Nick Filippone

I have been judging at the National for 20+ years, as well as at all lower levels of competition. Having judged and entered in many different categories, I categorically maintain that the average National Contest entry is significantly better than that of local and regional shows -and getting better every year. This is as it ought to be. Further, I do not recall saying anything is the "be all end all." But 60% is, in fact, a majority and it's significance should not be disparaged. Nick Filippone, IPMS # 969, Senior National Judge.

This is the National Convention and competition of the IPMS. It is where annually one can see the highest level of craftsmanship in our hobby. Adding table space for those disinclined to compete for whatever reason is a fine idea. Diluting the overall quality of the work at our Convention by replacing National Competion level work with display only level work does not, in my opinion, enhance the prestige of this Society. We should, by all means, do whatever is reasonable to accommodate those who wish only to display- but not at the expense of those who enjoy " mixing it up" with their fellows IPMS members in honest competition. Recall that it is the high level of work at the National Contest that goads many of us to improve our skills. This contest also is the training ground for our best judges. Finally, it would hopefully be unnecessary for me to point out that, in fact, the majority of registrants do enter the contest. That speaks rather loudly for the position that the contest is a significant part of the National Convention experience for more people than not! Nick Filippone, IPMS # 969, Senior National Judge

While, next to the Vendor Room, the contest is my favorite part of the Convention, there is lots else to do at the Convention. It is desireable, therefore, for the leadership of IPMS to encourage our fellow members to support its annual national gathering, whether they choose to compete or not. Those of us who spend the entire year after one National Contest preparing for the next should keep in mind that the Contest is not the most important event at the National for many. Even if one does not enter the Contest, it is a great display of remarkable craftsmanship and creativity. We, as a Society, have been accused, perhaps somewhat fairly, of being too focused on competition. Though the statistics about registrants vs. contest entrants are interesting, the most important thing they do is remind us not to market the National Convention as mainly or most importantly a competition. Nick Filippone

I think if the modeler him or herself did the design and program work and then printed it, it would be eligible for entry, perhaps, as suggested, in its own category. On the other hand, if one were to simply purchase it complete from the designer, it would be comparable to a die cast or built up and therefore not eligible for entry under our rules. Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge.

click2detsil makes parts and kits with 3D printing.

JADAR in Poland. Great stuff, great prices, excellent service. And try Hobbylinc for paints. Discounted prices, very broad range, fast service. Nick Filippone

As another "graybeard" (greyer than Gil, not as grey as Ralph, but balder than both), the issue of banquet attendance is another reminder of an old and tiresome attitude amongst many members of IPMS with regard to banquets at the Regional or National level. " I can get a better meal down the street for the same money." Never mind that it is an opportunity for members to break bread together as civilized people do to celebrate important events. Never mind that by attending the banquet, those members support the host chapter by making sure enough banquets are purchased toward the required contractual minimum. Never mind that it is the only time all year we gather as one body. If you don't think enough of this organization to spend a couple of hours at a table with your fellow members from around the nation and the world, how important can you think the awards are? As for me, I have and will continue to support the banquet. So, bring on the rubber chicken or overdone beef! It's always a lot of fun- especially if I have a few drinks first! Nick Filippone

Brian Miller! Well done! How can you not like a guy with in-depth knowledge of such a classic film? ( And he isn't even from New York.) I look forward to paying this debt! Dark Porter it is! Look me up at Columbia. Regards, Nick

I am the bogey-man from New York who "berated you." For the record, I have never bashed someone's model to their face, so don't tar me with that broad brush. However, after 20 or more years of listening to IPMS members on this forum- and to the best of my knowledge, you do have to be a member of IPMS to post on this forum- belittle, complain, criticize, whine, p____ and moan about the good faith efforts of an all volunteer leadership to put on conventions, publish a journal, maintain this forum and manage our financial affairs, I'm a more than little fed up! This is the factual, ugly side of our membership. Where is my journal? Why hasn't registration opened? Where is my T shirt? Why can't the National be in my backyard every year? Why are the awards so cheap? Why did you hold this Regional in the middle of nowhere? Why do I have to buy a banquet ticket to get a good seat and why isn't the food better? Why do we have to have a banquet at all? Shall I go on? Yeah! I'm from New York, but that is not what causes me aggravation when once again, apparently , I repeat, apparently, yet another IPMS member mocks the efforts of hard working volunteers to try to keep us entertained, at the cost of their sweat, their financial risk and their modeling time. I was brought up and educated to inform myself before commenting or criicizing. I was also expected to discipline myself to be respectful of those who endeavor to undertake tasks I am too lazy or incompetent to undertake myself! A mere glance at the list of Life Members is a litany of those who have devoted countless hours to the Society. The paltry turn-out for candidates for our elected office is eclipsed in shame only by the even more pathetic voting record of the rank and file membership. Both are a humbling reminder of how few people keep the organization on it's feet. So show them a little respect and be cautious of making them the butt of a bad joke! I seek not your forgiveness. I allowed that I may have misunderstood what was meant to be a joke. Your dearth of clarity creates the quagmire into which anyone- writer or reader- may be entrapped when we rely on social media instead of "plain speaking and clear understanding." Nick Filippone P. S. I wil buy a beer at the Nationals for the first person who posts what that quote is from and who speaks it. Good luck! -

