Nick Filippone

I will look at my William’s Brothers B-10 and in my decal stash. But, rather than build an awful William’s Brothers kit, wait for the Azur kit of the B-10 recently announced. Nick Filippone

Yes, white glue. You could also use canopy cement, but, being stronger than Elmer’s, it will be harder to get apart. Nick Filippone

According to Scalemates, it is not. It was a new tool in 2011. The Hasegawa kit dates back to c. 1992. Nick Filippone

This organization, with the exception of Marie, is entirely run by volunteers. And, in fact, an embarrassingly few dedicated volunteers. The word “should” in describing how they carry out their work should be used with greater discretion and consideration. Anyone with access to our website either already knows about the show or, with a little effort and thinking, can find out all their is to know. Every year, a small handful of members arrange the National for the rest of us who, comparatively speaking, just sit on our duffs and enjoy it. It is always a great time. The least we can do is not hassle them with chippy little grousing and whining. Yet, each year, it is repeated with exasperating regularity. Enough already. It is like a broken record of a sour tune - painful to the ears of appreciative members. Nick Filippone

Every citizen must take moral responsibility for what he does in the name of his or her country! “I was only obeying orders” didn’t get Eichmann an acquittal. Governments-I.e. the rich- have been seducing it’s citizens to fight their wars for them by appealing to their patriotism since Homo sapiens started walking upright. War will never be over until the individual applies the courage he or she has shown in uniform and use it to defy his or her own leaders when they drum up some reason to kill. “War is over if you want it” ( John Lennon) A fantasy? It Is unless we begin to problem solve as nations and individuals better than we do now. Wrestling with our consciences over building the implements of old wars pales into insignificance when compared to the moral quandary of how to avoid new ones. “Who wants to die? “ (Marvin Gaye) Nick

How many enemy aircraft are you allowed to shoot down before you become a serial killer? The Red Baron was just better at killing people than most assigned to carry out the same task. The painful reality is, artists or not, most of us are fascinated with these instruments of destruction and death. They are emblematic of humanity at it’s most base. I suppose we deal with it by just not thinking about it too much, but modelers who build cars and dinosaurs and Gundams can do so with a much clearer conscience. Nick Filippone

This feckless conversation has not been worth commenting on again until, once more, the integrity of the judging corps is irresponsibly, recklessly and erroneously impugned! The pros and cons of show/no show can continue to be debated ad nauseum, but it has nothing to do with the honesty of our judges. To even suggest otherwise, however obliquely, safely ensconced behind one’s keyboard, reveals a lamentable dearth of intestinal fortitude even as it does this Society a great disservice in that it undermines the confidence of our members and entrants in the fairness of our contests. Those of you who want to call we judges dishonest should screw up whatever modicum of courage you have- if any - and do it to our faces! Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge

Ed, I will be out of town until next week. I will put the parts in the mail then. ( Notice I took care not to say “ I will put the bombs in the mail” in case someone like the FBI has not read this entire thread! Regards, Nick

A blob of glue is sloppy modeling, lousy craftsmanship, pure and simple! It is what eliminates an entry loooong before accuracy is even thought about in the judging process. Nick Filippone, Seniors National Judge

Nice work, Len. Nick

Mr. Ellickson, Based on Mr. McMurtrey’s calculations, which I think are correct, I have 2 bombs from my spares box which I believe will be a close match. Now, they are old and will require some cleanup. But you are quite welcome to them. If interested, please private message me with your address. Regards, Nick Filippone

Or, if no black decal paper, print again on white or clear and paint it black- with apologies to The Rolling Stones. Nick

Ok, this is gonna sound crazy, but hear me out. And I concede I have never tried it. Since the markings you are trying to make are symmetrical in all axes, in theory, you could find some printed source for them and copy them on a copier where you can adjust the size. Then copy them on to the back or carrier paper side of white decal paper. Cut them out and you will have the white outline you need in white decal. Then, copy them again on the back of black decal paper and cut out the black only. Apply as a two part decal. Did that make any sense? Nick

Since when did abdominal laparotomy sponges become a household item? 😳 Does the Health Department know about this? 😀 Nick Filippone

According to Len Pilhofer’s post on this thread on Monday at 1:52 P.M., there were 260 rooms in our block. Nick

Ok, Rusty. I give up. Having been called “obtuse and sanctimonious “ in a post by Dak without he having been threatened, how is what I have said not to be tolerated. It is my impression that what you call trolling is something or something coming from someone you simply do not agree with. His remarks that insult our rules and our judging staff I see as trolling and offensive. If you want to be respected as a disciplinarian, then that discipline must be applied evenhandedly. Nick

