No different than some of the AI generated "history" things I've seen generated for youtube.
-
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2025 Plastic Surgeons Meetings and Other Fun!
- Thread starter Rhino
- Start date
Rhino
Super Moderator
19 June 2025. This Plastic Surgeon's club meeting episode is brought to you by Francisco Melendez
Kevin’s goodbye and stash to share.
Mike’s Cat: he worked on its mouth (cover the void) -white putty. Aurora Kit
Nate’s 1:72 Testors B-1 (B-2) bomber. Hard fit…..it was made in the USA! This kit was sealed in the box; HOWEVER the clear parts for the canopy WAS MISSING!! -but Nate has a plan for that. He’s not deterred. Watch the finger.
Joe TRACKED Dragonfly!! Joe painted the instrument panel black and rub off the details with Prisma Colors pencils….It took him 10 minutes to achieve this result.
The tracks are Meng for a Russian T-72 tank. He used a graphite pencil for the metal look.
Francisco’s Huey UH-1C was Hobby Boss 1:48 with Miniart tools, Quickboost engine and ICM figures.
The base will have an acrylic cover (it is a display for a football…Who the hell wants to show a pig’s skin???!!) -People are weird.
(This Huey build is an homage to Francisco's wife Emily's Grampa, Roy Thede whom served as a US Army helicopter mechanic, and as a Dust-Off ship, because Emily is a Nurse. This one vignette ties together the memories of her Grandfather and herself. )
“D’s” Wasp: 1989 (commissioned) Wasp amphibious carrier LHD 1 CV18 scale Tamiya 1:700 HMS RODNEY Royal Navy battleship.
( Suspect this may be the Revell Ag kit of USS Wasp. What you cannot see is the Testors AZTEK compressor and big boy airbrush Kevin gave to D. Should he begin to want to make his more complex toys more accurate before he plays with them as well. editor.)
Ross new kit (form Kevin) and Panzer II (Dragon)
Thanks Fernando! Nice reporting!
Kevin dug up that PAK 43/41 (whatever it takes) 88mm kit for Ross while we were hanging out in his basement earlier on Thursday.
At this time my old friend is trashing 25 years worth of his expertly completed aircraft and armor models. On his move to Colorado, Kevin will be traveling fast and light, indeed, it seems.
Kevin and Nancy are very amicable to one another as their speedy divorce goes forward.
Their tidy 53rd st. Des Moines home should sell most readily. It is neat as a pin.
I don't want my friend to go away. Nevertheless, I wish him all the best.
Kevin’s goodbye and stash to share.
Mike’s Cat: he worked on its mouth (cover the void) -white putty. Aurora Kit
Nate’s 1:72 Testors B-1 (B-2) bomber. Hard fit…..it was made in the USA! This kit was sealed in the box; HOWEVER the clear parts for the canopy WAS MISSING!! -but Nate has a plan for that. He’s not deterred. Watch the finger.
Joe TRACKED Dragonfly!! Joe painted the instrument panel black and rub off the details with Prisma Colors pencils….It took him 10 minutes to achieve this result.
The tracks are Meng for a Russian T-72 tank. He used a graphite pencil for the metal look.
Francisco’s Huey UH-1C was Hobby Boss 1:48 with Miniart tools, Quickboost engine and ICM figures.
The base will have an acrylic cover (it is a display for a football…Who the hell wants to show a pig’s skin???!!) -People are weird.
(This Huey build is an homage to Francisco's wife Emily's Grampa, Roy Thede whom served as a US Army helicopter mechanic, and as a Dust-Off ship, because Emily is a Nurse. This one vignette ties together the memories of her Grandfather and herself. )
“D’s” Wasp: 1989 (commissioned) Wasp amphibious carrier LHD 1 CV18 scale Tamiya 1:700 HMS RODNEY Royal Navy battleship.
( Suspect this may be the Revell Ag kit of USS Wasp. What you cannot see is the Testors AZTEK compressor and big boy airbrush Kevin gave to D. Should he begin to want to make his more complex toys more accurate before he plays with them as well. editor.)
