Life Imitating Art
Casey Rupley (webmaster)
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2024 Air Force Anniversary Ball
ASM Model Display at the 2024 Air Force Ball
By Mike Blohm
ASM conducted a model display at the 77th Air Force Ball that was held on Saturday, September 28th at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque. This was ASM’s sixth display at the AF Ball event and this year’s display was terrific. The event celebrates the anniversary of the US Air Force becoming a separate service on September 18, 1947. Our display themes were “USAF 1947 to the Present” and “Why We Exist,” which was the theme of the event.
For our set-up we had six large tables in two groups of three (probably 36 total feet) and we displayed 115 total models, a new record for an AF Ball event. We brought 32 tubs and boxes of models that filled two vans, and we used just about everything we brought. We were located in the event ballroom against the back wall of the room facing the stage, and the attendees all passed by the display as they lined up to purchase beverages at each end of the back wall. So we had lots of lookers and discussions with the attendees. See pictures 1-9.
With all the table space available, we were able to better separate things into groupings than in previous displays. See pictures posted below which run left end to right end. On the three left tables (pics 16-25) we had: the Korean War, the “What’s in the Box?” display (P-51B kit’s sprues), Vietnam War/Southeast Asia, Air Defense Command including the Bomarc SAM, Strategic Air Command including cruise missiles, IRBMs, and ICBMs, and the Military Airlift Command/Air Mobility Command. Jerry Little and Matt Blohm manned these tables. On the three right tables (pics 26-33) we had: modern aircraft from Desert Storm through Afghanistan, experimental aircraft, NASA space programs (Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle), and finally aircraft from Kirtland AFB and other New Mexico bases. Ken Piniak and Mike Blohm manned these three tables.
The event started with a presentation of the colors, followed by the cutting of the cake by the most senior and junior USAF members serving at Kirtland AFB. This was followed by the dinner and then a guest speaker talking about “Why we serve” and the two tips of the spear (see picture). One point is the aircrews who fly the planes, and the other point is the maintenance and support people that make it happen (pics 9-15). ASM was thanked for providing the model display during the final wrap-up of the event.
The display was set-up and manned by Ken Piniak, Jerry Little, and Matt and Mike Blohm. Models were provided by Frank Randall, Don Gatewood, Victor Maestas, Scott Jaworski, Brian Peck, Len Faulconer, and Matt and Mike Blohm; and also Josh Pals and Jack Garriss who permanently donated models for the club’s displays. Thanks to all who participated and loaned models. Thanks to Hobby Proz for letting us stage the model tubs at the shop. Please contact me if you are interested in building models to fill out the aircraft types that we still need for the display.
As I mentioned earlier, we had a lot of discussions with the attendees (pics 34-41). The 58 Special Operations Wing commander and I talked for around 10 minutes about the models in the Kirtland AFB section of the display. He had just checked-out in the MC-130J Commando II and wondered if we had one of those. I told him that I had one about 90 per cent completed and would bring it next year. (Hope to get that to a club meeting soon.) We talked about a lot of C-130 stuff as one of my younger brothers and my oldest son had both served flying them. I did get two new builds completed for the Kirtland AFB part of the display: a CV-22 Osprey and a F-51D in the NM Air National Guard “Tacos” markings, both in 1/72 scale. That MC-130J and a C-133 are in the in-progress pile. I also talked with a lot of folks about F-4 Phantoms, the SR-71, and the B-2. Jerry Little also had a couple of interesting discussions. In one discussion he talked with a B-52 crewmember and discovered that Jerry had flown with the guy’s father during his own career. Small world, and oldies but goodies keep soldiering-on.
In summary, we had a great time and successfully promoted the hobby of scale modeling and ASM, and provided service to the community. We passed out a bunch of ASM promo sheets so perhaps we might get some new members.
Visit to the Fort Irwin, California Armor Display
Here’s another one for the Armor Guys
By Mike Blohm
This trip report is on a visit to the armor displays outside of the General Robert W. Cone National Training Center (NTC) and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Heritage Center at Fort Irwin, CA. Fort Irwin is the home of the NTC, which was officially activated on 16 October 1980. The NTC is in an isolated area with over 1,000 square miles for maneuver and ranges, an uncluttered electromagnetic spectrum, and restricted airspace. The NTC is sort of the US Army’s equivalent of the Nellis Tactics and Training Range where the USAF conducts Red Flags and other training exercises. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Blackhorse Cavalry, are stationed at the base and provide the opposing force to units on training rotations at Fort Irwin. During my visit to Ft Irwin, I was able to spend time checking out the armor displays, but unfortunately tours of the Heritage Center are by appointment only and I did not have time to get that set up. In the past the post was the Mojave Anti-Aircraft Range established in 1940 (hence the M-2 AA gun in display), before it became Camp Irwin and later Fort Irwin in 1961.
