What’s New In Town

By Terry Tuytschaevers

ACADEMY

1/48 Republic P-47N Thunderbolt

1/48 Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum A

1/48 Republic P-47D Nose Art, "Big Ass Bird II"

1/72 Fieseler Fi-156 Storch With Kubelwagen

ACCURATE MINIATURES

1/48 North American B-25B Mitchell

AMT

1/25 1966 Ford Fairlane Dual Quad 427

1/25 50th Anniversary Corvette Collectors Series 1957, 1975, & 1998

1/25 1965 Pontiac 2+2 421 Tri-Power

1/25 1978 Dodge Li'l Red Express Stepside Pickup

1/25 Ford Louisville Delivery Truck With Lift Gate

1/25 1996 Chevy Tahoe Snapfast Kit

1/25 1970 Super Bee Pro Street

1/25 Snapfast 1995 Chevy Camaro Z-28

1/25 Snapfast 1996 Pontiac Firebird

1/25 Snapfast 1997 Dodge Viper GTS

1/25 Snapfast 1955 Chevy Corvette

AMTECH

1/72 Junkers Ju-88S-3/T-3

1/48 Curtiss P-40F/L Merlin Engined Warhawk/Kittyhawk II

1/72 Boeing EC-135E/N ARIA/ALOTS

AZUR MODELS

1/72 Polikarpov R-Z "Natacha" Two-Place Recon Bi-Plane

BATTLE AXE

1/144 USS Monitor

CZECH MASTER KITS

1/72 Sikorsky S-38

1/72 Sikorsky S-39

1/72 Supermarine Seafire Mk III

DRAGON/DML

1/35 Super Heavy Self-Propelled 60cm Mortar "Karl"

1/35 Sd.Kfz.164 Nashorn

1/700 Guided Missile Cruiser USS Mobile Bay CG-53

HASEGAWA

1/72 Grumman F11F-1 Tiger VF-121 Pacemakers

1/72 Vought F4U-2N Night Corsair VMF(N)-532

1/72 McDonnell QF-4N Phantom II NAS Point Mugu Drone

1/72 Nakajima B5N2 (Kate) Model 3 Pearl Harbor

1/48 Chance Vought F-8E Crusader VF-191/Vf-194 CAG

1/48 North American P-51D Mustang Israeli Air Force

1/48 Hawker Typhoon Mk. 1b No. 193 Squadron

1/48 Vought A-7E Corsair II VA-192 Dambusters CAG Bird

1/48 GD F-16D Brackeet IDF Fighter Israeli Air Force

HOBBYCRAFT

1/48 Bell P-59 Airacomet

1/48 Bell P-59A Airacomet

JO-HAN

1/25 1964 Chrysler Turbine Car Ez-Build

1/25 1971 Pro Street Comet Boss 429 Engine

Clear Plastic Show Case With Black Base 9-3/16"X4-1/16"X3.75"

MINICRAFT

1/144 MDD MD-80 US Air

1/144 Boeing 737-400 Aloha Airlines

1/144 Boeing 707-320B Braniff Airlines

MINI-HOBBY MODEL

1/350 HMS King George V

1/350 HMS Prince of Wales

1/350 USS New Jersey BB-62 Modern Version

1/350 USS Missouri BB-63

1/700 USS Tarawa LHA-1

1/700 USS Saipan

1/700 CV-8 USS Hornet

1/700 CV-6 USS Enterprise

1/35 Russian T-72M2 Main Battle Tank

MODELCRAFT

1/350 USS Wisconsin

1/72 Fairey Firefly Mk I

MPM

1/48 US Navy JB 2 "Loon" (Modified German V-1 Buzz Bomb)

1/72 Douglas DC-2 KLM

PLANET RESIN KITS

1/72 Sd.Kfz. 9 Famo 18-Ton Half Track Tow Vehicle

1/72 Sd.Anh. 116 Eight Wheeled With Steering Cab Tank Trailer

1/72 Bussing Nag 4500A Heavy Duty Truck

1/72 Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn-Hornisse Self Propelled Big-Gun

