2026 Plastic Surgeons Meetings and Other Model Fun!

[Rhino]

There hadn't ben a proper club meeting since November of 2025. Foul winter weather and illnesses fouler still, kept our merry band from assembling.
Then came 29 January 2026!

16 Surgeons and their sweeties in a few cases, gathered at the Wig & Pen pub for our celebration and gift drawing. A fine time was had and travel was easy in what was moderate winter weather for Iowa. A few plans were discussed for the next IPMS National Convention, and the Surgeon of the Year award was discussed, a bit. Teresa and I sat next to my old friend Dave Bettis and we had a spirited model conversation about old kits, new issues and life in general.

Joe and Aimee are planning to find another Airbnb with housing enough for attending IPMS/USA members to share in Fort Wayne, like they did in Madison.

I had not seen many of my model friends in many moons and it was a joy to be in their company again.

I encourage Plastic Surgeons member to cast their vote for Ron Schultz or Carlton Burger as your 2 candidates.

"I nominate Ronnie Schutz. He's one of the most creative men in our merry band of model maniacs. When the chips were down at Don's house and many models might have been trashed, Ronnie showed up, from Woodward with his good dog, to haul away as many of Don's completed models and books as we could load in his old pick-up. He never asked why, he just did it."

He is always of good humor, with no regard for his physical condition. His builds may be less than precise, but are prolific, in a clumsy, fun sort of way."

This is my Surgeon of The Year nomination for Ronnie.

I don't have access to Carlton's nomination, but he is a fine model maker, shows improvement, has excellent club meeting attendance and has accepted the role of Plastic Surgeons treasurer.
The gift exchange was fun!

I won a lightly started Hasegawa 1/72 P-3C Orion kit. Clear parts are intact and the BIG decal sheet looks excellent! This was a very good present, indeed! This gift puts me in mind of the Keflavik-based P-3 Orion "Penguin 8" of Tom Clancy book fame. Books, movies and the U.S. Coast Guard inspire a great many of my model builds and TLAR projects.

As milder weather approaches, expect more Plastic Surgeon meeting updates!

Surgicon 30 | IPMS/USA Home Page

Let's all come together to celebrate 30 years of Surgicon.

ipmsusa.org

This will be our 30th Model Contest. The Club is actually 32 years young, established in 1994.
We haven't devised a show theme so far.
We are working on this year's Don Barry award and Chuck Sterns' award is on it's way.

 

[moon puppy]

Good report Chris, thanks. "I'm not mad I'm German"

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Always good to see your club show the way in how a fun club actually works.

 

[Rhino]

I thought it said "I'm not Hungry. I'm German." It turns out, Joe was hungry!

 

[Rhino]

IMPS Plastic Surgeons 30th contest (in our 32nd year) is coming right up, in Nevada, Iowa, on 4 April 2026.
I would start another thread and invite all me mates, but it usually comes to naught, so I'll just post the proceedings here.

The Chuck Sterns award is on hand and looks just like I hoped it would. K2 Awards came through again!
Teresa has the Don Barry award in her clutches and will be decorating a smaller, sleeker, more modern mug than the previous 128 oz. Don Award has been.

Surgicon 30 | IPMS/USA Home Page

Let's all come together to celebrate 30 years of Surgicon.

ipmsusa.org

For those of you that use Facehole, you can also check out the club page as well!
X users can find me @TLARModelsChris

 

[Duke Maddog]

This is magnificent to see once again! I love reading about these meetings and would love to attend one someday!

 

[Rhino]

Our member, Webb Groos is having home hospice care. As a club, the plastic surgeons will bring the next Club meeting to Webster, at his son Barry's home in Ames, IA. I have been freshly released by my cardiac Doc, and have had my driving privileges restored! We will be attending, barring unforeseen winter blizzard events! I have been in this outfit long enough to see quite a few of the old hands Take their Trip Up to Heaven. I want to be sure our aged State Trooper gets some special attention from our group.

 

[moon puppy]

Good news on the driving privileges being restored. Prayers for Trooper Groos.

 

[Rhino]

Good news on the driving privileges being restored. Prayers for Trooper Groos.

