2022 IPMS NATIONAL CONVENTION La Vista NE.

[Rhino]

Feel free to post any pictures or impressions of the 2022 Nat's here.
Day 1. 20 July 2022. "The beginning"

The Shocking Pink Surgeons sally forth for points North and West. Nimrod 712 departs Starbase; 0730 hrs. Winds light and variable from the S/SW. Barometer steady at 32.20. A fine day for a car ride to Nebraska.

Car wreck had I-80 West closed. I diverted to I-880 (Interstate 680 grew 200 I's) Part of the experience of running I-880 is to stop at the Scenic Lookout Potty Spot and climb the tower. I recall hearing about someone that emptied their bladder from the top of the tower, but I cain't recall who might have done such a thing. It seems every route to I-680 could be closed or under construction, but it was. Arrival time was bit longer than anticipated.

We arrived in plenty of time to register meet old friends and meet some new ones. I made sure my Sweetie was prepared to be in a huge building filled with people, well, like me! She seems well prepared mentally for this grand adventure.

Registration was swift and courteous. I pre-registered with Teresa and Don Barry as my guests. Don won't be making it to the Nat's this year.
His wife Dian is unwell. Don is sticking by her side in the face of a very serious illness. Some things are more important than goofing off with your model friends.

Raffle tickets are being sold but no drawings will occur until Thursday. Patience, Raffle Vultures! Not much happens before 1300 on Day One.

Lunch at Runza DOES!!

The Model Room DAY One. "Smile Richard! You're going to famous!" Richard Sliwka is laying out his 20 model ship entries.
There will most assuredly be many more masterpieces and lesser models in this space by Friday when judging begins!

3 Of Richard's model ships occupy space in Convention Category 418 that TLAR Models sponsored this year.

More to come!

 

[moon puppy]

Thanks for the reporting Rhino. Great job so far. Keep the dispatches coming in.

 

[Rhino]

I saw so many old model friends today, I didn't take very many new pictures and I didn't buy anything else. We made some new ones too. We're staying the night in La Vista tomorrow. We can save $120.00 in gas, gain 5 hours of fun time and wear and tear on your roving reporter and his FBLO. A $200.00 room seems a good value!

We cut out early today to have supper with Don and Dian Barry. It was a fine visit!

There's a bright rumor that a Friday night Karaoke expedition is on. God help the people of Millard, La Vista and Papillion, Nebraska!
Rhiner's Roughnecks ride again. HUH!
Saturday I will lead an expedition to visit USS Hazard, AM-240 at Freedom Park from 1000 to 1400.

 

[moon puppy]

Good hunting!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Wish I could have made it this year.

 

[Rhino]

An addendum:

Don was listed as my "Guest" when I pre-registered back in March. We hoped we could ask Dian "Can Don come out and play?" and have another rollicking road trip with one of our oldest friends and most humorous model makers. No one could know that Dian would contract cancer of the pancreas and require constant care. After supper, I delivered Don's national convention package. His nametag, pin and T-shirt. A Cap-Holder-O-Matic was included as a bonus prize.

Don confesses that after all the years he has modeled, all the shows and conventions He attended, He's never had a Nat's shirt before.
Don Barry is the kind of friend that never asks for much, pays his way and is quick to share a technique, a trick or a tip with a lesser modeler.
That being said, I asked him to paint a couple of figures. A trade between Men, see?! (All y'all have to wait to see what figures Don does!)

When I was a much younger child I used to think of guys like Don, Chuck Sterns, Greg Metge, Gene Coll, Ed Buckley, Tommy Bly and lately George Stevens as mentors. I Don't think Don remembers his generosity and good humor. Perhaps he didn't understand what influence that had on me.
I remember. We all got a little misty while Don discovered his gifts from the shores of Nebraska.

It was Ed Buckley's Martian Fighting Machine that inspired me to create "Something" out of "Nothing", thus inspiring TLAR Models and all the dinky Masters I make from 3-view drawings, pictures, my wild imagination and bits of Evergreen plastic.

When I was estranged from my own father, looking back I was blessed with many "Dad's" to teach me things and have adventures with.
The numbers of such Men are thinning. We can't cure Diannie's cancer. We can bring some cheer while the Barry's struggle with this new medical menace.

Well. Didn't that get just a little sappy?!

More models and adventures to come!! If you thought me long-winded before, a newer, Longer wind is about to blow!
Stay tuned Friends!!

 

[moon puppy]

Don!

 

[Rhino]

Don wasn't the only one to get presents.

He sent this British WWI tank model back to Omaha for British Dave Clarke. Dave was chuffed to have a model from Don to take home to his family in Colorado Springs.

He sent me home with this unlikely SS Panzer Tiger I commander vignette. She is so devout, even her skimpy underpants have SS runes on them.

 

[Rhino]

Now is the time for apologies.

I found so many friends in Omaha, I didn't make the photo-essay I had intended. Perhaps as I age, the personalities are more important to me than the models are. There are fewer "old hands" every year. Couple this with the facts that 2,000 modelers entered 2,808 models, the scope of such a thing isn't easy to describe. I found myself suffering from sensory overload. You walk about the contest space looking for outstanding builds that catch my eye. Damn-near't EVERY model was an outstanding build!
I was SO saturated by Saturday, instead of taking more pictures, all I could do was gawk and blab. (ME?!?)

