Thirty-Three juniors experienced the excitement of modeling for the first time at Starcon '98.  Saturday from 10AM to 6PM in the Activities Room, Starcon members, under the age of 18, were able to choose a model kit and build it.  Afterwards, they moved down the aisle and painted it with a double action airbrush.  The International Plastic Model Society, IPMS, and the Testors Corporation provided supplies and equipment for this no-cost event.  Members of the model enthusiast society Modelers in Action staffed both the Make-N-Take and Airbrush Test Drive activities.

    Thanks to donations from GEOmetric Design and Testors Corporation, there was a wide variety of model kits for the youngsters to choose from.  Favorites were Lt. Cmndr William T Riker and Romulan Female Officer vinyl figure kits and Gray Alien and aircraft kits.

    Testors also provided five Aztek 430 airbrushes with all the accessories needed to use them.  These double-action airbrushes gave the new modelers a chance to finish their kits like seasoned veterans. Before painting their kits with Acryl paints, MIA staff members helped the kids get the feel of these user-friendly airbrushes and practice on sheets of drawing paper. Parafilm Masking Material and additional Acryl paints were provided by Colpar Hobbies of Aurora Colorado.

    Starcon wishes to thank MIA for running the event.  MIA is an unaffiliated model club that was started several years ago by Gil Silva, manager of Hobby Town Citadel Crossing in Colorado Springs.  Meetings are usually on the second and fourth Sunday of each month starting at 6 PM.  Club interests include a variety of modeling genres.  One month in every three, members show off their handiwork in the store's display case.  These displays also feature that quarter's theme contest entries.  Additional support was provided by the Convention Model Show and coordinated by Vern Clark.

    The future looks bright for a Make-N-Take and Airbrush Test Drive at Starfest '99 in April.  IPMS plans to expand the variety of kits available for their program and MIA members had such a great time that there is no question in their minds that they'll be there!  Starland will feature details and additional information about next year's event as we get closer to the April Starfest.

-- Reported by Tom Grossman, CPD.  Tom is a Hobby Industry Association Certified Professional Demonstrator, award winning build-up artist, airbrush and model building instructor.  He organized the Make-N-Take and Airbrush Test Drive events at Starcon.  Tom is also the former director of the Pikes Peak Regional Elementary Science Fair.

-- Photos by Tom Grossman, Scott Longberry and Bob Hise