Middle Tennessee Modelers Association

05/30/2026

May 2026


MEETING NOTES:
• Continuing to look at creating a club “Build Night”. Looking for a location\room and evening time around 6:00 – 8:00 PM, on like the first or fourth Saturday of every other month.
• The next club challenge that was selected by the club members is: “The Year You Were Born”. The challenge is to build something that was around when you were born, it can be a truck, car, plane, person or etc. from that year. Example if you were born in 1963, then you could do a 1963 Corvette or 1963 F-100 Ford pickup truck. This challenge will be due at the October club meeting.
• The club was invited over to Dave Bowers house to look at and purchase any of Dave’s model kits in his stash. There were lots of kits in Dave’s stash and lots of club members purchased some kits. We will all miss Dave and will think of him when we build one of his kits. Dave is probably in heaven now building a car kit and using a Tamiya spray can of paint and painting the bottom of the car black. We love and miss you Dave, plan on seeing you again when we get to heaven.

MEETING ATTENDANCE
Charles Wrinht
Ricky Gates
Tom Rigsby
Bob Kedell
Eddie Robbins
David Kowalski
James Burton
Bill Underwood
John Masinick
Jerry Murray

Club Challenge (Late):
“Modern Military”. This is any military related item from the Gulf war (1990) to present. Any subject type ship, plane, figure, armory, any nation (US, British, ISIS and etc.).

Tom Rigsby – Italeri 1/48 F-111E/F Aardvark

KIT REVIEWS:
Member Manufacturer Scale Desc
Ricky Gates Revell 1/24 Aston Martin DB5
“ “ AMT 1/25 ’63 Ford F-100 pickup
“ “ Italeri 1/72 H-19B “Chickasaw”
“ “ Revell 1/48 Bell AH-1F Cobra
Edwin Robbins Border 1/35 Sherman M4A1 76W


BOOK-MAGAZINE-Tools-ETC:
Member Book/Mag/Etc. Desc
Edwin Robbins Book Modeling US Armor from Pacific to Normandy


MEMBER'S BUILT MODELS:

James Underwood – Revell 1/25 Custom Model A pickup

Tom Rigsby – Dragon 1/35 M1A1 Abrams

Ricky Gates – Hobby Boss 1/72 P-51B Mustang

MODEL SHOW DATES:

August 22, 2026 49th Annual HPMS Model Show
Chuck Seegars - [email protected] Huntsville, Alabama

September 19, 2026 Head for the Highlands
John Maine - [email protected] Greeneville, Tennessee

November 14, 2026 Middle Tennessee ModelCon 2026
Bill Langlitz - [email protected] Murfreesboro, Tennessee

April 2, 2027 Chattanooga Modelcon 2027
Ben Gibby - [email protected] Chattanooga, Tennessee

Also check out http://www.ipmsusa.org/all-events



NEXT MTMA MEETING:

June 20, 2026 AT 12:30 PM at Washington Ave Baptist Church
Building C, Room 101 (MultiPurpose Rm)

KUSTOM & HOT ROD MODELS MAGAZINE #30
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3020000

05/03/2026

April 2026 eNewsLetter

MEETING NOTES:
• Continuing to look at creating a club “Build Night”. Looking for a location\room and evening time around 6:00 – 8:00 PM, on like the first or fourth Saturday of every other month.
• The next club challenge that was selected by the club members is: “The Year You Were Born”. The challenge is to build something that was around when you were born, it can be a truck, car, plane, person or etc. from that year. Example if you were born in 1963, then you could do a 1963 Corvette or 1963 F-100 Ford pickup truck. This challenge will be due at the October club meeting.
• Had demo and discussion about airbrushing. Member brought his Master airbrush and Gaahleri air compressor, we talked about and demonstrated how to mix the paint (acrylic paint) for the airbrush. Talked about the common thinning ratios for some kinds of paints, like Tamiya is usually a 50/50 mix for airbrushing. Usually do a 60/40 mix for AK Real Colors paints for airbrushing. Then talked about some paints are airbrush ready and pre-thinned. Showed want happens when the paint is too thick, to thin and just right. Showed and talked about how to listen to the airbrush and determine if you need to is struggling with spraying and how to address it. Also talked and demonstrated how the thickness of the paint and air pressure work together, and how the size of the needle in the airbrush can affect how much paint is sprayed. Demonstrated how to spray light coats on to a model to get a nice and smooth paint finish.
• Bob Underwood showed painting stand base holder that he made from spare wooden paddles and spare wood.

