Border Models 1/35 B-17G
Images found on Facebook of Border Models’ forthcoming 1/35 B-17G model. It is a late B-17G, with staggered waist gun positions and a Cheyenne tail gun turret.
Casey Rupley (webmaster)
About Casey Rupley (webmaster)
Posts by Casey Rupley:
Model of the Year Contenders
Model of the Year contenders are those who won Best of Show throughout the year. Please refer to the Model of the Year (MOY) page on this website for the full list.
New Airfix Bf-109G in 1/24
This impressive 1:24 scale model comes with extensive build options:
- Model can be built with or without the fully detailed DB605 engine.
- Engine cowlings and oil cooler can be posed in open or closed position
- Choice of two types of engine cowlings (MTT and Erla)
- Canopy can be posed open or closed (two canopy types included)
- Additional engine and cockpit parts included for G-5 (pressurised cockpit version)
- Optional 300l fuel tank and wing cannon “Gondolas”
- Ailerons, elevators and rudder can be offset to add life to the model.
- Radiator and wing flap position can be customised
- Many optional parts to suit specific aircraft builds, such as rudder pedals, gunsights, trim wheels, instrument panels, undercarriage wheels/tyres and windscreens
- Detailed nose armament with machine guns, gun mounts and ammunition boxes included
- Slide moulding used to allow the capture of fine detail on engine cowlings, fuselage, exhausts and gun barrels
Osprey Wild Tail Art
Unfortunate news for VMM-268 at MCAS Kanehoe, HI, as their command staff just got fired. Doubly unfortunate as they happen to have some of coolest tail art in the U.S. military. Check out how the serial number and aircraft number are painted on the surfboard.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/marines-fire-entire-command-osprey-151740912.html
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-osprey-paint-job-endless-summer/
UK Model Airplane Factory
Interesting Facebook reel from the late 1950s or early 1960s about a model airplane works in the UK. Impressive craftsmanship.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17RhqzWXy5/
Also attached, an image of a FROG model van from the same period used to service their flying model team.
“Showtime 100” Build
Build of “Showtime 100” for the USAF Academy Aces Gallery
By Mike Blohm
This article covers my build of the F-4J Phantom II “Showtime 100” flown by Lt Randall “Duke” Cunningham and Lt JG Willaim “Willie” Driscoll for my Aces Gallery Model Display at the USAF Academy, Colorado. “Showtime 100” was the F-4J they flew during their three aerial victories sortie on May 10, 1972 that made them the only US Navy aces in the Viet Nam War.
Casey Rupley recently posted an article on the August 27, 2025 passing of Cunningham with a link to his obituary, and talked about “Showtime 100” and the multitude of kits that had been issued with the markings of that aircraft. To add-on to his posting, I thought that I would write an article on my “Showtime 100” build and invite other ASM members to send Casey pictures of their own builds as well, as a tribute to “Duke” Cunningham.
My build used the 1/72 Monogram F-4J kit and after-market “Showtime 100” markings by Yellowhammer Models #HYD 72002, and was constructed 24 years ago in September, 2001. Colors used were likely Model Master FS 16440 Light Gull Gray on the upper surface and FS 17875 Insignia White on the bottom (I miss that paint line). The four Mk 20 Rockeye munitions that they carried on that sortie were sourced from a Hasegawa 1/72 Aircraft Weapons set. These were mounted on the shoulder stations (left and right side) of each Triple Ejector Rack (TER) with the center (lower) stations empty. Four AIM-9 Sidewinders, two AIM-7 Sparrows in the aft wells, and a centerline bag were also in the load-out. The two outer pylons were empty. Overall, the kit was a nice build, and it has been my choice for multiple F-4C, F-4D, and F-4J projects.
Pictures of “Showtime 100” are included below, including a jpeg of the biography of Cunningham and Driscoll and the location of the model in the display next to Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue’s F-4D “OY-463.” I am building Jeff Feinstein’s F-4D and hope to get that done soon. There are currently about 175 American ace’s models and biographies in the display.
Throwback Advertising
How model airplane advertising was done in the old days – it would be fun to see if this could be updated for today’s hobby.
