The Brooklyn Plastic Modelers Society

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

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.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Region 1 Update - Important Insurance Information

Hi everyone,

As you all know, there's been some discussions regarding the IPMS insurance. In my last update I mentioned that further information will be forthcoming. Well here we are, at the fourth coming!! Attached is the "Official" guidelines everyone needs to know regarding obtaining insurance for your event. It effects every IPMS chapter.

If your event is already approved, and listed on the website, you should have made your insurance needs known, and are past this stage. However, from this point foward, you'll find this document VERY important!! Please keep a copy handy for your show committee and Officer Corps. It spells out the correct way in obtaining the insurance. There will be NO deviation from this policy, and any deviation will mean you won't be insured. If there are any questions, please ask. I'll be happy to answer anything you're not sure of. If I can't answer it, I'll get you an answer pronto. It's easy to follow, and could mean the differance in being insured, and not.

You'll be hearing this message a few more times in the next few updates, as everyone needs to be on board with it. "I didn't know" won't get you where you need to be with this, so please, pay attention!! And again, ask if there are any questions!!

We now return you to our regularly scheduled pregramming!!
Semper Fi
Doug

Insurance Guidelines

In order for an event to be approved by IPMS/USA and to be considered an officially sanctioned IPMS/USA event, and to be eligible for coverage under the IPMS/USA insurance policy, all of the following conditions must be met.

The event must be hosted by a chartered IPMS/USA chapter.
If co-hosted, all co-hosts must be a chartered IPMS/USA chapter.
The names/logos of the hosting chapters must be the most visible symbols on all documentation regarding the event. This applies to any form of advertising, either digital or hardcopy.
Text identifying the hosting chapters must be more prominent than text identifying any supporting non-IPMS/USA group. This applies to any form of advertising, either digital or hardcopy.
The terminology “with the assistance of” shall not be permitted to appear on any advertisement or document related to the event, if that wording refers to a non-IPMS/USA entity. The wording that may be used is, “sponsored by”, or “supported by” when reference to a non-IPMS/USA entity needs to be made.

A sponsor’s name may be shown on event documentation in such a manner as to clearly indicate that the sponsor is a sponsor only, and clearly not a Host or Co-Host.
A sponsor’s logo may be shown on event documentation, but by size and placement, as well as text, must clearly indicate that the sponsor is a sponsor only, and clearly not a Host or Co-Host.
A sponsor’s logo should be located on all event documentation in the same area near the text identifying them as a sponsor. (Clearly, a sponsor’s logo and name should not appear at the top of the documentation, or in a font size or image size equal to, or exceeding that of the Host or Co-Hosts.

Only the logos of chartered IPMS/USA chapter and sponsoring or supporting entities shall be on any advertisement or documentation related to the event. The logo of the chartered IPMS/USA chapter(s) shall be more prominent and larger than a logo for the sponsoring or supporting entity.
“Other insured” must be identified and listed on the Event Submission Form.

What or who is an “other insured”? In the case of a mall, the management of the mall usually requires any partnership/owners or mortgage holders to be listed. A community facility, such as a Homeowner’s Association, Lodge, or Homeowner’s Meeting Facility, or a municipal facility owned by a city, usually requires the legal name of the city/town/Homeowner’s Association to be named. School districts often
require that the legal name of the school district to be listed as an “other insured”. Those club members who are negotiating the use/rental of a facility simply need to ask if the facility management wishes to be listed on the insurance policy.

Definitions

Host: a chartered IPMS/USA chapter.

Co-Host: a chartered IPMS/USA chapter which partners with one or more other chartered IPMS/USA chapters to organize and execute an event. There is no such thing as a Co-Host of an IPMS/USA event in which any group identified as a Co-Host is not a chartered IPMS/USA chapter.

Sanctioned IPMS Event: Any event hosted or co-hosted by chartered IPMS chapters for which an Event Submission Form has been submitted and approved. This submission process is
accomplished online at http://www.ipmsusa.org/. Examples include, but are not restricted to the IPMS National Convention, IPMS Regional Conventions, local modeling events hosted by IPMS/USA chartered clubs, Make & Take events hosted by IPMS/USA chartered chapters, and ABC events hosted by IPMS/USA chartered chapters.

Sponsor: an entity which is not an IPMS/USA chapter, but which is providing support, in the form of finances, materials, services, or facilities, to those groups that are defined as a “Host”, “Co-Host” chapter(s) in the planning and execution of an event.