Ross new kit (form Kevin) and Panzer II (Dragon)
Thanks Fernando! Nice reporting!
Kevin dug up that PAK 43/41 (whatever it takes) 88mm kit for Ross while we were hanging out in his basement earlier on Thursday.
At this time my old friend is trashing 25 years worth of his expertly completed aircraft and armor models. On his move to Colorado, Kevin will be traveling fast and light, indeed, it seems.
Kevin and Nancy are very amicable to one another as their speedy divorce goes forward.
Their tidy 53rd st. Des Moines home should sell most readily. It is neat as a pin.
I don't want my friend to go away. Nevertheless, I wish him all the best.
Heavens Eagle
Well-known member
Ah! So the "War Dept" can beat you severely about the head and shoulders eh!
Like we don't play with our builds...a fella has to have some fun.
Rhino
Super Moderator
I imagine it packs quite a wallop! I'm on my best behavior since Teresa finished it.
Rhino
Super Moderator
A lot has been going on here!
I recently joined X to promote the website. You may follow me, if you like on X. "Follow me on X" sounds like a command, and I prefer invitations!
tlarmodels.com
Duke Maddog
Well-known member
That looks like a fantastic meeting! Way to go. I feel your pain at your friend's leaving, I also feel pain that he is tossing all his magnificent models away! It almost seems sacrilegious! I did enjoy seeing the two ACE kits on the table, I am hoping later I'll see them finished.
Might be buried down in the archives Martin but who knows if any of the pictures still work.
Impisi
Well-known member
yes, might be but the pictures will not work that is for sure. This was before me gettig hacked and i deleted everything related to that hacked mail, so it wouldn't be worth to try to find it.
Rhino
Super Moderator
We had our Club "Sail Away" for Kevin last night at the Ankeny Wig & Pen pub. I dint see no wigs a'tall. 9 other Plastic Surgeons attended to well wish Kevin on his new experimental adventure. Joe & Aimee Lotz, Carlton and Julie Berger, Bob Maloy, Nathan & Trennis Stevens, and Teresa and myself.
Kevin donated the last of his model kit collection to the SurgiCon contest raffle. The last vestiges of his old life are gone now.
We bought his Sail Away supper. The fish and chips were particularly good! Nate and Trennis Stevens ordered a pizza that looked like lasagna in a pie. YUM!!
I asked my friend, one last time "Can you divorce the wife you don't like anymore and stay in the same town as your friends?"
My friend has been standing on the edge of a precipice, with one foot in the air. I asked him not to jump, but he nevertheless is determined to do so. Last night, I let go of his hand.
A full price offer has been tendered on the tidy Nelson Home.
He was scheduled to depart 0700 this morning. I hope he stops in Lexington NE to play in the Tank Museum and have an ice cream. The last Runza location going west is in Sidney, NE. Foothills, and the wilds of Colorado follow.
Rhino
Super Moderator
Kevin didn't go. I hear he plans to depart 28 July. We are all sure he is being scammed by a Mikaela Shiffrin imposter.
I sent the "Hey, I need a favor" text as the opener for a joke about never modifying/remaking another 3D print to make a TLAR model kit to some of my friends. Kevin hasn't responded to my 6 July request. I just must not be one of the cool kids anymore. Zorn!
In more pertinent, current Plastic Surgeon news;
17 July 2025 Meeting post.
A lo, a great rift in the space/time continuum occured. A tall Englishman strode into our midst. And with him came a model. A great clap of thunder reverbeated for all to humble themselves by. Bond, John Bond has joined his mates, in the flesh! To top that off, He built an (gasp!) Airplane model! (Crowd roaring and thunderous applause)
ICM's 1/48 scale Bristol Beaufort (Bo-Fort) torpedo bomber, with the included kit figures! John (Bondo) seems in good spirits and health! His 10 year or so absence at meetings sounded work related. John did his usual fine job on the Bo with a warning about the fit of the ICM nose glazings. It was John that first suggested Future could be used to attach P/E parts. He was right.
