A quick reminder...and a cool link...

Another reminder here...the September meeting has been moved up to the second Monday, as in next Monday (that would have been the 12th for anyone looking at this after next week!).  Remember, the September meeting is 9-12-11!

And, here's a link to a bunch of nice pictures from Swiss World Expo 2011.  I'm guessing it's mostly a figure show (as that's what 95% of the pictures are of, but there are a few airplane models, including Pierre "Madman, Scale Phantom Phixer's" mindblowing Felixstowe.

Swiss World Expo 2011 

I don't know who Pekka Tapani is, but he took some great photos of some stellar work, and he posted the link on Missing-Lynx (kinda ironic since the link really isn't missing!) so I figure he won't mind if I link to it from here!  Oh, and as for the really annoying periodic prompt to log in...I just kept clicking ignore and made it all the way through the album without any trouble!

Another Meeting night change!

Once again, due to a scheduling conflict with the Church, we will have to move our meeting off it's normal 3rd Monday slot in September.  This time we will be moving up a week to the second Monday (that would be the 12th for those of you who don't have a calendar at hand).

Our last couple of meetings have been really well attended, and have had some great content.  We've taken to doing a bit of a more "formal" (or at least a formal as we're likely to get) presentation of the models and projects we're working on, which gives everyone a better idea of what folks are doing, as well as giving folks a better opportunity to seek input and advise from the whole group.  So come on, bring a project and let's see it and talk about it.  We also featured a killer slide show from Dave Wells this month of his trips to Florida for the last ever Space Shuttle Launch & visit to the Fantasy of Flight facility AND his week spent in Oshkosh.

And in September, you get the opportunity to be bored to death with a slide show of pictures Tom and I took at the Nationals.  Always a real snoozer as there are never any models worth looking at at that show....

And finally, in a tragic, at least to me, bit of news, Rob Ervin has shut Formations down.  Rob was truley one of the GOOD GUYS in the hobby, and his Formations line was second to none in terms of quality and accuracy.  I can't tell you how sorry I am for us Formations fans that Rob is moving on.  On the flip side, Rob is moving on to a fantastic opportunity for himself and his family, and for that, I'm grateful and wish him all the luck in the world!  Rob is also looking into selling the Formations business, and if I know Rob, if and when he does, it will go to another quality individual or company that will produce products that will meet Rob's expectations of his own work!

In the meantime, if you're looking for anything from Formations, I suggest you look to MidTenn Hobbies.   Jack has a pretty good stock of Formations products.  Just don't wait too long...there's no telling when there will be more....www.midtennhobbies.com.

And finally, finally...in a bit of shameless self promotion (hey, I'm allowed, I'm the webmaster!  If you don't like it, and you're a CSM member, feel free to take over.  If you're not a member, you got nothing to complain about!  All said with tongue FIRMLY in cheek!!) I've got a new venture going.  MaxModels.  I'm trying my hand at the resin casting game (totally against Rob's advice!).  My idea and first products are a line of resin aircraft bases replicating concrete ramps.  Soon I'll have carrier decks, modern and WWII, as well as the old Soviet Hex pattern concrete ramps, all in 1/72.  Future plans will be to move into 1/48th scale, and other products as the urge and ideas hit.  But check it out at:

www.max-model.com

Ok, I figure that's about enough for now....

Don't anybody fall over or anything...

But I actually got this month's newsletter posted on the web the SAME night I got it from El Presidente!

First time in like 3 months the website has been current on Whittlers!

Now excuse me, I'm going to throw my shoulder out patting myself on the back....

Been a long time!

Sorry guys, I've been really busy these days, and updating the web has had to take a back seat.

So, what's new?  Well, a few things.

First, it has been official for a couple of months, but Hobby Town in Chattanooga has closed.  Unfortunately we haven't heard from Marsha since, but we do sincerely wish her well.  We also hear rumors that there are a couple of folks looking at taking over the franchise territory and are looking into other locations in Chattanooga.  We sure can hope.  In the meantime, unless we find somewhere else that makes sense, we'll be meeting at the East Brainerd Church of Christ.

Second, it's also official, we're moving forward with a show for the second year.  We've selected the date, January 21, 2012 (pretty much the exact same weekend as last year.  It's been blessed by Grand Poohba RC, Phil Hale and formally approved by the DLC, and should be showing up in the IPMS/USA show schedule on the website anytime now.

Well, I guess that's about it for now.  Hopefully I'll be able to carve out some more time and keep this place a little more current.

Big New Update

Ok, lets start with the March meeting.  Just in case you missed it on the home page, and on the meetings page, I'll say it again.  The March meeting will be held at the East Brainerd Church of Christ, the same place we held our show.  You can find a map and directions on the show page here.  

We hope it's not for good, but right now, the indications are that Hobby Town USA in Chattanooga has closed.  The store has been locked with the lights out all week, and the phone goes to an anwering machine.  If the store is closed for good, we very much want to thank Marsha and all her staff over the years for the support they've shown.  They've been a great home for many years and always were willing to lend a hand.  Thanks Marsha!

And now for some other items.  You may have noticed a new section here, Reviews, Build Logs, and Other Stuff.  There is already one build review of the Tamiya Stug there, and more if I can stay awake long enough tonight!  Check back every so often, you never know what you might find there.

I've also posted the pictures I took at last weekend's Cookville Show.

Horton Herrin has also been busy.  He came across this video of the Collings Foundation's B-24 in flight.  Man that looks like fun.  I just wish I had the money to take that ride.  maybe that's what the lotto is for???

And finally, also in the reviews and other stuff section, I've posted a diorama by a guy named Brad Cancian.  Honestly, he just blows me away.  I only wish I had half of his talent and creativity!  Click here to go straight to his build.