It has many names…. All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and the Feast of Samhain…. but to us “monster kids” it is known simply as “Halloween”….

Welcome back horror hounds to a special “holiday” edition of “The Parlor”. October is a festive time here in the mausoleum and nothing says “Halloween” to me more than monster models and horror movies so this time around we will take a tour thru the crypts and dig up some classic monster kits, unearth a few timeless “fright” films, and share some “monster memories” along the way.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 51 years since Aurora Plastic Corporation released its immortal model kit of “Frankenstein’s Monster” and started a modeling madness that continues to captivate the hearts and imaginations of legions of modelers around the globe. In addition to the original 13 monster kits, Aurora also produced 2 other monster kit lines, the Monsters of the Movies series and the ill-fated Monster Scenes line of kits that sadly, due to public outcry at the time from “concerned” Parent and Women organizations, cemented Aurora’s demise as a kit producer. (For an in-depth look into the history of Aurora, I recommend you pick up a copy of Thomas Graham’s book “Greenberg’s Guide to Aurora Model Kits” and I definitely recommend the dvd titled “The Aurora Monsters: The Model Craze The Gripped The World” by The Witch’s Dungeon).

After Aurora’s demise, the only way for a crypt ghoul to get their monster fix was with the periodic re-releases of the monster kits put out by Monogram. It was on these Monogram re-releases that yours truly cut his modeling teeth. Now thanks to kit producers like Moebius Models, Monarch Models, and Polar Light/R2, who have stepped up to the plate to fill the void left by Aurora, we not only have an opportunity to build the classic “Aurora” kits like the “Wolf Man” we started building last issue but have all-new sculpts of our favorite monsters to add to our model collections.

The excitement I have when opening a box of figure “parts” is just as strong today as it was when I was 9 and my dad gave me my very first monster kit, Monogram’s re-release of the Aurora Dracula. Over the years since then I’ve built my share of monster models both in styrene, vinyl and resin, some of them several times each. I would like to share with you my own personal favorites that have been produced from 1962 – 2013 in the differing mediums:

 Styrene:   The Forgotten Prisoner by Aurora
                   The Wolf Man by Polar Lights
                   The Mummy by Moebius Models
                   Nosferatu by Monarch Models

Vinyl:        Son of Frankenstein by Geometric                             Designs
                    The Thing From Another World by                           Billiken
                    Michael Myers by Screamin
                    King Kong by Geometric Designs


Resin:        The Pit & The Pendulum by                                          Monstrology Models
                     The Parts Pit by Jim & Judy’s Horror                          Models
                     The Mummy by Dark Horse
                     Fluffy by Resin Realities

If you are just starting out in figure modeling or haven’t built a monster in quite some time, give one of these a try. All of styrene kits are readily available and the vinyl/resin ones can be found with some diligent searching online and at model shows.

Some of my fondest memories I have of growing up are reading all the issues of “Famous Monsters of Filmland” and “Fangoria” magazines that my dad collected and staying up late on the weekends with him and watching all the monstrous films that were shown on either “Creature Feature” or “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark”. These two programs aired on local station (remember the days of free antenna t.v.) in Memphis and both spawned inside me my love of all things monster at a very young age. Just like the monster models above, over the years I think it safe to say that I’ve watched literally every monster/horror movie ever produced on film and have a horror movie collection at home that number in the 1000’s on VHS and DVD. Even 30 plus years later, I still stay up late and watch a monster/horror movie of some sort every Friday night.   The unspoken rule of Halloween is that we are all entitled to one good scare. So this October 31st, turn off the lights, lock all the doors, grab some popcorn and treat yourself to one (or perhaps even more) of these must see horror movies….  


1.               Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man
2.               The Thing From Another World
3.               Dracula Has Risen From The Grave
4.               The Pit and The Pendulum
5.               The Curse of The Werewolf
6.               Night of the Living Dead
7.               Witchfinder General
8.               Halloween  – John Carpenter’s                                 Original
9.               Phantasm
10.            Dark Night of the Scarecrow
11.            An American Werewolf In London
12.            Wishmaster

Are you scared yet? If one of the above doesn’t scare you, then you must already be dead….