Supporter: an entity which is not an IPMS/USA chapter, but which is providing support, in the
form of finances, materials, services, or facilities, to those groups that are defined as a “Host”, “Co-Host” chapter(s) in the planning and execution of an event.

Other Insured: an entity that, in order for a chartered chapter to rent or use a facility, requires its name, or the names of certain individuals, to appear on the insurance paperwork as “other insured” entities.

Obtaining IPMS Insurance for Your Event

Only Chartered Chapters of IPMS/USA may apply for and obtain IPMS/USA insurance for an officially sanctioned IPMS/USA event.

Working in cooperation with your Regional Coordinator, select a date for your club’s event.

After communicating with your Regional Coordinator and receiving RC approval for your chosen date, point your browser to http://www.ipmsusa.org/ , navigate to the Upcoming Events Page, and click on the Chapter Event Registration Form html link.
Complete the online registration form and be sure to click the “submit” button.

That’s it! You have now initiated an automated process that will, without any additional communication or effort on your part, result in receipt of the IPMS insurance policy for your event, notify the Journal of your event and get your event listed in the Journal’s Upcoming Events Page, and get your event posted on the IPMS Upcoming Events page on the website. The person who submitted the online Event Submission Form will receive an email notification that the above items are all “in progress”.

Details and Behind the Scenes Information

Upon the submission of the online Event Registration Form an automated process is launched. An email is sent to the Director of Local Chapters which displays your submission. The DLC processes the form and forwards copies to the Journal staff, the IPMS Office Manager, the Regional Coordinator for the region in which the event will take place, and also the person who filed the submission with IPMS on the website.

Please note that the insurance policy is not mailed to the club or person who made the submission. The insurance policy, itself, is kept on file by the IPMS National Office Manager. If the facility for your event requires a hard copy of the Certificate of Insurance, please contact the National Office Manager. The Certificates are event specific and must be requested from the insurance company. It is best to give the insurance company 30 days to process the request.

If the facility does not require a hard copy of the certificate then the host chapter does not need to contact the national office manager.

If you have any questions or concerns you may contact:

Your Regional Coordinator (email addy listed on the IPMS website)
The Director of Local Chapters (email addy listed on the IPMS website)
The National Office Manager (email addy listed on the IPMS website)

Monday, August 18, 2008

2008 IPMS Nats

See here:
http://www.ipmsusa2.org/EventsGallery/2008_Nats/index.htm

Region 1 Update, Part 2

Back again with a few other items to pass along. This just in from DLC Dick. It seems the Region 1 chapters weren't the only ones having problems getting make and take items. If anyone is still having issues with this let me know ASAP. We'll get you squared away!!

"There is a new point of contact email address for the Make n Take program. Please address your emails to manager@ipmsusa.org. Thanks and good luck with your program!"

And this in from our Noreastcon hosts. The web site for the event is now active. It looks great, and can be found at:

www.NOREASTCON2009.com

That is all!! We now return you to your regulary scheduled programming!! And please share this with the officers and members of your chapter

Semper Fi
Doug
RC-1

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Region 1 Update

Hi everyone,

This update will review on the recently completed IPMS Nationals held in Virginia Beach VA.

It was nice to see so many Region 1 faces at the show. Given the closeness, it was a great opportunity for many to see a fine event. The Tidewater and Newport News chapters did an excellent job in hosting one of the biggest Nationals in recent history. There were close to 2500 individual entries on the contest tables, with high quality workmanship the norm. Add in the models on display, and the numbers of multi model entries, and I believe the total number of models on display came close to the 2800 mark. I know a number of Region 1 folks brought home awards, and I offer congratulations to those that did. With that many high quality models on the table winning an award is more of an achievement, so congratulations are certainly in order!!

I attended a number of meetings at the show, and offer the following reports on them. The IPMS Business meeting was held Saturday morning. President Jack Kennedy gave a report of the health of the Society. More chapters are gaining charters than are dropping them, and membership numbers have moved forward slightly. Financially, the Society is doing fine, and as most everyone knows, the problems with the web site have been repaired, and a new updated forum is back on line. Further upgrades are in the works, and should be active in the near future.

There was big news to come out of the Judges meeting this year. That being IPMS Head Judge Arris Pappas has retired effective at the close of the show. Arris has done an amazing job as Head Judge during his tenure, never afraid to make the hard decision, but always being fair and consistent in his application of judging standards. I learned a lot from him, and wish him well in his retirement. I hope he finds more time at his modeling bench. I’m also happy to pass along our new Head Judge is Nick Fillipone, from IPMS Northeast New York. Nick is also a man of integrity, and I feel is perfectly suited to have been asked to step into this position. Congratulations Nick, and good luck moving forward!!