Francisco arrives with his Amusing Hobby 1/35 Rheinmetall KF-51 Panther build. He tells us the fetching little figure is Rheinmetall's customer service rep. (Brunhilde?) She is taking orders for the new 130mm cannon equipped German tank. The '66 GTO taillights caught my eye! My friend, Fernando, seems to have a fondness or affliction for this kind of camo since his 1/48 Viggen build.
Ross Petra arrives bearing his Hasegawa 1/32 Me-106E-4 in the famed, pictured Black 8 North Afrika JG-27 camo. This model was built sometime ago. The Hasegawa kit dates back to 1973. This could be the 1977 re-issue that included the DAK decal markings. We jibe Roscoe about not building anything new of late. To model, or not to model? That is the question!
Joe Lotz has brought something old and something new, and several other somethings old.
The New, 1/35 Meng T-72 is a build Joe says he just isn't satisfied with. He cites instructional distress.
His Battlestar Galactica is cool ship, even if the show was dumber than a Sack of Katies (?
?)
I remembered his Tamiya Suzuki Katana model from the 2006 KC IPMS Nationals. An honorable mention for the category of "A subject built by a modeler that never was awarded at a National Convention before". What fun IPMS/USA was in the old days!
The Ducati and Honda Blackbird (why are they called Blackbird? They are all gray.) are all nice motorbike builds.
Carlton Burger continues work on his Monogram 1/48 P-51D Mustang from Don's basement. His metal finishes are impressive, indeed! Fitting his vac-form canopy is a challenge.
Carl also brought a Mystery Panzer for Roscoe to ID. It turns out this is the DML 1/35 Hunting Panzer IV (early). See the two machine guns in the bow? Curved armor? Short barrel 75mm with muzzle brake? Spare wheel racks? Yup, Early 1944 for sure. This kit you don't see built everyday. Sehr Kuhl!
Mark Johnson has made up an award for the upcoming August Glue Brothers NNL. "The Best of Everything Else" is the category this cool thing is for.
Jose Gonzales meets us with a 1981 Monogram 1/48 LTV A-7A Corsair II in bicentennial markings, Fujimi's 1966 1/50th F-5A tooling in Royal Norwegian Tiger Meet markings. Jose disdains accurizing advice and prefers rather to just build for the fun of it! His new model space is subject to the seasonal temperatures so his build time is at a premium during frosty winter and sweltering summer months. Ay-yi-yi!
Nate Stevens brings a 1/72 scale assortment. OA-10A, Revell Ag AR-196,Monogram P-36 Hawk and Hasegawa F2A Buffalo are in progress.
Teresa started her Seahorse Barque wood puzzle ship and I told my story about trials of finding the proper nipple shade and making A, B, and D-cup spinnakers for the 1/700 Lagoon 46 Catamaran model until it was just so. My Mates tell me that such things are "all Don Barry", and had a good laugh. I consider this high praise. I rigged my spinnaker pole and portside working guy (made from cat hair) and installed the D-Cup "No shit! It's a Tit!" spinnaker sail on the Cat this morning.
I still can't find the regatta video that is responsible for this subject being stuck in my head. I don't think theirs had any tan lines.
Anyway, Thanks for looking in!
I sent the "Hey, I need a favor" text as the opener for a joke about never modifying/remaking another 3D print to make a TLAR model kit to some of my friends. Kevin hasn't responded to my 6 July request. I just must not be one of the cool kids anymore. Zorn!
In more pertinent, current Plastic Surgeon news;
17 July 2025 Meeting post.
A lo, a great rift in the space/time continuum occured. A tall Englishman strode into our midst. And with him came a model. A great clap of thunder reverbeated for all to humble themselves by. Bond, John Bond has joined his mates, in the flesh! To top that off, He built an (gasp!) Airplane model! (Crowd roaring and thunderous applause)
ICM's 1/48 scale Bristol Beaufort (Bo-Fort) torpedo bomber, with the included kit figures! John (Bondo) seems in good spirits and health! His 10 year or so absence at meetings sounded work related. John did his usual fine job on the Bo with a warning about the fit of the ICM nose glazings. It was John that first suggested Future could be used to attach P/E parts. He was right.
