Model Handling Models
Original Caption: San Diego, CA, June 3rd 1968. General Dynamics employee Toni Taura with models of Atlas and Centaur rockets and F-102 and F-106 interceptors.
Casey Rupley (webmaster)
About Casey Rupley (webmaster)
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Mig-21MF Decorated in African Beadwork
Currently on display at Boeing’s Museum of Flight in Seattle, a Mig-21MF decorated in African beadwork, a five-year project by artist Ralph Ziman.
https://www.museumofflight.org/exhibits-and-events/exhibits/mig-21-project
2025 New Mexico State Fair – Contest Details
State Fair dates: September 4-14, 2025
Entry Dates: Friday and Saturday, August 22-23, 9:00am-5:00pm
Pickup Dates: Tuesday, September 16, 9:00am-4:00pm
Entry Fee: $5.00 per entrant (not model)
Rules
- Exhibitor must construct all models.
- Entries from past NM State Fairs, not allowed.
- Entries are to be entered in specific class otherwise, enter in miscellaneous class #14.
- One entry per exhibitor per class.
- Classification and acceptance of entries will be at the discretion of officials. Judges may reclassify entries if needed.
- Judges will determine qualification or disqualification of any entry in question.
- Entry tags will not be tied to item.
- Models and diorama bases not to exceed 15”x 20” or 300” sq. Space for large models is limited.
- Display of large models will be at the discretion of officials.
- All ribbon winners will be displayed.
- Non-ribbon exhibits will be displayed as space permits.
- Quality is emphasized and entries are judged by workmanship, scale authenticity, finish and presentation.
- Precautions are taken for the safety of all entries, but in no case, will the New Mexico State Fair, the state of New Mexico, employees, contractors or volunteers be held liable for the loss or damages to any entry while in the Fair’s possession. Participants are encouraged to carry their own insurance.
- Participant recognizes that marketing of the Fair and its grounds requires use of photography and video. Participant hereby expressly grants to the Fair the irrevocable, assignable right and license to take, use and publish participant images and work without the need for any other approval. Images and work will not be used for profit.
- Participants are responsible for picking up their own work or provide written authorization for pick-up by another individual.
- NEW: Work must be picked up Tuesday, September 16, 2025 from 9:00am – 4:00pm. Any work remaining on the Fairgrounds after this date will be considered abandoned and shall become the property of the NM State Fair to be disposed of at its discretion.
Sections
Section 471 Youth (11 years and under)
Section 472 Senior Youth (12-17 years of age)
Section 473 Adult (18 years and over)
Section 474 Professional (More than 5 years experience)
NOTE: ASM members in the Masters and Intermediate Divisions are required to enter models in Section 474: Professional.
Classes
- Aircraft, Jet – Large scale – 1/48 scale & larger
- Aircraft, Jet – Small scale – 1/72 scale & smaller
- Aircraft, Non-Jet – Large scale – 1/48 scale & larger
- Aircraft, Non-Jet – Small scale – 1/72 scale & smaller
- Diorama – Miniature scene, wholly or partially three-dimensional, depicting model in a naturalistic and realistic setting
- Flying Models, including flying rockets
- Helicopters – Jet & Non-Jet, all scales
- Military Vehicles – Fully tracked – large scale – 1/35 scale & larger
- Military Vehicles – Fully tracked – small scale – 1/48 scale & smaller
- Military Vehicles & Equipment – Non tracked & Halftracks – small scale – 1/48 scale & smaller
- Military Vehicles & Equipment – Non tracked & Half tracks – large scale – 1/35 scale & larger
- Miniature Figure – Single footed or Mounted figure
- Miniature Figure Vignette – Maximum of 3 related human, animal or equipment figures, no vehicles
- Miscellaneous – none of the above
- Powered Ships
- Sailing Ships & Oared Ships
- Science Fiction/Fantasy Figures – included Anime, Gundams, Robotech
- Science Fiction; science Fiction/Fantasy Spacecraft and Terrestrial Crafts; and Real (actual) Spacecraft; etc. Excludes figures.
- Wood Models: models assembled or built of wood from pre-cut/laser-cut kits
- Paper Models: models built of paper or card stock, paperboard, or foam from kits or scratch-built.
- 3D Metal Models: models built or assembled from pre-cut metal kits
Ribbon Awards
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Best of Show – Rosette
Note: Best of Show will be awarded only in classes where there are three (3) or more entries.
WWII Sewing Circle
An English ladies’ sewing circle during WWII creating a scale terrain base for the RAF.
Ukrainian Faux Stealth Bomber
Faux Tamiya kit box for the Ukrainian drone superweapon.
June 2025 – Meeting Recap
Club Business
Mike Blohm gave a presentation on the Petting Zoo static display at Nellis, AFB. A separate website article is forthcoming with all the content.
The date of this years Folds of Honor is Saturday, September 6. It will be held at Isleta Casino.
Attendance: approximately 33.
Sponsored Contest ("Small") - Winners
Points Contest - Bests of Show
Points Contest - Full Results
Masters - Aircraft (non-US)
1st
Scott Jaworski
Fi-156 Storch
2nd
Jim Coatney
Sopwith Dolphin
3rd
Dave Epstein
Kfir
Masters - Aircraft (US)
1st
Mike Blohm
F-51D
2nd
Victor Maestas
Stealth Blackhawk
3rd
Bob Henderson
A-10
Masters - Science/Fantasy
1st
Steve Brodeur
Dune Orinthopter
2nd
James Medina
Hammerhead Transport
Masters - Ships
1st
Dave Epstein
French Sub “Surcouf”
Masters - Armor
1st
Bob Henderson
Tiger II
Masters - Dioramas/Vignettes
1st
Dave Tingley
German MG Team
Intermediate - Aircraft
1st
Mark Vaughn
F2A-3 Brewster Buffalo
2nd
Mark Vaughn
H-25A Army Mule
Intermediate - Armor
1st
Rob Whitlock
Puma
Intermediate - Auto
1st
Adrian Montano
Batmobile
Intermediate - Dioramas
1st
Adrian Montano
F-14 on Flight Deck
Basic - SciFi
Gold
Aleya Montano
Millennium Falcon
Basic - Aircraft
Silver
Gary Sinning
F-5 Tiger II
Complete Meeting Gallery
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.