The RC meeting was held Friday morning, and was attended by 7 of my brother RC’s, IPMS President Jack Kennedy, and DLC Dick Montgomery. The big topic that was discussed was the insurance coverage. Dick gave specific ideas on how the coverage will be applied in the future, and how coverage will be requested in the very near future. We’ll all receive written specifications on the coverage which I’ll pass along as soon as I get it. There may be form or written verification from you guys that it has been received, understand it, and will comply with it going forward. All this comes from a few folks that can’t seem to get their heads and rear ends screwed together on this. It’s a simple concept, and thankfully, all our chapters get it right.
I also related the way we honor our departed modeling brothers at Noreastcon each year. Thankfully, we haven’t had the need to render such honors the past two years, but I do have appropriate words prepared and ready, should the need arise!! Another region has a chapter that is experiencing some internal issues with memorializing departed members, and as I think we have a nice way of handling it, I passed along our method. It was well received, and may be looked at at the National level in the future.

Also, announced at the RC meeting and to you all here for the first time; I’ve been asked to run for Director of Local Chapters (DLC) in the next election and I’ve accepted the challenge. What that means is that if elected to that post, I’ll be stepping down from my current billet of RC-1. I’ve enjoyed being your RC for the past 8 years, and that’s not why I’m considering this change. I was asked to consider it not having any larger political ambitions other than being the best RC I could for our region. I’m honored that someone would think so highly of the job I do for you to ask me to do it on a larger scale. I hope I can count on the support of everyone in Region 1 in the next election, and will go on record as saying it doesn’t matter who you vote for. Just vote early and often!! I don’t plan on stepping down until after the election, and if I don’t gain the post, I’ll be happy to remain as your RC.

In the mean time, it isn’t too early to begin looking for someone to take my current chair. If you may be interested in becoming an RC, contact me, and I’ll fill you in on the job, and how the process works.

All in all, it was a very nice event. The vendor room took way too much of my money, but in return I brought home some really cool stuff. I thought it was a fair trade!! I managed to buy the most expensive model I could never imagine myself buying!! And grinned when I didn’t get a ration of you know what from my wife when I got home!! Sometimes you slide!!

With that I’ll close this. As always, please share this with the officers and members of your chapter.

Doug Hamilton

RC-1

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Bulletin for August, 2008

THE MINUTES

by Bobby P.

July was another great meeting with a turnout of 25 members, 2 guests bringing in 22 models for a night of metal finishes!

JULY MEETING!!!

METAL FINISHES: If you blinked, you might’ve missed something important. First Gordon discussed airbrushing acrylics and achieving various shading effects. Then Don showed us how non-intimidating it is to work with bare-metal foil. Jimmy presented Don with the money that the members had collected for him to assist with his challenges from earlier this year. Thanks to all the members who chipped in. Thanks to Don and Gordon for the informative clinic.

FAVORITE MODEL NIGHT: Looks like some guys brought in stuff, but the metal finish clinic was extensive enough to take up most of our meeting time. This will have to wait for another night

You can see pics from each meeting on Gordon’s blog:
http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

On the agenda: August

CONTEST NIGHT 3RD QTR 2008: Where has the year gone? The third installment of the annual contest is upon us! Bring in your goodies that haven’t been entered in a quarterly contest to rack up some votes. If you brought anything new for the Warsaw Pact Theme Contest you can bring them back.

RESIN CASTING CLINIC: One of our more recent members, Matt Leone has spent quite a bit of time, effort, and money assembling an impressive rig for resin casting. This month Matt will present a clinic on the ins and outs of resin casting. Bring your questions, and a notepad. This is going to be a good ‘un!

SUMMER BBQ: Who doesn’t love a good bar-be-que? Well, over the last couple years the BPMS BBQ night has really gained in popularity. So it’s August and it’s back again. Burgers and dogs are one the menu. Everyone is invited to bring any goodies they want to go along with it. Bring a little bit of cash. This year the price tag to eat is merely $7.

REGARDING PHOTO ROSTER STATUS: Hugh sent me a series of emails with the finished product. Let’s see if I can get it into the upcoming bulletins. Since it’s over six pages, I will, likely, be including one page per month, so you will have to save at least one page from the bulletin each month if you want to have the complete roster.

