Upcoming events and some BIG news!

  First, we have a meeting coming up this Monday, Aug. 15th and Hobbytown USA on Gunbarrel Rd. at 6:30 P.M. Come and hang out with us in a casual atmosphere and talk models and show off your work. We will finish a bit before 8 and some of us go eat at a local restaurant, usually Logans.

  This coming Saturday, the 20th, we have a build day, also at Hobbytown. These are usually very helpful to me as I learn something new almost every gathering. Plus, you can talk models again and just hang out if you don't want to build.

  Now, though most of you have probably heard through the interwebs, Chattanooga IPMS has been awarded the 2019 IPMS National Convention! I, for one, am very excited and we will keep you informed as we move along.

It's in the bag...

Stick a fork in it, it's done!  The 2013 IPMS USA Nationals is in the history books.  The awards are done, the models are packed, and the last of the modelers just abandoned the bar.  I have to say that this was a GREAT convention.  This is my 7th Nationals in a row, and my 8th in 9 years.  I'd say this one ranks in the top three for sure.  The venue is great.  The local area is great.  And for some reason, everything worked.  If anything was going wrong behind the scenes, the host chapter(s) kept it hushed up, and from this correspondent's perspective, everything came off without a hitch.

A couple of statistics.  There were about 750 entrants, and a little over 2500 models entered.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know, you want to know what  won.  Well, first off, the local boys done good.  Tom, Ken, and I all are returning home with multiple awards, and at least 5 first places between the three of us. Now, here's a list of all the big winners I can remember....

Best Aircraft...1/48 scale SUPER detailed Tamiya P-51D

Best Armor...1/35 Cougar MRAP

 Best Auto...1/9 SCRATCH BUILT Farmall tractorBest Ship...Scratch Built USS LangleyMichael Fritz Best WWIAnd......

The Popular Best in show:

And finally...The George Lee Judges' Grand Award goes to:

For the rest of the major award winners, please accept my apologies.  It's been a long week, and this was all I could remember for sure from the awards.

On to next year...Hampton VA.

And 2015?????  Survey says...Columbus OH!

Off to bed now.  Gotta get some sleep before the long drive home...

Dat Dat Dat Da Duhhhh, DaDaDa Duh Duh Da Duhhhh, DuhDa Duh Da Da Dahhhh Da Duh Duh Daaa, Da Duh Da Da DAAAAAAAAAAAAA.... (to the tune of Looney Tunes)

TTTTHHHAAATTTSSS All Folks

Saturday

Well, the odessey draws to an end.  Last night was the judging.  I can say I was very lucky.  I once again judged aircraft, and ended up on a good team.  Joe Youngerman and I judged together last year as well, and our third was a great guy as well, so our part went very smoothly.  Due to a large number of jjudges, we were done with the aircraft in about 3 hours.  Very nice.  But it did look like Tom got stuck with a bit of a slower team.  On the upside, at least he got his 10 year pin!  Congratulations Tom.

After judging, it was time to adjourn to the bar.  All I can say is that I stayed at least one Margarita too long.  The old noggin wasn't feeling too good when the alarm rang to get me out of bed for the business meeting.

The business meeting was actually pretty interesting.  The first order of business was talking about the plans for next year's 50th Anniversary of IPMS USA.  There are several cool things afoot.

First, every region is being asked to include a 50th Anniversary Theme Award in their Regional Show.  The national office will supply the award.  All they ask is that a photo of the winning model and modeler be submitted to them, and then there will be a display of all the pictures in Hampton Roads.  In  addition, a good number of foreign chapters have expressed interest in participaing in this.  It should be a really cool display at next year's Nats!

Second, we are getting great interest from manufacturers and other hobby businesses.  Squadron will be putting a 2014 Nats flyer in every mail order next year.  Several model manufacturers have expressed interest in putting some form of 50th Anniversary logo on their kit boxes next year.  And Airfix is apparently at least strongly considering issuing a special kit next year to commemorate the 50th Anniversary.

And finally, the organization is going to work hard to get all the print magazines to rin stories about IPMS and it's 50 year history.  All in all, it really sounds like plans for a spectacular year are coming together.

Once again, there is a link below to another set of pictures.  They are all taken with my iPhone, so you'll have to forgive me for some of the poorer quality pictures.   The other day I raved about the scratch built tractor.  Today I'll rave about a spectacular P-51.  It's the 1/48 Tamiya kit with EXTENSIVE scratch built detail in the engine, avionics, wheel, and gun bays.  I judged it last night and can tell you that like the tractor, pictures just don't do it justice.

Ok, so this is the link to today's pictures.

And now, it's off to dinner, and then the awards to see who gets to celebrate, and who gets to cry.  And then of course, it's time to pack the models, say the final good byes, and tell each other we'll see you next year.  I'll do my best to post how us local yokels did later tonight!

Day 3...

And here we are on Friday.  They are calling this the Thin Air Nationals.  Well, Dumb and I drove to the Thinner Air.  A mid day trip up to Rocky Mountian National Park was a great decision.  After driving around up there, and getting out an walking a bit a something probably a little over 9000 feet, even Ken had to admit that as beautiful as the Smokies and Appalachians are, they really kind of look like foothills.

And...here's a link to some more of the pictures I've taken.  Again, this isn't all the models.  And it even isn't all the pictures I've taken.  But I'm having some technology challenges.  Look for more tomorrow.  I doubt I'll get anymore up today.  I've got about 20 minutes until it's time for the judges meeting and then it's off to judging.

Sorry folks...click HERE for the pictures link!

Day two of the 2013 Nationals Dumb and Dumber trip

Another great day at a model show.  After initially not thinking that I was too terribly impressed with the vending, I hit the vendors rooms in the morning...I don't know how much I spent, and I don't WANT to know.  Besides, the missus will be more than happy to enlighten me later.  When the CC bill arrives...

As with any nationals, Thursday is when it really starts to happen.  The vendors room(s) fill up.  The model rooms gets crowded (really crowded.  I'll try to get a good overall picture tonight during judging), and more of those good friends you only see once a year show up.  Gil Hodges got here with a huge grin on his face after finding the local Hooters.  Phil Hale made it in with his typical 'Bama hat.  And best of all, getting to meet more great guys.  I'll save you the names, just rest assured it's been a great trip so far.

And now, on to some more pictures.  No, these aren't all the models, they aren't even all the great models, or all the models that caught my eye.  They're just a sampling of what caught my eye on day two:

She does know it's a model show, right?  Ok, quick survey.  How many of you think a self respecting modeler is going to spend money on a gift for SWMBO rather than another model goodie he doesn't really need, and will likely lose somewhere after he puts it into the stash, not that I'd know anything about that!

partial shot of the model room

should be pretty self explanatory. If not, I really can't help you!Right

I've seen this several times...it never ceases to catch my eyefor Petty...the Monogram kit!pardon the flash...but the interior is coolnope...your eyes don't deceive you..two guys built the Valkyrieno smart aleck comment this timeA very nice scratch builld/kitbashand another one...ok...just for funjust a very nice car...

Very cool scratch built drop tank racer!And...finally for today...if this thing isn't the George Lee Judge's Grand, I'll be shocked!  It is 100% scratch built, and it really does look like you could jump right on and start it up.  It is just exquisite.  Has Joe Youngerman said, and I can't disagree, "there's just a level of modeling that I just can't even aspire to."  Amen Joe, Amen!

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Update on Friday, August 16, 2013 at 07:42PM by Ben Gibby

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