January 8th, 2010:

"Best Mirage"

Hosted by Rick Carver

Any Mirage III, IV, V, 2000 or Variant

Note:  This contest was originally scheduled for December 4th but has been moved to January 8th

Challenge Builds and Results

by Brian Peck

Article in July Newsletter:

Greetings fellow ASM’er dudes!

 Well, the time is fast approaching for Jack Garriss and Frank Randall to complete their “Challenge Builds” that was issued a few months ago.  Will they have it completed it in time?  Will they need one more month?  Will they owe all of us a steak dinner at the Ranchers Club (not really)?   Come on down to the next meeting and find out!  We'll see you all there.

Frank and Jack did come through with nicely completed models, as shown below.  Congrats on getting them done for the July meeting!

   Kudos to the officers and members of Albuquerque Scale Modelers for being selected as the Region 10 Chapter of the Year.   You are in the midst of what is probably an unprecedented streak of three straight years and counting.  Awards like that are very hard to come by and take a great amount of effort by all concerned, including your E-Board members from the past several years.  Dem Brudders have always been made to feel welcome by your members whether we have visited New Mexico and intermingled there or have seen you at regional and national events and we appreciate your hospitality and congeniality. 

   You were well represented at the recent Regional in Colorado Springs by more than just sheer numbers of members attending.  Dave Miller and James Guld walked off with “Best of Class” awards which is always a significant feat.  Nine of your members won regular category awards which probably represented the most awards per clubs making any showing at the Regional, with maybe the exception of the host club Centennial Modelers.

     Ken Liotta’s excellent account published in the May 2009 ASM Newsletter [Webmaster's Note: Also posted immediately below] covered all the details so there is no need to rehash anything more about the show other than the fact that it was good to see an appearance from an old friend and great modeler,  Larry Horyna.  From the standpoint of Dem Brudders, however, with over 100 entrants and 717 official entries and close to 900 model pieces on the overflowing tables, this contest represented a return akin to the good old days of The Gathering, which succeeded due to participation by many of your members.  Up until Centennial’s Pikes Peak  Model Expo 2009, we have not seen anything like The Gathering in terms of local contest numbers since 2003 anywhere, even in Utah.  Thankfully, the concept of a Regional is again alive and well and with your monthly contests, etc.   Your members should continue to be well represented at the Nationals in 2010 in Phoenix and at future Regionals in our area with new builds.  Keep it up and congratulations.  We look forward to the future when you decide to once again host the Regional yourselves.  We will make every effort to attend at that time, hopefully in the not-too-distant future.

Dick Engar

Bill Engar

Dem Brudders

Albuquerque Scale Modelers can hold their heads up high once again!   For the third year in a row, you guys have turned in an outstanding performance in promoting the hobby, promoting IPMS, and continuing to keep in touch with the community to help spread the wonders and joys of the plastic modeling hobby.  This dedication to the hobby and to the community has led to the awarding of the Region 10 Chapter of the Year for 2008 by the Regional Coordinator of Region 10, Don Kehrer, out of the 16 chapters that are chartered.  The decision for the awarding was announced at this year’s Region 10 contest hosted by Centennial IPMS.

            The Regional contest was held Jun 5^th & 6^th at the Radisson Hotel in beautiful Colorado Springs.  Modelers were met with enthusiastic smiles at registration where the paperwork process ran smoothly.  Once signed up, the contestants could walk through the large display hall to place their models on the tables with clearly marked category signage.  The tables used were not your typical rectangle type but instead were round and were quite effective.  Registration started Friday morning and by Friday afternoon, it became apparent that this year’s Regional was going to be huge and the hosts found that they had to add another 10 or so tables to accommodate all of the model entries.

            Once you had your models placed, walking around to check out the competition, found that the hall lighting was very good in most locations, but still did had a few dark spots.  On Saturday when the tables were filling up and the viewing public started to gather, the room began to look smaller with each minute.  But these should be viewed as signs that the event was a huge success where approximately 118 modelers entered over 725 entries.

            As things wound down on Friday, the hosts had arranged for any and all attendees to join the staff of the host chapter at the Airplane Restaurant in the parking lot of the Radisson for the Friday Night Social Hour.  Participants were treated to h’ordervs (Barbeque meatballs, chicken tenders, fruit salad, beverages, etc) in between all of the model story telling about the “plaque that got away”!  Wink, wink.  Nudge, nudge.  To spice things up, an auction was held for all that wished to participate for top notch plastic model products, including a selection of plain brown paper wrapped “Mystery Models”.  No one that won these were let down either and all that jousted for the goodies had tons of fun.

            Come Saturday, registration continued to flow smoothly and the tables filled to capacity.  The Staff made a decision to extend the registration cut off from 12 noon to about 1:30 due to an un-foreseen emergency development with one of the main highways leading to the event.  Once registration closed, those IPMS members that volunteered for judging duties met at the “Judges Meeting” where we were all treated to sub sandwiches, a variety of chips, and an equally varying selection of sodas.  The meeting was short and to the point, we got our assignments and completed the judging tasks almost on schedule, even with the delay from the earlier registration extension.  Centennial used the popular 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd” style judging system.  They had also designed unique awards as decorative glass display pieces with the category name and placing trapped in between the two glass pieces.  The Head Judge, folks I judged with, and all those around me worked together without any hassles in a mature and professional manner.

            Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that the vendors’ room was a hopping with some of the most recent releases and the most exquisite plastic candy a modeler could ask for.  While the vendors had a high concentration of Armor selections, aircraft and automotive fans could still find plenty to spend their bills on.  And if that didn’t fill your modeling needs, the hosts had a four way raffle going on where attendees could buy $1, $3, and $5 tickets for appropriately loaded raffle tables.  They also had a one piece BIGGIE raffle for the latest Trumpeter 1/32 scale BAe Lightning release.  Sorry to say, ASM did not win it.  Our brothers over in Arizona were the lucky dogs this time around.

            The awards banquet meal was a delicious choice of Buffet style lemon sauce broiled Chicken or gravy smothered Roast Beef with all the veggie and mashed potato fixins.  That was topped off with an equally delicious selection of desserts, (Baclava, fudge brownies, cheese cake, and more).  While all of this was being readied, the host played a looped screen presentation announcement of the modelers that placed in each category.  Perhaps one of the short falls, was the lack of model name next to the modelers’ name that placed in each category.  They had already placed the actual awards next to the models and those that did not attend the banquet were allowed to enter the display hall to view the results.  The only way to learn which model placed, required a trip into the display hall to see for yourself.  Once the meal had neared its completion, the hosts ran through the official announcements of all of the Best of awards, the sponsored awards, and then the grand daddy awards.

            ASM turned in an outstanding performance in attendance and participation.   There were 10 ASM members that entered 79 entries that won 27 awards.  Adding to this, our two adoptive ASM members Dick and Bill Engar were in attendance and one of our lost sheep, Mike Ronnau was also present to enjoy the event itself but to also help promote the upcoming Modelzona Contest in November and also next year’s National Convention scheduled for Phoenix with our brothers in Craig Hewitt as host.  Of the many awards that ASMers earned, the top recipients were David Miller’s Best Ship award for his 1/700 U-2511 U-boat and James Guld’s Best Armor award for his 1/35 WC-51 truck and his Best Armor Finish, Sponsored by Testors, for his M4A1 Marine Sherman.  Congratulations are in order for the following members and their model placings in:

 Dave Miller

Best Ship        1/700   U-2511 U-boat

1^st        Submarines, pre 1945                         1/700   U-2511 U-boat

1^st        Artillery                                                 1/35     Pak 43/41

1^st        AFV Open Top, Pre 45, Axis                1/35     Panzerjager I

2^nd       Military Conversions                             1/35     M5 Recovery vehicle

 James Guld

Best Armor      1/35     WC-51 truck

Best Armor Finish – Sponsor Testors

1^st        AFV Soft skin                                       1/35     WC-51 truck

3^rd        Military Dioramas                                 1/35     “Whadda Catch”

3^rd        AFV Open Top                                     1/35     SdKfz.251/16

 Mike Blohm

2^nd       1/72 Aircraft, Axis                                 1/72     Ki-84

3^rd        1/72 Biplanes                                       1/72     Neiuport 17

3^rd        Real Spacecraft                                   1/200   Mercury/Redstone

3^rd        Artillery                                                 1/72     V-2

3^rd        Collections                                           1/72     American Hellcat Aces of WWII

 Ken Liotta

2^nd       1/48 Single Engine Jet                                    Ta-183A

2^nd       Submarines                                                     1/700 Soviet Sierra

3^rd        1/72 Single Engine Prop, Post WWII               DHC-2 Beaver

3^rd        1/48 Single Engine Prop, Post WWII                F4U-5N

 Mike Franklin

1^st        1/48 Single Engine Prop, Pre 45 Axis Fw-190D

1^st        1/48 Jet, Pre 45, Large                                    Me-262A

 Brian Peck

1^st        1/32 Prop                                                         P-47D

2^nd       1/32 Jet                                                            F-15C

 Frank Randall

1^st        1/72 Single Engine Prop, Pre 45, Axis             Ju-87G

 Keith Liotta

3^rd        1/32 Jet                                                            F-16A

 Rick Carver

3^rd        54mm Figures, Dismounted                            Green Knight

Webmaster's Tales By Mike Blohm, ASM Webmaster

Here’s a summary of recent updates on the ASM Website. 

2009 Pages are in place for the Contest Results, Model Pics, Meeting Pics, and Model of the Year Contenders.  A 2009 section has been built on the Modeler of the Year Points Standings page.  Please let me know via E-mail if you find some links going to the incorrect year pages.

A new "Upcoming Events" section has been added to the Articles webpage to list events that are not covered on the normal ASM Contest Schedule.

Links to previous IPMS-USA National Convention websites can now be found in that location on the Articles page.

Some reminders:

The “Marquee Banner” that scrolls across the top of the Home Page will always have the latest info on club activities – contests, events and speakers for the upcoming month, notice that new schedules and Newsletters have been posted, and whether an event has been postponed – so always check that out first when you visit the ASM website.

Some of the links on the "Website Updates" page back to older article postings no longer work .  If you cannot find an older article mentioned in the Website Update listings, it would be best to check the "Archived Articles" page as it was probably moved to that location.

 The “New and Potential ASM Members” web page has all the info that new and prospective members need to review to understand how ASM is set up and the policies that govern club operations – the By Laws, Contest Guidelines, etc.  The link to the New Member page is on the Home Page.  Both new members and “old heads” should review these documents every so often. 

As always, let me know if you have any ideas for changes or additions to the website, and please send me any articles, reviews, or trip reports with pictures that you’d like to post on the website - and also send your inputs to Joe Walters if you'd like your article  included in the  the Newsletter as well.    Thanks!

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From the Judges Chambers

by Ken Liotta, ASM Contest Director

“That State of the Union as it Relates to ASM’s Contests”

   We are now eight months into 2009 and model building has been full steam ahead.  Many of these models have appeared on the contest tables where things have become quite competitive.  Our total entry numbers throughout the year so far has hovered between 11 and 26 (averaging 19 model entries a night) for each month, with the Intermediate and Masters Levels flip-flopping between which has more entries.  We always want to encourage our Juniors and Basic builders to build more and bring your models in.  They can either be placed on the Display Only table or they can be entered in the contest where they will be evaluated on their building merits only and not against the other models present.   The E-board would be more than happy to offer any suggestions for corrections or improvements for the Juniors and Basic builders, but only if they wish to get that kind of input.

   Our July meeting theme was “Armored Cars” and we had a significant number of models built to theme that were entered.  Likewise, our August meeting theme of “1/48 Single Engine Props” also had a significant number of models built to theme.  What this has led to is a noted shift in the Modeler-of-the-Year points standings for the top three places in Intermediate Level and some jockeying around of the Masters points positions as well.

   In Juniors, Sean Hayes is maintaining the lead in points.   However, Chelsea Perea has been turning in some fabulous Juniors model work and is only 200 points behind Sean.  And then this Patrick Wood guy shows up in August with an outstanding model that earned a Gold Ribbon, People’s Choice, and Best of Show.    The Juniors work has been superb this year and we look forward to seeing more finished models from all of the Juniors.  In Basic, Gregg Hayes continues to lead the points, but is not completely out of range of other Basic builders.  As with the Juniors, we all look forward to seeing more of your builds.  In Intermediate, Adrian Montaño, Frank Randall, and Tony Humphries have been swapping places with Tony squeaking out ahead of Frank by ONLY 20 points and Adrian close on Frank’s heels!  Up in Masters, Victor Maestas still leads over James Guld by 327 points with Mike Blohm and myself going at it with Ham and Tongs battling for third place with ONLY 1 point between us.   And then brother Keith is nipping at my heels where he is only 155 points trailing.  Yaa-whoooo.  The most recent points standings are posted elsewhere on the ASM website.

   Septembers meeting is another points contest with the theme of “Sharkmouths”.  Any scale, any genre, any era subject that was marked with a “Shark-like” mouth decoration.   Typically, Flying Tigers P-40’s are representative of this.  While there may be various interpretations of what is considered a “Sharkmouth”, at our Aug meeting, I stated that Sharkmouths with other animals painted around it (ie., a B-25 with a Sharkmouth painted on a Bat’s head) did not meet our theme intent.  The same definition would be applied to a Sherman tank with a Sharkmouth on it that had a Tiger’s head painted around it.  This leaves hundreds of other vehicles that do meet the Sharkmouth intended definition for modelers to choose from.  And if Sharkmouths isn’t enough to wet your building appetite, we also have Frank Randall’s sponsored “Hellcat” contest in September (and yes, the famous Hellcats with the Shark-like mouths will qualify for the Sharkmouth contest).  By the time you read this, you will most likely already have chosen and are well on your way to finishing your fabulous works and we all look forward to seeing them.   Which brings up an important point, that our next club meeting IS NOT on Sep 4^th because it is the three day Labor-Day weekend.  We will be meeting on Sep 11^th!

Model on, Brothers of the Sprue.

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The January 8th Special Contest (Non-Points)  is:

"Sci-Fi / Real Space / Fantasy / Science"

______________________

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The January 8th Special Contest (Non-Points)  is:

"Sci-Fi / Real Space / Fantasy / Science"

 

ALSO

"Best Mirage" Sponsored Contest

Hosted by Rick Carver

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Field Trip Report - Flying Heritage Collection

by Mike Blohm 

   This Field Trip Report covers a trip that I recently made to the Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, just North of Seattle.  The museum consists of a large hangar with approximately 18 aircraft.   Most of these are in flyable condition and perform on Saturdays from June through September.  Unfortunately my visit was a few months too early.  Select pictures are included below.  A more detailed trip report and additional pictures are available on the website's ASM Field Trips page.  

Flyable aircraft on display include a Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc, Hawker Hurricane Mk XIIb, Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Emil, Fiesler Fi 156C-2 Storch, Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk in American Volunteer Group markings, Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, North American P-51D Mustang, Mitsubishi A6M3-22 Zero-Sen, Polikarpov I-16 Type 24 Rata, and Polikarpov U-2/Po-2.   

Aircraft of note that are either static or not flown due to rarity include a Focke Wulf Fw 190D-13 Dora, F6F Hellcat, Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet, Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusha (Oscar), Fiesler Fi 103 / V-1 “Buzz Bomb”, and a Fiesler Fi 103R Reichenberg (manned V-1).  The museum also has a nose section of an Avro Lancaster Mk 1 bomber and a “Space Ship One” replica on display.   

Very highly recommended - plan on at least half a day to see everything.   Unfortunately the aircraft are grouped together and surrounded by low barriers, so you can’t walk totally around them or get very close up.  Try to visit during the summer when they are flying on Saturdays – the website has a schedule for “Flying Days” that includes which specific aircraft will be flying.  Hint:  If you are there on 18 July you can see the Bf 109E and P-47D go head-to-head.  Check out the Collection’s website at:  http://www.flyingheritage.com. 

