For over 10 years Three Rivers IPMS members have been wearing black shirts with a skull and crossbones logo and the motto Build or Die.
The logo was designed by former member Rob Willis, who was both a professional graphic designer and a military history buff. Inspired by military unit patches, the skull and crossbones (actually crossed paintbrush and xacto knife) gives the club a bit of swagger: Pirates don't always follow the rules.
The Build or Die motto was inspired by Live Free or Die, the motto of New Hampshire, taken from a quote by General John Stark. Stark was a revolutionary war hero (and a bit of a rule breaker himself), and his famous quote is often taken as a battle cry, but it was actually a toast to his men made long after the war, when in failing health he declined an invitation to a reunion. The full quote is "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils". General Stark was reminding his men that winning a war for a principle was not nearly as important, or as hard, as living according to those principles every day.
Build or Die is a reminder that when a modeler stops building he is no longer truly living. Our building models is what keeps the hobby alive.
Which reminds me its been way too long since I last glued two parts together - catch you later!
Don
