2021 Plastic Surgeons Meeting posts

[Rhino]

There was a Meeting, while I was in my pain free slumber on 27 May. Ever faithful plastic surgeon and good friend, Francisco recorded the event for all of us to enjoy!

I get a kick out of Eduard's Bunny Fighter cartoons! They just announced a very provocative 1/72 Operation Grandby Tornado kit!
On to the Models!! (In no particular order!)

First, the Nathan Stevens showcase! All in The One True Scale. Modelcollect Ratte , Hasegawa Night Shiden, DO-37 Libelle (See the Cessna tweety-bird in German livery?) and one of 3 finished Italeri A-26 Invaders.

 

[Rhino]

Ray Powers' 1/48 Airfix Spitfire 18. I was sorry to miss Ray-ray's comments on his build. I understand the kit went together well and fits nicely.

Junior Modeler Colton Powers 1/35 "Franken-Tiger" A mix of Tamiya and Dragon parts.

Don Barry's 1/35 Mercedes DAK Command car and captured Alan' Bison.

 

[Rhino]

Ronnie Schultz is up to his traditional Model Mischief, yet again! Evidently, if you have a '58 Impala, size DOES matter! I understand there were 5 Wildwood Flower models.

For any of you too young to remember.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[Rhino]

In other Model News, satellite Surgeon Mark Karolus has been plying his nautical skills yet again.

AFV Club's 1:350 LST-495 in her late WWII fit. Having been aboard LST-325, I think the outer hull framing seems overly pronounced. I am NOT an expert and have not seen LST-495 in person. Perhaps late war vessel had external framework?

Zvesda's 1:350 Shchuka class Soviet WWII submarine model is underway on the shore of Wisconasin. She put me in mind of our US Navy WWII S-class submarine, at a glance. He's more heavily armed and bigger than an S-Boat.
Not that similar after all. Never mind.
Thanks for looking in!

 

[Rhino]

Saturday Ames Road Trip! 5 June, 2021.
Under scattered cloud, with temps near the 90 degree mark, "Specter 712" departed DSM for points north. Esteemed Plastic Surgeon and passenger Don Barry requested our help and secure transport for a return to The Hobby Shop in Ames. Road trip with Don!? How could we refuse?!?!

Mike Templeton buys stuff. Kits of all scales and subjects, completed models, collections of vintage toy soldiers. We discovered this during our visit on my birthday. Our big buddy Don suffers from the same condition that many prolific modelers reach. He ran out of room to display his finished German WWII Armor models. Soooo.....

Pick out some tank models you don't play with anymore, surround them carefully with socks. Clean socks this time, and go see Mr. Templeton!

I won't share the details of the financial arrangement Don and Mike came to. I will comment they both seemed well pleased. Mike likes models and modelers. During the negotiation progress, Don told Mike the story of the builds of each of his vehicles.
I amused myself within earshot (In a hobby shop?) to share the experience. Every model has a story!
My sole contribution to the conversation was "Fo' dat, da sox don't come widdit!" in a wise-guy accent.
I WILL share additional pictures of The Hobby Shop! Howzatt?!?

Some of the Guillow's stick and tissue models on display, Yes friends, Model master enamel paint can still be had in a limited quantity. I compared some of the prices at The Hobby Shop to those of on-line vendors. Mainstream kits are comparable $$-wise. Mike has a few vintage, discontinued kits on hand. They have appropriate prices as well.

 

[Rhino]

Iron Mike asked me about whether this LHS was a dual store at one time. Mike T. says he remembers that Boone Hobbies had 2 adjoining shops. One sold mostly Scale Railroad and the other sold more model kit subjects. The two shop owners were friends and watched one another's shops at times. Boone Hobbies has been closed (sob. sniff.) for many Moons.

I lusted after this model car kit. I built the black Testors GT-40 when I was a kid. Everything opens, rubber tires, operating steering. A COOL model car. I didn't buy this day. Would I realistically build this Model? No.
The second picture shows the evolution of The Hobby Shop since it's 1954 inception and before.