Well that about wraps it up for this issue. Before I lock up the parlor for the night, do you have a favorite monster kit or movie? Or maybe have some fond monster memories still haunting you from your youth? I invite to you post your comments and share your stories here. Got Monsters???

Until next time, I bid you “Happy Halloween!”

Cliff Bullock is the 2013 CASM Member of the Year.  Cliff is the guy holding the book in the picture. During this past year, Cliff has contributed to CASM in numerous ways.  As a member of the Contest Committee he tirelessly sought contributions for items for the raffle and silent auction for the 13th Annual Sproo-Doo contest.  Shortly after last year’s contest he started soliciting items and continued throughout the year.  At the contest he is helped out in many ways.  He could be found at set-up, take down, and running the raffle throughout the contest.  At club meetings, Cliff participates in every group build.  While few of the rest of us contribute models to the group builds, Cliff can be counted on to always have at least one, if not several models for presentation.  Cliff brings completed works to most every model meeting and has an earnest interest in the models brought by others.  If you go to the Forum, Cliff can be found adding Forum items or making comments on other modeler’s models.  Cliff has made contributions to the Scratching Post by submitting YouTube presentations on a variety of topics.  Overall, Cliff works behind the scenes contributing to most every facet of the club and he uplifts club members and the model work they do.  Cliff was very deserving of the 2013 CASM Member of the year. 

Our new member, Alphonso, provided us with additional photos from the 13th Annual Sproo-Doo Contest.

These are photos from a demonstration presented by Brent on how to spray gloss paint on car models.  He did a great job and I learned a lot from his presentation. 

The October CASM meeting showed the effects of a post-contest hangover.  There were not very many models on the table but we had a great time of fellowship and Brent put on a tremendous demonstration on how to paint with gloss paint.  We all had a fun time at the meeting.  The pictures that follow are from the meeting.  I will post pictures of Brent's demonstration next.

What is in a name?  Have you ever had the experience where you gained information that changed your entire perspective on a topic or field?  Where everything you once thought about a topic changed and there was no going back without the new information influencing every experience.  In science this experience would be called a paradigm shift where former explanations of a phenomenon no longer influence the way of seeing the phenomenon because the newer explanations better account for what is seen.  In essence it is like Alice in Wonderland.  Once she chased the white rabbit down the rabbit’s hole her whole understanding of what was possible and what was reality changed.  This experience happened to me when I delved into the realm of figure painting.  Once I went down the rabbit’s hole my perspective on how models should look, in general, changed.  Hence, the title of the column originally was:  Down the Rabbit’s Hole: A Figure Modeler’s Perspective.  When I first started writing the column my intention was to share my thoughts on different topics that showed the influence of figure painting on my view of modeling in general.  But first, let me tell you about how I went down the rabbit’s hole.

I have been lucky to dabble in the modeling community on and off through times when dynamic changes in the way in which models were finished. These changes represented changes in paradigms.  It seemed like every time I re-entered the hobby there was a new way of doing things and a different look to be achieved.  There have been shifts in style and methods for completing figures as well.  Some of these shifts are defined by geographic region.  The Europeans and Americans have their own acceptable style and there has been a merging of styles.  Ultimately, the shifts have led to very sophisticated finishing schemes and methods that have produced incredibly artistic looks.  The paradigm shifts have also opened the hobby to people who might not have had an interest in modeling and more artists have become involved which, again, expands the different techniques used in the hobby.

For me, the experience occurred when I re-entered the hobby after my children reached an age where our family was no longer inundated with as many child-based activities and there was time available to work on models.  I had modeled off and on throughout my life and had a strong affinity toward aircraft.  I still do.  When I re-entered modeling, I noticed the paradigm had shifted toward high detailing accomplished with aftermarket parts and quickly realized that my previous ways of detailing were unrefined and did not come close to what others were building.  I also came to realize that the purchase of an after-market cockpit and other detail sets tripled the cost of building a model.  My budget could not afford the building of an airplane unless I was willing to save over the course of a year to purchase a plane and its associated aftermarket parts.  I could only afford a model after months of saving and it was disturbing that after I had purchased the model I would not use a major portion of it and have to save more money to replace the discarded parts.  The paradigm had shifted to hyper-accuracy and super detail from close enough is good enough and the fabrication of parts.

