A MUST-SEE EVENT FOR HOBBYISTS, HISTORIANS, ARTISTS, CRAFTSMEN, COLLECTORS, STUDENTS, SOLDIERS AND VETS!

Fans of American history can get a fun, entertaining, miniature glimpse into our past at “NoreastCon 2012”, Long Island’s largest scale model show of the year. Sponsored by the Long Island Scale Model Society, this TWO-DAY regional event kicks off at 9am Saturday, May 5, 2012 and concludes May 6 at approximately 5:00 pm. The show will be housed in a unique venue – Farmingdale, NY’s American Airpower Museum hanger.

You’ll find hundreds of models on exhibit, in some cases right next to their full-size inspirations. There will be ample opportunity to take in the exhibits, movies, seminars and activities surrounding the event or to shop the almost 60 tables of kits and hobby supplies offered by our vendors. Raffles, re-enactors in uniform and free model-building clinics for children will add to the fun and excitement. Food trucks and more will be on hand. We’ll also be collecting old kits and non-perishable sundries for donation to VA clinics and troops serving overseas. Here are some basic details:

NoreastCon Scale Model Show and Contest

American Airpower Museum
Saturday, May 5th and Sunday, May 6th, 9am to 5pm
1230 New Highway
Farmingdale, NY 11735

For current and complete news, contact data or ticket, contest and admission information, Check out our newly "renovated" club web site at http://lisms.org and download your flyers, circulars and registration forms.

Please use this forum to let us know you're coming, and what we can do to make things better and easier for you after you arrive. We're listening, and look forward to the prospect of having you with us for the competition fun!

NOREASTCON NOTATIONS

This spring’s May 5th and 6th NoreastCon is now on the horizon, and the time has arrived for those with plans to actively participate in or support the show to start finalizing them. Here are a few items that we respectfully ask you consider and pass along to your membership at meetings this month. With your help, we hope to make this regional one of the best yet, and ensure that EVERY club in Region 1 is represented in some form.

Thank you for your consideration, and for help already extended in the form of sponsorships and promotion of this event your web sites and at your shows. Please keep it up!

BUS TRANSPORTATION POSSIBILITIES

Nothing would please us more than seeing a solid turnout of modelers bridging the state of New York and our northeast neighbors at this year’s NoreastCon Scale Model Show and Contest. Without representation from a broad geographic area, the concept of REGIONAL competition is lost, and nothing but the symbolism of the name remains.

We realize that the cost to travel has increased and are doing all we can to push them down. Links to multiple discount lodging arrangements have already been posted on the Long Island Scale Model Society’s web site at http://lisms.org. That leaves transit.

One of the most economical and practical ways to get to this year’s show might be by bus. There are many charter services operating in the region that offer a wide range of coach transportation from vans to luxury buses, along with flexible scheduling. Point-to-point solo runs can readily be arranged, and with a bit of coordination between chapters, “model-mobile” express trips that combine stops in Niagara/Rochester/Syracuse/Albany or Boston/Stratford/Hudson Valley/Northern NJ route can be set up.

Here’s a link to an electronic “dispatch” service for the tri-state area for clubs that may wish to explore available rates and options and discounts that can be arranged through centralized booking.

Charter Bus Service Link

IPMS chapters interested in coordinating combined charter runs between your location and Farmingdale, NY are welcome to drop a line to the Long Island Scale Model Society at [email protected] for booking assistance, logistical support at destination or promotional assistance via the world wide web. The Long Island Scale Model Society would be pleased to help where we can.

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

Here are a couple ideas to consider if time, distance, expense, finances or scheduling precludes your membership from attending NoreastCon 2012 as a group. There are two ways you can alternatively show your state flag and fly your club logo at this year’s regional competition.

CONSIDER A DELEGATE

If your membership and club treasury can support it, consider running a vote, contest, drawing, raffle or nomination amongst yourselves that provides a subsidy for one or two members to represent your club as a delegate. Your designated representative can enter models for other non-attending club members at discount, and thus ensure your club’s representation on our display tables. We’ve taken this approach to regional representation at the Long Island Scale Model Society itself, and the concept has proven popular, effective and affordable.

CONSIDER A SPONSORSHIP

You can still have a noteworthy presence at NoreastCon even if you unfortunately can’t send any model-builders. An awards sponsorship will ensure prominent placement of your logo on show banners, in handouts and throughout our web pages, along with a heartfelt thank you announcement during the annual awards ceremony. In return for your support, the Long Island Scale Model Society would also be pleased to distribute information you’d like to show attendees and reciprocate when you run a regional of your own.