More prolific pictures!

These bits of nostalgia tugged at my funny bone!
Now, here's a secret! Mike's marriage to his missus prospered for 29 years while he worked 8 days on and 7 days off for the Railroad. She wanted to know why he would buy a hobby shop when he retired and not put his feet up and relax. The Hobby Shop is actually a "Hobby" Hobby shop. Mr. Templeton seems to genuinely enjoy his "Hobby"! It is also good for his fruitful, lengthy marriage it seems!

At the end of this visit, Don came out happy, I amused myself immensely and Teresa bought a wood model kit! Ironic, No?!

 

[Rhino]

2 new "Quotable Quotes":
"What sucks about getting senile is you have so many funny stories to tell, but you can't remember which stories you already told or who you told them to."

To Dian:
"What's new?"
"Well I don't know. I moved my chair."
"When you have a brain injury, everything is NEW and wonderful. Everyday! Have some fun with that and be a happy kid!"

Guess who said what and win a prize! (Not you this time Roscoe!)

 

[Iron Mike]

The Ames shops were side by side, with a pass through door cut between the stores. Boone Hobbies was in an old department store, huge place with high ceilings. They had models in half and trains and toys in the other.

I'm sure Ross remembers the Ames stores, if not, The Grossmen will.

 

[helios]

Ugh, I would love to find that Mk.IV kit. I came across the Mk.I at a shop a couple years ago and snapped it up.

 

[Rhino]

Ugh, I would love to find that Mk.IV kit. I came across the Mk.I at a shop a couple years ago and snapped it up.

Mine was the black #2 car. I remember being not very good at building model cars and enjoying all to opening stuff without caring about flaws in those days! The Shelby 427 Cobra and the GT-40 are on my "Win the Powerball and buy a decadent Car" list.

 

[Rhino]

10 June Meeting post:
At least 2 newsworthy items this meeting.

A 1/35 Panzer T-35, which will be built as a tug for some kind of large cannon. Notice the intricacy of the interior details? The shading on what may well be the invisible interior?

The newer tool Tamiya 1/35 Panzer II. This one is ausfuhrung C. The rear sprockets needed to be bigger for the the C, so this Surgeon robbed them form an old Alan kit. The link & length tracks needed to adapted to fit the new rear sprockets. Green/brown camouflage for the 2nd Panzer division, circa 1940.

Based on the skills displayed, the subject matter and the use of the appropriate green, Can you guess which Plastic Surgeon has returned, at long last, to the club meetings?

Mike Trent? Guess again!
Kevin Nelson? Nope.
Jon Bond? Nuh uh.
Nate McCoy? You're out of guesses!

None other than Generaloberst Ross (Roscoe) Petra! And was he ever a sight for sore eyes! The World seems a little brighter and more normal with my old friend at this meeting.

Then, two,

Teresa bought her first model at the same hobby shop I bought MY first model (Ironic, No?!) and she is making headway on her Ugears wooden laser cut 1/50 scale Trimaran "Merihobus". Given my Sweetie's thorough nature, I fitted her hobby knife with a brand new, sharp blade. She learned about "Modeler's Thumb" first hand on New Blade Day. Her wounds were superficial, but she did learn that hydrogen peroxide and cotton bud will take blood off her model. I replenished our stock of neosporin and band-aids in the spirit of modeling preparedness.

Nate & Ty Stevens came, along with a flock of 1/72 Airfix and Tamiya P-51D Mustangs and the Academy 1/72 KB-29P Superfortress, which I am near sure will be the Bomber version rather than the gas-passer airplane. Nate says he won't pass up the newer 1/72 Airfix Mustang because he likes the option of lowering the flaps and the attractive price. He confesses the Tamiya kit is a better build overall. Given the vastness of Nate's Mustang production line, I consider him an expert on this subject.

Jimmy and Aimee were also there along with long-time Surgeon Dave Bettis rounding out our merry band of model miscreants this evening.
Jimmy's much awarded 1/35 Trumpeter Russian 100mm AA gun and 1/72 Takom Tractor came along for the ride too!

