EFGrune

Way back before the 2000 show in Dallas the North Central Texas folks tried to have Wednesday (afternoon, noon to 5) as a members only day. What trade show can you, as a non-member, walk into and have the same perks and access as a member. Push back from the vendors and their advocates on the board -- they;ll miss 5 hours of potential sales to the folks who wouldn't pay to support the organization anyway.

The Texas is currently finishing a drydock period in Galveston. Hull leaks have been addressed and she will be exiting the drydock soon. More topside work will be necessary before she will become a museum attraction across the harbor in Galveston and greet the tens of thousands of cruise ship passengers who sail into and out of Galveston each year. The conservation staff has researched the color and selected a 5N Navy Blue which is better matched than that used in the 1988/1989 refit. Measure 21/Overall Navy Blue was selected because that is the color she finished the war in the Pacific and other measures would not be appropriate for the gun tubs and platforms that were added during the late-44 refit following Normandy and Southern France. The staff also located the remnants of the welded outlines of the hull numbers and draft marks. Replacements were cut from sheet steel and applied, as has the name TEXAS on the stern Photos from the Battleship Texas website During a leak test earlier this week Most of the leaks have been fixed, but there is more work to do. Scaffolding surrounds the upperworks indicating the work to be done. The square structure on the side is part of the museum visitor access ramp structure. Hull number 35 low and aft of the anchor. The gantry in the background is an oil rig elsewhere in the yard. The aft stern number with the name TEXAS aft of the number. Sheet steel letters were cut out using the as-built font format and welded in place. The name was painted over in compliance with wartime restrictions. The rudder with aft draft marks, two sets. The rudder is offset 19 degrees, reportedly the last rudder command when she was turned over to the state as a museum in 1948. There have been calls to straighten the rudder. but the steering engine is rusted solid and the costs involved would be better to other projects. Similarly, the Battleship Texas Foundation chose to forego the application of a red lead hull bottom. The red would not be seen one the ship is back in the water. They close to use a black marine epoxy with good biofouling properties.

I am sorry to hear about James. I met him through Jon Warneke and occasionally went to his store when my daughter was in college in Atlanta. James asked some thoughtful questions which helped inform some of my judging decisions. A memory of James. He grew up in Oklahoma and was partial to Braums Ice Cream. Last year, the day before the convention, he called me in a panic. Had I left home to drive to San Marcos? He had planned on picking up some of the Braums special cookies, but he had not found a store in his travels through South and Central Texas. Braums only extends a bit south of Ft Worth. Could I please pick him up one pack each of their cookies? I bought him four dozen and he was most appreciative. He giggled everytime I saw him that weekend.

I got the email, changed the arrival date to the 17th and hit update. Worked for me, just need to change the room type from 2 queens to a king, but I figure that I can do that through my account Hilton Honors sometime later

The responses received from GSB contest to the NCC local/regional judging practices questionnaire (a dozen over a three year period, including two from me) showed that one contest awarded 90% of their entries with something. No data on the breakdown of the awards. That sure sounds like a participation trophy to me!

I have today also submitted my resignation effective immediately. I can no longer effectively serve the current organization. Ed Grune (former) Head Ship Judge

Saturday morning there was a table in the back of the room which was manned by judges who would look at your model and give you their impression. They likely did not judge your particular model and may not even be a judge in your particular genre. But all judges are experienced and can provide feedback on your model. There is also a seminar offered each year on What do Judges Looks For. It is helpful for you to know common mistakes and what pitfalls to avoid You may contact the Chief Judge (Phil Perry) at the NCC@ipmsusa.org address listed on the NCC webpage and he can forward your concerns to the Head Auto Judge

Some sage advice given me many years ago, “When the pigment hits the plastic, it’s right!”. Or follow the four A’s principle: Applicability, Accessibility, Affordability, and Accuracy. The sequence you choose is up to you

All done at highway speed, just stay in your lane through the gantry. I have a RF sticker that links to the system. Otherwise they photo your license plate and send you a bill in the mail.

Three hours north outside of Ft Worth. Check the dog into the kennel tomorrow and hit the road after the morning rush. Still roll into San Marcos before 1 For those of you coming down I35 from the north, Texas 130 is a toll road bypass around Austin. Pick it up near Georgetown. Depending on the traffic through town it might be good option to take. It might cost you 5 to 7 bucks. Speed limits are higher. You will see Elon’s Gigafactory on your left. Take the Texas 45 toll road back to I35 at Buda. That puts you about 20 miles north of San Marcos. Coming from the SE on I10, the other end of TX130 intersects a bit east of San Antonio. Speed limit is like 85 if you dare. SW on I10, take I410 (?) around San Antonio to pick up I35 and it’s a straight shot from there.

