Long-time member Don Illjes dead at 74.

It's with great sadness that I am reporting about the death of longtime member Don Illjes on July 19, 2025. He was 74. While his cause of death is unknown to us, his health had been of concern for years. Rest in peace, Mr Wood Doctor. 

 

BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 7/22/25 meeting featured topic - old dog new trick

Featured Discussion: What new (to you) modeling technique have you tried lately and how did it work out?

Eleven people attended. 

We noted the passing of former Tamiya President Shunsaku Tamiya, and we reminisced about former IPMS President Jack Kennedy. And yes, we talked about Ozzy Osbourne, too.
Two group builds coming up, the first at Japan Village in Brooklyn on 7/26/25 and the second at Pier 57 in Manhattan on 8/2/25. Several BPMS members are going to the IPMS Nationals on 8/6-10/25 in Hampton, VA. Kevin made an offer to put their impressions in the Bulletin and who's gonna refuse an offer from Kevin? 

Mark told us about Hoopla, an online streaming service for public libraries. It's a convenient way to access refence material. Unfortunately, not all libraries have it. 

Russ shared a friend's photo of the Cavalcade of Wings display at the Albuquerque Airport. Nine hundred models, not a bad place for a layover, eh? Check the Airport website for details. 

We saw Vaughn's Ju-88 and Vigilante RA 5C to A5 conversation (he expects it to be challenging), Mark's Porsche 926, Kevin's George Bailey and Mary Hatch figures (from It's a Wonderful Life), Chuck's P-51 (with Rub 'n Buff natural metal finish), Gil's 3D printed Anna Valerious figure (from Van Helsing), Simon's Grumman Albatross (an old build he rescued from E-Bay), Frank's F-104 (rescued from his shelf of doom) and Bobby's TL 800 Gundam. 

Acquisitions included: Master Tool Rivet Maker, Harder & Steenbeck airbrush, a pencil extender, metallic paint markers and dotting tools. 

This week's tool was a dollar store handle for foam sanding pads, which led to an interesting observation. Not every dollar store carries the same items, so it pays to visit each one you come across. 

We didn't hear many new tricks. Using paint markers instead of brushes or airbrushes was one (greater control). Using ceramic burrs on your rotary tool was another (won't heat up and melt plastic like metal burrs do). Last one, cosmetic sponges can be used for highlighting (an alternative to dry brushing). 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 6/29/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope to see you there. Stay hydrated. 

~Russ  

 

 

  

July 8, 2025 BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting

Twelve people attended, including Paul F, who we haven't seen in a while. Kevin was our moderator. Sad news, former IPMS President and ex Long Islander Jack Kennedy passed away. Years ago, I met him at a Convention and told him I was with BPMS. He remembered the club and asked about several members by name. He was glad to hear we were still active. RIP, Jack. 

 

No Tuesday Zoom next week. The in-person meeting is Friday, 7/18/25 at the Community Center. The theme is NACA/NASA. Don't be confused, it's all explained in the Bulletin, which went out this morning. 

 

Lou reports Academy's 1/35 Israeli M-113 Fitter ARV is available. Kevin mentioned an injection molded Mothman kit is in the works.

 

We saw Vaughn's F-104 (he managed to fit in a pilot and instrument panel) and Ju-88, Paul's large scale '67 Mustang (Elanore, from Gone in 60 Seconds) and Space Ark (from When Worlds Collide), Gil's customized Trailer and 3D printed Nicholas Cage figure (to accompany Eleanor), Chuck's P-47, Erik's Panther G (he said the  blitz kit looked good, was cheap and fun to build) and Skyraider, Erasmo's F-101 Voodoo, Yak 38 and Hurricane, Gordon's Prototype Gundam (he showed us how to improve reflective surfaces with vinyl cutouts and UV Resin), Kevin's Bedford Falls sidewalk and a scratch-built spooky tree you'd never see in Bedford Falls, Frank C's A-4F Skyhawk (with "Lady Jessie" markings). 

