IPMS ORANGE COUNTY
Newsletter – May 2017
Volume 25 # 5 Southern California’s Premier Model Club
The President’s Column
By David Frederick “OC Fullerton Airport: Make and Take”
In This Issue Table of Contents Page Meeting Time and Place 6 Monthly Contest Themes 7 Financials 9 USA Membership 10 OC Membership Form 11 OrangeCon 12 Candid Meeting Photos 14 IPMS OC Contest Tables 18 Monthly Contest Results 25 My Passion – Model Building 27 On The Road Again 30 Each year the IPMS OC sponsors the Make and Take at WW2 Japanese Aircraft 47 the Fullerton Airport. The make and take is there to help INRO Warship International 51 children build models and use skills that they seem to lack Something English MG style 52 Local Club Meetings 72 in in this modern age of computers. Look at this young girl as she struggles to get the part on the model. Upcoming Events 76 Contest Flyers 78
IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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The President’s Column
Darnell, who coordinated the event, this year at a different location on the airfield was aside of me at the tables as we both helped young people to build the car models.
We had over hundred kits for the children to build, some were a Disney theme which were challenging to build. (For Dave)
Dan, below right, who has recently joined the IPMS, jumped in and showed youngster, how to build NASCAR kit, parents oversaw the action.
Jake, is instructing to build car kit with clear parts that did not fit the model.
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The President’s Column
Jaime, is giving a lesson on how to assemble a Snap tight-build and play model, these were popular amongst the young children.
Gino, pauses for a smile as he helps for the first time in our Fullerton Make and Take.
I was able to get Owen, below, to pause and smile for the camera as the little girl across from him is patiently awaiting him to finish.
The Disney plane kits were difficult to build, but Sean is seen helping the youngster complete the model.
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The President’s Column
In addition, Dennis took on the plane challenge and could show it can be completed and look like the box art.
David, files away some plastic to properly fit the plane parts together
Mark, sat down with a mother and two sons, and talked about some of the finer model building techniques after he built his car model with the two sons. The mother look interested and asked questions about the hobby.
Finally who could not forget the TEAM O’BARR. David and his daughter both helped building models and was later join with David’s wife and other daughters.
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The President’s Column
It was a long day, lots of families came to build models, in some remember us from last year. They seem to come in before noon and after 2:00, we closed at 4:00 PM. A lot of time and effort goes into the planning of this event, is it worth it? I can only respond and look at this child’s face … you can see that we are making a difference! DF
Raffle Czar sneak peek of models for May Monthly raffle (If you like below choices bring MONEY to support club…) 1. Armor: 1/35 TBD 2. Auto: 1/25 TBD 3. Airplane: 1/32 Wingnut Wings Fokker D. VII (this kit is worth over hundred) 4. Sci-Fi: TBD 5. Miscellaneous: TBD
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Meeting Notice & Agenda Date: May 19, 2017 Theme: BUILD NIGHT no contest Doors Open: 7:00 p.m. or earlier Meeting: 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Location: La Quinta Inn & Suites 3 Centerpointe Drive La Palma, CA 90623 Right Off the 91 Fwy at Valley View
2017 Chapter Officers
President David Frederick
st 1 Vice President Sean Fallesen
2nd Vice President David O’ Barr
Treasurer Jeff Hunter
Secretary Nat Richards
Contest Director Derek Collins
Volunteers Chapter Contact Nat Richards (949) 631-7142 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Terry Huber (714) 544-8908 [email protected]
Webmaster Julian English [email protected]
Mail IPMS Orange County Club Website www.ipmsoc.org P.O. Box 913 Garden Grove, CA 92842 National Website [email protected] www.ipmsusa.org 6
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Orange County Themes for 2017 January 20th - OUT OF THE BOX ONLY Anything built out of the box with no aftermarket parts. Built using only what came inside the box. Decals optional. February 17th - THE SHELF OF DOOM Build or finish a kit that you never thought you would start or complete because you lost interest or ran into a problem. March 17th - TAMIYA VS HASEGAWA Who's the best? Build the best model you can from either company. Best Tamiya Model and Best Hasegawa Model will receive an award. April 21st - SOMETHING ENGLISH Build a model of anything English. Including Scotland and Ireland.
May 19th - BUILD NIGHT (No Monthly Contest in May, Build Night Only) Bring a kit to work on and have some fun with other club members building. June 16th - FIRST OR LAST The first or last of something. The first Abrams tank. The last F4 Phantom. Last to use a radial engine. First to use a jet engine, etc. July 21st - CLASSIC PLASTIC Build the oldest model you have in your stash. August 18th - WHEN I WAS A KID Build the model that was your favorite from when you were a kid September 15th - SOMETHING GERMAN Build a model of anything from Germany 7
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Orange County Themes for 2017 October 20th - CONVERSIONS Build a model of something you normally could not get. Make a conversion from an existing kit to make a different version November 17th - UNEXPECTED Build a model of something you never expected to be released as a model kit December 15th - SOMETHING FRENCH Build a model of anything French. JANUARY 19th 2018 - IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUN Build a model of your favorite subject. Something you enjoy the most building. ORANGECON 2017 - SEVEN Any subject with a name or designation that ends in “Seven.” Hope to see you there. DC
Volunteer Opening at the club We need a member who would like to step up and take over the multi-media aspects of our meeting. This would include bringing the PA system to each meeting as well as bringing the overhead and/or camera when needed. Also need to have the person troubleshoot any problems with connections. The club also has a laptop that is part of the demo equipment. Please see David Frederick if you would like to be the AV person for the meetings. 8
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From Our Treasurer Financial Statistics for the meeting in March 2017
Admission Distressed Kits $ 0.00 Members 32 Monthly Raffle $ 132.00 Non-Members 9 Juniors 0 Total Income $ 441.00 Paid in Full 7 Total Expenses $ (468.24) Guests 3 Profit / (Loss) $ (27.24)
Total Attendance 51 $ in Checking $ 701.36 $ in Savings $ 9,664.25 Memberships / Renewals $ in PayPal $ 356.90 Regular 7 Total in Bank $ 10,722.51 π
Youth 0 Full Year 0
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Membership is of great importance, both here at the level of the local chapter as well as the National level. As a long time member I can highly recommend the expenditure of the additional dollars to become a member of the national organization.
With membership come six copies of the IPMS Journal publication which is better than ever, and the right to participate at the IPMS National Convention contest. The subscription to the Journal alone is worth the cost of joining.
A copy of the membership application is below or available on our website, or at the IPMS / USA website address, www.ipmsusa.org. Complete the form and return it to the address listed at the bottom of the form along with your method of payment.
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Membership Renewal Form Below is the new and improved Membership and Renewal form. Print this page, fill it out and bring it to the meeting. It is also available on-line at www.ipmsoc.org.
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IPMS OC Meeting Candid Photos By Bob Penikas Commentary by you know who. All comments are strictly for entertainment purposes only and nothing is intended. Ed.
Monthly raffle. Someone needs to step up the raffle. This is weak.