Presently under consideration are “Best Virtual Awards” for sponsoring clubs that can’t attend NoreastCon, with nominees and award winners displayed as digital images in a dedicated on-line gallery. Additional information will be distributed as development proceeds, but you can ensure your club’s eligibility to participate now with a sponsorship pledge. Please visit our web site at http://lisms.org or write [email protected] to make arrangements.

STATUS REPORT

A month to go, so we hope you're finishing those builds and getting your plans finalized. The LISMS has been busy promoting this NoreastCon hot and heavy in local journals and on-line in an effort to build a big public turnout, and hope that those in the Armorama world will help us treat those who arrive to tables full of models and great plastic eye candy. Local TV is expected. You can check out some video from our last event on the club web site at http://lisms.org. Just click the "NoreastCon Central" link and scroll down. While there, you can download a current agenda from the attachments section below the video.

Looks good at this point that those in residence will get a live demonstration of a quad 50 in action (Sorry, no live firing). The Army Guard is expected to have an armored Humvee on hand, and some other antique armor may be rolling in as a complement to the museum's own stock. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather.

We have some BIG kits to raffle off Sunday, and a growing pile of conventional stuff. 50 tables of vendors are already accounted for.

A sincere thanks to the following IPMS Chapters who, amongst others, have already stepped up to sponsor trophy packages. It's a good way to "participate", show your state/club flag, promote IPMS and support the regional even if your members can't physically attend. Whether you're a club, vendor or hobby philanthropist, we'd love to add your moniker to our show banner and see your handiwork up close. Please step in, step up and step out if you possibly can.

Our sincere thanks to ...

IPMS Central Pennsylvania
IPMS Granite State Modelers
IPMS Niagara Frontier Chapter
IPMS NJ
IPMS Northern Virginia Modelers
IPMS Rochester
IPMS Brooklyn
IPMS Binghamton
IPMS Champlain Valley
IPMS NENY
IPMS Syracuse
IPMS Bay Colony
IPMS Wings and Wheels
IPMS HVHMG Hudson Valley
IPMS Southern Maine
IPMS CT/Yankee
IPMS Stratford

WOW!

Plus our many individual and business contributors.

While no formal off-site events are planned, the local restaurants and entertainment complexes are working with us to make available some discounts for those in from out-of-town or wishing to gather informally after hours.

Just returned from another great MosquitoCon. I cordially invite all you show exhibitors and attendees to bring that stuff to Long Island for the May 5-6 NoreastCon regional "shootout" so LI locals can be similarly treated to your fine, fine handiwork.

Particularly LUV the BIG stuff that showed up for display at this and previous shows. THAT'S DEDICATION! Anyone with similar kinds or armor, artillery, ships or planes who'd like some spotlight space to show that stuff off here, please post back or contact us through the web site at http://lisms.org and we'll see what special arrangements we can make for you.

You've got to love it when a plan starts to come together. We've pretty much exhausted our supply of SIXTY vendor table placements at this point. Show attendees can expect some good variety and deals.

Despite the down economy, select vendors are stepping up with donations of some very nice raffle prizes from airbrushes to hold and fold sets. Thanks go out to Iwata Medea, Grex, Flexi-file, Floyd Werner, The Small Shop, Xuron Tools and others for your support in these hard times. Thanks also go out to IPMS Northeast NY and IPMS CT/Yankee for their added sponsorship contributions.

Tons of publicity has been posted to drive traffic. If the weather continues to hold up as well as it has, this should be a very memorable Regional. Please come, tell your friends and bring lots of plastic "jewelry" for the competition tables.

The day is drawing nigh. Time to wrap up those builds! More great sponsors for the raffle table that now include Airfix USA, Grex, Iwata, The Small Shop, Achtung T-Shirt, Flexi-file, Xuron Tool and others. A vote of thanks to all these fine firms for supporting us in tough economic times. Remember them when it comes time for your next purchase.

Vendor tables are sold out! Over 60 tables worth! We MAY be able to squeeze a couple more in if anyone's interested.

Feedback has been great, and we're generating a lot of publicity. Bring lots of your best stuff for the tables on the good chance that the event will be picked up on local TV.

I'll be providing logistical information here between now and the show date, so please check back.

Our club members will be donning our new club polo shirts for the competition. In the spirit of this regional, we welcome and encourage every club member to do the same for identification, photo and publicity purposes. Let's see your logos and colors!!