AUGUST MEETING WILL BE ON FRIDAY THE 15TH!

IT'S COMING FAST THIS MONTH!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Virginia Beach IPMS Nationals 2008 Pics

http://svsm.org/gallery/IPMSNats2008

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The June Index

Quick links to 6/20/2008 Member's Works by member's name and model.

Quick links to 6/20/2008 Guest's Works by member's name and model.

Manyak Yuriy -USSR

Quick links to 6/20/2008 Warsaw Pact Theme Contest by member's name and model.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Region 1 Update 7-17-08

Hello everyone,

A few things to pass along this time.
First off, we received this from MSGT Brian Allen, who's been running the Baghdad Hobby Shop. Brian is rotating back to the "World", and will be leaving things in the capable hands of Steve DeLong. Steve's address is below.

All,

It's semi-official, folks, I will be leaving theater to return stateside this Saturday. I have been diagnosed with moderate to severe degenerative joint disease (arthritits), avlusion fractures and will possibly need surgery to repair injuries to my hip and pelvis. It is not clear if I will return once rehabilitation is complete but I most certainly will try. Oh, whoa is the life of a Paratrooper.

SFC Delong has been with me since taking over the hobby club here in Baghdad and will continue to serve as POC. You can address any correspondence or donations to him at: steven.delong@iraq.centcom.mil or mail at:

SFC Steven Delong
HQ, MNC-I (FSC)
18th Airborne Corps
APO, AE 09342

If you have already sent donations under my name they will continue to arrive safely and the mail room has been briefed to forward any packages to SFC Delong.

We have been fortunate here in B-dad as new, highly motivated members have come onboard and will also be available to help SFC Delong with club donations and shipping to our numerous contacts. I personally want to thank all of our contributors for your kind support and donations that you have sent during my short tenure. This is the first time I have seen such support from back home in my 20 year career and makes me truly proud to serve the American people. Thank you ever so much!

MSG Brian Allen

The IPMS Nationals are rapidly approaching in a little over two weeks. To tie the Nationals and the previous Baghdad Hobby Shop item together, our hosts, IPMS Tidewater will have a collection point at the show so attendees can purchase something in the vendor room and donate it to our troops. What a cool idea, and I for one will be adding something to the stash pile. Show details are being added on almost a daily basis to the event web site. The latest being a floor plan, and updated info on the BBQ scheduled for Thursday night at the Fighter Factory. This will be a really cool event, as the menu contains all my Southern favorites, and we'll be gazing on all sorts of antique aircraft. How cool is that?

Right after the Nationals, I'll send around an updated Event List for the fall show season. There will be some notable changes to the schedule this fall, as a few long time events won't be on it, and a few returning events have new dates. With the fall schedule opening up a little, it may be time to look at our crammed spring schedule and see if one or two events could move into the fall season. As you all know, I've been trying to get some separation into the spring season, and while it's worked a little, it seems those chapters that have moved to avoid conflict have moved to the same weekends as the chapters they're trying to avoid. I'll continue to work with all our chapters to try and work out a schedule where everyone is free of conflict with another chapter. It's an ongoing process, to be sure!!

I don't think I'll be hosting the popular Mini-Meetings this fall. My fall is shaping up to be busy with a ton of things, and I'm not sure which shows I'll be at this fall. So rather than schedule them, then maybe have to cancel them later, we'll wait till next year.

And that brings us to another end. I hope all your summers are going well, and I'll be looking forward to seeing everyone in Virginia Beach in a few weeks!! And as always, please share this with the officers and members of your chapter. Model on!!

Semper Fi
Doug Hamilton
RC-1

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Bulletin: July 2008

THE MINUTES

by Bobby Pokorny

June was another great meeting with a turnout of 25 members, 2 guests bringing in 42 models for the theme contest and display.

JUNE MEETING!!!

PIZZA NIGHT: one of the greatest and most loved BPMS traditions is the eating of the pizza on pizza night. And that we did!

WARSAW PACT THEME CONTEST: And just like the way it would’ve warmed Stalin’s heart to see, it was a show of force from the members depicting hardware from the age of the Cold War.

