We’re a busy bunch of armor modelers!
At AMPS Central SC, we’ve always got something going on or something planned. From monthly raffles, demonstrations, and other regular activities, to contests, public displays and exhibits, we’re there!
Check out the small reports and photos below to see what kinds of club activities we’re up to!
2025 Annual Christmas Party
Sixteen club members attended our annual Christmas Party, which was held at That Computer Store! on the gaming side. Most everyone brought something for the dinner, and everyone seemed to eat their fill, since there were many leftovers!
Matthew ran the number drawing by letting the members draw from numbered wooden disks, and then each member either chose to select and unwrap a gift or “steal” an opened gift from someone. All 16 members participated in the White Elephant Gift Exchange with some very nice and interesting gifts again this year. Rebecca & Tony Abbott brought an extra Special Present, and a few others brought more than one present. Because if these, we held a few extra drawings for those extra presents. There was some Horse Trading occurred after we finished gift exchange!
09DEC25 White Elephant Gift Exchange Results:
1. Kevin Cook = 1/35 scale “Tiger I Early Sd.Kfz.181“, Takom kit #TAK02196, 1/35 scale “Tiger I Early Command Tiger Sd.Kfz.267/268” + 1:16 scale Michael Wittman Figure, Takom kit #TAK02195.[this was Rebecca and Tony Abbott’s Mystery Present that couldn’t be opened until the end of the rounds]
2. Ralph Nardone = 1/35 scale “Leopard 2 A6 Tank “Ukraine”“, Tamiya kit #25207.
3. Carl Wethington = 1/35 scale “M4 Sherman “Composite Hull” PTO”, Dragon kit 6441, PLUS Bonus Present 1/35 scale “Sd.Kfz.131 Panzerjäger II für Pak40/2 “Marder II”“, DML #6262. (traded the Marder II for the Zwilling Flakpanzer IV with John Sherrer)
4. Eliere Tolan = 1/35 scale “Sd.Kfz.171 Panther G w/ Steel Road Wheels”, Dragon kit #6370. (was given the Challenger Mk. 1 from John Sherrer)
5. Rebecca Abbott = 1/35 scale “M4 Sherman “Composite Hull” PTO”, Dragon kit #6441, PLUS Bonus Present 1/35 scale “Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. F/G”, Tamiya kit #35009.
6. Tony Abbott = 1/35 scale “IDF Shot Centurion Mk. 5 & 5/1 1967 Early Type“, AFV Club kit #AF35159.
7. Matthew Goodman = 1/35 scale “M1130 Stryker Command Vehicle”, Trumpeter kit #00397
8. Todd Reich = 1/35 scale “Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H Vomag Mid Prod. July 1943 Interior Kit”, MiniArt kit #35305.
9. Tim Darrah = 1/35 scale “M48 A2/A2C”, Revell kit #03206.
10. Trevor Edwards = 1/35 scale “Cougar 4X4 MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected)”, Panda Hobby kit #PH-35003.
11. John Sherrer = Paint Set: “Real Colors Acrylic Paint Markers Special Box Set” (34 ea), AK Interactive item #RCM150 [a VERY nice set!], PLUS Bonus Present 1/35 scale “British Main Battle Tank Challenger 1 (Mk.3)”, Tamiya kit #35154. (he then gave the Challenger Mk. 1 to Eliere Tolan, and was given the Zwilling Flakpanzer IV from Dave Varettoni. He then traded the Zwilling Flakpanzer IV for the Marder II with Carl Wethington)
12. Mike Roof = 1/35 scale ” IDF Magach 3 Main Battle Tank“, Dragon kit #3567.
13. Daryl Frisk = 1/35 scale “Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E Sd.Kfz. 181 Tiger I Late Production (3 in 1)”, Dragon kit #6253.
14. Mike Moore = 1/35 scale “M48A2 Patton Tank”, Monogram kit #85-7853, PLUS Bonus Present 1/35 scale “British and German soldiers Somme Battle, 1916”, Master Box kit #MB35158.
15. Dave Varettoni = 1/35 scale “US Airborne Tank M551 SHERIDAN”, Academy kit #13011, PLUS 1/35 scale “U.S. Tank M551 Sheridan”, Tamiya kit #89541, PLUS Reference Book “US Army Special Vol.22 – M60A2, M60A3 & AVLB“, Tankograd Publishing US3022, 64 pages, 107 color and 24 b&w photos, PLUS Bonus Present 1/35 scale “3cm M.K. 103 Zwilling Flakpanzer IV “Kugelblitz” + Bonus “Achtung-Jabo!” Panzer Crew (France 1944)”, CyberHobby kit #09. (he then gave the Tankgrad book to Jeff Nelson, and gave the Zwilling Flakpanzer IV to John Sherrer)
16. Jeff Nelson = 1/35 scale “German 8ton Semi Track Sd.Kfz7 Motorized“, Tamiya kit #35033, w/ 1/35 scale “Sd.Kfz 7“, The Show Modeling PE Set #013, AND 1/35 scale “Sd. Kfz. 7-8t HALFTRACK“, Friulmodel Metal Track Set #ATL-024. (was given the Tankograd book from Dave Varettoni)
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2024 Annual Christmas Party
Sixteen club members attended our annual Christmas Party, which was held at the Irmo Branch of the Lexington County Library, in the large multi-purpose room. Most everyone brought something for the dinner, and everyone seemed to eat their fill. We had two new members: Daryl Frisk and Todd Reich!