I was looking through the local hobby shop one day when I had a break from work and found a large number of large figure models on discount and with the model money I had saved burning a hole in my pocket I purchased several inexpensive models.  I had never painted a figure model before, other than pilots for aircraft, so I found an article written by Shep Paine on how to paint military figures.  I followed his techniques on the Jean Luc Picard model I had just purchased and very shortly later he was done and I thought it looked cool.  The picture below is of Jean Luc and represents my first foray into building a large scale figure.  It and built in 1997 so there is a certain level of accumulated dust that has settled on it.  I actually placed in a local contest with this model!

I had not gone down the rabbit’s hole yet.  I had followed a procedure written by another modeler (albeit, a very accomplished modeler) and had no idea why I was doing what he said.  He provided language that gave me a clue as to what I was doing but the language was essentially Greek to me and had no practical meaning.  But I enjoyed the artistic process he described and was hooked on figures.

I made a number of large scale figure models and was technique oriented but really did not know the reasons why I was following the techniques.  I had subscribed to a number of magazines that were also technique oriented.  One edition of the magazine was just like the other editions and while the models featured were cool and beautiful, the reasons for color selection and methods used were at best glossed over but mainly non-existent.  I had to derive meaning by reading between the lines and I developed an overall framework for what I was doing.  But really, my understanding was quite simplistic.  I was, however, well satisfied with my work.  Life imposed itself on me again and I left modeling for about six years and returned more recently.  The picture below is of the Dark Angel which was the last model I built during that stage of modeling.  Finishing the model was technique driven and I had only an inkling of an idea as to why I was following the techniques. I did not know how to modify the techniques to achieve a desired effect.  For that matter, I did not know what desired effects were possible or what I wanted.  Any cool effect achieved was truly by accident or some simplistic idea.  I also placed with this model at a local contest.

I was eager to start my figure modeling again when I re-entered the hobby in 2006 but I found the industry had changed.  There were markedly more brands of paint available and brands like Reaper and Games Workshop/ Citadel provided linked colors that included a base color, shadows, and highlights.  The quality of the paint was phenomenal and I re-entered the hobby following the techniques described by the wargaming industry.  I also shifted from using oils to acrylics.  By this time the internet was markedly more advanced and my ability to obtain information was greatly expanded.  At some point in this process I developed a thirst for understanding why I was doing the techniques I was using when I painted.  Also during this time the techniques themselves started changing.  You can see the shift if you were to go to Miniature Mentor and see how the methods for painting miniatures have changed since the beginning of the series (which, by the way, is an outstanding series of tutorials that I would highly recommend).  Snap, my paradigm changed and I started looking at figure modeling differently.  I also started “seeing” colors in nature differently.  I started looking at the color of shadows in the early morning and seeing them as different from shadows in the afternoon and evening.  I even understood why this might be the case!  When I watched movies I noticed the colors of the highlights and the contrast of the shadows.  I noticed how the choice of colors became symbolic of characteristics of the character and how different colors could be combined out of the base colors to further emphasize the mood and character of the figure.  The picture below is a picture of a figure called “Saber Ataraxa” and is the second model I built after my most recent re-entry into figure modeling.  When finishing this figure I used the prepared paint schemes and took on faith the colors where correct.  Completing the model was largely technique driven but there was a low level of intention that directed my placement of color.  I had a clue at this point and my understanding of color was slightly greater than during my previous periods in the hobby.  Really, I thought the figure was cool and wanted to get it done without delving into different theories of color.  I was just excited about modeling again.

