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This is indeed as they say a "sticky wicket"! I'm approaching my 50th year as an IPMSUSA member and getting members to VOTE has ALWAYS been a problem. Part of it stems from our members being willing to let others do the work for them in their clubs and thus they don't view themselves as needing to be more active or interactive locally and especially nationally. And then, even if they do intend to vote, it often just slips by the wayside until it's too late to do so. However, I do think it's a problem that WE can more easily solve than ever before. 1) I know (according to the business meeting at the NATS) that IPMSUSA is about to "revamp" its website. I HOPE THAT INCLUDES A MORE OBVIOUS AND EASIER WAY FOR MEMBERS TO LOG ON AND IN! The current system, while it certainly works, just isn't that easy to find and not "intuitive" enough. Also, if you're a Chapter Contact like myself you have to be sure you're not signing in as "the club" instead of yourself. Making it easier to sign on/in is the first step to making it easier to casting a vote on line, where it's now done for the most part. 2) IPMSUSA STILL NEEDS TO INCLUDE PRE-POSTAGE PAID PAPER BALLOT POST CARDS for the members. This IS an added expense, but if you put it in the FRONT of the Journal (not bury it in the middle) with a large add page immediately behind it that says "TEAR OUT AND VOTE NOW" (and make the card RED!) as well as that page also saying "throwing this card away WASTES IPMSUSA's money which might cause a dues increase- SO VOTE!!!"; more members are more likely to vote than in the past. The members will not be able to open that Journal without having to page past it. If they still tear it out and throw it away...... then that's on them. IPMSUSA needs to remember that as a graying Society, we have many members who just will not want to go on line, log in, and vote electronically. If you want THE MOST VOTES, we MUST include a way for those members to do so easily. 3) Continue to use the Wild Apricot system to mail voting reminders to the CCs which can be forwarded to the club members. Do it once a month early on and every couple of weeks the last couple of months. 4) HAVE AN IPMSUSA VOTING MONTH! We now have LAPTOPS that can be taken to our club meetings. IPMSUSA should promote that each club have someone bring in a laptop to one of the club meetings THAT month and the club use part of their meeting time letting the local IPMSUSA members log in on it and VOTE! This may catch a few more votes and who knows, might even perk the interest of some non-members (who are being excluded) in wanting to join so they CAN participate. There may be more ideas that will help, but those are the first off the top of my head. It will STILL be like pulling teeth..... Most of our members didn't join to be a part of running anything or to be "political"; they just want to be a part of hanging around other modelers with the same interests and/or they wanted the Journal. We can certainly appeal to their "sense of duty", but then again that's never been a real vote prompter in the past so it'll take more than that going forward. I think some of my suggestions put it more "in their face" and hopefully lessen the chances of simply overlooking and forgetting to vote. Lastly, I AM NOT FOR LOWERING OR CHANGING THE CURRENT VOTING QUORUM REQUIREMENTS. As pointed out above, it puts IPMSUSA at greater risk of a very small minority hijacking the Society for its own uses. I would remind everyone that we JUST barely avoided that only a couple years ago and we do not want to set the table for any others in the future by making their efforts easier to accomplish! Gil #10803

Coverage of the 2026 IPMS Nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana - Armor, Figures, and ShipsView the full article

Hi Randall: Interesting idea but since most club members are not IPMS members, they are not allowed to vote so sorting that out would probably be an issue. Participation in issues/votes/running for office or even bidding on the Nationals has always been an issue Dave

Greetings, all. I was in attendance at the general meeting on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. One of the topics raised by the President, John Noack, is the lack of participation in members voting. Not reaching a specific number for a quorum makes it difficult to get changes passed and moving the organization forward. One idea of his was to lower the threshold of required votes to "pass" a ballot measure. I think this is not the best way to achieve the goal. Lowering the number required places the organization at peril to a small, but motivated group, to hijack the aims and purpose of IPMS/USA. One way to get a higher level of participation is to allow the President of each chartered club to gather the proxy of each of their members. This would keep the opportunity for less than noble efforts to a minimum. Randall Cox, 8068

Yes, in the 10,000 square foot one big beautiful room called the South Hall.

Coverage of the 2026 IPMS Nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana - Dioramas, Juniors, and AircraftView the full article

This kit is of a 1/24 scale jeep with what appears to be a 1/4 ton trailer. A friend wants to know if this is a rare kit. I have no idea. Can someone help?

