Scale Model Contests in St. Louis and Branson

Last Tuesday (15 May), I came straight from work to Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) to help run this month's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) (https://www.facebook.com/IPMSGateway/) meeting. It featured the second Model of the Year contest of this year, with the Special Category of Crazy Eights. That is, the subject has an eight (8) in its name or designation. I built a 1:72 scale model of the German 88mm Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun for this contest. It wasn't much and it didn't get many serious looks in the contest, but at least I earned the two points (one for entering in a category, another for entering in the Special Category). We had a good turnout of models: 28 total, with 18 in Crazy Eights.

Also at the meeting, Rick Keasey gave his demo on painting figure heads. This was delayed from last month, when a family matter kept Keasey from being at the April meeting. It was quite an interesting demo, especially as Keasey has won awards at recent contests for his figures.

Early yesterday morning (19 May)--as in 4 am--I was at Marion Morris' house in Maplewood, soon joined by clubmates Jim Triola and Don Will. The four of us got into Marion's minivan and soon we were off on the road to Branson, Missouri, where IPMS/Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists (http://ipmsmoss.com/) was holding its annual show, MOSS CON. This year's event--held at the Branson Convention Center (http://www.bransoncc.com/)--also served as the IPMS Region 5 Contest. After a breakfast stop in Rolla, we made it to Branson just after 8 am. We waiting at the Convention Center until the show opened at 8:30, where I entered two models--the 1:72 scale 88mm Flak 18 and a 1:72 F4F-4 Wildcat--in the contest. Neither won any awards in the contest, but at least I entered in it and that's the important part.

There were 195 models from 42 entrants in the contest at MOSS CON. IPMS/Gateway sponsored the Junior (Ages 12 to 17) category in the contest.

The four of us had a good time at the show, including hanging out with Mike Bobela of IPMS/West Central Missouri (http://ipmswcmo.webs.com/) and his wife. We ate lunch at Famous Dave's restaurant (https://www.famousdaves.com/) at Branson Landing (http://www.bransonlanding.com/), just a short walk fro the Convention Center. We all enjoyed a great barbecue lunch and wonderful conversation.

I won one kit (a 1:72 scale Ju 88C) in the show's raffle, and bought a few items from the vendors present. Late that afternoon, as the contest awards were presented, we four left the venue to head home. After a stop for fuel and refreshments in Rolla, we made it back to Marion's house early that night. It was a fun trip and I look forward to more such trips in the future.

Later.

Air Show and A Modeling Trip to Branson

A week ago last night (11 June), I joined with others from the Ethnic Restaurant Fans Meetup group (https://www.meetup.com/Ethnic-Restaurant-Fans/) at Anis Hyderabad House (http://www.anisusa.com/) in Creve Coeur for Indian cuisine. It was a good time for our group as we enjoyed our dinner and conversation.

The next day, my Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) colleague Marion Moen came to pick me up at home, then he drove us to Scott Air Force Base (http://www.scott.af.mil/). The base hosted an air show to celebrate its Centennial. Marion and I staffed our Society's table in Hangar 1, in which we gave out info on our group and showed a pair of documentaries we had a hand in on a television screen. I did go out for awhile to view the aircraft on static display and to see the US Air Force Thunderbirds (http://afthunderbirds.com/site/) perform. It was a hot, but satisfying day.

Work at the rental branch went very well this past week, despite the heat. Temperatures reached 90 degrees F (32 degrees C), with heat indices (heat plus humidity) topping 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). It was busy early in the week and leveled off by mid-week, then picked up again on Friday.

I was off to Toyota Stadium at World Wide Technology Soccer Park right after work to help cheer on Saint Louis FC (http://saintlouisfc.com/landing/index) against Chicago Fire in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (http://thecup.us/). I marched into the stadium with fellow St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) to cheer on the home side, but Chicago escaped with a 1-0 win. It was a game effort by Saint Louis FC witnessed by a standing-room-only crowd.

Off work Thursday, I took my Corolla in to Jim Butler Collision Center (http://www.jimbutlerbodyshop.com/) to get the damage done a week and a half before hitting a telephone pole evaluated by a GEICO (https://www.geico.com/) claims adjuster. He gave me the figure and cut me a check to give to the repair shop I would go to for repairs. I arranged to have it taken this Tuesday morning to Dave Sinclair Ford's Body Shop for the repair work, and for Enterprise (https://www.enterprise.com/en/home.html) to have a loaner car for me.

That night, it was off to Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for this month's Missouri Aviation Historical Society meeting. This was a debrief on the Scott Air Show, with several members presenting their pictures, videos, and stories from that weekend. I came early, to bring in the Society's gear from the Air Show booth.

As work ended Friday, I checked into a rental car at Enterprise, then drove home to pack up. Early yesterday morning (17 June), I set off for Branson, Missouri and MOSS CON, a model contest hosted by IPMS/Missouri Ozarks Scale Specialists (http://ipmsmoss.com/) at the Branson Convention Center (http://www.bransoncc.com/). I took nine models to enter in the contest, and some flyers for this September's IPMS/Gateway (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/) Contest. I shopped among the vendors there, bought some raffle tickets, and had lunch at Famous Dave's (http://www.famousdaves.com/) at Branson Landing (http://www.bransonlanding.com/). I won two model kits in the raffle, and one of my contest entries--a Kuebelwagen--took Third Place in its armor category. I had a great time there, and hope to be back next year when IPMS/MOSS hosts the Region 5 Contest.

Midday today, Mom and I went to the hotel at River City Casino (https://www.rivercity.com/) to pick up my brother Brian, who got into town late last night. He's drumming for Melissa Etheridge (https://melissaetheridge.com/), who is performing at River City tomorrow night. Brian, Mom, and I had dinner at Rich & Charlie's (http://www.richandcharlies.com/) in Mehlville, then came home to relax.

Later.