Foster Rash presents his demo on scratch built buildings mainly in HO scale.
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IPMS OC Meeting Candid Photos
Bob must have gotten a new camera or something because this shot of Mark Deliduka is just about right. Monkee Mobile and a Speed Racer complete the scene.
Professor Fallesen of Historical Studies department explains the XB-19 syllabus that will be used this semester. First test in two weeks on Chapters 1-10. I used to hate hearing that.
Mike Budzeika (L) is almost asleep as Gordon Zuther explains the details of his Tamiya 1/35 Horch. I agree Mike, those trucks are damn boring at times and I have a full box of them I will never build.
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IPMS OC Meeting Candid Photos
Keith Mundt (L) tells Joe LoMusio to give up in Master Division for the monthly contest. “Might as well pull your entry now Joe”
A great shot of the typical crowd of modelers at IPMS Orange County. We had 51 people show up in April, with 16 modelers and 25 entries for the monthly contest.
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Distressed Kit Auction - DKA
Hey right here reader – The next DKA will be at the June 16th meeting. This is one of the best meetings with a lot of good camaraderie. Again we have the Famous Mystery Box that contains at least $100 worth of model items, which usually goes for a lot less. If you would like to donate and cannot make the meeting, drop off your donations at Military Hobbies in Orange. Or you may bring in your worked on or “everything there” kits for donation. Actually we pretty much take anything, worked on, missing decals, one part gone, half gone, almost completed, you get the idea. Time to thin the herd a little bit and you may never build it or sell it. Let’s do this!
~Membership Renewal~ Jeff Hunter is accepting applications for renewal and new members this month. Renew early this time and get it out of the way. Don’t be like your Editor that sometimes does not renew until June. Save money, renew now. Do it now! Go do it!
~News Flash~ Don’t forget that OrangeCon is in September this year, not the usual October. September 30th, Cal State Fullerton.
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IPMS OC Contest Table By Derek Collins We had a great turnout for the monthly meeting in April and the model count was yet again very high. It was a great contest, Thank you to everyone who brought in a model. It was great to see some old faces in Steve Monroe and his cohorts from the Pasadena Modeler's Society come out for a visit. This month there is no contest due to our annual build night so make sure to bring a model to build and join in the comradery this hobby has to offer. In June our theme is "First or Last" which is pretty self-explanatory. A model subject that was the first or last of something like the first jet engine fighter flown by the USAF or the last radial engine fighter. Something along those lines. If you don't have something that fits the theme, no worries. Bring your latest creation and enter the contest anyway. What is important is that you are having fun in this hobby that we all so much enjoy!! DC On the IPMS OC Contest Table, April, 2017 Advanced Division:
David Jorquez 1/35 M60A1 Tank 1st
Dan Matthews 1/72 AW101 Merlin (Sky Fall) 2nd
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David Okamura 1/250 HM Monitor M33 3rd
David Okamura 1/700 HMS Warspite
David Okamura 1/30 Formula 1 Jaguar R-1
Julian English 1/72 Spitfire MK-VIII RAAF Jim Fleming 1/72 Bristol Beaufighter
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Jim Fleming 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire
Jim Teahan 1/48 BAE Hawk
Mark Deliduka 1/24 Mach5 "Go Speed Racer!!"
Mark Deliduka 1/24 Monkee Mobile
Mark Deliduka 1/1 Colt 45 "Peace Maker" or "Widow Maker" depending on your point of view
Mark Deliduka 1/72 Israeli AH-1S Cobra 20
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Mark Deliduka 1/72 US Army AH-1S Cobra
Bob Penikas 1/? B-17 Diorama
Cip Hernandez 1/? Lego Technic
Master Division:
Joe Lomusio 1/48 Martin Handasyde 1911 1st
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Keith Mundt1/35Panther"A" 2nd and Judges Choice winner.
Mike Budzeika 1/48 BF109G-6 3rd
Bob Bolton 1/24 Junkyard Dog AA/A Dragster
Bob Bolton 1/24 Rolls Royce Merlin Engine
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Foster Rash1/20 1952 MG TD Balsa Model Theme Winner
Foster Rash 1/24 1952 MG TD
Dennis Henry 1/144 F-15E "Eagle"
Display Table:
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Contest Entries and Results, April, 2017 Theme: "Something British" Total number of Modelers: 16 Total number of entries: 25
Masters Division: Joe Lomusio 1/48 Martin - Handasyde 1911______1st Keith Mundt 1/35 Panther "A"______2nd ______Judges Choice Winner Mike Budzeika 1/48 BF109G-6______3rd Bob Bolton 1/24 Junkyard Dog AA/A Dragster 1/24 Rolls Royce Merlin Engine Foster Rash 1/20 1952 MG TD Balsa Model__Theme Winner 1/24 1952 MG TD Dennis Henry 1/144 F-15E "Eagle"
Advanced Division: David Jorquez 1/35 M60A1 Tank______1st Dan Matthews 1/72 AW101 Merlin (Sky Fall)______2nd David Okamura 1/250 HM Monitor M33______3rd 1/700 HMS Warspite 1/30 Formula 1 Jaguar R-1 Julian English 1/72 Spitfire MK-VIII RAAF Jim Fleming 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire 1/72 Bristol Beaufighter Jim Teahan 1/48 BAE Hawk Mark Deliduka 1/24 Mach5 "Go Speed Racer!!" 1/24 Monkee Mobile 1/1 Colt 45 "Peace Maker" or "Widow Maker" Depending on your point of view 1/72 Israeli AH-1S Cobra 1/72 US Army AH-1S Cobra Bob Penikas 1/? B-17 Diorama David O'Barr 1/144 Saiun Myrt Night Fighter Cip Hernandez 1/? Lego Technic
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Modeler of the Year Points Standings: 1st Julian English 22pts 2nd Dan Matthews 16pts 3rd Joe LoMusio 14pts 4th David Jorquez 11pts 5th Bob Bolton 10pts Mark Deliduka 10pts Foster Rash 10pts OrangeCon Judging Hello participants, I know it is a ways off but now would be a good time to start thinking about OrangeCon judging. If you are interested in helping out please see me at this month's meeting and I will put you on the signup sheet. If you would like you can also drop me an email if you're not going to make the meeting, [email protected]. Thanks Guys!!!
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My Passion for Model Building Keeps Me Going While Dealing with Cancer A story by Greg Kelly As told in the on-line publication ‘CONQUER-Magazine’ Ed.
In early November 2016 I was sitting in the lobby at Minnesota Oncology getting ready for my every-3- week chemotherapy for prostate cancer. I started reading CONQUER magazine and loved the inspirational, uplifting stories for patients with cancer.
A week earlier I went to the Mayo Clinic at Rochester and had a conference with a well-known urologist, Eugene Kwon, MD, who told me, “You should be very happy,” saying that my condition is now “in remission.”
It was not always this way. I had resisted treatment for a problem with my prostate 6 years ago, with elevated PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels. I just couldn’t believe this was happening.
