I’m back

Figuratively at least.  Last few days I’ve been fighting a virus attack.  Not swine flu, but  computer virus.  Apparently my anti-virus software got turned off and something got thru.  Well, after becoming intimately familiar with MS Windows Vista registry settings, I think I finally have it beat.

This has lead to the conclusion that if we ever catch the bastards who do this shit stuff, we ought to hang them.  I know I spent ten or twelve hours, hours that I could have productively been modeling, trying to get rid of the virus.  Perversely, it does feel good when you finally beat the bastards and get your system back.

I’ll try to get another post of 72nd a/c from the Nats up tonight.

72nd scale at the Nats Pt.1

Here is the first installement of photos of the 72nd scale aircraft at the Nats.  These are pretty much at random.

First up for our Canadian viewers, a very nice Revell F-101 in Canadian markings.

CF-101

Here is something you don’t see often.  It is the Falcon conversion of the Hasegawa Cougar into a “Twogar”.

Twogar

This FG-1D was in OOB.  I love this scheme.

FG-1D

I loved this dio.  I’ve wanted to do something like this.

Dead Ju-88

Having built an Me-163, I really appreciate this one.

Me-163

I liked the weathering on this P-38.

P-38

I just like the Ju-388.  I have this kit.

Ju-388

More soon.

IPMS/USA 2009 Nationals (Day3 and wrap up)

Well, I finally made it home.  I didn’t get to post a day three post due to sheer exhaustion.  So I’ll combine my day three repport with my convention wrap up.  (I will have a separate set of post strictly devoted to some of the 72nd scale aircraft at the show.)

Day three started with the IPMS/USA business meeting.  I was surprised at how few people attended and how calm it was.  There were no rotten vegitables thrown and no riot occurred.   IPMS/USA has plenty of money in the bank.  The membership stands at about 4400 members.  Here is a photo of the meeting.  Note how few people are there.

IPMS business meeting

While I intend to do one or more posts just on the 72nd scale a/c I have to post this photo of a beautiful He-162 by Steve Hustad (sp?).

He-162

This is the best shot I got of the Best a/c winner.  It was under a glass case and thus was hard to shoot a photo of.

Lancaster

There were more scratchbuilt a/c than I have ever seen at a National.  Here is a beautiful T4M.  The build was on ARC.

T4M

This is 72nd scale.  It was beautiful.  It was hard to believe.

Truck

Finally there was this beautiful 1/350th Harry S. Truman with detailed hangar deck.

Carrier

Wrap up:  It was a fine convention.  No major screw ups.  It wasn’t in my top five, but even an average convention is great.  The good points: The fastest, most pain free registration I have ever experienced.  Lots of really nice models.  A good hotel with lots of nice restaurants, including an inexpensive food court nearby. A great IPMS/Canada get-together.  The bad points: The model room was a cave. Dark.  Very dark.  It wasn’t the host’s fault, the convention center changed the lighting after the room was booked.  I don’t know how they judged in that lighting.  The vendors were average at best.  They were broken up into 8 rooms which made finding what you were looking for even more confusing.  The seminars were very poor.  There were very few of them and those were repeated on several days.  I like the seminars and this was a big disappointment.

None of this is to say that I didn’t enjoy it, or that it wasn’t a good show.  It was.  I’d do it again in a heart beat.

2009 IPMS/USA Nationals (Day2)

Well Friday is done at the Nats.  It was a great day, as you would expect any day to be.  Breakfast was early as the MMCL gang was up early, like kids on Christmas morning.  Breakfast was at the food court.  Panda was with the gang.

Breakfast

The Nationals is all about seeing old modeling friends.  Here is Ohio attorney Jim Bates and his lovely wife Heather at the IPMS/Canada Beer Blast.  Panda approved.

The Bates

Journal editor Chris Bucholtz of Obscureco was hawking his wares as well as soliciting articles for the Journal.

Chris B.

The Panda visited Mary and the crew of M & Models from Chicago. They were doing a good business.

M & Models

Many of the manufacturers are at the show.  Trumpeter has a test shot of their 72nd scale F-100C.  They have announced that they will also do an F-100D and an F-100F

F-100C

Finally, the show has plenty of models.  I haven’t taken many photos of them yet, since I wanted to get them all on the table first.  However, here is one to whet your appetite.

Felixstowe

2009 IPMS/USA National (Day1)

Well, I am in Columbus.  The trip up was an easy drive; about 3 hours 20 minutes.  The convention is being held at the convention center in downtown Columbus.  The convention hotel is a Hyatt that is attached to the convention center.

The modeldaughter’s panda accompanied me on the trip.  Here he is checking in.

Checking in

Dr. Hill made sure that the panda is comfortable.

Dr. Hill and the panda

Here is the IPMS/USA table in the registration area.  Registration was as smooth as I’ve ever experienced.  It took all of 1 minute or less.  It was the smoothest process I’ve ever seen, even if it wasn’t computerized.  I paid by check.  Unfortunately, they were not set up for credit cards.  That is something that is manditory at this stage in the future.

IPMS table

The vendors are not in one room.  They are spread across 8 different rooms.  It is very difficult to remember what vendor is in what room.  It is hard to make sure you’ve seen everyting.  Here is a shot of one of the room.

Vendors

The model room is DARK.  Dark, dark, dark.  It is the worst lighting I’ve seen at any National.  It will make judging very difficult.  All in all I don’t like this venue compared to any of the previous venues.  The one nice thing is that there is a good food court attached to the convention area.    Here is a photo.

Food court

Now for a drink or two.  More reporting tomorrow.

Its the most wonderful time of the year.

I’m off to the Nats on Thursday morning.  I can’t wait.  This will be #15 or #16 for me.

Mystery Photo #2

Identify this aircraft.

mystery aircraft

At least someone is modeling.

I wish it were me.  Here is Scott “Skippy” King’s latest.

Buffalo #1

Here is another shot.

Buffalo #2

This is a great idea

The Federal Case management software, PACER, sucks.  It sucks hard.  This is a great idea.  I hope it catches on.

Favorite quotes #1

“The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people’s money.”

 —Margaret Thatcher