 

Collection Hangar	Mustang & Hurricane	Zero & Jenny	JN-4 Jenny	P-40C Tomahawk

 

Bf 109E-3 Emil	Fw 190D-13 Dora	I-16 Type 24 Rata	Ki-43 Oscar	Fi 103R

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Jim's Armor Corner

by James Guld

This month I thought I would talk about a product I picked up a few months ago and have had a chance to check out. It is from Iwata and is called a Triple Action Handle Assembly.   It comes with all the instructions for how to install and use it, along with troubleshooting tips. I haven’t had any problems with mine.  It replaces the rear handle and chucking nut and then has a new assembly that gets attached.  One of the nice features is that it has a quick release knob on the rear, and the needle pops out slightly and you can pull it out for cleaning.  It also has a preset built into the triple-action barrel to set the amount the needle can be pulled back.  Right now I have it set up on my siphon-feed Eclipse.  I haven’t tried it out on my gravity-feed HP-CH, so “your mileage my vary.”

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ASM Hats, Shirts and Buttons

The E-Board is looking into getting hats, shirts and buttons with the "ASM Logo" and other desired wording.

Price listing for the "ASM Wearables" is as follows:

Hats -$15

Tee shirts-$15    Colors:  Black, White, Grey

Polo- $18     White

Personalization’s is an additional $8.00

Contact Brian Peck (822-8577) if you're interested. 

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ModelZona 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

At the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona

Sponsored by the IPMS / Craig Hewitt Chapter

Info on this contest available at:

http://www.ipms-phoenix.org/

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2009 Region X Contest

 

**CONTEST RESULTS AND PHOTOS TO BE POSTED SOON ON THE CENTENNIAL WEBSITE**

Radisson Hotel Colorado Springs Airport

1645 N. Newport Rd, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Info on the Region X Contest at:

http://www.centennialipms.org/pikes_peak_model_expo.htm

Click on Links Below to:

Latest Region 10 Update    (29 May 2009)

Entry Forms
(Microsoft Word docs)

Entry Form - Front Side  (Note: print out back-to-back with Back Side)

Entry Form - Back Side (Note: print out back-to-back with Front Side)

Table Display Form (One side only)

Instruction for filling out the forms: 

Your Entrant Number will be assigned to you at registration.

Category numbers are available at the club’s website: http://www.centennialipms.org/ppmx%202009%20catrgories.htm

Entry Form and Entry Form Back get the models in the contest and direct the attention of the special awards judging team.   Make sure you look at both sides and check the box(es) for which ever Sponsor’s Choice Awards a particular entry is qualified for.  Several entries can go on a single two-sided form.

Table Display forms must be filled out for each model entered.

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Raffle to Support 2009 Region 10 Contest

Centennial IPMS will hold a Special Raffle to benefit the upcoming Region 10 Contest

Item to be raffled:

Trumpeter 1/32 scale English Electric Lightning

       

   All proceeds benefited the 2009 Region X Convention

Tickets are $5.00 each

Contact Tom Grossman for tickets at tomtag@pcisys.net

The drawing will be held at the Region 10 Contest

(Above pics from the IPMS/USA Website)

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Centennial IPMS held a Special Raffle to benefit the upcoming Region 10 Contest

and the winner was ASM's Frank Randall

The Item raffled was: Revell 1/72 scale Gato Class Submarine

       

-

 

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Results of the ASM Super Raffle
held at the Ocober 2nd Meeting

The next Super Raffle will be at the October 2nd Meeting

Featuring:  Dragon's 1/32 scale Bf 110C-7

with some "additional accoutrements"

Kit Review article on the IPMS-USA Website at: http://www.ipmsusa2.org/reviews2/aircraft/kits/dragon_32_bf110c7/dragon_32_bf110c7.htm

The lucky winner was Ken Liotta

       

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Pearl & Guld Ltd. have model display bases for sale at our website under the "Accessories" page. www.pngltd.com 
If anyone is interested in custom sized display bases please contact me for pricing.
Shop- 505-474-7447 ;  Hom e-505-982-3089 ; E-mail: jamesguld@pngltd.com 
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The Obi Joe Project

The Obi Joe Project is an experimental multi-image program that included several hundred images put to music. 
Three members of the Albuquerque Scale Modelers plus assorted "extras" participated in the project. 
The program premiered on Friday evening, June 12, 2009 at the Continuing Education Center, University Drive. 
See pictures from the presentation on the June Meeting Pics page

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IPMS/USA Nationals - 2009 Links

IPMS/USA Nationals : August 19-22, 2009

Columbus, Ohio

Hosted by IPMS Eddie Rickenbacker

The 2009 IPMS/USA National Convention will be held at the Hyatt Regency/Battelle Hall in
Columbus, Ohio on 19-22 August 2009.

Check out the Officil 2009 Convention Website at:

http://www.ipmsusa2009.org/

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Hobbies N Stuff Has Moved

Hobbies N Stuff has moved to a new location in Albuquerque at 1540 Candelaria Road NE, just West of I-25.  This is the location of the old Waffle House restaurant.  Updates will be posted here as they are received.

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Upcoming Events Calendar

March 1	NM AMPS Meeting at Jim Guld's House at 2:00 PM
March 7	Model Contest at Hobbies N' Stuff, Albuquerque NM
17-18 April	Model AMPS International Convention in Harve de Grace, Maryland
May 30	Scalefest 2009 in Grapevine, Texas (IPMS North Central TX, Region 6)
June 5-6	Region 10 Model Show and Contest in Colorado Springs, CO (Centennial IPMS)
June 12	Obi Joe Project program at 6:55 PM preceding the June 12th ASM meeting
June 13	Model Contest at Hobbies N' Stuff, Albuquerque NM
June 14	NM AMPS Meeting at Dave Miller's House at 3:00 PM
June 25-27	Eagle Quest XVIII in Lewisville, TX (formerly MasterCon)
August 9	Bassett Place Mall Show in El Paso, Texas (IPMS El Paso, Region 6)
August 19-22	IPMS/USA Nationals in Columbus, Ohio
September 3-5	Model Entries for 2009 NM State Fair Model Contest (Sponsored by ASM)
September 12	SuperCon 2009 in Arlington, Texas (IPMS Fort Worth, Region 6)
September 13	NM AMPS Meeting at Mike Franklin's House at 2:00 PM
September 26	SoonerCon 2009 in Tulsa, Oklahoma (IPMS OK City & OHMS, Region 6)
November 14	Modelzona 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona (IPMS Craig Hewitt, Region 10)
February 20, 2010	ModelFiesta in San Antonio, Texas (IPMS Alamo Squadron, Region 6)
August 4-7, 2010	2010 IPMS/USA Nationals in Phoenix AZ (IPMS Craig Hewitt, Region 10)

Please notify the ASM Webmaster of any additional events that should be included.

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ASM Modeling Workshops Schedule for 2009

Please stay tuned for changes and for what model projects you should bring in for the workshop!

March 6	Hairspray in Modeling  -  Tom Perea
June 12	Bases / Groundwork   -  James Guld
July 10	Auto Detailing   -  Josh Pals
August 7	Natural Metal Finishes  -  Frank Randall and Brian Peck
November 6	TBD
December 4	TBD

The December 4th Special Contest (Non-Points)  is:

"XYZ Protypes"

ALSO

"2009 Model of the Year Competition"

Click here for eligible models from 2009 Theme Contests and Special Contests:  2009 Contenders

 

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from November's "Open Contest # 2" Theme Contest and "Best Vietnam Subject" Sponsored Contest

Best of Show & People's Choice - Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice - Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show Masters	People's Choice Masters	Best U.S./ Allied Entry	Best Bad Guys Entry
Chelsea Perea	Gregg Hayes	Tom Perea	Tony Humphries	Dave Straub	Victor Maestas	Dave Miller	John Tate
Impala	Sturmtiger	USS Boxer	Demolishing the Gate	Zeppelin L48	F-100 Supersabre	.50 Calibre Machine Gun	NVA T-34/85

Click here to see November Contest Results

Click here to see November Model Pictures

Click here to see November Meeting Pictures

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New Mexico State Fair 2009 Model Contest

Creative Arts - Division 13

"Models – Military, Science Fiction & Others"

Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club

Click her for 2009 Contest Results

 

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ModelZona 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

At the Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa, Arizona

Sponsored by the IPMS / Craig Hewitt Chapter

Info on this contest available at:

http://www.ipms-phoenix.org/

 

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New Mexico State Fair 2009 Model Contest

Creative Arts - Division 13

"Models – Military, Science Fiction & Others"

Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club

Click her for 2009 Contest Results

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The November 6th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"Open Contest # 2"

Last Points Contest in 2009 for ASM Modeler of the Year

**  Voting for 2010 E-Board at November Meeting  **

Positions to be decided-upon based upon 2 October nominations:

President:  Tom Perea or Ken Liotta

Vice-President:  Victor Maestas or Tim Wood

Contest Director:  Josh Pals or John Tate

Positions voted-in (uncontested) based upon number of nominations:

Secretary-Treasurer:   Frank Randall

Pro Tems:  Tony Humphries, Patrick Dick, and Danny Williamson

Voting Procedures:

**  Ballots will be included in the mailed ASM Newsletter and also with the E-Mailed version.  **
Either mail the ballot back to Frank Randall or bring it with you to the November meeting; or
send an E-mail to Frank Randall (FCR40@aol.com) and spell out in text who your choices
are - please include your full name in the E-mail.  If it cannot be determined who has sent the
E-mail then that vote will not be counted.

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Winners from October's "Best Competition Racer" Special Contest and "Best Porsche" Sponsored Contest

Best Intermediate	Best Motorsport	Best Automobile Porsche	Best Armor Porsche
Josh Pals	Victor Maestas	John Pattison	Frank Randall
69 Ford Falcon	Porsche 917K	Porsche 911 GT3	King Tiger

Click here to see October Contest Results

Click here to see October Model Pictures

Click here to see October Meeting Pictures

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Happy Halloween from ASM!

               

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Next ASM Meeting:

The November 6th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"Open Contest # 2"

Last Points Contest in 2009 for ASM Modeler of the Year

**  Voting for 2010 E-Board at November Meeting  **

Click here for further details: Election Info

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The November 6th Sponsored Contest is:

"Best Vietnam Subject - 1964 to 1975"

Hosted by Tim Wood

 

November 6th, 2009:

"Best Vietnam Subject  - 1964 to 1975"

Hosted by Tim Wood

Best Allied Subject Award

Best Non-Allied Subject Award

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Results of the ASM Super Raffle
held at the June 12th Meeting

AFV Club Churchill Mk III Tank and AFV Club Churchill Track Set

            

Tickets on sale beginning at the May 1st meeting

Tickets are $3.00 each or two for $5.00

The lucky winner was Tim Wood

   

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The next Super Raffle will be at the October 2nd Meeting

Featuring:  Dragon's 1/32 scale Bf 110C-7

with some "additional accoutrements"

Kit Review article on the IPMS-USA Website at: http://www.ipmsusa2.org/reviews2/aircraft/kits/dragon_32_bf110c7/dragon_32_bf110c7.htm

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The Prez's Spiel

By Jim Guld, ASM President

I hope everyone is getting stimulated and building models for the upcoming year.  Let’s see those tables full. I remember last March we had a good turnout both for completed models and for works-in-progress.

I would also like to encourage people to write articles for the newsletter.  It can be about any model-related subject like a book or kit review or even a build report letting others know how a certain kit went together.  I’ve just noticed that the newsletter has been a little light the past few months so think about writing something.

Thanks.

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from September's "Sharkmouths" Theme Contest and "Best Hellcat F6F" Sponsored Contest

Best of Show & People's Choice - Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice - Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show Masters	People's Choice Masters	Best Small Scale Hellcat	Best Large Scale Hellcat
No Entries	No Entries	Frank Randall	Adrian Montano	Victor Maestas	Glenn Bingham	Mike Blohm	Glenn Bingham
No Entries	No Entries	P-40N Warhawk	F-14A Tomcat	AH-1W Cobra	F6F-5N Hellcat	F6F-3 : Ensign James Shirley	F6F-5N Hellcat

Click here to see September Contest Results

Click here to see September Model Pictures

Click here to see September Meeting Pictures

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Chile Con 2006 Guest Speaker Passes Away

by Mike Blohm

   Colonel Gilbert Martinez, a guest speaker at Chile Con 2006, passed away on Tuesday, 18 August 2009.  Col Martinez served as a SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Officer (RSO) during his USAF career, and was one of our two SR-71 guest speakers.  His obituary from the Albuquerque Journal is pasted below.

-- Gilbert Martinez, USAF, Col. (Ret), 74, a resident of Albuquerque for 30 years, died Tuesday, August 18, 2009. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Regina Martinez; daughters, Patti Martinez, Rose Benedict, Eve Juarez and husband, Victor and Cathy Martinez; seven grandchildren, Ryan Rust and wife, Jen, Brent Benedict, Shea Benedict, Alexa Juarez, Hannah Juarez, Jordyn Harney, and Kelsey Harney; sister, Josephine Rodriguez; and numerous other relatives and friends. Gil was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; and one brother. He was born on May 19, 1935 in Raton, NM to Joe and Mary Martinez. Gil grew up in California where he graduated from high school in Fresno. After high school he joined the United States Air Force where he proudly served until his retirement. During his Air Force career he served as a navigator flying B-47's, B-52's and was the first Hispanic to fly the SR-71 Blackbird. He retired as Vice-Commander of Kirtland Air Force Base in 1979. Gil then went on to receive his Master's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico. He taught second graders in Albuquerque Public Schools for 13 years. Following his retirement from education, Gil served as AARP State President for New Mexico. He was responsible for the development of the New Mexico Veterans Memorial Library where he served on the board and spent countless hours establishing the library. Gil's greatest love was his family and supporting their many outside interests. He was a long-time member of Our Lady of Annunciation Parish, serving as a Eucharistic Minister. Gil was a devoted veteran to his country. He was a loving husband, father and "Popo" to his grandchildren. Gil will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Friends may visit French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel Sunday, August 23, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Rosary will be recited by the Marianites at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church, Claremont and Vermont Streets, Monday, August 24, 2009, 8:30 a.m., with Father Voorhies, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors at 11:00 a.m. A final celebration honoring Gil will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 5151 Journal Center Blvd. from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to New Mexico Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 8389, Albuquerque, NM 87198-8389. Please visit our online guestbook for Gil at RememberTheirStory.com French 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400

         

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Santa Fe Airshow 2009

Info provided by Victor Maestas

   The Santa Fe Airshow 2009 will be held at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport on Saturday, September 19 from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.  This year's theme is "Planes, Trains and Automobiles."

Information on the airshow can be found at:   http://santafeairshow.org/

Information from this website is provide below:

Static aircraft on the ramp will range from antique to modern, military and general aviation.  The exhibit hangar will have booths from EAA, the 99's, New Mexico Spaceport, Military recruiters, NMDOT, Civil Air Patrol, and many more.  The performance will feature a fabulous demonstration team, RC aircraft, sailplanes, wing walkers, and military formation flyers and more.  

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New Mexico AMPS Meeting

by James Guld

The next meeting of the New Mexico Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS) will be held on
Sunday, September 13th at 2:00pm at Mike Franklin's house.  Please contact Jim Guld for directions.
Bring your latest armor projects or finished pieces.

For more information on the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS), please click on
the following link to the AMPS home page:  http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/default.aspx

   

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October 2nd, 2009:

"Best Porsche"

Hosted by Patrick Dick

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The October 2nd Special (Non-Points) Contest is:

"Best Competition Racer"

Items at the October 2nd Meeting:

Nominations for 2010 E-Board Election

Super Raffle

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The October 2nd Special (Non-Points) Contest is:

"Best Competition Racer"

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Sponsored Contest is:

"Best Porsche"

Hosted by Patrick Dick

For further details on upcoming contests, click on the link below to the

ASM Contest Schedule section of the website:  Contest Schedule

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Items at the October 2nd Meeting:

Nominations for 2010 E-Board Election

Super Raffle

Featuring:  Dragon's 1/32 scale Bf 110C-7

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New Mexico State Fair 2009 Model Contest

Creative Arts - Division 13

"Models – Military, Science Fiction & Others"

Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club

***  Model entries are due September 3rd through September 5th    ***

Click here for more information

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New Mexico State Fair 2009 Model Contest

Creative Arts - Division 13, "Models – Military, Science Fiction & Others" (Sections 458-461)

Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club

Model entries are due the week prior to the fair opening - as follows:

Thursday, September 3     8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Friday, September 4         8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Saturday, September 5     8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

ASM judging will be on Tuesday, 8 September.  The fair is open September 11-27 

Request ASM member's assistance with the registration of models.