1st place Hugh Alcock Mig-21
2nd place Gordon Cheung T-55
3rd place Guy Ferrara T-80
Honorable Mention
Phil Benson Katlin Class Ship
Nick Bruccoleri T-55
Mike Crescenzo Admiral P Ship
Ray Keegan SAM 2 Missile
Frank Colucci Mig-21
Frank Tripoli Mig-15
Specials awards
Brutish Tank Guy Ferrara T-80
Most Green Nick Bruccoleri T-55
Best Soviet Gordon Cheung T-55
Best Non-Soviet Frank Colucci Mig-21
Frank Tripoli Mig-15
Top Heavy Ship Mike Crescenzo Adirmal P ship
Aggressive Jet Hugh Alcock Mig-21
Husky Babonyas Dan Morales JS2
Most Striking Ray Keegan SAM 2 missile
Most Universal John Magno Piper L-4H
Assembly Line Ray Keegan Su-24

Ten members entered fifteen models with a total of 31 Warsaw Pact models displayed. Thanks to everyone who built for the theme contest, especially those who finished their entries. A special note of thanks to James, Jimmy and Jeff for sponsoring another fun theme contest. And A thank you to our special award maker Ed Dietrich for designing such magnificent awards.

You can see pics from each meeting on Gordon’s blog:
http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

On the agenda: July

FAVORITE MODEL NIGHT: Simple. Bring in your favorite model whether it’s built, unbuilt or somewhere in between. We might even ask the members to say a couple words about their favs.

METAL FINISHES: Do you have a model with a metal finish? Maybe more than one? Great! Bring ‘em in! Gordon and Don will be hosting a clinic on how they achieve their metal finishes. Bring a pad to take notes!

Coming this December!
50 Years of NASA Theme Contest

Sponsored by Vinny Rosati, Hugh Alcock, and Gordon Cheung, this will be a celebration of NASA’s 50th Anniversary! In a nutshell, if it flew in a vacuum and / or bore NASA markings, it’s eligible. If you have any questions, please feel free to direct them to the sponsors so you can get started on your entry. Time flies, and before you know it December will be upon us!

A little history:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the unit of the federal government charged with operating the nation's space exploration and aeronautics programs. The administrator of NASA, an independent agency, is appointed by the president, subject to Senate confirmation. NASA came into existence on 1 October 1958, after Congress passed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, at the recommendation of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Many Americans had been highly alarmed when, on 4 October 1957, the Soviet Union put into orbit Sputnik, the first man-made satellite. In the midst of the Cold War, Americans feared that the Soviets might develop superior missile and space technology and use it against the United States. The new agency absorbed the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a poorly funded research agency formed in 1915.

Even though much of NASA's early political support stemmed from America's Cold War competition with the Soviet Union, NASA was designed as an explicitly civilian agency to pursue peaceful space activities. Overseeing the military applications of space technology was left to the Department of Defense. In practice, however, the distinction has sometimes blurred. From the beginning, NASA and the military have cooperated in a variety of ways, and many astronauts have come from military backgrounds.

Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/nasa

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Region 1 Update 7-9-08 Important News

From the RC-1:

Hi Everyone,

It seems the IPMS web site is having some major problems at the moment. Everything is being done to get it back to normal, so please be patient. I don't know what's wrong with it, as I'm not a techie, but all the interactive features are effected including the forum.

Attached to this update is an event registration form. Please use it when submitting any event registration information until the web site is repaired. Do not submit anything to through the site. It won't work!! If you have any problems with using the form, let me know, and I'll help you out the best I can.

Isn't technology a wonderful thing, when it works? We've become so reliant on our computers we tend to forget how to do things we now have our little machines do for us.In the mean time, let's all do something very old fashioned, build a model!!

I'll send along updates to the problem as I get them, but know IPMS has some of it's greatest minds hard at work on the problem, which means it ain't me!!

Semper Fi
Doug

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

How to find us

The Brooklyn Plastic Modelers Society meets on the third Friday of each month around 7:00 PM at:

John Malone Community Center
In Joseph Thomas McGuire Park
(A.K.A. Bergen Beach Sports Complex)
2303 Bergen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11234

Getting to the Bergen Beach Park Sports Complex by car:

Take BELT PARKWAY to EXIT 11N (FLATBUSH AVENUE NORTH).
Take FLATBUSH AVENUE to AVENUE U (Kings Plaza) make RIGHT onto AVENUE U.
Take AVENUE U to BERGEN AVENUE, make RIGHT onto BERGEN AVENUE.
Straight on BERGEN AVENUE 3 BLOCKS to SPORTS COMPLEX (ON LEFT). Ample parking out front.