 

Just one acquisition, Ukrainian M1 -A1.

 

Gil's tool of the week was armature wire. Slip an alligator clip on the end and you have a flexible paint stand. Kevin uses a wooden clamp when sculpting, but he thinks a short length of 2x4, a wood block and a carriage bolt would work just as well. 

 

The topic was building to a deadline. Depending on who you speak to, deadlines can focus our attention, make us rush/make mistakes, or take the fun out of building. Some build to deadlines but don't enjoy it. Others set deadlines and never meet them. Most memorable deadline stories? Repairing a damaged aircraft in a hotel bathroom the night before the entry was due and working on a kit in the back of a van while being driven to the venue. 

 

We had time for several spontaneous discussions, the December British science fiction theme contest,  the status of the only S-60 helicopter ever built, the story of Jessie Beck and her connection with VA 164 and filling small cracks with UV resin.

 

The next meeting is Friday, the 18th at the Community Center in Brooklyn. Doors open around 5:30 pm. No invites needed. Bring your NACA/NASA builds. Bring your dues if you haven't done so already. Stay cool, see you next week. 

 

~Russ 

 

  

BPMS MEETING: JULY 18, 2025

 ACTIVITIES DIRECTING

By Bobby Pokorny

Welcome to JULY! I hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July! 

NACA/NASA THEME NIGHT:  While we realize that not everyone is a Real Space Modeler, the rules are that any plane/support vehicle does not have to have the NACA/NASA logo on it – only that you provide the reason it belongs in this exhibit.

For example, if you show an F-15 that doesn’t have NASA logo on it, it will still count of you can say that F15s were typically used by NASA as chase planes, and fill the role of escort aircraft during research missions. Or that the F-15s are used by Armstrong research pilots for routine flight training required by all NASA pilots.

For the car guys, did you know that most of the Apollo astronauts drove gold Corvettes? Light bulb!

Got it? Let’s see what the club tables will look like! ~KK

Meeting Date: 

JULY 18, 2025

Members start showing up by 5PM to set up.

Feel free to come early and hang-out!

 

 

July Bulletin by Kevin K in PDF Format

July 1, 2025 - BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting Report

Eleven people attended. 

The next Pier 57 group build is Saturday, 8/2/25, in Manhattan. The IPMS Nationals are 8/6-9/25, in Hampton VA. Mark and Don talked about the plans for this year's convention and others shared their good (and less good) experiences at recent Nationals. 

We saw Mr. K's Fireball Dragster, Lockheed 12, Model 18 Twin Beech and P-40E, Kevin's George and Mary Bailey figures, scratch-built, guitar playing, Cheech (maybe it was Chong) from Up in Smoke and evil Cheshire Cat with scratch-built tree, Bobby's Sabre Cat and space forklift (?) and Gil's Phantom Ford Econoline van (it's a long story). Acquisitions included: Jagdpanther, Flash Gordon figure and Porsche tractor. Speaking of acquisitions, Joe H said A&N Model Trucks is a good place to find truck parts and accessories online. 

Leaving the Dollar Store, Gil found this week's tool at Home Depot. It's a 10' long by 6" wide roll of aluminum flashing, estimated to be around 0.02" thick. It can be easily cut and shaped and has many possible uses (think schurzen for a Jagdpanther or bulkhead/firewall for an aircraft or vehicle). 

The topic was rebuilding kits to bring them up to your current skill level. Some people feel a model has a life cycle. It's built, stored, entered in a contest, displayed at home, or stored. Some leave their old work as is, to remind them what went wrong. Frank C doesn't rebuild. Instead, he takes old, partially built kits off the shelf and completes them. He's usually happy with the results. Kevin will repaint figures if he wants to try a new technique. But most of us don't look back, especially if we have an embarrassingly large stash. 

The next meeting is Tuesday, 7/8/25 at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Have a safe and happy 4th of July.

~Russ