1/72 Messerschmitt Me-329 Fighter Bomber Concept Aircraft

1/72 Dornier Do-23 Twin-Engine Bomber

1/48 Aero A-18 Bi-Plane Fighter

POLAR LIGHTS

1/8 The Amazing Spiderman

REVELL GERMANY

1/72 Blohm & Voss Bv-222 Flying Boat

REVELL MONOGRAM

1/25 1962 Corvette Conv. Route 66 Pre-Painted Metal Body Kit

1/25 Chrysler Pt Cruiser Convertible Snaptite

1/25 Texaco / The History Channel Porsche Gt-1 Evo Racer

1/25 Tony Nancy Dragster Two-Pack; 22 Jr Red Dragster & 22 Jr White Dragster

1/25 Predecorated Diecast Fast & Furious Lime Green Mitsubishi Eclipse Kit

1/25 Predecorated Diecast Fast & Furious Black Honda Civic Coupe Kit

1/25 Predecorated Diecast The Mummy Returns Dodge Monster Truck Kit

1/25 Metal Body Jurassic Park T-Wrecks Bigfoot Monster Truck Kit

1/25 Y2K Honda Civic Hatchback 2-N-1 Stock Or Tuner Car

1/25 National Champion Mike Follmer's Water Craft Racer

1/25 Mustang Cobra Trio; '69 CJ Fastback, '93, '96 SVT Convertible

1/24 1979 Chevrolet Camaro 3-N-1

1/24 1934 Duesenburg Model SJ Torpedo Phaeton

1/24 1971 Plymouth GTX 440 Six Barrel Ram Air

1/24 2002 Nascar #3 Dale Earnhardt Jr Nilla Wafers Monte Carlo

1/24 Dale Earnhardt Goodwrench Service Plus Car #3 Monte Carlo

1/32 Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis

1/39 100th Anniversary Issue Of The Wright Flyer

1/48 Arado Ar-234C-3/4 4-Engine Jet Bomber/Recon Aircraft

1/48 Vought F4U-5/5N Korean War Corsair

RS MODELS

1/72 Heinkel He-112B-O

1/72 Heinkel He-112B-1

RVHP RESIN KITS

1/72 North American FJ-2 Fury VMF-232

1/72 North American FJ-3 Fury VF-51

SPECIAL HOBBY

1/72 Fiat Cr-25 Twin Engine Heavy Fighter / Recon

1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Pr Mk..X

1/72 Fairchild Pt-26 "Cornell" US Army WWII Trainer

1/72 Vultee A-35 Vengeance US & Brazilian AF

1/72 Heinkel He-59D/N

TRUMPETER

1/24 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb

1/350 USS Essex CV-9

1/350 Grumman F6F Hellcat Set

1/350 Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Set

1/350 Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger Set

VERLINDEN

1/32 HMS Victory Gun Deck With Cannon & Accessories

1/35 Marder III Ausf.M 75 Mm Stowage & Ammo Set

1/5 Medieval Knight Bust With Spear

1/6 Davout Marshall Of The Empire 120mm Figure With Base

1/35 Middle East/Oriental Pots/Pottery (9)

1/32 Lord Nelson & Royal Marine Officer (2-Figures 1898)

1/35 In Harms Way British Paratroopers

1/35 German Infantry Lock'n Load

1/35 US Tankers WWII Chow Time

1/35 Soviet Tanker Troops Standing

CONCORD PRESS

US Tank Battles In Germany 1944-45

Journal Of Armored Assault & Heliborne Warfare

Special Ops Vol. 6:GIGN

Mini Color Series M2A2 & M3A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle

GINTER BOOKS

Air Force Legends, Bell P-59 Airacomet

Vought F-8 Crusader Pt.1 Development & Testing

Vought F-8 Crusader Pt.2 USN/USMC RF-8 Photo-Recon Squadrons

Vought F-8 Crusader Pt.3 USMC Fighter Squadrons

Vought F-8 Crusader Pt.4 USN Fighter Squadrons

HALL PARK BOOKS

Republic F-105 Thunderchief

HEIMDAL BOOKS

21st Panzer Division (1944)

HISTOIRE & COLLECTIONS

Hommes et Materiels (15th Tank Bn)