I started reading and applying concepts of color usage, which I still do not fully understand.  As my understanding of the use of color developed I found instructional articles, shifts in technique and different methods for using a brush to produce extremely subtle shading and blending.  I became interested in color theory and the creation of mood.  The painting of a figure had shifted from one being technique driven to one being more artistic.  The picture below is one of “Saber” and is the most recent model I have completed.  I hope you can see a change in the way she looks when compared to the previous three pictures because my vision for the piece dictated the technique used.  Although, I am not thrilled with my execution of technique on this piece, she provides a nice contrast to the previously posted “Saber” picture.  

A lot of the paradigm shift was due to my thirst for understanding and my desire to improve my modeling.  As I was studying and learning I noticed that a shift was also occurring within the modeling industry.  After the paradigm shifted for me I began to wonder about its application to armor and aircraft.  My aircraft and armor friends put up with me while we discussed these ideas and we had a lot of good-natured joking with one another.  During this time, Mike Rinaldi was writing articles on the use of Oil Paint Rendering  and Color Modulation methods to breathe life and tell stories in the armor pieces he was modeling.  (His Tankart series is outstanding in illustrating his thinking process on this topic and I would recommend it highly.)  The shift that I had been discussing with my armor buddies was already occurring in the modeling industry toward the use of color in an artistic way and very similar to the way in which figure modelers view the use of color. Lucky for the armor modelers, there are available prepared washes, filters, and pigments (mainly offered by MIG Productions and AK Interactive) that has promoted a shift in the paradigm.  Looking at the models at our recent contest illustrates that the shift is taking hold in the armor and airplane genres.

Following the paradigm shift is not for everybody.  There is a lot of enjoyment to be had from the assembly of a model and rendering it with tried and true techniques.  In fact the finished model can be very nice looking and the process enjoyable.  But if you have reached a point in your modeling where a level of staleness is present, I would suggest taking the next step and look into viewing the modeling process differently.  I warn you, however, should you start walking down this road and incorporate the ideas related to color theory and artistic rendering, you will have followed the white rabbit down the rabbit’s hole and your whole world will change!  The Down the Rabbit’s Hole column is essentially musings from this figure modeler’s perspective on modeling, art, and the world.  It is designed to introduce and influence how you see the world and the hobby.  I hope you enjoy it but, I warn you, you may change the way in which you view the world and your models!   

 
Most of you know me here, and some of you know me better than you really want to. Many consider me to be pushy, to be arrogant, to be intimidating, and to be scary to some of you and by others to be a detriment to CASM’s growth. Maybe they are right, I suppose only time will tell.

This is the last of the Model Musings you will see. Oh, someone else is welcome to step up and take up the name, or if they want to come up with their own name, format and style, I doubt Tom would mind, he has so much help and input on putting together YOUR newsletter.

I came to this club shortly after I returned to Arkansas in late 2000. I attended a CASM meeting at Roger’s old store over on Bowman in early 2001. I liked what I saw and I liked many of the people I met there. When I returned home, I called Rick Knapp and told him about the group. I had known Rick since he had joined the first model club in Central Arkansas, Central Arkansas Modelers Society (CAMS), in the mid 1980s and he was looking forward to finding a new modeling home since the demise of CAMS in the early 90s.

At that first couple of meetings there were about eight to ten members present, not a great number, but still a good start for a club that was only a little over a year old. Since that early beginning I have been at all but a small handful of meetings, one or two while I was in the hospital and a couple of others because of other such issues. I have seen CASM grow to just under 40 dues paying members at its height and oversaw our best ever contest turnout with over 300 models entered and nearly 50 modelers.

My biggest dream for fostering growth at CASM has yet to be attained, the dual affiliation with both IPMS and AMPS. My dream got me in considerable trouble early on with the guiding force at CASM, but I still held on to that idea. I have my doubts it ever will be now.

Like everything else though things change, and things have changed at CASM and I believe it is time for me to change too. I will drop in occasionally on meeting day, and I know I will hear about the goings-on and I may make a contest now and again, but I will no longer be a regular on the second Saturday of the month. CASM has been a good place to call my modeling home, but it is time I move on and let the future, and present, of CASM rest in other hands.