The display includes 10 armored vehicles with both American and Soviet pieces. These include: M551 Sheridan light tank, M-113A2 APC with Viet Nam mods, M-60 Main Battle Tank, M-109A2 Paladin self-propelled howitzer, M551 VISMOD (simulated) T-80 Main Battle Tank, M113A2 APC and a M2 90mm Anti-Aircraft Gun. Actual Soviet vehicles include: BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and T-72 Medium Tank. The American vehicles parked in the dirt area appear to be painted in non-standard colors, likely having been used as opposition forces during training. These vehicles are in pretty rough shape. The three vehicles displayed near the Heritage Center look a lot better.
Several pictures of the overall display and each vehicle and its signage are posted below. The file names identify what they are. The signs provide good info on the history of the vehicles, so be sure to read those. I missed getting a close-up of the M60 sign.
I have also included some pictures of the vehicles and helicopters included in the “welcome sign” located on the road into NTC. Those include a M1A1 Abrams tank, a real BMP-1, an AH-1G Cobra, and a OH-58 Kiowa. There is also a UH-1 Iroquois Huey at an intersection on the post. Pictures of those are posted below.
Information on the Center can be found at:
- https://home.army.mil/irwin/my-fort/general-robert-w-cone-ntc-11th-acr-heritage-center
- https://www.army.mil/article/249763/opening_of_general_robert_w_cone_heritage_center_at_fort_irwin_calif
Note that the name of the museum varies on different sites. If you want to visit the base you need to apply for a visitor pass on-line before you go to the Visitor Control Center. Phone number is 760-380-6750/4905, Hours: 6 AM – 5:30 PM, Monday – Friday.
I have additional pictures of the armor at both Fort Irwin and Fort Bliss (previous article). Let me know if you need any of those.
Museum and Armor Display Pictures
U.S. Armored Vehicles on Display at Fort Irwin
Soviet Armored Vehicles on Display at Fort Irwin
Vehicles at NTC Gate and On Fort Irwin
May 2025 – Meeting Recap
Club Business
Reminder that the AMCC will be having a contest on September 27 at the UNM Continuing Education building. ASM members voted to sponsor an award for that show.
ASM is sponsoring the 1/72 large prop division at Nationals this year.
Harvey Chace will be giving a presentation at the October meeting on the “Red Ball Express” and he’ll be sponsoring a similarly themed contest.
Tariff’s are likely going to significantly impact the cost of model making. Time to work through your stash and save your money for paint and supplies!
Attendance: approximately 39.
Sponsored Contest - Winners
Points Contest - Bests of Show
Points Contest - Full Results
Masters - Aircraft (small)
1st
Victor Maestas
HH-60G
2nd
Frank Randall
Fi-156 Storch
3rd
Dave Epstein
FL-1 AiraBonita
Masters - Aircraft (large)
1st
Casey Rupley
HH-60G
2nd
Scott Jaworski
Junkers D.1
3rd
Brian Peck
A6M2
Masters - Automotive
1st
Chuck Herrmann
Porsche 911
2nd
Chuck Herrmann
Beetle
Masters - Science/Fantasy
1st
James Medina
Imperial Venator II
2nd
Steve Brodeur
TIE Fighter
3rd
James Medina
X-Wing
Masters - Ships
1st
Scott Jaworski
Titantic Searcher
2nd
Dave Epstein
Type 212 Sub
Masters - Armor
1st
Patrick Dick
Panzer I
2nd
Dave Epstein
Type 97
Masters - Armor
1st
Scott Jaworski
Japanese Locomotive
Intermediate - Aircraft
1st
Adrian Montano
F-14
Intermediate - Figures
1st
Michael O’Brien
Space Marines
2nd
Blaine Couch
Superman
Intermediate - Armor
1st
Rob Whitlock
Easy 8 Sherman
2nd
Peter Rechkemmer
Jag Panzer I
Intermediate - Auto
1st
Adrian Montano
Mclaren MP46
Basic -Figure
Gold
Aleya Montano
ARC Trooper
Silver
Aleya Montano
Coruscant Guard
Complete Meeting Gallery
2024 Folds of Honor Patriots Gala
ASM Model Display at the 2024 Folds of Honor Patriot Dinner
By Mike Blohm
ASM conducted a model display at the 2024 Folds of Honor 9th Annual Patriot Dinner that took place on Friday, Sep 6th at Isleta Casino Isleta Resort and Casino’s Convention Center in Albuquerque. The display went really well and was enjoyed by all the attendees. This was ASM’s fifth display at a Folds of Honor (FoH) event. We started supporting FoH in 2017 and we have been invited back since then. The theme of the display was “Models of Aircraft, Ships and Military Vehicles Used by the U.S. Services.”
