2025 Plastic Surgeons Meetings and Other Fun!

[Rhino]

So, Alclad Chrome over Tamiya flat black looks a lot like gunmetal. I find this acceptable, but not ideal. If THE TURTLE-NATOR looks a bit malicious, that was the idea. With all the great names that were submitted, I chose a few, and made a decals to apply to the sides of the Rapid Rabbit.
All my animals have vices. See the dinky cigar?

My TURTLE-NATOR has a feature the kit does not include. Yes, there's a driveshaft as well. "That's NO ordinary Rabbutt!"
He may very well end up with other features!
See, no instructions are included in this kit. Imagination is key, but model fun/silliness is the goal.
If I did it again, I would leave the blower off, bend the ears back a little more and add a rear spoiler to improve bunnydyanics during wabbit twansit!

Thanks again for looking in!

 

[Rhino]

27 March Surgeon meeting post.
We arrive a little bit late to tonight's gathering of Plastic Surgeons. It's a Full House! Only one empty chair, and only a few members not in attendance.

We missed mark Mark Johnson's explanation about his stunning paint obo n his Datsun 240Z model.
Wait one. Picture troubles.

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Rhino]

I believed tonight's meeting would be mostly contest business, as is usual for the final club meeting before the "Really Big Shoe" but there was Show N' Tell too.

We arrived just a little late, after a sumptuous Wendy-burger supper and missed most of Matk Johnson's ortello about the stunning paint job on his Datsun 240Z. Mark has a trophy to present for the Best Automotive finish at our upcoming show. Fellow automotive model enthusiast, Bob Maloy examines Mark's handiwork.

D put a Taniya 1/700 Operation Cerebus Channel Dash DKM Prinz Eugen heavy Cruiser together. I suggested Jason might have to start modeling so he could join in the meeting fun! This version is identified by 5 additional FlaK 38 quad 20mm AA gun mounts. Oddly enough, I just researched this same kit to list it on tlarmodels.com


Ronnie Schultz has been rehabbing more of his vintage car model collection. Many of Ron's creations are amalgams of car models and other spooky household items. He also bought 2 TURTLE-NATOR kits tonight. I cain't hardly wait to see what he does with both of them! Jack Kuhns looks on with his usual good humor (and his smart phone)
.
Mike Rasmussen looks on and Kevin Nelson tells the tale of his Tamiya 1/48 P-51D. Kevin says since the nose art says "Marie" he built it for his wife, Donna. No, silly, It's her middle name! The Mustang's markings are a mix, but Kevin is happy with his build!

Joachim has a sortiment of models in progress. The Hobbyboss 1/72 scale AH-64D Apache kit does NOT have tinted winders. This is a clear yellow tape used in PCB construction and for masking canopies on models. His U-Boat looks like a Type 212 Bundesmarine vessel.
The 1/35 75mm PaK is a Dwagon model kit. Joe tells us building these simple submarine kits well is a sure contest winner. 9 parts and you're done! Francisco and Aimee examine a model ambulance. I checked on "Hey Bob" Haag. He says he's OK.

Ross Petra in a cheerful pose! Loren has brought more model purchases to for us to molest. um.. Examine! Yeah, that's it! The Hobbyboss 1/72 TBM Avenger kit has pee for inside the bombay doors and a wing-fold option. Loren builds no models we know of so far. His plastic purchasing prowess is above reproach!

The Plastic Surgeons awards for the next 4 shows or so! These are very ornate and colorful compared to the challenge coin motif of other IPMS Chapters. These kind of awards do not keep the presenting club's name in front of award winners. They, like other coin awards, will likely go in a bag or a drawer. Do you guys keep a challenge coin rack for your awards?

The Gates Memorial Auditorium in Nevada is a large, well lit, venue with a stage, and plenty of room for Model Miscreants and Plastic Purveyors. It appears to be a huge improvement over the crowded, rude American Legion Hall in Bondurant.
For myself, I'm not really sold on the "off the beaten path" cheaper, Nevada location.
Contest attendance will tell the tale.

That's all for now.
Ravioli! Innuendo! Chow!
(Most of my Italian vocabulary.)

 

[moon puppy]

Nice turn out. Zoom in on the mustang is worth the extra clicks. Well done folks!

 

[Rhino]

I had a bit of sad news to bring to out membership this night. It seemed good and right to convey this news in person.

