Scale Modeling Weekend Events in Omaha and Kirkwood

My scale modeling-filled weekend began early yesterday morning (6 May). I departed home at 2:30 am and began the drive to Omaha, Nebraska to attend OmaCon, IPMS/Fort Crook's model contest and swap meet. Counting stops for fuel and refreshment, I arrived at the show venue, the Omaha Police Officers Association Hall, around 9:30 am.

After registering my models and paying the fee, I placed my three contest entries in the contest room. I then made my way around the facility, admiring the other contest models already on the tables and purchasing raffle tickets. I also shopped among the vendors and chatted with people I knew. It was good seeing people I know in the hobby and felt most welcome at this show. I was the only one from the St. Louis area to make the trip.

At midday, I helped to judge contest entries in Space/Science-Fiction and Automotive categories. After carefully evaluating the entries with my fellow judges, I helped to determine the top three finishes in these categories.

I did win one ship kit and one armor detail set in the main raffle, and some plastic sheets in the "second chance" raffle held for unclaimed prizes. Additionally, I did purchase two aircraft kits from a vendor, I know.

In the contest, two of my entries won awards. My PT109 earned Second Place in Ships (split category: Surface Ships), while my A6M2 Zero took Third in Aircraft: 1:48 Small Prop. This was the third contest that the Zero won awards (having done so at last month's Fleacon and MOSS CON), while PT109 was honored at Fleacon.

After packing my models and saying goodbyes, I got in my car and began the drive home. Strangely, I didn't feel fatigued at all on the way home, which included a stop for fuel and food. On the way home, I listened to that night's St. Louis CITY SC match at FC Dallas on my smart phone's Audacy app. The match was drawn at nil in the 50th minute when lightning forced postponement of the match. (The match will be resumed in the 50th minute at a date to be determined.)

Around 10:30 pm, I arrived home, tired but happy, after a journey of 890.2 miles (1432.6 km). I brought in my models and kits, took a shower, brushed my teeth, and then went to bed.

After a good night's sleep, I woke up this morning. I made a mid-morning trip to the Kirkwood Community Center for the Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis (MMVA-- STL) Spring model contest and swap meet. I was there to help staff IPMS/Gateway's display table there. Bill Wagner and I brought some models and club literature, including flyers promoting our Invitational in September.  We chatted with quite a few visitors to our table, and most picked up our show flyer. I also got to browse among the vendors and admire the car models in the contest.

The show wrapped up around 2 pm, as Bill and I packed up our models and literature to leave. After leaving the community center, I bought a car charger at Walmart, got my car wash, and treated myself to a McFlurry from McDonald's before coming home.

Later.

Links to Websites of Entiries Mentioned in this Post:

IPMS/Fort Crook: www.fortcrookipms.org

IPMS/Gateway: IPMS Gateway Chapter (google.com)

St. Louis CITY SC: St. Louis CITY SC (stlcitysc.com)

Audacy/Y98: St Louis Pop Music Station - KYKY-FM | Y98.1 FM (audacy.com)

Kirkwood Community Center: City Of Kirkwood, MO | Home ParksRec (kirkwoodparksandrec.org)

Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis: Stl_Mmva | Facebook

Fall Model Car Show in Kirkwood

Last Sunday morning (27 October) found me at the Kirkwood Community Center (https://www.kirkwoodparksandrec.org/) for the Fall model contest and swap meet hosted by the Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis (MMVA--STL) (https://www.facebook.com/StlMmva1/). Bill Wagner and I staffed a table there for IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home), in which we brought several models and some club flyers.

Quite a few show visitors came by our table to look at the models, pick up club flyers, and talk with Bill and I. At least two of them also picked up membership applications. We also had a binder with a recent issue of our newsletter and screen shots of our website and social media pages.

This show features a model car contest and vendors swelling kits, die cast cars, and accessories. I was able to browse among the vendors and did buy an aircraft kit from one vendor. I also admired the contest entries, with some very well built models on the contest tables.

Bill and I had a good time at the show, and felt we made a good impression of IPMS/Gateway among attendees.

Later.

Fun Helping Out at Festa Junina

One week ago today (16 June), I was at the Kirkwood Community Center (https://www.kirkwoodparksandrec.org/home-parksrec) to volunteer at Festa Junina, a Brazilian folk festival staged by Viva Brasil STL (https://www.vivabrasilstl.org/). I showed up about 20 minutes before the event began to check in and to get started on my volunteer assignment. I was assigned to the admission table, where I helped take in money from attendees and to place wristbands on attendees, which allowed them in and out privileges all day.

