PLASTIC SURGEONS

September 26, 2010: Folks, we're pretty much operating on Status Quo. Not much to report. Nothing new on the Veteran's Day display. The Make-n-Take event at the Iowa Historical Society was a success. There were 60 kits and a total of 56 kids came out. The IHS has asked that the clubs come back for a repeat event. Lastly for now, a big congrats to both the Twin Cities Aero Historians for Nordic-Con and to the Surgeons who took home awards.

August 26, 2010: Again, not a large update. Just a small recap from last time. The 2011 Group Build was postponed until another time. The Veteran's Day display is a go. More details later on that one. And Nordic-Con is fast approaching.

August 12, 2010: Not a large update. After a report back from the Nationals in Phoenix, and a discussion of the subject, the club decided to cancel it's group build for the 2011 Nationals in Omaha. The decision was made after talking with members from the Clubs entering the 2010 Nats. Plans are still in the works for a Veteran's Day display. The club voice is to put on the display on the actual day, as opposed to the weekend. Lastly, an update on Chuck Sterns. Chuck was released from hospice care and is currently home. He is still recovering, however he is doing better.

August 5, 2010: Well, by now you might have noticed the updates are coming monthly instead of bi-weekly. As we in this hobby know, summer is the off season. As such, there simply hasn't been enough going on to update after each meeting. Truthfully, there are only a couple updates for now. First, the club is going ahead with the group build project for the 2011 Nationals. The chosen theme is Vietnam Allied Armor: '65-'75. Any 1/35 scale armor that was used by the allied forces in Vietnam during the given years is allowed. Club members need to get their build choice to Scott, who is keeping track of what all we have covered [so we dont end up with 15 M113's and 1 tank]. We are also currently discussing using a single paint brand/color for the armor. So if you're driving right along in your builds, I recommend holding off on paint until the club decides what we are going to do.

The second update is on one of our fellow club members. As some may know, Chuck Sterns has not been in the best of health for a while now. Recently, Chuck was admitted to the hospital following a fall. He suffered a broken rib. After several days in the hospital, Chuck was moved to hospice care. As of typing this, he is doing a bit better. He has been able to sit up in bed, his color is looking a bit better, and reports are that he is more lucid and alert. The hope is that he will soon be able to return home.

July 3, 2010: First let me wish everyone a Happy 4th of July! Let us all remember what this day stands for. Some may have noticed the lack of both the Doc Talk and web updates after the last meeting. Well, the meeting was very small and basically consisted of just eh Show-n-Tell. So I decided to merge it with this update. Again, not too much this time. Everything is set for the BBQ. We have a total of 50lbs of ribs that will be cooked up in the smokers. The club finally picked a theme for the group build. For more info on that, check the latest Doc Talk. And that's about it. Like I said, not too much. But remember, this is the summer, and thats usually when the hobby takes a slight vacation.

June 4, 2010: Well, in case you couldn't tell, the updates aren't much anymore. This page will start to cover more of the main news updates, while detailed news can be found in the Doc Talk. Currently, the club is getting ready for it's annual cookout. this year it will be at Greg's house. Cost is $5 per person and attendees are asked to bring a dish to share, as well as what they would like to drink. Silverware, cups, ice, etc will be provided. Please RSVP as soon as possible to make sure we have enough meat for everyone. The club will also be voting soon on the theme for the club group build. We are currently narrowed down to six choices. Check the Doc Talk for a list. Lastly, the club voted to go ahead with the trophy package presented by VP Scott Staudt. For now...the trophy designs will be kept hush hush.

May 20, 2010: Not too much this time around. The Club had some discussion of the 2011 Surgicon. The date has been set and the venue paid for. We are currently looking at trophies and some changes here and there. More on that later. Kevin Iutzeler gave us a run-down of the event at the Iowa Historical Society. There were 9 members of the two clubs in attendance. The display case is located on the north side of the Main floor, next to the Shawn Johnson case. Its a great display, so stop out and see it. The club voted on a proposal by Ross Petra to follow a set agenda in an effort to shorten the meetings a bit [and get to the plastic sooner]. Meeting items should be sent to Ross in advance to be placed on the agenda. Last minute items that need to be addressed prior to the following meeting will be allowed. Well, that's about it for now. tune in next time for more.

May 6, 2010: ELECTION TIME!! That's right, its the 2nd meeting after Surgicon and thus, Elections. This year there was only one change in the elections, Scott Staudt has been elected Vice-President. Now, in past years, the VP has only really been used when the President was unable to attend a meeting. The Surgeons recently voted to extend the VP office to include the role of Contest Chairman. So congrats to Scott and welcome to the officer's club. Oh yeah...new guy buys. In other news, the Surgeons recently attended the contest up in Cedar Rapids. Out of 30 models entered, the Surgeons took home 27 awards. Congrats to all. Not too much more this entry. Stay tuned for more.

ELECTIONS:

President -Ross Petra

Vice President -Scott Staudt

Secretary -Rob Folden

Treasurer -Greg Metge

2010 Flea-Con

IPMS Alexander Lippisch hosted their annual Flea-Con on May 1st in Cedar Rapids, IA. About 200 models were present. Eight Surgeons were in attendance, with seven entering models. We also had one Surgeon enter in absentia. Surgeons entered a total of 30 models, taking home 27 awards.

Chuck Sterns

Gold –T-39D Saberliner

Chris Rhiner

Gold –Messa-schnitzel

Silver –F-14 Eggplane

Ross Petra

Gold –Panzerjager I, German MG gunner, & Fw-190-A8

Joe Lotz

Silver –Panzer III-J, Leopard 2A5, ZTZ-99A1, & British 2pdr.

Rob Folden

Best Armor –Marder III-M

Gold –Harrier II & Klingon BOP

Scott Staudt

Silver –M51 Isherman, T-19 motor gun carriage, & A43 Black Prince Churchill

Bronze –Canadian Otter

Ray Powers

Silver –M24 Chaffee & FJ-4B Fury

Bronze –V2 Rocket & IDF Centurion

Greg Metge

Best Diorama & People’s Choice–Tiger Behind Schedule

Gold –Captured Bedford Truck & Fw-190

Silver –Guillotine.

Due to a glitch in judging, Rob’s Bf-110E was not announced as a winner, however Chuck Kucera later confirmed it did receive a Bronze.

April 22, 2010: The first meeting after the contest is always a nervous one. Did we make, lose, or break even on the budget? How was the feedback? So many questions to answer. This year we once again had good news. Financially, this year's Surgicon earned an additional $144.36 to the budget. So far, the feedback has been excellent. This meeting brought some discussion on judging for next year's event. As well as discussion on changes to the categories and awards. All discussions were tabled to a later date, so stay tuned for more information. The club did, however, unanimously [including Rhiner] vote to hold Surgicon 2011. After a discussion with RC5 Kelly Quirk, there was some talk about the IPMS contest scheduling guidelines. We will make sure to hold to these [as always].