Gil, thanks for the kind words. We've been using a new system for three years now to build the slide show, and it's getting refinements each year. Because of the Model Registration system, we just download the data for entries. No tedious typing names and descriptions. The biggest challenge for the slides now is catching errors. This year we took two passes on Saturday morning and still missed a few pictures that were wrong. Your attention wanes looking at 600 slides. We may even be able to use AI in the future to help with that. Cheers, Jim Coatney, #46815

Thank you for following the 'WIP' on this project ,it's quite appreciated ! (AUG 17th)...Today I continue working on the head section and detailling the presentation base ! f you like to see the complete WIP on this project , just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/1W6Eu6c7EvJeyLGT6 If you are curious and like to view the SCI-FI kits I have done in the past ,just follow this link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/D2FAQcJCoNhHNjkdA Enjoy ! jmarc

Thanks for following the WIP on this project , it's quite appreciated !, here the latest update AVRO C.102 JETLINER (3D +SCRATCH) (AUG 17th ) Today , I continue ingraving the front section and completed the basic shape of the airframe intake and glued it into place ! If you like to view the complete WIP on this project , just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/uvk6ymGqZHgpWDaR9 If you like to view what I have completed so far on the AVRO CANADA project , I have set up an GOOGLE page for them , here the link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/FpZs5m3ic3c3eL329 Enjoy and it's an 'rendez-vous' next week for more on this particular project..!. Jmarc

First I'd like to thank you for following this WIP it's quite appreciated ! TRUMPETER 1/48 GERMAN SUBMARINE TYPE VIIc (AUG 17th)...Today I continue working on the ceiling details ! If you like to see the complete WIP on this project , just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/EZKenssCafCXix326 If you are curious and like to view the other WWII GERMAN sub I have done in 1/48 , just follow this link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/BcwASAzLsZRq5mQf7 Enjoy ! jmarc

First I'd like to thank you for following this post ,it's quite appreciated ! Time to complete another WHIPPET CANADAIR CL-327 ( 3d PRINTED) (AUG 17th ) Today , I done the decals ! If you like to view the complete WIP on this project , just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/3QPU8Ntb4dt57CuH6 If you like to view all the DRONES I have done so far in 1/48 , just follow this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mjGm69hDKYaDuFNX6 Enjoy ! Jmarc

iFrst I'd like to thank you for following this post ,it's quite appreciated ! BOEING INCITUS MQ-27 / CU-169 SCAN EAGLE 1/48 ( 3dPRINTED +ADDITIONS) (AUG 17th ) Today , I received the decals for the launcher so I done them ! If you like to view the complete WIP on this project , just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/jrWyBiNZSJHCUknZ9 If you like to view all the DRONES I have done so far in 1/48 , just follow this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mjGm69hDKYaDuFNX6 Enjoy !

First I'd like to thank you for following this post , it's quite appreciated ! 1/48 LOCKHEED T-33 SILVER STAR (TESTOR) (AUG 17th ) Today I continue working on the inner structure ! If you like to follow the complete WIP on this project , I have set up an GOOGLE page, just follow this link .. https://photos.app.goo.gl/mCtpo97pwYCFaYE39 If you like to view the complete STASH PARTS done so far ,just followthis GOOGLE link .. https://photos.app.goo.gl/NtNSgh1zJgx9jRSx5 Enjoy ! Jmarc

In addition to producing some wonderful model kits of a plethora of subjects, ICM has also added a line of acrylic paints, some of which have been reviewed here in the past. This set contains basic colors, which are good for adding details to nearly any subject, and can be mixed as needed to create any color you can imagine. Modelers who are familiar with water-based acrylic paints will have no issues with using this set. View the full review

In addition to producing some wonderful model kits of a plethora of subjects, ICM has also added a line of acrylic paints, some of which have been reviewed here in the past. This set contains basic colors, which are good for adding details to nearly any subject, and can be mixed as needed to create any color you can imagine. Modelers who are familiar with water-based acrylic paints will have no issues with using this set. View the full review

One of the newer suppliers for the IPMS-USA Review Corps is DXM Decals, the DXM stands for Double Excellent Models. While as the name implies, the company specializes in decals, they also produce detail parts and paint masks for airbrushing aircraft. The company produces their products for 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scale aircraft. The decals are printed by Cartograf, who is known for their quality work. Any modeler that has applied water-slide decals will have no issues with using this set. View the full review

My congratulations to Ft. Wayne on a job well done. I have some experience with National Conventions on several levels and from what I saw it ran flawlessly. And even if there were flaws, the attendees didn't see them so that means they were handled well. As the Brits might say (sort of), "Well done, that man, Ft. Wayne".

I had a good time, took the Grex class and will resume building after my next road trip. Hunstville is already on my calendar.

Thank you Gil! I wasn't aware of it either till I picked it up at Brookhurst on their 'pre-owned' table in the back. That would be cool if someone did. Maybe I'll play around with some artistic license and add some nose art with that name....

TTTTTTTTThank youuuuuuuu !

That's an exquisite looking build! Gil

I have to agree with everything you said. This was my 10th National Convention (and likely my last), and probably the best in my experience. My only complaint was the absence of Andt's HHQ. That's on him, though. Great seeing you!

HI ! Here another project I have done in the past , it,s an scratch one of course..If tyou like to view more pics, Just follow this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KjaGc9nGf5YydvaC7 Enjoy ! Jmarc

HI ! Here another project I have doe in the past using the TAMIYA kit, if you like to view more pics, Just follow this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/myfdKrxsiPNoRocp8 Enjoy ! Jmarc