BPMS Bulletin - July, 2013

T H E

M I N U T E S

by Judge Bax0jayz

June was another tremendous meeting. We had 24 members and 1 guest who brought in 31 models, most of which were for the theme contest.

June Meeting

THE BPMS TV AWARDS

 Model Theme Contest June 2013

The rules were simple, merely build something that showed up in a television series. The members responded in force. We had plenty of land, sea or air and even miscellaneous entries to make judging difficult for our esteemed sponsors, Joe Bergman and Vinny Rosati. The winners were:

1st: Russ Holcomb – M*A*S*H Helicopter

2nd: Frank Tripoli – Sky King

3rd: Bob Epley – Batmobile

HM:

• Israel Alvarado – Eagle from Space 1999
• Bob Epley – Archie’s Car
• Bob Pokorny – Peter Griffin/Han Solo

At this time we must thank all the members who took the time to build for this fun contest. Thanks to Ed Dietrich for making some really spiffy awards. An extra special THANK YOU to the sponsors, Joe & Vinny, without whom we would not have had this theme. Without members willing to support the theme contests, these will fall to the wayside. Thanks gents!

BBQ NIGHT: If the members of the BPMS know how to do anything, having a fun dinner is up there. We had the usual BBQ fare, hot dogs and burgers with all the fixin’s, We even had some ziti, cuz why not? I don’t know all the names of people who contributed to making the food a success, but a few whom I know should be thanked are Don Illjes and Vinny Rosati for manning the grill. Jimmy Tissot for the pot of chili. Jeff Eng for supplying this shindig. Gordon Cheung for assisting in the kitchen and setting up. And thanks to everyone who lent a hand in any way. Another success in the books.

TROOP SUPPORT: With Hugh going into retirement Jimmy Tissot volunteered to take over the role as Wounded Warrior Project liaison. He’s gotten reports regarding what models and supplies would be most useful. As always, donations of any models and supplies are welcome. Jimmy mentioned in passing the cost to ship models to Texas, so we collected a couple dollars for a little relief for him which Jeff presented at the last meeting. In addition, Jimmy was hoping to find some more support amongst the group for a raffle to benefit the troops. The idea would be to have a raffle in October of items donated by members and tickets would be $2 each. If donations are numerous enough, we might break it up into TWO raffles. We’ll see. Don Illjes also found out more about a Wounded Warrior outpost at Fort Hamilton. More details to come.

SLOPPY SECONDS: The next theme contest was unveiled! Finish something you meant to build for a previous theme contest. Full details HERE.

RAFFLE: We had a monthly raffle with an assortment of items. We had something for everyone’s tastes.

PHOTO ROSTER: Hugh can provide the files and write up the process I use in PowerPoint and PhotoManager to put the pages together. Can anyone take this job over? Contact Bobby or Jeff at the meeting.

On the agenda: July

BUILDING GROUNDWORK CLINIC: Everything looks better with a nice base. If you;ve always wondered how to make some impressive looking groundwork, be prepared to take some notes and Jimmy Tissot and Joe Bergman tells the group how they get it done. Would you like to chime in? Maybe bring in some props and be ready to join in!

 

BBQ NIGHT PART II: There were some leftovers so the sloppy seconds will be chowed down at the next meeting. We have an odd amount of food left so it’ll be first come, first served. At the time this Bulletin went to print, no pricing was calculated yet. It will likely be a charge per item. Bring a couple bucks in case.

 

SWAP NIGHT: Bring kits to swap or sell. Bring some cash, too, you never know what might show up, and there’s no tab at this bar!

See pics from each meeting at the BPMS Photo Blog:

http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

 

Our next meeting will be on

July 19th, 2013

Same Time

Same Place

See you at the BBSC!

Bulletin: April 2013

T H E

M I N U T E S

by Judge Bax0jayz

March was another great BPMS meeting. We had 26 members and no guests who brought in 25 models for an impressive March Meeting!

March Meeting

DECAL SWAP NIGHT: There were many decals swapped during the course of the meeting, but mostly for money. Cash is King!

FAVORITE MODEL: We had about a dozen models and attached stories about the favorite models of members.