There was a bit of debate on the current meeting structure. This debate began at the beginning of the month, and was finally decided upon. From this point forward, meetings will begin at 7pm. This will allow us to get through business earlier and give everyone a chance to participate in Show-n-Tell. There has also been talk of enacting an unofficial time limit to Show-n-Tell to allow us to get done with meetings a bit earlier. We had a brief recap of the Kansas City contest. Several members were present and all took home awards. Club elections are set for May 6th. I recommend all members try to attend. We have a nasty habit of electing those who aren't there to defend themselves. ;) We are still looking into possibilities for the annual cook out.

April 11, 2010: First I would like to thank all who attended yesterday's event. It was a great show, and everyone had a great time. And lets face it, that's the main reason we go to shows. To see everyone else's work, get ideas for our own projects, and the camaraderie. And we had plenty of all three yesterday. We had 167 models entered. Pictures are now up in the gallery, and a complete winners list is on the contest page. Again, thanks to everyone who came out and congratulations to all the winners.

April 8, 2010: As of this minute, we are less than 24 hours from the contest [today is Friday]. It looks like everything is in place and ready to go. Not much to go over from the meeting. It was suggested that we move the meetings to 7pm, with show-n-tell beginning at 7:30pm. This would allow those who have to leave early to share their work and see everyone else's work before they leave. The website is now over 1000 hits for this year, and we are viewed in over 24 countries. A note on the Doc Talk, there will not be a Doc Talk for this meeting, instead there will be a special issue after the contest.

March 25, 2010: Only a couple weeks left until SURGICON. Final preparations are being made. We hope to see everyone there!!

OMACON 2010: IPMS Fort Crook hosted their annual Omacon contest on March 20th in Council Bluffs, IA. There were a total of about 180 models present. Including juniors, 10 Surgeons were in attendance for the event. Surgeons entered a total of 44 models, and took home 40 awards.

Chris Rhiner- 2rd-Jolly Roger F-14 Eggplane

Mike Seek: 2nd-USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A, 3rd- Frog Man, Avatar gunship, and Japanese Sub.

Scott Staudt- 1st- Blood Ravens Veteran, 2nd- 1/72 Churchill, 1/48 IDF Super Sherman, 3rd-1/35 T19 Motor Carriage

Grant Staudt- Juniors 1st- T26E3 Pershing

Garrett Staudt- Juniors 2nd- Quad Gun Truck

Greg Metge- 3rd- P-51D, 1st- Type VIIC U-96, Tiger 1 509th, Captured Bedford Truck, JG 27 Africa diorama, Behind Schedule Tiger I Diorama. Also Best Armor and Judge's Grand for the Bedfor Truck and People's Choice for Behind Schedule.

Joe Lotz- 3rd- Panzer IIIJ, 2nd- Leopard 2A5, 1st- T-34/76, M1126 Stryker

Ross Petra- 3rd- Panzerjaeger I, 2nd- Wespe, Sd.Kfz.2501/11, Fw-190 A-8

Rob Folden- 3rd- Elefant, X-craft, Wildwulf, 2nd- Panzer zum Verkauf, KZKT-537L, Marder IIIM, 1st- Landing on Vulcan, Harrier II, StuG IV, 3in Ordnance Rifle.

March 11, 2010: Less than a month to go till SURGICON 2010. The Surgeons are making final preparations. The awards are here, forms are printed, and things are just about ready to go.

February 26, 2010: Not much here this time. This week's meeting was devoted to the judging seminar. A big thanks to Greg for conducting the seminar, and to those who brought in models that, lets face it, probably wouldn't have been seen otherwise. Kevin is still working to get some events arranged with the State Historical Society. It looks like they are welcome to several possibilities including a Make-n-Take and even a contest. Donations have started to roll in. We've now received donations from Lindberg, Revell, Thiesen in Ames, and Mayhem Hobbies in Ames. So a big thanks to all of them. Awards should be here soon [hopefully by next meeting]. Well, that's about it for this time.

February 11, 2010: To start things off, I'd like to congratulate IPMS Zumbo Valley for a great contest. They announced attendance of over 300 models. I'd also like to congratulate the Surgeons, who took home 20 awards total. The next contest is Omacon in a little over 1 month. In Surgeon Contest news, the club voted to re-designate the Best Aircraft award as the Tom Bly Memorial Award. 1And speaking of awards, they have been ordered. Donation letters were sent out, and items have already come in from Lindberg. A programming note, the next meeting is the first of two judges meetings. This meeting will be to go over the forms and will include a small seminar on what to look for when judging. For this reason, we are asking members to refrain from brining show-n-tell for this meeting.

January 28, 2010: Not much new here. The contest invites have been sent out. Stage 1 Website upgrades are complete. Stage II will be coming in a few months. It looks like we have a rather large group heading up to Rochester. Current numbers look like about 8 members planning to head up for the invasion...er...contest. Not much else to report. We should have much more after the Rochester contest.

January 14, 2010: Happy New Year!!! Well, the first meeting of the new year was a long one. Stretching nearly 3 hours, there were tons of business, models, and a good attendance. First things first, for those who have yet to pay, memberships dues need to be in by the end of the month. Most in attendance tonight are now paid up. Second, contest news. The Feb 25th and Mar 25th meetings will be Contest Committee meetings. On Feb 25th we will be going over the new forms for this year, as well as a brief over-view of the judging process. On Mar 25th, we will do a mock contest so that everyone knows how things will work on the day of. This will include actually judging some models so everyone knows that to look for, awarding points, and generally how everything will run. Everyone planning on judging at this year's contest needs to be at these meetings. If you're not....I can't say cause this is a family website. But don't you worry, they know what's comin'. Oh yes they do! LOL In Regional news, we'd like to welcome Kelly Quirk as our new Region 5 Coordinator. Kelly is a great guy and VERY talented modeler from the KC area, and was also the 2009 Nationals People's Choice and Judge's Grand Champion winner. Also in Regional news, we have been nominated for the Website of the Year. Being the webmaster, I feel very honored by this, as this is also our fourth year of having a website. In other news, it looks like we are now just about 75% National Membership, with four National Review Corps members. And lastly, it looks like we have a rather good sized group heading up to Rochester next month for the "Hope It Don't snow" contest. Let's hope we all can stay out of trouble....you know who you are.

December 20, 2009: One more year down. That makes 15 for the Surgeons. This has been a rough year. We've lost a friend, moved several times, and faced a national recession, and yet we are still going strong!! Our new meeting location at Dahl's is working out great. The facility is excellent, plenty of food available, and in turn Dahl's is pleased to have us. We now have an official name to the annual contest: SURGICON. Several others were discussed, but the group unanimously decided. In other news, we have received our 2010 charter. The club held its Christmas party on Dec 17th. This year we had 16 members in attendance, which is almost full strength. We had a great cake made for the event. The gift exchange was great, with some very nice gifts. A good time was had by all, and now we enter into a nearly month long hiatus before meetings resume on Jan 14th. See you then!!!

October 28, 2009: We now have a new meeting location. We will be meeting at the Dahl's in Ankeny. They have a nice conference room they have allowed us to use. The address is 1802 N. Ankeny Blvd. This is on the north end of town, past the high school. This is also where we we hold our annual Christmas Party. This year it will be on Dec. 17th. More details to follow.

Additionally, the contest page is now up and running with online registration available.

