NoVa IPMS Model Classic 2026

I attended the NOVA IPMS Model Classic on Saturday after what has been a whirlwind of 5 weeks of travel and activity for mostly family activities plus a nasty cold. I had just returned from a week at Disney World with my daughter and her family. 

I entered 9 models in 5 different categories. I am happy to report that I received several awards, while  fellow members of the National Capitol Model Soldier Society also did very well. I received:

• 1st place for my 75mm model of Herman Haupt in the figure 90mm and less Category
• 1st place for Acinad and Koda in the Mounted Figure Category. This model also got a peer award from the Fort Wayne IPMS,
• 1st Place for the USMRR Engine House and Shop in the Miscellaneous and Railway Models Category. 
• 2nd Place for Inquisitor Mizar in the Bust Category
• 2nd Place for Avenging Varus in the Miscellaneous Diorama Category.
• My bust of the 1st Virginia infantry at Valley Forge got a peer award from Fort Wayne IPMS.

The USMRR Engine House and Shop also received the Best Miscellaneous Model Award, which put it in contention for Best in Show. However, that award went to Zack Becker, fellow member of the National Capitol Model Soldier Society, for his dual busts of revolutionary war figures called "250." 
Zack also received some other awards but I did not get the full list.

Jim Ritchey, another member of National Capitol Model Soldier Society, received first place for his Sicilian Pirate in the over 90mm category.

Darcy Hoffman ran the National Capitol Model Soldier Society table where we debuted the 2026 Show Figure of John Hancock and had some sales. It will be interesting to see how others paint the figure.

Brion Boyles was at the show displaying his incredible model of the 1/40th scale CSS Shiloh, a fictional model of a gunboat that served in the Confederate Navy set his version of an alternate universe where the South did not lose the Civil War.  The model is both a fully- operational RC boat and incredibly detailed. 

Machine Shop Pictures

Strong light through the window wall to create realistic shadows on the carpenter workbenches

 I have not installed the machine shop in its final location. This was a good time to take some photos of the interior, while I still can maneuver the structure for the best angles and light. Nonetheless, it was tricky to take these shots as I had to balance light on the interior to see the detail, but not too much light to look unrealistic. 

All of these figures except JB Clough are ones I digitally sculpted. 

COL Haupt (superintendent) , JB Clough (chief engineer) and MG Burnside (Commander)  visit the Machine shop

I removed the roof on the right side to add light
and added a small LED light in the 
foreground

February Update

 

Lathe at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

February was a whirlwind of activity amid some of the coldest sustained wintry weather I have experienced in Virginia in the 30 some years I have lived here.  

An expertly painted NMM finish on a figure by Dave Colwell
that was best of show at Crimson Brush 2026. 

The main event was a figure painting class my brother and I took in Atlanta, GA as a prelude to the Atlanta Figure Society Show. The class was taught by Jim Rice, a well known figure painting artist, and was great. It focused on non-metallic metal (NMM) painting techniques.  That is a technique used for centuries by 2D artists and now adopted by miniature hobbyists to create the illusion of metallic surfaces, such as armor or weapons, using only matte acrylic or sometimes oil paints instead of actual metallic pigments that are not metallic at all but small flecks of mica suspended in medium. This method involves layering gradients of light and shadow to mimic how light reflects off metal, with a dark base color and progressively lighter shade highlights while incorporating subtle color shifts for reflections. One key advantage of NMM is its scalability and photographic appeal, as it avoids the glittery sheen of true metallics that can look unnatural under certain lighting or in photos. Additionally, NMM allows for greater artistic control since non-metallic paints can be customized with various hues to match specific themes or environments. However, it is very hard to do well on a miniature. Hence the class.

This is the figure we painted in the class.

I enjoyed the class and I think I learned a lot about  techniques that he showed.  I need more practice. The Mizar figure has several NMM surfaces on it included the breastplate, scythe, bell and censer. At home I added the graveyard backdrop to help protect the figure and convey the story of a medieval zombie hunter. 

After the class, the show commenced. It was a successful show with over 500 figures on display. Rob and I had several figures on display. In between we managed a trip to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. It was his first visit there. 

We received several awards. Rob got two silver and two bronze medals. I got 4 silver and one bronze. The trip home was marred by yet another snow storm requiring me to take a hotel in Henderson, NC to let it blow over.

The next weekend was the Richmond IPMS Old Dominion Open. That is one of the largest model shows on the east coast aside from the IPMS Nationals. 

My brother again joined me as he had a flight coupon he needed to use. He entered 3 models and I had 10 in the contest. I was also a judge for categories that I did not enter. There were 1100 models on display with 245 contestants and 800 general admission folks. I met several friends form other meets and had a great time sharing stories. I especially enjoy talking with Don Johnson. He gave me detailed comments on how to improve some of my figures.

The contest went well. Rob received a 3rd place award for his Old King bust. I received a first place in dioramas for my Avenging Varus diorama. I also received second place for my 75mm figure of Herman Haupt. I received 3rd places for Mizar (see above) and Acinad and Koda mounted figure. I also received the Best Diorama special award. I also got some peer awards for Moby Dick,  Avenging Varus, and my 1st Virginian Infantry at Valley Forge bust.

Two trips to shows with the 1st Virgina bust and his long musket convinced me that the musket is just waiting to break off. So  I decided to make a small backdrop to protect the musket on this figure and help with  the story of an American Rev. War soldier at Vally Forge. Painting the backdrop was almost as much fun as doing the figure. 

I am making progress on a pile driver model for my layout. I will post pictures later. 

Work Session on the Rio Grande

 I went to a work session on Charlie Bassing’s HO scale Rio Grande layout yesterday. Mark, Steve and Nick joined us. My job was to install tunnel portals at Tennessee Pass. I prefabricated and painted the tunnels at my house. I used laser cut kits from Alkem Scale Models. I painted them with acrylics and chalk. 

The portals needed a slight trimming as the benchwork is very narrow on this part of Charlie’s layout. I was able to cut off the extra width using a motor tool with a cut off wheel.

I was able to get the south portal installed with the surrounding terrain. I started work on the north portal, but Charlie needs to make some changes to the sky board before I can finish. 

Meanwhile, the other guys installed more rock castings and added basic scenery to some of the terrain.

At the end of the session, we discussed how to finish the big trestle on the end of the peninsula just as you walk in the room. I volunteered to build the micro engineering trestles for the project. The bridge will be about 18 inches tall and it’s highest at about 36 inches wide. 

February already?

 

A foggy morning at Aquia Landing

I missed the January update. In mid-January Alicia and I went to Costa Rica for 11 days. Then the ice storm hit. It took us 4 days to get home, with three days in Florida waiting for American Airlines to remember how to run an airline. We eventually gave up on American and bought tickets on Delta. They got us home without too much fuss.  

The trip was great. It ranged from a camping out-like adventure in cabins on the Pacific Coast, to stays in deluxe hotels with private gardens. We took 3 different boat rides through mangrove swamps, and river along the Nicaraguan border.  We saw a good portion of northern Costa Rica.

We hiked in the rain forest low lands and mountains. Our guide was great and he found lots of good hot spots for bird watching. We logged 247 different bird species and 140 lifers. I posted an assortment o f bird pics on my face book page. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1De6AjTXPw/

Alas, while we were in the rain forest, Alicia caught a chest cold. I got it two days later. It turns out it was actually a case of the flu despite us both getting flu shots. It took us nearly two weeks and a trip to the doctor to finally start feeling better. 

This week I felt well enough to start building some models. I'll post more on that later. 

Meantime, I played around with atmospheric effects on some of my model railroad shots.

Dawn on the Aquia Line