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

[THE DC]

Originally Posted by FRD

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

Not that far from Florida! I don't know if I will attend next year, but if you do go to the IPMC, get in the night before to make the visit more smooth. Traffic up to Sterling, given its proximity to Washington DC can be pretty daunting...

I learned that the hard way in previous trips.


Thanks for reading...

[murphyaa]

Originally Posted by THE DC

Not that far from Florida! I don't know if I will attend next year, but if you do go to the IPMC, get in the night before to make the visit more smooth. Traffic up to Sterling, given its proximity to Washington DC can be pretty daunting...

I learned that the hard way in previous trips.


Thanks for reading...

I also learned that the hard way on previous trips. My first couple of conventions, I'd leave early Friday morning from Arizona, and hit the hotel late Friday night, usually after the dinner.

Last year I decided to try coming up Thursday night. Worked great, and I had a whole day to make repairs and build new models.

I think I'll spring for nonstop flights for 2024. Coming home from the 2023 convention, one of my flights got delayed, and I had to run to the next gate. Fortunately it was the gate next door.

[Don Boose]

Not to mention that the Friday afternoon and evening set up and buffet dinner is a great time to meet and catch up with fellow paper modelers in a relaxed setting.

Don

[THE DC]

Originally Posted by Don Boose

Not to mention that the Friday afternoon and evening set up and buffet dinner is a great time to meet and catch up with fellow paper modelers in a relaxed setting.

Don

And meeting Don there is worth arriving early!

[THE DC]

Don Boose’s wife, Lil, had a small exhibit (see pic 1) next to his large display, next down the line of the main table, next to Peter’s table. I was fortunate in getting to speak to her this year; an effort that had failed n my previous Walk-Thru Threads.

Lil Boose has been coming to the IPMC for 10 years. She lives in Carlisle, PA. so the distance to Sterling, to attend, costs her 110 miles travel. She typically shares a table with her husband, but her model-builds are attention-demanding in their own right.

Madam Boose has suffered some health challenges in recent years but she still builds. Note the pictures I will share of her builds, both clean and smooth assemblies, with attractive bases and detailed information of the subjects that were the builds. When asked why she id driven to fold and glue paper, she joked that she did it to stop getting yelled at, by her husband, Don. I didn't question further, as I wasn't getting my $200 an hour to intervene...


Lil has skill of her own but she shares a build that her husband completed, in her exhibit. “Darling Lil“ is the name of her husband’s build of a 1941, Royal Air Force, Submarine Spitfire Mk. IIa (see pic 2). Don had been researching a build of the craft and placed “Darling Lil” on the hull, naming the craft after his wife; giving her the build as a further romantic gesture.

I half expected her to tell me, that the prominently placed paper plane was her favorite build; the handiwork of her beloved husband and gesture of his value of her. That would have been so predictably sweet.

I was wrong.

The spirited wife told me that she liked Don’s model, but told me that her favorite exhibited build was her paper cat...

Don's laughter matched only my surprise...



Picture 1: Lil Boose’s collection of paper models…

Picture 2: “Darling Lil“, a husband’s love letter to his wife…but not her favorite model...

[THE DC]

Lil Boose has a collection of animals in her small exhibit (lions, dogs, and squirrels; oh, my!). Her squirrel, cat, and dog (see pic 1) hold postures as if frozen in Disney poses.

Lil’s favorite model is her striped cat (se pic 2). She bragged that she’s been offered $20 to sell it, but she has refused. She didn’t answer how much she would eventually sell it for…make an offer next convention and see f she'll take it!

The kit took a couple of days to assemble and came from Canon Paper Models site, which provides free models for download. The only thing that was missing from the cartoonish depiction and coloration of the kit was a saucer of milk…or a mouse awaiting attention. But then, the cat figure probably wouldn’t look so calm.

When I asked Lil what the most challenging feature was, or what she was most proud of at the finished build, she quipped that it was still together!




Picture 1: Lil's animals, voguging...

Picture 2: Lil Boose’s favorite paper model…

Picture 3: The cat was desired by a man who saw it in exhibition, offering her $20 for it…

[THE DC]

When asked about build tips for the readers of this Thread, Lil notes the need to slow down. She stressed that being methodical and patient was a necessary feature of completing a successful and quality build.

She explained further that she was not person given to waiting, stating that she was a hurry-person. She shared that you can not rush a build without making mistakes or sacrificing integrity. She enjoys that the activity slows her down a bit, and recommends it for others.

When asked about her most recommended tool or tools, she shared the importance of having comfortable and sharp scissors, or alternately, a quality knife. She also stressed the value of a good hobby matt, to absorbed cuts and to provide a manageable surface for building.




When asked why she comes to the IPMC every year , she explained that her husband planned it, every time. Though Don may have been her initial draw to attend, she added that she enjoys the company; adding that it was a positive social experience every year.

[THE DC]

“Gentleman” Don Boose is a wealth of information; “some of which may be true” he notes…
The unofficial ambassador of the IPMC typically rents tables at the beginning of the convention set up; a good thing as he is so patient with questions and so personable with visitors. The first person who extended hospitality, years ago, at my first IPMC, was Don.

I guess you can never go wrong with a man named Don.

Don shared that he has been coming to the IPMC for over two decades (since 2002). His mastery of the craft is clearly seen in his exhibits; clean, tight finished with carefully joined parts, edged well, and depicted upon custom made bases that would do a museum justice. In fact, simply looking at his well crafted models is an education in detail and information about the item of exhibition.

The subjects of his work vary in variety, but not quality. He builds race cars, military service vehicles, air craft, and beyond, yet each is carefully labeled and described upon a sign that typically is attached to a cleverly crafted base. His interest in WWI armor is clear and has inspired a series of builds.




Picture 1: Don sitting behind his exhibit, awaiting visitors…

Picture 2: A large collection of detailed craft and vehicles……

Picture 3: Carefully labeled vehicles and military armor…

Picture 4: Still more armor & vehicles on attractive bases, each with detailed, museum-quality, descriptions…

Picture 5: Larger armor information-providing, custom stands…

[THE DC]

Don’s interest in WWI and other era armor is rivaled by his other recent build interest; Vietnam craft (see pic 1). This era is not his only period of interest, as he had done fine work (see pic 2 & 3). His Vietnam craft provide detailed information of the vehicles of the era (see pic 4), but his skill is depicted across several eras; most notably the very detailed Japanese WWII plane (see pic 5).



Picture 1: Next to the armor, a collection of aircraft...

Picture 2: More aircraft...

Picture 3: Aircraft of many eras...

Picture 4: Vietnam era aircraft...

Picture 5: Boose aircraft with detailed display plates...

[THE DC]

There were several Boose craft that stood out in detail and build quality. This was admittedly difficult to narrow down, given how prolific and standard to his craft, is the quality of the work that he exhibits (see pic 1). The large number of aircraft struggle to find space upon the table, given the amount of models provided (see pic 2). Despite the large collection, some of the kit builds stand out…




Picture 1: Collected aircraft ...

Picture 2: So many eras...so little table space...

Picture 3: Aircraft of many eras...

Picture 4: Very clean WWI builds

Picture 5: Clean, custom bases and detailed info tags...