A Marriage and a Cancer Diagnosis
In October 2015, I retired from running my hobby shop for 43 years in southern California. (Kelly’s Hobbies on El Camino for all you Tustin CA locals. Ed.) I married my high school sweetheart, Dana, a Minnesota native, and moved to Minnesota to be with my guardian angel.
Then in early January 2016, everything started to go wrong. I had to get up 15 times at night to go to the bathroom. If Dana merely touched my shoulders or hips, they would ache badly. Dana took my temperature, which was 102.7, so she took me to a nearby clinic. I saw her primary care doctor, who ordered a PSA test, which showed very high PSA levels, and rising, indicating a problem with my prostate.
Then I saw a local urologist, Steve Moore, MD. He immediately prescribed Flomax (tamsulosin HCl), which is used for men with a condition called benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH, and the drug worked great. However, I still had pain in my shoulders, so Dr. Moore recommended I get a Lupron (leuprolide acetate) injection, which is used to relieve symptoms of prostate cancer. 27
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My Passion for Model Building Keeps Me Going
That, too, worked well for about 6 months, and my PSA levels plummeted to 190 ng/mL very fast, but still high. So Dr. Moore recommended that I see an oncologist at Minnesota Oncology.
John Wangness, MD, at Minnesota Oncology, recommended I start chemotherapy with Taxotere (docetaxel). Being a “doubting Thomas,” I said I would think about that. On a return visit to Dr. Moore, he also recommended Taxotere, because my PSA level was too high.
A Passion for Model Building
I came from a family of 12 brothers and sisters. There was no history of prostate cancer in my family, neither in my dad nor in my 4 brothers.
I love building scale models, and keep at it. When I left southern California, I donated most of my works to museums, libraries, and schools, including a 1930s schoolhouse, model rockets X-15, and U.S. Navy blimp Hangar.
Dana insisted I bring the Titanic Grand Staircase model, and a 1950s movie house (where the movie “Singin’ in the Rain” was always playing) with us to Minnesota.
When people viewed my work, they would remark how patient I am. I would tell them I have no patience, but rather this is a therapy to calm me down. Now that I have a full basement in Minneapolis, I have resumed my model-building passion.
If you check Swede Hollow Café’s Facebook page, you will see the Scandinavian-style Swede Hollow Café model I built and donated to them. It is now on display in their cafe. I am now building a model of the classic A&W Root Beer stand. 28
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My Passion for Model Building Keeps Me Going
The Fight Continues
I am not out of the woods by any means, and still dealing with prostate cancer. But my hair is coming back, and I even started shaving it. I now follow what my doctors tell me to do.
At a recent visit to the Mayo Clinic, my doctor prescribed Zytiga (abiraterone acetate), which is used for men with metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that has spread), and I will have to continually get checked and continue with the medications. But I keep my spirits up. GK
https://conquer-magazine.com/
Editors Note: Kelly’s Hobbies was one of those great brick and mortar style stores in old town Tustin CA. Way before any internet choices, you could go to Kelly’s and get enough material to build your own Este’s Rocket, pickup that Testor’s paint, or get the latest Revell kit and then some. I think Greg is known for all of his scratchbuilt subjects including his ‘Titanic Grand Staircase’, massive Space Shuttle flying rockets, Globe Theatre in use by Shakespeare and many other subjects. You can find Greg now days constructing small test models to get the ideas for the grand scale Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium just down the street from their home, and
digging weeds in his Minnesota backyard. Thanks Greg.
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On the Road Again By Foster Rash My friend Bob from Tucson flew into town in April and our plan was to head north to visit another "train nerd" buddy, Gordon, in Placerville. Bob is a retired aerospace engineer and I had sent him Terry Huber's newsletter article about Rainbow Canyon. Bob said we had to work Rainbow Canyon into the trip, so we headed up to Lone Pine. Our route would take us through the Owens Valley, west over the Sierras, then north through the 1849 Gold Rush country to Gordon's house. We planned to return via Nevada and check out some old ghost towns and mines along the way.
Part 1: Owens Valley We headed north out of the LA area, via Palmdale to Mojave. Then we followed the old Southern Pacific Jawbone Branch (Hwy 14 then 395) from Mojave to Lone Pine where we spent the night.
Southern Pacific Jawbone Branch The present highway follows an old 20 mule team wagon route from Mojave through the Rand Mining District (Randsburg, Red Mountain and Johannesburg). The Southern Pacific RR Jawbone Branch was built in 1912 for the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct and followed the same route as the old wagon road. It was built as standard gauge and there was a transfer station to the SP (ex- Carson & Colorado) narrow gauge at Owenyo north of Lone Pine. All that remains of Owenyo today are a few foundations and debris. Freight was transferred between narrow gauge (left) and standard gauge cars (right) at Owenyo
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On the Road Again
Talc from Keeler was dumped from narrow gauge cars into standard gauge cars using a trestle at Owenyo. Only the foundations remain
Foundation of the transfer trestle
Lone Pine During the 1870s, Lone Pine was an important supply town for nearby mining communities such as: Cerro Gordo, Keeler, Swansea, and Darwin. Mining, lumber and agriculture were the basis of the local economy. Hollywood discovered Lone Pine as a scenic location for filming westerns. Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, James Stewart, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, and Mel Gibson are some of the stars who have made movies in the area.
Owens Dry Lake Owens Dry Lake is one of the dustiest places on earth. Mt Whitney in the distance
Owens Lake was once 50' deep and covered over 100 square miles. Back in the 1870's, steamboats plied its waters. 31
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On the Road Again
But the City of Los Angeles built an aqueduct that diverted the Owens River and by 1926 the lake was dry. Although set in the 1930s, some 20 years after the actual Owens Valley "water war," the film Chinatown (1974) includes in its plot some of the political corruption and skullduggery that tainted the building of the LA Aqueduct.
Cartago Cartago, on the southwestern shore of Owens Lake, was a steamboat port for shipment of supplies to the mining camps on the east side of the lake.
Ruins of Cartago
Steamboat Bessie Brady
Bartlett
Bartlett was once a lakeside resort
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On the Road Again
Abandoned soda plant at Bartlett
Cottonwood In 1873 Colonel Sherman Stevens built a flume to transport logs down from the Sierras to his sawmill on the western shore of Owens Lake. He supplied lumber to the mines and towns in the area. Kilns were constructed to convert wood into charcoal which was transported across Owens Lake by steamboat to the smelter at Swansea.
Adobe charcoal kiln at Cottonwood
Swansea Ore from the mines at Cerro Gordo was transported to a smelter at Swansea on the eastern shore of Owens Lake.