Story here for our friends from the temperate north. Back in 2019, the day before the Chattanooga show opened we were at the battlefield park above the city. The NPS ranger is giving his program on the battle. A guy in the back raises his hand, “We’re not from here, we’re from Canada. What is SCREAMING in the trees.” The ranger replies “I was a history major in college, but I grew up on a farm in Alabama. I can tell the difference between an oak and a pine, and I’m pretty sure that those are cicadas”. Every summer cicadas emerge from the ground, climb a nearby tree, shed their skin, and fly away seeking a mate. The screaming you hear is the big guys calling, ‘Ladies, here I am over here!’

San Marcos? Tom Moon, tmoongm at gmail dot com Next year? Wait until after San Marcos is done & the staffing is set, then contact the Contest Coordinator

The NCC is in the process of updating the Modeler's Guide and Competition Handbooks. The following is DRAFT changes for Chapter IV - Ships. I have previously distributed this document to my alternate head judge and to several of my senior judges and has been submitted to the NCC. Mark P had wanted to get these inputs incorporated 'by summer', so that while they might not be in place for the convention, they could be addressed. I am hesitant to drop this on my line judges on Friday judging night, rather would solicit some comments after some consideration. Expanded category definitions are presented. This change was driven in-part by changes made to the automotive categories for 2023 that explained the definitions of many categories. This change increased the page count on the annual category list document. Making the change here to [hopefully] clearly define the categories once rather than annually expanding the category list seems to be preferred. The Entry Evaluation Criteria section is a list of items which I would expect my line judges to consider; presentation, construction, detail, and painting/finishing. There are no weights or point values assigned. This is an expansion over the prior evaluation criteria which was dated given the advances in the hobby over the last decade. Formatting? The PDF looks much better before being cut into this forum format Thanks in advance for constructive comments/ Ed Grune NCC Head Ship Judge ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Ships The scales referenced in this section refer to the following convention: 1/700 refers to scales 1/451 and smaller. 1/350 refers to scales 1/450 to 1/101 (and larger as applicable) 1/72 refers to scales 1/100 and larger. Category Definitions Aircraft Carriers: 400 (1/700) and 401 (1/350) - Entries in these categories shall consist of purpose-built or converted ships with large decks whose mission is to launch and recover aircraft. These categories do not include other types of ships which have a flight deck or launch recovery mechanism and may be considered ‘aircraft capable’ (i.e., destroyers, CAM ships, landing craft, etc.). Battleships, Battlecruisers, and Cruisers: 402 (1/700) and 403 (1/350) – Entries in these categories shall consist of large to medium ships whose mission is battleline, scouting, screening, and/or commerce raiding. The time frame of these entries represents the Dreadnought to modern era. See category 408 for earlier time frames. Other Surface Ships, smaller than cruiser-sized: 404 (1/700) and 405 (1/350) – Entries in these categories shall consist of other medium to small ships, destroyers, escorts, patrol craft, larger landing craft and commercial ships. A commercial ship entry may be either a purpose-built ship (cruise ship, container, bulker, etc.,) or a de-militarized ship (e.g. Liberty or Victory-type bearing shipping house markings/flags) Sailing: 407 (all scales/eras) – Entries in this class shall consist of wind-powered craft with rigging. Masts, yards, and rigging are expected. The presence of sails is not required. Oar-assisted ships (galleys, bireme/trireme, etc.) are also entered in this category. The inclusion of wood material, sail-powered ship models in this category is expected. Early Steam and Sail: 408 (all scales) – Entries in this category shall represent the transition period of propulsion power, the time frame is from the American Civil War, through the Victorian/Edwardian period, generally ending in the Spanish-American or Russo-Japanese Wars. This category will include ironclads, rams, and pre-dreadnoughts. Submarines: 412 (1/700, all eras) – Entries in this category consist of small-scale submarines of either submersible or modern type. Submarines: 413A (1/350, origins to 1945) – Entries in this category are submersible craft with characteristics similar to a surface ship; sharp bow, open conning tower, railings. Submarines: 413B (1/350. 