Attention, vererans and active duty military. In recognition of your current or prior service, the LISMS will apply additional discounts on admission for anyone who shows up in uniform or wearing a VFW, American Legion or AMVETS cap.

HELP SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM

Per past tradition, the Long Island Scale Model Society will be collecting surplus hobby kits and non-perishable sundries for delivery to America’s troops serving in the Middle East and deserving veterans who are being assisted by the VA. If you have spare models or products on the current need lists like coffee, playing cards, phone cards, unused socks and clothing or any “dry” item from the list appearing on the web page link below, please bring them to our show. Drop them in the specially marked donation boxes located at our raffle desk and we’ll arrange delivery or free trans-shipment.

Suitable Donations List

http://www.operationshoebox.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=16

Please note that pre-fillable contest registration forms are available and downloadable fromhttp://lisms.org/contest-forms. You can save time and ensure a better presentation that includes all the details by completing your paperwork in advance. Please note that both a master registration (summarizing all of your contest entries) and individual forms for each individual model are required.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

Those attending can expect to see three very BIG and interesting pieces of plastic eye candy at NoreastCon 2012. Sounds like the shipbuilding community is in for a treat.

1. A fully updated, accuratized and HUGE 1/72 reproduction of the USS Intrepid, just rolled back out and on to the museum floor last week. Members of the Long Island Scale Model Society and IPMS Gabreski just finished a major refurbishing project. Beyond basic repairs and cleaning, the deck has been completely refinished and the entire air group replaced with accurate modern kits in accurate squadron markings.

2. A 1/72 Lindbergh I-153 submarine with Kaiten manned torpedoes. The builder of this model won the kit as a door prize at the last NoreastCon we hosted in 2010.

3. A 1/200 scale custom reproduction of the Yamato.

More news. In the 1/1 scale department, the American Airpower Museum took delivery this week of a 155MM Long Tom Cannon and M3 Tractor. An EA-6B will also be sitting on tarmac display at showtime, and we're attempting to arrange -- weather permitting -- a session or two of open cockpit Waco Biplane taxi rides (Museum fee will apply).

Stay tuned.

Matt, can your web gurus fix the Word model forms? I was trying to fill them out yesterday and they only allow one line is the description section before starting a new page. I've done a work around using a printed and scanned PDF to be inserted as an image into a Word document.

This is the first indication I've had about a problem. Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention. I've effected a correction that should work. Would you please try downloading the model entry form again and let me know if it works on your end?

Today's update:

If you're coming in from out-of-town or out-of-state, we expect to be obtaining some discount coupons for area attractions you might be interested in visiting while here, including the Cradle of Aviation Museum and 56th Fighter Group restaurant.

Table space will be provided for clubs who wish to bring and distribute literature on their own upcoming events, so bring 'em if you've got 'em.

Attention contestants. Please note that the museum parking lot has limited capacity, so you can expect to see a long line of cars parked along the adjacent roadway. We ARE making arrangements to reserve about three parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the gate for 10 minute parking, so you can drop off your entries before check in AND THEN park. There will be tables inside for you to deposit your boxes on while you do so, and someone to watch over them if you're alone.

Best we can do, but it has worked in the past as long as everyone observes the time limit and attendant's instructions. We'll do our best to queue things. If the box is temporarily full, slow drive around the museum parking lot or shopping center lot on Conklin Avenue and return.

Just a reminder that there is no formal banquest scheduled for this NeCon. Trophies will be awarded at the normal conclusion of the event.

Those planning or wishing to visit the 56th Fighter Group Restaurant informally should be aware the the facility is reserved for private functions on Saturday. A Sunday brunch open the public is on their calendar. We are also attempting to secure discount coupons for anyone looking to dine there Sunday Day or evening.

This event started hitting newspapers everywhere today, and I received some more great raffle stuff from Actung T-Shirt and Osprey Publishing. The only aircraft currently scheduled to be away at airshows are the P-47 and C-47. The B-25 will be parked inside the museum this year.

BIG DAY TOMORROW! Spent the day setting things up. Turns out hte C-47 WILL not be leaving for the weekend. Guided tarmac tours to afford you close inspection can be arranged at no charge. Weather looks to be great. We also have confirmaton that there will be TV cameras rolling on at least Sunday, so wear those club colors if you've got 'em.

My entries are packed, extra batteries charging, reg and id sheets printed and ready to roll, check from the club packed and secure, travel time is set with my co-pilot/bombadier/WSO, the GPS is ready to by tasked with the trip.
See all y'all (in defference to this being Derby Weekend ) Sunday morning.