International Plastic Modelers Society/USA


Lackawanna Valley Scale Modelers Chapter

 


    IPMS/Lackawanna Valley Scale Modelers is a group of model builders who meet monthly to discuss and share in the hobby of scale plastic modeling.  Our members hail from the Lackawanna Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, hence the name we chose.  We formed in 1996,  became Chartered with IPMS/USA in 1997 and have had our eye on the future ever since.   We've held two local one-day events, our 'Summer Invitational', in 2000 and 2001.  We're considering another but the jury's still out on that - stay tuned here to read of any changes or announcements.
    We have members from all backgrounds and all interests are represented; figures, aircraft, armor, autos, etc.  Several junior members also join us monthly, keeping the older guys focused when we get bogged down in a project or afflicted by AMS*.  To finish a model on a Saturday afternoon is something the juniors can do regularly, to the astonishment of the veterans who fret and worry about the details.  The young will educate the old, I guess.
    Our membership draws from all walks of life, from blue collar to white, desk jobs to students.  Similarly, our tastes vary on modeling subjects so there's something for all at our meetings.  Our 'show and tell' of new kits, books and supplies rates a high point as our members are practicing capitalists and newer releases abound.  Many of the completed models will "oooh and ahhh" and we've several members who've won on Regional- and National-level contests.  No braggards among us, our willingness to share anything we can for a fellow member is a hallmark of our club.  Members have displayed built aircraft, armor and auto models to be sure but we've also had our share of ships, sci-fi and even construction equipment offered for the good of the order.  Members have also staged "how-to's and last Summer, we were invited to and celebrated our first 'club cookout' at a member's home.  We plan on doing so again this year.  We're truly a wide-ranging group.
    We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00PM on the campus of the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA.  You'll find us some of the easiest-going modelers around and welcome all new members and visitors.  We have no dues but strongly suggest membership in IPMS/USA to receive member benefits and support the national organization.  As a member of IPMS/LVSM, you'll receive our occasionally-published newsletter, On Track for news on our club and its members, reviews on products and general goings-on.

*  AMS - Advanced Modeling Syndrome - A debilitating affliction that enhances a modeler's inability to complete a model kit.  The root causes are many but typically can be traced back to references that illustrate corrections to available kits, e.g., five lug nuts on a car wheel vice the kit's six; 14 rivets on an aircraft rudder vice the kit's 20, mis-placed details in a cockpit, etc.  All these little things will trip-up a modeler, driving his or her production levels to near zero and leaving them in a melancholy stupor...

Chapter Officers

President:

Eric Flesher

Vice President:

Jim Terry

Treasurer:

Joe Zaccone

Secretary/Chapter Contact:

Frank Kranick

    We do take road trips to attend contests and events held by IPMS sister Chapters in and out of our Region 2, IPMS/USA's name for our geographic location.  Region 2 (Mid-Atlantic) is made up all or part of the following states: NJ, PA, MD, DE, VA and The District of Columbia.  We've also been known to haunt events in New England (Region 1) and Canada IPMS/Canada.  

Our other pertinant information is:

Meetings:

Held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00PM;
Claver Hall conference room;
The University of Scranton
915 Mulberry Street
Scranton, PA

snailmail:

IPMS/Lackawanna Valley Scale Modelers
227 Chestnut Street
Dunmore, PA  18512-2379

telephone:

(570) 344-6083, anytime

e-mail:

kranickf1@scranton.edu