TROOP SUPPORT: With Hugh going into retirement Jimmy Tissot volunteered to take over the role as Wounded Warrior Project liaison. Don Illjes also found out about a Wounded Warrior outpost at Fort Hamilton. More details to come.

RAFFLE: We had a monthly raffle with an assortment of seven items. Something for anyone’s tastes.

REPLICON 26: We sponsored a trophy package. By the time you read this the show will have passed, but we’ll discuss it during the April meeting.

PHOTO ROSTER: Hugh can provide the files and write up the process I use in PowerPoint and PhotoManager to put the pages together. Can anyone take this job over? Contact Bobby or Jeff at the meeting.

On the agenda: APRIL

WORK IN PROGRESS NIGHT: What’s on your workbench? Your pledge? Something for a theme contest? Why don’t you bring it in and show the group what you are up to. Be prepared to tell the group a couple words on your build.

PLEDGE: This month is the last month to make a declaration. See details below.

BILL MURPHY: Bill mentioned to a couple members that the April meeting will be his last before heading west. It’s always sad to see a longtime member say goodbye. Bon Voyage, Sir!

You can see pics from each meeting either at the Club Website or on the Photo-Blog: http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

2013 MODEL PLEDGE: Looks like we got this working right now! Bring in an unbuilt model between January and APRIL 2013 (extended) to declare as your pledge model. Please have it finished for OCTOBER 2013, for a display. After October you may bring back your pledge for the November meeting for the last contest of the year. For your efforts you get an additional FIVE Super Raffle tickets for completing your pledge! Sweet! Easy enough!

Our next meeting will be on

April 19, 2013

Same Time

Same Place

See you at the BBSC!

Bulletin: November 2011

THE MINUTES

by Bobby the Blue

October was a great meeting with an amazing showing for the Model Pledge. We had 31 members and 1 guest who brought in a total of 18 models. More details below.

October Meeting

NOMINATIONS: What?!?!? Fuhgettabouttit! These guys only put in one year so far! They have another year before we let them go!

2011 MODEL PLEDGE: Not bad. The majority of members who signed up for the 2011 Model Pledge came through with a finished product. We have 13 pledges on the tables and the guys told us a couple words about getting it done. Looks like we should be bringing this activity back for 2012.

DINNERS AND ANNIVERSARIES: Who likes Czech food? Looks like we’ll be at Sweik again for the holiday dinner. The date we’re looking at is December 6th. It’s a good time as it shouldn’t interfere with other holiday parties at work, etc. Details will be available at the meeting and the BPMS Blog. Stay tuned.

REGION TWO: The club sponsored a trophy package for the Region 2 will be held in NJ on 10/21-22. We should have members reporting about the show during the next meeting.

You can see pics from each meeting either at the Club Website or on the Photo-Blog: http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

On the agenda November

CONTEST NIGHTT 4Q11: This is the final installment of the BPMS Annual contest, so it’s your last chance to amass votes! (This is the quarterly contest that the votes are all combined and tallied for the DECEMBER MEETING.)

SUPER RAFFLE: It’s that time of year again. The prolific model builders get rewarded for their labors over the year by getting one ticket per model, and five additional for getting their pledge done. If you want to donate anything to the raffle, feel free to do so!

* * *

A HALT TO TROOP SUPPORT

Currently, we do not have any active Points of Contact to whom we can mail the donations made by the club. I've been in contact with the IPMS-USA lead for troop support and he also is lacking any current contacts. With the rapid draw-down in Iraq by the end of this year and the long-standing difficulty in establishing contact with troops deployed to Afghanistan, I am reluctantly suspending the collection of donations at the monthly chapter meetings in anticipation of a continuing lack of POCs. Should any members have any contacts or can suggest a worthwhile recipient of the remaining store of kits and supplies, please email me at shuvlboy [at] gmail [dot] com. I have the notebook of thank you emails and certificates of commendation we received and can make it available at any meeting. In closing, I would like to commend the membership for their sustained and generous support over the past six years. We know that we have had a positive impact on the lives of many deployed servicemen. Thanks for your support. ~ Hugh

Our next meeting will be on

NOVEMBER 18, 2011

See you at the Bergen Beach Sports Complex!