I agree with Dick. I must say, however, that having reviewed the menu, I was perplexed by the choice of "Teres Major." I actually had to google the term to find out that it is a piece of a cow. So, please save one for me- extra rare! (A man has to die of something!) Thanks, Nick Filippone

I googled this. It appears to be something akin to a pointed sanding stick in a propelling pen such as a technical pencil. And, yes, they warn that contact with the "filings" is irritating to skin and eyes! I think I will pass on this one. Nick Filippone

Gee! I wasn't even close! Nick

Thank you, Charles. I don't know what a PCF is, either, but I was too embarrassed to ask. I assume it is some kind of armoured vehicle. Nick Filippone

Ed, Thank you for your prompt reply. As I suspected, the fault was not in the stars, but in myself. Warmest regards at the Holidays. Nick

I reviewed the rules of the other ship OOB category. (I had seen the legacy category a few days ago on a different site.) The rules on the Convention website are a little clearer. It would appear you can use wire, for example, to rig a legacy OOB entry but not in the multi-media OOB category? Is that logical or am I missing something? Nick Filippone

Steve, Thanks for the tip on keeping the tip in water. Huh?! I just made a stupid pun, which Shakespeare said was the lowest form of humor. Nick Filippone

I applaud the addition of this category! It is an intelligent and reasonable response to an appeal from many members for just such an opportunity to compete with other modelers who share a perhaps more relaxed approach to modelling. And, hey! More categories means more opportunities to win trophies. I also think that this will allow us all to see what can be done with some older kits that really do not lend themselves to being competitive in the other categories. My hat is off to the National Contest Comittee.Pardon me now while I dig out my old Heller kit of Duke William of Normandy's flagship! Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge

There is another variable still! All decals are not the same! I had read that touching the undersurface of the decal to a puddle of Future after taking it off the backing before apply it to the model would eliminate silvering. I tried it a oouple of times and it worked great. Then I tried it with some other brand of decal and it disintegrated when it hit the Future. I suppose I should be keeping track of all these misadventures including the various brands of solutions and decals that produce such different results. But, in fact, of late, I have been getting good results with Testors Model Master enamels, Testors Gloss Clear Lacquer, Microset, decal, Microsol, Testors Gloss Clear Lacquer and Testors Lacquer Flat, in that order. Solvaset, if needed for a stubborn decal must be used sparingly as it can do more harm than good. Nick Filippone

I do not think it could be scribed. But this is never a problem for me be cause I use a technical pencil for panel lines and simply draw in where the engraving is lost. I have left the excess in place for days and even weeks. It comes right off. To soften it in the tube, I take the cap off, put the tube in a cup of tap water and place in microwave on high power for 15 seconds. (Your results may vary.) I over cooked it the first time and it came out almost liquid. In a few minutes, however, it begins to firm up. While it has to have some limitations, I have yet to find a down side. The texture, in my opinion is smooth, not coarse. Nick Filippone

For me, the great quest has always been to find a mythical putty to fill seams. This putty would thin and clean with water. It could be removed with water and thus not harm the plastic. It would be easily paintable. And now, I may have found it! It is called-perhaps not surprisingly- Perfect Plastic Putty, by Deluxe Materials. ( Amazon has it, amongst others.) It can be thinned with water and, when dry (overnight), the excess is easily removed with water without damaging delicate detail around it. It does have a tendency to harden in the tube over time, but it can be easily softened again by placing the tube in a cup of hot water. I urge you to try it. You will be choosing "...wisely!" Nick Filippone

Oh, for heaven's sake people! You don't mean to tell me that you actually thought I was serious about Rustoleum's " intentions." It was obviously written tongue in cheek as a joke! But, to your credit, it demonstrates what I had hoped to- that in the abscence of body language, facial expression and nuance of inflection, simple black and white print cannot reliably convey subtlety in communication. The "listener" can than only guess what the "speaker" meant, always at the peril of each. Gotcha! Nick-thinks most social media is stupid unless it is being used to find lost pets, curb animal abuse and expose police brutality-Filippone.

If you are so old that you can't read the fine print, then you are old enough that you shoud know the colours on sight. If you are so young that you do not know the colour just by looking at it through the glass, then your eye sight should be good enough to read the label! I am sure that that's what Rustoleum was thinking. Nick - knows all the colours he needs just by glancing at the bottle- Filippone.

If it's a lot of Tigercats schemes you are seeking, go to Wings Palette. Look under the Cold War fighters section. Lots of options. Nick Filippone

Just to reply to one of your questions- you would have seen precisely how bids are done for future shows if you had bothered to attend the business meeting Saturday morning. The Omaha bid was carefully prepared and professionally presented. There were no bikini clad models. Frankly, your ignorance of the process and, I might add, your ignorance of the Omaha venue insults the Society and the Omaha hosts. The last Omaha show was great. The location could not have been more unlike Las Vegas. This question, like most of the rest of your posting, reflects a shocking lack of research into these matters, all of which have been debated and discussed ad nauseam on this forum and at the annual National Business Meeting. If you are trying to be funny, Ha! Ha! You got me. If not, please brush up on the Society's institutional history - and your U.S. geography. Omaha is in Nebraska, not Iowa. Nick Filippone

Very nice work. Nick