BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report: 01/28/2025

Featured Discussion: Looking for Decals 

 

Fifteen people attended. Mark reminded us the Nationals will be 8/6-9/25 in Hampton, Va. See the IPMS website for details on hotels, etc. Mark also thanked Bobby and Julio for their suggestions on Gundam categories for future IPMS contests. 

 

Julio's next Pier 57 group build will be 4/19/25. Save the date. 

 

Jimmy posted several new 1/16 AFV kits on the BPMS Facebook page, which led to a discussion on the appeal (they're cool) and practically (who has room?) of large-scale kits. 

 

Vaughan's attempt to bleach a yellowed vac form canopy by prolonged exposure to sunlight was successful, much to his surprise. 

 

In progress and completed work included: P-51 Mustang, Porsche 934 (Mark's article on painting it will appear in the Club's Bulletin), Kingfisher, Abominable Snowman & Rudolf (both sculpted by Kevin), 3D printed paratrooper pinup figure (a Lieutenant, according to Gil), USS Jimmy Carter (Michael found that brush painting a 1/700 submarine can be challenging) and F-84 E. 

 

Acquisitions included: Kubelwagon, Mangalore (from The 5th Element) and Inspector Kemp (from Young Frankenstein).

 

A set of drill bits for tile was the featured tool, highly recommended for drilling resin or 3D printed parts. 

 

In our "Go Fish" game of decals, Eric is looking for 1/48 Israeli A-4 markings and Russ is looking for 1/48 Sea Harrier markings. Everyone else is standing pat.

 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 2/4/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Whether or not the Groundhog sees its shadow on Sunday, we'd like to see you on Tuesday. 

 

~Russ

 

January 21, 2025 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Featured Discussion: Mistakes - Your mistake is someone else's learning moment. What did you do wrong and how did you correct it?  

Eric sent some photos from a large hobby shop near Edinburgh, Scotland (Hmm, I wonder what fits better in a carry-on, a 1/24 Spitfire or a 21-year-old single malt?) 

 
Anyhow, twelve people attended the meeting. We heard about spam emails, supposedly from IPMS, asking people to buy gift cards. Details are on the IPMS website. 

 
Lou reported Academy's 1/144 USN P-8A Poseidon, I Love Kits' 1/16 M4-A1 76mm Sherman (late) and 1/35 cargo trailer and 2 1/2-ton truck & howitzer are available now. Trumpeter's 1/700 Midway, (with straight or angled deck option) is on the way. 

 
Julio set up another Pier 57 meet-up up for April 19. Details to follow. Julio also gave us a word of warning. He recently got several injection molded kits from AliExpress. After working on them, he developed a severe rash on his hands. He suspects it was a reaction to a mold release agent or, possibly, the plastic used to make the parts. After lots of soap, water and skin lotion, he's getting better. Thanks, Julio, for the heads up. 

 
In progress and completed work included: Fiat G-55, Vulcan B-2, The Mouse (from The March of the Wooden Soldiers), Abominable Snowman (sculpted by Kevin), '53 Ford pickup, Space Marine figure, F15 C, F-104, U-2 , Cat Saber figure and large-scale 3D printed female figure. An S-38 was the only acquisition. 

 
This week's tool is something many of us have but never used for models, a hot glue gun. Gil uses it for tacking large scale resin or 3D printed figures. He reminded us to point the tip up when applying the glue because hot glue is runny. Speaking of glue, Don likes RUglue for gluing wood.
It seems many of us have made the same mistakes, not paying attention to instructions, rushing, not bothering to dry fit, and, the big one, cutting in the wrong direction (towards your body instead of away from body). Some other helpful tips, don't open several boxes at the same time, check your fingers often for glue and paint during construction and don't throw away the box until the model is complete - you'll need it to store that shelf queen 

 
The next meeting is Tuesday the 28th at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there.
 

~Russ

 

2024 BPMS AWARDS CONTINUED....

 

FRANK TRIPOLI - TOP GUN AWARD

MARK MULLEN

 

BERT BERG AWARD

JULIO GUADALUPE

Return of the BPMS Zoom! January 7, 2025

Featured Discussion: New Year, New Build -OR- Finishing Up Old Projects?

 

Twelve people attended. No Tuesday Zoom next week. The in-person meeting is Friday, the 17th, at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Bring your money for the kit sale and bring your unbuilt pledge model for Bobby to register. While you're at it, pay your Club dues for 2025.

Nothing to report at the moment, but Lou expects that to change next week. 

 

The June theme contest, sponsored by Frank C, Kosta L and Russ H, is "Long Live the King". Details to follow. 

 

Following up on an old discussion topic, Frank G shared photos of the supplemental shelves he made for his Ikea display cabinet. These particular ones are good for 1/72 aircraft but, the basic design has many applications. 

 

Mark rekindled his interest in cars, particularly in painting them. We can expect to see an article from him in a future Bulletin. 

 

Jimmy wonders if anyone else is interested in a BIG MODEL group build - 1/16 vehicles, 1/32 B-17s, 1/72 submarines - anything that takes up a lot of space on the display table. 

 

In-progress and completed work included: Ta-152, Fiat G-55 (Vaughn is trying sunlight to bleach its yellowed vac form canopy), Vulcan, PKZ-2 (Erasmo is building the WW1 era helicopter as a teaching aid in a presentation), Ju-87, B-17 G,  F-25 C and '53 Ford pick-up. Acquisitions included: Panther G (blitz kit), F-35 C and 1/16 Tiger 1 aftermarket main gun.

 

This week's tool is a 9.5"x5" plastic pegboard and hooks from the Dollar Store. Sections can be joined together to create as large a surface as needed.

 

Except for Erasmo and his PKZ-2, it seems everyone else is starting the new year by completing their partially built kits. Well, at least that's what they said. 

 

The next meeting is Friday, the 17th, at the Community Center. Doors open around 6pm. It's time to pay your dues, declare your pledge model and hunt for bargains. Hope to see you there. 

 

~Russ