Swansea was destroyed by an earthquake
Remains of a smelter furnace 33
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On the Road Again
The bullion from Swansea was shipped across the lake to Cartago where it was loaded on wagons and hauled to the railroad connection at Mojave. An earthquake damaged the smelters and uplifted the shoreline, rendering the Swansea pier inaccessible to steamboats. As a result, the operation had to be relocated. Keeler After the earthquake that destroyed Swansea, Captain Julius Keeler arrived at Owens Lake as the agent for the Owens Lake Mining and Milling Co. He built a steamboat landing about a mile south of Swansea, known as Keeler's Landing, and a mill to process ore from Cerro Gordo. By 1881 the mill and smelter were producing $6,000 in bullion per week. Ingots ready for shipment from the smelter
When the largest steamboat, the Bessie Brady, was destroyed by fire in 1882, the remaining steamboat, the Mollie Stevens, could not keep up with the smelter. Ingots waiting for transport were stacked like cordwood. The Carson & Colorado Railroad extended a branch line south from Lone Pine and named the terminal Keeler. With the coming of the railroad, National Soda Products and Sierra Talc established large industries in Keeler.
Keeler RR Depot
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On the Road Again
Open-air service facility then...
...And service facility now
Keeler also became a popular lakeside resort for people coming by train and Hotel Keeler provided lodging for the vacationers. By the turn of the century, Keeler had a population of over 5,000.
Keeler was once a tourist destination
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Bags of soda await shipment at the Keeler Soda Works
The abandoned Sierra Talc mill still stands
Busy rail yard in Keeler's heyday
This Model T Ford fire truck once served Keeler. It now waits restoration at the Eastern California Museum in Independence.
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On the Road Again Old coach is now a residence
Today Keeler, population 66, is practically a ghost town. The last train left in 1960; With no mine, no lake, no train, the town is literally the End of the Line. Cerro Gordo From Keeler, a winding 8 mile dirt road heads 8,300 feet up into the Inyo Mountains to the old mining camp of Cerro Gordo. I was needlessly concerned about the road as it had been recently graded and my Ford Explorer made the entire trip in two wheel drive without difficulty.
The winding Cerro Gordo road. Owens Lake and Sierras in distance
The mines at Cerro Gordo were the largest silver-lead producers in California
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Cerro Gordo produced over $200,000,000 in silver, zinc and lead before the mines played out in the 1950s. It is on private property and there is a caretaker in residence, so it is fairly well preserved. It still has several buildings, including the American Hotel and a general store. Robert, the caretaker, is quite a character and gave us an extensive tour of the site which included a demonstration of how the ore was assayed (there is a complete assay shop onsite). Inside the Cerro Gordo general store
You can still spend the night at the American Hotel
Hotel Dining Room and Bar
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On the Road Again
Wagons such as these displayed at the Eastern California Museum hauled ore from Cerro Gordo
The ore from the Cerro Gordo mines was hauled out of the mountains, around the lake and across the desert in large 20 mule team wagons to the Southern Pacific railhead in Mojave over 100 miles away. The wagon trip was shortened by 3 days when steamboats were built to carry the silver across the lake from Swansea to Cartago. Later a cable tram was built to transport the ore down the mountain to Keeler. An aerial tram from Cerro Gordo to Keeler eventually replaced mules and wagons for transporting ore
An ore bucket still remains suspended from the cable (Tiny dot just above the center of the frame)
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On the Road Again Rainbow Canyon/Jedi Transition
The jet jockeys put on quite a show
East of Owens Lake on the northern border of China Lake Naval Weapons Center is Rainbow Canyon which is known as Jedi Transition by pilots who practice low level flying there. Terry Huber has reported on this in past issues of the Newsletter and we had to experience it for ourselves. On Thursday morning we arrived at Father Crowley Overlook above the canyon on Hwy 190. A small crowd had already gathered as this site has been well publicized on the internet. We spoke to a couple from Germany and a Canadian who had come for the show. At about 10 am, two jets buzzed the waiting crowd. We heard a third coming. It was breathtaking as he popped over the ridge, dove into the canyon and zig-zagged below us. In the course of 2 hours, seven planes came through. This was an exciting air show! Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zdrFKiGSXI&t=85s
Manzanar Leaving the Owens Lake area and heading north along the Carson & Colorado route (Hwy 395), we stopped at Manzanar National Historic Site where the WWII-era War Relocation Center (euphemism for concentration camp) once stood. Without due process, 10,000 mostly native born US citizens were imprisoned here because of their Japanese ancestry. California had a history of anti- Asian, "Yellow Peril," racism that dated back to the building of the trans- continental railroad
Narrow gauge train leaving Manzanar. Note station sign post on left 40
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On the Road Again Manzanar ("apple orchard" in Spanish) was originally a small agricultural community known for its orchards which produced apples, pears, and peaches By 1920 the town had more than twenty-five homes, a school, town hall, general store and was a stop on the Southern Pacific (ex- Carson & Colorado) narrow gauge RR. Beginning in 1913, Los Angeles began buying water rights in Owens Valley to the extent that all of the water in the valley was eventually diverted by an aqueduct to LA. Manzanar dried up and the last residents moved away in 1929. Manzanar remained an uninhabited wasteland until 1942 when the Army leased 6,200 acres from the City of Los Angeles for the War Relocation Center. Most of those imprisoned here were from the LA area. Japanese-Americans arrive in Lone Pine enroute to Manzanar prison camp
Stone gatehouse was built by prisoners
Fire station and guard tower are recreations
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On the Road Again The firemen were all prisoners and were paid $16 per month for their services. This is the original Manzanar fire truck which was used for many years by Inyo County before being returned to the site
Manzanar War Relocation Center had a population of 10,000 during WWII
The original auditorium/community center is now the park's visitor center
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On the Road Again
The original Dining Hall has been moved back to the camp and restored
We arrived at the park just before the 4:30 closing time (The grounds are open until sundown but the exhibits close at 4:30). I hustled over to the dining hall which is one of the few original structures on the site. A uniformed park employee was standing in the open doorway talking to another woman. I asked to take a peek inside and a quick photo, "Sorry, we closed at 4:30, come back tomorrow!" I replied, "Couldn't I just stick my head in the door for a quick peek?" She pulled the door closed and snapped the lock, "We're closed!" and she continued chatting with the other woman. Our tax dollars at work!
The structures appear to be very lightly constructed of plywood or planks over 2x4 framing. They are covered with a heavy tarpaper, like composition shingle material, which is held down with battens to keep the strong winds from tearing it off; Kind of your basic WWII- era, quickie, military housing. After the war, the camp was closed and the buildings were sold. Throughout the Owens Valley you can see many of the old camp buildings that have been repurposed. There is an on-going project to document surviving structures. Check out some of the surviving structures here: http://andrewfreeman.net/work/manzanar- architecture-double/
Independence The Army established Fort Independence in 1865 during the subjugation of the Paiute Indians. The town of Independence has been the Inyo County Seat since 1866. There are numerous old homes in this picturesque small town.
