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.

Scale Models in Liberty; Soccer in Fenton

One week ago yesterday (5 October), I drove to Liberty Christian Fellowship in Liberty, Missouri (northeast of Kansas City) for the IPMS/West Central Missouri (https://ipmswcmo.webs.com/) ModelFest model contest and swap meet. I entered two models in the contest and chatted with fellow scale modelers in attendance. I made a side trip that morning to the Sprue Modelers Models (https://www.facebook.com/spruebrothers) facility in Liberty for a private tour and shopping spree. I chatted with a few modelers from IPMS/Fort Crook (http://fortcrookipms.com/) in Omaha, and bought a book from the shop. Then, it was back to the show.

Two IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) colleagues, Marion Morris and Jim Triola, were there vending. I helped judge the model contest. There were some real good models in the contest. I also lucked out in the raffle, winning three books. Plus, I did buy one model kit from a vendor. Overall, a fun day.

Right after the show, I headed for World Wide Technology Soccer Park for the Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) match against Louisville City FC. I arrived just after kickoff, and I got through the gate just after Louisville City scored. Then, I made my way to the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) section to cheer on the home side. That Louisville City goal was the only one of the game, so we mourned a late season loss. At least there was some post-match fireworks to enjoy.

Last night (12 October), I was back at World Wide Technology Soccer Park for Saint Louis FC's final home match of the season, against the Eastern Conference leading Pittsburgh Riverhounds. After dinner and beer at the St. Louligans tailgate, I marched into West Community Stadium for the match. We played the visitors close, but Pittsburgh won it on a goal two minutes from time. Disappointing. Saint Louis has at least an outside shot at the USL Championship (https://www.uslchampionship.com/) playoffs, but it will take a win in the final match this Saturday at North Carolina FC and some help to do so.

Later.

Scale Modeling in St. Louis and Leavenworth

One week ago last night (17 September), I arrived at Calvary Presbyterian Church (http://calvarypresbyterianchurch.org/) after work for that night's IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/prod/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home) meeting. After helping set up the meeting hall, I helped to run the meeting as Secretary of the club. That night, I gave a demo on using poster tack gum for masking paint jobs. Despite a glitch with my airbrush forcing me to brush paint onto the wing surface, the demo went well and there was feedback from a few members on their use of the same or similar techniques.

We also had the Modeler of the Year contest, with the special category of "Let's Go Topless," for open-topped subjects. We also had a recap of our recent contest.

Early last Saturday morning (21 September), I drove to Leavenworth, Kansas for the modeling contest being held by IPMS/Prison City Modelers (http://leavenworthmodelersclub.org/) at the Heritage Center (http://www.heritagecenter-leavenworth.com/) in downtown Leavenworth. I was going in my capacity as Coordinator of IPMS/USA (http://www.ipmsusa.org/) Region 14 (Mid Central). It was a good show, with 46 modelers entering 160 models. I entered two of them: the British submarine Turbulent, and a Soviet Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) done as a humor model.

I browsed among the vendors there, and chatted with show attendees. Several congratulated me on being named RC-14, and wished me all the best in that job. I helped to judge the automotive and figure model entries. My Turbulent took second in the Ships--Submarines category. That's the third local show award that model has won, having picked up awards at the Louisville show in May and Gateway's show earlier this month.

I drove home after the show, arriving back in St. Louis that night. It was a happy trip, and I plan to make several more trips to scale modeling shows in my region in the coming months.

Later.