Happy modeling my friends may the modeling God smile on you all.

The 13th Annual Sproo-Doo Contest Questionnaire was distributed to attendees after medals had been awarded but prior to the awarding the “Best of” categories and the specialized awards at the 13th Annual Sproo-Doo held on 9/21/13.  Twenty-three out of 36 participants completed and handed in the questionnaire.  Summarized data are presented in Mean (the average of the scores), Median (the middle score of the responses), and the Range (the lowest and highest numbers of the range of responses).

Demographic Data

Age: Mean: 47.2; Median: 55; Range: 10-67          Gender: All respondents were male.

How many models did you build over the last 12 months? Mean: 8.2; Median: 4; Range: 0-100

What types of models did you build during the past 12 months (Please check all that apply)?

The data presented below are frequency counts for each category.

Armor: 11    Aircraft: 9     Cars: 8     Figures: 6 Science Fiction/ Space: 7     Other: 3     Box stock: 8     Detailed: 8

Are you a member of (Please check all that apply)?  IPMS: 9    AMPS: 0    HMS: 0

How many contests did you attend during the last 12 months? Mean: 2.7; Median: 2; Range: 0-8

Would you be more inclined to attend a (check your preference) multi-day contest: 4     or a single day contest: 16?

How many hours did you drive to attend this contest? Mean: 1.5; Median: 1; Range: 10 minutes- 5 hours


Contest Features: 

Median scores were determined for each contest feature by finding the middle score of the rankings for each contest feature.  When an even number of scores were present then the mid-point of the middle two scores was derived.  The contest features were arranged by preference from most liked to least liked.   Next to each contest feature the Median and range of scores are listed.  Please note: rank ordering from “like most” to “least” was a concept not understood by some of the respondents.  Two respondents provided a score between 1 - 12 on each item and two respondents listed the same score on all features, either 1 or 12.  One respondent placed an “x” by some of the features.  Not every feature was ranked by all of the respondents.  When calculating the Median scores, I used all numerical data presented and did not presume to understand the intention of the respondent.  

Please list in order of preference (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) from what you like most (1) to least  (12) of the following common contest features:

Open system of judging (gold/silver/bronze) Median: 1  Range: 1-12

Talking with other modelers/Camaraderie Median: 3  Range: 1-12

1-2-3 judging Median: 3.5  Range: 1-12

Models/ supplies offered by venders:  Median: 4   Range: 1-12

Silent auctions for models/ hobby supplies:   Median: 5  Range:  1-12

Modeling classes:   Median: 5   Range: 1-10

Raffles for models/hobby supplies:   Median: 6   Range: 1-12

Visiting local Hobby shops:  Median: 7   Range: 1-12

Hospitality suite:   Median: 7.5   Range: 1-12

Swap meet:  Median: 8   Range: 1-12

Local food offerings:   Median: 9   Range: 1-12

Organized sight-seeing in the local area:   Median: 10   Range: 1-12

What did you like about this contest?

Everything

Everything

Very well done

Judging system, camaraderie, variety, talent

Categories

Yes

Judging and friends

Organized and well run, great preregistration and payment process

Well run, organized

Good venue, use of multi-club members to judge

Last Month

Silent auction

Judging system

Well run, lots of raffle items

Pre-registration/ internet

Ease of check-in! Vender area

Good feel of the contest

The models

What would you like to see improved about the contest?

Nope

Coffee!

Bring in more non-armor modelers

Maybe having more modeling workshops/ classes

More raffle items

Better location

More models and venders

N/A

Nothing

Aircraft judging was inconsistent

Location closer to Little Rock

Nothing

Details on online entry form

More models

Better judging

What features, in general, would you like to see in a contest that would encourage you to attend?

Nothing

N/A

None

Best of, venders, AMPS judging, love the computer entry process

Seminars, hospitality

Nothing

Fairness in judging, multiple contestant classes

Just like this

The open system

Better judging