There was no possibility of making 2,808 model pictures and telling the story that goes with EVERY one of them. I feel as if I could have done better. I'm relying on Frank and Terry to fill in the blanks. I truly meant no offense to any one sort of entrant one way or another.

Don Joy's "Evolution of Carrier Aviation" collection. Mr. Bear is about to be soundly "thumped" by a Foxtrot-One-Four at high speed.
I looked over Don's ships and mused "What? No USS Wolverine?" Since USS Wolverine was an IX auxiliary training Carrier she doesn't really fit into the CV/CVA/CVN motif of the collection. We'll see if my attempt at renting space in Don's head takes root or not.

Some of Richard Sliwka's models were in my Category! The 1/350 USCG 83' Cutter was a very nice model! All of Richard's model ships are excellent.

Time for Wednesday lunch! Vendor rooms open at 1:00.

The Big room, I'm pretty sure.

The smaller Vendor space. As you can readily see, my bride-to-be was completely enthralled by the vendor rooms. I made a shopping list of model items I was looking for. I found a couple of them too!

 

[Frank]

I took a few pictures of the armor in attendance.

I got so distracted by the vendor rooms that I forgot to get pictures of all the other contestants.
I picked up these items.

Inside of the M1070 was the eduard detail set

 

[Rhino]

1914's Rat Patrol?! Vargas scale Models 3D resin printed stuff. I wanted this one, but He was sold out.

VargasScaleModels.com

vargas_lg

vargas_lg

vargas-lg.myshopify.com

He says this one prints in one assembly. Nothing for a modeler to put together! Brandon Lowe was at his Squadron USA Booth. His Dad Russ was at a Hobbytown convention. He would be along later.

The guys from Tom's Modelworks filled one item on my shopping list and cancelled a TLAR Models project. Guns for the PT boat set and a really nifty 1/700 USS Nautilus submarine kit, including a lower hull plate and a P/E fret. $35.00 was a very attractive price point.
I'm not really sure how I feel about resin 3D printed model kits. Time will tell.
I can now shelve my 1/700 USS Nautilus/Argonaut/Narwhal sub project.

 

[Rhino]

Nobody does wreckage like Larry Clausen! I liked the Haunted Stuart racing away from his Tiger 1 antagonist, so fast he ran right out of issue # 134 of G.I. Combat. "Slim! Watch out for that kid!! I had a few The Haunted Tank goodies to give Larry, along with some additional "wreckage".

Mike Wheaton is in the house.

The entries in TLAR Models sponsored category # 418. I liked the PBR coming back from the grocery store. The 1/131 Scale Revell US Navy PGB build was awesome! A fine build of an old friend! The 80' Elco PT was a show stopper!

 

[moon puppy]

Had to google USS United States.
So you'd want to see a keel plate laid down?

 

[Rhino]

I already let the cat out of the bag about British Dave Clarke coming to the Nat's from Colorado. He and his mates were HAAMing it up!

I hadn't seen British Dave in years. We were at the 2011 Nationals together. There's a funny fart story to tell anyone that thinks about rooming with Dave! He says every gray hair is from arguing with PFC's. Since when do NCO's "argue" with PFC's? Evidently you don't tell them what to do and kick them in the ass anymore. Such is the state of the modern airborne forces. He made 44 jumps. I warned Dave about jumping from aircraft there's nothing wrong with. Him Hard Head!

 

[Rhino]

Had to google USS United States.
So you'd want to see a keel plate laid down?

I'll be delighted to see CVN-80 USS Enterprise get commissioned.
In fact, the first USS United States was one of 6 Frigates built in the late 1700's for the shiny new US Navy. One of USS Constitution's sisters.

 

[Rhino]

Hawkeye Modeler's own Ed Buckley's entries. Look close at the Werewolf's eyes!

A couple of Carl Musselman's newest builds. "I'll see your pontoon drydock and raise you!" I folded and bought one of Carl's 1/700 kits of ASBD-7 USS Los Alamos. The USS San Pablo diorama was really cool! Over 100 scale sailors on deck. No. None of them were female! SICK-O!

Mile High Ship Model Club's President David Waples "Cruel Seas" diorama. The little dots are people in the water. None of them are female either! What is it with you?

 

[Rhino]

Ladies and Gentlemen! Children of all vintages! Now comes the lightning round!

 

[Rhino]

 

[Rhino]

Tamiya had a shot. They could have put the "Japanese Sandman" nose art in this model. They could have been Heroes.........
Then a few Airplane models...............


Helicopters........



A stellar build of the vintage Cheyenne kit!

You guys know why a Pelican would be dear to me.

LAMPS Seasprite!

Not enough airplane models? Let me see what I can do.............

 

[Rhino]

If this doesn't tickle you, nothing will.

The 1/72 Hawk Models SBD-3 Dauntless. The modeler used the kit decals!!

Then, the 1/72 Flyhawk SBD-3 Dauntless. I suspect the same guy built both Speedy-Dee's.

Not done yet! Imagine. Many of the categories had as many models entered.