Curtiss P-40, 1939-1945

IAN ALLEN BOOKS

Spearhead #7: U-Boat Flotilla

Tanks in Detail #2: M3-M3A1-M3A3

MONOGRAM BOOKS

Dornier Do-335 Pusher/Puller Arrow

OSPREY

Panther Medium Tank 1942-45

U-Boat Bases And Bunkers 1941-45

Production Line to Front Line: Fw-190

Aces #52: Sopwith Camel Aces Of World War One

Aces #53: Fokker D VII Aces Of World War One Part 1

Duel Of The Ironclads USS Monitor & CSS Virginia

German Battleships 1939-45

Centurion Universal Tank

REVI PUBLICATIONS

Mitsubishi G4M Betty

SCHIFFER PUBLICATIONS

The 356th Fighter Group in WW II

Messerschmitt Bf-110 & Me-210/410

SPECIALTY PRESS

Hypersonic, The North American X-15 Worlds Fastest Aircraft

Russia's Ekranoplans, The Caspian Sea Monster & Other Wig Craft

McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (Spirit In The Skies)

Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, His Life, Times, Cars, & Art

Tupolev Bombers

SQUADRON SIGNAL

C-46 Commando In Action

TANKOGRAD PUBLISHING

Militar Fahrzeug #2 2003

VERLINDEN PUBLICATIONS

Building Military Dioramas Vol. VII

LATIN FALCONS

Building the Brazilian AF-1

By Earl Hosmer

In 1963, the Marihna do Brazil (Brazilian Navy) entered a new era with the purchase of its first aircraft carrier, the 22,000 ton ex-British Royal Navy Collossus-class carrier HMS Vengeance, from The Netherlands. The newly acquired carrier, designated the Minas Gerais A11, operated 3 Westland Whirlwind ASW helicopters and 6 Grumman TBM-3 Avengers, also primarily for ASW operations. It appeared to be a bright new future for the Brazilian Navy’s air arm, but long-standing inter-service rivalry with the air force came to a head. In 1965, following intense lobbying by the FAB (Brazilian Air Force), a presidential decree forbade the Navy from operating fixed-wing aircraft! The carrier was restricted to operating helicopters only.

In 1994, a new president was receptive to the Navy’s arguments for fixed-wing carrier operations, and the naval department staff set out to find some new aircraft. The small size of the Minas Gerais, coupled with strict budget limitations, quickly reduced the choices down to four. The BAe Sea Harrier was ultimately deemed too costly to buy, operate, and maintain. The Dassault Super Etendard, capable of launching the deadly Exocet antiship missile, was also favored, but none were available on the open market, and the production line had closed down years before. The LTV A-7 Corsair II was too heavy to operate off the smaller carriers. This left the McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, a near perfect fit due to its small size and cost effectiveness.

A search for suitable A-4s was launched in 1997. Former USMC A-4Ms in desert storage were considered too expensive to refurbish due to the high flight time on most of the aircraft. The search then shifted to the Middle East, where low-time late-model Skyhawks were being offered for bargain prices. These were the A-4KUs of the Kuwaiti Air Force, in storage since the Gulf War of 1991.

In 1974, the kingdom of Kuwait bought 36 brand-new A-4KUs (based on the A-4M being operated by the United States Marine Corps) and took delivery during 1977-78. The A-4KU lacked nuclear weapons capability, and did not have the necessary avionics to use the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile (ARM) or the Walleye guided bomb. ECM fit was also not quite up to late A-4M standard, so the A-4KU lacked many of the bulges and antennas found on the M-model.

Following excellent service in the 1991 Gulf War, the Kuwaiti Skyhawks were placed in protected storage awaiting a buyer, since Kuwait had purchased the multi-role F/A-18C/D Hornet to rearm its air force. Potential sales to the Philippines and to Bosnia fell through, and Brazil offered up $79 million for 20 single-seat A-4KU and 3 TA-4KU two-seat trainers, 20 spare J52-P-408 engines, some 65,000 spare parts, and armament including AIM-9H Sidewinders. The ex-Kuwaiti Skyhawks were in excellent shape and had low flight time, and the Brazilians got them for a rock-bottom price.

After refurbishment and upgrading of the electronics by Boeing Maintenance while in Kuwait, the A-4KUs, now redesignated the AF-1 Falcoe (Hawk), entered service with the First Interception and Attack Squadron (VF-1) in 2001. Brazilian pilots were trained both in Brazil and by the U.S Navy’s VT-7 training squadron at NAS Meridian, Mississippi, one of the last U.S Navy units operating the TA-4J Skyhawk.