Francisco arrives with his Amusing Hobby 1/35 Rheinmetall KF-51 Panther build. He tells us the fetching little figure is Rheinmetall's customer service rep. (Brunhilde?) She is taking orders for the new 130mm cannon equipped German tank. The '66 GTO taillights caught my eye! My friend, Fernando, seems to have a fondness or affliction for this kind of camo since his 1/48 Viggen build.
Ross Petra arrives bearing his Hasegawa 1/32 Me-106E-4 in the famed, pictured Black 8 North Afrika JG-27 camo. This model was built sometime ago. The Hasegawa kit dates back to 1973. This could be the 1977 re-issue that included the DAK decal markings. We jibe Roscoe about not building anything new of late. To model, or not to model? That is the question!
Joe Lotz has brought something old and something new, and several other somethings old.
The New, 1/35 Meng T-72 is a build Joe says he just isn't satisfied with. He cites instructional distress.
His Battlestar Galactica is cool ship, even if the show was dumber than a Sack of Katies (?
?)I remembered his Tamiya Suzuki Katana model from the 2006 KC IPMS Nationals. An honorable mention for the category of "A subject built by a modeler that never was awarded at a National Convention before". What fun IPMS/USA was in the old days!
The Ducati and Honda Blackbird (why are they called Blackbird? They are all gray.) are all nice motorbike builds.
Carlton Burger continues work on his Monogram 1/48 P-51D Mustang from Don's basement. His metal finishes are impressive, indeed! Fitting his vac-form canopy is a challenge.
Carl also brought a Mystery Panzer for Roscoe to ID. It turns out this is the DML 1/35 Hunting Panzer IV (early). See the two machine guns in the bow? Curved armor? Short barrel 75mm with muzzle brake? Spare wheel racks? Yup, Early 1944 for sure. This kit you don't see built everyday. Sehr Kuhl!
Mark Johnson has made up an award for the upcoming August Glue Brothers NNL. "The Best of Everything Else" is the category this cool thing is for.
Jose Gonzales meets us with a 1981 Monogram 1/48 LTV A-7A Corsair II in bicentennial markings, Fujimi's 1966 1/50th F-5A tooling in Royal Norwegian Tiger Meet markings. Jose disdains accurizing advice and prefers rather to just build for the fun of it! His new model space is subject to the seasonal temperatures so his build time is at a premium during frosty winter and sweltering summer months. Ay-yi-yi!
Nate Stevens brings a 1/72 scale assortment. OA-10A, Revell Ag AR-196,Monogram P-36 Hawk and Hasegawa F2A Buffalo are in progress.
Teresa started her Seahorse Barque wood puzzle ship and I told my story about trials of finding the proper nipple shade and making A, B, and D-cup spinnakers for the 1/700 Lagoon 46 Catamaran model until it was just so. My Mates tell me that such things are "all Don Barry", and had a good laugh. I consider this high praise. I rigged my spinnaker pole and portside working guy (made from cat hair) and installed the D-Cup "No shit! It's a Tit!" spinnaker sail on the Cat this morning.
I still can't find the regatta video that is responsible for this subject being stuck in my head. I don't think theirs had any tan lines.
Anyway, Thanks for looking in!
Last edited:
Heavens Eagle
Well-known member
Another great report from our "Tongue-In-Cheek" reporter. (don't bite down)
Always enjoy the Rhino Reports!
Always enjoy the Rhino Reports!
Big turn out it looks like!!
Rhino
Super Moderator
We had really nice, cool summer weather for a couple of days. It was really good to see Jon Bond again.
Mike Carter (new guy) joined us for most of the meeting. It was a fun meeting.
Rhino
Super Moderator
31 July Meeting post:
The esteemed membership at this gathering. Nate and Trennis Stevens, Carlton Burger, Jon Bond, Mark Johnson, Jose' and myself are unpictured here.
Jon Bond arrives (second meeting in a row!) with his very fine build of Tamiya's 1/48 Fairey Swordfish Mk. I. The markings depict the FAA 818 Squadron Aircraft credited with damaging DKM Bismarck's rudder. His 1/48 Royal Navy figures are converted from RAF Bomber Command crewmen. He got them on Etsy "From the guy that sells a lot of military stuff".