Contact Josh Pals or the ASM E-Board to voulnteer to help or if you have any questions.

Sections

Section 458   Youth: (11 years and under)

Section 459   Senior Youth: (12 to 17 years)

Section 460   Adult: (18 years and over)

Section 461   Professional: (anyone teaching or selling for profit)

* Note:  ASM members in the Masters and Intermediate Divisions are required to enter their models in Section 461 - Professional

 

Each Section will compete in the following Classes

1.  Flying Models, including flying rockets

2.  Aircraft and Helicopters, Jet

3.  Aircraft and Helicopters, Non-Jet

4.  Military Vehicles - Fully Tracked

5.  Military Vehicles & Equipment - Non Tracked & Half Tracks

6.  Sailing Ships & Oared Ships

7.  Powered Ships

8.  Miniature Figure - single-footed or mounted figure

9.  Miniature Figure Vignette - maximum of 3 related human, animal or equipment figures, no vehicles

10.  Diorama - miniature scene, wholly or partially three-dimensional, depicting model in a naturalistic and realistic setting

11.  Science Fiction, Spacecraft, etc. (excluding figures)

12.  Miscellaneous (none of the above)

* Note: Only one entry allowed per class

An electronic copy of the pdf file for this competition including General Rules

and Special Rules is available at:

http://exponm.com/fair/competitions/07_creative_arts.asp

Find the "Models" category and then click on "Military & Science Fiction"

OR

Just click here to go straight the file located on the ASM Website: Models - Military, Science-Fiction 2009

Click here for Overall Info on the fair: http://exponm.com/fair/

Click on links below to see results from previous NM State Fair Model Contests:

Models from the 2008 NM State Fair

Models from the 2007 NM State Fair

Models from the 2006 NM State Fair

Models from the 2005 NM State Fair

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The September 11th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"Sharkmouths"

Guest Speaker:  Dave Straub - 2009 IPMS-USA Nationals Recap Slide-Show

Richard Desing - USAF Pilot in Viet Nam - has been postponed until further notice

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*** The September 11th Theme (Points) Contest is:  ***

"Sharkmouths"

Guest Speaker:  Dave Straub - 2009 IPMS-USA Nationals Recap Slide-Show

Richard Desing - USAF Pilot in Viet Nam - has been postponed until further notice

Sponsored Contest is:

"Best Hellcat F6F"

Hosted by Frank Randall

For further details on upcoming contests, click on the link below to the

ASM Contest Schedule section of the website:  Contest Schedule

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The August 7th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"1/48 Scale Single-Engine Props"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The August 7th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"1/48 Scale Single-Engine Props"

 

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from July's "Armored Cars" Theme Contest and "Best Panzer IV and Variants" Sponsored Contest

Best of Show & People's Choice - Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice - Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show Masters	People's Choice Masters	Best "Panzer IV and Variants" Entry
Sean Hayes	Gregg Hayes	Frank Randall	Tony Humphries	Victor Maestas	Jim Guld	Jim Guld
Mustang	Staghound Mk I	Staghound Mk I	M20 & Ruins Diorama	M20	M20 Diorama	"Things to Come" Diorama

Click here to see July Contest Results

Click here to see July Model Pictures

Click here to see July Meeting Pictures

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Jim's Armor Corner

by James Guld

Last month I went over a couple of builds I had started and I figured I would continue this month.

Well, the Bronco CV-33 kit is stalled for the time being. Right after I did the last article, I put the tracks on.  They look like crap! Between operator error and the poor design of how the bogie units mount, they look terrible. One side is passable but the other side has all kinds of twists.  I almost “binned” this kit, as Tony Humphries would say.  I haven’t decided as yet what to do but for now it’s consigned to the back of the model display case.

The Staghound kit, on the other hand, came out rather well. I’m just putting the finishing touches on the weathering right now and I still have a couple of figures to do for it along with a small base.

Since last month I also wanted to start another project before jumping back to my M16B diorama. I decided to do tackle the Tamiya 1/35 Pershing kit.

Like most Tamiya kits it goes together flawlessly and only needs a little filler here and there to hide seams that wouldn’t be there on the real tank.  These include the front and rear corners where the sides meet the front and back hull plates, and the other area that needs the most attention is the turret.  The fit is fine but on the rear tank, where the side pistol port is, Tamiya has you add this part and you need to blend it in to the rest of the casting.  The other area on the turret that needs fixing is the seam for the turret halves. You need to put a slight flat here since in real life there is a casting seam here. I  also added a bit of Mr. Surfacer to some parts of the turret to give it a slightly more cast look.

I was given some pictures by a friend of my online and saw a modified M26 from the 3rd AD.   It was apart of the first 20 “Zebra Mission” tanks and thus had some minor differences from the Tamiya kit. On the rear final drive covers, Tamiya has a reinforcing strip. On these early tanks they didn’t have this.  I had to remove it and add on a drain plug to the casting.

I also added in casting numbers to the parts using Archer Transfers’ resin impregnated decals.  These are super cool.  I also added casting numbers and symbols to the front lower hull, front hull hatches and on the mantlet face. This is another area where Tamiya missed the boat on detail.  The Pershings had a small canvas cover that went in between the mantlet and the turret and was held on by a heavy strip with bolts.   Luckily the Tank Workshop makes a replacement mantlet with this cover.  The fit isn’t perfect and I’m not sure if it was designed for this kit or for the M-26 kits from Dragon.  A little bit of Apoxie Sculpt fixed it along with some Mr. Surfacer.

The tank in the photo I’m modeling mine after has been modified in that it is missing the side skits and has the front and rear fenders bobbed.  They then added an L-angle brace across the front glacis to keep the fenders from sagging and storage racks on the back fender corners and the rear of the turret.  It has a bit of the “Beverly Hillbillies” look that late war US armor had.  That’s actually what I like about US armor from this period.  It adds some interest to the vehicles.

I added the long right side camo net out of Apoxie Sculpt and textured it with a piece of embroidery fabric which had the right kind of square pattern that the real camo net had. I made the straps out of lead foil with Aber photoetch buckles and also added some of the missing footman loops to the side stowage boxes and fenders.

The other major item I changed out were the handles for the fender stowage boxes.  I replaced these with resin handles from Tiger Model Designs and had to remake the stops out of Evergreen styrene.

Other minor tweaks I did are as follows: thinned out the front light guards and added the tube holders with Aber photoetch chain; added styrene strips for where the front fenders would have attached; weld bead detail around the tow hook mounts and rear pintle mount; drilled out the side fenders where the skirts would be bolted; added retention straps to track mounts on the side of the turret; added the small catch to the bottom side of the gun crutch; added the tow cable hasp to the rear plate; made covers for the .50-cal mount and for the foul weather hoods that were stored on the right side of the turret along with the footman loops that were on top of the holder; added hatch catches to the front hull hatches and loader’s and commander’s hatch; and replaced the kit commander’s hatch for one from Caliber 35.  I also added the interior detail to both the loader’s and commander’s hatches. The covered muzzle brake is from Tiger Model Designs. I went with T-81 tracks from WW2 Pro­d­uc­tions.  These are snap-together resin items.

One other item of note: with this kit, the suspension is mov­able up and down.   So I haven’t decided if the tank will be going over an uneven surface or just displayed on a flat surface.  So that’s where it stands now. Just about ready for the spray booth.

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Modeling at Starfest 2009

by Joe Walters

The annual Starfest sci-fi convention was held again in Denver this past April 17 – 19, and despite a surprise blizzard, attendance was once again in the thousands.  Guests included Battlestar Galactica’s Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck); Star Trek’s Brent Spiner (Data), Ethan?Phillips (Neelix), and Robert Picardo (Voyager’s Doctor); Babylon 5’s Patricia Tallman?(Lyta Alexander); William Katt (Greatest American Hero); and more.

As always, among the many many activities offered at this convention, modeling plays a major part.  There are two main modeling events: Vern?Clark’s Model Show and Tom Grossman’s modeling workshop.           

A combination airbrush training session, modeling how-to, and make-&-take, Tom’s venue is always busy.  Tom tells me he never gets to attend any other convention events, as he’s tied up in this activity room basically from start to finish.   You can see in the picture below how his hands stay full, and everyone manages to have a good time!

The Model Show is a contest and a chance to display one’s sci-fi modeling skills to other fans.  Over 100 models were entered this year, in just about every conceivable subject. Entry costs a couple of bucks per model.

In the photo at below left, you can see about half the models that were entered. Most were sci-fi / fantasy entries, but a few mundane items like tanks and airplanes snuck in.   We modelers always like to see good work, even if the subject matter doesn’t necessarily fit in!  Also present in this room was a display by a club that builds full-sized functioning replicas of the Lost in Space robot; you can just see one at the upper right corner of the bottom right photo.

                                                                                        

Model entries ranged from Star Wars to dinosaurs, Star Trek to Babylon 5, scratchbuilds to figures, and on and on.

For Star Wars fans, a meticulously-detailed Republic Star Destroyer (below left) drew a lot of attention, as did a pair of Millennium Falcons, one of which is shown below middle (the other was not only nicely detailed, but also fully lighted).  Many other Star Wars subjects were present, as were many Star Trek starships. Below right is an outstanding Thunderbolt StarFury from Babylon 5; I’ve never even seen one of these kits, assuming it was a kit…

                                                                           

Starfest is always a great time, for modelers and non-modelers alike.  The guests are always top-notch, many attendees come in costume (we rode an elevator with the Joker; a brilliantly-costumed General Grievous left many wondering how he pulled that off; Shaun of the Dead was about—he even had some red on him; Seven of Nine, the Penguin… the list goes on!), and there are more events and panels than you can attend.

I highly recommend this excellent and professionally-run convention; if you are interested, monitor the web site (http://www.starland.com) for ongoing news of this and the next convention.

Oh, and you might want to get working on that sci-fi model for the show!

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Kit Review

by Ken Liotta

Accurate Miniatures  1/48 Scale F3F-1

   The kit consists of 61 pieces molded on 4 light grey sprues with an additional 4 pieces molded on 1 clear sprue.  Two frets of 17 Photo Etched pieces are included along with a comprehensive decal sheet that allows you to build nearly every F3F-1 that flew.  The kit is packaged in what has become typical AM boxing: Top and bottom with an added false bottom that usually holds the decals, photo etch (PE), and clear sprue.  The box top is covered with a beautiful painting of the F3F-1 and the sides include all the data and multi-lingual description of the model.  The box bottom includes a photo of the completed model in the kit primary markings.

   The instruction booklet is well illustrated throughout 16 steps and includes several exploded views.  They begin with a brief history of the F3F-1 and lead into significant directions on how to build the model accurately.  Color callouts are included in these directions and also accompany each assembly step.  While you are working on the model itself, you have the option to paint it in a variety of aircraft based on the Lexington to the Saratoga and more.

   The parts include some exquisite scribed details and crisp molding that are virtually flash free.  Clean up of seams took very little time and the majority of the parts fit together exceptionally well.

   The assembly sequence laid out in the instructions is quite typical; Cockpit/interior sub-assemblies, fuselage, engine, tail planes, wings, and details.  The 7 color decal sheet that covers most all of the F3F-1’s is approx 5 ½ x 6 ½ inches and includes two variations of decals for the instrument panel that is molded in clear styrene.

   Once I started trimming the main component parts it became apparent that there was a significant problem with the upper and lower wings.  The upper wing had a series of scalping dips along the leading edge while the perpendicular details along the top were wavy and not straight.  The bottom wings had a similar wavy condition, but not as pronounced.  The best solution that I came up with was to layer super glue into the low spots on the leading edge and once I was satisfied that it had cured sufficiently, I used a sanding block and wet/dry paper along the edge to even it out.  While doing this, I also restored the aerodynamic shape of the edge and back over to the top.

   I made an effort to correct the wavy perpendicular detail lines by strategically applying super glue and once cured sanded and re-scribed the detail.   Besides the dipped leading edge and wavy detail lines, the wings had a swirled injection pattern in the plastic that didn’t appear deep enough to be a concern once they were painted.

   All three of these anomalies appear to be the result of either a cold injection or removal from the molds too soon or both.  I have looked at two other kits and have seen traces of the same anomalies but they were not as pronounced as this kit’s.  After repairing the wings, they were assembled following the assembly steps paying particular attention to their alignment.  While gluing the lower wings on I took advantage of the join lines and worked them into natural looking panel detail.

   Before gluing on the horizontal tail planes, I drilled out the fuselage details that would be behind them and then positioned the planes to give the appearance of having been trimmed or adjusted as seen in numerous photographs.  The remainder of the assembly was straight forward with no further problems encountered.  In fact, the fit of the majority of the pieces could rival many of the big name manufactures.

   Painting began with the doped finish aluminum color were I used Alclad basic aluminum over an enamel primer gray (Model Master (MM)  FS 36440).  The red is Testors flat red, the green is MM FS 34187, and the wing top Orange-Yellow is Polly Scale acrylic.  Except for the Polly Scale and Alclad, all paints are enamel.  I used a Paasche Type H single action airbrush driven by a Badger Silent 1 set at about 25 psi.  Most all of the assembly was done with Plastic Zap super glue but several areas were glued using Tenax 7R solvent glue.

   Before the PE rigging wires were glued in, I coated the model with Future floor wax through the Paasche.  Once that had dried, I applied the decals without any difficulties.  Another light coating of the Future was applied and once dry, I applied a gentle oil paint wash that was thinned with Turpenoid.  Since these aircraft were kept in relatively pristine condition, I didn’t apply too much.  I also didn’t hit the model with any paint chipping effects.

   Once I was satisfied with the decals and wash, I applied another coating of Future on the wings to replicate the doped, gloss finish.  Conversely, after careful masking of the wings, I applied a coating of Testors Dullcote to the remainder of the aircraft to replicate its less than glossy appearance.  The remaining details (prop, wheels, bombs, canopy, etc.) had been getting painted while the main construction had been going on and they were now added to the model along with antennas and the PE rigging.  Since the rigging wires are provided in stainless steel, these were left as they were to more closely replicate the real wires.  Nav lights were first painted MM chrome silver and when dry were over coated with several layers of Tamiya acrylic clear red and green.

   In conclusion, looking past the anomalies on the molded wings, the rest of the kit fell together quite easily and was an absolute blast to build.   For the latter reasons, I can comfortable recommend this kit to modelers with average experience to build.

               

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The Obi Joe Project

The Obi Joe Project is an experimental multi-image program.  Basically several hundred images put to music. 
Three members of the Albuquerque Scale Modelers plus assorted "extras" participated in the project. 
The program will premier Friday evening, June 12, 2009 at the Continuing Education Center, University Drive
in Albuquerque at 6:55 PM.  The length of the program is about 30 minutes.  Bring your family, friends
and neighbors...you're all invited, even Democrats.