Matthew ran the number drawing by letting the members draw from numbered wooden disks, and then each member either chose to select and unwrap a gift or “steal” an opened gift from someone. All 14 members participated in the White Elephant Gift Exchange with some very nice and interesting gifts again this year. John Sherrer brought two presents, and Matthew Goodman brought a present but decided to not participate in the Gift Exchange, both of which allowed the two new members to participate. Eliere Tolan didn’t bring a present and just watched the exchange. The REAL Horse Trading occurred after we finished gift exchange!
10DEC24 White Elephant Gift Exchange Results:
1. Carl Wethington = 1/35 scale “U.S. Medium Tank M4A3E8 Sherman “Easy Eight” Korean War”, Tamiya #35359. (then gave it to Dave Cicimurri)
2. Tim Darrah = 1/35 scale “Mechanical Mule w/U.S. Marines 1/35 ‘Nam’ Series”, Dragon #3317.
3. Dave Cicimurri = 1/35 scale “IDF Shot Centurion Mk. 5 & 5/1 1967 Early Type”, AFV Club #AF35159. (traded to Jeff Nelson for M4A1 Early Sherman Package)(was given the M4A3E8 from Carl Wethington)
4. Darrel Frisk (new member) = 1/35 scale “Soviet Heavy Tank KV-2”, Zvezda #3608.
5. Todd Reich (new member) = 1/35 scale “Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. D with Three Figures”, Tamiya #35096.
6. Jeff Nelson = 1/35 scale “M4A1 75mm Early Version”, Dragon #6048 + Resin Detail Set “British Sherman-I Upgrade” (for Tamiya), Accurate Armor #A037 + Resin Detail Set “M4A1 Direct Vision Conversion”, Formations #F031 + Resin Detail Set “M3 Lee Style Suspension Set”, Formations #F070 + Metal Barrel “75mm M3 US Tank Gun”, Jordio Rubio #TG-17 + Resin Detail Set “Blue Tinted Clear Cupola and Periscope Blocks for Tamiya’s M4 Sherman & M26 Pershing”, Loon Models #LO35202 + PE Details “M4 Sherman World War 2, Tank Model Parts”, On the Mark Models #TMP-3502. (traded to Dave Cicimurri for the IDF Shot Centurion)
7. John Sherrer = 1/35 scale “Sd.Kfz.131 Panzerjäger II für Pak40/2 “Marder II””, DML #6262.
8. Ralph Nardone = 1/35 scale “Air Defense System Iron Dome”, Magic Factory #2001. (then gave it to Trevor Edwards)
9. Turkey John Melton = 1/35 scale “Sd.Kfz 166 Stu.Pz. IV ‘Brummbär’ Mid Production w/ Zimmerit”, Dragon #6500
10. Tony Abbott = 1/35 scale “M1130 Stryker Command Vehicle”, Trumpeter #00397.
11. Mike Roof = 1/35 scale “DUKW Amphibious Truck”, Italeri #6392.
12. Rebecca Abbott = 1/35 scale “U.S. Army M35A1 Quad- .50 Gun Truck”, AFV Club #AF35034.
13. Trevor Edwards = 1/35 scale “Mk.A Whippet British Medium Tank”, Meng #TS-021. (was given the Iron Dome from Ralph Nardone)
14. Kevin Cook = 1/35 scale “German Army Field Command Post”, Dragon #3823.
2024 Toy Soldier Show
The annual Toy Soldier Show was held at the SC State Museum on 09NOV24, and the Wildcats were there.
Kevin Cook, Tim Darrah, Rebecca and Tony Abbott, Dave Varettoni manned a couple tables with many of their models and figures on display. Mike Roof was also there at a table outside with his WWII Era Radios and other Commo Equipment.
2024 AMPS International Convention
Four “Wildcats” attended the 2024 AMPS International Convention held April 11-13, 2024 in South Bend, IN.
We had 6 entries, five in the Advance Skill Level, and one in the Intermediate Skill Level. The Chief Judge decided one entry was to be entered in Category XVII – Display Only as the subject wasn’t a watercraft. The results listed below are official (as published in Boresight Volume 32, Issue 3, May/June 2024, and also listed on the AMPS Results page). An impressive result with 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Medals.
Superlatives: For scoring a Gold Medal, Jeff Nelson was promoted to the Advanced Skill Level. Also, Rebecca Abbott’s Vignette and Bryan Moeller’s Diorama were selected by the Fine Scale Modeler Staff for photos and published to the FSM website (https://finescale.com/online-extras/show-galleries/2024/05/amps-2024-international-convention-model-show).
Below are some of the entries with their medals. Well done, Wildcat!
And below are a couple files for pictures from the convention:
Not too bad for just four club members. Well done, Wildcats!
The 2025 AMPS International Convention will be held Thursday, May 15, 2025 to Saturday, May 17, 2025, Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill, PA. The Theme will be “African Armor”.
2024 IPMS BeachCon
A few “Wildcats” attended the 2024 IPMS BeachCon held on March 23, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Five of our current members had at least 7 entries, plus a former member had at least another 3 entries. The results listed below an impressive four 1st Place (Gold), three 2nd Place (Silver), and two 3rd Place (Bronze). Plus, Rebecca Abbott’s D7 Bulldozer won the Best Military Vehicle Award. Four other club members also attended and/or Vended at the show: Tony Abbott, Dave Cicmurri, Tim Darrah, Trevor Edwards, Keith Frape, Herb Horvath, and John Sherrer.
Below are photos of the Awards and the winning entries.
Here is a link to download a PDF with all of the photos from the show:
Well done, Wildcats!
AMPS Central SC Wildcats 