It always good to see Jon!
Ross Petra is back at the bench, working on a Dragon 1/35 Kettenkraftrad. Ross' keen attention to detail is again in evidence here.
He comments the Taurus Tracks for the K-rad are finely detailed, but quite brittle and a lot of trouble to assemble. Ima thinkin' I could cast some of these in LPP if Ross need me to do so. I've done other molding/casting model favors for my Brothers.
Joe finished his Tamiya 1/48 Me-262b-1 Schnellbomber (and his supper) and has started work on an aging Tamiya 1/48 F-15C Eagle kit.
The Eagle should be a treat to see progress!
Nate Stevens makes headway on his Heller 1/72 AR-196 and Monogram 1/72 Curtiss P-36 Hawk. I used to poo-poo Heller kits, but lately I have come to appreciate the quality of vintage Heller toolings and fit. Nathan and I agree on this subject.
He commented the the AML 1/72 P-36 is nigh on to unbuildable, but the included Cartograph decals work well. Nate tires of the Monogram pre-war kit markings and will build this 1967 tooling as a war-time Hawk.
Mark Johnson is building a '71 Demon with a 426 hemi and dual-quad cross-ram for his upcoming NNL event in Grimes, IA.
Curt Young showcases Mark's Demon paint job.
The 1/24 scale kit is cross between the AMT Duster and MPC Demon kits. The purple is Boyd's Custom Plum Crazy. Mark has a dehydrator and he bakes his model car finishes in very much the same way 1/1 scale body shops do. Mr. Johnson's techniques are most thorough and results are beyond repute. Couple that with how willing he is to share tips and tricks and his friendliness, Mark's just a great guy.
ipmsusa.org
Jose' is working on the 1981 MPC Encon T-60 X-wing fighter. Who among us didn't build this vintage Star Wars kit and go-a-TIE-fighter blasting? I did! Jose' models for the sheer joy of it and comments that this build will go in his office at John Deere. (No, it will NOT be painted green and yellow!)
My Sweetie is assembling one of her happy birthday presents. ROKR's Seahorse Barque. This wood puzzle kit looks more model-like as she goes along. A cool feature of this ship is that if you slide the ship's boat forward, the ports on the gun deck open and the cannon barrels run out! She works on the Seahorse when her hands get fatigued from crocheting the next baby blanket project.
Ross asks me to bring our Titanic icebergs along to the meeting. The bigger one is for the 1/400 (?) scale wood puzzle Titanic kit Teresa built a while back. I found the STL file for it and our kids in Texas 3D printed it for her. It weighs almost nothing, despite it's size and faceted, icy appearance. (Mama!) The 1/700 scale (Baby) version was molded from a 3D printed Master and cast in clear resin with pearl tint added in. The smaller scale iceberg has some heft to it.
Who can say what the iceberg that sank RMS Titanic looked like? Conversely, who can say what it didn't look like? Some nut made a STL file of it. I could plainly not resist.
I found a way in which my scale projects could be passed around for perusal. The lid is from a box for a cool Bluetooth speaker. If I leave them stuck to the "painters" other Club members and modelers can try to see what I've been working on. Banshee Rock made it's Club debut this time.
The Sentinel class WPC and 45 RB-M's are coming along nicely. I remembered the USCG Bait class WPSS is to be included in this kit as well.
That's all for now!
Thanks for looking in!
The esteemed membership at this gathering. Nate and Trennis Stevens, Carlton Burger, Jon Bond, Mark Johnson, Jose' and myself are unpictured here.
Jon Bond arrives (second meeting in a row!) with his very fine build of Tamiya's 1/48 Fairey Swordfish Mk. I. The markings depict the FAA 818 Squadron Aircraft credited with damaging DKM Bismarck's rudder. His 1/48 Royal Navy figures are converted from RAF Bomber Command crewmen. He got them on Etsy "From the guy that sells a lot of military stuff".
