BPMS Zoom Mini Meeting: 12/2/2025

TOPIC: What's your go-to measuring tool, ruler, scale ruler, protractor, dividers, syringe, feeler gauge? Or maybe you just go by eye. Nothing wrong with that.

Tried something new, hosted the first session as usual, and hosted the second session from my phone. If you couldn't sign in to Part 2, my apologies. 

 

Sixteen people attended. Saturday the 6th will be busy. Frank DeSisto will give a tour of Hanger B at Floyd Bennett Field, in Brooklyn, at 9:30 am and the BPMS Holiday Lunch will be at Wheelers, 1705 Sheepshead Bay Road, also in Brooklyn, at 1pm. 

 

Lou reports Tamiya's 1/72 F-14 D is now available. 

 

If you're good at diagnosing problems with Gaahleri airbrushes, Vaughn would like to hear from you. 

 

Speaking of Gaahleri, Angelo likes Gaahleri Kaleido paints- gloss automotive and mecha colors only. The new paint sprays like lacquer without smell. 

 

Other tips - Bobby thinks that file folder racks would be good for organizing sprues during construction and Mark said that he finds No.22 X-Acto blades are more versatile/useful than No. 11 blades.

 

We saw Vaughn's F-102 and T-34 (a tank, who'da thunk it?), Mr. K's I-165, Twin Beech, PBY-5 and Native American Chief figure, Chuck's P-38 and Ilyushin Il-2 (with a clear plastic disc taking the place of a broken propeller), Angelo's Eagle (from Space 1999), Mark's T-72 and M5A1 Stuart, Frank's Mirage IIIC and Hawk (from Space 1999), Gil's 3D printed Swamp Buggy racing vehicle, Russ' Mk 2 Dalek and Bobby's 3D printed British Sci-fi tank. 

 

Acquisitions included: F-5, 3D printed pilots from Reed Oak (Jimmy is impressed  by the quality and is stocking up because they may be closing down) and an arch light designed for manicure salons but ideal for workbenches (see the link on the Zoom Meeting Team Chat).

 

The featured tool was a carbon odor control pre-filter for a paint spray booth. It's useful if you can't vent outdoors. 

 

Discussing methods of measurement, small metal rulers and flexible plastic were very popular. Old school drafting tools, a compass, and dividers were mentioned. Digital calipers come in handy. So does the small 90-degree metal measuring triangle Mark uses. 

 

The next BPMS get-together is Saturday, the 6th, at Wheeler's at 1pm. The next Zoom meeting is Tuesday, the 9th, at 7:30 pm. Invites to follow. Hope you can make it.

 

~Russ