A large contingent of our group braved cold, crappy winter weather to warm the cockles of their modeling hearts with the warm bonhomie of fellow modelers. Here's a few photos of the group, followed by photos of a demonstration and then the evening's show and tell models. 

February's in-person meeting featured a terrific live demonstration of vacuum forming tools and techniques by Nick Filippone. Nick routinely vac-u-forms large and small parts for his models when kit parts won't cut the mustard or simply do not exist. Check out the photo of his XB-15 below. Nick vac-u-formed the fuselage, engine nacelles, and clear parts in order to complete this fantastic model of an aircraft not available as a kit. 

Nick set up a selection of his vacuum forming tools: a modernized Mattel antique from the 1960s, a home-built unit for forming large parts, a commercial unit marketed to modelers, and a deluxe sucker marketed to the dental trade but very useful for modeling projects. 

​Photos and captions follow.

One More New Years Pledge!

Dave Pratt joined the cadre of NENY resolution-keepers with his pledge to finish a Shelf of Doom kit by the June Meeting, and a new kit by the December meeting.

Resolutions Aplenty During 2024's First In-Person Meeting!

2024 begins with the literal promise of completing more models this year.

For this year's first in-person meeting club members were encouraged to declare a new year's modelling resolution by bringing two kits as follows:

1) Your New Year’s Resolution – An unstarted kit that you PLEDGE before the group, to complete sometime before the end of the 2024 year.

2) Your Shelf of Doom Resolution – Something you’ve started, but stalled on (for whatever reason). You will be PLEDGING before the group, to complete this kit as well and because it’s already started, you will only have until the June 2024 meeting to finish it!!

Members in attendance brought their models - and even a few members who could not make it to the meeting have sent in photos of their resolution kits - and regaled the group with their shelf of doom kit back stories and their aspirations for bringing all their modeling powers to bear on the new kit to be finished by the end of 2024.

Members formalized their resolutions by placing their right hands on the IPMS-NENY Ceremonial Cowbell and pledging before the attendees their commitment.

Documentation of all the good intentions that are sure to pave the road to modeling nirvana follows.​

Tonight, we have a special guest presentation by Buzz Carpenter, a USAF Colonel (ret.) with a distinguished career both as a pilot and as a command leader, Buzz's early service included combat operations in Phantoms in Vietnam. He was a Wing Commander during both Desert Storm and Desert Shield and ended his active duty as Vice Commander of the U.S. 2nd Air Force.

Prominent among his many service highlights are his 65+ operational missions and 777 flight hours as an aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.

Buzz discussed the Blackbird and his unique experience flying this truly one-of-a-kind aircraft. Filled with detailed descriptions and images covering the Blackbird's anatomy of and operations, Buz has generously agreed to let you view his presentation in PDF format here.

​Special thanks to Aris Papas for making the connection and helping to make it possible for Buzz to join us.

Brian Fowler's 1/32 Tamiya A6M2 in Pearl Harbor Markings

Brian shared photos and detailed building notes about the 1/32 Zero he built for his father, and he graciously supplied his presentation for us to enjoy and learn from.

Read or download his presentation in PDF format here. 

Our November 16 in-person meeting featured discussions about possible meeting themes for 2024, some of our favorite/essential modeling tools ranging from the luxe GodHand sprue cutters to the dependable great quality (and more affordable) Tamiya sprue cutters, to the the no-cost, multi-function straight-pin-taped-to-a-toothpick, double sided razor saws, and items in-between. Greg Aldi also reported on some hobby shops he recently visited in New York and Massachusetts, ranging from the bizarre and musty to the top tier. The meeting concluded with the inspection of projects members brought along for show and tell.  

Tonight Brian Fowler presented on his recent visit to the newly reopened National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL.  He and Shawn Hays stopped there in August on the way to the IPMS Nationals in San Marcos, TX.

​The photos include views of many rare and historically significant aircraft including some great detail shots.  Brian generously added additional notes to his presentation and shares it here in PDF format.  ​

IPMS/USA Hudson Valley Historical Miniatures Guild Show Photo Review
Several club members attended the HVHMG (aka "the Poughkeepsie show") on October 28, and enjoyed a laudable degree of contest success as well as shopping a rich offering of kits and supplies from vendors. Here's a gallery of contest table photos to give you an idea of the variety of fine modeling on display. 

Just a few photos from the October in-person meeting, and while a bit sparsely attended because it was held just two days before the Poughkeepsie show, offered up interesting stuff to examine and discuss.