Next Meeting: November 9, 2020

Our next meeting will be November 9, 2020 at the Smoketree Community Center. Location details may be found on our website at www.ipmsrichmond.blogspot.com.

Our own Scott Holtz will speak on Real Space Modeling. Be sure not to miss it!

Spare Parts 2014-2015 Now Available Online

Thanks to Mark Elder, all Spare Parts issues from 2014 and 2015 are now available online. That brings the total to almost seven years of information and memories. Be sure to check them out for some great photos and models from IPMS Richmond's past.

All may be accessed under the "Spare Parts" tab at the top of the page. Enjoy!

Blasts from the Past

Several links have been repaired to the 2020 Spare Parts. Additionally, Mark Elder has provided all the issues from 2016. With any luck, we will post issues going back further than that.

The above Spare Parts tab lists links to all Spare Parts issues from January 2016 through October 2020... enjoy!

Cancellation of 2021 Old Dominion Open

After much consideration, IPMS Richmond has decided to cancel the Old Dominion Open scheduled for February 27, 2021.  The event will not be rescheduled for a later date next year.  However, we are already planning the 2022 Old Dominion Open.  We appreciate your understanding and thank you for support of our annual event. 

Our chapter’s Old Dominion Open Committee spent the past seven months monitoring the Coronavirus situation while preparing for the 2021 ODO.  We have watched as Coronavirus remains a persistent and serious hazard.  Our ODO Committee has carefully analyzed the risks involved in holding the event next February.  In light of the uncertainty of the Covid 19 situation over the next few months, the possible legal restrictions the government may mandate and the health, safety and financial risks involved, our chapter concluded that it would be impractical to host the 2021 Old Dominion Open.  IPMS Richmond reached this decision with regret and disappointment, but we believe it is in the best interests of our guests, vendors, exhibitors and chapter. 

We hope that this pandemic will be finally overcome and that hobby shows and contests can soon safely resume.  Giving the Old Dominion Open a year’s “vacation” should result in an event we can all enjoy in 2022.  We appreciate all of the generous support that fellow IPMS chapters, other hobby organizations, vendors, sponsors and the scale modeling community have given IPMS Richmond over the years.  We look forward to inviting you to the 2022 Old Dominion Open.

October 2020 Spare Parts Now Available

The October issue of Spare Parts is now available for reading or download at the "Spare Parts" tab above or by clicking here.

IPMS Richmond Helps Fork Union Academy Scale Model Club

 

IPMS Richmond Helps Fork Union Military Academy Scale Model Club with

Donation of Supplies

by Bob Walls

In August,  Major David Wallace of Fork Union Military Academy’s Scale Model Club requested help from IPMS Richmond in obtaining model supplies (paint, brushes, glue, tools, etc.), reference books, and hobby magazines for the cadets discovering model building. The membership of IPMS Richmond gladly approved obtaining these supplies for the FUMA club.  Angel Garcia-Ablanque, the owner of MicroWorld Games, LLC, graciously agreed to source model paints and tools plus offered to discount the items. Angel then reached out to Squadron Shop who helped by reducing their price.  He then reached out to Ammo by MIG. They went beyond giving a discount and donated “How to” books and a case of Ammo’s Extra Thin cement. IPMS-Richmond obtained Car Model paints and detail brushes. A collection of over 200 model books was donated along with various models and other materials. The total retail value of the donation was over $2,000.00.  All this was done as we operated under Covid-19 requirements.  Social distancing slowed our efforts but did not prevent this project from happening.  On September 29, Angel and I delivered the supplies to a grateful Major Wallace.

 

Angel Garcia-Ablanque, owner of MicroWorld Games, LLC, provided a large discount of the retail prices and also obtained a wonderful donation of items from Ammo by Mig Jimenez. The retail value next to each item totals over $1,000.00.  Angel drove from Lynchburg to Fork Union to deliver the donation.

A BIG thanks to all the club members and to Angel Garcia-Ablanque, owner of MicroWorld Games, LLC for everything you did to make this happen. A new generation of model builders just might get the spark and a desire to build models.

WrightCon Region IV VIRTUAL Regional, November 13-14, 2020

WrightCon Region IV Regional Nov. 13-14th – Deadline to enter Nov 7th.

COVID has really suppressed our ability to participate in many things. It’s certainly suppressed our hobby. Taking away our ability to hit up a show, checkout some excellent models, shop the vendors and even join in a raffle or two! And the most important part is not seeing all our friends that live far away. Some clubs have stepped back, others are taking a wait until next year approach, others like the Wright Field Scale Modelers club in Dayton OH are trying some new stuff!

Wright Field is an IPMS and AMPS affiliated club. This virtual show is an IPMS show with IPMS rules and is their Region IV Regional show!! The show works a lot like the in person version. Please visit their web site for all the details. We would love for you to enter, and also sign up to be a judge, or simply stop by and visit. If you would like to help out and judge please sign up on the site.

Please note that the entry deadline is November 7th!

www.wrightcon.com

Modeling the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Air Service in World War II

Bob Walls has written an excellent article, "Modeling the Long Range Desert Group and the Special Air Service in World War II." He summarizes the history of the two groups and examines some of the models and after-market accessories available. He also lists some applicable books for further reading at the end.

His article can be accessed under the "Resources" tab above.

Well done, and thanks, Bob!

Tough Little Kitty: The Grumman F8F Bearcat

E. L. Motley has written yet another in-depth article, this time covering Grumman's F8F Bearcat. All of E. L.'s fine articles can be located under the "Resources" tab above or the F8F article itself by clicking here.

Thanks, E. L., and well done!