BE there or we WILL come and find you… 

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Raffle to Support 2009 Region X Contest

Centennial IPMS will hold a Special Raffle to benefit the upcoming Region X Contest

Item to be raffled:

Trumpeter 1/32 scale English Electric Lightning

       

   All proceeds benefited the 2009 Region X Convention

Tickets are $5.00 each

Contact Tom Grossman for tickets at tomtag@pcisys.net

The drawing will be held at the Region 10 Contest

See Contest Info below in the Local Contests section

(Above pics from the IPMS/USA website)

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Next Hobbies N' Stuff Model Contest:  June 13th

All entries must be in by 12 PM Noon, June 13th.  Entries can be dropped off at any time prior to the contest but
no later than 12.  All ages are are welcome and encouraged to enter.  All skill levels are greatly encouraged. 
Prizes and Ribbons will be awarded after the contest concludes.  Models will be available for pickup on
Jan 3rd after 4 PM.  If you are unable to pick up your model at that time it will be placed in our display
case until you are able to pick it up.  Models entered must not have been previously entered into a
Hobbies "N Stuff contest. (A record of all previous entries is kept.) 
Entries will be judged fairly and not biased.

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New Mexico AMPS Meeting

by James Guld

The next meeting of the New Mexico Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS) will be held on
Sunday, June 14th at 3:00pm at Dave Miller's house.  Please contact Jim Guld for directions.
Bring your latest armor projects or finished pieces.

For more information on the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS), please click on
the following link to the AMPS home page:  http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/default.aspx

   

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New Model Contest Entry Form

A new Model Contest Entry Form, version "Jan 2009" has been posted.
Please do not use any previous version for your entries.

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from June's "Italiano" Theme Contest and "Show Your Stripes" Sponsored Contest

Best of Show & People's Choice - Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show & People's Choice Masters	Best "Show Your Stripes" Entry
Gregg Hayes	Tony Humphries	Frank Randall	Jim Guld	Frank Randall
Semovente 75/18 M40	M4A1 with Crew in Italy	P-47D Thunderbolt	Staghound Armored Car	P-47D Thunderbolt

Click here to see June Contest Results

Click here to see June Model Pictures

Click here to see June Meeting Pictures

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The July 10th Theme (Points) Contest is

               

"Armored Cars"

               

July 10th, 2009

"Best Panzer IV and Variants"

Hosted by ASM E-Board

Panzer IV	Brumbar	Jagdpanzer IV	Nashorn	Hummel

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The July 10th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"Armored Cars"

               

and

"Best Panzer IV and Variants"

Sponsored Contest Hosted by the ASM E-Board

Panzer IV

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       Happy 4th of July !!!     

           

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Hobbies N Stuff Model Contest

Provided by Frank Randall

Below are the results of the model contest held at Hobbies N Stuff on March 7, 2009.

Click on the following link to see pictures of the models that were entered in the contest:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=363667848&albumId=1049838&page=1

Pictures will be posted on the ASM website when they become available.

Next Hobbies N' Stuff Contest:  June 13th

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Results from Brian Peck's February Model Challenge

by Brian Peck

Greetings ASMers!

If you remember a few months ago I issued several challenge builds.  Well, Sean and Gregg Hayes, Adrian Montano, and Keith Liotta accepted. Sean, Gregg and Adrian are pictured with their complete kits and Keith’s project is in prog­ress so we'll have pictures of it soon.  Thanks to you guys for accepting the challenge! I'll have a few more of these again this year, so come to the meetings because you never know when another one will be issued.  

   Model on, Dudes!

Adrian Montano	Gregg Hayes	Sean Hayes

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Challenge Build

by Brian Peck

Greetings fellow modelers!  At our January meeting I gave out four kits for this year’s first ASM challenge build. Sean and Gregg Hayes, Keith Liotta, and Adrian Montano rose to the challenge to build their kits and complete them within the two-month time period. Hopefully we will see the finished kits this Friday!

I’ll probably do few more of these throughout the year to encourage more people to build, build, build! The kits were generously donated by a semi-anonymous ASM member (just ask me if you really want to know) in hopes that the kits will be built and put to good use.

See you all at the next meeting!

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Show Your Stripes

by Don Smith

I wanted to remind everyone about the “Show Your Stripes” sponsored contest for June.   The contest is for any Allied fighter or fighter-bomber in D-Day stripes. I also wanted to bring your attention to an internet site I enjoy:

http://aeroscale.kitmaker.net and http://armorama.com; both are sites on the http://kitmaker.net site.

As many of you know I moved from the Land of Enchantment to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, this past year.  My modeling trips to the hobby shop and conversations with my model­ing friends are now very limited but I can still enjoy mod­eling and this site is great for guys like us.

One of the features I like is the “Campaigns.” Someone sponsors a Campaign with a certain topic and everyone who “enlists” can post their builds on the site and earn “campaign rib­bons.”  I recently completed a “build” for the (what else) Min­imize II campaign for small-scale figures.  I am currently in a P-47 group build, the “Butcher Birds” Fw-190, “Mighty 88,” and “Get the Job Done Again” campaigns.  The cool thing about the campaigns is you could match them up to the ASM contests and get twice the credit.

For example, my 1/48 Tamiya Fw-190 A8 could be in the Aeroscale “Butcher Birds” campaign and the ASM “1/48 Single Engine Props” contest.  You could build an F6F-5(N) for the “Night Stalkers” or “Airedale Navy” campaign and enter it into the sponsored “Best Hellcat” contest.  There’s a “La Marseillaise” campaign if you wanted to build a Mirage for the “Best Mirage” sponsored contest.  Best of all, there is a P-47 group build and a “Stripes in the Sky” contest if you wanted to build a model for the “Show Your Stripes” contest.   There are rules of engagement about when you can start your build, pictures must be posted to earn ribbons, deadlines, etc.

Check this out for twice the fun! I hope to see some ASM modelers on the site soon—it’s for Wing Nuts and Tread Heads plus more.

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ASM Supports the Troops - 2009

by Frank Randall

   At the February 2009 meeting we had our round-up of kits for the troops.  There was a generous donation of thirty-five kits of all types.  So thank you all who donated to the cause.

     Now, there is a hold on mailing the kits out.  The contacts for the overseas model clubs have rotated back or moved on to other positions, and I am waiting for the new contacts to take over.  IPMS/USA has a listing of the clubs and will update the contacts as soon as possible.  Now there is a current contact for the Diego Garcia club, so we will be sending them a care package.  One of the biggest needs the clubs want are supplies, tools, paints etc,. since these are hard to come by over there, so if anyone wants to further assist our troops please see any board members.  Again thanks to all. 

        

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Trip Report - Pima Air & Space Museum

by Mike Blohm 

   This Field Trip Report covers a trip that I recently made to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.  The museum has a huge outside exhibit area – over half of the museum grounds - with approximately 157 aircraft and 18 aircraft-related ground vehicles from all the US services, and from some other countries as well.  A more detailed trip report and additional pictures are available on the ASM website's Field Trips page.

    The “Spirit of Freedom” Hangar next to the entrance has a B-18B Bolo , PBM-5A Mariner, F-107 Ultra-Sabre, SR-71A, A-10A, S-3B Viking, and an AH-1S Cobra, amongst others.  Just outside is a Ground Launched Cruise Missile display that includes a BGM-109, a missile transporter-erector, erector launcher, and tractor.  Perfect for anybody contemplating a diorama. 

    The museum has a total of seven MiG fighters including a MiG-29 and MiG-21PF.  The “bomber row” includes an F-111D, B-57E, EB-47E, B-50, NB-52A (Edwards-NASA test launch platform), B-52D, B-52G, B-58A, and WB-66.  Unfortunately the B-36 and WB-57 were in a refurbishment area.  Bombers elsewhere included a B26K, B-23 Dragon, and Bristol Mk IV Blenheim.  There are plenty of cargo, aerial refueling, and anti-submarine aircraft.  Of note were the Boeing YC-14 prototype, PV-2 Harpoon, NASA B-377SG (ex-C-97) Super Guppy, AP-2H Neptune in the multi-grey SEA scheme, and a YQM-98A “Compass Cope” drone.

    Several independent hangar buildings contain approximately 73 aircraft.  The 390th Bomb Group Memorial hangar has a very nice B-17G.  You can peer into several of the hatches, bomb bay, and ball turret to get an appreciation of what it was like to fly in it.  Hangar 3 houses a B-24J, B-25J, A-26C, C-47 in D-Day markings, PT-19 and AT-11 trainers, Fi-103 (V-1) Buzz Bomb, and Hurricane Mk II, amongst many others.  Hangar 4 houses a B-29, C-46D, TBM-3, P-63E, F4U-4, and a Ki-43 Oscar.  Of note is a FM-2 Wildcat that was recovered from Lake Michigan where it was lost during carrier landing training in April 1945.  Surprisingly the museum did not have a P-47, P-51, F6F, or F8F anywhere in its collection.  Make sure that you visit the WW II Barracks as it contains some model displays.  The Space Gallery hangar includes an X-15A-2 mock-up and some nice models of various spacecraft. 

    The museum has just about all the post-WW II USAF and USN/USMC fighters and attack aircraft in several long rows.  Stand-outs were an F-4C that had scored a MiG-17 kill in Viet Nam, an F-84F Thunderstreak in Thunderbirds markings, and an F-11F Tiger in Blue Angels markings.  Foreign types include a Hawker F-58 Hunter and a Fairey AEW-3 Gannet, a most ungainly-looking aircraft.  There are also groupings of Presidential and civil aircraft and 12 helicopters.

    Very highly recommended - plan on at least a whole day to see everything.  The best thing about the museum is that you are able to get up close to almost all the aircraft to check them out and to get photographs from just about any angle you want.  Check out the museum’s website at:  http://www.pimaair.org/

 

Museum Entrance	Visitors Guide	OutdoorExhibit Guide	GLCM Display	MiG-29 Fulcrum	F-4C Phantom II	F-84F Thunderstreak

 

F-11F Tiger	AP-2H Neptune	NB-52A Stratofortress	Bristol Blenheim MkIV	B-26K Invader	B-23 Dragon	B-17G Flying Fortress

 

B-24J Liberator	Hawker Hurricane MkII	B-29A Superfortress	Fi-103 / V-1 Buzz Bomb	Ki-43 Oscar	PBM-5A Mariner	SR-71A Blackbird

 

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Jim’s Sprues & Reviews

by James Guld

Well, the economy might be in turmoil but you would never know it by the new releases still coming out.  I’ll give you this month’s high­lights plus an interesting marketing plan by Dragon.  They are coming out with an “Orange Box” program where they take older kits and add in some newer parts from more recent releases along with some figures and come up with a new kit. So far I’ve seen three items listed but hopefully more will follow.  They plan to keep the price down, around the $30.00 range. This looks to be a good idea if you know what the updated parts for the kits.

So lets jump into what’s new since last month.

We now have a choice of dead cows for those “Falaise Pocket” dioramas. MK/35 added one to their line to go along with the one from Doug’s Originals.

Hauler has a small photoetch set for Soviet onboard tools in 1/35 and a few release for 1/48 that include Hummer and Marder III updates.

Zvezda has the WWII Mercedes-Benz L4500a car­go truck out and some Soviet WWII Mountain troops listed as an early 2009 release.

Fruil Model has a set of Sherman T56 tracks listed but they look like T62 style to me from the picture.

Mig Productions has some new releases of their filter oils now sold individually along with some remastered kits that now come with photoetch.  I noticed some new figures too.

Tasca announced a M4A4 Sherman V kit with a March release date.

Hobby Boss has a few new modern armor items listed: A Delta Force FAV, LVTP-7, AAVR-7A1 Assault Amphibian Vehicle Recovery, AAVP-7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicle (w/mounting bosses), AAVP-7A1 RAM/RS, AAVP-7A1 RAM/RS w/EAAK, V-150S Commando APC 90mm Cockerill Gun, and a Spanish Leopard 2E.

Aber have a new photoetch set out for the Tamiya Opel Blitz and some new barrels out also for the 75mm barrel for KwK40L/43 with single baffle muzzle brake for Pz.Kpfw.VI, Ausf.F2, 75mm Pak39 L/48 barrel for Hetzer or E10, 88 mm KwK 36 L/56 Barrel with late muzzle brake for Tiger I middle & late, and the 75mm Pak 40L/70 gun barrel for Jagdpanzer IV or E25.

A new company out of China called Orange Hobby has a photoetch set available for the new AFV Club Churchill along with German stick grenades, star antennae, and tapered antennas.

Tiger Model Designs is getting closer to releasing their conversion set for a German BergPanther.   They also re-tooled their Bilstein Crane conversion set for the Famo and have some more resin bits for Shermans.

Trumpeter also continues to announce some modern releases. Australian ASLAV-25 (Reconnaissance), and the M198 155mm Medium Towed Howitzer (Early Version) set for a January release.

AFV Club continues on with another Church­ill. This time it’s the Churchill Mk.III AVRE set for a February re­lease.

Dragon/Cyber Hobby also has a German Beu­te­Panzer Sherman M4A2, Jagdpanther Late Pro­duction, U.S. Marines Guadalcanal 1942, and M4 Sherman 75mm Normandy.

Archer Transfers has some markings for the Churchill MKIII and some new double row rivets in their surface detail line.

MiniArt has the dingo Mk.1b British Armored Car w/Crew listed as a February re­lease and announced a dingo Mk.III British Scout Car w/crew.

Italeri announced the following: 508C 1100 “Col­oniale,” Carro Ar­ma­to P 40, Semovente L 40 da 47/32, Staghound MK IV, LCVP with 1/4-ton Utility truck, SWS with FLAK 43, Leopard I A2A2, Autoblinda AB 40, M4A2 76mm “Wet” Sherman, and a Crusader III AA with Bofors 40mm gun.

Academy has the following listed: Merkava Mk.IV, Swedish Army CV9040, and a M50 ONTOS.

Well ,that about does it this month.  As always keep checking the PMMS web site for your armor updates. 

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Models for the Troops News Story

Provided by Jim Guld

Click on the link below for a great story on the troops working with donated models.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52929 
 

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So You Want To Be Modeler of the Year

by John Tate

Some Tips for New Contestants

The results of the ASM points contest at the November 7th, 2008, club meeting provided me with a tenth win as Modeler of the Year (MOY), an undefeated streak that began in 1996, my first full year of competition in ASM. It has been a tough road, competing against some highly-skilled and capable modelers, but along the way I picked up a few strategies that helped ensure success. As this tenth MOY win is a good milestone for me to bow out of active points competition, I thought I would take this opportunity to pass on a few tips to future contestants.

Tip No. 1: You Have to Build. Active competition means adhering to a regular building schedule, finishing two or more models per month and working steadily through the club’s off-season (swap meets and special contests) to ensure three contest-worthy models on the table for each points contest. No, it isn’t easy, and building models against the clock can be anything but fun. Add the regular demands of a normal life (job, family, chores) and building that many models per month becomes a real hurdle. This is where personal dedication comes in—like any competition you have to work hard if you want to win, and you’ll find that finishing that many models per month requires focus, concentration and planning.

Tip No. 2: Build Outside Your Comfort Zone. Many of us have specific areas of interest in modeling: aircraft, armor, figures, dioramas, etc. However, in MOY competition you have to branch out into other areas to ensure you pick up enough points to win. I like building airplanes and tanks, but had to learn fast how to build dioramas, ships, figures, sci-fi, cars, even dinosaurs. Building in less-popular themes means you’ll stand a better chance of picking up more points and outflanking your opponents. Also, with each unfamiliar model you build, you become more skilled as a modeler; the techniques you pick up building that ship model will help you with your next airplane kit.

Tip No. 3: You Have to Show Up. Sometimes finishing three models per month is the easy part. The next hurdle is ensuring your personal schedule is clear so you can attend that upcoming club meeting. When faced with tough competition, you’ll find that missing even one points contest can put you at a disadvantage for months to come. I’ve won more than one MOY contest because a leading competitor missed a meeting. Dedication counts in attendance as much as it does in model-building.

Competing for MOY is not for everyone, and there many other fine ways to enjoy the hobby. But for those who put in the effort, the payoff is knowing you’ve competed against the best and won, becoming a better modeler in the process, not to mention having a carload of models you can bring to the next Regional contest. If you’ve got time, dedication and a closet full of unbuilt models, MOY competition might be for you. The field is open—who will be ASM’s next Modeler of the Year?

