Feature: Model behavior: Local club shares history with hobby Published April 3, 2006 By Lanorris Askew 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Carol Hall has been modeling for the past 20 years, but she hasn't hit any major runways yet. No, she doesn't need a new agent. She's into a different kind of modeling - one that involves kits, paint and a very steady hand. The Contracting Directorate's Flexible Acquisition Sustainment Tool office employee said she was first introduced to the hobby of model building by her brother when she was a child, but didn't try her hand at it until years later when her husband Jerry tossed her a kit. "One day my husband and I were in our hobby room, and he was building a model, and I was doing something else," she said. "I started watching him, and I said 'That doesn't look too hard.' He handed me a model airplane kit and told me to build it, and I did." After finishing the model she decided to enter it in a contest and won first prize. The rest is history. Today her specialty is figures, and she and her husband along with 30 other model builders make up the General Robert L. Scott Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society - an organization that has built thousands of models, hundreds of which can be seen at the Museum of Aviation. Sarah Wolfe, Museum archivist, said the group's contributions have been wonderful. "The support shown by the IPMS organization has been instrumental to the museum," she said. "Not only have they supported us by helping to build an educational and exciting display of models at the museum, but have helped support different events such as the Family Flight Day (a weekend event where families go to the museum to build an F-15 model together under the guidance of an IPMS member), the Wings and Wheels car show and periodic demonstrations to the public. Without their help these events would not have been as successful." The IPMS Model Club has created more than 300 models for the museum, most of which are in the History of United States Air Power exhibit located on the third floor of the Eagle Building. The newest additions were six models for the KB-50 Superfortress display. Robert Kullmann, chapter president, said it's rewarding to be able to contribute to the museum. "It's very gratifying and fulfilling," he said. "It makes me smile to be able to say we did this work and its going to be here for a long, long time." Mrs. Hall agreed. "It feels good. I feel like I've contributed a little something to education and to the enjoyment of the museum's visitors," she said. While ensuring the visitors to the museum see a 'little' piece of history is one of the highlights of the club, other members say the camaraderie is a close second. Fred Horky, who has been with the chapter since 1977, said it's a great way to share the love of the craft with others who love it too. "A lot of people think that they are all by themselves, but they're not," he said. Paul Melton, a C-130 electrician and a member for five years, said he heard about the group through the grapevine and has been hooked ever since. "I've had a really good time here, and I've learned a lot," he said. "The models we build now are so far beyond what they were when we were kids." Mr. Horky, who built his first model during World War II, said the hobby is not for the impatient. "This isn't instant gratification, but I think young people would do well to have something to channel their energy into like this," he said. "We might spend 20 hours on a model we are going to put on a shelf or just show each other, but for competition we could easily spend six months or hundreds of hours on a piece," said Mr. Kullmann. Many of the members are award winners and have competed in dozens of competitions. They meet twice a month. Sometimes they talk, share techniques, start or finish a model or just watch a movie, but they always welcome additional members. "We want to encourage people who may be interested in modeling come meet with us," said Mr. Kullmann.