For our set-up we had three large tables in one row near one of the doors into the ballroom section. The tables were really wide (deep) and we were able to display 114 models, which was a record number for the event. Per our usual set-up we had models representing all the Services starting with the Korean War at the left end and then went chronologically through the Vietnam War and the Cold War to modern aircraft from Desert Storm through Afghanistan. The right end had experimental aircraft, helicopters, and military vehicles. We had mostly aircraft, helicopters and missiles with a shortfall in the modern military vehicles area. Request that you ASM armor-modeling dudes get busy building for our 2025 display.
The event had one ballroom set-up for silent auctions and one ballroom for the dinner and live auctions. Outside the ballrooms there were colors (flags) of all the Services and small plaques with information on the New Mexicans who had fallen, including both military and first responders. There were two place settings for the military and first responders who were no longer with us-an old tradition. To open the event there were colors presentations by both the USAF and the Albuquerque Fire Department, who were carrying silver axes instead of rifles-which I had not seen before-and was very moving. Pictures are posted below that show the event spaces and our model display. Set-up in pics 1-6, event spaces in pics 7-11, models in pics 12-22, and discussions with attendees in pics 23-26.
The display was set-up and manned by Matt and Mike Blohm and Don Gatewood. Frank Randall dropped off his tubs of models and assisted with the set-up before he had to leave to attend the ASM meeting, which unfortunately was on the same date as this event.
Models were provided for the display by Frank Randall, Don Gatewood, Victor Maestas, and Matt and Mike Blohm; and also by Josh Pals and Jack Garriss who permanently donated models for the club’s displays.
The President of the Folds of Honor New Mexico, Col Jim Quick, thanked us for putting on the display. Thanks to all who participated and loaned models, and thanks to Hobby Proz for letting us stage the model tubs at the shop.
We had a great time and successfully promoted ASM and the hobby of scale modeling and provided service to the community.
The last surviving Battle of Britain Pilot passes away
Excerpt from https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/the-last-surviving-battle-of-britain-pilot-john-paddy-hemingway-dfc-passes-away/
John “Paddy” Hemingway, the last surviving pilot of the iconic Battle of Britain, passed away peacefully on 17 March 2025 at the age of 105.
Paddy Hemingway, one of a number known as ‘the Few’ and revered figures in British aviation history, played a crucial role in defending the United Kingdom against Nazi oppression during the summer of 1940. His courage in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated his sense of duty and the importance of British resilience.
Eighty-five years ago, a nineteen-year-old Royal Air Force Pilot Officer from Ireland, flew his Hurricane in the skies over France, providing fighter cover (strafing attacks, air patrols and dogfights) to the British Expeditionary Force and other allied troops as they retreated to the beaches of Dunkirk in the face of overwhelming Nazi Blitzkrieg attacks. It became known as the ‘Battle of France’.
March 2025 – Meeting Recap (late)
Club Business
This ASM member and webmaster wasn’t present at the March 2025 meeting, so this is just a contest results post from that meeting.