A Halt to Troop Support

Currently, we do not have any active Points of Contact to whom we can mail the donations made by the club. I've been in contact with the IPMS-USA lead for troop support and he also is lacking any current contacts. With the rapid draw-down in Iraq by the end of this year and the long-standing difficulty in establishing contact with troops deployed to Afghanistan, I am reluctantly suspending the collection of donations at the monthly chapter meetings in anticipation of a continuing lack of POCs. Should any members have any contacts or can suggest a worthwhile recipient of the remaining store of kits and supplies, please email me at shuvlboy [AT] gmail.com. I have the notebook of thank you emails and certificates of commendation we received and can make it available at any meeting. In closing, I would like to commend the membership for their sustained and generous support over the past six years. We know that we have had a positive impact on the lives of many deployed servicemen.

~Hugh A

Bulletin: March 2011

THE MINUTES

by Bobby Pokorny

February was a great month. We had 29 members and 2 guests who brought in 28 models, for a very impressive quarterly contest.

February Meeting

SHOW US YOUR TOOL: This is a fun activity with an AWFUL name! We had many members bringing in various items to show the group. Did you learn something new?

CONTEST NIGHT 1Q2011: The tables were FILLED to capacity with contest entries. This was a most impressive kick-off to the 2011 annual quarterly contest. Did you have trouble filling out your ballot, I mean with all the choices in each category, and not the under-complicated ballot we use!

MAY SUPER RAFFLE: In an effort to try to raise funds for certain activities Joe Bergman donated a 1/35 King Tiger Dragon “white box” with a tank crew. For such a nice prize we’ll have a special raffle in May. Tixx are only $5 a pop.

MODEL PLEDGE: We got a good number of members signing up for the 2011 Model Pledge. Will you join in the fun? More details below.

You can see pics from each meeting either at the Club Website or on the Photo-Blog: http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

On the agenda: March

DECAL SWAP NIGHT: Bring in decals to sell or trade. You might want to bring in some money in case the sheet you’ve been looking for shows up!

FAVORITE MODEL: Do you have a model that you consider your favorite? Whether it’s built of unbuilt, please bring it (or them) in and be prepared to tell the group a couple words about your fondness for it.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE THEME: We had three sponsors come forward for the June theme contest. More details HERE.

2011 MODEL PLEDGE: It seems that we kept the concept entirely too loose for members tastes last year so we’re tightening them up a little in 2011. Please bring in an unbuilt model between January and March to declare as your pledge model. Please have it finished for the OCTOBER MEETING for a display. In between there will be one WIP night, which would be nice to show us your progress (April). After October you may bring back your pledge to the November meeting for the last contest of the year. For your efforts you get an additional FIVE Super Raffle tickets for completing your pledge! Sweet! Easy enough? Now go have fun with it!

Troop Support Update – Report to Date for 2011

Since establishing contact with SPC Craig Perry at FOB Speicher at the beginning of the year, we have sent four shipments, totaling 86 hobby items, consisting of:

· 1 Airbrush

· 1 Compressor

· 30 Model Kits

· 14 Bottles of Paint

· 14 Paint Brushes

· 6 Hobby Knives

· 6 Hobby Magazines

· 4 Sanding Blocks and Sticks

· 10 Miscellaneous Tools

In addition to the request for the airbrush and compressor, SPC Perry has requested more paint and glue. Please keep in mind that paints and glues must be non-flammable. Also, we cannot ship aerosol cans through the USPS.

Thanks again for your donations!

A reminder – we can't ship any flammable materials, so no model airplane cement or paints with a flammable base such as enamels, lacquers, and some acrylics (Tamiya, for example). Frequently requested materials are paintbrushes and automotive kits.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Hugh

T-SHIRTS: The first wave of shirts arrived a couple months ago. The BPMS blue and white never looked better! Our t-shirt artist came up with another concept that we’re taking orders for now too. Logo on the left-side of the chest, with two options! Ask about it at the meeting. Approx. $12 a pop.

TAKE A PART / LEAVE A PART: Gordon will bring in the big basin monthly for “Take a Part / Leave a Part.” Please feel free to toss your spares into the big bin too! This is something we can all add to or take away from.

