Dennis Smith dates his interest in model-building to childhood days when his father built model cars. “He used to buy them, and I would start placing them together,” he explains. Later Smith started gluing and painting them as well.
Over time, Smith put aside his interest in the hobby, but later got back into it. One day in 1994, he entered the now-defunct Hobby U.S.A. at Town Square Plaza in Roanoke, where he met fellow model enthusiasts Tim Ward and Ed Kennedy. They were organizing a local model-builders chapter. “I think I missed the first meeting,” says Smith, “but I ended up going to the second meeting and then, from there, I joined for about a year.”
Though he again left the hobby for a time, Smith came back and now is the current president of the Roanoke Valley chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS). The aim of the RVIPMS is to promote the model-building hobby, one Smith believes can provide “a good avenue” for young people to learn historical subjects. He adds, “It’s [also] good for hand-eye coordination and working with your hands.”
In order for a chapter to be affiliated with the IPMS, the group must have at least five members in good standing with the national club. Chapters enjoy discounts and other benefits.
The RVIPMS holds two monthly meetings–both convening at 7 p.m. The first, a builders’ meeting held every second Thursday, is devoted to the chapter members in the same way a “jam session” is to musicians. The members come together, in Smith’s words, to “talk, share ideas, basically bring stuff to work on … just to show what you’re doing or just hang out.” The second meeting, held the fourth Thursday of the month, is the chapter business meeting. The business meeting also features a monthly club contest, open to all subjects–cars, planes, ships, etc.–that are displayed and voted on by the chapter members, with the winner receiving a plaque.
RVIPMS members include both men and women, and represent a broad range of model-building interests. “Some,” Smith observes, “specifically stick with armor–World War II type things. Myself, I like cars, sci-fi, and aircraft. There are a lot of varied interests.”
Currently the RVIPMS is gearing up for the Virginia Shoot-Out, a yearly contest scheduled for August 14 at the Roanoke Civic Center Exhibit Hall. Approximately 78 categories of models (armor, aircraft, autos, dioramas, etc.) will be featured as part of the competition.
After experiencing “some tough times,” Smith says the model-building hobby “is probably stronger than it’s ever been as far as subject matter that is out there.” While stores like Kmart and WalMart don’t sell model kits now, there are some stores in the Roanoke area–Crossroads in Salem, Rick’s Hobby Shop, and The Rail Yard–that do. Smith also credits the Internet with playing a significant role in expanding interest in the hobby. “Back when the hobby was slow, Scale Auto Magazine sort of revived the automotive modeling hobby – and the Internet has done wonders connecting people.”
Those interested in learning more about the RVIPMS and model-building can log onto the chapter’s website at RVIPMS.com, or attend the chapter’s meetings each second and fourth Thursday of the month (except for holidays) at the Virginia Museum of Transportation (7 p.m.) in downtown Roanoke.
By Melvin E. Matthews, Jr. [email protected]?