October 22, 2009: Well, we haven't had an update in a while, but we didn't really have all that much to update. So here we go. We have been getting things ready for the upcoming spring contest. We've got the word out on the internet forums and sites, and we are working to get our ad out in the upcoming IPMS/USA Journal. Also in contest business, the IPMS Hawkeye's held their 40th Anniversary contest on Sept. 19th. The Surgeons made a good showing and took home several awards in just about every category. Congrats go to Ross, Joe, Tony, Mike, and Rob. If I missed anyone, please let me know. The KC crew also held their annual IPMS/AMPS contest. This year Mike, Greg, Ross, Dave, and Scott went down. And the winners are:

-Dave Clarke: Silver -Jeep GPA

-Scott Staudt: Silver-M988 IED Gun Truck, Marder II, M4A3 Israeli Sherman with dozer blade. Bronze-M151A2 Mutt.

-Ross Petra: Gold-SdKfz 250/8. Silver-Pak 43/41

Greg Metge: Gold, Best Diorama, AMPS Best of Show- "653rd in Italy" Elefant diorama. Gold-U-boat. Silver-German 88 Emplacement.

Congratulations go out to the four of them. Way to make a showing. Also, we would like to send out a get well to Rob, who recently had reconstructive surgery on his knee. After a brief scare and stay in the hospital, Rob is home and doing well. we are still looking for a new home. Ross and Joe went scouting recently for some new locations. All should be discussed and possibly voted on at the next meeting. That's it for now. Happy Modeling.

August 28, 2009: Ok, we've got a lot to cover, so let's get started. In club business, the 16th Annual Contest has been set for April 10th, 2010 at the Valley Free Church. This is a return to our old venue, as the Waukee location did not work out this year. the return to the old venue also allows us to do away with the walk through fee. It looks like we will continue the GSB judging format, with the same 10 categories as before. More information will be available as the committee finalizes everything. In another move, the club has voted unanimously to hold all meetings at the conference room at Hobby town in Ankeny. This is a win-win situation for both Hobby Town and the club. A meeting schedule, as well as flyers/brochures are available at Hobby Town.

In National news, Denny, Rob and Greg were all in attendance at the 2009 Nationals in Columbus, OH. We all had a great time. Rob picked up two Premier awards for his Ambassador Spock [figure] and his 1/48 F-16I Sufa. Look for pictures of both to be added to the gallery. While Greg exercised restraint, Rob and Denny went nuts, filling the back of a minivan with goodies from the vendor rooms. While Rob is supplementing his collection, Denny is striving to amass a lifetime collection in only a few months. He is a shining beacon of the model community.

June 10, 2009: Ok, so there hasn't been an update in a while. But fear not, we are still around and kicking. Not too much has transpired since the last update. A contest committee was established to plan for the 2010 contest. They will be tasked with organizing and training judges, flyers, raffle, and all that fun stuff that goes with contests. The committee consists of Scott Stout, Greg Metge, Rob Folden, and Joe Lotz. The contest date has tentatively been set for April 10th, 2010. In other news, Bill Bzdawka has established a blog site: http://www.theabroadsurgeon.blogspot.com There he will keep a running blog on his builds of figures and armor. There is also a nice mention of the Surgeons. In other news, Joe and Ross have arranged a model exhibit at the Museum in Maxwell, IA on Aug. 8th. This will be a way to promote not only the hobby, but also the club. Informational brochures are being printed up for this, and other events planned for the future. Not much else to update on, however before I close, I would like to offer an update on our friend Don Barry. Don is recovering well from his hip surgery, and is up and about and back at meetings! Great to see you back Don!

May 22, 2009: Elections were held last night for the Surgeons. Ross Petra was elected President and Tony Ellis- Vice-President. Greg Metge remains the "Treasurer for Life". In a bit of a change, the Offices of Webmaster and Secretary were merged, as members felt that the Webmaster was already fulfilling the duties of the Secretary, via the website. So Rob Folden [that's me] will now hold both positions. rob will also act as the Surgeon's new IPMS/USA Chapter Contact. In other news, the Surgeons received a very nice engraved plaque from IPMS/USA for 2008 Chapter of the Year. A copy of the plaque is now on the main page of the site, just above the site logo.

May 18, 2009: Just a small update today. Pictures from both the 2008 and 2009 Surgeon contests are now up for viewing. Likewise, the winners lists from Cedar Rapids and Omacon are up on the main page. For both contests, Surgeons that entered, won. Look for a further update later this month, as the end of the month meeting will bring annual elections.

April 26, 2009: Well, the contest is officially over. Although not as well attended as past contests, there were still over 200 entries, a massive raffle [we actually ran out of tickets and had to get more], and a vendor room that was utterly packed with models. Nearly 100 awards were given out. And despite the weather, the response from attendees was a resounding "Job well done!!!" A full list of winners can be found HERE. Additionally, to we have decided to put up a permanent memorial to our friend, Tom Bly, here at the site. Those who wish to share memories and thoughts may still do so.

April 11, 2009: Today we morn the loss of a friend. Tom Bly, a long time IPMS member and one of the Founding Surgeons, passed away last night after a long and hard battle with illness.

In other business, final preparations are being made for the upcoming contest. Trophies are due to be picked up this next week, and certificates for the Juniors are being done up as we speak. The votes are in for the 2009 Surgeon of the Year. The recipient will be announced at the contest on April 25th. Stay tuned for more info. And tom, we will miss you, my friend.

March 28, 2009: Well, only a month left until the 15th Annual Surgeon contest. And things are coming together nicely. We have received several donations, including Revell, Dremel, Sprue Brothers, and many more. The raffle is shaping up to be a good one. The trophies and medals have been ordered. Now, its just the finishing details. And speaking of contests, we just had the IPMS Region 5 contest. Rob and Greg were the only Surgeons to enter, with Greg taking home two awards for diorama and armor. Great job Greg! But the big winner, or winners, were the Plastic Surgeons!!!! Winner of the 2008 Regional Chapter of the Year!!! The contest was a great one, and the raffle was second only to Nat's. Everyone who bought tickets took home some great prizes.

Another big congratulations goes out to our president, Ed, who recently received his 2nd Lieutenant bars with the US Army. Ed has served with distinction as a Ranger, and now serves the Iowa Army National Guard as a tank battalion commander. Once again, Congratulations, LT!!!

Programming Note: Meetings are now alternated between Hobby Town in Ankeny, and FedEx/ Kinko's in WDM. Please check the meeting schedule under EVENTS to see when the next meeting is, and where.

FEBRUARY 1, 2009: Lately we've been having Bi-monthly updates in the news section, but with the beginning of CONTEST SEASON, updates should be a bit more frequent. There has been a bit more changes in the surgeons. We have moved to our new meeting location at the Hobby Town, in Ankeny, IA. This location features a conference room upstairs that we use for the meetings, with a large table and great lighting to see the models. This location is also great, as it is about equal distance for those coming from West Des Moines, and those coming from the Ames area. In past news, the Surgeons and Hawkeyes put on a model demonstration at the State Historical Building. It was a good event, and both groups have been invited back. Contest talk is the current events of the meetings. New categories have been decided upon, as well as a switch to Gold/Silver/Bronze from the traditional Place trophies. This change accompanies the new judging guidelines which judge a model not on opinion, or against other models, but just on the model itself and its construction. This judging system was witnessed first hand this past weekend, when several members attended the "Hope it doesn't Snow" contest in Rochester, MN. And Snow it did not. the weather was great, and the contest was a lot of fun. Four Surgeons entered models, and all took home awards. More information can be found on the main page of the site. The surgeons also had their annual gift exchange this past month, however this year it was voted that the models be sent overseas to the troops, still wrapped. This marks the 3rd shipment of kits/supplies that the Surgeons have sent to the troops. And we hope and pray that they come home safely soon. That's it for now, stay tuned for more updates!!

NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER: Well, we close out another year for the Surgeons. Our final meeting is over, and all that's left is the Christmas Party. This years' party will be held at the Stadium Bar & Grill on EP True in WDM. This is where EP True turns into Railroad, at Grand. They have great food and drinks, and we will hold a gift exchange among the members. All who wish to participate need to bring a WRAPPED model kit. Each kit will be assigned a number, and then we will draw numbers. On the business side of things, we have begun preliminary planning for the contest. There has been talk of condensing the categories a bit more, as well as revamping of the begging letters. Once the new year begins, we will hit this full strength and take no prisoners!!! And speaking of the new year, we also have a new meeting place. Frank, owner of Hobby Town in Ankeny, has graciously offered to let us use his upstairs conference room. Its a bit bigger than our current meeting place, and features a fireplace!! The meeting times have also changed, we will now meet at 7pm, instead of 730. This gives us a bit of shopping time before the meetings, as Frank closes down and heads home at 7. We would like to again extend a huge thank you to Frank and his wife for letting us use their space. On December 13th, members from both the Surgeons and the Hawkeye Modelers will combine forces and present a model show and demo at the State Historical Society. Kevin Iutzler from the Hawkeyes is organizing he event, which should be a good time for all. I mean, showing off your work AND getting to work on a model at the same time? Can't beat that! We'd like to wish everyone a wonderful Holiday season. Stay safe. And we'll see you back here next year!!

AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER: Time for another update!!! A lot has been going on, not the least of which is the changing of our meeting place. That's right, folks, no more Great hobby Adventures. Greg has finally decided to retire. So as of the end of September, we bid farewell to our home for the last decade or so. Our new meeting place will be the FedEx Kinko's on University, across from Home Depot. Its a wonderful location, and the meeting room features a large conference table, allowing everyone a great view of all the models. Our final GHA meeting will be Sept 25th. On other notes, we have paid for the venue for the next contest. The price went up a bit, but not too much. Many thanks go to our Pres, Ed Sarnecki for brokering that deal. And speaking of Ed, he spearheaded a campaign to send some kits and supplies overseas to Iraq. We sent two large boxes of kits and supplies to The Iraq Model Network. This is a network of model clubs for our troops deployed overseas and is a prominent feature of both IPMS USA and Finescale Modeler. Ed got in contact with SFC Steven DeLong of Central Command, who acts as the distribution officer for both of our overseas operations. These kits and supplies will help our troops scratch that modeling itch. And trust me, you do get the itch. I've been there. lol Anyway, thats it for now, stay tuned for futher updates!!

If you would like to help support our troops, kit and supply donations can be sent to:

Baghdad Model Club

JUNE/ JULY 2008: Well, we had our annual BBQ. This is the last BBQ at the store. Don provided us, once again, with mouth watering and gut stuffing delicious BBQ'ed meat. I know I stuffed myself. We'd like to thank all who came, and of course those who brought goodies. Well, the store is starting to look a little bare. Fewer and fewer shelves, less and less models. But, there is a ray of sunshine peeking through the clouds of despair. The club will survive!! We have decided to remain independent. We will remain....SURGEONS!!!! We haven't yet found a permanent meeting place, but we are getting close. The next meeting, JULY 31st, will be held at the Kinko's Fedex on University, across from Home Depot. This is Kevin's workplace, and he was able to reserve us the conference room. So if all goes well, this might be the new home of the surgeons. Of course, there is no display case, so y'all will have to stop using the store case as an overflow case. LOL, oh, wait, was that just me? Anyway, we are all looking forward to seeing the place. We have also reserved the Point of Grace church for next year's contest. Well, that's it for now. Stay tuned for the latest developments with the new meeting location, and happy modeling!!

MAY 2008: Ok, I know, pictures from the contest still aren't up. They're coming, I promise. My Computer doesn't seem to like them. Anyway, in other news, The Surgeons held their annual election. Greg Metge is still the Treasurer-4-Life. Kevin Nelson is now our new Secretary. A position I'm sure he'll do great work with. Dave Clarke remains our Vice-President, and Ed Sarnecki is now the new El-Presidente. Plans have been made for the club's annual BBQ. It is scheduled for July 17th, which is a normal meeting night. And speaking of meetings...the club is currently discussing options for a new meeting location. Greg has decided to retire and close the store, and we wish him all the best. This means we expect to see much more modeling from him in the future. LOL Current options under discussion are possible new meeting locations, including the Aviation Museum in Ankeny, the WDM public library, Hobby Haven, and Dave Clarke's workplace. There is also a standing offer from the Hawkeye Modelers to merge the clubs, and possibly rename them. We have till the end of August to decide, so if you have any thoughts or preferences, please let one of the officers know, or come to a meeting and voice your opinion. That's about it for now. Time to get back to sandbagging! No where did I put the boat....

APR 2008: Well, the 14th Annual Contest is now complete. This year marked some changes for the Surgeons' Contest. A new venue, new categories, and the addition of all vendors made for some tense days leading up to the event, but our fears were put to rest. The morning of the event threatened to destroy everything, with snow and temperatures in the low 30's. But by 10am, the registrations were pouring in, and the vendor room was packed. With over 200 entries, and about 10 vendors, the Contest was a success. We had a great raffle, with three tables of prizes, and everyone had a great time. A complete list of winners can be found under the contest section, and pictures should be up soon!

MAR/FEB 2008: Not a lot here, everyone's been working on contest prep. We did participate in the Revell National Make-n-take day. It was a great success, with about 16 kids showing up to build a 2009 Camaro Concept kit. Everyone had a great time!

JAN 2008: As I'm sure everyone has noticed, there haven't been any updates in a while. I must apologize. I have been working double, and sometimes triple shifts at work. And currently I am laid up after a tonsillectomy. So I have some time to do updates. We had the annual Christmas party, this year with a gift exchange. The Exchange went off pretty well, with some real nice gifts being given out. There is are new contest and meeting schedules up in the events page. And all the contest info is now up, as well as the online registration forms. its that time of year again, and dues need to be paid. Well, more updates to follow!

July / August: In an effort to save time and web space, July's update has been merged with August. Not much has happened over the past couple of months. A little more work on the contest preparation, but otherwise its been fairly quite around the operating room. But lets face it, scale modeling IS primarily a winter hobby. Summer is when we emerge from the workshop, get a little sun, cut some grass, and then return to our winter hibernation. We finally have the categories for the upcoming contest nailed down, and the contest section of the site will soon reopen with all the updated information.