It always good to see Jon!
Ross Petra is back at the bench, working on a Dragon 1/35 Kettenkraftrad. Ross' keen attention to detail is again in evidence here.
He comments the Taurus Tracks for the K-rad are finely detailed, but quite brittle and a lot of trouble to assemble. Ima thinkin' I could cast some of these in LPP if Ross need me to do so. I've done other molding/casting model favors for my Brothers.
Joe finished his Tamiya 1/48 Me-262b-1 Schnellbomber (and his supper) and has started work on an aging Tamiya 1/48 F-15C Eagle kit.
The Eagle should be a treat to see progress!
Nate Stevens makes headway on his Heller 1/72 AR-196 and Monogram 1/72 Curtiss P-36 Hawk. I used to poo-poo Heller kits, but lately I have come to appreciate the quality of vintage Heller toolings and fit. Nathan and I agree on this subject.
He commented the the AML 1/72 P-36 is nigh on to unbuildable, but the included Cartograph decals work well. Nate tires of the Monogram pre-war kit markings and will build this 1967 tooling as a war-time Hawk.
Mark Johnson is building a '71 Demon with a 426 hemi and dual-quad cross-ram for his upcoming NNL event in Grimes, IA.
Curt Young showcases Mark's Demon paint job.
The 1/24 scale kit is cross between the AMT Duster and MPC Demon kits. The purple is Boyd's Custom Plum Crazy. Mark has a dehydrator and he bakes his model car finishes in very much the same way 1/1 scale body shops do. Mr. Johnson's techniques are most thorough and results are beyond repute. Couple that with how willing he is to share tips and tricks and his friendliness, Mark's just a great guy.
Mid Iowa Modelers Expo (MIME) 6 NNL | IPMS/USA Home Page
This is an NNL style (model cars) show with a swap meet/vendor setup. We have participant voting for the TOP FIVE models and PEOPLES CHOICE, and club member judging for the 6 Best Of Awards. Our THEME AWARD is for Pickup Trucks. We are also offering an award for the best Build-Off model from our...
Jose' is working on the 1981 MPC Encon T-60 X-wing fighter. Who among us didn't build this vintage Star Wars kit and go-a-TIE-fighter blasting? I did! Jose' models for the sheer joy of it and comments that this build will go in his office at John Deere. (No, it will NOT be painted green and yellow!)
My Sweetie is assembling one of her happy birthday presents. ROKR's Seahorse Barque. This wood puzzle kit looks more model-like as she goes along. A cool feature of this ship is that if you slide the ship's boat forward, the ports on the gun deck open and the cannon barrels run out! She works on the Seahorse when her hands get fatigued from crocheting the next baby blanket project.
Ross asks me to bring our Titanic icebergs along to the meeting. The bigger one is for the 1/400 (?) scale wood puzzle Titanic kit Teresa built a while back. I found the STL file for it and our kids in Texas 3D printed it for her. It weighs almost nothing, despite it's size and faceted, icy appearance. (Mama!) The 1/700 scale (Baby) version was molded from a 3D printed Master and cast in clear resin with pearl tint added in. The smaller scale iceberg has some heft to it.
Who can say what the iceberg that sank RMS Titanic looked like? Conversely, who can say what it didn't look like? Some nut made a STL file of it. I could plainly not resist.
I found a way in which my scale projects could be passed around for perusal. The lid is from a box for a cool Bluetooth speaker. If I leave them stuck to the "painters" other Club members and modelers can try to see what I've been working on. Banshee Rock made it's Club debut this time.
The Sentinel class WPC and 45 RB-M's are coming along nicely. I remembered the USCG Bait class WPSS is to be included in this kit as well.
That's all for now!
Thanks for looking in!
Another stellar report from the field. 
Rhino
Super Moderator
New TLAR Models blog post!
tlarmodels.com
You gotta stop and smell the flowers.
There's been a change 'round these parts. I'm retired. Well, sorta. I still have a cool job to do, to keep my hands busy, but it also allows a lot more time to devote to TLAR Models, the blog, the website and ultimately...
tlarmodels.com