1946 and later) – Entries in this category are true submarines in that they have a shape optimized for extended underwater operation; streamlined, enclosed conning tower and few if any rails. The date separation of this and the prior category is based on design dates put forth by Dr Norman Friedman in is reference books on US submarine design Submarines: 415 (1/72, all eras) – Entries in this category are large-scale submarines of either submersible or modern type. Boats, Speedboats, Motor Torpedo Boats, Motor Patrol Boats, Landing Craft, etc.: 418 (all scales/eras) – Entries in this category consist of small craft which are capable of being taken out of the water (although not required) for transit on a larger ship or other means of transport. Naval Technology: 420 (all scales/all eras) - Entries in this category consist of standalone naval equipment, such as gun turrets, gun or missile mounts, boat davit sets, or aircraft catapults. Chibi Maru/Egg Ships will also be considered in this category. Entries in this category were removed from inclusion in the Miscellaneous Class (Category 860) for 2023. Conversions and Scratch-Built: 423 (all scales/eras) – · A Scratch-built entry is one for which there is no commercially available kit. The modeler develops the entry using scratch-building materials and methods to create the parts and model in accordance with plans. o A totally 3D printed model is not considered scratch-built. o Commercially available detail parts (i.e., photoetch, resin, 3D print, metal) may be used in the completion of the model, but will not comprise the major portion of the scratch- built entry. · A conversion entry is a commercially available kit which has its class, configuration, or silhouette SUBSTANTIVELY CHANGED by the modeler, using either a commercially available conversion set, scratch-building materials or parts from another model. · The effectiveness or complexity of the conversion or scratch-built entry may be considered. Basic Kit Build: 426 (all scales/eras) – A Basic Kit Build entry shall be composed of single-media only built from the contents of a kit. Only the primary material type contained in the kit may be used in the completion of the entry. No other type of material contained in the kit may be used. The entry must be accompanied by the instruction sheet so that adherence to the single media criteria may be confirmed. If the instructions are not provided or the entry is determined to not be of single media construction the model will be moved to the appropriate standard category. Ship Vignette: 440 (all scales/eras) – A ship vignette entry is a single ship subject interacting with the environment to present a theme or ‘slice of time’. There is no story line required in a vignette. The totality of the presentation; model, base, finish, and action will be evaluated. All components will be considered with equal weight. Ship Diorama: 442 (all scales/eras) - A ship diorama is one or more ship subjects interacting with the environment, each other, and/or an off-scene element to present an event or story. The totality of the presentation; model(s), base, finish, action, and strength of story will be evaluated. The strength of the story presented will be given an equivalent weight to that of the model(s). A note about Hypothetical Ship entries, for at least the last 20 years it has been the understanding among the ship model judges that if plans have been drawn (officially or unofficially) and a modeler develops his entry in accordance with those plans, it is not hypothetical. The model may represent a ship which never actually appeared presented configuration (example USS Lexington as a battlecruiser). Entry Evaluation Criteria Presentation · A model entry may be presented as whole hull or waterline. · A whole hull presentation will include the running gear (shaft(s), propeller(s), and/or rudder(s) typical of the prototype. · A whole hull entry may include underwater details such as: sonar domes, sea chests, intake & exhaust ports or other fittings on the prototype. The absence of these details is not a downgrade criterion. · A whole hull entry may be presented on pedestals, keel blocks, cradle, or other mounting base. · A waterline presentation is representative of the ship visible from the waterline up. As such no underwater details are expected or required, · A waterline entry may be presented without a base, on a sea-base, or a plain material base. · With the exception of the Vignette/Diorama categories, bases will not be evaluated as part of the model entry. · The simple dynamic movement (bow waves, wakes) of a waterline ship presented on a sea base will not be required for placement into a vignette/diorama category. Similarly, a ship ‘doing what a ship does’ with its basic mission, as in an aircraft carrier launching an airplane, does not necessarily place the entry into a vignette/diorama. o The modeler may choose to place an entry, with a possible poorer vignette/diorama quality into the vignette/diorama categories, understanding that the totality of the presentation will be evaluated. o The modeler may choose to place a vignette/diorama model entry into a standard category understanding that only the ship subject will be evaluated. The evaluation of ship vignettes and dioramas will include the base and other structural components to determine the effectiveness of the presentation of the vignette ‘slice of time’ or diorama story. Basic Construction · No glue strands or fingerprints · Flash, visible trademarks, mold seams, sink marks, ejector-pin marks, and similar molding flaws eliminated. · Seams filled. Details lost by filling/sanding will be re-scribed/replaced. · Cylindrical items (masts, yards, gun barrels) will remain round. They must not be sanded to an oval shape. · Alignment: o When viewed bow or stern on: § Periscopes, masts, and projections are vertical and aligned