August brought us the IPMS Nationals from Anaheim, CA. And while none of our members made the 2,000+ mile trip, photos and news of the contest has made its way to the Midwest. We've heard of some extraordinary models, as well as the normal happenings. On a local note, the first meeting of Sept. will bring a bit of a change. Our own Don Barry will be conducting a seminar on panel lines. He will be covering both pre-shading and washes on both raised and recessed panel lines. I, for one, am definitely looking forward to this one. So we hope to see everyone there!!!

JUNE 2007: Another month has passed, and we come to another update. There have been some changes to the website. All the pictures have been moved to a Photobucket account to free up some bandwidth. The new picture link takes you direct to the album, where you can choose from several albums, most with sub-albums. All of the site's photos are now on there. Progress has been made on the preparation for the 2008 Contest. A new venue will be used this year. Members voted to move the event to a new location in Waukee, which gives us more room and the opportunity to bring in outside vendors. This will be a test of the new venue, and if everything goes well, it may become a permanent location. Plans are also in the works to trim down the categories. Preliminary trimming has given us some new categories, while eliminating others. There will also be several category mergers. Show and tell this month brought out some goodies. Joe brought in several models in various stages of completion, including his finished 1/35 Leopard 2A4 with camo nettings. LOTZ of camo netting! Ray showed us his latest A/C. This time its was a Ruskie! Rob brought in a couple models including his 120mm Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He also brought in his finished WWII "Douce" fuel tanker and his Vietnam Memorial. Greg showed us his finished Tiger, while Don showed us a rather small demolition's vehicle. Overall it was a good month, and we cant wait for the next one. I can almost taste the BBQ!!!!!

MAY 2007: In an effort to make the website more streamlined [its getting big on the servers] updates will now be done Monthly. They will take place the weekend following the last meeting of the month. Now, onto the update. May is election month around the Operating Room. This years new Chief Surgeon [Pres] is Rob Folden. The Assistant Chief, Payroll Dept, and Secretary [VP, Tres, Sec] remained the same. With this change came a lot of talk of further changes. Namely, to the contest. A committee was elected to looking into changes for next years contest, including trimming of the categories, possible new venues, addition of vendors, and new trophies. The contest is tentatively scheduled for April 12, 2008. The Regional's are coming up. They will be held in Ottawa, IA on June 8th and 9th. It was also decided that this years BBQ will be members only, and will include a $5.00 per person cost. This month's show and tell brouht forth a lot of armor [imagine that]. we had a several repeats as well. Ross brought in the new DML Panzer IV F2-G smart kit. He says it is and excellent kit, with superb fit. The kit comes with some PE, and in Ross's words "you can't build it wrong!" Thats the type of kit we like. Don brought in his "finished" Marder III from DML. It is another excellent kit, and comes with WAY more stowage than would be carried. But thats a good thing! Don did an excellent job on this one. Joe brought in more small stuff. This time was an ICM made 1/72 BM-13/16 Katushya. Joe didnt have many kind words to say about this one. We had several other models this month. Ed brought in his finished M977 Ambulance. Rob broght in his 1/72 MC-130E Combat Talon. We also saw a great 1/35 105mm Howitzer Sherman with a dozer blade. Overall, it was a great month of May. And remember, the next update will come at the END of June.

16 April 2007: At long last, the contest has come to a close. It was a good contest this year. With 55 participants entering over 220 models. We also had 13 Junior entries this year. We had several vendors, as well as, a great raffle. This year was the first time we've had both a regular and a super raffle. Prizes varied, with an Iwata Airbrush, Pasche Compressor, and a 1:48 B-1B making up the super raffle. This year also marked the beginning of the Gill Wheeler Memorial Award. This award was formerly known as the Judge's Grand Award. Earlier this year, the modeling community lost one of its own. Gill Wheeler was one of the founding members of the IPMS- Hawkeye Modelers. He was also a member of the Surgeons. Gill was an excellent modeler, and a good friend. He had been dealing with illness for a long time. Gill's grandson, Brett Stewart, presented the award at this years contest to Joe Teleczan, for his beautifully done F-86-D Saber Dog. This award is voted on by all the judges. Also new this year, the return of the Plastic Surgeons Traveling award. This award is given out each year to member of the surgeons. This year it was awarded to Rob Folden, for Club Member of the Year. Rob has been a Surgeon for about two years now. In that time he has been very active in the club, taking the initiative in creating and maintaining the Surgeon's Website. Rob also instituted online registration this year, which helped alleviate some of the registration congestion this year. Rob is an accomplished modeler, who's skills have grown and earned him several awards throughout the state. Congratulations go out to Joe and Rob for their awards, as well as all the other winners this year. A complete list of winners can be found HERE.

NOTE- Updates for the end of March and the beginning of April are not available due to switching over the website servers.

16 Mar 2007: Okay, after a LONG hiatus, I finally have access to the site again. So let the updates continue. This is the second meeting of the month, one to go. And we are closing in on the April 14th Contest. This weekend is the contest in Omaha, and that kicks off the series. Now, a little info over the past couple months....We are nearing the end of the kit drive for the soldiers in Iraq. The deadline was supposed to be March 1st, however due to the weather and injuries to yours truly, I haven't picked them up yet. I will this weekend. We've also had a lot of models come through the meetings, so make sure to stop in the gallery and take a look. I have uploaded some pics from the past few meetings, as well as the most recent. Now, this meeting we got to see a plethora of models. So many, in fact, that I just cant remember them all. I suppose I should start taking notes. anyway, see you all in Omaha!

4 Jan 2007: Well, as we embark on a new year, we find ourselves faced with business to tend to. To begin with, we find ourselves with a new regional director. We have elected Chris R to write our new director a letter outlining who we are, and what we do. This should be interesting. Have they ever blacklisted an IPMS chapter before? We also voted to donate to the WWII Submariner's Memorial Fund. this fund will go towards a WWII Submarine's Memorial near downtown DSM. And continuing with the giving spirit, we have decided to take up a collection of kits and supplies to send overseas to FOB Diamondback and the 399th Combat Support Hospital. They are looking for supplies, as well as kits in the form of 1/48 and 1/72 modern aircraft, helos, nascar, and modern armor. Donations can be made at Great Hobby Adventures. Please help out our troops!! In show and tell this week, we had a good showing, with some big models. First up was Don with his now finished 1/72 Sherman VC Firefly. The model looks great, Don! Next up was Ross withi his 1/35 Hummel. This time, in technicolor!! Just kidding, but the paint looks great. Next up was, um, well it was some parts. Kevin brought in the cockpit to his 1/48 Fw-109-5, featuring color PE from Eduard!! Can't wait to start some of my color PE cockpits. Rob was up next, and in his usual fashion, he brought in the big boy. His 1/72 KC-135A Stratotanker featured resin and PE details, as well as custom decals for the 185th ARW out of Souix City, IA. Ray brought in a fictional A/C. A Battle of Britain 'Movie' 1/48 Buchon HA-1112 in German markings. Joe was up last. First up was his 1/48 Spitfire 5B. This is Joe's first FINISHED A/C. And it looks good. Next up was his 1/35 AIFV [Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle] YPR-765. It was still a WIP, but was quite different looking. Last up was his well built and nicely detailed 1/35 Ariete Italian Main Battle Tank. This was built OOB, with the only color choice available....green.

