Who belongs to IPMS?

[Whiterook]

Hi all!

Who here belongs to IPMS? Recommend? Not? Advantages?

[McCoy]

I'm not a member as I don't have the advantage of any club in my area. Otherwise I would be a member.

[Whiterook]

Interesting. I plan on joining through a club I just discovered nearby. I was just wondering what advantages actual members find to be true. I looked up the IPMS web site and read what membership gives youo; but often, what the members themselves have to say is often more revealing.

[McCoy]

The advantage is meetin' other addicts. That's as I see it.

[Geek44]

I joined many years ago but never attended any of their meetings. IPMS themselves have a bit of a reputation for rivet counting down here and also for being a bit narrow minded. The 'P' stands for 'plastic' after all...other materials such as PE or whatever else one uses is (or was) frowned upon. Not my scene really. Things are probably different now...at least I hope so.
The big advanteges to my club are hearing when swap and sell meetings are going to occur (cheap kits), somebody at the club will know the answer to any question I can think of, somebody will know how to do whatever it is I can think of...basically, one gets the benefit of several hundred years of experience if the spirit is right. Also, you'll get to talk to real people about the esoterics of modelling that sure, we talk about here, but it can take days to have a ten minute conversation. I've learned plenty too. To clarify, my club isn't IPMS affiliated.

[lufttiger]

We've got one, but its a distance, the guys tho are great and it cost
nothing to join. I stopped going in 2000, due to time, but see them at
the show. As far as advantages, there wasn't much other than you could
pool together to buy from Squadron so not have to apy freight.

[Whiterook]

Thanks guys, good points there. Let me clarify this a little though...the modeling club I found is here in Western Massachusetts, called the Wings & Wheels Modeler's Club, and they meet monthly in a town about a half hour from my home. Dues is $15, so it's a bargain; and that's where I see the "learning from experience" factor you all mention as coming into play. They offer to sponsor your membership in the Northeast's Region 1 Chapter, taking $5 off the $25 IPMS dues with membership with Wings & Wheels. So the question comes to bear...I plan on going to Wings & Wheels' model show this Sunday, and depending on what I see of the membership, I'll most likely join their club in June; but do I join IPMS as well?

[McCoy]

I'd say that you benefit more from a club membership than from an IPMS membership. So my advice is join the club n' put the rest of yer hard earned bucks on stuff you really need.

[Geek44]

Originally Posted by McCoy

I'd say that you benefit more from a club membership than from an IPMS membership. So my advice is join the club n' put the rest of yer hard earned bucks on stuff you really need.

I agree.

[Whiterook]

Good advice, Mates!