You do not have to look at the builders name to avoid sweeps. That is done by looking at the entry numbers. And you can usually see the entry number without moving the model. I have looked at names if there is no entry number filled out-rarely. It is not a total failure. Some people will always violate the rules. But it is a good faith effort to enforce objectivity. Anyway, the contest entrants demand it. I can only imagine the outcry when every builders name is revealed. Just because some people ignore the rules does not mean that the rules are bad. Have you ever actually judged? Because this idea suggests that you haven’t. My thought is that you should give more thought to these posts. Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge

I started precisely at 4 P.M. EDT. Initially, by trying to book the room from Tuesday the 28th to Sunday the 2cd, the website said there were no rooms available at the Convention rate. So, I simply booked the room from 29 July to 2 August without a problem. Then, I got on the phone immediately with the hotel and they added on the 28th to the reservation for the Convention room rate. Easy-Peasy! Good work, Len! Nick

I had not ( but I should have) thought of that. It makes perfect sense. Thank you for that explanation. It again points out the ongoing endeavour of the NCC to keep things as fair as possible. Nick

I know someone who made a reservation at the non- convention rate but was told it would be switched to the convention rate when the block opens. But the word from the horse’s mouth ( the show chairperson) is that the block is not yet open and the therefore there will be rooms available when it does. This would appear odd except to anyone who has either tried to make reservations under these circumstances before or has been responsible for having to deal with a hotel as a show administrator. Nick

I was able to book a room - single king only- outside of the block and not for the convention rate. ( I only this in case I don’t get a room when the block opens. I will cancel it if and when I do.) I had tried twice before with two different reservation staff and could not book a room in the block. While anything is possible, my friends who have booked a room also did not get the convention rate either and are doing what I did. It will all get sorted out soon. What frequently creates confusion is that the line reservation staff, because a block of rooms has been set aside, but is not open, sees that there are no rooms available at all because the opening of the block is out of their control and, additionally, they may not even know the block exists. To them, looking at their computer, it appears the hotel is full! We at IPMS NENY have experienced this problem a couple of times when we have held Regionals. Smaller scale, same confusion. It is always a mistake to assume every member of an organization or business is equally well informed about operations. Nick

No, No, No. The block has not been opened at the Embassy yet! So, if one tried to make a reservation on one’s own, it will appear, even to some of the reservation staff and certainly on the hotel website, as IF the rooms are all booked! Every few years, this combination of circumstances occurs. It is nothing new and nothing to be panicked about. The show staff is dealing with the hotel administrators. It will be worked out. Just for a little historical perspective: I always make my reservation at the host hotel the day the block opens. In throwing out paperwork from Chattanooga, I saw today that I had made my reservation on 14 September, 2018. So, we and the San Marcos folks are not behind schedule. Len Pilhofer explained to me that he will be in touch with the Embassy sales office when it re-opens for business tomorrow to straighten out the problem. Let’s all try to be supportive of our fellow IPMS members on the San Marcos staff while they do all the work so we can all have a good time are the next National. Nick Filippone

This is a relatively new category. I do not know what it’s origins are, although I think it is possible that the NCC was looking to create a category to display models on stands as we did as kids. Also, it is somewhat ironic that, in our contests, probably c.90% of models of things whose natural element is the air are depicted sitting on the ground or on water! (But, these are just speculations.) I thought it was a good idea and it was instantly popular. Now, the NCC devised, then, the rules to define what can be legally entered in the category. This is always done with the goal of creating consistency amongst the entries or, if you will, a level playing field. Partially retracted gear displays a level of detail that other entries may not incorporate. This may be perceived as giving the entry with visible landing gear an advantage. It is reasonable, therefore, to not permit it. The rules can be debated endlessly and are, at times, modified to reflect the changing wants and needs of our members. But, when preparing a model for a particular category, we are all obligated, in fairness, to follow the rules, even if we cannot all agree with all of them. Or to put it more bluntly- you have your idea of what the meaning of “in flight” is and the NCC has theirs. For the purposes of entering IPMS contests, you would be well advised to take your marching orders from the NCC. I do! Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge

Moo -the sound a cow makes. Moot- having no practical relevance. And my aircraft builds are almost always OOB. Nick- you know- the “obtuse” one.

Solstice- one of two times in the year when the sun reaches its lowest (winter) and highest ( summer) point in the noon sky. Solace- support, consolation, etc. Just sayin,’ Nick