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ASM Make and Take with Cub Scout Den 7

by Mike Blohm 

   ASM conducted a Make and Take with Den 7 of Cub Scout Pack 17 on Monday, October 27, 2008 at Stapleton Elementary School in Rio Rancho.  There were seven Cub Scouts present and six ASM members: Jim Guld, Tom Perea, Patrick Dick, Mike McNichol, Josh Pals, and Mike Blohm.  The purpose of the Make and Take was to give the Cubs an introduction to modeling, have fun building a model, and then take it home with them afterwards.

   Jim Guld talked briefly about the hobby, followed by Mike Blohm discussing "What is Scale Modeling" using ASM's Scale Modeling display as a visual aid, featuring P-47 Thunderbolts in three different scales, plus some Star Wars snap-tite kits for good measure.  After that, it was delving into the model building! IPMS-USA supplied ASM with Revell 1/32 scale Snap-Tite kits of the 1968 Pontiac GTO "Black Ice", which the kids had fun putting together.  The Cubs worked at their own pace, and ASM members provided coaching, tips and recommendations as they worked their way through the kits.   It looked like a good time was had by all.  The Cubs also received parting-gifts that included an Accurate Miniatures 1/100 scale "Fighter Legends" glue-together kits, plus a tube of glue and a sanding stick.  Hopefully we'll see some of these Cubs get the spark and decide to take up the hobby and have some great fun while doing so.  Please check out the pics below.  Thanks to all who helped out.   ASM may be doing another Make and Take in the near future.

                       

                       

Webmaster's Note:   Here are a few additional pictures of Jeannie Garriss' "Black Ice" GTO model entry taken at the November 2008 ASM meeting, to better show you what kit the Cub Scouts were working on.

   

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June 12th, 2009

"Show Your Stripes" Contest

Hosted by Don Smith

                 

"Show Your Stripes” - Best Allied fighter or fighter-bomber sporting D-Day invasion stripes.  This is a sponsored contest to celebrate and recognize the 65^th anniversary of Operation Overlord.   Any fighter or fighter-bomber used during the D-Day campaign, any scale.  Winner will be decided by a People’s Choice ballot.  Winner's plaque is shown below.

   

               

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Best of Show & Winners from May's "Third World Army / Air Force / Navy" Contest and "Battle of the Bulge" Sponsored Contest

Best of Show Intermediate	Best of Show Masters	1st Place Armor Masters	1st Place Single-Engine Masters	1st Place Multi-Engine Masters	Best Battle of the Bulge Entry
Tim Wood	Ken Liotta	Mike McNichols	Ken Liotta	John Tate	Dave Miller
MiG-21 MF India	Beaver Yemen	M84AB Kuwait	Beaver Yemen	IL-28 Nigeria	Sturmgeschutz III

Click here to see May Contest Results

Click here to see May Model Pictures

Click here to see May Meeting Pictures

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2009 Region 10 Contest

 

Click here for additional info

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Next ASM Contest:

The June 12th Theme (Points) Contest is:

"Italiano"

For further details on upcoming contests, click on the link below to the

ASM Contest Schedule section of the website:  Contest Schedule

and

"Show Your Stripes"

Sponsored Contest Hosted by Don Smith

                 

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ASM Super Raffle and
"Obi-Joe Project" Presentation
at the June 12th Meeting

Click here for details

BE there or we WILL come and find you… 

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ASM Salutes American Veterans on Memorial Day

                       

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May 1st, 2009

"Battle of the Bulge" Contest

       

Hosted by Fred Franceschi

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The May 1st Special (Non-Points) Contest is:

"Third World Army / Air Force / Navy"

The May 1st Special (Non-Points) Contest is

"Third World Army / Air Force / Navy"

        

 

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from April's "3 or More Engines" Contest

Best of Show & People's Choice Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show Masters	People's Choice Masters
Sean Hayes	Gregg Hayes	Frank Randall	Tony Humphries	Victor Maestas	James Guld
Bf 109F-2	M-36	AC-130H	Sherman Crab	CH-53E	M16B Wasp

       

"Tank Destroyers of World War II" Sponsored Contest Hosted by Jim Guld & John Tate

Best Basic Entry	Best Intermediate Entry	Best Masters Entry
Gregg Hayes M-36	Tony Humphries M10 Achilles	Dave Miller Panzerjager I

Click here to see April Contest Results

Click here to see April Model Pictures

Click here to see April Meeting Pictures

 

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Jim's Armor Corner (April 2009)

by James Guld

This month I thought I would discuss a couple of builds that I have going; both are from Bronco Models.

First up is the CV-33 tankette.  This is a real small vehicle, only about 3.5" long and 1.625" wide.  Now, crammed into that you get a full interior for the fighting compartment and the engine.  The level of detail is great and down the road I see that they plan to release a 1/16-scale version.  The hull tub comes as panels that you assemble.  The fit was okay but I did have a few minor seams to fill on the rear panel.  Now if you’re into fiddly little builds, then this is right up your alley.  At just about every step you have to make up a subassembly, usually out of four or more parts, and then add it to the model.  The bogie units were the toughest to assemble, and keep­ing the wheels straight was a minor miracle.  The problem is that the wheels themselves have just tiny recesses on both sides that the front and rear side backing plates attach to.  I think it would have been a better design to have holes in the wheels and have the front backing plate include a shaft to go through the wheel and into the rear backing plate.  It would have made the units stronger and kept the wheels aligned.  After a kit like this you can really appreciate how a Tamiya kit is engineered.  Right now I have the interior all built up along with the engine and radiators awaiting paint.  I should also mention that the radiators on the real vehicle were made up of four units basically forming a circle.  For the kit each of these units is made up of eight parts and then there is the top and bottom connector for the radiators.  The top is another six parts and the bottom four parts.  I think you’re getting the idea.  I’m all for detail as long as it can be seen.  A great deal of the interior won’t be seen even with all the hatches open.  Oh well…

The other kit I started on this past week is the Staghound Mk1 armored car.  This kit is also available from Italeri, but the reviews I’ve seen give the Bronco kit higher marks for details but give Italeri the upper hand for ease of build.  This kit has a really poor instruction sheet.  The entire lower hull unit is again a series of panels that you assemble and in the instructions they tell you to add all the details to the panels and then to glue them all together.  Well, that just isn’t happening.  I glued the lower hull together except for the front bow panels, which have some interior pieces that I have to paint first and then will assemble.  The fit was really good except for the top hull plate, which the turret sits on, had a slight bow to it.  I was able to just bend it slightly back to shape and after gluing it in it looks fine.   Again the level of small detail parts is tremendous and along the way a few parts took tweezers shots, never to be found.  A bit of Ever­green styrene came to the rescue and all is well again.  The kit comes with a small fret of photoetch for items like the front light guards, which have a plastic bending jig to help form them.   Other little goodies include the straps that secure the sidesaddle tanks, and this involves bending the ends over and using a small piece of wire to act as a hinge pin.   Off the ends of these straps are a “T” hook at the bottom and a small round loop with a post at the top.  You insert the hinge pin through the strap and it holds these pieces in place.  I thought it was going to be tough to get everything to align, but it all went together without any cursing or yelling.  That’s always nice!  Right now I have most of the lower hull together along with all the fittings for the suspension.  I still have to do a little research and see how the brake lines were fitted. I haven’t started in on the turret yet, but it has some gun details along with the Number 19 radio set, which has a nice photoetch guard for the set.

Bronco has released a number of Staghound kits, so if you’re looking for something to build for our armored car contest, this might not be a bad idea.

I have decided to change my column slightly. Instead of just regurgitating what you can find for yourself on PMMS, I will try and focus on an armor-related subject of some sort.   I hope you enjoy it.

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April 3rd, 2009

"Tank Destroyers of WW II" Contest

Hosted by James Guld & John Tate

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The April 3rd Theme (Points) Contest is

"Three or More Engines"

         

                           For further details on upcoming contests, click on the link below to the

ASM Contest Schedule section of the website:  Contest Schedule

       

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The April 3rd Theme (Points) Contest is

       

"Three or More Engines"

               For further details on upcoming contests, click on the link below to the

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from March's "Open Contest #1"

Best of Show & People's Choice Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice Basic	Best of Show & People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show Masters	People's Choice Masters
Chelsea Perea	Gregg Hayes	Ken Piniak	Dave Miller	Victor Maestas
F/A-18 Hornet	Jagdpanther	Sunken U-Boat The Final Patrol	Panzerjager I	F-100D SuperSabre

Click here to see March Contest Results

Click here to see March Model Pictures

Click here to see March Meeting Pictures

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Raffle to Support 2009 Region X Contest

Winner:   ASM's Frank Randall

Centennial IPMS held a Special Raffle to benefit the upcoming Region X Contest

Item affled:  Revell 1/72 scale Gato Class Submarine

       

   All proceeds benefited the 2009 Region X Convention

Info on the Region X Contest at:

http://www.centennialipms.org/pikes_peak_model_expo.htm

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Jim's Armor Corner

by James Guld

I have decided to change my column slightly. Instead of just regurgitating what you can find for yourself on PMMS, I will try and focus on an armor-related subject of some sort.   I hope you enjoy it.

This month I thought I would discuss researching, as I’m in the middle of a new diorama involving an M16B “Wasp” halftrack set near a canal lock near the town of Sarreinsming, France, in December 1944.  Personally, I get into doing the research for a diorama almost as much as building and finishing it.  I have found that the Missing-Lynx site (http://www.missing-lynx.com) is a great place to start for getting info on a particular subject.

The people that contribute to the site are some of the top armor modelers in the world.   For my current diorama, I had asked a question about the setting and received some answers from some members, and also started Emailing with one member who was able to help me find a site on canal locks. This guy is a lock nerd.  The web is great for this sort of stuff. People are into the weirdest stuff…

Through this site I was able to find a modern-day picture of the lock I’m working on and of old abandoned locks that were built at about the same time as the lock I’m working on.  I also started corresponding with this person and he acted as my second set of eyes. Working from an old black and white photo is tough and it helps to have a second opinion as to what something is in a photo or how it might be constructed.  With his help, we’ve been able to figure out many of the items in the photo with some degree of certainty.  Some items are still a mystery as to what their function is, and you just have to go with your best WAG.   will bring in this diorama as a Work-in-Progress and it will also be apart of an article I’m writing for “Boresight,” the AMPS magazine.

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New Mexico AMPS Meeting

by James Guld

The next meeting of the New Mexico Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS) will be held on
Sunday, March 1st. at 2:00pm at Jim Guld's house.  Please contact Jim for directions.

For more information on the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS), please click on
the following link to the AMPS home page:  http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/default.aspx

   

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Model Contest at Hobbies N' Stuff on March 7th

Info provided by Hobbies N' Stuff is as follows:

All entries must be in by 12 PM Noon, <arch 7th.  Entries can be dropped off at any time prior to the contest but
no later than 12.  All ages are are welcome and encouraged to enter.  All skill levels are greatly encouraged. 
Prizes and Ribbons will be awarded after the contest concludes.  Models will be available for pickup on
Jan 3rd after 4 PM.  If you are unable to pick up your model at that time it will be placed in our display
case until you are able to pick it up.  Models entered must not have been previously entered into a
Hobbies "N Stuff contest. (A record of all previous entries is kept.) 
Entries will be judged fairly and not biased.

Click here to see photos from past HnS contest.

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The February 6th Meeting was an ASM Swap Meet with No Contests

Click here to see February Meeting Pictures

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Winners from the January 2009 Sci-Fi, Real Space, Science & Fantasy Contest

Best of Junior	Best of Basic	Best of Intermediate	Best of Masters
No Entries	Jeannie Garriss	Rick Carver	John Tate
No Entries	Anakin's Jedi Starfighter	Devil Fish	Triceratops

  

Click here to see January Contest Results

Click here to see January Model Pictures

Click here to see January Meeting Pictures

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The March 6th Theme (Points) Contest is

Open Contest # 1

               

For further details on this and upcoming contests, click on the link below to the

ASM Contest Schedule section of the website:  Contest Schedule

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NM Armor Modeling and Preservation Society Meeting on March 1st

Click here for NM AMPS Meeting Information

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Model Contest at Hobbies N' Stuff on Saturday, March 7th

Click here for More Information

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The March 6th Theme (Points) Contest is

 

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The Prez's Spiel

By Jim Guld, ASM President

I just thought I would remind everyone that in March we usually send off kits to the troops overseas. So whatever you don’t sell next month, think about donating something for our servicepeople abroad. Just bring it to any e-board member and we’ll get it packed up and shipped out. Thanks for your support.

Keep building stuff, even if it’s planes, cars, sci-fi. Lets see that table full for March.

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Raffle to Support 2009 Region X Contest

Winner:   ASM's Frank Randall

Centennial IPMS will hold a Special Raffle to benefit the upcoming Region X Contest

Item to be raffled: 

Revell 1/72 scale Gato Class Submarine

       

    Tom Grossman will be selling tickets at the December 5th ASM meeting.

Ticket Cost:   $5.00 each

All proceeds benefit the 2009 Region X Convention

Info on the Region X Contest at:

http://www.centennialipms.org/pikes_peak_model_expo.htm

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ASM Supports the Troops - 2007 & 2008

ASM collected kits and model supplies in late 2007 and early 2008 in order to make
another Donation to the Troops.  The kits were mailed out by Frank Randall.

See article below on ASM's 2008 and 2007 Support to the Troops.

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ASM Supports the Troops - 2008

by Frank Randall

For a couple of months back we were collecting Kits for the Troops.  After all your generous gifts I had the privilege of sending to the Baghdad Hobby Club a couple of care packages containing thirty-one kits a pack of brushes and four posters. The donations covered a wide selection from tanks to airplanes to even ships. So there will be something for every one.  The kits will be distributed by Master Sergeant Brian Allen who passes on his thanks to all who contributed to this cause.

Thank you members of ASM.  

       

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Trip Report - Air Power Park and Museum

by Mike Blohm 

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Air Power Park and Museum located in Hampton, Virginia.  The museum is enclosed in a geodetic dome, and unfortunately the building was closed for renovations.   The outside park was open and offers a wealth of aircraft, missiles and rockets.  There is a road circling the perimeter of the displays if you want to stay in your car, or you can walk amongst them, definitely the choice for modelers.  Displays of note include:  Project Mercury capsule with Little Joe rocket booster, Mercury Test Capsule, KV-6A Kestrel (experimental NASA vertical takeoff and landing aircraft), Argo D-4 Javelin rocket, F-86L Sabre, F-89J Scorpion, F-100D Super Sabre in Thunderbirds markings, F-101F Voodoo, F-105D Thunderchief, RF-4C Phantom II, MIM-3 Nike Ajax surface-to-air missile (SAM), MIM-14 Nike Hercules SAM, M-2 Corporal rocket, SM-78 Jupiter Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), A-2 Polaris Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), T-33A T-Bird, and an A-7E Corsair II.  It was very nice to be able to get up-close to all these aircraft and missiles.  Some of the items are in pristine condition, but a lot are in very sad shape, particularly the SAMs and missiles.  Hopefully the outside displays will also be renovated when they finish the museum building.   A few of the pictures are  posted below.  More photos are posted on the Field Trips page.

The museum is open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM year round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.  Definitely recommended, especially if you want to model some Nike SAMs, as displays of those seem to be few and far between. 

The museum does not have a website of its own, but information can be found at:

http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/museums/va/appm.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Power_Park

Museum Building	Museum Sign	T-33A T-Bird & A-7E Corsair	Displays from the South	Displays from the East	F-100D Super Sabre & Missiles	KV-6A Kestrel

 

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Pike's Peak Model Expo Show

by James Guld

This past month, Rick Carver and I drove up to the Pike’s Peak Model Expo put on by Centennial Modelers at the Weisbrod Aircraft Museum.  We also ran into Glenn Bingham at the show (so that’s why you weren’t at the last meeting, Glenn!).