GENERATING MONEY: The club will continue to sell magnets and patches and run raffles and to generate some extra money. The reserves for raffles are hitting rock bottom, any donations of recent models would be greatly appreciated! Can we count on you to help fund various activities and sponsorships?

NEW MEMBER? If you're a new member, please see Hugh Alcock to have your photo taken for our newsletter and photo roster. Putting your picture and name in the newsletter is a great way for the membership to get to know you. And the photo roster is a great way for you to get to know the membership. If you didn't get a photo roster, see Bobby Pokorny or Hugh Alcock.

40 YEARS OF THE BPMS: 2012 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the BPMS. We have a year to set up a bash. It should be fun! A dinner is certainly in order. Maybe we should figure out a way to tie in a theme contest. Ideas? Let the officers know!

SUPPORT THE BULLETIN: Some ideas for the newsletter from Hugh –

* Members can write a paragraph or two on how they got interested and/or re-interested in modeling.

* Show us your workbench: Have folks take a picture of their modeling habitat at home and describe what they like and/or don’t like about the setup.

Our next meeting will be on March 18, 2011.

Same time

Same place

SPC Perry has sent several thank you e-mails to let us know how much our support is appreciated by the troops forward deployed in Iraq.

BPMS Troop Support Update for 2011 though 15FEB

BPMS Supports the Troops

Report to Date for 2011

Since establishing contact with SPC Craig Perry at FOB Speicher at the beginning of the year, we have sent four shipments, totaling 86 hobby items, consisting of:

* 1 Airbrush
* 1 Compressor
* 30 Model Kits
* 14 Bottles of Paint
* 14 Paint Brushes
* 6 Hobby Knives
* 6 Hobby Magazines
* 4 Sanding Blocks and Sticks
* 10 Miscellaneous Tools

SPC Perry has sent several thank you e-mails to let us know how much our support is appreciated by the troops forward deployed in Iraq.

In addition to the request for the airbrush and compressor, SPC Perry has requested more paint and glue. Please keep in mind that paints and glues must be non-flammable. Also, we cannot ship aerosol cans through

the USPS.

Thanks again for your donations!

BPMS Supports the Troops - Report to Date: 03/06 - 09/09

Our ‘Support the Troops’ campaign passed a significant milestone at the end of July this year when we shipped our 500th model to the Baghdad Hobby Club. That’s a lot of plastic, not to mention the over 1,200 modeling tools, bottles of paint, decals, magazines, and other miscellaneous items. The modelers at Forward Operating Base Speicher received our initial support as we responded to their request for donations in early 2006, but over the past four years, we have expanded our support to include: the central kit distribution point in Baghdad; modelers in the middle of the Indian Ocean at the U.S. base in Diego Garcia; and small units deployed in locations remote from the larger bases who now missed the support of the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation associations and turned to us.

As club members, we’ve donated in different ways. We’ve shown up at meetings with multiple boxes of kits and we’ve given steadily, kit-by-kit, over the past four years. Kits and tools won in a raffle have found their way into the donation bin by the end of the meeting. There’s evidence that the troops were in mind on that last trip to the dollar store when those small, but essential tools and supplies show up in multiples. There have been nights when the donations from members have only been limited by the carrying capacity of my car. A club that has few car modelers donated an air compressor, airbrush, and over 30 car models in seven months to support a special request from soldiers suddenly relocated from Baghdad to Basra. And no one has donated with the goal of being recognized for it, but simply because they wanted to show their support in a tangible way to the troops who have sacrificed so much since 9-11.

And the troops are grateful. We have received thank you messages from the following; doubtless many others also enjoyed the kits and supplies we donated as a way to break up the monotony or ease the stress of a deployment

• SSGT Steve Demott
• Commander Kevin Kincaid, USNR
• Major Andrew M. Taylor, 3-2 SBCT Engineer
• LTC George Salerno, coordinator for IPMS support, country-wide
• MAJ Duke Samouce, founder of the Speicher club
• MSGT Erick Gonzalez
• SFC Paul Edwards, 793rd Military Police BN
• COL Ted Martin, Commander, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
• Thomas Turner, Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division
• Diego Garcia Modeling Club
• MSG Brian Allen
• SMSGT Jerry M. Sadler, Jr.