MEETING ATTENDANCE
Charles Wrinht
Ricky Gates
Joe Dooley
Bob Kedell
Eddie Robbins
David Kowalski
James Burton
Bill Underwood
Tom Valenta
Jerry Murray

Club Challenge:
“Modern Military”. This is any military related item from the Gulf war (1990) to present. Any subject type ship, plane, figure, armory, any nation (US, British, ISIS and etc.).

1 - Ricky Gates – Hasegawa 1/72 F-117 Nighthawk

2 - Bob Underwood – Revell 1/72 AH-64 Apache

3 - James Burton – Tamiya 1/35 T-55

4 - Bob Kedell – Revell 1/72 F-22 Raptor

KIT REVIEWS:
Member Manufacturer Scale Desc
Ricky Gates Academy 1/72 A-37B “Black Eagles”
“ “ Storm Factory 1/32 F-5N Tiger II
“ “ Monogram 1/48 P-61 Black Widow
James Underwood MPC 1/25 1968 Coronet Convertible
Tom Valenta Hasegawa 1/24 Jaguar XJS H.E. TNR
“ “ Tamiya 1/12 Honda CBR 1000-RR-R Fireblade
Joe Dooley Tamiya 1/35 German Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkrad

BOOK-MAGAZINE-Tools-ETC:
Member Book/Mag/Etc. Desc
Ricky Gates Etc. Let’s Resin UV resin glue
Ed Robbins Book US Armor in Vietnam
Ed Robbins Book Adam Wilder Layering Techniques

MEMBER'S BUILT MODELS:

5 - Jerry Murray - Tamiya 1/35 Walker Bulldog

6 - Jerry Murray - Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk I

7 - David Kowalski - M2Machines 1/24 1970 Nissan Fairlady

8 - James Burton - Trumpeter 1/700 USS Astoria - heavy cruiser


MODEL SHOW DATES:

May 30, 2026 Smoky Mtn Model-Con
Michael Polin - [email protected] Knoxville, Tennessee

August 22, 2026 49th Annual HPMS Model Show
Chuck Seegars - [email protected] Huntsville, Alabama

September 19, 2026 Head for the Highlands
John Maine - [email protected] Greeneville, Tennessee

November 14, 2026 Middle Tennessee ModelCon 2026
Bill Langlitz - [email protected] Murfreesboro, Tennessee

April 2, 2027 Chattanooga Modelcon 2027
Ben Gibby - [email protected] Chattanooga, Tennessee

Also check out http://www.ipmsusa.org/all-events



NEXT MTMA MEETING:

May 16, 2026 AT 12:30 PM at Washington Ave Baptist Church
Building C, Room 101 (MultiPurpose Rm)

KUSTOM & HOT ROD MODELS MAGAZINE #30
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3020000

04/13/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=122124280929145651&set=pcb.122124281037145651&__cft__[0]=AZZXTO_HJ8ZHj_5PCPCI_QbvL5ScVTIvL_Pl5a1V_9vbyxAIF8iJsy4KzC_hErlGUrsRwMkXd6hwVQ3HGfetgJM41VxnMnkUTcX3flKOE4Ef-ApFysiqLE2sJ5uTGK7aBbjx_0yBj53-icVlr19vjnkHhnG1Md_yKUp1RbPMEkmBPKEqPChwFvMxxTjMVNsn9AVBgHkZ9wZ9fAIPzPwBSGoU&__tn__=*b0H-R