There were 47 modelers and 234 models entered.  It seemed to be about the same size as last year’s show as far as turnout is concerned.  What were nicer were the registration process and the awards.  For the regular 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards, they went with CD-ROMs that contain high-resolution pictures of the planes at the museum.  For the Best-Ofs, they had nice glass awards along with framed pieces that included coins or money from the period.  I thought that they did a great job on the awards.  Nice change from the regular medals you’re used to from a one-day show.

Rick took pictures so if you want to see some models you’ll have to bug him.

The quality of the work was pretty good, especially in 1/32 scale aircraft, 1/48 props, and on the Modern Armor table.

There was a lot more Sci-Fi stuff there compared to last year, but the number of armor subjects seemed to be down a bit.  There is even some scuttlebutt that they want to host next year’s Regional, and with the way gas prices keep going, the closer the better.  So hats off to Centennial for a good show!

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The Prez's Spiel

By Jim Guld, ASM President

I figured it was time to write something for the upcoming modeling year.  The E-board will be working on the modeling schedule and should have it out to you by the December meeting.  If anyone wants to do a sponsored contest get a hold of Ken and he’ll try to work it into the schedule.   I was really pleased with the model turnout last year.  Hopefully we’ll see even more on the tables this year.  I know personally I have set a few goals to work on my figure painting skills to make them better.  I’m looking forward to next years regional in June in Colorado Springs since I doubt I’ll make the Nationals in Ohio.

If anyone has any ideas for clinics this year, or wants to do one, please let us know.  We are also looking for speakers for the upcoming year.  If you know of any Vets willing to give a talk, let us know. 

Well that’s about all for now. Just remember to go out and build something, even if it has wings. 

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New Mexico State Fair 2008 Model Contest

Creative Arts - Division 13, "Models – Military & Science Fiction" (Sections 450-453)

Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club

Click here to see Results for the 2008 NM State Fair Contest

Click on the links below to see previous year's results:

Models from the 2007 NM State Fair

Models from the 2006 NM State Fair

Models from the 2005 NM State Fair

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Jim’s Sprues & Reviews

by James Guld

Time for your X-Ma$$ armor update, people. Not a lot to report since last month, but a few gems.

I got a sneak peak of the new Tamiya JagdTiger last weekend and it looks pretty nice and comes with both rubber band and link and length tracks. The texture of the armor plate is excellent and captures the look of the beast.

Atak has a new resin zimmerit set for the Dragon Brumbar.

Echelon Fine Details has some new decal sheets out.

MiniArt has some pictures and sprue shots of new figure sets of Commonwealth and Soviet Jeep riders.

Concord has a new book out on British Armor in NEW from D-Day to Arnhem.

AFV Club has a new Centurion with a dozer blade and a 1/48 251/1 C.

Accurate Armor has a few new modern resin releases of English 6x6s.

SKP has an engine for the AFV Club 251 half-tracks.

Italeri has its L6 Italian light tank listed as an early 2009 release and announced models of a Crusader 40mm Bofors AA tank and a German 305 Tanker truck on an Opel Blitz frame.

Voyager has a bunch of new photoetch releases.

Cromwell Models has a bunch of new Churchill conversions for use with the new AFV Club kit.

Lion Roar has pictures of their new Zundapp KS750 motorcycles and a new resin stowage set for the upcoming Bronco Models Staghound AA armored car.

Legends Productions has some new resin stowage sets.

Azimut has a resin launch ramp for the Bronco Models V-1 kits.

Archer Transfers has some new ammo crate stencils for 105mm and for 37mm crates.

MK/35 has a resin Atlantic Wall bunker with a Panzer 2 turret.

Trumpeter has some new armor announcements including the new 1/16 King Tiger for 2009.

Dragon/Cyber Hobby has some new announcements of figures and a German Sig33.

Tank Workshop has a bunch of new rail car releases and updates to earlier releases.

Griffon Models has some new photoetch releases for German armor.

Fruil Model has tracks coming out for the new L6 Italian light tank, the Russian SU-76 series of tanks and the BTR-50, PT-76 series of light armored vehicles.

As always keep up to date by checking out the PMMS web site.

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Model Contest at Hobbies N' Stuff on January 3rd, 2009

(Moved from December 13th)

Info provided by Hobbies N' Stuff is as follows:

All entries must be in by 12 PM Noon, Jan 3rd.  Entries can be dropped off at any time prior to the contest but
no later than 12.  All ages are are welcome and encouraged to enter.  All skill levels are greatly encouraged. 
Prizes and Ribbons will be awarded after the contest concludes.  Models will be available for pickup on
Jan 3rd after 4 PM.  If you are unable to pick up your model at that time it will be placed in our display
case until you are able to pick it up.  Models entered must not have been previously entered into a
Hobbies "N Stuff contest. (A record of all previous entries is kept.) 
Entries will be judged fairly and not biased.

Click here to see photos from past HnS contest.

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The January 9th, 2009 Special (Non-Points) Contest is

"Sci-Fi, Real Space, Science and Fantasy"

      

Any subject or scale in the realms of science fiction, real space, science subject, or fantasy, including anime subjects

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Winners from December's Three Contests and 2008 Model of the Year Winners

Best Tag-Team Model	"Captured" Sponsored Contest	"Build Something Different" Sponsored Contest	Model of the Year Juniors	Model of the Year Basic	Model of the Year Intermediate	Model of the Year Masters
Graham Basha & Shawn Brown	John Tate	Victor Maestas	Chelsea Perea	Gil Johnson	Victor Maestas	Dave Miller
Race Car	Ki-46 III Dinah	Ducati GP4	Chevy Impala	T-34 / 76	USS Seawolf	M1A1 Howitzer

Click here to see December Contest Results

Click here to see December Model Pictures

Click here to see December Meeting Pictures

 

 

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from November's "World War I" Contest

Best of Show Juniors	People's Choice Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show & People's Choice Masters
Kelly Brown	Shawn Brown	Kent Weeks	Victor Maestas	Tim Woods	Jim Guld
Planet of the Apes	F-16 Falcon	Fokker D.VII	Fokker Dr.1 (Photoetch)	Gato Submarine	Sherman Diorama

 

"World War I Aces" Sponsored Contest Hosted by Mike Blohm

Best Overall Entry Winner: Frank Randall RAF SE5a	Best Basic Entry Winner: Kent Weeks Fokker D.VII

Click here to see November Contest Results

Click here to see November Model Pictures

Click here to see November Meeting Pictures

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Model Contest at Hobbies N' Stuff on January 3rd

( Date moved from December 13th )

Click here for additional details:  HnS Model Contest

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The January 9th, 2009 Special (Non-Points) Contest is

"Sci-Fi, Real Space, Science and Fantasy"

      

Any subject or scale in the realms of science fiction, real space, science subject, or fantasy, including anime subjects

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Happy Holidays from ASM

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Jim’s Sprues & Reviews

by James Guld

It’s officially Fall, and that means the baseball playoffs are winding down, football is underway, and for modeling the Tokyo Modeling Show is happening.

You can search the web and probably find a bunch of links to the show, but here is one: http://www.sembado.com/photo/48th_ths/index.html .

I had told you last month about the new Tasca M4A1 DV Sherman but I didn’t know they are also adding a new early .50 cal to the kit. I have one on pre-order from Dragon USA but haven’t received it yet. Hopefully by our next meeting I’ll have it.

It looks like FineMolds also has some new figures and a new 57mm version of the Type 97 command tank.

Trumpeter looks to be very busy with both new and old armor and some more trains to boot.

Dragon had a test shot model of the T-34 with the Hex turret along with the biggest surprise from them, the M3 75mm GMC halftrack. Now with this and the M16 halftrack, the regular M3/M3A1 shouldn’t be too far off. They also had a number of other kits displayed—a late Hummel, Panzerjager 1, an early Panther G with zimmerit, a Tiger 1 Late with zimmerit, and some nice early war figures of French tankers surrendering.

Tamiya had models of their new JagdTiger kit along with their re-dos of some earlier kits with new added details. They redid their Italian M-13/40, Semovente and the German 232 armored car. They also have some new modern Russian figures. In 1/48-scale, they have the Marder III, Opel Blitz truck, and an AB41 armored car, which is an Italeri re-box. I also saw pictures of an L6 Italian light tank listed, but I think this is actually an Italeri kit. Either way it looks nice. It would look good K.O.’ed in the Western Desert.

Lion Roar showed off their BMW R75 with sidecar and it looks like a light trailer is also included.

AFV Club has models out of their new Churchill III and some test shots of the upcoming T-34 model 1941 with full interior. Looks like it will have a clear hull. They also had a 1/48-scale 251/1C shown.

Academy had a model of the K1A1, which I believe is the Korean Army version of the Abrams tank.

There was a number of interesting looking ship models also shown on the site along with some new finishing products. The only downside is the site is in Japanese, so it makes it a little hard to figure out what the product details are.

Well, that about wraps it up for this month. Now off to the closet to figure out what to build next.

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Vice-Pres Ramblings

By Tom Perea.  ASM Vice President

No Current Article.

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From the Judges Chambers

By Ken Liotta, ASM Contest Director

Hello my fellow model builders.  This is a partial reprint of an article I wrote up two years ago.  While some of it is the same ole thing, I thought that it had enough significant content to reiterate it.

   Thank you for placing your trust in me to return as ASM’s Contest Director.  It is great to be back and I look forward to serving all of my fellow club members to the absolute best of my abilities.  It has always been my desire to share with you the enjoyment we all get out of building, talking, trading, and admiring the plastic models that we build.   Be it an F6F Hellcat, an SdKfz. 251/9, or an YZR-M1 I look forward to talking models with all of you.  And serving on your E-board once again brings me that much closer to the ASM membership.

   One significant aspect of ASM is our almost monthly contests.   They have become an important feature of our organization.  Unfortunately, too many modelers, both outside and inside of the club, have looked upon us as overly contest driven.  And that is not the case.  ASM covers a lot of plastic model building ground, from clinics on applying decals, to guest speakers that have actually flown warbirds during World War II.  We have swap meets, raffles, distressed kit auctions, mall shows, etc., etc.   Not to mention a fairly substantial website presence and a colorful and comprehensive monthly newsletter.  (By the way, many thanks and appreciations go to Joe Walters and Mike Blohm for putting in many hours of their own time to make these two such successes).  But yes, we still do host model contests.  We meet 12 times a year and of those meetings this year we are hosting eleven monthly contests.  I view my job as being responsible to all of you, the membership, to ensure that these contests are conducted in as smooth, complete, enjoyable and fair as absolutely possible.  And to make sure the playing field is as evenly presented as possible.

   We are now fully three months into 2008 and the model building is in full swing.  Our March meeting included the first points bearing contest and many of you have left the gates at a full sprint.  The Theme for March was Open.  That meant that ALL models were illegible to receive the extra points that go along with the Best of Show awards.  We had 25 models entered in March with numerous “display only” and “works in progress” on the tables.  Everything was looking top notch and the judges were definitely put to the test looking at some outstanding workmanship.

   Since the results of the contest were announced at the March meeting and they are posted on the website, I won’t cover every placing.  But I do want to mention the Best of Show winners.  In the Basic Division, Gil Johnson’s very well built Tamiya M4A3 took the honor along with the People’s Choice award, too.  Tim Wood’s super cool build of the 21^st Century 1/32 scale Mc.202 won him both the B of S and the People’s Choice.  And James Guld won the Masters B of S with his excellent Tamiya 1/35 Steyr.

   The current points are posted on the website and appear in the newsletter.  Since we haven’t had any Junior activity yet this year there are no points posted in Juniors yet.  Gil has a notable lead already in Basic while intermediate is HOTLY contested.  El Presidente Jim is leading the charge in Masters with Johnny hot on his tail.  All predictions are that this year will be a hot bed of competition for the points leading to Modeler of the Year.  Don’t miss out on the action and join in on the fun.  Whether you enter a model in the contests or simply want to bring them in for display, we are all about the enjoyment of plastic model building and sharing in our craft.

   April is a points bearing contest with the theme of “Heroes & The Good Guys.”  Build the men/women and/or their machines.  Fire trucks, TBM’s flown by Medal of Honor Recipients, Shirley Muldowney’s Championship 1977 Rail, or JFK’s PT boat.  Any scale, any Nationality, and any eras.  And a reminder that at April’s meeting, Don Smith is sponsoring his Best Corsair contest.  The award is a really cool framed piece of artwork.  Don’t miss out on this one.  Go finish your F4U and make the winner work for it.  We look forward to seeing all of your wonderful creations.  So sling some glue and slap some paint on.  Let’s see that plastic!

 

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Kit Review:

21st Century's Macchi C.202 Folgore

by Tim Wood

Click here to access Tim Wood's review article:  Macchi C.202 Review (PDF file).

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Does Model Building Teach Us Anything?

by Frank Randall

I was thinking about this last week and decided to let my muse loose on this.  Of course, I think the answer is very obvious, but let’s see.

First, a trip back in time to an eight-year-old boy who saw these great Aurora and Monogram models at the PBX and begged to make one.  My Mom (a school teacher, artist and musician) and my Dad (career Air Force) must have seen this as an opportunity to broaden the horizons of a smart but unmotivated child with some learning problems. So the deal was: I built and Mom painted until I proved that I would not paint walls, furniture, younger brother, floors, or the dog.  Ah, the things we built—Superman, tanks, dinosaurs, an American Airlines 707, Mustangs, Me-109s and more.  And not just that — we read the history inserts that were provided and we went to the Library to learn more, so by High School I had quite a collection and knew all about each plane.

What else did I know by then?  Well, by then I knew about aerodynamics, hydraulics, physics, electronics, weapons systems, dynamics, tactics, history, and much more. Why?  Because my model building stimulated so much reading; books like 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, God is My Co-pilot, Thud Ridge, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Bridges at Toko-Ri, The Longest Day, Day of Infamy and more. My models were inspired by the history and the stories behind them, and the research to make them better.

College, of course slowed this down, since I had to focus on other activities, but I discovered IPMS Space Park, California, and IPMS El Paso, and this brought it all back.  I got to meet great modelers and real people who were really there, such as General Jimmy Dolittle, Col “Bud” Anderson, astronauts “Buzz” Aldrin and Frank Borman, and many Air Force pilots and other important people, and some not as well-known.

I have taken many trips to National and Regional conventions and seen and talked to many other modelers and been to many museums and overall I have noticed that we all seem to share some kind of passion about the history of what we are replicating, and are willing to share their love for this hobby.  I have also had some great friendships that are just special.   On the other hand I have had many people, friends and loved ones, look at “those silly plastic planes” and wonder why and even say it is a waste of time.  I don’t think so, because I know what it has taught and showed me and where I have been because of “those silly pieces of plastic.”

So in conclusion, I must say that Model Building is so much more that we realize, and we really should try to pass it on and not let it pass us by.

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Kit Review

by Jeff Frickstad

Italeri 1/35-scale Bofors AA Gun 40mm (Kit #6450)

Finally, a 40mm AA gun! Way back in the 1980s there as one. I don’t recall the company that put it out.   So now that Italeri has one, I thought that I would build it.

First thing you see is the parts trees, the instruction and no decals.  Building starts with the tires and axles for front and back.  Next is the towing or firing position — I went with the firing position.

Step 3 in the firing position is a bit odd for model parts 55B; the pads are short for three sides (back and two side wings); the front is fine, it sits like it should.  The other three are short about 1/16”, so I added some rod stock (3/64) and it fit perfectly.  Parts 53B are tiny little handles, be careful with them!

Step 7: parts 82B fit into parts 81B.  One problem: the holes are too small.  A hobby knife and a small file will open the holes for a good fit.

Step 8: The frame is fragile—be careful.  The pedals are set at an angle.

The rest of the kit went together very well.

The figures with the kit are a bit big for the seats.  The two seated figures need a Dremel diet…

The two standing figures with ammo are so-so, but you can use them.

There is a detail set out and a wheel mask, and maybe a metal gun barrel(?) and hopefully seated crew.

So if you need protection from those pesky aircraft, I think you will like it.

I give it 4-3/4 tanks.

