Long Island Scale Model Society (LISMS), a Levittown-based member of the International Plastic Model Society, proves that the model kits that we all enjoyed building as children need not be left in childhood. Indeed, they can be a fun and challenging hobby well into your adulthood and golden years.
LISMS members make models in all sorts of styles, ranging from hyper-realistic military vehicles such as tanks and cannons, to miniaturized versions of hot rods, battleships, aircraft and ancient Roman combat boats. They meet monthly at the Levittown Public Library, but their membership includes people from all over Long Island. They currently have 45 members, but welcome anyone who is interested in this creatively fun hobby.
“It’s a great hobby that I love, and my wife doesn’t mind it at all,” said Robert DeMaio, the club’s president. “After all, I don’t go out and spend money in bars and strip clubs…she’d rather see me home and building models while spending time with her. Plus, there’s so much satisfaction in seeing the finished product and knowing that you made that. It’s great.”
Members are free to pursue any subject matter they wish for their models, be it stark realism, science-fiction or anything in-between. The one thing that binds them all together,
however, is the painstaking detail each and every model exhibits when completed. Complex aging effects, dirt and fine detail work are the norm, and executed almost to the point of disbelief.
“You want to build something and you want to make it look real, so you’re duplicating realism in miniature,” said DeMaio. “So, making it look real takes a little artistic talent. The building, the color scheme, the marking and weathering, everything…when you look at some of the models we do, you’re going to see some really good stuff, because everyone here is very talented.”
DeMaio, a Holbrook resident, has been a member of the club since the mid-1970s. He had been building model kits since childhood with the help and support of his father, which whom he was very close. However, his unfortunate passing after an illness unfortunately sidelined DeMaio from his hobby for an extended period.
“I couldn’t build, I couldn’t focus…my father and I were buddies. He even made me hand-made showcases to display my models,” said DeMaio, who added that he has about 160 models in showcases in his house. “After six years, a co-worker of mine who was a veteran asked me to build him a model of the gun truck he served on while in Vietnam. It took a lot of convincing, but that got me back into building again, and I’m much happier for it.”
At the club’s March meeting, members lugged in boxes of completed model kits to show off in their monthly club-wide contest. Among them was Bill Koppas of Patchogue, who has been building and painting models since he started the pastime with his father at the age of six.
“My father got me into it, and I never got out of it,” he said. “I’m a member of two clubs and I build as much as I can in my spare time…airplanes and tanks mostly. World War II is my main interest, but I like any military vehicles.”
Jim Guld of Glen Cove was an avid model builder until he went to college. He re-discovered the hobby as an adult back in 2002 and has been going full-steam ahead ever since.
“I not only enjoy the actual building, but the research as well…the unit markings on military vehicles and making sure everything is authentic,” Guld said. “Some of these model kits have very small pieces and painting at that scale can be difficult. I’ve been using an optivisor so I can get in there for the small details.”
For the past 14 years, Joe Yeager of Levittown has been hard at work at assembling and painting model kits, and like many of his fellow club members, he favors military-based subjects. He has had some very impressive work on display, including a tiny Polish tank only slightly larger than a book of matches.
“I basically like working on armored vehicles, but I mix things up with science fiction and other stuff,” said Yeager. “I work in all different scales, but that small Polish TKS tank I did is 1/72th scale. It’s hard to get the details right at that size, but I manage.”
DeMaio has been President of the LISMS for past six years, however, he noted that the title is supposed to be rotated amongst the other members every two years, but thanks to the large amount of work involved in organizing meetings and events, no one else has stepped up to the plate.
“No one else wants the job. My treasurer, Doug, says that I’m probably president for life,” said DeMaio. “It’s not that much work, but you have to keep people entertained and keep coming up with ideas for things to do. I handle the website too and it can be a lot, but since I’m retired now, it’s easier to do.”
On Saturday, April 11, the LISMS will hold its major annual public model show and contest, RepLIcon 27, at the Freeport Recreation Center. According to DeMaio, hundreds of different models, figures and dioramas will be on display to be judged for prizes. Other activities including vendors, raffles and a children’s “Make ‘n Take” model building event will be available as well.
“It’s a really fun event; a lot of people come and it’s our main fundraiser for the year,” said DeMaio. “It draws a lot of people and they all have a great time. If we do especially well with the money we make, we usually waive our club’s membership fees for the year, so it’s a great way to get acquainted with the hobby and possibly get involved yourself.
To find out more about the Long Island Scale Model Society and RepLIcon 27, visit www.lisms-ipms.org.