On January 18, 2001, the first-ever trap and catapult-launch was accomplished by an AF-1 Falcoe aboard the Minas Gerais A11, a significant milestone for the Marinha do Brazil. After 33 years of service to Brazil, the Minas Gerais was finally decommissioned on October 18, 2001. It was replaced by the 33,000 ton ex-French Navy carrier Foch, built in 1963, and bought for a paltry $12 million. The new carrier, designated the Sao Paulo A12, offers more speed and operational capability. September 2001 saw the first AF-1 operations from the Sao Paulo.

The AF-1s are currently used for fleet defense, armed with AIM-9 Sidewinders. The surface strike role, a key to maritime power projection, is being worked up, but the AF-1s will need upgraded avionics to meet the mission needs, including new attack/nav computers, multi-function displays (MFDs), and most importantly a new multi-mode surface search radar. The AF-1s are scheduled to receive these upgrades in the next few years as the defense budget will permit, and they will no doubt continue to serve the Brazilian Navy well into the 21^st Century.

The Model

As one of the present-day users of the A-4 Skyhawk, having an AF-1 in our collection for the 2003 Nationals was a must. The Hobbycraft A-4M kit in 1/48^th scale came out last summer, so I had the choice of modifying either that kit, or doing a much more extensive conversion of the excellent Hasegawa A-4 kit, which was used for almost every other subject in our display. The Cutting Edge A-4KU resin conversion set came out soon after the 2002 Nationals, so I opted to use that rather than accept the mediocre Hobbycraft kit.

I started with a Hasegawa A-4E/F kit, and had to buy the Cutting Edge “Super Fox” conversion set for the enlarged intakes found on all Skyhawk II variants, as well as the A-4KU exterior conversion set. Everett McGewan provided me with resin copies of the Cutting Edge A-4M cockpit set, which saved me a few bucks on an increasingly expensive conversion (does anyone else think that these resin sets are getting outrageously priced?).

I began construction with the cockpit, using the kit tub and nosewheel well part combined with a resin instrument panel and side consoles. The kit ejection seat was modified into the proper ESCAPAC 1G-3 seat, with scratchbuilt details and webbing. The coaming, HUD, and gunsight were all scratchbuilt. Sidewall details were added on both sides, along with simulated fabric insulation and map pocket. The canopy actuator behind the seat was detailed out with a lot of hoses, wiring, and a new actuator strut.

The “meat” of the conversion came next. The CE set provides two new fuselage pieces to enlarge the cockpit area, replacing two sections removed from the Hasegawa fuselage. These two parts were well cast, and fit well as long as the builder uses care in cutting out the kit sections. A radical new “clear resin” windscreen and canopy replace the kit parts, and work pretty well too, although I had some problems with the thin and somewhat soft canopy. Although I give Cutting Edge high marks for pulling off the clear resin, I am not sure if they are much superior to good vacu-formed ones, and were generally harder to work with.

The resin-enlarged intakes came next, and they were a major disappointment to say the least. Fit was off both inside and out, and to make a very long story short, they took many hours of work to look presentable. Cutting Edge needs to totally re-master these intakes, in my opinion. The resin APU exhaust went in the starboard fuselage half with no problems, as did the resin avionics housing. This completed the bulk of the conversion from A-4F to A-4KU. I then had to add three small antennas to the vertical stabilizer and one to the underside of the nose to complete conversion from A-4KU to AF-1 Falco.

The Brazilian Falcos feature a neat 3-color low-visibility gray camo scheme, for which FS color numbers were available from the website. Only the underside color was a direct match for the Poly-Scale paints I prefer, in this case Light Gull Grey. The two upper colors had to be custom-mixed to match photographs. It makes for a very pretty Skyhawk when finished.

The conversion would not have been possible without aftermarket decals, and these came from FCM in Brazil (Sheet 48-11). These decals were disappointing in a way. They looked splendid in both color and register, but when I began to apply them, they proved to be very thin and fragile. Even with extreme caution, some of the maintenance stencils disintegrated, and even the larger decals gave me a host of problems. Some silvering was inevitable even with much fussing and prep to get a glossy surface to lay them on. If you must use decals from this company, do so with extreme caution.