03/31/2026

March 2026 eNewsletter


MEETING NOTES:
• We talked about the funeral services and missing our former club President Dave Bowers.
• With the passing of Dave Bowers, we proceeded with the selection of a new club President.
- The new club President is Ricky Gates.
- Since Ricky Gates was the VP of the club, Bill Underwood was selected as the new VP of the club.
- James Burton was selected as the third member of the club Guidance Board.
- If anyone in the club has suggestions, requests or issues with the club, please feel free to contact one of us on the club’s board and voice that. By face-to-face meeting, phone call or email. We always welcome your input; this is your club.
• The next club challenge that was selected by the club members is: “When you were born”. The challenge is to build something that was around when you were born, it can be a truck, car, plane, person or etc. from that year. Example if you were born in 1963, then you could do a 1963 Corvette or 1963 F-100 Ford pickup truck. This challenge will be due at the October club meeting.
• Looking into the possibility of having a monthly building night. This would be a night each month when we would get together at a location and you would bring a model to work on. We could talk about models and share technics for modeling. Looking for a location, date and time.
• We had a member wanting some help with airbrushing and we will look at helping him at the April monthly meeting.

===========================================
Club Challenge:
Next club model build challenge is “Modern Military”. This is any military related item from the Gulf war (1990) to present. Any subject type ship, plane, figure, armory, any nation (US, British, ISIS and etc.). It will be due at the April 2026 meeting.

===========================================
MEETING ATTENDANCE
Charles Wrinht
Tom Rigsby
Ricky Gates
Bob Kedell
John Masinick
David Kolawski
James Burton
Bill Underwood
Tom Valenta
Jerry Murray

===========================================

KIT REVIEWS:
Member Manufacturer Scale Desc
Ricky Gates Hobby Boss 1/72 F-16A Fighting Falcon
“ “ Platz 1/144 F-16C Fighting Falcon CFT
“ “ Platz 1/144 F/A-18F Hornet CFT
“ “ Platz 1/72 MQ-18 Predator
“ “ Platz 1/48 A6M2B Zero Type 21
“ “ Platz 1/48 EA-18G Growler
James Underwood AMT 1/25 1957 Chevy Bel Air
Tom Rigsby Aoshima 1/24 K.I.T.T Knight Rider Pontiac Trans AM

==========================================
BOOK-MAGAZINE-Tools-ETC:
Member Book/Mag/Etc. Desc
Ricky Gates Paint Arcus - US Baghdad Bandits paint set
“ “ Tool Tooler (multi-filer/saw/knife) set
James Underwood Mag Article Engine Bay – What goes where

==========================================
MEMBER'S BUILT MODELS:
James Underwood – Polar Lights - 1965 Dodge Coronet (1/25)

Tom Valenta – Moebius - 1969 F-100 Pickup (1/25)

James Burton – Kit bash - British “Early” Crowell (1/35)

James Burton – Kit bash – British “Late” Cromwell (1/35)

James Burton – Tamiya – Italian MB/40 (1/35)

James Burton – Bronco – British Comet (1/35)

Tom Rigsby – Tamiya – 1965 Honda RA272 Mexico Winner (1/20)

Jerry Murray – Revell – ’76 Chevy Pickup (1/24)

Jerry Murray – AMT – Fairlane 500 (1/25)

John Masinick – Revell – 36 Ford Convertible (1/25)

Jerry Murray –


===========================================

MODEL SHOW DATES:

May 30, 2026 Smoky Mtn Model-Con
Michael Polin - [email protected] Knoxville, Tennessee

August 22, 2026 49th Annual HPMS Model Show
Chuck Seegars - [email protected] Huntsville, Alabama

September 19, 2026 Head for the Highlands
John Maine - [email protected] Greeneville, Tennessee

November 14, 2026 Middle Tennessee ModelCon 2026
Bill Langlitz - [email protected] Murfreesboro, Tennessee

April 2, 2027 Chattanooga Modelcon 2027
Ben Gibby - [email protected] Chattanooga, Tennessee

Also check out http://www.ipmsusa.org/all-events


===========================================
NEXT MTMA MEETING:

Apr 18, 2026 AT 12:30 PM at Washington Ave Baptist Church
Building C, Room 101 (MultiPurpose Rm)

===========================================
KUSTOM & HOT ROD MODELS MAGAZINE #30
https://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/3020000

02/15/2026

It is with a very sad and heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of our recent club President and one of the founding members of the Middle Tenn Modelers Association David "DAS BIGON" Bowers. Dave passed away on Jan 18th at home, there will be Memorial Gathering at Crest Lawn Funeral Home on Feb 21st from 12:00 to 2:00. In light of the passing of Dave Bowers, the club will not meet on Feb 21st at 12:30, I would encourage all members and friends to attend the memorial service.

