Modeling Clubs

Baro, Thanks for that. There is a local model show coming up in a suburb of Pittsburgh on March 1.

Perhaps I can get some information there.

On the way over.

Earl

Alpha 43

Thanks Stikpusher, that sounds encouraging . I know what you mean by it being a little strange that Pittsburgh does not have a club.

Earl

I went to http://www.ipmsusa.org/, and clicked the Chapter & RC Directory button in the navigation menu on the left side of the page.  There is info on a Pittsburgh chapter, IPMS Three Rivers.  Hope that helps.

Thanks Stikpusher, that sounds encouraging . I know what you mean by it being a little strange that Pittsburgh does not have a club.

Earl

I ran into the same situation. Local Hobby Lobby owner said none around. I found that there is one in Phila. but they meet about 1-1/2 to 2 hours away from me. So, I took the bull by the horns and started my own club. I started checking the FSM Gallery every month for the guys that live in my area. A little detective work on the internet gave me their address and phone number. Gave them a call and now we have 6 members that get together once a month and go to contests together. Give it a try.

Jim 

That is too bad about your IPMS experience there Chuck & Earl. I had heard similar tales from the old days about the IPMS group here locally. But when Duke Maddog on here asked me to have a look at the local IPMS Chapter I was very pleasantly surprised. I really loved it and fit right in. That in turn led to me joining the local AMPS chapter here as well. Both are great groups (overlapping) full of excellent modelers, and their skills have rubbed off on me, helping my work improve as well. I have become aware of several other local hobby groups thru them who we occasionally interact with clubwise. I find it hard to believe that a large city like Pittsburg has no model clubs of any type with such a large population base to support one or more.

You might find an LHS owner who would let you meet in the store once a month, as our Hobby Town does.  They let us use a spare room upstairs, they benefit from purchases made by the members at every meeting.  Win-win situation!

I know this is out of the box, but have you thought of starting a group of your own?

Kind of a "We don't know but are willing to share and support" sort of thing. It wouldn't have to be large in numbers but a good core would help support each other . Basing it on information/ideas exchange and mutual support of each others builds. Then add folks as time go on. 

Who knows? you just might answer a need that the LHS owners are not aware of.

Regardless good luck.

I've encountered that same reaction belonging to an organization and left, I have no interest in politics.

Thanks Cadet Chuck for your response.

Earl

Yes I have checked with the local hobby shops with no success. Apparently, according to the owners,

there is not much interest in clubs in this area. But thanks for the response Focus One.

Earl

I hope you find a good one.  I belonged to an IPMS chapter for a year and a half, and found it very disappointing and cliquish.  The core group of modelers, who did very fine work, didn't seem to be very welcoming to outsiders like me.

Have you asked around in the local hobby shops?  If there are any clubs they'll have info posted there.  Also, have you searched Facebook?