The Walk-Thru of the 2023 International Paper Modeler's Convention (IPMC); the 25th

[THE DC]

Best detail or most challenging part of the build:

Peter explained that he built the Vickers as designed. He added a mooring ramp to fit the airship to the dock. He did share that the propellers and struts as tiny and delicate to form. The other part of the display was another story.

Peter resized the Empire State Building to match the scale of the Vickers. He did this by comparing the potential size of the unbuilt Vickers (some sources list as just over 650 feet, Peter suggests an eventual 800 feet) and the height of the Empire State Building at 1250, as he explained he found it had been before the addition of the antenna. This was not easy, as the parts didn’t always fit the 8x10 sheets, This required some of the larger parts to overlap onto other sheets. The fitting of these made maintaining accuracy a challenge when sacrifice to fit was required. He also shared that the mooring mast required modification to make it more appropriate to the design, and that yaw booms to further enhance the authenticity. He did lament not getting the top of the top of the mast flat, instead of conical, as he said would be more accurate.

He preferred the Fiddler’s Green kit over the larger Alan Rose kit, due to the color selection and detail in the latter. He felt the Fiddler’s Green was better for his purposes. After increasing the size to meet the scaling preferences, he reinforced the cardstock with foam-core board, to encourage structural stability and durability over time.

After ensuring the structural requirements, he described the next challenge to the final project, as attaching the airship to the building’s mast provided difficulty. Peter wanted the connection to look real, and natural, and not have to use support struts or wires that would be distracting to the display intent. To accomplish this, he used a wooden dowel that was affixed to the base, then run it up to the paper mast. To affix the airship to the mast, he used a metal rod, seated within the airship model, then attached to the supporting dowel. This design, of a pairing of these two different kits, he engineered himself. The effort was a challenge.

And he explained that it was real effort, taking months to build!

Though not his favorite build, there was another model, the Spirit of St. Louis, a kit by Peter Zorn, is worth inspecting…



Picture 1: Spirit of St. Louis 1-50sc Zorn

Picture 2: Spirit of St. Louis & truck Zorn

Picture 3: Spirit of St. Louis & truck 1-50/sc

Picture 4: A detailed look: Spirit of St. Louis window…

[THE DC]

Peter suggested that novices should not be intimidated about starting a kit. He stated that any builder should be comfortable with, and willing to, make mistakes. Specifically, he suggested a build tip of printing out extra parts for repair or reconstruction when the eventual “oops” happens. Peter didn’t feel comfortable making any tips fr advanced builders, explaining that he didn’t feel qualified yet, in his building skills. Seeing the Empire State Building seemed to challenge that assumption.

Peter shared that he favorite tools were good quality cutting matts and Exacto Brand cutting tools. He added that he finds Prisma colored pencils for edging. Edging is the process of adding color to the edges of parts, cut from a sheet, to cover the white edges of the cut out part. Edging is a skill of its own and helps blend joined parts that are glued together.



Picture 1: Peter’s suggested Prismacolor pencil for edging...

Picture 2: Prismacolor pencil for edging...

Picture 3: A well edged kit, a brown owl...

[THE DC]

When asked why he makes the 20-30 minute drive, he responded that...Its fun!

He’s gotten to meet a variety of artists and explore their legacy. Peter had met with Alan Rose, and after he passed, his widow; and collect valuable materials of his production of kits, that rivals most other artists. He’s gotten to meet with Peter Zorn, Richard McClintock., Matt Bergstrom, and Edmund Gillion; top designers in the history of the craft.

He shared that meeting, and sometimes hosting, these esteemed artists has been a bone to his dog's efforts, to maintain the annual IPMC.

[FRD]

Great coverage, thanks for posting!, maybe some day I'll make the "pilgrimage" to Sterling ..

[THE DC]

The first exhibit on the second side of the exhibition side belonged to a charming woman of considerable skill: Linda Kemp. Linda travels about an hour to two hours, from Woodsboro. She has been coming to the IPMC for 10 years of the 25 that it has persisted.