Ricky Gates

11/16/2025

Pics from the 2025 IPMS Murfreesboro show.

11/01/2025

October 2025 eNewsletter

MEETING NOTES :

- Dave Bowers has been released from NHC Healthcare; he is now at home recovering.
- Talked about upcoming model shows. See list in lower area of newsletter.
- Talked about some of the new kits and products on the market
- Looked at member’s built models, recently purchased kits and products
- A reminder we will not be having a regular club meeting in November. We will be supporting the IPMS Murfreesboro club with their show on our regular meeting Saturday. Hope to see everyone there! If you’re coming to the show, please check in with Ricky Gates so I can mark you as attended, plus you get club bonus points (haha).
- The December club meeting will be December 20th and it will be at Washington Avenue Baptist church, building C, Room C-100. The address of Washington Avenue Baptist Church is 1621 N Washington Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501.
- Next club model build challenge is “Modern Military”. This is any military related item from the Gulf war (1990) to present. Any subject type ship, plane, figure, armory, any nation (US, British, ISIS and etc.). It will be done at the April 2026 meeting.

MEETING ATTENDANCE
Joe Dooley
Ricky Gates
Bob Kedell
John Masinick
Eddie Robbins
Tom Valneta

KIT REVIEWS:
Ricky Gates – Hobby 2000 1/72 scale Brewster F2A-1/2 Buffalo
" " - Trumpeter 1/32 scale P-51B Mustang
“ “ - Hobby Boss 1/48 scale P-61A Black Widow
Bob Kedell - Revell 1/24 scale High Roller Chevy Luv 4x4
“ “ - Revell 1/24 scale Lamborghini Countach LP500S
Eddie Robbins – Hobby Link 1/35 scale M931/M932 Tractor conversion kit

BOOK-MAGAZINE-Tools-ETC:

Ricky Gates – Master Model 1/72 scale MiG-17 A/P/F gun barrels & Pitot tube.
“ “ - Kelik 1/72 scale Canberra PR.9 3D interior decals
Bob Kedell – Tropical Glitz – Assorted paint colors
“ “ - Scale Finishes – Mystery Color – Blue Pack
“ “ - Scale Finishes – Mystery Color – Autumn Pack
“ “ - Badger Patriot 105 airbrush



MEMBER'S BUILT MODELS:

Tom Valenta – Italeri 1/24 scale Scania Semi

Joe Dooley – Atlantis 1/48 scale Convair VTOL

30’s Club Challenge Reveal :

Ricky Gates – Hobby Boss 1/72 scale Brewster F2A Buffalo

Tom Valenta – Italeri 1/24 scale 1936 Opal Blitz fire truck

Tom Valenta – AMT 1/25 scale 1934 Ford Modified

Joe Dooley – AMT 1/25 scale 1937 Chevy Sand car

Bob Kedell – AMT 1/25 scale 1937 Chevrolet Coupe

Bob Kedell – Lindberg 1/24 scale 1934 Ford Roadster pickup

John Masinick – Revell 1/25 scale 1932 Ford sedan

Bill Underwood – Italeri 1/24 scale 1933 Cadillac


MODEL SHOW DATES:

Charlotte, NC – Nov 8th
Murfreesboro, TN – Nov 15th
Chattanooga, TN – Jan 6, 2026
Spartanburg, SC (“Hope it don’t snow”) – Jan 17, 2026
Also check out http://www.ipmsusa.org/all-events

NEXT MTMA MEETING:

Dec 20,2025 AT 12:30 PM at Washington Ave Baptist church

10/12/2025

09/26/2025

This weekend is Flory fest 😀 A weekend full of free-to-watch live shows with the team. Lots of tutorials and demos along with lots of laughs😁 Starts 10am Saturday morning 27th September

09/24/2025