2024 Plastic Surgeons Posts

[Rhino]

President Nate Stevens relates from last night's meeting we didn't make it to, that the 12 members in attendance voted unanimously to have our next contest at yet another new venue. Next year's SurgiCon 29 will be held in the delightful hamlet of Nevada (Ne-VAY-da) IA on April 5th.
I think it's this one.
https://www.nevadacubs.org/activities/gates-memorial-hall/

The price is very attractive and there's no upcharge for use of extra tables. A huge kitchen, stage, projector and retractable screen are a few of the amenititties. Lots of rules.
An "Adult" is required.
We may have to hire an Actor!

This spot is only 20 miles away from Ames, IA and Mike Ruff's "The Hobby Shop", the very hobby shop I bought my first model kit in, 52 (almost) years ago and only 35 miles away from Boone, IA where the cool Sidetrack Hobbies railroad hobby shop is.
It's only 70 miles from our rural home and model production facility. Pfoof!, er, YAY!!

After last show's rude and unreasonable treatment of our band of modelers and members in the Bondurant Legion hall, we will not be returning there. Now, don't get to thinking that IPMS Plastic Surgeons hop from venue to venue like a bewildered bullfrog in heat. Our group merely seeks an affordable venue and we hope that past and future attendees will find their way to Nevada to join our model fun.

In days past, we spent the money for the grand metropolitan Des Moines venue and made easy access to the show, hobby shops and dining spots in or near a larger city for local and out-of-town modelers alike. I miss those days.

I don't stick around for the "Business" part of the meeting most of the time. Teresa has to work WAY early on every Friday morning.
We have our show. 2 weeks later we begin to plan the next one and talk about it at every meeting until the next show.
I do not now and never have believed the Club existed for the sake of the contest. It was not always so.

Stay tuned as more exciting Plastic Surgeon-ness unfolds!!

 

[Rhino]

More hobby stuff for Russell's car model adventure. We need forceps 1 big, 1 small, and Tamiya clear red, orange and yellow to finish off the box.

We are also now ready to play airplanes, should the opportunity present itself.

It sure seemed a shame to cover those shiny gold leaf decals with Dullcote. I did it anyway. Only a few tears were shed.
These stand ready for delivery to Fred's HO scale marshalling yard.

 

[moon puppy]

I'm sure you're going to share when Russel starts cutting sprue?

 

[Rhino]

I will help Russell find his own way into the clutches of our merry band of model miscreants. He can use the brain-vacation model making can bring, in a house with 3 little heathens in it, at least until he is old enough to move out on his own.

 

[Rhino]

9 May 2024 Meeting post:

A fine gathering of Surgeons gathered at the Hobbytown Ankeny location this evening. Of note, Webb Groos, Geoerge Stevens and, after quite the long hiatus, Rodney Shackleford found his way! Joachim sent Rod an invitation.

Rod brought 2 recent completions. Revell Ag's 1/48 USAF F-86D Sabre Dog and Tamiya's 1/48 F-15D Korean War Mustang. Both very nice builds! Rodney prefers the Mr. Color lacquer metal colors over a black base coat. His results are impossible to dispute.

Ray, Colton, Teresa and I had the pleasures of dining with Club President Nate Stevens this evening. M/A member "Seven Deuce" showcased his completed 1/72 scale Republic F-84 Thunderjet fleet and his pair of MiG-15's One is a Hobbyboss model that is very well thought out. No sway braces for the long (?) range external fuel tanks. tsk, tsk Hobbyboss!

Mike Rasmussen is attempting to correct the 1955 Monogram 1/67 B-26 Invader to 1/72 scale. I wish him luck and a more modern 1/72 Invader model to build!

Young Colton Routh packed along his 1/35 Academy M-10 Tank Destroyer. He spent 3 days working on the running gear and quite a while installing the kit's impressive interior. He will start painting when he gets paint, which his Grampa Ray sprung for tonight.
The Tamiya Sherman is their 1/35 M4A3E2 Jumbo. The short 75mm was replaced in the field after the Normandy landings with the more powerful 76mm cannon. Colton diluted Tamiya putty to add texture to the Jumbo. This white stuff is not a winter camo as one might expect.

Hey Bob Haag is working on his 1970 Chevelle SS kit. He got the dazzling finish he wished for and is adding engine and interior details before he makes his final assembly.

Joachim Lotz is readying 2 models for the 1/35 scale Hypothetical category at the upcoming National Convention at Madison Wisconasin.
His Syrian E-75 paper panzer will guard the capitol and the royal family in Damascus shortly after the 6-Days War in 1967. His E-75 is wearing Jeff Herne's 3d printed tracks. Joe comments that they fit and go together very well, unlike the Tyranosaurus tracks.
The other model a Swiss conversion pf the Hetzer 38t Panzerjager. The Takom 1/35 G-13. Muffle, muzzle brake and other mod's make the Hetzer in to this Swiss vehicle. They served Switzerland into the 1970's.


My Sand Land chogokin tank model got some Sandgelb paint this afternoon, but was too tacky to attend our meeting tonight.