Google Map Link

By Train:

Q Train to Ave. U - transfer to the B3 (Bergen Beach) take to last stop E. 74th St. - walk two blocks towards Bergen Ave.
#2 or #5 Train to Flatbush Ave. - transfer to the B41 to Veterans Ave. (last stop) - walk to Bergen Ave. turn right - walk approx. 3 blocks to JMCC.

By Bus:

B100 - Take to E. 66th St. - transfer to B3
BM1 - Take to E. 71st St. - walk to Bergen Ave., turn right - JMCC approx. 3 blocks.
B3 - (Bergen Beach) take to last stop (E. 74th St. & Ave. X), walk two blocks to Bergen Ave. (JMCC).

Friday, June 20, 2008

Region 1 Update 6-17-08

Region 1 Update
8 June 2008

Hi and Howdy everyone,

Let me apologize for the lateness of this update. I had hoped to get it out before I left for Vegas, but we all know the line about the best laid plans… I returned home last night, or to be more precise, early this morning. Flying into JFK is always an adventure, but add some weather delays into the mix and it seems the airlines fall further into madness. I met my grandson for the first time, and am happy to say he’s a healthy and happy little guy. He said he’s ready to build some models with grandpa, but wants to wait until his motor skills are a little more developed. His logic was impeccable at such a young age!! (He’s just about a month old now!!) But I won’t bore y’all with any more of this, let’s get right down to the skinny.

The topic for this update is the link between submitting an Event Registration Form (ERF), and IPMS Insurance. A situation came up in another region where a chapter needed a certificate of insurance (CI) for an event, and asked for one the day before!! I know, our chapters here in Region 1 land are far too savvy for that, but I’ve been asked by DLC Dick to reinforce the correct procedures for obtaining a CI for an event. Nothing’s changed, so there are no surprises!! Before you apply for a CI from our esteemed IPMS Office Manager MJ, please take the time to submit and EFR, found on the IPMS web site. This needs to be filled out for each instance where a CI will be needed, IE coverage for chapter meeting sites, contests, mall shows, you get the idea, any event where you need insurance!! Then plan your timing accordingly. Give the process 60 days from the time of initial request to certificate arrival. In some cases it may be less than that, but don’t forget things take time, and this is an item that should appear very early in your event planning.

Getting the ERF in early also gives you more event advertising by having your event listed on the web site’s coming events page, and insertion in the Journal for a longer period of time. And while we’re on the subject of event advertising, don’t forget, each chapter is all able to receive a ¼ page event ad in the Journal. You’ll need to submit camera ready artwork, and to get more information contact the Journal staff at the address found in the latest Journal. It’s all part of the benefits of being an affiliated chapter of IPMS. As my old Gunny used to say, “Get some, Oo-Ra!!”

The nationals are coming in about two months, 6-9 August in Virginia Beach VA. I hope the current gas prices don’t discourage anyone from making the trip. It’s going to be an awesome event from what I’ve been hearing. I understand Cobra Company has dropped out as a vendor. The tables have already been sold to another vendor, and the vendor room is still full!! There are many things to do in tat part of Virginia, so I’m going a few days early to check out some battlefields, the USS Wisconsin, and the Mariners Museum, among other things. The tours are starting to fill in quickly, so if you haven’t made up your minds about which ones to do, don’t delay much longer.

Now that we’re about half way though the year, it may be a good time for everyone to review their fact sheets, and make any corrects needed. If you make any changes, send it along either to Dick or myself for updating. If it’s done now, you’ll be that much further along the rechartering curve. I have copies if you can’t find them, so ask if you need them.

I’ll send along an updated show schedule in the next update. I’m waiting for one to be confirmed before being added. Speaking of shows, I hear the Region 2 Regional will be held close to us, and hosted by our friends NJIPMS in 2009. I’ll pass along more information and add it to the calendar shortly. This is going to be a “must attend” event in 09, so I’ll pass along more info shortly, and add it to our next event calendar. I hope we as a region support those that support us when the sponsorship request arrives. There are many chapters in Region 2 that support our regional, and it’s most appropriate that we reciprocate. I’ll be sponsoring one as RC1, so at least consider it.

The Buffalo folks are working on the 2009 Noreastcon with their usual abandon!! Here’s the link to the show page. Check it early and often for the latest, greatest show info.
www.noreastcon2009.com

I understand some of the Region 5 chapters and their members have been taking a beating during the recent flooding. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers while they undertake the difficult road to recovery in so many communities.

