Nick Filippone

Nice map, Dick. Thanks. My next question is probably stupid, but may I assume that from the orientation of the map, one would want to take a WEST bound train from the 3rd Street/Washington Station? Nick

David, Thank you orienting me (and the rest of us). It has been long enough since I have been to Phoenix that I forgot the segment of the journey between the terminal and the Light Rail Station. It's all coming together now. Nick

Phoenix has an excellent Light Rail System that, among other places, runs between the airport and downtown Phoenix. For our purposes, it lets you off about a block from the Convention Center and the event hotel. I used it both times I have been to the Phoenix Nationals. I recommend it. Nick Filippone

Try parking it in sunlight. It will bleach out the yellow over several weeks. Just don't let it get too hot! This technique also works for decals that have yellowed.

Yes! I look forward to buying you a beer! And we can discuss whether the line between passion and insanity is raised or recessed. Regards, Nick

Pete, Nice reply to my somewhat pretentious epistle. Periodically, having been building models for so long, I feel the need to articulate my own philosophy of how I approach the hobby. It is mostly for my own benefit. Everything you have said, of course, is absolutely true. Regards, Nick

Here is a different school of thought: Aircraft ( and armoured vehicles and ships, etc) have panel lines and they, therefore, should be depicted. A modeler, I believe, is a miniaturist. His or her goal is to depict each detail as clearly and neatly and completely as possible. We are not trying to simply achieve an impression of the full-scale prototype. Rather, we are trying to amaze the viewer with the wealth of colours, and shapes and sizes ( no matter how small) that make up main body of the subject as well as it's various accoutrement. Otherwise, how boring! Viewed from a scale distance, how does a 1/72 scale Wellington appear? Well, it's darkish on the top. Maybe I can distinguish between the Dark Earth and the Dark Green, but in fact in many lighting conditions, they blend together. It's darker on the bottom, but could it be dark grey, black, or black with some red in it? Who can say? Who cares? So why sweat "accurate" colours? I see the turrets, but at this distance, I don't know how the framing is arranged, so why should that be important? Applied to 1/700 ship modeling, concerns about detail, if we accept the distance theory, become even more absurd. They are all a grey blob! And,why, therefore should we concern ourselves with the precise details of the grating on a tank deck or a the exact details of the treads? At scale distance, the grating would look solid, and the treads may as well be those rubber band tracks we got in the old Airfix armoured vehicle kits in the 60's- God bless them." "Impressionist" modelling should not be necessarily disparaged. The Impressionist painters of the 19th Century are among my favorites. Monet and Degas and Renoir got rich and famous at it. But equally skilled and successful were those painters of the " Trompe l'oiel" school who " fooled the eye" with a dramatic abundance of detail! " " To each his own, said the old lady as she kissed her pig"........but detail wins contests. Cheers, Nick.

Al, Remarkable rendering of the face! Virtually photographic. Enviable work and artistry! What is the backstory of the individual you depicted? Regards, Nick

A " Proxy registration " enables a member who is unable to physically attend the Convention to have his models entered in the Contest ( presumably brought to the Convention by another person) . " The " Adult pre- registration " allows those adult members planning to physically attend the Convention to register before arriving on site. I hope this clears this up. Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge.

Perhaps Japanese Interior Blue Green? And wasn't the Shindenkai a pusher fighter?

What took me a little while to understand is that, although when I clicked on the blue "Visit the Forum" on the Home Page and got an error message, all I had to do was click on the far left of the three little icons in the upper right corner of the error message page. Then I was good to go. This technology is always a little difficult for me to adjust to when changes are made. I cannot imagine actually trying to create the changes! Thank you, Eric, for your efforts on behalf of the Society. Nick

Interesting! I never would have thought of that. Thanks. Nick

Pete and Ron make excellent points. I, too, would emphasis that approaching the TSA staff with attitude will be counter- productive. They are doing an important job and we model builders are no more entitled to a free pass on security than anyone else. My personal experience with the TSA (and I have flown models many times to the Nationals) has always been positive. I always try to engage them in a conversation about what the models are and about the competition. Often, they are enthused about the miniatures. I have always had a positive experience and nothing has been broken yet. But approach them with a chip on your shoulder and they can and will try to knock it off. You do catch more flies with honey. I always travel with clear boxes with clear plastic wrap for padding. They should be, as Ron suggested, low enough to sit below the sides of the trays. They should be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Putting them in the overhead is a non-starter! Even if you put your models in first, subsequent travelers wil shove it around trying to fit in a suitcase they should have checked. If you think the TSA is rough on a package of models marked "fragile," watch your fellow passengers try to squeeze 50 lbs. of luggage in a 25 lbs. overhead! Whatever class you travel in, do not pick a seat that has no seat and hence no underseat space ahead of it. If you are concerned about size of case that will fit under the seat ahead of you, the dimensions of underseat spaces for each aircraft is available on line. But keep in mind that the space between your seat edge and the seat back in front of you may be smaller than the underseat where the model case is to go. You may have to tip the case at a sharp angle to get it on the floor. Be sure, therefore, your models are secure within the carrying case. Good luck! Nick Flippone

I have been to the two previous Phoenix shows. They were excellent! The hosts always do a great job and the venue is perfect. I have no doubt they will do it up just fine again. I am not frustrated but I am impatient -for August to arrive! Nick Filippone

The Diamondbacks are not in town until Thursday.