21 Dec 2006: Well, normally there would be an update here, but...there isnt! The final meeting of the year consisted of show and tell and a big party and BS session. This years X-mas bartender, Chris R. Models were fairly scarce this time around. Starting things off was Kyle with his 1/48 P-47 Thunderbolt. The model was well built, however Kyle had some trouble with the kit decals. Next up was his grandpa, Ray, with a 1/35 SDKFZ Half track mounting a 30mm AA gun in the "drive-by" position. It was well built, and well detailed. Next up was Rob with the Battle Bus, a Vietnam era 1/35 LVTP 5A. The model featured a resin interior, and tons of PE details and resin stowage. The base was custom made to resemble that good ol' Vietnam red clay. Last up was Don with his tiny 1/72 Sherman Firefly. the model was well built and VERY well detailed for its small size. Don also had his 1/35 King Tiger on hand. Well folks, that ends the year for us. We'll be back in January 2007!!!!

7 Dec 2006: "A day that will live in infamy!" -President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Yes, my fellow surgeons, today is Pearl Harbor Day! And what better way to celebrate, than to have the first meeting of December, and the first meeting in over a month! And being it has been a month, a BIG MEETING it was. First up was information on the forthcoming WWII US Submariner's Memorial which will be here in Iowa. Chris has been in talks with some of the Vets spearheading the memorial about possibly building some WWII naval ships. Rob brought news about the website registration, and plans were made to continue the registry through May of 2008 [for now]. And continuing along the path of renewals, we now have confirmation. We are renewed with IPMS has a chapter, and are on the IPMS site for our upcoming contest. We have also received the gift certificate to Meteor Models, courtesy of IPMS, and have decided to put it to use on raffle prizes for the contest. Plans were also made for the next meeting, which will double as this years X-mas party. Food will be provided by Subway, and there will also be some libations. SOOOO, with all business concluded, onto the plastique!!! With the Russians building up for a return to the table, we kick things off with Bill and his 1/35 3cm Jaboshreck and German troops. The troops were very well done, as a couple of the pics from the meeting show. Next up was aircraft central with Rob bringing 4 different models this week. first up was his pair of F-111's. The first was a 1/72 EF-111A Raven. Rob built this OOB with subtle weathering and great exhaust. Well one for a Monogram kit. the second, was an F-111E Aardvark. This was done with aftermarket decals depicting the 48th TFW. The camo and weathering were spot on. Next up was a perfect find, given the date, a 1/72 WWI PT-13 Navy Stearman. The model was well done, and very detailed for its small size. Last up, nicknamed the espresso machine, was a 1/32 Glencoe Models XV-1 Convertiplane. This was the great grand daddy to the XV-22 Osprey. The finish was superb with multiple shades of metalizer and chrome. Next up, a rare find on the table, a car. A 1/24 1967 El Camino, to be exact. Expertly built by Don as a gift for his dad, the original driver of the 1:1 El Camino. Don also brought in his 1/35 Tiger I with real chipped paint!! The figures were well done too. Greg brought back his finished 1/35 Tiger I with Porsche Turret. The weathering and white wash looked great. Kyle brought in an M3 Lee. Its weathering and paint looked great. Cant wait to see his builds in a few years. Show winning for sure. His Grandpa, Ray, brought back his now finished P-61A Widow Maker, now named the "Bat outa Hell". The a/c was well done, and no one would have guessed it was 26yrs old. Ross brought in a WIP 1/35 German Panzerjager Elephant. And lastly, Joe brought back his 1/72 Tornado, still not finished. He also brought in a finished 1/35 M-551 Sheridan in Vietnam configuration. The weathering was very, um, red dirt.

26 Oct 2006: And October comes to a close, just as fast as it began. A heads up though, there will only be one meeting for November due to Thanksgiving. November 9th will be the only meeting, then we jump forward to December 7th. Which as we all know, is Pearl Harbor Day. Now, on to meeting notes. Not much really, we got an extensive listing of upcoming releases from the major manufacturers, including my favorite THREE Strykers. As for models this week, Greg brought back his 1/35 Tiger I with Porsche turret. He's got a lot done, including a ton of PE details. Still no paint though. Don brought in a SDKFZ Radio car [missing an aerial], but oddly enough it was in gloss grey and looked VERY clean. Don also brought in his 1/72 Tornado RAF fighter/bomber. Which was beautifully done and worked in comparison with British Dave's WIP tornado. This was Dave's first real use of his airbrush. Welcome to the air club. Bill brought in some expertly done Dragon 1/35 Gen 2 German figures. The splinter camo was perfect. Rob brought in his 1/72 RAF Hawker's Siddeley Hawk which, admittedly, wasn't the best. He also brought in a 1/48th UH-1D AirCav Huey on a rather interesting display base. Lastly [you know they come in threes] Rob brought in a WIP A-1H Skyraider in USAF Vietnam colors.

12 Oct 2006: Yippe! We've finally entered October!!! Ok, so I'm a little biased as this weeks meeting falls a couple days after my birthday. But enough of that, on to the good stuff. First off, the Hawkeye Modeler's contest was this past weekend. And several of the Surgeons were in attendance. Bill took home a 3rd place medal in the Armor category for his 1/35 OIF M2A2 Bradley at the Baghdad Int'l Airport. The model was well done, and the base looked spot on. Rob also took home some awards: 3rd place Aircraft for his 1/35 CH-47A Chinook, 1st place Aircraft for his 1/35 MH-60L DAP Blackhawk, 3rd place Automotive for his 1/25 CHP Cruiser, and 1st place Armor for his 1/35 Fall of Saddam diorama. The highlight of the day was definitely the vendor tables, with several people getting some good buys. Still no reports from AMPS. Oh well, on to the models!!! Starting off this week, Rory brought back his 1/35 Merkava III. Still in the WIP stage, but at least it has tracks now. Don brought back his finished 1/16th German figure. The painting was unbelievably done. Don also brought in a 1/285 scale Russian Scud Launcher. for something only an inch long, it still packed a ton of detail. Greg brought in a WIP 1/35 King Tiger with Porsche turret. Rob dusted off and brought in his award winning 1/25 CHP Crown Vic. Rob also brought in his finished 1/12 F-16C Cockpit featuring the ACES II Ejection seat. The detail on the cockpit was very superb straight from the box. Kevin also dusted off and brought in a 1/35 British Cromwell tank, as well as a dusted off 1/35 German Tiger I with white wash. In the theme of the night, Bill pulled a 1/35 SDKFZ 222 Armored Car off his shelf and brought it in. Bill, however, did not dust his model off.

