Classic British Kits SIG Disbanding

With immediate effect, Jim and I regret to say that we have decided to disband the Classic British Kits USA Special Interest Group.

As founders and organizers of the SIG, neither of us has had the proper time to devote to this and this is not likely to change in the foreseeable future, while neither of us feels that there has been sufficient interest from other members to allow it to be carried on by someone else. After much thought and consultation with John Ratzenberger, we have therefore decided to call it quits. It is also regrettable that, aside from John, IPMS/USA is not a SIG-friendly environment.

We'd like to thank those of you who have supported the SIG over these past couple of years, but we would like to remind members that the Classic British Kits UK is a very active SIG, and would appreciate your support in whatever manner you can provide. Jim, John, and I have, and will continue, to support CBK/UK.

Thanks!

Paul Bradley
CBK Sig Co-Leader

First Pics of the CBK SIG Table at the IPMS/USA Nationals

Mr. Bradley will be along soon with a full report from Phoenix, but until then we have a few pictures of the Classic British Kits Display Table taken by Mike Grant.

CBK SIG at the IPMS/USA Nationals

In less then one week, the IPMS/USA Classic British Kits Special Interest Group will make its first official appearance with a display table at the IPMS/USA Nationals in Phoenix. Manning the table will be SIG Co-Leader Paul Bradley. (Sadly the other SIG Co-Leader, Jim Bates, will be MIA and unable to attend.) Come by and see the display, speak with Paul, and please being any CBKs you wish to display on the table. The more models the merrier!

December Newsletter

The SIG December Newsletter/Update was sent out today by e-mail. It was basically a rehash of December's update posted last Tuesday, but did include a greeting by SIG Co-Leader Paul Bradley.

Welcome to the first newsletter of the new IPMS/USA Classic British Kits SIG! Our aim is to celebrate the great British kit makers of the past – Matchbox, Frog, et al – and the resurgence of the “granddaddy” of them all, Airfix. Many of us will remember our first kits and I’ll bet that more than a few of you will have built one of those classic British brands early on. My first, at the tender age of 6, was the Airfix 1/72 Bf109G, what is now regarded as a kit well past its prime, but which was the catalyst for my hobby.

I remember well sitting at the kitchen table as my mum cooked dinner. It was a simple little kit, yet I managed to get tube glue all over it(and quite probably the table as well!). I didn’t paint it at all, and I had trouble with the decals not staying put. But it was fun, and gave me many happy hours of play value before all the bits broke off and it was thrown away. But I had other models to play with by that time – I was hooked!

It’s that simple pleasure that remains with me today - even though my hobby and the way I view it has become more mature, I have been trying to build more models out of the box, just like the old days. Even now I have trouble with decals…

Of course, a SIG is only as good as its members make it, so I’d like to encourage you all to send us articles for inclusion, from your memories of CBKs, to build articles, to historical pieces – whatever you think should be included!. And I’d also like to invite you to participate in our Nationals Display at Phoenix in August. We’ll look at expanding our presence as time goes by, particularly at local shows and regionals.

Of course, outside of the Nationals display our main focus will be our web presence, and I'd also strongly encourage you to participate in the Unofficial Airfix Modellers’ Forum (UAMF) – it’s fun and free and we all share a common interest.

Our aim is to be fairly informal and relaxed about our hobby, so beyond Jim and I as contacts, there will be no officers and no dues. We may wish to solicit for donations for special events such as the Nationals, but most of all we’d appreciate your support in the way of chat, discussion and participation – after all, you get out what you put in! The fact that you are getting this newsletter is the first sign of your interest; let’s see what we can build!

December Update

After a long period of hibernation, the IPMS/USA Classic British Kits SIG is back in action. The Holiday Season finds the following action:

1. The SIG blog has seen a few new updated with more to come. The December material includes Jeff Selesky's Airfix Yak build, and four Frogs by John Ratzenberger. John's Whitley has been posted, and the rest of the four will appear as the week goes on. A further update will see a Quick Peek at the small scale Frog DeHavilland Beaver. As always the SIG is in need of any article submissions you wish to provide.

2. The SIG will make our public debut at the IPMS/USA National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona between August 4 to 7, 2010, with a SIG display table. After much thought and discussion the SIG table will feature a "No Theme" Theme. I hear however that some members may be working on their own private themes. For example your scribe is trying to narrow down just what Canadian topics he wishes to build. So plan to be there with you Classic British Kits on display. Point person on the display table will be SIG Co-Leader Paul Bradley.

3. Join in the SIG Discussion Forum at the Unofficial Airfix Modellers Forum. In fact check out the whole Unofficial Airfix Modellers Forum. It is a fun and lively forum of modeling, group builds, and all things classic and British. Come on over and join in on the discussion.

4. For more on classic kits, please also see the January issue of Scale Aviation Modeler International, where CBK member Mike Grant shows what you can do with the old Matchbox Wellesley bomber. This effectively kicks off a new series, starting in March, by Mike on classic kits - something we at the SIG are very much looking forward to! In the February issue, there will be a piece about our sister SIG, Classic British Kits UK, and their Telford display.

5. Don't forget Classic British Kits are for fun. Build a Classic British Kit today!

Jim Bates
SIG Co-Leader

CBK 2009 IPMS Nationals Project A No Go!

I am sad to report that there will be no 2009 IPMS/USA Nationals Classic British Kits SIG Project. Sadly, the Nats organizers in Columbus appear to have little interest in providing display tables for the special interest groups, and communication with them has been difficult. This just illustrates that many in IPMS/USA are not interested in the SIGs and anything not related to the contest portion of the show. However, it appears that the 2010 organizers in Phoenix have a more positive view of display tables and we do hope to have a 2010 Nationals project.

Even with this turn of events, I will be attending the Nationals in Columbus in August, though SIG co-founder Paul Bradley will be AWOL, and I hope to see many of you there.

Welcome to the IPMS/USA Classic British Kits SIG

Welcome to the new IPMS/USA Classic British Kits Special Interest Group. IPMS/USA CBK SIG is the Colonial Office of the IPMS/UK Classic British Kits SIG. The purpose of the SIG is to promote the enjoyment and building of Classic British Kits, including such manufacturers as Airfix, Matchbox, and Frog.

SIG Contact is Paul Bradley
Webmaster is Jim Bates