Points Contest - Bests of Show
Points Contest - Full Results
Masters - Aircraft
1st
Dave Tingley
Ju-88G-6
2nd
Jim Coatney
F4U-1
3rd
Steve Brodeur
B5N2 Kate
Masters - Automotive
1st
Chuck Herrmann
Silhouette Show Car
2nd
Dave Epstein
71 Hemi Cuda
Masters - Science/Fantasy
1st
James Barrett
Judge Dredd Bust
Masters - Dioramas/Vignettes
1st
James Medina
Rebel Hangar
2nd
Chuck Herrmann
Ghost Bike
Intermediate - Aircraft
1st
Mark Vaughn
Ka-50
2nd
Kris Herrera
P-51B
Intermediate - Science/Fantasy: Figures
1st
Blaine Couch
T-800 Endoskeleton
2nd
Michael O’Brien
Tyranid Combat Patrol
3rd
Michael O’Brien
Crusader Mk. III
Intermediate - Science/Fantasy: Vehicles
1st
Michael O’Brien
Super Star Destroyer
2nd
Kris Herrera
Y-Wing
Intermediate - Armor
1st
Rob Whitlock
Sd. Kfz. 221
2nd
Rob Whitlock
Bishop 25lb
Intermediate - Dioramas
1st
Adrian Montano
Batman (TV) Figures
Basic -Figure
Silver
Aleya Montano
CT-5555
Complete Meeting Gallery
58 SOW Flightline Tour
On April 11th, 2025, ASM members Frank Randall, Tim Wood, Patrick Dick, Scott Jaworski, John Tate, and AJ Tate visited the Kirtland AFB flightline of the 58th Special Operations Wing (SOW), a thank-you for ASM members who built or helped provide models to the 58th SOW’s award banquet on March 13th. Our able guide was Benjamin Flickinger, 1LT, USAF, our point-of-contact for the model-build effort.
Our first stop was a hangar containing several CV-22 Ospreys. These aircraft were painted an overall dark gray with light gray markings. One of these aircraft was getting a wash and it was easy to see why, since these training aircraft see a lot of use, as evidenced by the dirt on the sponsons of an Osprey we were allowed to board. Contrary to the instructions on most model kits, the interiors of these Ospreys were flat black. Funny thing about this hangar, a loudspeaker was playing tropical bird calls, to scare away pigeons- with the splashing water and bird calls it sounded like a tropical rainforest.
Next stop was a helicopter hangar with veteran UH-1N Hueys; these helos had a color scheme similar to the 1980s Euro I scheme, with medium green, Euro I green and a splotch or two of gray. As with the Ospreys, they had black interiors. A real treat was seeing a brand new HH-60W “Whiskey” Pave Hawk, with a segmented, black national insignia not seen before. The Whiskey version has modified exhaust vents to reduce its infrared signature. Gun mount maintenance work was being done on the Whiskey, which meant the port .50 cal machine gun and the starboard minigun were dismounted and lying on the hangar floor. Impressive that trusty .50 cal has been a U.S. aerial machine gun for almost 90 years.
Leaving the helo hangar, we stopped to see a MC-130J on the tarmac and had a chance to see the interior of the fuselage and the cockpit. The MC-130J had a metal shield applied to the port lower front cockpit window opening, since replacement windows were difficult to get.
The finale was an AC-130J gunship, named Phobos after the Greek god of fear and panic. These gunships mean business, with a 30mm cannon forward, and a 105mm cannon aft. We had the opportunity to enter the fuselage and see the two guns, separated by a large console complete with gamer-style controllers and screen banks. It was dark inside, with flat black being the primary interior color, but it came to life when the power was activated and all manner of lights flashed on. The AC-130J is a big aircraft but with the gun stations and control console it didn’t seem very big inside at all.
There was no flightline photography allowed (for obvious reasons given the mission of these aircraft) but we had an opportunity to take images of static legacy aircraft of the 58th SOW parked at a nearby location off the flightline.
The flightline tour was a real treat for modelers and a fine courtesy extended to ASM members for our scale model work in support of our neighbors, the 58th SOW. Some of these aircraft will be on public display as part of the Air Fiesta airshow at the end of May, so if you have a chance they will be well worth visiting.
April 2025 – Meeting Recap
Club Business
Guest speaker Charlie Palmer talked about the on the Fieseler Storch and brought in an R/C plane.
No club business meeting was conducted.
Special Contest "Italian" - Full Results
Masters - Split: Aircraft
1st
Scott Jaworski
Fi-156
2nd
Victor Maestas
Fi-156
3rd
John Tate
CR-42
Masters - Split: Non-aircraft
1st
Victor Maestas
C1 MBT
2nd
Victor Maestas
Ferrari 458 Italia
3rd
Bob Henderson
M13/40
Intermediate
1st
Tim Wood
Fi-156
Basic
Silver
Aleya Montano
Imperial Roman Legionaire
Sponsored Contest "Best Fi-156 Storch" - Full Results
Best of Show
1st (tie)
Scott Jaworski
Fi-156
1st (tie)
Tim Wood
Fi-156
1st
Victor Maestas
Fi-156
2nd
Frank Randall
Fi-156