parallel to the central axis of the ship unless presented otherwise on the prototype. § If whole-hull bilge keels will appear symmetrical. § Yards are aligned perpendicular to the mast axis unless presented otherwise on the prototype. Sailing ships may have yards arrayed at ‘off angles’ to catch the wind. § Signal halyard lines shall run from the yardarm to the flag bag and not have visible frayed cuts at the tie off points. § Antenna runs shall be prototypically taut and shall run between antenna lead-in points. Antenna insulators may be applied with drops of glue. § Superstructure bulkheads shall be aligned vertically and parallel with the central axis of the ship, unless otherwise on the prototype § Superstructure decks shall be generally parallel with the main deck, unless otherwise on the prototype. Deck camber should be considered. § Railings should stand vertical, neither leaning in nor out o When viewed beam on: § Periscopes, masts, and other projections are generally vertical in appearance. Masts may display a fore or aft rake consistent with the prototype. § Mast stays, lines, antennas, and other rigging will be prototypically taut and not have frayed cuts at tie-off points. Fabric lines will be waxed or otherwise treated to minimize fuzzy appearance. § Superstructure bulkheads shall be aligned vertically and perpendicular with the central axis of the ship, unless otherwise on the prototype § Superstructure decks shall be generally parallel with the main deck, unless otherwise on the prototype. o When viewed in plan (topside view) § Photoetched railing details should not appear wavy. § Gun alignment – gun barrels are aligned with the train of the turret/gun mount. Barrels do not point off in wonky directions. Gun elevations may be different as per the prototype. · Glue puddles around figure’s feet or flaked-in lines should be minimized. · Shiny glue beads along railing runs should be toned down and blended into the surrounding structure with a dull coat Detailing · All small parts (including masts, bulwarks, splinter shields, railings, and rigging) should be thinned as close to scale as possible. · Small details sanded off during construction should be replaced with scratch-built or aftermarket material. · Gun barrels and vents should be drilled out whenever possible. · Sailing ship rigging and lines should be correct for the era being modeled. Rigging should be appropriately taut and attached properly (no frayed or flyaway ends at tie-off points). · Dead-eyes and blocks should be in scale and in proportion to the rigging lines used. · Shell/expansion plating or oil-canning effects may be added. They should be in scale and relate to the prototype internal structure. · Kit-included detail materials, with BKB/Single Media exceptions and limitations, may always be used. Aftermarket or scratch-built detail items of diverse materials such as plastic, resin, wood, cast metal, photo-etched, 3D-printed, thread/monofilament, etc. may be used in the standard (non-BKB/Single Media categories). · Photo-etched detail parts: o Nubs and burrs where parts are removed from sprue must be eliminated. o Paint should cover applied brass details completely. There should be no brass color showing at nicks, cracks, cuts, or bends. o Parts should not be unintentionally damaged or bent. o Radar screens or netting pieces will not have grids filled with paint or glue o Glue marks and buildups should not show. They should appear seamlessly blended. o Parts (e.g., rails and stanchions) should not overlap. o Railing runs should have logical starting/ending points (stanchion, bulkhead, gun tub, etc.,) They don’t just end in mid-air. o All railings should be straight when viewing the model bow to stern (no wavy railings). o Railings must line up horizontally and vertically where they join. o Corner (box) seams created when parts are bent to shape should be filled. Painting and Finishing · No paint fingerprints. · Care should be taken with the wooden models and deck details. o Distracting 1:1 scale wood grain effect should be minimized. o End grain pieces should be finished to a similar consistency as long grain parts. · 3D printed models and parts will be primed and finished in a manner to minimize the striation affects often present in the media. · Paint should have a matt or satin finish unless a different sheen is being used to create a special effect. · Paint should be even and smooth, exhibiting no brush marks, masking ridges, or "orange-peel" effect. Unintentional overspray of adjacent surfaces is minimized. · Except for natural wood models, the model surface should be painted even if the model material is the same color as the desired finish. A clear coat could be used but must be applied in a manner to prevent application faults. · Unless appearing on the prototype, deck colors should not wrap onto the bulkheads, nor the bulkhead colors wrap onto the decks. There should be a demarcation in paint between the surfaces. · Decals: o Aligned properly. Unusual markings or markings placement must be documented. o No silvering or bubbling of decal film. Decal film should be eliminated or hidden to make the markings appear painted on. · Weathering should be consistent and appropriate across the entry. But the nature of a ship and its environment may lead to inconsistent upkeep.

