Nick Filippone

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

As long as a category is entered in sufficient numbers, it serves a true purpose. The National Contest Committee, in a sense, does not make the decision. They quite properly let the membership determine the desirability of a category based on participation. When the numbers drop off, a category is deleted. Nick

Chris, I have this sheet. You are welcome to it. Please PM me with your mailing address and I will get it on the mail to you as soon as I can. Regards, Nick Filippone

I refer you to National Contest Rules (2019) which should be considered the current contest rules unless or until the National Contest Committee makes any changes for next year. ( These are still on the IPMS Website home page.) Section III, No. 2, letter D is pretty explicit in that it states that improving the model by replacing parts would make the entry no longer eligible for an OOB category. Currently accepted exceptions are defined elsewhere under No. 2. Replacing parts that the builder feels are poorly molded or inaccurate is not one of the listed exceptions. As always, in grey areas, the judging staff has the final word. And, of course, keeping the playing field level, always, in the end, depends on the integrity of the modeler. If I may, I will let you in on a little secret of which you may not be aware. If you want to maximize your chances of winning in an OOB category and still obey the rules, pick a good kit and do a good job on it. Trying to resurrect a poorly molded lump of plastic by building it OOB and hoping to make a winner out of it in an OOB category is more work than it probably deserves. You may be such a good modeler that you can bring a 1970’s kit up to modern standards. But having done it, the result would not be OOB. Good luck. Regards, Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge

May I add my congratulations to the Chattanooga team! A great show, great venue, and a vendor room that was almost too good. There was excellent organization and the entire staff was very friendly and helpful. The several choices for dining outside of the hotel were conveniently located with great food and service. Mark me down for the next time you host the Nationals. Thank you for all your effort. Nick Filippone

I was all set to buy a 2017 Rolls Royce Ghost from them but I spent all the money in the Vendor Room at Chattanooga! Now I’m walking. Nick Filippone

I found my error. So much for automatic fill-ins on my I pad. But the point is still made! But, I in the process of trying to figure out my mistake, I found an interesting fact about that quote. In fact, it was from a Letter to the Editor of The Daily Telegraph on 2 December, 1929 criticizing Prohibition in the U.S.! This thread isn’t ridiculous at all. We learned about Churchill’s attitude toward Prohibition. We also learned that I still can’t competently operate electronics communication devices. Oh! Damn! My ink well has gone dry! Nick

If it isn’t Churchill, who is it? When you google the quote, that is who comes up more than once! Educate me, please. Thanks. Nick

Dak, Since you did not put your last post in quotation marks, and did not cite the author, you have placed your self in the unenviable position of appearing to be plagiarizing Sir Winston Churchill. At least, that is what I would have been accused of by any professor of mine during my education. I will concede it is more likely to represent academic sloppiness on your part, and less likely to be intellectual dishonesty, but neither of those accusations is particularly desirable. I trust you judge with rather more care. Nick “ obtuse and sanctimonious “ (1)Filippone. (1) Kimberly, D; “ The PR Problem, “ IPMS Forum, 30July, 2019 See? That is how an educated person credits the intellectual property of someone else! Nick

Huh? Nick

Dak, By what confabulations do you get these notions? Where is your data? I have judged 35+ years and have never used preference for a particular subject to make a judging decision. Nor have I ever seen a judge do it- at any level. Such an idea insults conscientious judges. There is always another way to decide and good judges can always find it! I would be happy to give you a primer on good judging at the Nationals, if you are open to improving your judging skills. From your last posting, it sounds like you would benefit from it. Nick Filippone, Senior National Judge

What exactly do you need the letters and numbers for? There are actually a lot of letter and number sheets available but the style or font, if you will, varies. RAF differs from U.S. for example. British aircraft civil codes have a different style than military. Nick Filippone '

I am on topic. The topic is Public Relations - how IPMS is perceived by members and non-members. What could possibly be more important in cultivating a favorable perception of this organization than our members demonstrating sensitivity about such an important episode in history as the Holocaust? Nick

I would be more careful in the use of the “Yellow Star” allusion! The subject matter of this discussion hardly rises to the level of The Holocaust and to suggest such is grossly disrespectful of its victims. It is simply not appropriate! Nick Filippone

If you google “Jim Baumann” it can be easily found. It is really remarkable! Nick

Vegas! Great! I can see where Moe Green got shot.

Omaha did not present a bid at the Bid Presentation in Phoenix. But they had prepared a flier that representatives from Omaha were distributing in the Vendor Room. I think it was to drum up support for the idea of returning in 2021 to Omaha. I assume that that is the bid referred to in the recent E-Board minutes. Certainly, if any other potential hosts were planning a bid for 2021 or 2022, they had better done some of the ground work by now. The National is only six weeks away! And, while it would only be two years between their last National and the bid, it would be four years between the two actual Omaha shows- not unreasonable!

Given the excellent Nationals that Omaha has put in the past at a great venue, and, if they are the only bidder, I would say it is is fair guess that we will be going back to Omaha. And that is just fine with me. Nick Filippone