Modelfest 27. Liberty Missouri, 29 August 2026

[Rhino]

IPMS West Central Missouri puts on their 27th annual Modelfest show. We decided to join our Southern brethren this year.

We departed 0730 hrs. A stop at the Bevington Maverik gas station for fuel and a generous (expensive) breakfast burrito. More than one sort of gas may surely originate from this location. The ride down 35 South was under a soft, gray sky with moderate temperatures, sans rain.

Arriving shortly after 1015 hrs. with completed registration forms. Registration went briskly and it was off to place models! (See good ol' Kelly Quirk behind registration?) I entered Tom's 1/350 "Bottom Gun" USS Guitarro build, my Revell 1/72 SE-5a, the 1/72 scale Gloster Whittle E28/39 Pioneer, TLAR Models USRC Roger B. Taney and TLAR Models 1/350 USCG Island class 110' Cutter model. Teresa did our usually raffle ticket buy (There's Norm Trigg!) after surveying the all the possible wares.

The usual Rhino Storytelling 4-Corner view of the contested space.
How about some model pictures?

See Club Prez. Tom Potts, upper center? Blue shirt, graying beard? Good Guy!

A B-24J Liberator favorite. This is the newish 1/48 Hobbyboss kit.

The 1/32 scale Hasegawa UltraBolt conversion has been making the rounds. It's pretty cool!
Model makers of all skill levels are in evidence here this day!

 

[moon puppy]

Good report, glad you got a show.
So where's the after action report?

 

[Rhino]

I've always had a fondness for the Airacomet. You guys know the "Bowler Hat" story, yes?

The blue Porsche Cabriolet 359 was very pretty!

This was kinda neat, at a glance. Then you consider the the setting. CCS Virginia is already sinking before the blue shrimp-monster attacks. The water effect doesn't work for me. As if the old Ironclad was dropped at high speed from the air. Looking over the builds, there were gaps and seams and paint issues. Manga meets US naval history?

A guy on Just For Fun Models on X has been building Monogram 1/48 scale F-101 Voodoo jets. Several nice builds for the RCAF. I sent him a picture to see if he wanted more VooDoo. He did! We do each other model favors and add another avenue to keep up US/Canadian relationships.

Lunchtime! If you go to Red Robin, and your table looks like this after lunch, it's a good bet a fine meal was had. There was a slim, young bartender at Red Robin. She had on a shirt that said "Bottomless" on it. A fitting garment for this body type, I think! We hoped Jerod Booth and his effervescent wife Donya might join us, but they didn't show up until a lot later. We were crestfallen.

This collection deserves attention! For some years now, Don Joy has been composing a constant scale display of vessels named "Enterprise" past, present and future. Only one ship is not to scale and ithe the planet-sized starship on the far right in the back row. This is extraordinary to view, even for the least of Trekkies! I was unaware CSS Alabama had a sister named Enterprise! Almost everyone knows I'm all about the ships. This is just COOL!

Horace L. Hunley in 1/72 scale. Brilliant!

We had Beauforts and Lysanders, but not one Gannet. Odd.

Scott Hackney entered 1/72 and 1/48 scale F-14 Tomcats. Both were well awarded! I think this is his boss, "Shoes" Tomcat as the big fighter appeared in the picture "The Final Countdown".

I resin cast a few parts for Larry Clausens' 1/35 scale Grohl Kettenkrad and it turned out very nicely!

You don't see an MBT-80 everyday! The captured Coelion "Pusan Defender" was a flight of fancy to be sure!

Outstanding Israeli Super Sherman!

Lots of commercial subjects in Liberty this go! I always have had a fondness for Wreckers.

How did we do? Roger B. Taney and Tom's 1/350 "Bottom Gun" USS Guitarro Nuclear submatine won third place awards.
I bought a couple of sealed 1967 Monogram 1/48 scale Airplane kits at a pretty decent price. "Honey, it said Monogram on it!"

Teresa's raffle wins were less numerous this year. The last prize she won more than made up for it! The sealed 1/24th scale Firebird Funny Car kit is cool! The French warship book is informative. Generally, those 2 words don't go often together!

1/24th scale 1946 Dodge 1-ton Power Wagon diecast model from the Danbury Mint! The windshield swings out (A/C!) the doors, clamshell hood and tailgate are hinged. The steering wheel steers the front wheels! This is the coolest Pick-up model thing ever!!
I ain't 'zactly sure who Francisco Osio is, but I have his 1946 Dutch!

90 model makers entered 359 builds of different genre's. Good ol' Bill Rosario was sorely missed, God rest him.
OOPS! I forgot to take any gundam pictures (again!) She-Yit!
So closes my Modelfest 27 story.
The Rhino.
Good day!

 

[Rhino]

Good report, glad you got a show.
So where's the after action report?

Patience m'Lad! Patience!

 

[jknaus]

Love it. Looks like a good time and good show.
James