North Central Texas has never recovered from the 2000 convention in Dallas and have no desire to try it again. I had already been working on the show planning since ‘97. The show doesn’t happen by magic. IMO the other clubs in the DFW Metroplex would feel the same. Bring in a professional company to run it. Go back through this thread and note the top tier concept. Dallas is a top tier city, as is Arlington, Plano, McKinney, Grapevine, and FtWorth. Get up to Frisco and you still have to pay handsomely for the privilege of using JerryWorld North. Other locations will not support the size/density of the Nats. And, once you have toured the Frontiers of Flight museum what would bring you back in successive years? My recommendation to whatever powers that be are to get rid of the requirement to hold the show in the summer months. That would open more locations which are currently cost prohibitive ‘in season’.

405 1/350 other surface ships; commercial is explicitly called out Once again the local committee has taken the NCC's category listing and modified it for their use, deleting pertinent information, such as 1/350 represents 1/450 to 1/101 scales See the official category listing at https://ipmsusa.org/sites/default/files/2023_ipms_national_contest_categories.pdf

Thats ok. Everyone has heard about how big Texas is, they see it on a map. But I can leave my house and drive west, and 8 to 10 hours later I'm still in Texas. Until you drive it you don't know. Some more pix. continuing down the starboard and around the stern. Looking up, the starboard 5"/51 guns swung out. Those on the port side have been removed and are being refurbished at the Foundation's warehouse. No crane access for these, they'll pull these later after drydocking. They're replacing a lot of steel These are outer hull showing the original 1912 framing And the rudder. Here are some details to add to your Trumpeter kit, zinc attachments and access panels. The rudder is set at 14 degrees, supposedly the last rudder angle ordered when docked in 1948. Thats their story and their sticking to it. Regardless, the rudder motor was triple redundant -- steam, electrical, and manpower -- and the gearing is rusted solid. Cost/benefit analysis if leave it as is. One of those panels on the rudder stock also supposedly enclosed beef tallow for lubrication back in 1912. There have been no volunteers to open and check 110 year old beef fat. The oval panel at the center top is were the Navy cut the prop shaft supports in 1948. They removed the props, prop shafts, and supports as part of the transfer to museum ship status. A photo of the tour group under the rudder for scaling. We were loaned those stylish yellow hats, and there was a dress code of no shorts and must wear closed toe shoes. Going around to the port side aft, the damage where they are replacing the inner and outer hull panels. They are cutting back to good steel then will replace the panels. Shown too is some of the remaining concrete salvage patches that were placed when trying to keel her afloat. They're jackhammering that away. They also used expanding foam in places. That has been cut up and washed out using high pressure water jets. Also visible is a fiberglass patch at the waterline. The port side will be handled like the starboard, the forward torpedo blister fairing is being built in place and shop manufactured sections will be added. Jumping all the way to the bow, another detail to add to your trumpeter kit, the paravane hauldown fixture. Chains run from the deck through this allowed the mine sweeping paravanes to be pulled down and flown through the water at the necessary depth. See the chalk mark F0, Frame Zero. This is the base point from which all fore/aft measurements are made, the length between perpendiculars. The Length Overall accounts for the bulb nose. The other chalk parks are the hull plate thickness as determined by fancy X-rays

Across the harbor from the seaport area. This past weekend was the Galveston Tall Ship Challenge, including the hometown favorite Elissa, the Pride of Baltimore II, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's boat, and the NAO Trinidad replica of one of Columbus' ships. That and beer ... Pictures working down the starboard side. The blue is the 1988 cosmetic refit commercial paint. It has held up well and they plan on going back with the same material. The hull will be totally repainted before leaving the drydock. The rusty red is the new torpedo blisters, primed. They built the forward third of the blister piece by piece to fair smoothly with the hull. The after 2/3 are shop-made parts attached as units. They'll do the same on the port side. Instead of smoothly fairing the bottoms of the blisters into the lower hull as was done in the 1925 refit they are truncating them just below the waterline. This gives realistic appearance and will be easier to maintain (access, pump, and paint). The blisters are primed and painted on the interior before installation. One of these photos shows the access manway between blister sections. That is not someone's pants leg, rather it is an air supply duct. Interesting piece of history showing at frame 36 (F36). That us a piece of 1912 teak that was the crush surface on the bottom of one of the docking keels. Still doing its job after 111 years of submersion. The redhat was the docent tour guide -- he can touch, but someone did pick up the chip off the deck. More as I get around to it ...