That’s the closing bell I hear in the background, so will end this mercifully!! As always, please share this with the officers and members of your chapter!!

Semper Fi
Doug H.
RC-1

Bulletin: June, 2008

THE MINUTES

by Bobby the Blue

May was another great meeting with a turnout of 25 members, 2 guests bringing in 44 models for the contest and Phantom display.

MAY MEETING!!!

PARTS BOX NIGHT: We had a great selection of parts up for grabs, and grab many members did! Thanks to everyone who opened up their coffers of parts for the benefits of others!

PHIFTY YEARS OF PHABULOUS PHANTOMS: We had 33 Phantoms on display. Not too shabby! A beautiful display with a wonderful array of paint schemes.

Award Winners

Phancy Pheathers Phantom 1/48 F-4J, VF-31 Frank T.

Phaded Phantom 1/72 F-4S, VMFA 232 Ralph R.

Phully-Loaded Phantom 1/72 F-4D, USAF Frank C.

CONTEST NIGHT 2Q08: We had a rather light turnout for our second contest night of 2008 but the quality was top notch.

You can see pics from each meeting on Gordon’s blog:
http://gmobile17.blogspot.com/

On the agenda: June

PIZZA NIGHT: One of the oldest BPMS activities, and probably one of the favorites: PIZZA NIGHT! There are only a few rules about this, bring your appetite but not any guests. Please be sure your dues are in good standing, otherwise no grub.

WARSAW PACT THEME CONTEST

It’s here! The first theme contest night of 2008!

Theme Alert: WARSAW PACT

Heads up! The next theme contest will be THE WARSAW PACT!!! Get your Soviet kits out of the closet and build them. The sponsors will have some strict guidelines for this theme contest. This will be for the June meeting. And now a word from our sponsors:

WARSAW PACT THEME CONTEST
DATE: JUNE 20, 2008
The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance of socialist states in Central and East Europe. The Warsaw Pact served to counter the potential threat from the NATO alliance. The Alliance began on May 14, 1955 and ended July 1, 1991. The members of the alliance were Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Soviet Union.

The Theme Contest is the Warsaw Pact 1955 to 1991. You can build kits from any of the Warsaw Pact members, used in that time period. You can build armor, vehicles, ships, figures, aircraft, helicopters, or anything you can come up with. All we ask is that all entries should be new built kits. Any old off the shelf models should be display only.
Sponsored by Comrades: Jimmy T, Jeff E, James M

Our Location: Bergen Beach Sports Complex

From Belt Pkwy: Take exit 11N - Flatbush Avenue North. Go North on Flatbush Avenue and make a right onto Avenue U (Kings Plaza). Continue on Avenue U to Bergen Avenue; Make a right onto Bergen Avenue. Go straight on Bergen Avenue 3 blocks. Sports Complex on left.

Other Themes
With the first theme contest upon us, we have to look to December. Vinny presented the great idea of a 50th Anniversary Theme for NASA. Would you like to join in and sponsor this theme? Some other concepts we’ve kicked around are: Take One for the Team, New York, Alternate Realities, Things That Sweep / Swing, Go Big, Go Small, Extreme Modeling, and Things That Sting. There’s an anniversary for the Air Force and thirty years for Battlestar Galactica. There’s also an anniversary for Tet Offensive. Also, long time member Dave Cockrum passed away in late 2006. Years ago he was a part sponsor of a Humor In Modeling Theme Contest. We recently lost Art Gerber who was the IPMS Head Judge for Armor. Armor Theme, perhaps? Contact the officers if you want to help sponsor any of these contests.

ACTIVITIES: President Jimmy decided it was time for some discussions groups, as we kept it light last year. So here’s what we have coming up: July: Metal Finishes, panel to be determined. August: Resin Casting hosted by Matt. If you would like to organize a panel, join one, or have in idea for any activity, feel free to contact any of the officers.

Meeting Date: June 20th, 2008

June Theme Contest: The Warsaw Pact

Theme Alert: WARSAW PACT

WARSAW PACT THEME CONTEST
DATE: JUNE 20, 2008

The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance of socialist states in Central and East Europe. The Warsaw Pact served to counter the potential threat from the NATO alliance. The Alliance began on May 14, 1955 and ended July 1, 1991. The members of the alliance were Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Soviet Union.

The Theme Contest is the Warsaw Pact 1955 to 1991. You can build kits from any of the Warsaw Pact members, used in that time period. You can build armor, vehicles, ships, figures, aircraft, helicopters, or anything you can come up with. All we ask is that all entries should be new built kits. Any old off the shelf models should be display only.