In closing this summary, I’d like to extend my thanks to the entire club for their support. Without your generous donations, this four-year run would not have been possible. Obviously, we’d like to see all the troops heading home, but until they do, we’ll continue to support them as only modelers can.

Hugh A, September 9, 2009

BPMS Supports the Troops - Report to Date

March 2006 to September 2009

Note that we passed the 500 mark in Model Kits shipped!

Bulletin: February, 2009

T h e M i n u t e s

by Bobby B2 Blue Pokorny

We started 2009 off on the right foot. We had 26 members and 3 guests bringing in 27 theme contest entries and a total of 36 models displayed for the night.

January Meeting
New Regime: The new year brought the new prez and veep at the helm. We were actually able to hear President Ray in the back of the room.

Loss of a founder: Founding member of the BPMS, Joe Turner (IPMS #90!), passed away days before the January meeting. Our sympathies to his family. We’re working on ideas for a theme contest in his honor for the end of 2009. More to come.

I just received word that Joe Turner, long time IPMS USA member passed away last night at his sister's house in Florida .

Described by one IPMS wife, Carol Fleckenstein, he was a "unique gentleman, a genuine intellectual and a good friend", sentiments I heartily agree with and cannot improve upon. Along with Bert Berg and the rest of the Brooklyn Plastic Modelers Society, Joe was in on the ground floor of helping make the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City a reality long before she docked at Pier 86 and became a museum ship, by supporting the foundation with model exhibits. When Bert's eyesight began failing him, he recruited me to serve as the IPMS model supervisor for the Intrepid in 1981, about a year before the museum opened.

Joe had already completed some research on the Intrepid's Air Groups and matched it up with available models and decals. His research was the basis of the two of the first exhibits built for the Intrepid Museum - deck loads of aircraft that served aboard the Intrepid in 1944 and 1956. The latter deck exhibit was incorporated into a visual comparison of the deck sizes between the USS Intrepid 1956 and the USS Enterprise. Bert recruited me to research the Enterprise Air Groups against available models and decals and I settled on markings in a Koku Fan (remember that Japanese magazine!) for the Starship's 1978 RIMPAC exercise. BPMS modelers built the Intrepid aircraft and NJIPMS modelers, under my supervision, built the aircraft models for the Enterprise deck.

Joe held one of the low (early) IPMS USA membership numbers and he was a regular fixture at IPMS USA local, regional and national conventions, as well the IPMS UK show at Telford . You could not miss Joe if you saw him at a model convention - he was a giant of a man towering over other average height modelers. If any UK Hyperscalers know a Brit modeler named Chris Peacock, please let him know about Joe's passing. It's my understanding that Joe often pal'd around with Mr.Peacock on his trips to the UK .

Joe worked for a long time in the airline industry and held some pretty strong opinions on it (especially Pan Am), which he was not shy about sharing. Some time after he retired he moved from Brooklyn to North Carolina . As with Bert Berg, Joe's eyesight (also never good to begin with) starting deteriorating even further after his retirement - certainly a blow to any modeler. You could not tell that from being with Joe, though. He was always upbeat and enthusiastic - never a downer crepe-hanging type.

The modeling community has lost another stalwart member (in Joe's case, a veritable monument). I'll miss him lumbering toward me, like one of those Lord of the Rings tree creatures, in a vendor area, or IPMS model display room.

Happy Flight, Joe
R. Bruce Archer , PG

Awards Ceremony: As I hoped, I had the awards ready in time, and your winners, as the members voted, were:

Air:
HM: Kevin Batterman , Charlie Nelson
3rd Frank Tripoli
2nd Hugh Alcock
1st Frank Colucci

Armor:
HM: Kevin Batterman, Gordon Cheung
3rd (tie) Frank Tripoli, Guy Ferrara
2nd John Irwin
1st Nick B.

