IPMS Marietta Scale Modelers: October 2015 Meeting Notes

The October meeting kicked off at Hobbytown USA Kennesaw at 1:00 P.M. with over 20 in attendance. We had to meet in the back section of the big game room which prevented us from running the slide show, so Dave Lockhart improvised with paper copies!

We have the fortune of introducing two new members. One is Keith Tarpley of Marietta. He is interesting in various modeling genres so he should have no problem fitting in with us! The other is David Hobbs. Dave is a member of Atlanta AMPS and a skilled armor modeler. Welcome!

Kevin Westphal hauled in a shopping cart full of new arrivals for us to drool over.

We are progressing ahead with our preparations to assist the Atlanta IPMS Club with their upcoming show. Mark March 19^th on your calendars and be ready to pitch in!

On to the models…Gary Litavis had completed his Esci LAV-25 Command Vehicle. The 1/35 scale kit was upgraded with the addition of pioneer tools and an M-240 7.62mm machine gun from Trumpeter. Gary weathered the NATO-Three Tone finished LAV with Mig Pigments for a worn in look.

Gregory Dyar had a vintage build, a Hasegawa P-47D Thunderbolt in 1/72 scale. This Razorback was in a natural metal finish (not airbrushed!) and Greg used Microscale Decals to model the “Dove of Peace” from the 353^rd Fighter Group.

Fred Heil had two kits to display. First up, he had a Smithsonian Jet Engine Test Stand. He believes this is a reissue of a Revell kit. He stated this was his first time doing electrical work, as this is a full motion cutaway with lighting.

Fred’s other work was his completion of his WWII US Subchaser. He used the Glencoe 1/74 scale WWI Subchaser as the base, scratchbuilding most of the items located aft of the Conning Cabin. This included the midships gun deck, cabin, depth charges and racks, railings, roof for the conn and steering deck. Fred used 20mm guns from the Airfix Air/Sea Rescue boat, and detailed the 3” Pool gun. His primary reference was the Squadron/Signal US Subchasers book and photos obtained from the Naval Institute. Fred used Model Master paints and pastel chalks to finish the build.

Dave Lockhart presented us with his early in-progress work. The subject is the Mobius Models Interstellar Ranger kit, scaled out to 1/72. Dave originally had planned to add photoetch plated to the cockpit sections but was unhappy with the general fit, so he acquired a new hull and is taking another approach to it.

Mike Idacavage is moving right along on his Boeing B737-232 ADV. Mike’s done correction work on the venerable Airfix kit by knocking down the panel lines, correcting the tail fin hinge configuration and substituting BRAZ resin JT8D-17 powerplants for the kit’s anemic blower pipes. Mike used Model Master and Alclad to paint the airframe, and is moving forward with marking her in the classic Delta “Widget” scheme.

Rob Morales is constructing a vignette/diorama (?) featuring a Dragon Models figure set. The work in progress is to be called “Hunting the Partisans” based on the 4-figure kit of the same name. The kit features three Waffen SS soldiers and an Italian R.S.I. Bersaglieri trooper in combat action versus partisans set in the Balkans in 1943. The SS troops are from the Prinz Eugen Division and were known for their ruthlessness in the Yugoslav campaign. The Bersaglieri trooper features the legendary capercaillie black feather which Rob will enhance with real feather material. The figures will be based on a small 4”x4” plinth which he has modeled with celluclay, sand, gravel and railroad grass tufts.

Tom Rice kept the figure theme going with some heavily modified 1/12 scale Marx figures. Tom desired some figures to accompany his 1/12^th scale Tiger tank. Tom cast new torsos from Milliput and vacuformed some equipment details. Using Model Master paint, he is experimenting on flesh tones and SS camouflage uniforms.

Larry Beemer had some big progress on his F-86E Super Sabre from last month. The NMF is complete and black and yellow bands have been painted on. The decals have been applied so Larry should only have some finishing work to go before he can mount the Chris Craft for presentation to America’s final Korean War ace.

Mark Grzenia displayed his 1/48 scale P-47D Thunderbolt, also a Razorback. Starting with the Tamiya kit, Mark added the True Details pilot seat and E-Z Line antenna. On top of the Model Master enamel paint, Mark uses an acrylic paint wash to highlight the details.