 

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Best of Show & People's Choice Winners from November's "World War I" Contest

Best of Show Juniors	People's Choice Juniors	Best of Show & People's Choice Basic	Best of Show Intermediate	People's Choice Intermediate	Best of Show & People's Choice Masters
Kelly Brown	Shawn Brown	Kent Weeks	Victor Maestas	Tim Woods	Jim Guld
Planet of the Apes	F-16 Falcon	Fokker D.VII	Fokker Dr.1 (Photoetch)	Gato Submarine	Sherman Diorama

 

"World War I Aces" Sponsored Contest Hosted by Mike Blohm

Best Overall Entry Winner: Frank Randall RAF SE5a	Best Basic Entry Winner: Kent Weeks Fokker D.VII

Click here to see November Contest Results

Click here to see November Model Pictures

Click here to see November Meeting Pictures

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New Mexico State Fair 2008 Model Contest

Creative Arts - Division 13, "Models – Military & Science Fiction" (Sections 450-453)

Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club

Click here to see Results for the 2008 NM State Fair Contest

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ASM Supports the Troops - 2008

ASM collected kits and model supplies in late 2007 and early 2008 in order to make
another Donation to the Troops.  Click here to eee article on ASM's 2008 Support to the Troops.  

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ASM Super-Raffle at October 3rd Meeting

***    Winner:  Jim Guld  ***

Thanks for participating!

Prizes Consisting Of:

Hobby Boss 1/35 Scale M4 High Speed Tractor kit

AFV Club 1/35 scale Long Tom 155mm Cannon kit

Tankograd reference book on U.S. WW II M4, M5 & M6 High Speed Tractors

Photoetch and Resin Detail Sets

--  See Frank Randall for raffle tickets  --

$3.00 per ticket or Two for $5.00

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2008 Contest Schedule

Updated: 31 July 2008   - changes annotated by @

Click here for a Word document file of the 2008 ASM Contest Schedule

Click here to jump to the ASM 2008 Workshop Schedule

Note: All "Theme" contests are open to ALL entries. However, only models that match the theme are eligible for the "Best of Show" awards in each skill level for that night's contest, and will subsequently become eligible for the "Model of the Year" competition showdown in December.

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January 4      Special Contest # 1  “Sci-Fi / Real Space / Fantasy / Science.” Any subject or scale in the realms of science fiction (Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.); actual (real) space exploration (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle, etc.); science subject matter (Dinosaurs, Bugs, Visible Frog etc.); or fantasy, including anime subjects (Gundams, Robotech, etc.)                                                                                                                                                        Non-Points

                Guest Speaker:  Patrick Dick – The P-51 Gathering in Oshkosh 

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February 1      ASM Swap Meet  (No Contest) 

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March 7     Theme:  “OPEN” Any scale, any subject, and any era.                                                                                 Points Contest

                Workshop 1:  “Model Building Problem Solving” - *Pat Dick, James Guld, Ken Liotta, Brian Peck

                Workshop 2:  “CONSTRUCTIVE Model Critique” - *Pat Dick, James Guld, Ken Liotta, Brian Peck

                                *All IPMS/USA Nationals award winning modelers. 

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April 4     # Theme:  “Heroes”  Build the men/women and/or their machines.  Fire trucks, TBM’s flown by Medal of Honor Recipients, Shirley Mudowney’s Championship 1977 Rail, or Hans Günter’s U-boat.  Any scale, and any eras.                                                                                       Points Contest

                Workshop:  “Building Aircraft Model Tips, Part 1” – Brian Peck

                Sponsored Contest:  “Best Corsair” – Don Smith

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 May 2     Special Contest #2  “Phabulous Phantom’s Phiftyth Anniversary” Any variant, any scale, and any era.                Non-Points
               
                  Guest Speaker:  Mike Blohm – Part #2, Ph-4’s to F-35’s

                  Sponsored Contest:  “American MiG Killers” – Brian Peck 

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June 6      Theme:  “Eastern Front” Aircraft, Armour, and Figures of WWII Eastern Front.  All scales and all subjects.                    Points Contest     

Workshop:  “Armor Modeling Tips - Working with Photoetched Parts"  – James Guld

                    # Sponsored Contest:  “Best D-Day Subject” – ASM E-Board

                    Super Raffle:  Hasegawa 1/32 scale P-47D Thunderbolt with all the "goodies"

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July 11    Theme:  “OPEN” All scales, all subjects and all eras.                                                                            Points Contest

                Workshop:  “Building Aircraft Model Tips, Part 2” – Brian Peck

                Clinic:   Model Photography - Rick Carver

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August 1     Theme:  “The Zoo” Mustangs, Panthers, Cougars, Pumas, and Gazelles.  Think about it.  All scales, all subjects,   and all eras.    Points Contest                                                                                                          

            Workshop:  “Armor Modeling Tips - Scratchbuilding detail parts"  – James Guld

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 September 5    Theme: “The Pacific” Any scale, any era, and any subject built or operated in the Pacific area.  F6F, F-14, Type 97, M-551, YZR-M1,
                            USS Yorktown, etc.           Points Contest

                Guest Speaker:  Mike Blohm – "Weaponology/Things Under Wings" (and where they go on your model).

                 @ Sponsored Contest:  “Best P-40" (Hasegawa's new 1/32 scale P-40E)” – Patrick Dick

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October 3      Special Contest #3  “ASM’s Best P-47, 10th Anniversary” Any scale, any manufacture, and any era.       Non-Points                                                                                                                                                 

               Workshop:  “Building Aircraft Model Tips, Part 3” – Brian Peck

                   Super Raffle:  Hobbyboss 1/35 scale M4 High Speed Tractor with 155mm Howitzer and all the "goodies"     

                @ Sponsored Contest:  “Allan Goodman Memorial" Best of any subject.  – ASM E-Board

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November 7      Theme:  “World War I, 90 years” Any subject from the period (DR.I, Whippet, Camel, etc), and any scale.        Points Contest                                                                                                                                                                                            

                Workshop:  “Armor Modeling Tips - Painting / weathering techniques"  – James Guld

                Sponsored Contest:  “WWI Aces” – Mike Blohm 

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Dec 5     # Special Contest #4.   Tag-Team Model.   Any scale, manufacturer or era 2 man build.          Non-Points

                “Model of the Year” competition amongst the Best of Show winners at each skill level from all of the 2008 Theme, and Special Contests.

                 Workshop:    “Building Aircraft Model Tips, Part 4” – Brian Peck

                # Sponsored Contest:  “Captured"  – ASM E-Board

                @ Sponsored Contest:  “Something Completely Different"   – Tom Grossman.

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ASM Modeling Workshops Schedule for 2008

Please stay tuned for changes and for what model projects you should bring in for the workshop!

March 7	Workshop 1:  Model Building Problem Solving - Patrick Dick, James Guld, Ken Liotta, Brian Peck Workshop 2:  CONSTRUCTIVE Model Critique - Patrick Dick, James Guld, Ken Liotta, Brian Peck
April 4	Building Aircraft Model Tips - Part 1 – Brian Peck
June 6	Armor Modeling Tips - Working with photo etched parts   -  James Guld
July 11	Building Aircraft Model Tips - Part 2 – Brian Peck
August 1	Armor Modeling Tips - Scratch building detail parts -   James Guld
October 3	“Building Aircraft Model Tips - Part 3 – Brian Peck
November 7	Armor Modeling Tips - Painting / weathering techniques   -  James Guld
December 5	Building Aircraft Model Tips - Part 4 – Brian Peck

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2008 Sponsored Contest Information

Information is provided below on the rules of engagement (ROE) for each of the 2008 sponsored contests. Detailed information and updates are the responsibility of the sponsor of these contests. The website will be updated as new information is provided, and covered at ASM meetings. An “As Of” date will be included with each separate contest. Please visit the website often to check the latest info.

To sponsor a contest, please present your idea to any ASM E-Board member. The idea will be discussed at an E-Board meeting, and you will be informed as to whether your proposed contest could be fit into the current contest schedule. Arrangements for judging and awards are the responsibility of the sponsor.

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January 4  - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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February 1  - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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March 7  - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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April 4

* Sponsored Contest:  “Best Corsair".  Sponsored by Don Smith.

              

This is a sponsored contest to celebrate and recognize the 65^th anniversary of the first major F4U Corsair battles.  Qualifying models may be any F4U Corsair, any variant such as a -1, -1a, -4, etc: any scale; any year; and any nationality.   The winner will be determined by a People’s Choice ballot vote.  I can hear those P&W 2800’s beginning to rev up now.  

               

Award plaque:   

As Of:  14 Dec 2007

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May 2  

Sponsored Contest:  "American MiG Killers"   Sponsored by Brian Peck

                       

Any U.S. aircraft from any branch of the service, credited with any air to air kills.  From Korea to present, any U.S. involved conflict or 'skirmishes'.
I.e. 1981 F-14 Gulf of Sidra Su-22 killers, Bosnia conflict F-16 MiG-29 Killer, etc.   Documentation reference or a simple photo of the presented subject is a plus. Awards will be divided up into 3 categories:  1950-1963, 1964-1980, and 1981-Present; Plus a overall best of -  aka "The Dude Award"

                     

As Of:  14 Dec 2007

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June 6   

# Sponsored Contest:  “Best D-Day Subject   – ASM E-Board.

Best of any subject related to D-Day.  Any subject, any scale.

       

                

As Of:  23 Jan 2008

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July 11      * Sponsored Contest:  “Best D-Day Subject   – ASM E-Board.  * Held-over from June 6th.

Best of any subject related to D-Day.  Any subject, any scale.

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August 1  -  No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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* September 5   -  Sponsored Contest:  “Best P-40"   – Patrick Dick

Best 1/32 scale Hasegawa P-40E built in the "Texas Longhorn" markings in the kit..

       

                   

See article on John Landers and "Texas Longhorn"

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October 3     

@ Sponsored Contest:  “Allan Goodman Memorial" Best of any subject.   Sponsored by ASM E-Board

Best of any subject, built from a kit from the Allan Goodman collection.

 

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November 7

Sponsored Contest: “World War 1 Aces.”  Sponsored by Mike Blohm

Any aircraft, any scale, flown by an "ace" of any nationality in World War I.  Please bring documentation for the ace your model's scheme depicts.

As Of:  12 Jan 2008

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December 5   -

# Sponsored Contest:  “Captured"   – ASM E-Board.

                   

       

Best of any subject in captured markings.

As Of:  23 Jan 2008

@ Sponsored Contest:  “Something Completely Different"   – Tom Grossman.

Any subject that the builder does not usually build.   Rules as follows:

1.  Kit must be built in 2008 by any member in good standing of ASM

2,  Kit must pass approval of local peers at the time of registration as a subject the builder
does not usually build.  Ideally, a subject the builder has NEVER built.

3.  Judging will be done according to ASM policy by ASM members.

4.  Photos of all entries must be provided to the sponsor.

1st Place Prize:  $25 gift certificate for the hobby shop of winner's choice.

2nd Place Prize:  $15 gift certificate for the hobby shop of winner's choice.

3rd Place Prize:  $10 gift certificate for the hobby shop of winner's choice.

Winners must notify the sponsor of their hobby shop choice.

As Of:  31 July 2008

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2007 Contest Schedule

"Back to Basics Schedule"

As Of:  September 22, 2007 (See +++ for changes)

Note: All "Theme" contests are open to ALL entries. However, only models that match the theme are eligible for the "Best of Show" awards in each skill level for that night's contest, and will subsequently become eligible for the "Model of the Year" competition showdown in December.

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January 5   Special Contest # 1  “Sci-Fi / Real Space / Science / Fantasy.”  Any subject or scale in the realms of Science Fiction (Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.), Real Space exploration (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle, Mir, etc.); Science (dinosaurs, human physiology, insects, etc.) or Fantasy, including anime subjects (Gundams, Robotech, etc.)                     Non-Points 

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February 2        ASM Swap Meet.  (No Contests) 

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March 2              Theme:  “Armor.”  Any military armor subject, including dioramas.  Includes armored fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, half-tracks and soft-skinned vehicles.   Points Contest

                            ** Workshop:  Airbrush Maintenance and Fine Tuning - Dave Straub 

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April 6             No regular points contest.

                        * Sponsored Contest:  “Best Sherman”.   Sponsored by Jim Guld

                       ** Workshops:  1.  Weathering - Armor painting techniques - James Guld

                                                2.   Alcaid II Application - Keith Liotta

                                                3.   Stick Notes and Tooth Picks - Mike Blohm

                                                4.   Zimmerit Application - Patrick Guld 

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May 4          Theme:  “Ships.”  Any naval ship subject, including dioramas.   Points Contest

                        Sponsored Contest:  “Best Modern US Aircraft Carrier”.   Sponsored by Keith Liotta

                         Workshop:  TBD 

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June 1             No points contest.

                       $$ Sponsored Contest:  “Best Modern US Aircraft Carrier”.  Sponsored by Keith Liotta.  Extended from May 4th to June 1st.

                       Workshops:  1.  TBD    2.   TBD   3.  TBD   4.  TBD

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July 13 ##        Theme:  “Automotive.”  Any automotive subject, including trucks, motorcycles, and dioramas. Points Contest

                   Sponsored Contest:  “Best Mustang.”  Any “Stang” that flew or drove somewhere on the planet.

                   Sponsored by Mark Soppet

                  Workshop:  TBD 

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August 3           ASM Swap Meet.  (No Contests) 

August 22-25     IPMS/USA 2007 Nationals in Orange County, California. Website at  http://www.ipmsusa2007.org/

August 30 - September 1     New Mexico State Fair Model Contest: Creative Arts - Division 13, "Models – Military & Science                       Fiction" (Sections 349 – 352).  Sponsored by the Albuquerque Scale Modelers Club.  Model entries are made the week prior to the fair opening - will probably on 30 Aug - 1 Sep.  ASM judging will probably be 4 or 5 Sep. The fair is  open September 7 - 23.  Tim Woods is the E-Board's NM State Fair POC. Click here for info on the fair:  http://www.exponm.com/SF/STIndex.htm

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September 7      Theme: “Figures.”  Any figure subject, including vignettes and dioramas.  Points Contest

                            Sponsored Contest:  TBD

                            Workshop:  TBD 

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October 5       Special Contest # 2  “Best Small Scale Model.”  Any subject, any manufacture, any era small scale model.  Aircraft – 1/100 and smaller; Armor – 1/72 and smaller; Automotive – 1/43 and smaller; Ship – 1/700 and smaller; etc                        Non-Points 

                            @   Sponsored Contest::   "Best Wildcat".  Sponsored by Don Smith

                            ++  Distressed Kit Auction.

                            +++ One-Hour Model Contest postponed until further notice!

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November 2       Theme:  “Aircraft.”  Any aircraft subject, including dioramas.       Points Contest

                            Sponsored Contest:  “Best Folded Wing Aircraft.”  Any era, theater, manufacture, and scale aircraft with one or                               both wings folded or being folded.  Includes rotary winged aircraft (folded rotors/tail section).  Sponsored by                               Ken Liotta

                           ++ Guest Speaker:  Mike Blohm on F-4 Phantom II Experiences

                            Workshop:  TBD

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December 7      No points contest.

                            Sponsored Contest:  TBD

                            Workshops:    1.   TBD   2.  TBD   3.  TBD   4.  TBD

        "Model of the Year" Competition amongst all the Best of Show and Best Entry winners at each skill level from all the 2007 Theme and Special Contests.

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2007 Sponsored Contest Information

Information is provided below on the rules of engagement (ROE) for each of the 2007 sponsored contests. Detailed information and updates are the responsibility of the sponsor of these contests. The website will be updated as new information is provided, and covered at ASM meetings. An “As Of” date will be included with each separate contest. Please visit the website often to check the latest info.

To sponsor a contest, please present your idea to any ASM E-Board member. The idea will be discussed at an E-Board meeting, and you will be informed as to whether your proposed contest could be fit into the current contest schedule. Arrangements for judging and awards are the responsibility of the sponsor.