That's all the news that's new and approved from the sultry Iowa prairie this time!

Thanks for looking in!

 

[moon puppy]

They building their own squadron?

 

[Rhino]

They building their own squadron?

Nate's goal is to build 2 P-51's from every squadron in combat during WWII. He picks out the decals that fit the kit and cranks up the assembly line. Does his goal include the PTO as well I wunda?

 

[Rhino]

The Tri-maran Merihobus is coming along. It turns out that Ukraine UGEARS instructions are not quite as good as some Asian model instructions. I still cain't help figger out where the running rigging lines go.
Rhino: "Telling me I'm wrong won't help me figger this out."
Teresa: I'm not telling you you're wrong, Husband, I'm just telling you what the instructions told me what to do."
It turns out this kit includes lots cool operating features (Russian wooden Monogram?)
The mainmast may not be sturdy enough for the mainsail & Jib furling features to operate for very long. It's still a pretty cool 66' 1/50 sailboat model!

Thanks for looking in!

 

[moon puppy]

Very interesting. Can you put a skin on it?

 

[Rhino]

Very interesting. Can you put a skin on it?

Nope. The rigging lines run to spurious winches and bell cranks through the imaginary hull planking in a way that keeps Merihobus from being buoyant.

 

[Rhino]

I have to report to my on-line model brothers something sorrowful. I hesitated to do so, because it is not a true modeling subject. I asked the advice of a Man I respect about whether or not to post this here. He said "You never know who knows somebody". He is right.

Jamie Keith Luther, Husband, Father, friend and Plastic Surgeon took his Trip up to Heaven Friday last, At the age of 45.
Jamie was a cheerful guy. He built car models and enjoyed making less than mainstream subjects. He was almost always cheerful.
He was the kind of friend a friend would like to have. He loved his family, his fellows and his hobby.

As I hunted for pictures of Jamie, I realized his club night wardrobe didn't vary much.

Jamie Luther Obituary

March 15, 1976 - June 17, 2021, Jamie Luther passed away on June 17, 2021 in Creston, Iowa. Funeral Home Services for Ja...

www.tributearchive.com

If you knew Jamie and wanted to attend his visitation or service, you can pay your respects too.

I couldn't find pictures of his 1/25 heavily modified Chevy "Heartbreaker" Pulling truck model I helped to make decals for. Jamie will be missed.

See you on the other side, Lil' Brother.

 

[Iron Mike]

Godspeed.

 

[moon puppy]

Thoughts and prayers to his family. So young.

 

[Rhino]

Jamie's Service was lovely. I believe almost every person in Creston was a relative or friend of the Luther family.
Plastic Surgeons in attendance were Francisco, Teresa and yours truly. Jamie's Wife Laura and young daughter Ella were a picture of courage. Jamie's young son Gavin was understandably shattered and maybe just a little less than brave.
"Your daddy was my Friend. That means You are my friend too."
I hope Gavin took some small comfort in my sentiment. Following the Service, Jamie's '59 Dodge Pick-up with both his kids aboard left, perhaps the only burnout marks under the Powers Funeral Home awning there ever have been.

We did meet Uncle Steve Luther, the man that built the 1/1 scale pulling truck Jamie made a model of. Uncle Steve is a genuine, Iowa small town, gearhead, good guy. He builds ONLY big-block Chevy engines. We decided to leave The Eagles Lodge in Creston after one good, strong drinkie. More than one drinkie may have caused misbehavior on my part. American Legion members are well and truly welcome at The Eagles in Creston. The bartender at The Creston Eagles knows her business!

I wonder to myself, why it is that a Man with such a sweet wife and two extraordinary, smart kids Takes his Trip Up To Heaven at such a young age? Given the wickedness done in my youth and serious mishaps, Why am I still here after all the sins of my youth?
I'm a little less brave than Laura and just a little less shattered than Gavin.
I ask only that or M/A members that know how to pray, do so for the Luther Family.

They deserve it!
That's all I have to say bout that.