friday!

~Frank

 

MInutes from the 9/3/24 ZOOM Meeting

 

Eleven people attended, and Mark was there in spirit, having sent photos of the mystery cowling we tried to identify back in January. After the meeting, the photos were forwarded to all. Thanks for following up, Mark. 

 

Kosta also had photos. His were from the Gloucester Schooner Festival. 

When Bobby was out of town, he found an ad for Hobby Outlet in Cresco, PA. Chuck knows the place, big inventory, with old and new kits. He recommends you call before you go, as hours are limited. 

 

No updates for future Pier 57 or BrookLAN events. 

Lou reports Meng's 1/35 Merkava 4 with roof armor, ICM's 1/48 WW 2 Japanese pilot and ground crew figures, Ju 88 P, Beaufort Mk 1 and Magic Factory's 1/48 F4U-1A/2 Corsair (2 kit set) were available. 

 

In progress and completed work included: F-22, Stinson Reliant (Vaughn says it's not a bad kit considering its age) Lowbrow Flintstones (definitely not a candidate for The Build Like an 11-Year-Old theme contest, says Kevin), Edmond Fitzgerald,  F-8 Crusader and 3D printed female figure (using open-source software, Gil can scratch build on his computer rather than on his workbench). 

 

Stepping away from his computer, Gil explained how to make a Bare Metal Foil alternative from household aluminum foil, parchment paper and Mona Lisa metal leaf adhesive (from Speedball).

 

A tip from Don, SeamFil, made for filling seams in Formica, works on models, too.

Who rebuilds their old models? Few of us, it seems. Many prefer building the kit again, especially if they have multiple kits in the stash. Some keep the old build as a learning tool, some keep it for spare parts. Erasmo was an exception, refinishing a English Electric Lightning that was built by someone else. Chuck plans to resurrect a partially built SS United States as soon as can figure out the best way to do it.

We had enough time at the end to discuss sponsorship request etiquette and give feedback on the IPMS $60.00 renewal offer. 

 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 9/10/24 at 7:30 pm. Bobby will host. Watch for his invite.

 

Russ

09/03/2024 BPMS ZOOM Mini Meeting

Part 1 starts promptly at 7:30 PM EST.
Part 2 starts at 8:10 PM if we need more time.

Members and guests are cordially invited to join our group for our weekly online meeting!

All are welcome! If you would like to join, DM us your email address and name so we can include you in the email list with Zoom Meeting details (meeting numbers and passwords)!

On the agenda:

BPMS Club News.
IPMS News.
Other clubs news.
Hobby News.
What's on your workbench?
Featured Discussion

 

August 27, 2024 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Twelve people attended. Several of them commented on the latest issue of the latest IPMS Journal (Yeah, yeah, it's IUJ but I'm sticking with the old name). Don thought the grey text was used to discourage copying. Jimmy thought the grey looked fine.  Let's see what the next issue looks like. 

 

We talked some more about having the Holiday Lunch at Dinosaur BBQ in Brooklyn, possibly December 8^th or 15th. Other BBQ places were mentioned but Dinosaur is the best value. 

 

There was enough talk about airbrushes to justify making it a discussion topic for a future meeting. 

 

Lou reports Hasegawa's 1/72 F-18 A Super Hornet with Blue Angels markings is available. 

 

In progress and completed work included: M-4 A3 Sherman with Infantry, Medusa, Lucy (Kevin found the way to realistically paint lace), Type VII U-Boat Upper Deck, Chariot (from Lost in Space), F-8 Crusader (Frank rediscovered his appreciation of the old Monogram kits) and Ho-Ri 2 tank. 

 

Gil had two tools this time, a magnetizer/demagnetizer that comes in handy for handling small metal fasteners and a pipe plug he's using as a handle to hold the Chariot's upper section as he applies Bare Metal Foil to the framework.

 

The topic was problems we had while using fluids. Some could have been avoided if we just read the label. It also helps to take your time and double check what's in your hand. Similar-looking bottles with foreign language labels can be differentiated by colored tape or labels you make yourself. Decal setting solutions can react differently to different paints. Try new combinations on your paint mule first. Spills can be a problem, so remember to tighten those lids, caps, corks and seals. The adventitious among us who formulate their own thinners and glues remembered the times they mixed up the ingredients.  It didn't end well.

 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 9/3/24 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Have a happy Labor Day weekend and use your non modeling fluids responsibly.

 

~Russ