29 Sept 2006: Well, we've closed out another month, only 3 to go. And with the new year approaching, it comes time for planning. And this weeks meeting begins the fun. We started off with information on the chapter's renewal with IPMS-USA, as well as a reminder to all members to renew your membership!!! We also received confirmation on next years contest. It will be held on April 14th, 2007 at the Valley Church on Mills Civic Pkwy. We lost the vendor room this time, but we've received permission to use the hallways for vendor tables. So it might be better. Upcoming at the beginning of October we have the I-CON Swap meet/contest held by the Hawkeye Modelers. It will be at the Senior Center on Aurora Ave [7300 block] in Urbandale. On the same day, however, is the AMPS Contest in Omaha, NE. Decisions, decisions. And now, the main event!!!! Startng off this week's show and tell, the Ruskies are back, and Rory leads the pack with a 1/35 Prototype Merkava III WIP featuring a few Legends details. We received a lesson in chrome from Rick, who showed us his experiment in metals. It features a grouping of plastic spoons comparing Alclad, Dupli-color, and Testors Metalizers. It was VERY valuable to all, who were able to see the difference not only in the products, but their reaction to different primer coats. Greg brought back his 1/35 Captured British truck, featuring a German Flak gun. The model is now complete, with a dioramic base. Greg's weathering was well done, and shows that Bragden powder can be sprayed through an airbrush. Good info to know. We welcomed a new-comer this week. John joined us and brought in his 1/24 Mellow Yellow #42 NASCAR. The model featured a wired engine, and was John's first use of an airbrush. Don brought in some small armor, starting off with a 1/72 Challenger II. He also brought in a 1/72 Panzerhaubitze [PzH] 2000 and a 1/72 Tiger with Zimmerit. Rob provided us with the heavy firepower. First up was his USMC 1/35 LVTP-7 [AAV-7] featuring a desert camo scheme and a ton of stowage. Up next was his 1/35 M109A6 Paladin. The model featured a Legends M2 MG and a Trakz resin interior. All the hatches were working, as well as the gun and breach. We think Rob may be a little insane now. And to provide air support, Ray brought in a P-61A Widow Maker that he bought over 26yrs ago, and is just now getting to. Makes me wonder when I'll get to some of mine. The P-61A is still under construction, but we all know its going to look great.

14 Sept 2006: September is half over, and another meeting has come and gone. Meetings notes include discussion of the upcoming Nordicon and Rockford Airfest, both the weekend of the 23rd. We got some updates on upcoming and new releases: sorry Joe, you'll have to keep waiting for that Transal C-160. Show and tell brought in the big guns, starting off with Wade Beck's 1:16 Weideco Peterbilt Semi, built almost entirely out of metal. The Peterbilt is still a WIP, but is still stunning in its bare metal state. The Semi will eventually be RC, with a matching trailer. Bill brought back his now finished ODS M2A2 Bradley IFV. It features a great paint and weathering job, as well as "Verlinden Style" stowage! [Its an inside joke] Rob brought in a 1:6 RC Lead Sled, which was stripped down and rebuilt from a West Coast Choppers RC car. Not exactly a model, but still fun to look at. Rob also brought in the new Dragon 1/144 UH-60L Blackhawk. For being such a small helo, it still packs a lot of detail. And speaking of helo's, we finally got the chance to see Trumpeter's new 1/35 CH-47A Chinook. Rob brought in a nicely built 1st Air Cav [AirMobile] Hook, and the detail and paint was exceptional. And no, he did not build it in a day. It took him 3 months. British Dave and German Joe brought in their partner builds, 2 1/72 Tornado fighters. Joe is doing the German AF anniversary Tornado, while Dave is doing an RAF Tornado. Both were supposed to be done 2 weeks ago, and as we saw, they haven't even finished the cockpits. Never set deadlines. You'll never meet them in this hobby.

11 Sept 2006: In addition to being a national day of remembrance for those lost in the attacks of 9/11/01, this day also marks the launch of the club's renovated website.

31 Aug 2006: Well, we finally have the website back up and running!!! Information on the upcoming Rockford Airfest 2006 is now up on the main page. I know I'll be going. We also welcomed a newcomer to the group, Bill, who is a Drake Pharmacy student and brings with him an impressive modeling resume as he has been published in the 2006 Walther Catalog. Way to go, Bill!!! The Show and Tell table was full to the end this week. British Dave brought in his 1/35 GAS Assault Diorama. The scratchbuilt building was amazing. Those IPMS judges need glasses. Army Rob brought back his finished MH-60L DAP Blackhawk. The detail is almost scary. He matched it this week with a 1/35 AH-1W Super Cobra, sporting a custom US Army Sky Soldiers Cobra Demo team paint scheme. He has stated that the paint scheme has upset several USMC Cobra Pilots. I say, "Toughen up, Marines!" Don brought in a WIP, a 1/16th German Figure. The detail and superb fit of the resin figure was almost hard to fathom. Greg brought back his 1/35 captured British cargo truck, this time sporting a 20mm AA cannon in the bed. Ross brought in his slow WIP 1/35 SDKFZ 234/1. Rob brought in his WIP 1/35 german flatbed railcar, as well as a 1/35 Tiger 1 [late]. And our new addition, Bill brought in a 1/35 ODS M2A2 Bradley IFV, oddly paired with a 1/35 German Tiger 1 [early]. Keep an eye out, if all goes well, the website should be getting a facelift soon!!

3 Aug 2006: Another one bites the dust! First let me say, to those of you lucky bastards who went down to nationals, you'll never know what you missed. And to the girls at this weeks meeting, THANK YOU!!!! Now onward to the battle. This weeks meeting brought back the long awaited "Doc Talk" newsletter. The meeting was kept fairly short due to a lack of attendance, those SOBs that went to Nationals. The meeting was pretty much just a show and tell session. It started off with Dave brought in a 1/72 field artillery WIP. I still say he's nuts for building something so fichen small. Ray brought back his 1/35 Panzer III WIP. Its looking better every time we see it. Kevin brought in a finished Pacific Theatre P-40E in 1/48 scale. The paint and decals looked crisp and well weathered. Rob brought in a 1/35 scratchbuilt 70ton heavy transport trailer. Its still in its early stages, but we can already see the possibilities. He also brought back his WIP 1/35 diorama of the fall of Saddam. The groundwork, M88 and statue are done, as well as several of the US Marine figures. We all know who to ask about desert camo. And at the end of the table [usually the beginning] Greg showed us his 1/35 WIP British Artillery transport truck. Its looking good so far, for a Brit.

20 July 2006: Inching closer to the Nationals!!!! The last meeting prior to the big event was held this past Thursday night, and you can feel the anticipation in the air. The next meeting will actually be held during Nationals [for those not attending]. A note to those who purchased club shirts, they are in and need to be picked up at the earliest convenience. Remember, we know where you live, and we will hunt you down. And on to the models. First up, Kevin brought in a 1/35 Panzer IV-E done up for the Africa Corps. The weathering job was quite unique, but extremely effective. Don brought back his 120mm Airborne Vietnam figure. Its now finished, and WOW! I think he has gone voodoo and is shrinking people instead of just heads. And speaking of heads, Rob brought in a rather rare sight, a 1:1 scale T-800 terminator skull, complete with glowing red eyes. Rob also brought in a 120mm Mk19 Grenade Launcher and his 1/35 M88A1 WIP with its 1/35 Saddam Statue. Can wait to see that diorama finished. Kyle brought in a nicely done 1/25 Hummer H2 Custom. The interior looked great and the window tint was awesome. And at the end of the table [its funny, one end is always Rory, and the other end is always Joe] Joe brought back his finished M2A3 OIF Bradley. Subtle weathering gave this one that desert combat feel. See everyone next time, whether at the meeting or at nationals!!