19th century home in Independence 43
IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
May 2017
On the Road Again The Eastern California Museum in Independence has a large collection of Owens Valley artifacts dating back to pre-historic times. There is a large collection of vehicles and early farm machinery. Volunteers have completed a 20 year restoration of Southern Pacific narrow gauge locomotive #18. The operating locomotive is now stored off-site but it is hoped that it can be moved to the museum this summer. You can check out the restoration of the locomotive here: https://carsoncolorado.com/history-of-18/restoration-photo-gallery/ Volunteers are erecting an engine house for restored SP Narrow Gauge locomotive #18
Restored tender for #18 has not yet been lettered
There are a few old narrow gauge freight cars on site
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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On the Road Again Laws Laws, near Bishop, was a station on the Carson & Colorado RR. Today it is the location of the Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site. This is an excellent museum, similar to Greenfield Village, as 30 historic Owens Valley buildings have been moved to the 11 acre site. Docents help visitors understand the culture of the era. A station agent's home is located south of the railroad station. There are also a church, school house, old vehicles and a collection of mining equipment. A restored a Brill railcar from the Death Valley RR runs on track on the museum grounds. Laws Depot. Visitors Center (on far right) is a movie set building left from the filming of Nevada Smith starring Steve McQueen. The movie used several Owens Valley locations, including Cerro Gordo
Laws Depot contains period telegraph office and other memorabilia of the era. 45
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On the Road Again A collection of old rolling stock is stored in the yard area
Locomotive #9 has been dubbed the "Slim Princess"
Train barn and restoration shops To be continued... Next installment: 1849 Gold Rush Country. FR
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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WWII Japanese Aircraft Names By Julian English
The Japanese system for aircraft nomenclature in WWII can be bewildering and confusing. The alphanumeric designation was developed for each aircraft using the manufacturer's project code, and the official military designation, which consisted of a description of the aircraft plus the year it entered service.
For example: the military designation of the Mitsubishi A5M fighter was the "Navy Type 96 Carrier Fighter". Type 96 meant that the aircraft had entered service in Imperial year 2596, equivalent to year 1936. Other aircraft which entered service the same year carried the same type number; an example is the Type 96 Carrier Bomber and the Type 96 Land Attack Bomber.
The Imperial year is the Japanese national calendar year based on the legendary foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC (in case you were wondering). They also had names for some of their planes that were very colorful (more on that later). However most aircraft were known to the Japanese pilots by a nick-name to avoid the long winded official name, for example: the Zero fighter was officially designated as 零式艦上戦闘機, pronounced in Japanese as rei-shiki-kanjō-sentōki?, or the Mitsubishi Type 0 (Rei-sen) A6M fighter - referred to by its pilots as the "Reisen" (zero fighter).
It’s no wonder the US intelligence teams decided to name Japanese aircraft by simple American names. Men's names were given to fighter aircraft, women's names to bombers, transports, and reconnaissance aircraft, bird names to gliders, and tree names to trainer aircraft. Who can remember what a E13A1 is? Much easier to say “Jake”.
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Back to the actual Japanese names assigned to some aircraft. Names like “Dragon Slayer” or “Demon warrior from hell” are descriptive of the Japanese warrior culture (and cool), but other names were more esoteric like, “Auspicious cloud” or “Clear sky storm”.
The “Shoki”–Demon warrior from Hell.
In an attempt to keep track of all this - I developed a chart for most of the aircraft used by Imperial Japan in WWII with links for each aircraft (see chart below) – enjoy. JE
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List of Japanese World War II Aircraft
Name Allied Aircraft Translation Code name
Kawanishi N1K Kyofu Navy Fighter Seaplane Strong Wind Rex Kawanishi N1K1-J/N1K2-J Shiden Navy Land-Based Magnificent Lighting George Interceptor Kawasaki Ki-10 Army Type 95 Fighter Rising Morale Perry
Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter Dragon Slayer Nick
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien Army Type 3 Fighter flying swallow Tony
Kawasaki Ki-100 Goshikisen Army Type 5 Fighter Type 5 Fighter n/a
Kawasaki Ki-102 Army Type 4 Assault Aircraft Type 4 assult Aircraft Randy
Mitsubishi A5M Navy Type 96 Carrier-based Fighter Type 96 Carrier-based Fighter Claude Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen Navy Type Zero Carrier Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen Zeke/Hamp Fighter Mitsubishi J2M Raiden Navy Interceptor Fighter Thunderbolt Jack Mitsubishi Ki-46-III-Kai Army Type 100 Air Defence Type 100 Command Dinah Fighter Reconnaissance Aircraft Nakajima A6M2-N Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter- Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber Rufe Bomber Nakajima J1N1-S Gekko Moonlight Irving
Nakajima Ki-27 Army Type 97 Fighter Type 97 Fighter Nate
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa Army Type 1 Fighter Peregrine Falcon Oscar Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki Army Type 2 Single-Seat Demon warrior from hell Tojo Fighter Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate Army Type 4 Fighter Gale Force Wind Frank
Aichi D3A Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber Type 99 Carrier Bomber Val
Aichi B7A Ryusei Navy carrier torpedo bomber Shooting Star Grace Aichi M6A1 Seiran Navy Special Strike Submarine Clear Sky Storm n/a Bomber Mitsubishi Ki-15 Army Type 97 Command Type 97 Command Reconnaissance Babs Reconnaissance Plane Aircraft Mitsubishi Ki-51 Army Type 99 Assault Plane Type 99 Assult Aircraft Sonia Mitsubishi B5M Navy Type 97 No.2 Carrier Attack Type 97 No.2 Carrier Attack Bomber Mabel Bomber Nakajima Type 97 Carrier Attack Nakajima B5N Navy Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber Kate Bomber 49 Nakajima B6N Tenzan Navy Carrier Torpedo Bomber Heavenly Mountain Jill Tachikawa Ki-36 Army Type 98 Direct Co-operation army co-operation aircraft Ida Aircraft IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
May 2017
Yokosuka B4Y Navy Type 96 Carrier Attacker Navy Type 96 Carrier Attack Bomber Jean Yokosuka D4Y Suisei Navy Carrier Dive bomber Comet Judy Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka cherry blossom n/a Kawasaki Ki-48 Army Type 99 Twin-engined Light Army Type 99 Twin-engined Light Lily Bomber Bomber Mitsubishi G3M Navy Type 96 Land-based Attack Army Type 99 Twin-engined Light Nell Aircraft Bomber "Rikko" Mitsubishi G4M Navy Type 1 Land-based Attack Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack Betty Aircraft bomber Mitsubishi Ki-21 Army Type 97 Heavy Bomber Mitsubishi Type 97 Heavy Bomber Sally Mitsubishi Ki-30 Army Type 97 Light bomber Mitsubishi Type 97 Light Bomber Ann
Mitsubishi Ki-67 Hiryu Navy Type 4 Heavy Bomber Flying Dragon Peggy
Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber Storm Dragon Helen Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga Navy Land-Based Bomber Galaxy Frances long-range reconnaissance Aichi E13A Navy Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplane Jake seaplane Aichi E16A Zuiun Navy Reconnaissance Seaplane Auspicious Cloud Paul Kawanishi E7K Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Alf Seaplane Seaplane Model 1. Kawanishi E15K Shiun Navy Type 2 High-speed Violet Cloud Norm Reconnaissance Seaplane Kawanishi H6K Type 97 Large Flying Boat Navy Type 97 Flying Boat Mavis Kawanishi H8K Type 2 Large Flying Boat Type 2 Flying Boat Emily Kawasaki Ki-10 Army Type 95 Fighter (used for Army Type 95 Fighter Perry reconnaissance during WW2) Mitsubishi F1M Type 0 Observation Seaplane Type Zero Observation Seaplane Pete Mitsubishi Ki-46 Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Type 100 Command Dinah Aircraft Reconnaissance Aircraft Nakajima C6N Saiun Navy Carrier Reconnaissance Iridescent Cloud Myrt Plane Nakajima E8N Navy Type 95 Reconnaissance catapult-launched, reconnaissance Dave Seaplane Model 1 seaplane Nakajima J1N Gekkou Navy Type 2 Reconnaissance Moonlight Irving Plane Watanabe E9W Navy Type 96 Small Reconnaissance submarine-borne reconnaissance Slim Seaplane seaplane Yokosuka E14Y Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Type 0 Small Reconnaissance Glen Seaplane Seaplane Aichi M6A1-K Nanzan Navy Special Strike Submarine Clear Sky Storm n/a 50 Bomber trainer
IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
May 2017
International Naval Research Organization By Nat Richards I’d like to share some information about another organization I have belonged to for nearly forty years. I do this for two reasons: 1. If you like ships of the steam era and/or naval history this organization is what you have been looking for, and; 2. The International Naval Research Organization is seeking to expand its membership. To find out more about INRO, see sample articles and images, as well as membership information visit their website at www.warship.org
The International Naval Research Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to the encouragement of the study of naval vessels and their histories, principally in the era of iron and steel warships (about 1860 to date). Its purpose is to provide information and a means of contact for those interested in warships. The principal activity of INRO for over 50 years has been the publication of a quarterly journal, Warship International, recognized internationally as the leading and most authoritative publication in the field. It is only available to members and is not available at magazine stands.
