PaulBradley

That works - thanks, Eric!

Just received the e-mail with details on how to vote for officers and amendments. The part about amendments states "We did not have space here to list all the changes, click on this link to read the entire Amendments with changes highlighted" However, there is no link that I can find. Am I just blind?

Very impressive, Gil!

Very well said, Gil. Especially this - "While WE in IPMS may know that's a misperception, printing an editorial column written by the IPMSUSA President in the IPMSUSA official publication that labels everyone else who doesn't JOIN and support us as freeloaders only strengthens that perception." Yes, he is entitled to his own personal opinion. But he is NOT entitled to voice that opinion in his official column in the official organ of the Society. Hiding behind "it's just my own opinion" is just not possible for an elected official. Full stop. Business 101 - don' t ++++ off potential customers.

This conversion chart might be helpful: https://www.angelfire.com/ca6/modelci/hints/color.htm

Good start! Looks as if its a very nice kit.

Very neat!

Wasn't sure where to put this query, but I think General Modelling is about as wrong as anywhere else..... Friend of mine in Britain recently started an Airfix 1/72 Puma helicopter kit. Inside was a cash receipt for a store named GJ's Hobbies & Crafts from 1982. There's a tax line on the receipt which precludes it being from the UK and our guess is that it's from the US. Searching the internet turns up a GJ's Hobbies in Endicott New York, which has since closed down. Is this the same store and does anyone have any thoughts or memories of a GJ's Hobbies & Crafts in the '80's?

Oh, no! One of the stalwarts of the Society for many years. My condolences to his friends and family.

Cheers, guys!

Cheers, Phil! It's good to be back in the saddle. I realised the error with the Sherman after I finished it. The good thing is the recipient would have no idea, so no harm done. 😉 Sci-Fi? Just wait for my next review....! 😁

Cheers, guys!

So 2022 ends and it's actually been a very good year for me, modelling-wise. I got back into reviewing kits and things for IPMS/USA after an 11 year lay-off, and that helped boost my total of completions to 20, which is the most I've finished in a year since I started keeping records in 2007! And, for a wonder, I built almost as many military vehicles as aircraft! Here they are in order: Skunkworks 1/48 RN Tow Tractor: Matchbox 1/72 Mystere IV: Italeri 1/72 F-5B: Special Hobby 1/72 Vampire FB.9: Brengun 1/72 and 1/144 RN Clarcat Type B deck cars: Revell 1/32 Hawk T.1: Classic Airframes 1/48 Fokker D.XXI: Tamiya 1/48 Challenger II: Revell 1/72 Challenger I and Airfix 1/72 Firefly: Tamiya 1/48 Dingo, Tilly and Universal Carrier: Classic Airframes 1/48 Camberra TT.18: ICM 1/32 Tiger Moth: ProModeller 1/48 Kittyhawk IA: Hobbyboss 1/72 MI-2: Airfix 1/72 Anson (the 1962 kit): ICM 1/48 Beaufort:

Agreed, David - I've always found some people's obsession with the SS to be rather creepy and sick.

What kit is it for?

I've also been three times and am also planning on going next year as well. The 2023 theme is the 60th anniversary of IPMS, so it should be a cracker. I have to say, I prefer that the emphasis is on club and SIG displays rather than the competition - but horses for courses.

Welcome, Mark!

Ooh, those are good ideas - I need to add those to my database spreadsheet. I'm always buying duplicate aftermarket bits!