This event featured Brazilian music played by a disk jockey, Brazilian food and drink, games for children, a photo booth, a silent auction, and quadrilha (a form of square dancing). We had many attendees--mostly from the Brazilian community in St. Louis, but some from outside it. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

After the show ended, I stayed around for about one hour to help clean up and put away the furniture and decorations. Organizers were most appreciative of my efforts for the show. I know I really enjoyed myself there.

Later.

A Book Fair and a Model Show

Last Saturday morning (4 May), I was at the Greensfelder Recreational Complex at Queeny County Park (https://www.stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/RecreationComplexes/GreensfelderRecreationComplexinQueenyPark) for this year's Greater St. Louis Book Fair (https://stlouisbookfair.org/). It's an annual charity book sale, held since 1950, where hundreds of used and rare books are sold. Proceeds from this event go to St. Louis area non-profit education and literacy programs.

I was there as a volunteer, which I have done for the past few years. I helped with making sure everything was in place and ready to go when the show opened to the public. Then, I spent most of my shift walking through the aisles, answering customer questions and helping restack misplaced items. The last half hour was at the area where books are restocked.

After my shift ended, I did a bit of shopping, buying three books and a movie DVD for myself. It was a very nice time as always.

The threat of flooding caused postponement of that night's scheduled match between Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) and Ottawa Fury FC. It will be rescheduled for a later date this season.

The next morning found me at the Kirkwood Community Center (https://www.kirkwoodparksandrec.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/3/445) for the spring show of the Midwest Model Vehicle Association (MMVA) (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/mmva-page). I was there at this model car contest and vendor swap meet representing IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home). Our club had a table with several models I brought and some club flyers. Bill Wagner, IPMS/Gateway's vice president, also manned the table with me.

I browsed among the vendors, chatting with several of them, and looked over the models entered in the contest. Our table had several visitors, who chatted with Bill and I. It was a nice show and a good way to promote our club and hobby.

The MMVA Fall Show will be held on Sunday, 27 October at the Kirkwood Community Center.

Later.

A Weekend Around the Lou

Mid-morning last Saturday (27 October), I drove to the Enterprise Fleet Management (https://www.efleets.com/) in Olivette, Missouri, where a Trunk or Treat was organized for the children of their employees. I came by to lend my support to this event. Several vehicles had their trunks open so kids in costume could come by and get treats in a safe, friendly environment. Two employees I knew brought their children along. It was quite a lot of fun to see.

Then, I drove to the American Czech Educational Center (http://acecstl.org/) in south St. Louis for their Fall Czech Festival. I stayed rather briefly--just over an hour--but enjoying hearing the Czech music and wandering among the vendors for crafts, food, and drink. I entered a raffle for a few donated items--didn't win, though. Still, a good time.

Before leaving South St. Louis, I stopped at two venues--a Starbucks (https://www.starbucks.com/) and a Schnucks supermarket (https://nourish.schnucks.com/)--to drop off promotional postcards for the St. Louis International Film Festival (https://www.cinemastlouis.org/).

I then came home to rest for awhile, then headed to the Schlafly Bottleworks (http://www.schlafly.com/bottleworks-brewpub/) in Maplewood, Missouri for their Full Moon Festival. The parking lot was transformed into a festival site, with open fires, a stage for entertainers, dining tents, and booths selling food and beer. I had a pork sandwich with a Schlafly White Lager. It was all very nice. I also ventured inside the Brewhouse to use the men's room and to browse the souvenirs on sale. A good time had at this festival.

The next morning, I was at the Kirkwood Community Center (http://www.kirkwoodmo.org/content/City-Departments/1856/community-center.aspx) for the Midwest Model Vehicle Association--St. Louis (http://www.ipms-gateway.com/MMVASt.%20Louis.html) Fall Show. Bill Wagner and I represented the Gateway Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) at the MMVA show, where IPMS/Gateway had a table. Bill and I brought some models to display, along with flyers for our contest in September 2019 and information on the club's website and social media pages. We had a number of people stop by to look at our models, pick up our flyers, and talk with us. The show was nice, with a good turnout of car models, plus I brought two kits--an aircraft and a ship--from vendors there.

After the show, I stopped by a Saint Louis Bread Co. (https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/home.html) in Sunset Hills to drop off another SLIFF promotional postcard, and have a snack before going home.

Later.