I no longer feel useless. My sweetie has reclaimed her "Passenger Princess" crown. She earned it in the last 5 1/2 months! She was delighted to not have to drive in Des Moines as we left the Cardiac unit, en route to a big, grody, greasy cheeseburger. We both gained greater appreciation for our roles in our lives. Darkness and weather will no longer be a factor in our adventures together.

My DOT physical is 0700 Monday. I expect to return to The Bus Tuesday morning. I'm keeping my 5th grade T.A. job in the hopes of qualifying for school district medical benefits. This means working full-time again, but I love what I'm doing, and I hate being bored.
Modeling/TLAR Models time will suffer some. I won't worry about $$ anymore. I'm good with it!

 

[Rhino]

"Attending Physician" issues the proper DOT documentation to clear my CDL again.
That arrogant sumbitch, or his clinic doesn't even return my calls. I called his Administrator. Voicemail.
Next step: Litigation.

 

[Rhino]

26 February 2026 Meeting post;
We sallied forth into the Northlands of Story county to see our most senior Plastic Surgeon.

There was a livestock truck fire on I-35 south, north of the Huxley exit.
At a glance it appeared that the tractor brakes had caused the blaze and melted the portside front of the loomium trailer. Hogs were scorched to death as they tried to escape the pork inferno, making quite a roadside scene of devastation. Northbound traffic slowed to almost a stop to rubberneck at the conflagration. Smoke, blackened pigs, Highway patrol, fire fighters and big wreckers were on the scene. Nary a Mooselim could be seen for miles.

Arriving in Ames with time to spare, we visited Mike Templeton at The Hobby Shop to tread the hollowed, creaky floor of my first hobby shop, bullshit about models, and visit with another old friend about the goings on of retirement. I bought a couple of cool toy gliders for birthday presents this time. "Honey, I can buy something form Mike if it's a present, right?"
My Sweetie contends I can buy anything I want.
Dangerous words, indeed, for a guy with a model collection the size of mine in his earlier childhood hobby shop!

Following that, we dined in BBQ luxury at Hickory Park. Since Taco Time closed in Ames, this is our "go to" spot for supper in Ames.
The Hickory Park Service was friendly and brisk, ribs and chicken were hot and plentiful. The price was reasonable for this sort of quality eatery.

Then we were off to Barry's house to visit with him and see ol' Webb.

We got there a little early. Barry shared a few details of his dad's condition with us in the privacy of his snug Ames home. He has chosen comfort and dignity for Webster, and it is obvious he reveres and admires his old man. Webb's "spot" is in the front room, in front of his big TV and a picture window he can see out of to the N/NW. He was snoozing comfortably when we arrived. Francisco showed up after a bit, and joined the "meeting" fun. A little later, Ross, Joe, Carlton, Hey Bob, Loren, Nate, Ty and Trennis arrived.
Webb roused and seemed pleased to see his mates, even though he is a little less than vocal about such things these days.

I don't remember seeing Webb build a model. He had cats at his old place, but had quite a collection of kits. These were sold to Mike at The Hobby Shop in Ames, when Barry moved Webb to his house. It was a full pick-up load of models!

The idea was that Plastic Surgeon well-wishers might rotate through Barry's living room to pay our respects and bolster the spirits of both Groos' men at this time. Six of us remain, that knew Webb Groos in his heyday. Joe, Ross, Francisco, Greg Metge (metzger?!) Dave Bettis and myself. Thanks to the newer (?!) club members for showing their support.

We bid our farewells around 1900 hrs and headed back south for our 90-some mile return home. We understood the I-35 South traffic was still at a smoked pork standstill, and chose a slower, more scenic route home under clear, starry night skies and half a moon. Teresa and I don't often cross the Saylorville mile-long bridge together. It was a lovely evening for a car-ride.

Barry comments "Thank you again for making the effort. We had 12 total here last night and when Dad had his supper away later he was really perky!" Good news to be sure!

It is understood that our Webb Groos is in the 4th quarter of his time on Earth. No one can guess the number of his days. I will state that with the help of home hospice care, Barry is providing the most loving, good care of his courageous, honored father. My hat is off to him. I promised to tell him the story of how Webb saved my life once, long ago. A pot of coffee and box of Kleenex will be required on that day.

I wonder if we might sponsor a Webb Groos award. "Best Law Enforcement Subject" in honor of his long service to the Iowa Highway Patrol? Not a memorial award. Not quite yet.

That's all I have to say about that.