Black Widow Modeling
Black Widow Modeling buys estate lots of model kits and resells them. It’s open on Saturday mornings to the modeling public. It’s located in Del City, OK, which is in the SE area of Oklahoma City, near Tinker AFB. Although an eight-hour drive from ABQ it might be worth a look if you’re in the area, on the right day and time…
2025 Folds of Honor Patriots Gala
ASM Model Display at the 2025 Folds of Honor Patriot Dinner
By Mike Blohm
ASM put on a tremendous model display at the 2025 Folds of Honor 10th Annual Patriot Dinner. The event took place on Saturday, September 6th at the Isleta Resort and Casino’s Convention Center in south Albuquerque. The display went very well and was likely the second largest display we have ever conducted – with about 135 models – topped only by the 2014 Albuquerque Comic Expo sci-fi display. This was ASM’s sixth display at a Folds of Honor (FoH) event. We started supporting FoH in 2017. 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, deep tables in one row near one of the doors into the ballroom section. We used our usual set-up 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 and space program vehicles, helicopters, and finally military vehicles and figures. We did have 15 military vehicles, which was probably a record for a FoH display. Thanks to all for loaning those models this year. We also may have had a record number of helicopters, with 11 of those ranging from 1/144 to 1/35 scale. Of note, we had no ship or sub models, so request that ASM members please build some for next year in any scale.
Something new this year were several models applying to Kirtland AFB and New Mexico before the Korean War on the far-right end of the display. These included signage and aircraft from the “World’s First Bombardier School” at Albuquerque Army Air Base (later Kirtland Field) in 1941 (B-17 “Flying Fortress” and B-24 “Liberator”) and the P-38H “Lightning” flown by New Mexico’s World War II fighter ace Captain Danny Roberts. He was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico and graduated from New Mexico Highlands University. Roberts had scored 14 victories with the 475th Fighter Group “Satan’s Angels” and was the commander of the 433rd “Possum Squadron” when he was killed in action on November 19, 1943. He was a leading ace in the Pacific Theater at the time, behind only Dick Bong and just ahead of Tommy McGuire, and he is the 38th-ranking U.S. ace. See the picture of his model (pic 34) that includes a short biography for more details on his life.
The event had one ballroom set up for the on-line auctions and one large ballroom for the dinner and live auctions. Pictures are posted below that show the event spaces and our model display. Note that some pictures have few people in them as they were taken during the dinner. Display set-up is in pics 1-8, event spaces in pics 9-22, models in pics 23-34, discussions with attendees in pics 35-40, a pic of New Mexico-related models in 41, and additional model pics and tear-down in pics 42-46.
The display was set-up and manned by Matt and Mike Blohm and Frank Randall. Models were provided for the display by Frank Randall, Don Gatewood, Victor Maestas, Brian Peck, Mark Vaughn. Scott Jaworski, Bob Henderson, Chuck Herrmann, Josh Pals, and Matt and Mike Blohm.
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 met our goals of promoting ASM and the hobby of scale modeling, and providing service to the community. If anybody would like to build a model to auction off at the 2026 event, please let me know.
2025 Air Force Anniversary Ball
ASM Model Display at the 2025 Air Force Ball
By Mike Blohm
ASM conducted a model display at the 78th Anniversary Air Force Ball that was held on Saturday, September 27th at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque. This was ASM’s seventh display at the AF Ball event and this year’s display was great and record-setting. The event celebrates the anniversary of the US Air Force becoming a separate service on September 18, 1947. Our display theme was “USAF 1947 to the Present.” We also added a new section on the “Evolution of the USAF from World War I through World War II” in order to highlight significant aircraft and personnel in the U.S. Air Service and the Army Air Corps during that foundational period. We included the WW II Bombardier School at Albuquerque Army Air Base (AAB) and its associated aircraft in that section. More on these later.
We displayed 145 total models on six large tables in two groups of three (probably 36 total feet). This was both a new record for an AF Ball event and also a new record for any ASM model display. This display beat out the previous mark at the Albuquerque Comic Expo display back in 2014. We brought 41 tubs and boxes of models that filled three vehicles. We almost used everything that we brought. Like last year, we were located in the event ballroom against the back wall 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 throughout the event. Pictures 1-17 show the set-up and pics 18‑22 show portions of the event.