Err, umm, Galveston is about 4 hours away from Corpus Christi & the Lexington.

Got home today from my trip to Galveston to see the Texas in drydock. My birthday present to me. The shipyard is working 6 days a week on the Texas. Sundays are available to the Battleship Texas foundation to offer tours as a fundraiser (drydock time is $10K per day). Got an hour & half + tour around the drydock deck, mostly looking up. But did get a chance to walk under and touch the docking keels (missing on the Trumpeter model!) That big honkin' wart on the nose is the paravane downhaul fitting. The black lower hull coating is an epoxy coating applied in the 1988 cosmetic refit. The beige is the waterline area where it was blasted to remove the scum. A coat of primer was applied to protect the metal until painting. Above is the Measure 21 Navy Blue overall. This again is the 1988 paint application with a modern commercial paint. The battleship foundation folks are pleased with how it held up, and will go back over with the same. The majority of the work is replacing the torpedo blisters and fixing the hull damage where the skin failed. Over the years cement salvage patches and injectable foam were used. These have been described as torniquets to keep the patient alive until higher care can be reached. They are now jackhammering the cement out and waterjetting the foam. New torpedo blisters are being fabricated and installed. Failed hull sections are getting new steel plates or doublers. Like I noted above, they're now offering tours in June & July. The plan shared is to leave the drydock in late-August or September. She will still remain dockside to complete interior work that doesn't necessitate drydocking. Beaumont & Baytown are still out of the running, Apparently negotiations are underway to finalize a location and scope of work for a permanent facility. Tourism numbers are a major driver. A docent said that they've had people come off the cruise ships docked in Galveston and see the Texas in the drydock across the harbor and have tried to arrange a tour on the spot. No luck. Once I get my pictures in a better order I'll post more

... the Battleship Texas Foundation has announced that the drydock tours of the Texas in Galveston have been extended into June & July, including July 30 before the convention. The tours are on Sundays when the normal industrial work is at a minimum. Tours are about an hour and you walk on the dock deck to examine the hull. The ship herself is not open. Tour cost is a donation to support the restoration effort. Salvaged material is being made into souvenirs and there is a gift shop. The ship is currently scheduled to exit the drydock in August. More work to be done topside at that time. No final location of the ship announced yet, although Beaumont and Baytown have been eliminated/ I could see the itinerary of starting in the morning in Galveston, then driving to Fredericksburg for a day or two at the Nimitz museum before arriving in San Marcos on Wednesday

Every year the NCC is faced with entrants who cannot or will not read and follow the rules. DAK is an outlier. The NCC and/or local committee is hit with [select any or all that apply] Why was my model handled? Why was my model moved across the room? Who moved it? When was it moved? How was it moved? My model is not where I left it -- it must have been stolen! Why is there not better security? In an effort to address some of these questions the decision was made to handle dioramas as is done in many local contests -- include them in their standard classes. An entry may still be moved, just down the table. You are not loosing any award packages. There are still as many vignette/diorama awards as there were before. It also means more work for the head judges. Instead of having the Diorama class judges select the Best Diorama award, each class head judge will now have to ask the judges who judged their diorama categories for the best vignette/diorama per class and then we (the NCC members) will go around the room like we do for best in show to select the best diorama award. If any thing it would mean that an entry could conceivably win best in class. best diorama and best in show -- not possible before And to James' point - it is an open secret that Mark Persichetti is retiring as Chief Judge after the 2023 show. Eileen retired as Contest Recorder after Omaha with her producing the final report the last official action. Phil Perry will be the new Chief Judge. At the last NCC meeting we were still waiting for the Eboard to ratify Phil's selection under our charter. For 2024 there will be a new Miscellaneous Judge replacing Phil.

This morning I received an email addressed to the Wild Strawberry account north_central_texas AT ipmsusa.COM from Just Cool Furniture trying to sell me an AMAZING Wicker Sofa. I binned it Has Wild Strawberry's database been hacked?

Jim may respond with the definitive answer, but I would say it goes to rotary wing. The three turbo jets (multi-engine jet category?) drove the 'Turborotator' fan that provided downward thrust.

According to a posting on Hyperscale, Rusty White former IPMS Head Ship Judge and owner of Flagship Models has passed away. The post indicates that Flagship is for sale No other details are given

Yes, proxy entries are allowed. You (the modeler) must be a current member. A registration fee must be paid, though it may be prorated (local decision).