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January 5  - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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February 2  - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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March 2  - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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April 6

* Sponsored Contest:  “Best Sherman".  Sponsored by Jim Guld

Any Sherman, any scale, and under any markings.  Award for Best Entry is a gift certificate to Formations.

As Of:  20 Jan 2007   

         

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May 4  

Sponsored Contest:  “Best Modern US Aircraft Carrier”.   Sponsored by Keith Liotta

* Contest subjects include the CV-41 USS Midway and newer carriers, angled-deck versions only.  Best Entry award.  Other awards possible based upon participation.

As Of:   20 Jan 2007

           

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June 1  $$ - Sponsored Contest:  “Best Modern US Aircraft Carrier”.   Sponsored by Keith Liotta

---  Extended from the May 4th to the June 1st Meeting  ---

Contest subjects include the CV-41 USS Midway and newer carriers, angled-deck versions only.  Best Entry award.  Other awards possible based upon participation.

As Of:   11 May 2007

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July 13 ##  - 

Sponsored Contest:  “Best Mustang.”  Any “Stang” that flew or drove somewhere on the planet.

                   Sponsored by Mark Soppet           

As Of: 26 Dec 2006

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August 3  -  No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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September 7   -  No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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October 5  -  @

Sponsored Contest:  "Best Wildcat".  Any F4F Wildcat model, any scale, any nationality, any model or variant.  This includes Grumman F4F's, General Motors eastern Aircraft FM's, British Martlets, etc.   Remember, any scale qualifies but Don is fond of small, micro models and the Special Theme for the meeting is "Micro".  The trophy will be a framed artist print of a F4F Wildcat during WW II with an engraved plate that says "Best Wildcat Model, Albuquerque Scale Modelers, 2007."

                   

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November 2

Sponsored Contest: “Best Folded Wing Aircraft.”  Any era, theater, manufacture, and scale aircraft with one or both wings folded or being folded.  Includes rotary winged aircraft (folded rotors/tail section). 

Sponsored by Ken Liotta

As Of:  26 Dec 2006

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December 7   - No Sponsored Contest at this time.

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Model Demo at Hobbies N Stuff

December 6th, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

by Ed Mummey

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Iwata Airbrush Demo at Hobbies N Stuff

December 6th, 1:00 - 5:00 PM

by Tom Grossman

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New Mexico Armor Modeling and Preservation Society
(AMPS) Meeting on November 16th

New Mexico AMPS' next meeting will be held on Sunday, November 16th. at 2:00pm at Dave Miller's house.

Please call Dave for directions.

Phone: 505-281-4397

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The December 5th Special (Non-Points) Contest is

"Tag-Team Model"

2 Person Build - Any scale, manufacturer, or era.

AND

"2008 ASM Model of the Year Showdown"

Competition amongst all Best of Show and Best Enty Winners at all skill levels
from all of the 2008 Theme and Special Contests

Click here to see eligible models:  2008 Model of the Year Contenders

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The December 5th Sponspored Contests are:

"Best Captured Subject" Contest

Hosted by the ASM E-Board

                   

Best of any subject in captured markings.

       

--------------------------------------------------------------------

AND

"Something Completely Different" Contest

Hosted by Tom Grossman

Any subject that the builder does not usually build.   Click here for further info on the Rules.

Any subject that the builder does not usually build.  Rules as follows:

1.  Kit must be built in 2008 by any member in good standing of ASM

2,  Kit must pass approval of local peers at the time of registration as a subject the builder
does not usually build.  Ideally, a subject the builder has NEVER built.

3.  Judging will be done according to ASM policy by ASM members.

4.  Photos of all entries must be provided to the sponsor.

1st Place Prize:  $25 gift certificate for the hobby shop of winner's choice.

2nd Place Prize:  $15 gift certificate for the hobby shop of winner's choice.

3rd Place Prize:  $10 gift certificate for the hobby shop of winner's choice.

Winners must notify the sponsor of their hobby shop choice.

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The Prez's Spiel

By Jim Guld, ASM President

A Few Words From the Top  

I would just like to say well done to all. Those tables have been pretty full the past couple of months, except for you juniors.  Come on get out there and build something.  

Just a couple of reminders: Buy raffle tickets for the upcoming Super Raffles!  June is just around the corner and that P-47 would look awful funny-looking sitting in my closet if I win it.   I will also have the signup sheet out for Dave Straub’s weekend workshop in June.

Well, that’s about it. Now get back to the workbench and build something

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Jim’s Sprues & Reviews

by James Guld

What’s hot in the world of armor, you ask? It seems that with fall, a bunch of new releases are coming out—that’s if you still have a house to build models in.

Some of the releases have been talked about before, but a couple are out of the blue.

From Tristar we have a Panzer 38t ausf. B with full interior and British paratroopers with Welbikes.

Formations has some new resin goodies for us: a set of wheels for the M-6 Dodge and a British vision cupola with adaptor for use on a Sherman.

AFV Club has the Stryker M1128 MGS coming out in September and the Churchill MkIII is still slated for October.

In the reference world we have new releases from The Factory Publishing and from Capricorn Publications. The Fac­tory Publishing has “Panzers of Kasserine” and Cap­ri­corn Publications has a detail book out on the Studebaker US-6.

Now, after you’ve built that model you’ll need markings, right? Well, Archer Transfers has some new releases for you. They have markings for Marine M4A3 flame tanks and M4A2s on Iwo Jima, along with some new crate markings for US 105mm ammo. They also have new UN Flags, more surface details, and British Paratrooper uniform badges.

For you photoetch fans, Aber has some new items. They include items for the Dragon E-100, Geshutzwagen Tiger, Soviet Infantry belts, etc., a barrel for the Dragon Panzer IV G, a 105mm barrel for the Tamiya howitzer kit, and some German tapered antennas.

Resicast has a T-16 Universal Carrier coming out in September.

Trumpeter has a new Stryker M1127 recon version and for those of you liking 1/16 scale, they have a KT with full interior and an M16 halftrack. The KT is listed as a limited run and due out in October.

Tamiya has some re-pops out of Italian armor with some updates to them such as new plastic track and figures. They are the old Italeri kits. They do have listed as new an early version JagdTiger. These are 1/35 kits. They also have some new stuff in 1/48, including a new Marder III with the Russian 76mm gun, and re-pops of a Sdkfz. 222 armored car and AB41 armored car.

But by far the biggest surprise is from Tasca: an M4A1 DV Sherman in British service. The sprue shots look great. This is set for a mid October release. They will also be releasing the suspension set as a separate kit.

Bronco models also has their A13 Cruiser tank out and a 1/35 scale V1 Buzz bomb. I hadn’t heard of that one.

Dragon has some new announcements: a Panzerjager I, a 1942 version T-34 with Hex turret, a Premium Edition kit of the 250/8 German halftrack, a Panzer III J and Borgward combo kit, and a Stug III with the Flussigass tanks on the rear deck.

Well, there are the highlights. As always go to the PMMS web site for your armor modeling updates.

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SHOCON 08

IPMS Region 10 Convention

September 13, 2008

Northern Utah Scale Modelers Association co-sponsored by

IPMS/Salt Lake City and Utah Miniature Automotive Guild

           

Union Station, Ogden, Utah

Click here for the latest SHOCON Briefings:

SHOCON Briefing VI

SHOCON Briefing V

SHOCON_Briefing IV

SHOCON Briefing III

SHOCON_Briefing_II

Website link for SHOCON 08 Info:   http://www.nusma.org/contest08.html

Link to Northern Utah Scale Modelers Association website:  http://www.nusma.org/

Friday Night Social Update:

IMPORTANT:  THE VENUE IS THE SAME BUT THE TIME IS DIFFERENT!!

The Friday night social will be at the Golden Corral in Layton, Utah which is off Angel Street off Antelope Drive.  The event will begin at 5:30 p.m.  You will enjoy camaraderie and a number of models to be auctioned off.  It is my understanding that GreatModels Webstore has donated some of the models and we appreciate their participation.  Remember to show up early, at 5:30 for dinner!!!

 

Hotel Information:

The Host Hotel for the 2008 Region X Convention is the Ogden Marriott, which is within walking distance of Union Station.  The Hotel address is 247  24^th Street.  We have reserved a block of rooms.  This is a very nice hotel and we have negotiated a rate of $99.00 per night with rooms set aside for Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13. 
The rooms will be held until July 18, 2008.  This is only a couple of days away so you had better get your reservation now if you have put it off.

The phone number for reservations is 1-800-627-7468 or locally at 801-627-1190.   Don’t delay making your reservation due to the July deadline!!

 

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    High-Plains-Con 20

October 18, 2008

High Plains Modelers Club

is hosting a Plastic Model Contest at "The Ranch"

Larimer County Fairgraounds and Events Complex

Adjacent to I-25, just North of Highway 34, in Loveland, Colorado

Club / Contest Website: http://www.ipmshpm.org./

Contest Chairman:  Mark Bradley

Cmtact Information:  303-881-5001 /   Bradley_mr@hotmail.com

 

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ModelZona 2008

November 15, 2008

Craig Hewitt Chapter IPMS-USA, Phoenix, Arizona

ModelZona 2008 will be held in the museum hangar of the Arizona Wing of the Commemorative Air Force,
located at Falcon Field in Mesa.

Arizona Wing Commemorative Air Force Museum
2017 North Greenfield Road
Mesa, Arizona 85215
480-924-1940

Click here for further information on ModelZona 2009:

http://www.ipms-phoenix.org/

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New Mexico AMPS Meeting

by James Guld

At out last NM AMPS meeting on July 12th we had some new faces in the crowd.  Mike Blohm and Josh Pals were in attendance.  Hopefully they will get the bug and build more armor.  Rounding out the gaggle was Dave Miller and myself. 

We started off the meeting with me showing my latest diorama, “Whada Catch”, and telling about the different techniques I used for the stonewalls and ground coverings.  After that I also pulled out my latest Sherman.  It is an M4A2/76w that was commanded by Dimitry Loza in 1945.  I explained how I used the hairspray technique to get the heavily worn white wash finish.  After that Mike showed us two of his pieces, a M4 Sherman in 1/48 scale and a T-62 in 1/72 scale.  Dave then brought out his latest work in progress, a German 88mm Pak 43/41 anti tank gun, which is close to being done.  He explained some of the kits faults and what he did to overcome them.  I have one of these in the closet so I was paying close attention.  After we got done BS’ing we fired up the grill and had hot dogs and burgers.  The next meeting will probably be in October some time.  Hope to see you there.

               

           

   

For more information on the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS), please click on the following link to the AMPS home page:  http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/default.aspx

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Dave Straub Demo

by Glenn Bingham

On June 15, a scratchbuilding demonstration was held by Master Model Builder Dave Straub in his home garage workshop.  In attendance were James Guld, Ed Johnson, Dave Miller, Fred Franceschi, Josh Pals, and Glenn Bingham.

Dave stressed the importance of gathering the necessary drawings and documentation before you start a project.  He demonstrated how to cut out and shape a master part, such as a fuselage, from jellutong wood or basswood.  He then shaped and sanded the part (basic features/details to be added later).

Dave showed the casting forms he had used in building his IPMS National award-winning NC-4 flying boat.   He then demonstrated how to splash-cast the upper and lower fuselage bodies, which eventually could be joined to make the finished fuselage.

Dave showed his many techniques, tools, and modeling materials.  Afterward, all viewed his living room display case filled with his many award-winning models, and were left in awe.

A very pleasant and informative afternoon.  Thank you, Dave.

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Trip Report - National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

by Mike Blohm 

    This Trip Report covers two different visits I recently made to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio in April and May of 2008.  The museum was previously known as just the U.S. Air Force Museum

    The museum has recently added a new hangar and a tall circular building to house its missile and space display.  The collection was rearranged to make the new hangar into a “Cold War” Gallery.  The post-1945 prototypes and test-related aircraft (X and Y-types) previously displayed in the museum’s main hangars have now been moved into one of two hangars located over on Wright-Patterson AFB and are not available to the public except via a separate tour. 

    I was able to spend a whole day checking out most of the main hangars on my first trip, which was with my son Matt while we were attending “Transformer BOTCON 2008”.  (I will have another Trip Report shortly covering that event.).   On my second trip I arrived after the museum was closed but the weather was nice and I was able to check out the outside collection, which has slimmed down quite a bit with the new hangars having made room for some of them to move inside.  I had good fortune in that the A-36 Invader and the P-38J Lightning were both outside the hangars for some reason, and I basically had as long as I wanted to do “walk-around shots” of both aircraft, unencumbered by people or nearby aircraft.  Additionally, one of the hangar side doors was open, which allowed me to get some pictures from angles not normally available. 

     My report below mainly covers what has been newly-added at the museum.  The pictures posted below are arranged by separate galleries.  More pictures are posted over on the ASM Field Trips page.

New items in the Early Years Gallery included a SPAD XIII in Eddie Rickenbacker’s markings and a Fokker Dr I suspended from the ceiling.  There was also a Hawker Hurricane in Eagle Squadron markings and a clever diorama of a BT-14 trainer in a less-than-graceful nosed-over position. 

    New items in the Air Power Gallery (World War II) included a P-47D Razorback Thunderbolt in the markings of Colonel Neel Kearby, a Medal of Honor winner with 22 aerial victories in the Southwest Pacific.  This display included the tail fin and a .50 caliber machine gun recovered from the crash site of Kearby’s actual Fiery Ginger IV.  Kearby was killed in action near Wewak, New Guinea.  Other new aircraft include a Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai (George) displayed near the B-29 “Bockscar”, which has just come out of renovation and its spinner is not yet attached. 

    The center section of the Modern Flight Gallery (Korea and Southeast Asia) now has an F-22A Raptor.   This is the third F-22A built and was used in developmental testing at Edwards AFB, but it is displayed in Langley AFB markings (“FF” on tail).  Also new are a  RQ-1 Predator, a RQ-4 Global Hawk, and a Boeing “Bird of Prey” test prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) - very cool looking. 

    The new Cold War Gallery has a MiG-29A, a B-1, a test B-2, and three recently restored cruise missiles: Martin CGM-13B Mace, Martin TM-61A Matador, and a Northrop SM-62 Snark.  The new Missile Gallery building is attached to the East wall of the Cold War gallery, and this includes a balcony where you can get a great look out over the entire display.  Unfortunately they don’t have balcony overlooks in any of the other galleries, which is a significant shortfall. 

    The Missile and Space Gallery has the following newly-restored missiles:  Chrysler SM-78/PGM-19A Jupiter, Douglas SM-75/PGM-17A Thor, Martin Marietta SM-68A/HGM-25A Titan I and SM-68B/LGM-25C Titan II, Thor Agena A, and a Boeing LGM-118A Peacekeeper.  The Gallery does have a second story wraparound balcony to get a good look at the missiles, but it is still difficult to take pictures of them from any aspect due to their height. 

    The two on-base hangars contain the Research and Development (R&D) gallery and the Presidential Aircraft Gallery.  I only had time to zip thought the R&D display during my visit.  The aircraft there are quite impressive but they are jam-packed like sardines around the center point B-70 Valkyrie, leaving little room to get between them and making photography very difficult.  Aircraft of note include the RQ-3A Dark Star UAV, Piper PA48 Enforcer (turboprop P-51), Lockheed YF-12A and D-21B Drone, YF-22A Raptor, Bell XGAM-63 Rascal, and a North American X-10 Navaho.  If you have an extra hour, taking the bus over to see the R&D Gallery is recommended, especially if you are a fan of “X-aircraft”.   I was able to get some pictures of aircraft awaiting renovation (separate from any of the hangars), which included a MiG-23, B-47, C-131, and two F-4D’s, one of which I believe was previously a gate guard at Wright-Patterson AFB. 

    An overall observation (whine) is that the main museum hangars are extremely dark, marking it difficult to take pictures.  Aircraft are suspended from the ceiling, which is a good thing, but they have uncannily placed the signs for the suspended items directly in front of whatever you want to take a photograph of on the g