Clare

Way to go Matt. A big thanks to everyone who showed up. I don't have firm numbers but it seems like we had around 90 people entered and over 200 models. We had over 40 vendor tables. All in all, it was a great day.

Just to let everyone know,The Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids clubs will be holding our 2014 contest this Saturday September 27. The new location will be the Bernhard Center on the Western Michigan University campus. Details can be found on the club website; 2014 Contest Click the "2014 Contest" tab for all details. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Clare

Sorry to hear the sad news. You know that we all loved your choices of photos and stories.

It appears that Borocay came out ok. See Borocay

I have used the salt masking with some success but I use it opposite the way that you are trying. I mix up a small lid full of salt and a few drops of water to make a paste. I then apply the paste. at the edges, some grains of salt separate from the main mass but they stick ok.

Looks great. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I am going to have to check some of their products out. One way to avoid the model being a tail setter is to glue a pin into the bottom of the front wheel. Then glue it into a simple base. Clare

Thanks for the good comments Paul. Not sure what happened with the GPS but it could have been looking for EAST Centre, not West Centre. We will have to make a better map next year. Clare

Try the link again. It should work. Not sure why the ... is shown but try again. We loved the Air Zoo also. Problem was that they ran out of space for us. Clare

Thanks from Kalamazoo to everyone who attended our contest last Saturday. We had 88 modelers with 298 models. It was a pretty good turnout plus, we had lots of great vendors. Thanks again to all. We have a few overall photos posted on our club website. Check out; http://www.ipmskalamazoo.org/events/kalamazoo-kontest/ Also, click on the "Contest Time" tab to see the naked facility. More photos of models to come. Clare

Details are available on our club web site - Kalamazoo Kontest Click on the Kalamazoo Kontest tab at the top of the page. We have a new location this year. We loved the Air Zoo but they ran out of space. We will have more space this year and better lighting. We still have some vendor tables available so contact Gordon Vader as listed on the form. We hope to see everyone here again at the new venue. Clare

We look forward to seeing you there Aaron. Clare

Just a short note to all of our friends around here. We will be holding our contest here in Kalamazoo again in 2012. We are not able to use the Air Zoo this year but we feel that we have found a good alternative site. In many ways, it will be better. Our contest will be held on September 22 at the Stanley Center, which is just behind the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. The address is 1150 West Centre Ave., Portage, MI. More details available shortly. Add the date to your calendar. Clare

At this point, we have not found a way to hold the contest. We are still looking but so far, we can't seem to get the space. Clare

Glad that you guys enjoyed the contest. Also, Splat, I am glad to hear that you and your son were able to take in the museum as well. The docents there are very good guys, have lots of experience and are well trained to know the aircraft in the museum. Did you try the Flight Simulator? I love to take off and then roll inverted. Fun!!! For those of you who don't have an imagination, I am attaching a photo of the same area full of people. CD and Bish are out of the photo at front left and the models are way back. Look in front of the MiG-15. We had enough space to allow 10 feet!! betwee

Sorry that you didn't get to see all of the models. Steve, Mandie and I were probably running around judging. We actually finished all judging around 2:30. You probably left just a little too soon. Clare

If you can possibly make it, please show up for the cameo. Not sure if we will be able to have a contest next year. This may be the final hoorah. Here is the venue. Imagine it full of model and vendor tables plus a fantastic raffle. Clare

The 326 was also built in Brazil. Check out images of the EMB-326. It included a brown and two greens camo scheme. FCM sold a decal set that included the EMB-326 but it may be hard to get now. Clare

Guys, one of our club members has uploaded a number of photos of the contest. Here is the hyperlink. 2010 Kalamazoo contest The pictures don't really list whether or not they won (winners are still to be posted on the club web site) but if you check the photos and see a yellow poker chip, that model is a winner. I believe that green and red were second and third while orange is OOB. Lots of photos of Make n' Take as well as the vendors etc. Clare

A big thanks for all the kind comments. We are really glad that you all had a good time. I think that I went home with 4 or 5 new kits plus some neat tools. Also, a bag of Model Masters paints at $1.00 per bottle. Patrick, that was a great Hunter. Congrats. You were competing against a number of very good 1/32 kits. Well done. Clare

Rich, I hope you have had a chance to check out the new Hobbytown shop by now. It is a pretty good shop. Great selection of paints, pretty good supply of kits plus they can order a lot of kits if they don't have them. Lots of other stuff like RC and toys to keep the money flowing so that he can support our plastic addiction. Clare

Yes, the Air Zoo has an XP-55 Ascender on display. It has finished restoration and is on display just inside the entrance at the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. Do you need any exterior pics of the bird? BTW, we are having our 11th annual contest at the Air Zoo on October 10. Details are as follows; http://www.ipmskalamazoo.org/modules/content/index.php?id=11 Clare

I use a simple 24 inch tall wooden stool. It gets me to the right height for my work bench which consists of two kitchen cabinets and a top.

Neat concept. Great model.

If you don't want to get too modern with the jets, you might want to look at the Tamiya F-84G. Great kit and easy to build. Clare

Fantastic build and detailing. Love it!!! Great looking with all the ordinance as well as the faded area on the lower surface behind the landing gear. Is that hydraulic oil staining? Also, for my info, what is the blue stuff in the grills ahead of the wheel wells Clare