Figure:
3rd (tie) Guy Ferrara , Ted Fazio
2nd John Irwin
1st Kevin Batterman

Sea:
HM: Russ Holcomb, John Irwin
3rd Ray Keegan
2nd Charlie Nelson
1st Mike Crescenzo

Sci-Fi:
3rd Hugh Alcock
2nd Gordon Cheung
1st Jeff Eng

Misc:
HM: Vinny Rosati
3rd Ray Keegan
2nd Mike Crescenzo
1st Israel Alvarado

Most Popular Entry:
1Q: Hugh Alcock, FLEEA Mk I
2Q: Kevin Batterman, T-34/85
3Q: Gordon Cheung, Gundam
Tie: Ray Keegan, SA-2 SAM
4Q: Frank Tripoli, He-219

TOP GUN:
Mike Crescenzo

Congrats to the winners!

Kit Sale: Some kits were bought and sold. A nice balance, wouldn't you say?

NASA Theme Contest: It was postponed from December to January. There was a great showing of fine work. See the results here:
http://bpmsclub.blogspot.com/2009/01/nasa-theme-contest.html

On the agenda: February
Show Us Your Tool: This activity isn’t nearly as vulgar as it sounds. Do you use some unorthodox tools? Have you invented a new method to get something done? Gather up some tips and tools to bring and tell the group about for this fun February activity.

Contest Night 1st Qtr 2009: The first installment of the BPMS quarterly contest is already upon us. You need only look at the results of the 2008 contest to see if you want to do something about your bragging rights. You can bring in entries from the NASA Theme contest if it’s never been in a contest before.

The next theme contest: It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Modeling Contest!
Read about it here:
http://bpmsclub.blogspot.com/2009/01/next-theme-its-mad-mad-mad-mad-modeling.html

Final Meeting to help out with a special request from the troops:
Read about it here:
http://bpmsclub.blogspot.com/2009/01/request-for-special-troop-support.html

Our next meeting will be on February 20, 2009.

Status Report for Supporting the Troops

Thanks for the awesome support last month in response to our special effort to provide car kits and colors suitable for cars to the MPs in Basra. Please remember the special requests by this group the next time you’re at the hobby shop or shopping on the Internet. We only have a couple of months left before this group of soldiers starts packing up and heading home.

Thanks,
Hugh

BPMS Supports the Troops - Report to Date
March 2006 to January 2009

Request for Special Troop Support

Request for Special Troop Support

Each model kit that we send overseas in support of the troops has a small tag enclosed or attached to the box that identifies the Brooklyn Plastic Modelers Society as the donor. The tag also indicates our willingness to meet special requests for models, supplies, reference material, etc. Over the last three years, we have sent close to 500 models to Iraq, but it was only last month, just before our December meeting, that I received the very first special request for our support from a group of Army modelers in Iraq. This group of modelers had been relocated within Iraq to a base where there was no access to a recreation center with airbrushes, compressors, tools, paints, and kits. The point of contact, Specialist Edwards, asked for a compressor, paints, and model car kits. I can report that we shipped a compressor, airbrush, a few paints and some car kits just before Christmas. I’m asking that we make a special effort in the next two months to supply more car kits and acrylic, water-based paints in colors suitable for cars. In this way we can make the remaining months of their deployment go a bit faster. The types of cars that were requested are “muscle cars”, but Specialist Edwards clarified that kits of any kind of street rod, hot rod, or true muscle car would be appreciated. The colors that are needed are the bright reds, gloss blacks, metallic blues, canary yellows, etc., as opposed to our beloved Panzer Gray, Dark Earth, and Gunship Gray camouflage colors. Just a reminder, the paints need to be water-based, nonflammable paints to be acceptable to the local postal authorities who accept our packages for shipment. I know we’re not blessed with a lot of car modelers in the club, but I’m sure we can support this special request if we keep these troops in mind on that next trip to the hobby shop or when placing that next Internet order. Thanks, as always, for your great support.
~ Hugh A.

Status report update for troop support

Significant milestone - we’ve shipped more than 1500 items

BPMS Supports the Troops - Report to DateMarch 2006 to January 2009

A letter from Iraq

...members of the Brooklyn Plastic Modeler’s Society

I wanted to write and thank you for the models you sent to Iraq for our soldiers. I am the commander of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division based out of Forward Operating Base Falcon, in Southern Baghdad. Model building is a great stress buster and we have many soldiers who build model kits in their spare time.