Sponsored by Comrades: Jimmy T, Jeff E, James M

Here's some background from Answers.com:

Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact was created by the Soviet Union on 14 May 1955 as a political‐military alliance of European Communist states to counter the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO), particularly the entry of West Germany into NATO in 1955. Officially called the Warsaw Treaty Organization, the original eight members were Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Soviet Union. However, unlike NATO, the Warsaw Pact was a multinational rather than a multilateral military defense organization.

Following Soviet suppression of the Hungarian uprising in October 1956, Moscow reduced the influence of the pact's governing body, the multinational Political Consultative Council (PCC), and
tightened its own central control. In the subsequent strains, some southern‐tier nations withdrew: Albania, which supported China in the Sino‐ Soviet split, stopped military cooperation in 1961 and left the pact in 1968 (following the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the pact's forces). Romania excluded Soviet troops and refused to participate in military exercises after 1965.

The Soviet Union controlled the alliance, provided 80 percent of the manpower, and bore more than 90 percent of the pact's defense expenditures for forces, which in the early 1980s reached 5.4 million troops. The USSR alone had nuclear weapons and strategic forces, and all nuclear warheads were in Soviet custody.

With declining economies, the shift in Soviet policy under reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, and the increasing independence of the East European nations, the Warsaw Pact lost cohesion in the 1980s. In 1987–88, the pact's doctrine was changed from offensive defense to one that emphasized nonoffensive defense. Following a Soviet proposal in 1987, NATO and the Warsaw Pact agreed in 1990 to substantial reduction of forces.

In 1990, responding to popular demand and the ending of the Cold War, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia demanded the removal of Soviet troops and refused to participate in future military exercises. East Germany left the pact that year with German unification. The military structure was officially ended by the PCC in March 1991; the political organization was terminated in July 1991.

http://www.answers.com/warsaw%20pact

Pics from May Meeting

Quick links to 5/16/2008 Contest Night 2nd Quarter by member's name and model.

Kevin B. - Chewbacca
M. Crescenzo - Wallace and Gromit
M. Crescenzo - INJ Destroyer Prewar
Jeff E. - Klingon Corvette
Kevin B. - T-34/85
Gordon C. - T-55
Israel A. - M551 Sheridan
Fernando C. - Tiger I Late
Dan M. - Panzer IV D
Dan M. - Panzer IV D
Dan M. - Panzer IV H

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Models in the news

Guinness Record Holder for built ups:
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3479494

The most successful plastic model EVER:
http://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/f19.html?gclid=CJmnxouV6pMCFQx2GgodtV3bWQ

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Some local news

Today the Brooklyn Bridge turns 125!
More HERE.

The 21st Fleet Week is underway. More here:
http://www.cnrma.navy.mil/fleetweek/index.htm

A Phantom article

From Boeing, regarding the Phiftieth Birthday:

http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/i_history.pdf

Thanks to Fernando for the link!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Phantom Phever at the BPMS Meeting on May 16th, 2008!

Big Thanks to Hugh A. and Frank C.
for sponsoring the "Phifty Years of Phabulous Phantoms"

Phantom Spotlight

F-4J
Bureau Number: 155896
VX-4
Kit: ESCI
Camouflage Note:
In refs (a) and (b), the a/c clearly lacks the non-skid areas on the
upper fuselage; they are present in the photo in ref (c).
Modifications:
Added bulges over MLG mounts
Modified nose gear door to Navy variant with approach lights and
single round landing light
True Details ejection seats
Removed arrowhead strengthening plates from tailplanes
Replaced (involuntarily) lower pitot with tubing and wire
Finish:
Dark Blue: Testors Dark Blue,
Green; TMM Flat White, Dark Sea Blue
Light Blue: As above, but with
more white
Alclad and TMM metallics
Overcoat: Poly S clear-gloss mix
Weathered with pastels and oils
Decals:
M/S 72-0228 US ID 60 degree black letters and numbers
Other odds and ends
References:
(a) Boeing web-site
(b) McDonnell F-4 Phantom,
Spirit in the Skies, Lake, Aerospace, 1992
(c) F-4A, B, G, J Phantom,
Koku Fan No. 35, March 1973
(d) F-4 Phantom in Detail and
Scale, Part 3, USN and USMC Versions, Kinzey, D&S, 1983

The
Phabulous Phantoms