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Due to health and safety concerns
regarding the possible spread of the
Corona Virus the Greenbelt Community
Center where we meet remains closed
to meetings and events.
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to MAMA's Diner, the official home
of the Maryland Automotive Modelers' Association (MAMA),
where we serve entrees of fun, friendship, and model cars.
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MAMA's current leadership team is:
President: Tim Powers
Vice-President: Dave Toups
Treasurer: Matt Guilfoyle
Newsletter Editor: Tim Sickle
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Notes from the MAMA President:
You've probably seen or heard the news
by now, the COVID numbers are getting better: the number
of cases is down, hospitalizations are down, deaths are
down, and the number of people who've been vaccinated is
increasing. Then the big news that came this weekend was:
"Governor Hogan Lifts Capacity Limits on Indoor and Outdoor
Venues, All Remaining Restrictions on Indoor and Outdoor
Dining As of May 15." The Governor also said "the state’s
indoor mask mandate will be lifted as soon as 70% of adults
receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine." All
his actions are part of his goal to get everything back
to normal by Memorial Day (May 31st.) Wow!
Now, with all this positive-leaning news
you might be thinking, "There's the light at the end of
the tunnel" or "Maybe we can get back to meeting in person
now." Well, maybe and maybe not. You see, the fact that
the Governor has lifted the restrictions just means that
the county executives in each county are now able to choose
to either lift or retain them for their particular counties.
Once the Governor's news came out, Matt
checked with the Greenbelt Community Center (GCC) to see
if there was any news on them reopening. Essentially, they
don’t have any plans to reopen. What they said was "A
date for resuming reservations at the Community Center has
not been determined, however, MAMA will be on the priority
list when we can offer opportunities." With the GCC
being located in Prince George's county and that county
being the hardest hit by COVID19 in Maryland it might still
be a while before they can reopen.
So what does that mean for MAMA? It means
we are right now seeking an alternative location that can
properly accomodate us, at least in the meantime, if not
permanently. As many of you know this is no easy task. Of
the many places that are available, most only come close
to meeting our requirements. We need the right combination
of enough space, parking availability, good lighting, accessibility
(e.g., ramps and elevators), included tables and chairs,
scheduling, and affordability that we need.
If you know of a facility in Maryland that
you think might be a viable option for MAMA meetings, let
us know at: Meeting Location Ideas.
When it comes to COVID vaccinations, several
members have told me that they've gotten theirs. Keep in
mind that the Governor said he'll lift the indoor mask restriction
when 70% of Maryland's population has been vaccinated, so
if you want mask-free meetings again, become part of that
70% and go get your vaccine as soon as you can.
While most people are not experiencing
any reactions to the vaccines, of those who do, most report
they are pretty mild (e.g., chills and lack of energy).
With each round of the Moderna vaccine that I got, I felt
tired all the next day. Of, course the three-hours drive
each time probably didn't do much for my energy levels.
If you don't know where to start in trying
to register for your COVID-19 vaccines, here are some resources
to try:
Vaccine
Hunters, MD
Vaccination Locations, Maryland
MASSVAX,
CVS Pharmacy,
Giant Food,
Rite Aid, Safeway/Albertson's,
Walgreens,
Walmart
To register at the MASSVAX sites:
For those who are veterans, Les Whitfield
of Chicago wrote to let us know that shots are available
at Veteran's Administration (VA) hospitals across the nation.
Thanks for the information, Les!
And at least some of the MASSVAX sites
are accepting walk-ups a couple days each week. These include
the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis (Walk-Ups:
Wednesday-Sunday, 9 am- 3 pm, except on days of large sporting
events) and the M&T bank Stadium in Baltimore (200 walk-up
vaccination slots will be available each day from 10 am
to 2 pm, seven days a week, excluding Orioles day game date.)
Whenever we can resume
in-person meetings, I want to see you there. Please take
care and stay healthy.
Scenes from our fifteenth pseudo-virtual meeting
in May:
Due to public health and safety concerns and Maryland
State restrictions on gatherings aimed at preventing
the potential spread of the Corona Virus, the Greenbelt
Community Center where we meet has been closed to meetings
since March, 2020. We have had really good results over
the previous months with members and friends sending
us photos and descriptions of the model cars they would
have brought if we'd had physical meetings, or just
any model cars or projects they wanted to share. This
month we're doing it again.
Paul Lee is first in this month with a handful
of 1930's Fords. First is his build of Revell's 1932
Rat Roaster, next is his gold and bronze Monogram 1930
Touring Car, followed by his blue and white Revell 1932
Three Window Coupe, then his red and silver 1932 Five
Window Coupe, followed by his take on Revell's Dan Fink
Speedwagon.
Bob Dudek wrapped up this sharp-looking Revell
1956 Chevy Del Ray kit. He painted it with Tamiya TS-39
Mica Red over Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black.