To wrap up the AF-1 project, I hung drop tanks on the centerline and inner wing pylons, and AIM-9Js on the outer pylons to conform to the fleet air-defense role. I also detailed out the boarding ladder furnished with the Hasegawa kit. This was a real roller coaster of a project, with some major difficulties, but it looks good finished. It will fill an important place in our “50 years of the A-4 Skyhawk” display this summer, as a representative of the many A-4s that still fly today.

Ten great places to soar with historic aircraft

By: Mark Miller, USA Today

Submitted by: Mike McDanal

Ninety-nine years ago this weekend [12/12/02], the Wright brothers made their famous first flight in Kitty Hawk, NC, and it’s been up, up and away ever since. Paul Dougherty Jr., veteran commercial pilot and co-founder of the Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, PA (www.GoldenAgeAir.org), says that for aviators there was never a greater time than those early years of innovation and adventure. Here, Dougherty shares his favorite places to see historic planes.

National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, FL.

Fly and F/A-18 mission in Desert Storm through a motion-based simulator and watch “The Magic of Flight”, an IMAX film that lets you ride with the Navy’s Blue Angels. A large collection of aircraft “represents the early years of naval aviation through the modern era”. www.naval-air.org

Owls Head Transportation Museum, Rockland, ME

This collection of 28 original and replica aircraft dates to the 1940’s. Some of the displays, such as Cayley’s unmanned glider, pre-date the Wright brothers. And don’t miss the barnstormer, the Curtiss “Jenny” biplane, which was a legend of the era. www.ohtm.org

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC.

Call it Ground Zero for air buffs. The landmark building on the Mall is home to the largest collection of air and spacecraft in the world, including the plane that started it all, the 1903 Wright Flyer. www.nasm.si.edu

The Air Force Museum, Dayton, OH

Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, this expansive aviation museum, billed as the world’s oldest and largest, offers the most complete collection of original early Air Corps aircraft anywhere. www.wpafb.af.mil

Experimental Aircraft Association’s Air Adventure Museum, Oshkosh, WI

This “mecca for aviation enthusiasts” is home to an annual fly-in that pulls in over 700,000 visitors. This year’s event is scheduled for July 29 through August 4. www.eaa.org

San Diego Aerospace Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

If any city has a love affair with aviation, it’s San Diego. This museum stands as a monument to San Diego’s storied past as a hub for aircraft design and military aviation. www.aerospacemuseum.org

Continued on page 9…

MINUTES FOR MARCH 5, 2003

Supplied by Cliff Davis this month…Thanks to Cliff for filling in for Terry!

Prez Deppe called the meeting to order shortly after 7:00 p.m. with 33 members and guests present.
CORRESPONDENCE:

Chapter contact, Cliff Davis had received the e-mail form of IPMS Centennial's last newsletter, which he printed out and had available for members to look at. We had also received an update from Tom Grossman whose newsletter gives up to date information on products he distributes and activities from modeling groups all over Colorado.

TREASURY:

Treasurer, Dallas Lloyd reported $3117.69 in the account including the contest fund of $736.04.

OLD BUSINESS:

Mark Persichetti had talked with Fred at Colpar and Fred offered to sell club members Iwata airbrushes at 20 % off. The offer included compressors if any members are in the market for a new compressor. He also offered to sell the club an Iwata compressor at just over cost for use with the "demo" Iwata that Tom donated. Cameron Lynch offered a compressor for this use in exchange for a year's membership in the club. This offer was accepted by the group, so we now have an airbrush and compressor to "farm out" to members. The amount of the deposit required has not yet been determined. Members felt that a substantial deposit would be necessary to protect us if the airbrush was damaged in some way or if, Heaven forbid someone did not return it.
John Holcomb will now be handling the ALPS printer since David Reinecke will no longer be able to provide his previous services. A big "Thanks" to David for getting us up to speed with the ALPS. John who has experience with his own ALPS will be experimenting with the new unit for printing decals and will give us an update in April.

