ghodges

I made it the same size as the one beside it...6ft long x 2.5ft deep x 6ft tall, and it'll hold 10 30"x20" glass shelves. Here's a pic of the one I just filled up....and it has 112 1/48 and 1/32 scale builds in it....

Finished my new display case! It took 10yrs to fill the last case of this size with 112 models. I will feel very blessed if the Lord grants me another 10yrs to fill this one! The only thing left is to buy and install the glass shelves...but that will be done as needed after the bottom of the case is filled up. I think I'll christen the case by building a 1/48 Monogram B-29! GIL

Len, thanks for the concise reply. I agree that waiting to post the codes and links needed til just before the opening time is good "insurance" against people who want to game the system. It's clear you and your staff have a good idea of what needs to be done and are taking action on the items within your control. I also agree that the rush may indeed be unavoidable no matter the time you select. However, can you please check, address, and pass on to us what preparations THEY are making to accommodate the rush? Are ALL 3 of their reservation systems (website, 1-800#, and the San Marcos ES hotel) prepared, or just the link you'll be publishing? I hate to think that despite your plans and precautions that IF that website crashes, or people hold on the reservations phone line for 20-30mins (or worse, cannot get thru at all) and then cannot get a room; that you and your staff will be blamed for their lack of preparation. Having been a member of the 1997 Nats committee, and a long time IPMS member and Nats attendee (over 30 shows), I understand and sympathize with the stress of trying to "get it right". It's been my experience that it's the hotel system (including last year's early sales) that's caused the consistent problems of not giving the convention rate on all 3 systems, or telling people that that the room block's sold out prematurely, or simply not being prepared so that people cannot get on line or through on the phone. Thus my harping on what THEY are doing to avoid these problems. Thanks! Gil

Len: I have some questions that hopefully you can answer and provide some clarifications for trying to get a room when the block opens at 12:01AM (CST) on Sept. 3rd... 1) Should we be trying to reserve a room on the Hilton/Embassy Suite website (on line)? While you mentioned working with the "room block" manager; is their WEBSITE set up to take reservations at that time? 2) IS THERE ANY SORT OF CODE NEEDED TO GET THE CONVENTION RATE? And, is the code the same whether you reserve by phone or on line? 3) If we try to reserve a room through the Hilton/Embassy Suites 1-800 number (their national reservations call center); are THEY aware of the convention rate and ready to give us that? Many times in the past THOSE people have not been aware of the local arrangements for the convention. 4) Will we be able to call the San Marcos Embassy Suites hotel directly at 12:01AM to make a reservation for the show? Will they have any extra people on duty to handle the reservations at that late hour, considering the anticipated "rush"? 5) For that matter, is the H/ES national reservation center aware they will get over 100 calls in that first half hour of the middle of the night and are they staffing any extra people to handle that "rush"? What we could really use from you and your staff is instructions on the BEST way to make our reservations, the best way that Embassy Suites says they'll be able to handle/process our reservations, as well as the phone numbers and website info. It's great to know that y'all are working to avoid the "early sales" problems that Omaha had so that we all have an equal chance to get a room at the convention hotel. However, at the same time, the method you've chosen is setting up a possible "stampede" for rooms in the middle of the night when "reservations" (locally and nationally) are likely the least staffed and less likely to be able to meet the demand. I'm also wondering if their website is equipped to handle 100s of reservation requests in a 5-10min period when the "clock" clicks to 12:01, or if it might crash..... Looking forward to hearing your answers to my (our) concerns! Gil Hodges #10803

Looks nice....but gotta wonder why 1/35 and not 1/32, especially with absolutely no connection to armor stuff. Gil

That's a very sharp looking Gun Fighter and nicely presented too! Thanks for posting! Gil

Can you "speed dial"....sure, I knew you could! Gil

Great looking pair of choppers....but ya just can't beat that shark mouth! Very nice! Gil

Finished the 1/48 Tamiya F-4B Phantom tonight. I added the Eduard “Space” 3D printed colored resin cockpit placards to the interior. It also has pe for the kit seats, but I used a couple of spare resin seats instead. Otherwise, this was an OOTB build. This is a very good kit, though I question the method Tamiya chose for adding the outer wing panels and the way they designed the tail planes to be added to the rear of the model. It all “works” ok, but just seems overly complicated. The canopies include interior side rail and bulkhead details, and are engineered to fit firmly at the correct open angle (the kit has a complete closed canopy too). The gear doors and landing gear are all very well engineered with positive, firm attachment points. I used Furball markings for VMFA-122 so I could finally have a Marine F-4 on my shelf once more, and also so I could hang a gun pod from the spares box underneath! The wing tanks and Sidewinders are from the kit, but the TERs and bombs are from a Hasagawa weapons set. All in all, this was a good experience, though I’d rate their F-14 kit as slightly better from an engineering standpoint. Now to pick up that new P-38J and see how IT stacks up! Gil