The latest issue of Warship International, the publication of the International Naval Research Organization is out. Don't let the cover image fool you in to thinking it only covers modern topics. The magazine covers warships of the steam age to date and is one of the best sources of information on ships of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Most Recent Issue:
Warship International Volume 54 Issue 1 - March 2017
Feature Articles • Navy Days in Den Helder, 2013 • CSS Teaser • Coast Guards of the World • Torpedo Boats of the Imperial Japanese Navy Part 1
I will plan to bring my copy of Warship International along to the May meeting and you can see for yourself. I would like to encourage anyone with an interest in things naval to join INRO. NR
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Something English: MG Triple Play Vintage Kit Build By Foster Rash MG T-series Midgets, vintage kits
I'll admit to being an Anglophile. I've owned a number of British cars and motorcycles over the years and currently have a Triumph Bonneville, BSA Lightning and MG TD in the garage. Aside from dodgy electrical systems and Whitworth fasteners, I find British designs easy to work on and fairly reliable. I was a Navy brat and in 1956 my family lived on a Navy air base near El Centro, CA. The first MG I ever saw was a TD Midget owned by one of the officers; He drew a crowd wherever he drove it. Foreign cars were a novelty at the time, the base doctor Kohlmeier drove a VW which also drew onlookers. But it was the MG that captured my imagination. I loved the way it looked and built a model of it from an old Ace balsa wood kit that I bought at the base "Hobby Lobby." It was not an easy kit for a kid to build but dad helped. I bought a basket-case TD around 1970 but lacked the time and money to finish putting it back together. It was sold when we were raising money to buy our first house. I chanced upon another TD in '95 that had belonged to the father of a co-worker. It was complete but not running, the price was right and I bought it. I got it back on the road after I retired in 2013.
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Something English:
Morris Garage dealership in Oxford
William Morris was a car dealer in Oxford, England who began to manufacture a car of his own design after WWI. He promoted his sales manager, Cecil Kimber, to General Manager to run his Morris Garage dealership while he concentrated on manufacturing the Morris automobile.
Sir William Morris, Lord Nuffield, with a 1928 Morris Minor. The Morris Minor was the basis for the 1929 MG Midget.
Kimber offered custom bodied Morrises and built a number of two seat sports cars based on Morris components which he called MGs, after Morris Garage. The two-seaters were popular with enthusiasts who competed in hill climbs, trials and other motorsports.
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Something English:
Cecil Kimber was the driving force behind the MG Company
By 1928, the sideline manufacture of MG sports cars had grown to the point that the operation could no longer be accommodated within the original Morris Garage facility and the MG Car Company was established in its own factory. The 1928 model 18/80 marked both the first use of MG as its own brand and the first appearance of the traditional vertical MG grille
1928 MG 18/80
MG built a variety of vehicles but production numbers were low. To reach a larger market, a smaller, cheaper car named the Midget was launched in 1929.
M-Type Midgets racing at Brooklands
Utilizing many Morris Minor components, the M- Type Midget established a good reputation in motorsports and was succeeded by the J (1932) and P (1934) series Midgets. 54
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Something English:
MG Ad (1932) Touts Racing Success
The final development of this line of cars was the T series Midget which began with the 1936 TA and was followed by the TB in 1939. By the time production ceased in 1940 due to WWII, the MG Midgets had a good record in European auto racing.
1936 MG TA Fortunately the MG factory at Abingdon near Oxford, was beyond the range of German bombers and was not damaged during the war. MG was back to producing cars by the end of 1945 with an improved version of the TB designated the TC. MG had new cars to sell at a time when competitors were still digging through the rubble of their bombed out factories. Check out this old video of the MG assembly line in 1950. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nt1rig
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Something English:
MG TC (1945-50 It is an oft repeated story that American GIs were introduced to European road racing during WWII and brought sports cars home with them, thus beginning the sports car craze in America. That explanation always seemed a little farfetched to me. When did the GIs go to the races, weren't they fighting a war? What cars did they buy? There had been no civilian production during the war and with the exception of MG, all the major European automakers' factories had been damaged or destroyed. Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo did not produce anything for years after WWII and Ferdinand Porsche was in a French jail accused of war crimes. Troop ships were pretty crowded, where did they find room to stow all the sports cars they brought home?
Ted Cannon's homebuilt hot rod Ford "Cannon Special" (right) at Pebble Beach
So what really happened? It seems to me that it was just a situation of thousands of young men returning from war and many were drawn to motorsports looking to have some fun. Old Fords were cheap and a guy with a little mechanical know-how could build a hot rod to drag race on the street. Post-war American road racing included pre-war classics along with hot rods and homebuilt specials. For those with a little more disposable income, there 56 were MG sports cars.
IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
May 2017
Something English:
Kjell Qvale and MG TC In northern California, Kjell Qvale was an Alameda Jeep dealer who in 1946 became the west coast distributor for MG sports cars. Since there had been no manufacture of cars for civilian use in the US during WWII, there was a lot of pent up demand, it was a sellers' market. But the two passenger, open roadster MG was not a very practical car. So Qvale promoted its fun to drive qualities by organizing the California MG Club and sponsoring rallies, time trials and other competitions. He sold a lot of MGs! In 1949, he organized the first postwar sports car race on the west coast at Buchanan Field (a WWII air base in Concord). The following year he organized a sports car race at Pebble Beach; the race was accompanied by a classic car show which evolved into the Pebble Beach Concours d' Elegance. Through the marketing efforts of Qvale, racing MGs and other sports cars became another facet of the emerging west coast car culture.