Attached you will find a picture of some of the brigade staff’s handy-work.

Thanks again- we appreciate the support!

V/R

COL Ted M.
Raider 6
HHD 1 BCT 4ID
APO AE 09361

Steadfast & Loyal

BPMS Supports the Troops - Report to Date

BPMS Supports the Troops - Report to Date

Speicher Update

From Hugh:

Master Sergeant Brian Allen, our point of contact in Iraq for model shipments, had to cut short his deployment for health reasons related to his long service as a paratrooper. Specialist First Class Steven Delong has taken over. Before he left, MSG Allen made a point to thank the BPMS for their many contributions, adding, “I always look forward to your boxes as they have some pretty interesting kits in them”. It’s hard to know if he meant the San Francisco street car model or the Gundam figures. Like the Master Sergeant, I too am amazed at the variety of contributions of kits, tools, and magazines that you donate. Thank you for your continued support.

Speicher Report

OK - I finished all the photo shop work this afternoon and with the names you sent back, I should have our Christmas card to Speicher finished tonight. I’ll send it to you and Frank C for proofreading, if you don’t mind. I’ll just send you a compressed jpeg file. The original PowerPoint is approaching 16 MB. (Which is funny, ‘cause I deal in TB most of my professional life, but email being what it is, 16MB seems large.)

-Hugh

A Thank You Note from Iraq

I got the following thank you from a soldier using the model club facilities at FOB Speicher. Thought you’d like to post it and/or use it in the newsletter.

Hugh

Dear Sir,

On behalf of deployed modelers in Iraq, thank you and the Brooklyn Plastic Modeler's Society for your generosity and thoughtfulness.

I was recently at FOB Speicher and heard about the Model Club. Once I found it, I was simply amazed at how well stocked the club was with kits and supplies. You and your fellow modelers have really made a huge positive impact in our deployment. With the chaos, long hours, and austere working conditions, any escape is welcome - especially settling in with a model.

The Brooklyn Plastic Modeler's Society and other like-minded clubs, businesses and
modelers have provided a critical link for deployed modelers and introduced other people into our great hobby.

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Andrew Taylor

ANDREW A. TAYLOR
MAJ, EN
3-2 SBCT ENGINEER

Speicher Update - September 2007

The contributions for July and August kept up the momentum established in May and June! Thanks to everyone for continuing to keep the troops in mind when looking at your personal “warehouse in the basement” and on trips to the hobby shop, the dollar store, and home improvement stores.

Speicher Update - June 2007

WOW! The contributions for May and June were literally over the top in that they were spilling over the boxes, even though I brought a much bigger box in June! Thanks to everyone for their whole-hearted support.

~Hugh

Some news from Hugh

Attached is the latest report on Speicher support for the blog/newsletter. I won’t be at the May meeting. I’ll ask Frank C. to bring a box for donations.

Turning around the old saying that ‘if you don’t enter, you can’t win’, at PennCon it was ‘if you enter, you can’t lose’. I had the only entry in both 1/72 Single and Multi-Engine jet last weekend. For some reason, there were plenty of cars and plenty of targets (armor), but almost nothing in the airplane categories. I was so embarrassed. I called Frank to share a laugh about the situation and he reminded me that ‘any kill is a good kill’, but my two planes sure looked lonely sitting in the middle of that big table. 1/72 ME prop did not have any entries. Thank goodness they extended registration - there were some entries at the last minute to fill out 1/48 SE prop, otherwise I would have had half the entries in that category (3 out of 6). The president of the club announced the awards and he thanked me for showing up and bringing some planes.

Take care and see you in June - Hugh

Speicher Support Status Report

We reached two milestones with our latest shipment to the model club at Speicher on 30 April 2007. We surpassed the double century mark for kits and we have now sent over 500 total donations. We also have a new point of contact, MSGT Gonzalez having headed home and turned over the reins to SGT Juan Batista. On behalf of the troops, thanks again for everyone’s support. Hugh