NEW BUSINESS:

It was decided by the club to buy two trophy packages for nationals in OKC this coming July. Alan Harrison made the motion to send the $130 for the packages and it was seconded and passed. Alan also moved that Cliff Davis be reimbursed $8 for a card, postage and a stand for the Jay Mack memorial plaque that is now in the case at Colpar. This motion also passed. (Thanks guys--Cliff).
It was also decided (actually after the business meeting was concluded) to move the Tow Tractor contest to May due to the April auction. Now everyone really has no excuse not to build a really wild and original tow tractor! We will probably have a few more of the little beasts available at the April meeting in case some one else decides to get in on the "action".

SHOW & TELL:

Al Gonzales showed us a diorama featuring an Italeri Sherman M4 tank. Cliff Davis finally finished his 1/12th scale Birdcage Maserati and also brought a complete LTD I.A.R. 80A in Rumanian markings. Mark Persichetti mentioned that his Preying Mantis model received a first place at the Ft. Collins contest held on 1 March and several other awards but none of the aforementioned models were shown. Doug Decounter completed a really nice 1/48th Monogram Catalina (nice job, Doug) and also an A-4 for the club's nationals project. Doug also had a Dragon kit Hornet in progress and a book on Operation Citadel. Jeff Osborne presented a book on aircraft carriers he recent acquired and a Hasegawa 1/700th Hyuga (Sp)? Bob Nixon had completed a really nice Italeri M 30 - 61 with a complete interior and Tamiya treads he appropriated from another kit. He also told us of using oil paints for weathering and on his figures. Cameron Lynch had a 1/700th scale Sharnhorst he's working on and showed us the new Hasegawa 1/48^th F-8 Crusader that will be a future project. Derek Brown mentioned he had brought some models from his collection for sale at the meeting. Mike McDanal also brought some ship kits he'll be selling. Ben Fulcher showed his progress on a conversion project on the Monogram Do. 217 and mentioned about using an acrylic finger nail compound for filling joints using a two step build up process. Jack Lassiter had recently purchased a Revell S-100 German Schnellboot which he brought in the box. Darren McTee had a 1/72nd Hasegawa F-4J Kai of the Japanese defense force and an in progress F-104G with Cutting Edge modifications and Aries wheel wells. Jerry Cole brought more books from his extensive collection that he is offering for sale. Dale Summers showed us several kits built as design studies: a supersonic Harrier / F-16 combination. A scratch built design study done as a future replacement for the British Tornado built from an F-16, a Tomcat and plastic sheet, a Hawk Convair that he had built some time ago and a Falcon 10 biz jet. Martin Sagara had completed a Fokker Dr-1, Airfix of course, and had his "Bible" with him a "Fifty years Anniversary Airfix" book. Chuck Stout converted an Airfix Avro 504 into a Cierva autogiro. He finished it just as A M Models kit of the same a/c came out. Sorry about that, Chuck. It was still a fine job. Kris Diaz was visiting us and showed us '77 and '80 Chevy Monte Carlos he'd built. New member Mike Lopez had a heavily modified die cast pick up that he'd done. Great job, Mike. Jason Alterman got away from exotic cars and did a pick up just for a change of pace. Steve Lawson brought a whole squadron or is that Escadrille of WW I models that will be appearing in a new English modeling magazine. Included in the group was a Nieuport 17 with custom decals Steve drew up and had made. Mike Gawell showed us his Hasegawa 1/48th Mitsubishi "Jack”, an in progress Ki-45 "Nick" by Nichimo and a new C-130 book which happened to have a photo of his father in it. A proud son, to say the least. We also wish to welcome two brand new members: Alan Espenlaub and Mike Lopez.

PROGRAM:

The program was presented by Alan Harrison who demonstrated primering, painting a model, clear coating the same and a variety of "flip flop" paints. He was assisted by Tom Grossman of Colorado Springs who provided the Iwata airbrushes used and the compressed air tank for the demo. Tom also presented the club with an Iwata airbrush to be loaned out to members for evaluation. Tom also gave the club several Zona products which will be auctioned off at next month's fund raising club auction. To participate in the auction bring some unbuilt models to donate for the auction. Clean out your closet and donate something you'll never get around to building or have just lost interest in.

‘Prez’ Deppe

Notwithstanding the fog of overspray that enveloped our meeting room, Alan Harrison’s painting demo at last month’s meeting was one of the more entertaining and interesting programs we have experienced in quite awhile. I really got a charge out of IWATA representative Tom Grossman’s airbrush demo set up right next to Allen. Those few minutes I toyed around with the IWATA Eclipse combined with observing Allen’s clean up technique have done wonders in breaking down my mental block against taking up the airbrush. Thanks again to Allen and Tom for your fine presentation.