California MG Club road race at Buchanan Field
MG Race at Torrey Pines San Diego 57
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Something English:
Racing in the Streets of Watkins Glen (1948)
Max Hoffman was the east coast distributor for MG and other European brands. He also engaged in racing to promote sales. The first post-war road race was held in Watkins Glen, NY in 1948. It was the first race sponsored by the newly formed Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Despite right hand drive and other English quirkiness, Hoffman and Qvale sold 10,000 TCs to Americans and began the sports car boom. Post-war Britain needed cash and wanted to sell even more MGs in the US. The TC was not much different than the 1936 TA and its roots could be traced to the design of the 1929 M-type. It was obvious that a new design was needed with the American market in mind. The replacement for the TC was the TD Midget which combined the TC's 1250cc engine and 4 speed trans with a more modern chassis. The MG Y-Type sedan chassis had a coil spring independent front suspension with rack and pinion steering. For the TD, the Y-type chassis was shortened and fitted with a T-series style body.
MG Y-Type (1947-53)
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Something English:
MG TD (1950-53)
The antiquated 19" wire wheels and skinny tires of the TC were abandoned in favor of 15" wheels with the wider contemporary tires of the Y-type. Perhaps most important for the American market was the availability of left hand drive. Price was also part of the appeal, the TD sold for $1,900 which was about the same as a new Ford or Chevy. When Jaguars, Austin-Healey’s and Porsches arrived in America, they were priced in the range of Cadillacs ($3,000-4,000)! The TD was an instant success and became the best-selling model of the T series; close to 53,000 T-series MGs were produced, over half of which were TDs. Over 20,000 TDs were sold in the U.S. alone.
The MG TD was designed for the American market
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Something English:
MG TF (1953-55)
In 1953 Morris acquired rival Austin and formed British Motor Corp (BMC). By that time MG was facing serious competition in the sports car market. But BMC management was concerned that an all-new, modern MG might steal buyers from the Austin- Healey. So the decision was made to try to squeeze a few more sales out of the T-series. The TD bodywork got a facelift and was designated the TF in 1953. In 1954 the engine was enlarged from 1250 to 1500cc. At the time, MG fans were disappointed with the TF which was criticized for being just a warmed over TD with wire wheels and gimmicky styling. Only 9,000 TFs were sold. It's ironic that in today's market, the TFs are more desirable than the TC or TD precisely due to the styling! All new MGA (1955)
The MG faithful finally got an all-new, albeit larger and more expensive, car with the MGA in 1955. BMC sorted out their sports car line by upgrading the Austin- Healey with a six cylinder engine to provide a step up from the four cylinder MGA.
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Something English:
The Austin-Healey Sprite was introduced in 1958 to fill the gap in the entry level sports car market left by the demise of the MG Midget. The MG Midget name reappeared in 1961 as a higher trim level version of the Sprite.
Austin-Healey 100-6 (1956)
Austin-Healey Sprite (1958)
MG Midget (1961)
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Something English:
Kit Reviews Building a model of my TD is something that I have wanted to do for a while. There are several plastic kits available for the TC but only the old Revell "Highway Pioneer" 1/32 scale kit (has been reissued by Mini-Craft) is available for the TD. I had an old Ace balsa kit (1/20 scale) and a Wills Fine cast white-metal kit (1/24 scale) in my stash. I also had a Berkeley balsa kit (1/24 scale) of the TF. So motivated by our April build theme, "Something English," I decided to press on regardless! I built all three kits and documented the process for the "armchair modelers." I hope you like these vintage kit builds.
Ace Models English MG The Ace Products Company produced a very popular line of balsa wood model car kits in the 1940-50s. This kit consists of pre-cut balsa wood parts, rubber wheels, injection molded plastic headlights, and a cast metal steering wheel. The full size plans with assembly illustrations are credited to Gordon A Babb. Babb was the proprietor of the Ace Model Shop in Pasadena and a prominent figure in the "Spindizzy" gas powered model car craze of the '30s-'40s. Check out this old newsreel video about Babb and his miniature race cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbXiBBp2t2k Ace Models of Merit Catalog Sheet
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Something English:
Ace Models of Merit Catalog Sheet
I don't know when Ace kits went out of business. I built one of the hot rod kits and powered it with a CO2 cartridge when I was in Junior High that would have been around 1960. By that time, AMT, Johan, Monogram and Revell were making plastic kits that were more realistic and easier to build than the old wooden kits. I'm guessing Ace Products went out of business in the early '60s. The Ace Model Shop continued on into the 1970s as they were still advertising in Model Railroader magazine at that time.
As a trivia bit, Duffy Livingstone worked at the Ace Model Shop as a teenager before WWII. He moved on to hot rods, became a race driver and is in the NHRA Hall of Fame. Duffy may be best known for inventing the go-kart and you can click the link to learn more about him.
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/0909rc-the-legacy-of-duffy-livingstone/
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Something English:
Duffy's hot rod Ford race car "Tihsepa" was competitive against some pretty potent machinery. "Tihsepa" was a gag name (spell it backwards) to tweak the noses of the sporty-car types driving expensive cars with exotic names!
Ace kits are collectible. The MG, Jaguar and hot rod kits are the most common; one sees them at collector shows for around $25. The other kits are harder to find and priced accordingly. My collector mentality is that the unbuilt kit is worth more than a built one because building it destroys a link to the past. So I used the balsa kit parts as patterns to build a clone from basswood. The kit builds what is known as a "curbside" model; That is, no opening hood or engine compartment detail. But I opted to scratch build an engine and fabricate an operating metal hood.
Ace Kit contents
The body is basically a box
Fender profile piece has been glued to inner fender block 64
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Something English:
Let the carving begin!
Fenders were shaped with a Dremel tool
Scuttle (footwell/firewall) and engine added
Scratch built details include: engine, hinged metal hood and other parts.
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Something English:
Finished model
In summary, it was an enjoyable and nostalgic build (remembering building one with my dad). Not too much wood carving and the Dremel tool was a big help in shaping the fenders. The box art touts "Easy to build" but I think I would have to disagree. Scratch building an engine and working bonnet (hood) added a little more complexity to this very basic kit. Sanding and priming for a good finish was a bit tedious and there was lots of down time waiting for filler and primer to dry. I painted the model to match the original white/red factory color scheme of my own TD. The model was honored with the "Theme Award" (Something English) at the April IPMS OC meeting.
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Something English:
Wills Finecast MG TD
Wills Finecast had a range of white metal sports car kits
Shortly after acquiring my full-size '52 TD in '95, I stopped by Paul Freiler's Historical Models store near work in Torrance looking for a model of one. Freiler's was a great little specialty shop with lots of imported and unusual kits (Several years ago I was in the South Bay and stopped by Freiler's; It was gone and a mattress store occupied the premises. Not sure when they closed but it's another hobby shop that bit the dust!).