Any reason why IPMS/UK competition rules can't be studied for ideas? Their categories include: Standard Kit (SK) • A single, commercially produced injection moulded plastic or resin kit, built to the manufacturer's specifications, straight from box. Seatbelts, rigging and aerials may be added as appropriate to the subject. • No opened cockpits or hatches are allowed unless it is an option in the kit. • No additional items such as external stowage/boxes or tarpaulins or chains are permitted. • Changes in colour scheme and aftermarket decals are permitted e.g. Me109 from German to Spanish markings. • Kit instructions must be placed with the entry card or the model will be disqualified. • In the event that the kit instructions have been lost, the model may still be entered at the discretion of the Competition Secretary, on the understanding that, should the said instructions be required by the judges and not be available, the model will be disqualified Any Source Detailed (ASD) • A Standard Kit that has additional detailing added from any commercial sources and/or significant additional detail built by the modeller. • This definition also includes any kit parts relocated or reworked by the modeller. Aftermarket tracks, wheels, gun barrels, machine guns etc are examples of what would be considered included in ASD entries. • Cockpits/vehicle hatches and doors may be opened and any inspection hatches, wing/rotor folds or bomb bays provided as an option in the original kit can be posed open and the interior of the hatch/bomb bay/ wing fold may be detailed in this class. Any Source Converted (ASC) • This is a model that is built to a specification or variant other than that intended by the manufacturer. • Commercial, non-commercial and/or scratch-built parts may be used. • A change of colour scheme and/or decals shall not constitute a conversion, regardless of any change of designation to the model. • A converted model may be detailed to any level desired by the modeller. Vacformed (V) • A commercial kit where the main body parts and/or flying surfaces are of vac-formed plastic, but it can contain any other detailed parts from any source. • These kits may be detailed to any level desired by the modeller. Scratch Built (S) • A model constructed where the main body parts (50 percent or more) and/or flying surfaces are home-made or vac-formed plastic, other than of a commercial nature. • The basic structure should be of plastic although a supporting (wooden) core is permitted. • A scratch built model may be detailed to any level desired by the modeller. Super Detailed (SD) • Any model that has large areas of structure (more than 10 percent) or hatches, inspection panels and turrets not provided as options in the original kit removed/opened and significant detail added by the modeller, this can be either from commercial and/or scratch-built parts. • Wing or rotor folds not included as part of the original kit shall fall into this class. • Subjects which have an exterior skin or covering removed to show interior structure shall also be classed as super detailed. Bases and Cases • Bases will be allowed in all categories and will not be considered in the judging except dioramas https://ipmsuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/IPMS-UK-Scale-ModelWorld-2022-Competition-Rules-V1-1.pdf Seems to work for them. Or do we still have something against furriners and their nefarious ideas? 😉

From the Tokyo Hobby Show, Tamiya just announced a new tool 1/48 F-35A. Should be a massive improvement on currently available kits and with lots of potential international markings options, it should prove popular! NEW TAMIYA F-35 KIT ANNOUNCED 1/48 scale plastic model assembly kit. Wingspan: 222mm, fuselage length: 326mm. Realistically depicted Radar absorbent material (RAM) sections. This kit can be-assembled with one choice of the three ordnance patterns – stealth mode, air-to-air mode, and beast mode. Ordnance parts can be-attached under wing. Features realistic renderings of the following sections: Weapons bay inside details including depictions of wiring Engine nozzle, cockpit, and landing gear bays Martin-Baker US16E ejection seat (multiple-piece design) Ladder which extends from nose left side Nose undersurface side details Y- shaped air intakes Engine nozzle (5-piece design) RCS (radar cross section) enhancers affixed to top and bottom sections (two for each, four in total) during basic training exercises Boxes stored in nose landing gear bay Choose from open or closed weapons bay covers and canopy (the latter is interchangeable), up or down flaps, and extended or retracted boarding ladder. Includes a realistically recreated seated pilot figure with Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) and various kinds of ordnance: AIM-9X Sidewinder x2, AIM-120C AMRAAM x2, GBU-12 Paveway II x4, and GBU-31 JDAM x2. Transparent parts capture sensor windows. Comes with nine marking options - U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Israeli Air Force, Italian Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, and Royal Netherlands Air Force. (Also, drag chute fairing component is-included only for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.) Includes canopy masking stickers and a full-color painting guide.

Nice! The barrel is very convincing, as are the various chains and ropes. Is it called a Parrot Gun because it's bright yellow? 😁

Welcome, Joshua!

Impressive! What are the dimensions?

Nice work, Ron! According to Scalemates, this is a re-release of the 1977 Monogram 1/618 scale kit.

My wife is actually thinking she'd like to come - she's heard lots of good things about that area of the country. I've never been to Wisconsin so it'll be a first for me. As for it being too far - well, that's true of anywhere for a lot of people, but them's the breaks. Just about anywhere WE want to go is one plane change away nowadays, and we aren't letting that be our excuse for not going. As I'm not intending to enter anything in the contest, it's a non-issue for me - I'll save all my entries for the next time Phoenix hosts....! 😁