For all of you salivating at the prospect of trying out an IWATA airbrush, the club now has an Eclipse, courtesy of Tom Grossman. Thanks to Jack Lassiter for the idea, Mark Persichetti for doing the legwork in contacting Tom Grossman, and above all, Tom for donating the airbrush. Details of how we are going to structure the IWATA try-out program are being worked out by Mark and are featured elsewhere in this month’s newsletter [see page 2 – Ed].

For all of you who are feverishly working away on your “TOW tractor” models, the contest has been extended until May, due to the April auction event.

Be sure to bring some kits and cash to the April meeting since it has been designated “Club Auction” month. Our talented and loquacious auctioneer Cliff Davis will MC the affair and you might just come away with a valuable piece of plastic. Show up prepared to both spend and be entertained.

Good news on the ALPs printer/custom decal front. Cliff informed us that the refurbished printer has arrived and that he and John Holcomb will take responsibility for being our decal-making “Jedi Masters.” I do look forward to seeing their handiwork. All the best to David Reinecke, previously involved in this project, who will be concentrating on other interests.

Last but not least, I would like to welcome another new member, Alan Espenlaub, who was guest of Chuck Stout at March’s meeting. That cloud of overspray dazzled him enough to join on the spot. As I recall, Alan is a “car guy” so our automotive modeling ranks have increased by one.

PS: Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome out of the far east hell!! On march 23^rd, I got bit by IWATA fever, an irresistible urge to add an airbrush and compressor to one’s inventory of modeling tools. The only cure was to see “Dr. Colpar” and purchase an Eclipse HP-CS and Smart Jet compressor. I am happy to report that I am resting comfortably at home, a little weakened in the wallet but otherwise fine. This is all your fault, Alan and Tom!!

--Tom

Website Of The Month

Tom Grossman sent along the following website in one of his latest emails. If you are interested in aircraft detail sets, etc. then check out Meteor Productions.

meteorprod.com

Upcoming Presentations

Contact either Prez Deppe or Editor Schwaller (Contact info on last page of newsletter) to schedule a presentation.

April: The Annual Club Auction

May: Color Mixing (Chuck Stout)

June: Model Building for Profit (Chuck Stout)

July: < open >

August: < open >

September: < open >

… continued from page 6…

The Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Seattle, WA

The birthplace of the nation’s biggest plane-maker is host to a magnificent collection of pioneer-era through modern-age aircraft. www.museumofflight.org

Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Creve Coeur Airport, St. Louis, MO

Home to several one-of-a-kind historic aircraft, this museum also allows visitors to take rides in a open-cockpit Stearman or other bi-planes present.

www.aerodrome.org/SLE/harm/

harm.htm

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck, NY

Want to see what the earliest planes looked like in the air? Early World War I and barnstorming aircraft take flight for show on weekends between June and October. www.oldrhinebeck.org

The Airpower Museum, Blakesburg, IA

The final resting place for a wonderful collection of aircraft from the 1920’s and 1930’s. www.aaa-apm.org/apm

Classified Ads

CRAZY GERRY’S BOOK SALE

Gerry Cole is reducing his reference library inventory and will be systematically selling off books at our club meetings.

At the April meeting, he will bring in some books on WWII. Bring your cash, Crazy Gerry doesn't accept credit cards.

NEED A CALENDAR OR SCREENSAVER?

Mike Gawell has several “Ghosts” calendars and screensavers for sale. These products are brought to us by Mike via Air Power West. Contact Mike if you are interested (303-798-6845)

CALL FOR ARTICLES

My cache of articles is running low and I could sure use some new ones: buildups, kit reviews, book reviews, museum reviews, how-to articles, etc. etc. etc. Get those articles written and then either snail mail or e-mail them to me!

I use Windows98 to produce the newsletter so articles via email can be Microsoft Word, plain text, or PDF format. Thanks!

Also, if you have a favorite website, drop me a line and we’ll put it in the Website of the Month section.

Shawn R Schwaller

20836 E. Belleview Pl.

Aurora, CO 80015-6423

Email: schwall@worldnet.att.net