Freiler's was a great little specialty shop
Freiler had a 1/24 scale white metal "Auto-Kit" by Wills Finecast. Bob Wills was a hobby shop owner in England who began producing locomotive kits (1955) and later branched out into model cars. He sold the business to South Eastern Finecast in 1987 and the MG TD is still in their catalog. So I won't have to feel guilty about building a collectible! The parts are high quality castings with only very fine mold. Parting marks and no flash. Assembling the 54 piece kit was not unlike a plastic kit, only the glue was different! 67
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Something English:
Instruction sheet
The instructions consist of an exploded view of the model, a parts list and a column of text; not very good for a beginner but an experienced car modeler should have no difficulties understanding how it goes together. I used epoxy for most of the assembly, especially where strength was needed (body and frame). CA glue came in handy for attaching small details. This kit was pretty much assembled during the down time waiting for paint to dry on the Ace kit!
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Something English: Wills Finecast Kit contents
Basic Body & Chassis components were Assembled with epoxy
I finished the model with Tamiya paint to match my TD's current red/black color scheme
Berkeley Models MG TF You old-timers probably remember Berkeley for their beautiful flying scale models and the full page and double-page ads in Model Airplane News magazine in the 1950s. Berkeley also made boat and car kits. Their car line included some very unusual subject matter like the Allard and Nash-Healey. These kits are collectible but are not hard to find; most sell for around $30. I lucked out at a Keller show and bought three TF kits as a bundle for $50. So I don't feel too guilty about building one! 69
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Something English:
Berkeley offered some unique model car kits
The kit includes a body that is machine carved from a block of balsa which the builder must trim and sand to final shape. Cast metal details, leatherette upholstery material, decals and hard rubber tires are included to complete the model.
Berkeley Kit contents
The body trimmed to final shape and primered. Working doors and fold-flat windshield are scratch built
Since this is an open car, I decided to add some extra detail to the interior. I also hinged the doors to open and close. A trick little feature of the T-series MGs was that the windshield could be folded flat for racing. I fabricated a hinged metal windshield frame for the model. 70
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Something English:
Finished model with detailed interior My brother owned a TF in the '60s. He was an avid surfer at the time and the sun and salt air ruined the paint; wet "baggies" (swim trunks), sand and carrying his surfboard in the passenger seat did a number on the leather interior. I painted the model like my brother's car, British Racing Green with a biscuit (tan) interior.
"Something English," two TDs and a TF. Thank you Derek for a motivational April contest theme! FR
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Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area Latest Changes to the clubs
Southern California Area Historical Miniatures Society SCAHMS Changed meeting days Meets the 2nd Saturday of every other Month Next meetings Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec La Quinta Inns & Suites 3 Centerpointe Dr. La Palma, CA 90623 Meeting from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Outcast Model Builders (Formerly the Tamiya Model Club hosted by Richard Poulsen) Meets: 2nd Friday of the month. 7:00 pm till whenever Location: 1558 "C" South Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, California. 92805 Contact: Derek Collins, [email protected] No dues, its FREEEEEEEEE but donations are always welcome!!
IPMS San Diego Model Car Club Meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month San Diego Auto Museum / Balboa Park 2080 Pan America Plaza San Diego, CA
IPMS Orange County Meets the 3rd Friday of each month La Quinta Inns & Suites 3 Centerpointe Dr. La Palma, CA 90623 Doors open at 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. Non-member fee $7 First visit free.
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Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area
IPMS Inland Empire Meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month Pegasus Hobbies 5515 Moreno Street Montclair, CA 91763 Doors open at 6:30 pm and go till about 9:00 pm There is no charge for first meeting then $5
Pasadena Scale Modelers Society Meets on the 4th Friday of each month American Legion Hall 179 N. Vinedo East Pasadena, CA Doors open 7:00 p.m. There is a $5 donation at the meeting
Pendleton AMPS Meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month The American Legion La Mesa Post # 282 8118 University Ave. La Mesa, Ca. 91944 Doors open at 11:00 a.m. to about whenever $5 dues which includes lunch [email protected] 951-805-2541
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Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Are
IPMS South Orange County The Insane Modeling Posse Meets on the 4th Saturday of each month The Home of the Insane Model Contest
Norman P. Murray Center 24932 Veterans Way Mission Viejo, CA 92692 Contact Terry Huber [email protected] This is a build session style meeting First meeting free then $5 dues 8:00 am till 2:00 pm
SoCal Amps Armor Modeling Preservation Society Meets the 2nd Saturday of each month Frye Sign Company 12818 Nutwood St. Garden Grove CA 4:00 p.m. to around 9:00 p.m. Bring some chairs. No-fee meeting
Ship Modelers Association – SMA Meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month American Red Cross Building 1207 N. Lemon St. Fullerton, CA 92835 In Hillcrest Park 7:00 p.m.
Sprue Cutters Model Club Brookhurst Hobbies Meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Brookhurst Hobbies 12188 Brookhurst Street Garden Grove, CA 92840 Phone: (714) 636-3580 No charge to attend [email protected]
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Model Club Meetings in the SoCal Area
IPMS San Diego Meets the last Friday of each month at Girl Scouts San Diego 1231 Upas St. San Diego, CA Use Richmond St. entrance to Upas Doors open at 6:30 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. Adult first visit is free and then $4.00
Secret Society of Model Builders Meets the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Game Empire 7051 Claremont Mesa Blvd Suite 306 San Diego, CA Doors open at 6:00 p.m. till about 9:00 p.m. Adults are $5
Los Angeles Miniaturists Society LAMS Meets the 1st Saturday of each month Veterans of Foreign Wars building 1006 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91506 Meeting starts around 9:00 a.m. till 12:30 Frequent demonstrations. Nonmember $5
Temecula Valley Model Club Meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month Kay Ceniceros Center 29995 Evans Road, Menifee, CA 92586 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon Contact [email protected]
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Upcoming Events
2017 IPMS National Convention IPMS Fort Crook host chapter July 26 to 29, 2017 LaVista Conference Center 12520 Westport Parkway, La Vista, NE 68128
On-line registration is now open. Check it out here if you are going: http://www.shopipmsusa.org/category-s/106.htm
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Upcoming Events Saturday June 3, 2017 IPMS San Diego & San Diego Model Car Club Present the Model Expo and Swap Meet San Diego Air & Space Museum Annex Gillespie Field, 335 Kenny St. El Cajon, CA 92020 Theme: The Desert and 50 Years Chevrolet Camaro. 9:00 am till about 4:30
Saturday June 24, 2017 SoCal Amps and IPMS South Orange County Insane Modeling Posse present the Insane Model Contest Norman P. Murray Community Center 24932 Veterans Way Mission Viejo, CA 92692 10:00 am to about 5:00 pm
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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IPMS ORANGE COUNTY Newsletter
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