That's quite a smart looking machine! Looks like it just rolled out of the hangar for testing. I'd let it be and set it on my shelf with pride. Thanks for sharing! Gil

Impressive! You did a great job of refinishing the surfaces to get a good looking NMF. Excellent example of old school skills and elbow grease. Congrats, and thanks for letting us ride along! Gil

Wow! That's gonna catch some attention! Gil

Super looking Spitfire! The "weathering" repair will just be our secret..... Gil

That Eduard set does help, but your detailing painting ain't slouchy either! NICE! Gil

Feel free to email me also Duke! I'll be glad to answer any questions you have about the machinations and work involved in just deciding IF you can to want to try to host a Nats. It's actually MUCH easier now that IPMSUSA has taken the lead (as they should) for much of the Nats for registration, the awards show, and financially. But, there's still a LOT to be considered for any club thinking they want to host that shindig! Gil

I read the same interesting article in the new Journal, and came away with a different impression. I don't think he was trying to make an "accurate" model per se, as much as he was trying to improve on the kit's details with what he had on hand. He clearly states what he used, and he doesn't mention buying anything FOR the build. Everything he does is more along the lines of improving perceived missing kit detailing, and although some of the items he uses may also be more accurate or correct, I never saw him state that he was out to eliminate any and all inaccuracies. We all build to a purpose to satisfy ourselves. I'll take issue with the statement that "but kits don’t always have the right parts, and sometimes need to be corrected." That statement is true only if YOU have that personal dedication to complete accuracy. Many of us don't, whether it's for lack of time, or simply not being as demanding of ourselves as others. For many builders "OOTB" is good enough. For others, they want to improve obvious points of interest like cockpits, wheel wells, and gun bays; but no more. And still others do set out to capture that accurate moment in time so that their project IS "correct" in every detail. I just advise being careful not to project your own style onto anyone else's efforts. Gil

Absolutely love it! Koster vacs, especially his conversions like this one, are great fun and also an easy way to get your feet wet in the world of vacs. Looking forward to seeing the end result, but be careful! Your SKILLS are showing! 😉 Gil

May the Lord comfort their families with a lifetime of loving memories to help them through their grief. We are a "graying" group, and unfortunately we will be seeing news like this more regularly in the coming years. I hope most of us take the time to reflect on just how lucky we've been to have these special people as a part of our hobby, and how much richer our experiences are due to them. THAT is their legacy that we can take some comfort in. Gil

Lots of nice looking work and great progress on so many kits! LOVE the idea of using a marker to identify subassemblies in areas that won't be seen! Gil

I just love this..... 2 pages of "people in positions" (the new "steering" committee, eboard members, etc.) telling us how open they are and how they owe the membership info, only to STILL not have divulged who is bidding for 2024 and where it will be held, which was the initial question. How about this? DEAR MEMBERS: we only have ONE club bidding for the 2024 Nats at the Omaha show. And, since it's such a late bid, we cannot even use it try to solicit competing bids from any other club anywhere who think they might actually attract more people. SO, THIS IS THE BID: (Place, Club, Dates). We will be suspending the usual dog and pony "bid presentation" at our business meeting because it's a waste of time and instead will be simply handing out their promo info to any and all interested in the details. We want to sincerely thank (insert bidder's name) for stepping up to help IPMSUSA continue with the tradition of holding a NATS every year barring a national pandemic. We're sure they will be GREAT hosts! IPMSUSA will be standing behind them 100% to help make sure that the members who are able to go to (insert winning place) in 2024 have the usual rip-roaring time. On second thought.....Naaaaaaahhhh....we'll just make everyone wait til the business meeting 'cause we can! Thanks!.................................... For nuthin'! Gil Hodges, #10803, 45yr continuous member, former RC-11, attendee of 30+ NATS, retired Senior Nats Judge, and '97 Nats Contest Coordinator So PLEASE don't try to tell me I don't know what it takes to put on a NATS/set up a Nats/organize a NATS/bid on a NATS or there's a "good reason" to not publish WHO and WHERE the 2024 Nats will be held NOW!

Glad to have you here Grant! I think you're going to find that the kits are MUCH better today than those built many years ago. The down side is they are MUCH more expensive too! Looking forward to seeing those WWI subjects posted here. Let us know how we can help you have more fun as you dive back into the plastic pond! Gil

Beauty of a Bearcat! Gil

I'm hearing good things about this kit on line, and the possibility it might be for sale in Omaha at the Nats (much like Tamiya did their P-38 some years ago); but your link is to a SALE page. Do you have info or a link to a sprue review? Gil

Nice build and I especially like that camo scheme! Since I dabble in 1/48 armor (when I do dabble...), and have a few of those old Bandai kits, I have to agree that they were very nice for their time. I built that Valentine you mentioned and really enjoyed it! I hope to see this in Omaha next month! Gil

Looks great, especially considering the vintage of that kit! Very nice job on the "wooden" prop too! Gil