From the sunny South, Greg Metge is wrapping up a 1/35 Kharkov PzKpw IV G. "It's a DML Smart Kit. I guess it's college material." quips witty Greg. HA!

A fine time was had during our short meeting tonight. I cain't say how good it was to see ol' Rodney Shackle-chevy again!

A club Barbeque (Surgi-Q) is scheduled for Saturday, 8 June from 1000 to 1500 hrs. at the Lotz Home in Colon, Iowa.

On the way home in the car, I tried a Knock-knock joke on Colton. NO ONE taught this kid about knock-knock jokes! Unglabbar!

Perhaps starting a Teen-ager with milder knock-knock joke would have been gentler, but................

I sang Colton part of John Valby's knock-knock/Gang-bang song. OOPS! Click this link at your peril!!
I'll do almost anything to get a laugh out of Ray. His newest Chemo regimen is taking a heavy toll on my old friend. Rhino for the win!
We dodged all the deer and made it home without loss or casualty. It was a fine evening out!

 

[sevendeuce]

You're on it tonight! That unmanned Arctic Cat drone followed me all the way home, guess I'm keeping it.

 

[moon puppy]

Thanks for the report Chris. @sevendeuce maybe you can share with us your NMF technique?

 

[Rhino]

You're on it tonight! That unmanned Arctic Cat drone followed me all the way home, guess I'm keeping it.

That must have been quite surprise! I admire the close formation the drone kept with your Chebby!

 

[Rhino]

We delivered Fred's 1947 The Challenger rail coaches last night. We had a swell visit and Fred had a picture!

The Challenger ran from Chicago To Omaha at speeds up to 90 mph. The Hudson 4-6-4 Streamliner was a hallmark modern steam locomotive speed and style. In their hey-day, there were 4 "Challenger" trains. Fred's Dad worked on the Chicago And North Western railroad after his return from World War II.

Fred commented he thought the paint and decal job was "Perfect". I was pleased to a favor for a patient Army Vet in our hometown.

 

[moon puppy]

Those streamline steam engines had more class than these stainless wedges they trying to push on us.

 

[Rhino]

6 June 2024 Meeting post:
Quite a few of our merry band made tonight's meeting.

Ray was chomping at the bit to go on a car ride somewhere besides the hospital, so we carried him along and fed him supper.

Tonight, was the premier of the 1/350 US Coast Guard Reliance class WMEC waterline model. None of our membership had seen much of the "Big Cutter" kit as I believed the appeal to be quite narrow. USCGC Active "The Li'l Tough Guy" was well received and admired. I am humbled by the praise offered by my fellows.

The Sand Land Chogokin tank, Maverick F/A-18Egg, my castings of the the 1/72 USCG rescue RHI and....

The new TLAR Models Rick Raccoon 10th Anniversary figure kit also appeared. Sea N' Sky Board Member George Stevens received his new Rick Raccoon kit with appropriate glee!!

New Raccoon figures for the Board are cast in white, just like my model kits were in 2015 before I began to add pigment to my liquid polyurethane plastic.

Of note: Ross brought a 1939 Wehrmacht dress tunic from the 58th Artillery Regiment. A real piece of German Army history. Ross told us a very interesting story about this colorful, historical garment. I was so interested in Roscoe's story I neglected any photos.
No, A dress tunic does not come with a belt and heels! Silly!

Mark Johnson is working on his "Albatross" 1/24 '57 Corvette Gasser model. He calls it "Albatross" but it looks more like a work of art to me. Again, I was so enthralled in Mark's gasser story, I neglected any photos.


Hey Bob brought some diecast racing cars. #8 is a Mercury Comet. I thought it was a Starliner, so I had to have a closer look!
Bill Ellet (?) came with some fine looking 1/35 German armor.

Nate Stevens model airplane production line is featuring Heinkel He-111's! These are all Italeri kits. I cain't hardly wait to see how the desert camo scheme comes out!

It must have been Hornet night. Jose's run from the 1/72 Blue Angel to the vintage 1/32 Revell kit! I found his camo scheme on his ship model most provocative! I think this is the Monogram DKM Tirpitz. Very cool!

Joe is working on a 1/72 Rebel Snowspeeder. He has a brass template set to make the disruptive black basing pattern that goes under the paint. It works, because at a glance I couldn't tell his model was a Snowspeeder. I'll be glad when this model fad passes. Paint rarely weathers from the inside out. Well, The ol' F-100 did. The tail section got so hot the paint cooked off the jet.


Dave Bettis is putting a couple of vintage classic 1/76 scale Tiger I's together. The Airfix and a Fujimi kits. The Airfix Kit is a very early version without a storage bin, or exhaust shrouds. Dave asked me to make copies of the parts he wanted for the Airfix Tiger from the Fujimi kit's bits.
Dave is an old friend and a great guy. He's never asked me for a model favor before, so I could not refuse.
He didn't ask for rear fenders, but it's a shame to waste space in even a small mold. Who takes care of his friends, Huh? Who!?!
See here these items readied them for molding.
These are not parts I can offer for sale. The intellectual property isn't my own.
I'm out of pictures, so I must be out of Story.

Thanks for looking in again!