IPMS Livonia presented its annual model display, and hosted a kids make & take during the month of March 2008.   The club has been doing this for a number of years, and has found it to be a mutually satisfying event.   The display is in a small freestanding white-framed glass case, near the main desk, and this year offered a movie theme.   Subjects that ranged from the Titanic to the Spirit of St Louis to Godzilla were on display, and showed a good variety of our different hobby categories.

The display was set up March 1st, and culminated on March 29th with a club hosted kids make & take.   The make & take event was very well attended with well over twenty kids participating, and the library was pleased, and is eager to have us back again.   However, there was some talk about moving the event to a fall month, to try to encourage modeling during the long winter season.   Details for the next display will be posted when available.   The club was pretty busy that day as it also hosted a morning make & take event at the new Nankin Hobby store in Farmington.   That event also was very well attended, and its likely more will be scheduled.   Stay tuned.   Thanks to Steve, Mike, Bob, Ian, and Ed for taking time out of their day to put on these events.

Another loss for Michigan IPMS Livonia bids farewell to another former member by R. Forys Well it is official.   I have just learned that Stewart Bailey, former IPMS Livonia member and officer, and current Deputy Director of Education at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo is leaving the state to become the new Chief Curator for the Evergreen Air & Space Museum.   The museum, located in McMinnville, Oregon, about a half-hour southwest of Portland, is the home of the Howard Hughes Spruce Goose. Stu tells me, "It's a great museum with 120,000 sq. feet of aircraft and a second 120,000 sq. foot building for (Aero) Space, with an IMAX theater in between.   They have over 80 aircraft including a B-17, P-51D, P-40N, P-38J, Bf-109G-10, Spitfire XVI, B-25J, A-26, DeHavilland Vampire, Dh-4, D-17A Staggerwing, Curtiss CW-22 Falcon, SR-71A with D-21 Drone, A-4E, F-102, F-14, A-7D, T-2C, UH-1, AH-1, F-5E, C-47 & a DC-3, Ford Trimotor, a Mig-29 Fulcrum, lots of helicopters and of course, the Spruce Goose."   "They're getting a F-105 Wild Weasel and a F-106 next month.   Oh yeah, they also have running Russian armor including a T-34/76, a T-34/85, a T-55 and lots of armored cars.   I'm going to see if I can get my tank drivers license."   Stu also said that there are IPMS Chapters in both Portland and Salem, and that the Portland group does an annual contest at the museum in September, just like Kalamazoo. I first learned of this being a possibility at this year's SEMMEX show, where I ran into Stu, and he informed me that the Air Zoo had placed two of their prized Grumman aircraft up for sale.   Both fairly recent flyers, the F8F Bearcat is listed with Courtesy Aircraft Sales for 1.8 million, and the F7F Tigercat is going for 1.3 million.   This would break up one of the most complete collections of Grumman fighters that I am aware of.   Could this be the beginning of the end for the beautiful Kalamazoo facility?   I don't know, but there are those who felt that the writing was on the wall when the museum stopped flying their aircraft, because of insurance costs, and instead opted to spend millions of dollars to build the new museum with the aircraft forever sealed inside.   Only time will tell the future of this situation, but all and all, it sounds like another loss for Michigan.   Stewart asked me to "Give my best to all the gang in the club!"   Good luck to you Stewart, we will miss you.

Model of the Month Notice:

This year, 2008, unlike most years, our bi-monthly internal model contest will be held on the EVEN months, Feb. Apr. Jun. Aug. Oct. Dec.   This change was prompted by the need to hold a business meeting in Jan. Please adjust your calendars accordingly.

On Saturday February 2nd, IPMS Livonia joined in a celebration to open the new Nankin Hobby store in Farmington, MI by presenting a finished model display.   A good number of members showed up to present a wide variety of subjects, and discuss the hobby with curious customers.   Club members also passed out flyers and encouraged those interested to attend a regular meeting.

For the opening, the shop offered a 20 percent discount on model kits and paint, and also had a raffle, but the huge 16 x 5 foot HO slot car track proved to be a bigger hit with the kids.   Among the visitors was Mr. Eldred Mason, from Bare Metal Foil, who also brought in his 2-seat F-102 conversion to share with us.   Car and foot traffic was steady all day, and the shop was very pleased by the turnout.

The store, on Nine Mile Road, just east of Farmington, has easy access from the M-5 freeway, and is very spacious, but unlike their Garden City Hardware / Hobby store sells only hobby supplies.   Besides a good selection of kits, the store also serves interests from RC to die-cast and from coins to scout supplies.   Thanks to all the club members that showed up, and helped to make this a fun event, and thanks also to Nankin Hobby for their hospitality.   Maybe we can do this again sometime?

Meeting Location Reminder!

Until Further Notice, our temporary summer meeting location, the Old Livonia Pierson Elementary School, Room #5, on 32625 Seven Mile Road, East of Farmington Road will become our permanent location. All future meetings will be held here unless posted differently. Meeting days and times will remain on the second Tuesday of the month at 8:00 PM.

Came across the IPMS website while looking for something else.   Saw the P51B decorated in Bob Barkey's colors.   I am Bob's oldest son.   (His P47 was named "Thunderbolt Lad" after me.   Bob is still alive almost 88) and living in California.   His health is not good, but he still has the "Look of the Eagle" in his eye.   He continued to fly into his 70's until his health grounded him.   I sure if he could still climb into a P51, he could still fly it.   I think that in all of the times I flew with him, when he landed, I never felt the wheels touch the ground.   For such a big guy, he had a gentle touch with an airplane. One note about the P51.   When the 325th FG transitioned from P-47's to P-51's, Bob was nearly transferred to bombers since he was almost 6' 4".   He fought to stay in fighters since he had 4 kills and wanted to make Ace.   His crew chief tore the seat adjuster out of his plane and welded the seat to the floor as far back as it would go.   I guess it worked! Nice looking model.   I'm glad someone chose those colors. Bob E.

2008 Model of the Month Standings After Two Contests

#1	Paul R.	16
#2	Ian D.	14
#3	Mark H.	9
#4	Bob B.	8
#5	Ed F.	6
#6	Steve F.	4
#7	Jerry F.	3
#7	Larry S.	3
#7	Tim H.	3

Juniors

#1

Travis B.

26

2007 Model of the Month Final Standings

#1	Ian D.	52
#2	John K.	22
#3	Paul R.	16
#3	Mark H.	16
#4	Ed F.	15
#5	Rick F.	13
#6	Jim A.	5
#7	Larry S.	4
#8	Bob B.	3

Juniors

#1

Travis B.

68

New champions reign supreme!   Congratulations to our new Champs, Ian "It Figures" Dow and Travis "Blaster" Blevins.