I met Linda years ago, when she walked up to me, invited me, and shared her secret devotion to Burger King (either it was that, or the utter lack of other food options in the area?)!

Linda provided quite the exhibit. Her work is meticulous, detailed, and clear of error and flaws. She also works in small scales that are hard to properly recognize on camera. She also is not afraid of unusual subject matter


Picture 1: Linda’s booth of two tables…

Picture 2: The second table of Linda’s booth…

Picture 3: a selection of tiny buildings in cubbies…

Picture 4: a close up of select tiny buildings in cubbies…

Picture 5: another close up of tiny buildings in cubbies…

[THE DC]

Linda’s two tables contain a massive number of tiny models; an overwhelming number of small scale structures of a variety of subjects, all precisely build. She builds a wide range of items; tea cups, European buildings, construction vehicles, treasure chests, box animals, Americana town structures, castles, and Victorian dioramas [see the last Thread entries pics for these details].

Some of her builds are as unique as they are well-completed. In one of her unique displays, she constructed sixty-four tiny buildings, and a piano, all of tiny-enough design as to all fit together in a cigar box [see pic 1].

She also completed children’s pop-up books [see pic 2] that will haunt your imagination. She even builds, and displayed, dioramas, many in a small scale Victorian theme, with others more modern holiday theme [see pic 3] such as Halloween. Her choice of builds is as interesting and unique as the quality of her construction...

Picture 1: Cigar box exhibit…

Picture 2: Pop-up book…

Picture 3: Diorama…

[THE DC]

Favorite Model:

Linda’s favorite build is a comic version of paper version of Rembrandt’s Night watch [see photo 1]. She acquired this rare model on a trip, visiting a Rice Museum gift shop, in Amsterdam. The design for the comical-art version of the build derive from the famous painting, which Linda provided a picture of, below the completed kit [see pic 2].

Though comic/pop-art in design, the build took a great deal of time and effort. Linda estimated that it took 4 to 5 days of concentration. She explained that it took a great deal of effort toward the rolling the little bodies of the gathered characters.


Best detail or most challenging part of the build?

She stated that thinner paper made the construction easier for this kit, specifically in the creation of the characters. She shared that a thicker paper might have made the folding of the figures less effective to the final combination of pieces.



Picture 1: Linda’s Rembrandt’s Night watch…

Picture 2: Rembrandt’s Night watch build, with the photo of the painting for comparison...

[THE DC]

Linda’s main build tip was for novices to start building easy kits, to gain skill and confidence. She said starting with a little house was a good way to begin, while working up to a cathedral would require more skill and patience.

Adding to her build tips suggestions, was to select things that inspired the builder; paralleled their interests to keep the patience needed to build effectively and complete the project. She shared that if the subject chosen was close to the builder’s heart, the project was most likely to be completed.

[THE DC]

Linda suggested getting a good tool-chest was a must for founding the build process. She made a Gerstner her choice for her tools. I was unable to photo this for you, as she’d been packing things up by the time I was able to reach her for the interview.

She also advocated buying very sharp scissors, and keeping them sharp.

Finally, as another good tool for building, she recommended using a seem ripper, from a sewing kit, for scoring parts. She’s used this for a scoring tool for some time.

Scoring is the process of tracing the outline of the part, that is about to be cut or folded, with a round tipped tool. The scoring of a part makes cutting it smoother, and folding it more clean-edged. Scoring tools are sold in hobby shops; though some people choose other things, such as ball point pens that are empty, or even rounded dowel rods. Using a quality scoring increases fine cutting of parts to make the edges cleaner, and it enhances the folding of sections that need sharp creases. Linda’s sewing-tool seem ripper, with the ball at the end of the blade, was her alternative to buying a scoring tool, provided in most craft shops.

[THE DC]

When asked why she comes to the IPMC, she noted that a lot of exhibitors are ex-military, with an appreciation for modeling craft and vehicles related to their experiences. Linda explained that their personalities tended toward being detail driven and meticulous. She said that this common background gives them something to share with each other, as they “geek out on paper.”