What has AMPS been up to lately? We're going through a rennaissance of sorts and we'd love to tell you about it.

We're growing: AMPS' membership has grown about 80% in the past year. We have more volunteers active than ever before, working on future shows, more reviews, and better value for our members. We've incorporated and we're planning for long-term growth.

We're giving back: AMPS is organizing a donation of kits and building supplies to US troops stationed in combat areas overseas. You don't have to be a member to help these guys out; see: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/default.aspx

We're reviewing on the web: Check out http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/reviewsIndex.aspx?type=FL for our latest, including Panzerwrecks volume 4. The Tamiya UE and DML T-34 STZ will be up in a few days.

We're getting out more: We held one of our biggest shows ever in Ohio in 2006. In April 2008 we will be at the World War Two Victory museum in Auburn, Indiana (http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/conventions/showInfo.aspx?Page=Annouce&ShowID=21). This is the largest, best facility AMPS has ever been in for a show, and the seminar schedule will include WW2 Armor veteran John Irwin. Roy Chow and his crew have been working hard for over a year already to bring you a terrific show.

We are also hosting two regionals this year: AMPS East September 29 - see the details at: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/conventions/flyers/AMPSEAST2007flyer.pdf

AMPS Central Texas will host AMPS Centex October 20: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/conventions/showInfo.aspx?Page=Annouce&ShowID=22

We'll also be visiting Montreal Sep 30 for Gryffon Hobby Expo - get the details at: http://www.gryffonhobbies.com/expo.htm
If you are interested in a Montreal chapter, be there!

We're working on AMPS West 2008. If you want a west coast all-armor show, please join us at the IPMS-USA National Convention in Anaheim, California Aug 22-25. Our brothers at IPMS have generously given us a table from which we'll be distributing armor-related junk and planning AMPS West 08 - but we can't do it without you. (http://www.ipmsusa2007.org/) If you can't make that show, please write me about volunteering or just participating in the show.

We're partnering: We have formed relationships with several major vendors to bring you more kit reviews. AFV Club brought us their Stryker kit before it was released, showing it at the 2007 AMPS convention for the first time anywhere. Tamiya has been supplying review samples and will be helping us out with the 2008 convention. Trumpeter's kits have been donated for review by Stevens. ICM, Anubis Creations, Archer, Panzerwrecks and other vendors have also kindly donated to AMPS.

We're publishing more: Boresight is bigger and better than ever. Each issue is now bigger than in the old days. In the past year we've done two "Specials" - one on the Stuart light tank and the other on the Stryker. This coming fall we'll be doing a halftrack special and, in a first for AMPS, a series of articles from Nick Cortese on scratchbuilding. Nick's series of articles will take you step-by-step through his scratchbuild of the Soviet A-20, the prototype for the famous T-34. Nick's series of articles will begin in September and culminate in a scratchbuilding seminar at the 2008 AMPS show.

We're saving you money: A few months ago AMPS launched a vendor discount program; today over a dozen vendors offer member-only discounts to our members. These discounts mean your membership can pay for itself in a few months. Welcome to our two latest additions, Hobbyterra.com and Paint Assistant. See the list of participating vendors at:
http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/vendors.aspx

Please join us and get involved. AMPS is your club - you own it and you are the best people to help build AMPS into a better organization.
You can join or renew online at: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/membership.aspx

When WE do it together, it will happen. There is no "They" here. AMPS is ours.

AMPS is rolling on!

Danny Egan
President
Write me: [email protected]