Ken Liotta

For the first time ever, a local plastic modeler’s club has participated in an Albuquerque-based air show as guests of Kirtland Air Force Base’s “Open House.” Albuquerque Scale Modelers now holds that dubious distinction and we did it in grand style. At this year’s KAFB Open House on October 9, ASM had the honor of setting up six tables in KAFB’s Hangar 1000 (aka the Osprey Hangar) to participate as one of their Vendors/Guests. We were able to set up our club’s “What is Scale Modeling” display, host two live model building demos, and (the icing on the cake) display ASM’s 2006 IPMS/USA Nationals award-winning 1/32 scale F-16 Thunderbird Team!

ASM members Pete Beck, MTCM(SS), USN, Keith Liotta, and I arrived early Sunday morning before the gates opened up to set up the tables and displays that Pete and I had drop­ped off the previous Friday. The arrangements made with KAFB to grant our club special access to the Show were a direct result of the dedicated efforts of Master Chief Beck and his contacts at KAFB. Without his efforts, ASM would most likely have never had this opportunity. For the club’s Thunder­birds display, we used the original simulated tarmac base that was used for the 2006 Nationals. To protect the F-16s from possible wind incursions and potential little wandering hands, we covered all six T-birds with one large glass display case cover that I have had in storage at my place for a few years. I had a special banner made up (thanks to my loving wife Rita for assistance with that) to post in front of the T-birds and we also added appropriate patches, stickers, and photos that were made available for the display, care of Mike Blohm.

For the “What is Scale Modeling” display, Mike Blohm provided the presentation board and we used Frank Randall’s 1/72 scale, John Tate’s 1/48 scale, and my 1/32 scale Spitfires to demonstrate the three basic scales with respect to one-another.

To add to the two ASM displays, on one end Pete set up several of his 1/48 scale completed masterpieces representing some of the Air Force hardware currently being flown today, including the F-16CM, the F-15E, the MQ-1 Predator, and the MQ-9 Reaper. On the other end, Keith and I set up numerous models representing examples of the various kinds of plastic models that are available to the public along with our complete model building setups. While we also focused on Air Force hardware, we included a few other “off” subjects. For example, we included a 1/12 scale Ensign Darwin Dolphin from the old SeaQuest TV show. That turned out to be one of the kid’s favorites.

The Open House officially opened at 9:00 A.M. and came to an end around 4:30 P.M. with numerous air demonstrations and fly-bys throughout the afternoon, including a T-33 demo, multiple passes by a B-1 and then a B-2. As usual, the show-ending finale was the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration, a truly amazing sight for any aviation and modern day jet enthusiast. During the entire show, our tables/display had a continuous flow of visitors literally lined up to pass by and see the displays. Numerous attendees stopped to take pictures of the models, the T-Bird display and of their children right next to or with the models. On several occasions, I had noticed moms having their kids lean in towards the table to get a picture of them next to the Academy 1/32 scale F-18 Blue Angel that I had brought along. It just seemed like the right thing to do by carefully handing the model to the kids so that they could hold it while their moms or dads snapped pictures. The payoff was seeing the huge smiles on their faces.

Besides all of the picture taking, we had dozens of attendees asking how we built certain models and how did we apply some of the paint, decals, and effects (washes). The entire day was filled with mini-demos, how-to instructionals, directions to finding model kits and supplies at places like Hobby Proz and the internet. We handed out the entire handful of Hobby Proz business cards within the first two hours, and then dozens of handwritten contact info for the shop too. We probably could have handed out a box load of them (hmmmm, lesson learned). In addition to all of the business stirred up for the shop, we also handed out the fifty-plus ASM club flyers that Mike Blohm and I had printed out for the show within that same first two hours (again, lesson learned for next time). It turns out that many Albuquerqueans had no idea there was a Plastic Model club in town. With any luck, we will see several of them at our meetings in the coming months. One potential visitor to a future ASM meeting may include the 377th Air Base Wing KAFB Public Affairs Manager Michael Kleiman. We had a fair conversation about ASM and what we have to offer, and he expressed a significant interest in exploring the hobby.

The icing on the cake for the day was the numerous visits to the club’s Thunderbird display by several ground/support crew members, PA Superintendent MSgt Kimberley Harrison, the Number 12 Public Affairs Officer Maj. Kristin Haley, and Thunderbird 3 himself, Maj. John Gallemore. All of the Thunderbird team members were very impressed with the display and appeared to turn into little kids in a candy shop as they looked closer at the models. Each member’s visit would usually lead to photograph opportunities where they were asked to stand by the ASM T-bird display for and with the general public. There are now dozens of photos across Albuquerque that include the ASM display as a backdrop with the Thunderbird members.

Additional thanks should be given to ASM members Dave Epstein, Jeff Frickstadt, Chuck Girven, and Pete’s wife Rayna for the time they offered to stop by, support the display efforts, and for sitting in for Pete, Keith, and I so that we could enjoy portions of the Air Show too.

ASM would also like to extend special appreciation to Maj. Cindy Vernier, USAF, and Lt. Cox, USAF, for accommodating us in Hangar 1000 at this year’s KAFB Open House and making us feel so welcome. All of us had the most superb time participating and being a part of the show. It will certainly be a Show to remember for us.

(Webmaster’s Note: ASM has previously participated in several Air Show / Open House events over the past 15 years and has displayed models, but not to the extent as was done this year.)