The Delaware Valley Scale Modelers

Officers
President
Robert Doebley
 		Vice President and
Contest Chariman
Tommy Kortman
Treasurer and
IPMS Chapter Contact
Joseph Vattilana
Newsletter Editor
John Goschke


 		WebMaster and
Theme Chariman
Tony Wootson

 		Secretary
Jeffrey Nase

About Us

We meet the first Friday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Artisans Suite, 2nd floor of The Professional Building at 8100 Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.


The Delaware Valley Scale Modelers (DVSM) is a group of adult builders of scale models of all types, including military and civil aircraft, military vehicles, cars, trucks, ships and dioramas--in addition to sculptors and painters of miniature figures. Most of our members use commercially available kits to construct their models. In many cases though, the kit is only a starting point that the builder will extensively modify to produce a truly accurate, highly detailed model of a particular subject, sometimes far removed from the subject of the kit. Some of our members scratchbuild their models from a variety of materials, including paper, wood, plastic and metal. Others sculpt miniature figures. A few combine all these techniques to produce extraordinary dioramas. We welcome builders of all skill levels, and strive to provide a supportive environment where everyone can improve their skills, whether their goal is to build for pleasure and relaxation, or for regional and national competition.


Established for over 25 years we trace our roots back to the original area club Eastern Pennsylvania IPMS. Established in 1967 EP/IPMS ran as a highly successful club for five years in the Philadelphia suburbs until size, loss of a meeting place and other factors led to the re-organization on a more regional basis as Delaware Valley Scale Modelers in 1972.


Prospective members are required to display a different model at two meetings in order to qualify for membership, after which they are encouraged, but not required to display their work. Current membership stands at 80 with an attendance of 30 to 50 at a typical meeting.


Seminars on construction and finishing techniques are a frequent feature of our meetings, in addition to video programs and slideshows about modeling subjects. In the Spring of each year we devote one meeting to non-competitive judging, where each model is graded against a point scale and awarded (or not) a Certificate Of Merit, or a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Medal.


In December of each year we hold something called our Favorite Five Contest. Each participant brings up to three models to the meeting. (Any model that won in a previous Favorite Five Contest is not eligible). Those who participate then get to cast one vote for five different models. The criteria that is generally used is: "What five models would I like to take home with me?" Awards are given to the 5 entries that receive the largest number of votes. The Contest Chairman oversees the results. This contest is opened to club members and non-members alike. In addition, any model that wins is still eligible to enter our Spring Contest (as long as it did not win in any other DVSM Contest).


We are a chapter of the International Plastic Modeler's Society (IPMS). We publish a monthly newsletter which features meeting reports, a calendar of events of interest to modelers, new kit reviews, and articles on model subjects and construction techniques.


Delaware Valley Scale Modelers Flyers

Found below are flyers for the club. Feel free to download them to your computer to be printed and distributed as need be. Thanks.

(Click here for the Del Val flyer saved off in WORD.)

(Click here for the Del Val flyer saved off as a PDF file.)

















There have been visitors here since January 27, 2002.