2023 IPMS/USA National Convention (3)

Early on Day Three of the International Plastic Modelers' Society/USA (IPMS/USA) Convention (4 August), I came to the Embassy Suites and San Marcos Conference Center for the annual Regional Coordinator (RC) breakfast. The meeting in the Embassy Suites' restaurant included three IPMS/USA executive board (e-board) members: President David Lockhart, Treasurer Mike Oberholtzer, and Director of Local Chapters (DLC) John Figueroa. Besides I, the Region 14 Coordinator, there were five other RCs in attendance: Mark Norman (RC-1), James Corley (RC-3), Allyson Kebschull (RC-4), Jeff Herne (RC-5), and Sean Glaspell (RC-6). Both Norman and Kebschull are new to their respective positions.

In this meeting, the Wild Apricot registration system was discussed. It was emphasized that we RCs were to be proficient in its use to better perform our duties. The RCs also discussed Regional Conventions and how to set forth definitive guidelines to help Regions and their chapters in organizing these shows. The meeting also talked about difficulties some RCs have had in getting nominations within their Regions for annual awards (Chapter, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, and Member of the Year).  It was a most productive meeting and great to see these other RCs that I normally only know of from emails.

After the meeting, I walked over to the Conference Center to browse among the contest entries and the vendors. Early that afternoon, I attended a seminar given by Spanish master modeler Mig Jimenez on finishing armor models. Jimenez has his own line of modeling finishing products and tools, AMMO by Mig Jimenez. The presentation included step by step photos of how to add weathering effects to military vehicle models. He also showed pictures of actual vehicles during the current Ukraine War that he used to base the effects upon. I really enjoyed Jimenez' presentation and found his approach (look at actual subjects rather than other models, and to make your scale modeling fun) most refreshing.

After Jimenez' talk, I bought the AMMO Jet Engines Colors & Weathering Set from one of the vendors, SprayGunner. That vendor is one I have bought from previously and find their service most efficient.

Later in the afternoon, I sat in on another seminar, the Scale Model Podcast Roundup. This featured hosts from five podcasts: Plastic Model Mojo, Plastic Posse Podcast, Model Geeks Podcast, Small Subjects, and The Sprue Cutters Union. They discussed how they got into podcasting and their approaches to their podcasts. The hosts fielded questions from the audience on these matters. I have listened to a few episodes of Plastic Model Mojo (co-hosted by my friend David Knights), but now I will have to check out these other podcasts.

Early that night, I joined about 225 other registrants at the Judges' Meeting. Mark Persichetti, in his final year as Chairman of the IPMS/USA National Contest Committee, briefed us on judging procedures and etiquette. I was one of the aircraft judges and was working on my fifth contest as a full judge (not counting my first year as an On-the-Job Trainee, or OJT). 

Certificates were presented to judges for 3, 10, 20, and 30-year milestones, then we made our way to the contest room. The only people in that room were judges and the recording team. I joined other aircraft judges in part of the contest room where we were formed into three-person teams and assigned a contest category. After hearing my name called, I found my teammates and we received the contest form for the first category: 137, 1/32 Aircraft; Jet Powered. We looked over the entries in that category--including six from one entrant--finding any flaws in fit and finish. The IPMS/USA contest has a no-sweeps rule; no matter how many entries one has in a category, he or she can only win one prize (First, Second, or Third). We would find multiple entries by an entrant and determine the best of these before going to the individual entries. After just over an hour, we agreed on the three award winners in that category. We retired to a side room for a quick snack of cookies and soda before resuming our work.

The contest sheet for that category was turned in to the aircraft record keepers, and we received a second category to judge: 103B, Biplanes; Large--1/32. These required meticulous checking, dealing with two sets of wings, struts, rigging, and other details. We were able to reach a decision on the top three in this category after about 90 minutes of work.

We turned in the contest sheet and were told there were no other aircraft categories to be judges. Our group was dismissed with thanks. After hanging around the contest room for a few minutes to see if any other class needed judges, I headed out of the Conference Center around 9:20 pm. After stopping by a Whataburger to get a belated dinner to go, I headed back to the rental house to eat before retiring for the night.

To be continued...

 Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

International Plastic Modelers' Society/USA: IPMS/USA Home Page | By Modelers... For Modelers (ipmsusa.org)

Embassy Suites and San Marcos Conference Center: Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center

AMMO by Mig Jimenez: AMMO by Mig Jimenez

SprayGunner: Paint Spray Gun, Airbrush Paint Kit, Compressors (spraygunner.com)

Plastic Model Mojo: Plastic Model Mojo

Whataburger: Whataburger | Order Online with Curbside and Delivery