6 July 2006: Well, another meeting down. Just a short and sweet meeting. We recapped the election results and discussed the upcoming IPMS Nationals in Kansas cIty, MO, August 2nd through the 5th. We've learned they have opened up more rooms in the hotel, so hurry and get yours!!! And onto everyone's favorite part of the update....drumroll please.....SHOW AND TELL!!! Rory started us off with his almost complete 1:35 Char B and his WIP 1:35 Russian T-80. Still cant get over that green plastic. Don brought in his 120mm Vietnam Airborne trooper [well, part of him]. The airbrushed detail and shadowing was amazing. Rob brought in the Army, well, part of it anyway. He started off with a 1:35 M997 HEMMIT with scratch built cargo pallets. The camo job was excellent. He also brought in two parts-box build-ups: an M47 Patton and a M48a2 Patton, both in 1:35. And finally, Rob brought in a vintage kit. A Kaman HH-43b Huskie made by Hawk, circa 1960's. The model was in 1:32 and was well built, however the 40yo decals were a little yellowed. finally, Joe brought back his Marder III, this time finished! It looked great. He also brought in two WIPs: a 1/48 Spitfire and a 1/35 M2A3 Bradley OIF.

22 June 2006: Man am I stuffed after that last meeting! What a great meeting. Don's BBQ was excellent and I'm not quite sure there was any left-over's. The elections were held and the results are in [Florida didn't vote]. The five new officers are: Webmaster [for life]- Rob Folden, Treasurer [for life, lol]- Greg Metge, Secretary- Dave Beatis , Vice-President- Dave Clark, and the new "el-presidente" - Joe Lotz. Greg brought in a well detailed diorama of 1/35 German WWII vehicles in a wooded area. The figures were way above excellent. Rob brought in a beat up 1/35 Iraqi T-55 diorama which was modeled after a captured T-55 on display at Camp Dodge in Johnston, IA. He also brought in a 1/72 Lockheed AC-130A Spectra gunship known as "Azrael". The aircraft was well done, and features handmade nose art decals featuring the Spectra skeleton firing a minigun. Ray brought in a 1/48 P=38 Lightning that was well built and paid homage to a great WWII pilot. Thom brought in an excellent Chinese Auto gyro [not sure about scale] which featured a custom made stabilizer. And Joe brought back his 1/35 Marder III, this time with paint!

8 June 2006: Hey guys, another meeting in the books. And another week closer to the elections and the Party!! This meeting was more of a show-n-tell and story time meeting. Rob gave us the run-down on the recent Quad City Air Show. We discussed the new website and its corresponding forum. And then we got to the fun portion - models. Tom showed us his WIP Ferrari F430, and its one sleek car. Rob brought the US Army with him this week. He started off with a 1/35 M163 Vulcan, which featured a scratch built 20mm cannon, actuators, and ammo belt. Rob also brought a 1/35 Howitzer convoy: and M35A2 "Duce and a half" towing an M322 ammo trailer towing an M102- 105mm Howitzer. Detailed included moveable sections and tons of cargo. Joe brought in a 1/35 Marder III WIP. He also brought in a 1/72 King Tiger [Tiger II] which was wonderfully built and a 1/72 ZSU 12-1, which in Joe's own word "a pain in the ***". But he still did a heck of a job. Remember, June 22nd!!!

25 May 2006: Wow, has it been two weeks already? Well this week turned out to be the week we've all been waiting for, patiently I might add. The Surgeon's shirts are in!!! Tom finally got the shirts dropped off to the shop, and not a minute too soon. I was already getting the hunting rifle ready. T-shirts are $11 and polo's are $13, unless you eat well, like me, then its $13 and $15. Shirts can be picked up at the shop, with checks payable to IPMS. There was more discussion of the upcoming elections and BBQ, but still no nominations for officers. Seems like we might be electing however fails to show to the meeting. There was also discussion of the newly launched website, and the new domain name: www.ipms-plasticsurgeons.com. Show and tell time brought a surprise, a car! Thats right the military mix was polluted by a 1/24 1966 Buick Riviera Custom brought in by Rob Folden. Don Barry brought back his 1/25th Panther G, and wow does it look good. Greg Metge brought in a nicely detailed 1/35 SDKFZ 250/1. Great job on the interior, Greg. Joe Lots brought a couple workbench models: a 1/700 USS San Diego and a 1/72 WWII 1-12 gun truck. He also brought in his finished 1/35 Japanese Type-90 battle tank with mine rollers. The most impressive part to the Type-90 was the mine roller, which included assembled chains.

11 May 2006: This weeks meeting brought forth discussion of the upcoming elections, and of the annual "Post-contest Bash". This years elections will be held on June 22nd, which coincidentally will also be the annual bash. There is talk that some officers may not be running for re-election due to work schedules, and there is already some speculation as to who the new government will be. The annual bash will be catered by the amazing BBQ master himself, Don Barry. And its expected to be one hell of a shindig! The show and tell portion brought out a lot of workbench models, including a great WWII tank with metal tracks. We also got to see a real good WWII German jet, and a modern day US Army recovery vehicle [aptly nicknamed the paperweight]. After the meeting, some boastful bragging lead to a weight contest between Rob Folden's M578 Recovery Vehicle and one of Rory Martin's expertly built Russian tanks. The Russian weighed in at an impressive 648grams, but the M578 took top bragging rights with an astounding 932grams [over 16oz!].

27 April 2006: The Surgeons held their bi-weekly meeting today. The recent contest stats were announced. This year's contest had an awesome turnout of over 200 models with more than 50 individuals participating. This year's raffle also did good with donations from several area vendors and club members. The club also discussed the new club shirts, which are currently being printed in two styles, t-shirts and polo shirts, and should be available soon. Also discussed was the new club website. The new site is being designed and hosted by club member Rob Folden. The "Show and Tell" portion of the meeting gave club members a real treat, their first look at the new Revell of Germany 1:72 German U-boat. The U-boat was brought in by Francisco Melendez, who also brought in a 1:48 F4F-3 Mosquito. Also on display at this week's meeting were a 54mm 18th C. British Carronade brought in by Rob Folden, and a 1:35 British AS90 Self-Propelled Howitzer and two 1:72 armor pieces by Joe Lotz. The next meeting is scheduled for May 11th, same bat time, same bat channel.

22 April 2006: The West Des Moines Plastic Surgeons held their 12th Annual model contest today at the Valley Free Church on Mills Civic Pkwy, in West Des Moines. The turn out was great, with several tables full of contest entries. Contest categories included Juniors, Dioramas, Figures, Space, Ships, Misc., and various categories of Aircraft and Armor. Contest participants came from all over the Midwest including Omaha, Kansas City, Indiana, and all over Iowa. The vendor area looked like most club members' garages and workshops, with models stacked almost to the ceiling. Several raffles were held throughout the day, with a couple of members making out like bandits [you know who you are]. The Judges' Award went to a scratch built corn shucker [built entirely of brass from measurements from and original machine!]. And Best of Show went to a WWII Ford Quad tractor and artillery trailers. To see some of the amazing entries, click here and visit the gallery.