Plastic Surgeons plank-owner, and good friend Ray Powers is moving to his daughter Suzy's house in Altoona, IA for home hospice care. His chemo therapy so weakened his insides that he continues to lose blood internally. Ray has been getting pumped full of plasma and platelets longer than I have been laid-off. Ray has chosen to be in a comfier setting, among his beloved family and find a peaceful path to his Trip Up to Heaven. Not every man can choose where his days will end.

Not many men survive metastatic bone cancer, chemo treatments "Getting juiced up" and go on modeling and hanging out with his model brethren, Ray was that kind of tough old guy. If you tried to help him in or out of the car, he might conk you with his cane and say "I got it".
I would see Ray to his door after we dropped him off on meeting nights just the same. Supper with us and Club meetings where one of places Ray went that wasn't a hospital.

Ray joined IPMS Plastic Surgeons in 1994. It was a great many years before he entered a contest, and after a few well deserved wins, you could hardly keep him away. Ray did the lion's share of his model making and airbrushing outside, on his front deck in the fresh air. His Tamiya 1/35 Russian T-34 was painted in various shades of green, and then the ol' fart left his T-34 model outside in the rain. Around the IPMS Show circuit that season, that tank model was hailed as the most accurate Russian green paint job armor officiando's had ever seen.

Ray laughed up his sleeves at such experts. He mixed a bunch of different greens together and sprayed them on the tank. He truly didn't know what "Green" it was! If you weren't happy with the finish on your model, Ray might chortle and advise you "Leave it outside in the rain."

This gave birth to our longest running club joke about "I have my doubts about that "Green". We made Ross Petra the go-to Green paint guy.
Ross might feign thoughtful concern, stroke his chin and give his sage opinion concerning the paint job in question.
My GOD! We tormented other modelers with such a thing. We still do! It is STILL funny!

"Ray-Ray" never admitted to building many model kits he liked, that I recall. He did quality modeling, rather than quantity modeling.
During club Show n' Tell, I never knew when Ray was finished with his narrative. Whenever he got to "Well, this kit isn't too bad. Anybody got any questions?" you knew he was close! "Ray, are your done talking yet?" was the only way to be sure.

One of Ray's most often awarded and most unusual subjects was the Pegasus snap-tite1/48 scale German V-2 rocket. He called it "The Big Butt-Plug" and chuckled every time he said that. Ray beat me many times in miscellaneous categories with his butt-plug. He never glued it all the way together. He would grin, unsnap the rocket in the middle and say it wasn't really even finished.

Ray had the wildest hair of any Plastic Surgeon. He wore the same grungy old ballcap everywhere. I bought Ray a bright red cover that was embroidered "Relax, Snowflake. It's Just a Red Hat" on it. Crazy ol' Ray lost it behind his couch!

Teresa and I carried Ray and his grandson, Dwagon to every club meeting he could go to. He was too frail to go to out-of-town contests anymore He did make it to both of our Boundurant shows. Colton "Dwagon" and others recall the ridiculous performance I put on when I gave him a Tamiya 1/35 Jagdpanther kit to finish.

He was after me to make a cannon out of an Oxygen tank for him. He was sure I could do it. He had a lot of fun insisting I would.
Ray made his first scale cannon in metal shop, at Roosevelt High School. Imagine how long ago that was?

I will be greatly saddened by the loss of another senior shipmate. I will deliver anecdotes at his Service as a final act of honor for my friend.
That's all I have to say about that.

 

[moon puppy]

Godspeed Ray.

 

[Rhino]

Jackie Powers called. It seems Ray's condition has deteriorated so, that his hospice care will be administered at the Powell Center, Methodist Hospital. We went to see the "Old Man", and his family on the way to my Aunt's visitation. Pharmaceuticals are keeping Ray pain-free. His People are keeping watch. I recounted the gunpowder story Greg remembered and lightened the heavy mood a little. Jackie gave me permission to relate Ray Stories at his service. I carried out my duty and quietly gave my old, trusted, friend permission to take The Journey.
I expect Ray Powers to be at peace in the near future.

 

[Sharkmouth]

My condolences... we all seem to be losing lots of friends...

 

[Rhino]

It is inevitable. If I didn't have any friends, I wouldn't ever have to comment on the passing of such. I'll skip the clinical description of Ol' Ray's malady. It seems I have only so much courage today. Is that enough bummer stuff for now?