The groupings for the display on the left set of tables included from left to right: “Evolution of the USAF” (15 models), Korean War (12), Viet Nam War (13), Strategic Air Command (SAC) including cruise missiles, intermediate range ballistic missiles, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (20), Air Defense Command (ADC) (6), and the Military Airlift Command (MAC)/Air Mobility Command (AMC) (6). See pics 23-25. The SAC group included the B-29 “Enola Gay” in 1/144 scale that I completed just in time for the September displays. Frank Randall built a C-123 this year to use in the MAC/AMC group. We also had some newly displayed models in the WWI and ADC groups from Len Faulconer (Nieuport 28, SPAD XIII, F-89D, and RF-101A); in the Korea and MAC/AMC groups from David Epstein (B-45 and C-130J Super Hercules); and the Viet Nam group by Bob Henderson (F-105F). Mike Blohm and Peter Rechkemmer manned these tables.
The right set of tables included: space program vehicles (10) and experimental aircraft (10), “What is Scale Modeling/What’s in the Model Box,” modern aircraft post-Viet Nam and from Desert Storm through Afghanistan (22), and finally aircraft of Kirtland AFB and New Mexico (17). See pics 26-29. Newly displayed models included a F-105D by Frank Randall, an F-35 by Don Gatewood, a 1/32 F‑16C of the NM ANG “Tacos” by Adrian Montano, a 1/32 F-15C by Brian Peck, a F-84F in “Thunderbirds” scheme by David Epstein, an F-100A of the NM ANG “Tacos” by Len Faulconer that accidently shot down a B-52, and a RB-57F by Victor Maestas that was assigned at Kirtland AFB for high-altitude air sampling and radiation detection in support of nuclear test monitoring. Matt Blohm and Brian Peck manned these tables.
The new “Evolution of the USAF” section (pic 31) included signage and aircraft of 1) The U.S. Air Service in WWI: Eddie Rickenbacker’s Nieuport 28 and SPAD XIII, Frank Luke’s SPAD XIII, and Raoul Lufberry’s Nieuport 17 with the Lafayette Escadrille;
2) Aircraft of the 1920 and 30’s: P-26 and P-35; and
3) The U.S. Army Air Corps in the 1940s: P-38H, P-39, P-40N, P-47D, P-51D, and a B-25B representing the Doolittle Raiders. The P-38H model highlighted Captain Danny Roberts, “New Mexico’s Fighter Ace” who was a leading ace in the Pacific Theater with 14 victories before he was killed in action on November 19, 1943. See pic 32 showing his aircraft and biography for more details on his career. The Albuquerque AAB Bombardier School vignette (pic 33) included an AT-11 “Kansan” bombardier trainer aircraft (newly completed by me for our displays this September), a B-17F “Flying Fortress,” and a B-24 “Liberator” all in 1/72 scale. We will likely keep this new section but we may need to add two more tables (one on each side) to better display all the models.
We had a lot of conversations with the attendees, probably more than in recent years. There was a large group of young aircraft maintainers that were happy to see their aircraft and asked lots of questions. See pictures 34-41.
The display was set-up and manned by Brian Peck, Peter Reckhemmer, and Matt and Mike Blohm. As usual the display took about one and a half hours to set up–putting models into the correct grouping and lots of info tags to put out–and about one hour to take down. We did get a full dinner this year thanks to Peter. Models were provided by Frank Randall, Don Gatewood, Victor Maestas, Brian Peck, Len Faulconer, Bob Henderson, Steve Brodeur, David Epstein, and Matt and Mike Blohm. 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, including the 1920-30’s period. My own priorities for the 2026 displays will be finishing my 1/144 scale B-36, MC-130J Commando II, and C-133 with a Thor IRBM.
ASM was thanked for providing the model display during the final wrap-up of the event. In summary, we had a great time and successfully promoted the hobby of scale modeling, and provided service to the community. We passed out some ASM promo sheets so perhaps we might get some new members.