Ted Bonar's daughter bought him this Aoshima
Honda CB400T Hawk II kit in 2012, mostly because he
wanted a real one and to keep him from being a danger
to himself. This last winter he got back to it in earnest
and finished it just last week - only nine years later!
Now that Bruce Black is retired, he finally
had the time to finish this “Shelf Queen,” a Revell
1959 Chevy Impala hardtop custom. He said it was probably
sitting on his shelf for 4-5 years. Everything was finished
except for the body. It’s a very nice kit. It included
a super nice set of decals. He was originally thinking
about putting the purple flame decal on the hood but
then he decided that it looked better with the clean
look! The only body decal he used was the “Teen Angel”
decal on the Continental cover. The body color is Tamiya
pearl white (TS-45) from a rattle can. The accent color
is airbrushed Colors by Boyd purple pearl (#52701) on
the engine block, roof top, and the trunk lid. He also
brushed that same Boyd color on the interior door panels.
Bruce used Detail Master grey spark plug wiring, Model
Car Garage spark plug wire looms, Detail Master purple
flocking, and of course, we cannot forget the MAMA license
plates! Bruce says he was very happy with how it turned
out. Now he's on to his next model project.
Joe Bush Sent photos of his latest projects.
The AMT 1967 Firebird in the planning/beginning stages.
His desired color choice is 'Tiger Gold'. The MPC 1967
Toronado is a current work in progress with interior
and foiling details remaining. The AMT 1991 Camaro Z/28
is a 'Snap Kit' current work in progress with interior
and blackout details remaining. Lastly, the MPC '71
Challenger R/T is painted but needs to be sanded, rubbed
out, buffed, and foiled to complete body.
Cary Buter Has just about completed his 1966
GTO all the remains to be done is the driver's side
door handle (it broke when he was drilling it out to
add a .031 mount pin) and the side view mirror. The
1960 Chevrolet Pickup is his next project in the works.
He's going to use the stock 6cyl as is because it brought
back memories of the first engine he ever did: he had
a 1961 Belair back in 1970 that his father-in-law gave
him. He swapped out the tired 235 6cyl for a rebuilt
engine, not knowing what he was doing. He said it was
a nightmare due to an incorrect pilot bushing on the
nrebuilt engine, but with the service of a real shop
they managed to "git 'er done" and he learned
a lot.
Cary's brother Steve Buter built a GTO of his
own - a Monogram 1964 GTO, built straight from the box.
The color is Krylon Colormax Gloss Sun Yellow, straight
from the can. The trophy-bearer is a figure he got from
a vendor at the most recent National Capitol Toy Soldier
Show (N. Va. area) held in September 2019.
I believe this figure is some rendering of a Preiser
figure meant for "O' scale trains, approximately
1/22 scale. The guy is Masterbox's Stan "Long Haul"
Johnson, presented here as Mike Nomad from the gone
but not forgotten Steve Roper comic strip, a hard-nosed,
rough 'n tumble itinerant loner (thus the last name
"Nomad") and perpetual babe magnet. Steve
employed some sheet styrene to give this 1/25th scale
figure some "lift" so he stands about level
with his lady friend. Mike Nomad hang with a woman taller
than he? Perish the thought!
If you were at our last in-person club meeting in Greenbelt
back in February 2020, you might remember Steve's "Mod
Rod" model based on one of AMT's various reissues
of the Barris Ala Kart. He got the kit as a door prize
at the very last Toledo NNL in October 2019. He placed
the car on some scratchbuilt blacktop with a stop line
and crosswalk, put a Fujimi driver figure behind the
wheel, and added a winsome lassie by YUFAN who "accidentally"
dropped her hot-pink purse and Valentine's Day candy
right in front of the guy.
Cary's other brother Kevin Buter has finished
this 1/8th scale Pocher 1907 130 HP Fiat. The year this
car was manufactured, it won the French Grand Prix.
Quite a victory for Fiat.
Rick Martin shared an old build of his. Based
on Revell's 1/25th scale model released back in 1987,
it's a replica of "Big Daddy" Don Garlits'
Swamp Rat XXX dragster that won NHRA's Top Fuel Championship
in 1986. "Big" said the canopy (now common
on today's dragsters) and small front wheels under the
streamlined nose helped him push his dragster thru an
aerodynamic hole. However, once the front went up, that
nose piece led to an iconic blowover at Englishtown
that same year. The engine is fully wired and plumbed,
as is the enclosed cockpit. It is painted Testor's Gloss
Black & clear coated, with all of the kit's decals.
Rick recalls it being a fun build.
MAMA's founding father, Norman Veber, sent in
these photos he took at this month's Fire
Museum gathering.
Hope your May cookies were tasty.
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