On a lighter note;


Grandson Russell and I made time to play together last Saturday. He built his first model, with a little technique advice from his Grampa.
He has a cool Tamiya Ferrari to build, but he's a scholar, football player and wrestler. Then, there might be a icky girl involved too!
He's 14, so at least he hasn't got a rickety car to work on yet.

This one is a 1/72 Spitfire Mk.II of County of Chester, 610 Squadron in 1940. Pilot Officer John Kerr Wilson was shot down in this machine on 29 May 1940. Russell's plan is to enter his first model contest in Monticello, IA on 12 April 2025. We carried this to our home to keep the Spit from the destructive clutches of a jealous, adopted little brother, Royalty. (What psychopath names a little boy that?)

What Grandson cannot know, is that his first airplane model will also be entered in Surgicon 29, in his absence, next Saturday!
We had a fine time playing together! He learned to put the flat side of his sprue cutter to the part he's clipping, how to wet sand and how to snap the Revell Spit together without breaking anything off. We both learned how to keep quiet when we spill MEK liquid glue on his Mom's new dining room table! Lord have mercy!

 

[moon puppy]

Nice one Russell!
Good luck with the show. Did the glue hose the table?

 

[Rhino]

Nice one Russell!
Good luck with the show. Did the glue hose the table?

We aren't at liberty to say, Suh!

 

[centaur567]

https://www.penturners.org/ Hi Dave, I was really impressed with the pen your wife made. A friend of mine turns pens too and I sent him a pic of your wife's work. He wants me to let you know about this pens turner forum. Gary S.

 

[Rhino]

Fwriends! Amerwicans! Countweemen! Wend me your eaws! (I'll clean them and give them back, when I'm done.)

I know that today is April Fools Day. I swear on my Mother's Grave this is no joke, as much as I wish it was.

Monday, 31 March, 2025 at or about 2030 hrs. Raymond William Powers took his Trip Up to Heaven.

Memorial services will begin Saturday, 5 April 2025 at 1200 hrs. Graveside services are scheduled for 1400 hrs.

https://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/about-us/convenient-locations/iles-norwalk-chapel/

Now, this service IS happening on the same day as Surgicon 29. Ray and Jackie have family and friends coming from a long ways off.
The Memorial services will not be rescheduled around the model contest.

I believe Teresa and I will be choosing to honoring our friend and bring what cheer we may to Ray's People over contest fun and frivolity with our Model People. Duty and Honor supersede model fun at this time.

The plan is to launch Boattail 712 from NAS White Oak (R) 0700 5 April, deliver our raffle booty and awards, goof off for a couple of hours and then return from Nevada to Norwalk for the funeral services. I have little expectation of returning to the Surgicon show after Ray's proceedings.

 

[moon puppy]

Sounds like a busy day. Be careful.

 

[Duke Maddog]

My condolences on Ray's passing. I will be keeping you7 and his family in my prayers. It is always hard to lose such a good friend.

 

[Rhino]

Teresa continues cheerily building things out of yarn. This here is Baby Triceratops. "BB Trike". Busy Hands are Happy Hands!

 

[Rhino]

A TLAR Board member has a request. He wants 6 or so NASCAR 426 Hemi intake manifolds. I may be overthinking it as my sanity swings out away from center again, but I have these cool Holley carbs, and it seems to me that carburetors and intakes go together.
I know, racing carbs don't have choke housings. I didn't want to alter my "Mike's Speed Shop" Holley 4777 Master.

The mold was cleared 1000 hrs. today. First casting may yet be 2200 hrs. yet tonight. Remember what happens when you rush the chemicals? Both molds show great promise! Blowing the pressure pot at midnight may vex my drowsy sweetie.
We'll see rabbit. We'll see!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Ok Elmer, let's get this show on the road. Since you are always complaining about those pesky Wabbits, you now have the new moniker.

 

[Rhino]

First and second castings are both dandy. After 2, in isn't a fluke anymore. Short castings were made to fill a need for parts in the Big Cutter kits. 3 more 1/350 Reliance class WMEC kits are being assembled.

Another casting success. 8mm screws for the 1/350 Reliance kit. Not a whole lot of skill is required to copy an existing object.

Meet the Bunnyville Bullet! I have been hired to build 2 TURTLE-NATORS for a couple of grandsons. The Bullet will have gray accents and nice eyes. Using my cordless Dremel speeds rabbit assembly by quite a margin!
The Club Meeting is coming up this Thursday!
Tune in for more exciting Plastic Surgeon-nesses!