This page will feature hobby shops and modelling organizations that can help in your hobby needs, supplies, tips and getting together with others interested in the resin aspect of modelling.

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HOBBY SHOP!

As computers, video games, television, and other static forms of entertainment make their way into our lives, interest in modelling seems to have diminished over the years. And now with ready made kits, so real that even some imperfections are included, anyone can buy any item they want and sit it on the shelf. However, they are missing out on a lot!

It is up to us to encourage our young people, to spark their creativity and imagination by showing them that a box of parts, with a bit of glue, paint, work and patience will turn into a very rewarding experience.

As many of you know, there is nothing in the world like winning that race, reaching that goal, or the satisfaction of completing that kit you've always wanted! Modelling, be it resin, plastic, wood or other format, tests each of us against ourself. We build on our abilities to concentrate, learn patience, persevere, expand our skills, improve ourselves and even catch a glimps into history.

One of the key basics to our hobby is the local hobby shop. Here is where you can meet a group of people with similar interests, goals and experiences. The place where you buy your kits, glue, paints, putty and tools can also be the place where you discover some of the best people you will ever know!

From this you can even start a model club or find one in your area. It just takes that first step of saying to yourself "We are going to do this!"

In the area where I live we have a very nice group of people known as the 

Mid-Michigan Model Makers (www.midmichiganmodelmakers.com) who are kindly sponsored by our local hobby shop:

Roger's Hobby Center                  

5618 State Street                                                Saginaw, Michigan 48603 U.S.A.                                                             Tel.: 001-989-790-0080                                     Fax: 001-989-790-0358

info@rogershobbycenter.com

http://rogershobbycenter.com

http://facebook.com/rogershobbycenter

Originally we started out as a rag-tag group of hobbyists always running into one another at our favorite hobby shop. Then one day we  decided to start meeting . . . 25 years ago! 

In Canada is a great shop known as:

West Coast Hobbies                                   Rob Stevens                                                             5259 Forrest Road
Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7A9
Canada    
Telephone: 001-250-723-1175                         

email: sales@westcoasthobbies.com

url: www.westcoasthobbies.com

I would urge you to support your local hobby shop to the best of your ability. Keep our hobby going and growing!©TM

For those interested in armored fighting vehicles, please visit Henk of Holland at: http://henk.fox3000.com. We hope to do more with this great information site soon!

Another great source for rare and unique resin kits is:

DMCmodels                                                       David Cooper                                                      P.O. Box 81                                                          Easthampton, Massachusetts 01027               U.S.A.                                                                   proteus440@msn.com                                                                 www.coopersmodels.com                                 Dave has kindly offered a 20% discount off of full retail price kits in stock to fellow IRMA members!

For a great selection of resin kits, and much more, please visit:

SCOTT'S MODEL SHOP on ebay at http://stores.ebay.com/SCOTTS-MODEL-WORKSHOP?_trksid=p4340.l2563                                              email: zuieback@earthlink.net                         Tel.:    001-818-784-2146

Here Scott Zuieback has a huge assortment of almost every kit you could desire! There are also decals, trains, diecast models and more. Stop by and take a look!

For a comprehensive list of the model industry, please visit Tony Matteliano's Scale Model Index at: http://www.scalemodelindex.com

You can also reach Tony at: tonym@scalemodelindex.com 

Model by Ed Peitsch, Photograph by Zane R Nobbs

This is the Bleriot XI monoplane of 1908. Elegant, simple and efficient. This was a type of sporting plane for its day.

Model by Ed Peitsch, Photograph by Zane R Nobbs

Here we have the Farman Voison of 1908, a rather complicated biplane built for exploring aerodynamics. Many control surfaces for the pilot to monitor!

Model by Ed Peitsch, Photograph by Zane R Nobbs

This is the Airco F.E.2 of 1916, an early pusher-propellor scout aircraft and predecessor to the future pursuit and fighter aircraft.

As the International Resin Modeller's Association©SM®TM expands we will be adding sister organizations, member chapters and clubs here. In the coming months and years there will also be a newsletter, blog, forum and interviews with resin manufacturers. So stay tuned!

Please visit Fighter Control at: www.fightercontrol.co.uk for some very interesting military photo and model references! There is a segment for modelling in the forums section.

If you are interested in models in metal photo-etch format, please contact:

AEROBASE JAPAN

AEROBASE, Inc.

2-26, Takajomachi, Wakayama City, Wakayama Pref., 640-8135

JAPAN

info@aerobase.jp

http://www.aerobase.jp/　

640-8135和歌山市鷹匠町2-26　

TEL/FAX: 073-422-8655

President Shinichi Iwami does some wonderful work and there is also a wonderful selection of metal models in various scales.

This is the HIGH PLANES MODELS 1/72 kit of the GAF (Governmen Aircraft Factory) Mk.1 Pika, Australia's first jet aircraft. It is a fairly easy model with metal details, vacuform canopy and a fun build. 

Model by Zane R Nobbs 

The jet below is the AEROPOXY Model aviation 1/72 Ikarus S.451M. This was Yugoslavia's first foray into jet aviation. This kit is a good introduction to resin models.

Model by Zane R Nobbs  

This A+V Models Kawanishi Baika 梅花 "Plum Blossom" in 1/72 takes a bit of work, but with the metal details finishes nicely. A very unusual subject!

Model by Zane R Nobbs

The Focke-Wulf P.VIII Flitzer (a German cartoon character) was a final war-time design for a day fighter. Powered by a jet engine and a rocket for assisted take off, the Flitzer would have proven an effective fighter had it made it to production. Czech Master Resin Kits (CMK) originally produced this model in 1/72 before MPM Ltd. Models took over with a plastic, resin, photo-etched details one.

Model by Zane R Nobbs

Photos taken by Kati Schreiber & Antonella Codrignani

Some of you may recall the old Renwal kits from long ago. These aircraft were basically the airframes in plastic, just like the real thing, and the kits contained a type of tissue paper to be glued over the airframe with thread for rigging. The result, with much patience, was a small scale replica looking like the original, in this case 1/72. Parts could be made to move or stationary depending on the preference of the builder. You can still find these occassionally on the internet through various auction sites. Typically they come in sets of two or three and are generally not too expensive.

The kits below are by local hobbyist Ed Peitsch. 

Model by Ed Peitsch, Photograph by Zane R Nobbs

The Curtiss Golden Flyer was built in 1909 as a racing aircraft. For the period, a very aerodynamic machine!

Model by Ed Peitsch, Photograph by Zane R Nobbs

An early example of more wings is the Avro Triplane of 1090 in which three surfaces seemed like a good idea. The triplane concept would be revisted during WWI by Fokker, Sopwith and a host of others. Sopwith would lead with the Sopwith Triplane to be followed by Fokker with the Dr.1 in which Baron Manfred von Richthoven, known as the Red Baron would score his final victories and then meet his demise in 1918. Such act the gods of war.