Community

May 18, 2025

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.

1C_2024-Folds-Of-Honor_20240906_210510_Crpd

April 21, 2025

2024 Folds of Honor Patriots Gala

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Community, Folds of Honor

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.

April 21, 2025

58 SOW Flightline Tour

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Articles/Reviews, Community

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.

March 5, 2025

ASM Star Trek Display at Cherry Hills Library

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Articles/Reviews, Community

ASM members Michael O’Brian and John Tate recently setup a Star Trek model display at the Cherry Hills Library Branch. The display will run through March, in conjunction with Star Trek events being held at the library.

Here is a link to the Cherry Hills Library mentioning ASM and showing off our models: https://abqlibrary.org/exhibits/CherryHills

February 3, 2025

Kirtland AFB Air Fiesta

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Air Shows

KAFB, May 30 – June 1, 2025

https://www.kirtland.af.mil/Kirtland-Air-Fiesta/

Scheduled to attend:

U.S. Army Golden Knights
F-16 Viper Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base
58th Special Operations Wing
- MC-130, AC-130, HC-130, HH-60, Huey, and CV-22.

December 18, 2024

THUNDER & LIGHTNING OVER ARIZONA 2025

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Air Shows, Articles/Reviews

On the weekend of March 22-23, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is opening the gates and inviting everyone to enjoy a free, weekend-long event packed full of entertainment. Come out and see dynamic aerial displays, memorable planes, and SO much more!

September 21, 2024

2024 New Mexico State Fair – Summary

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Community, NM State Fair

Creative Arts – Division 13
Models – Military and Science Fiction
Sections 471-474 Sponsored by Albuquerque Scale Modelers

Sections

Section 471: Youth (ages 11 and under)
Section 472: Senior Youth (ages 12-17)
Section 473: Adult (ages 18 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 & Half Tracks-Small scale (1/48 & smaller)
Military Vehicles & Equipment Non Tracked & Half Tracks-Large Scale (1/35 & 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 – Including Anime, Gundams, Robotech
Science Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy Spacecraft and Terrestrial Crafts; and Real (actual) Spacecraft; etc. – excluding 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

NOTE: Only one entry per class.

Contest Summary

This year for the New Mexico State fair we had 55 total entries, which is about average. There were three youth entries. Two senior youth entries. 29 adult entries. And 21 entries in the professional category, which are mostly club members. We also had nine display only models and we also did the what is scale modeling educational display. James Medina had the most entries with seven he also won a clean sweep with seven blue ribbons. The most entries in the adult category was a lady named Haley Gibson with five entries. I want to thank Mike, Matt, Victor, Mark and David for help with the entries and James Medina for help with judging.

Complete Gallery

August 2, 2024

ASM’s Model Displays at the Folds of Honor Patriot Gala

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Community, Folds of Honor

For those that weren’t present for the July meeting, here is a PDF version of the briefing Matt Blohm gave about Folders of Honor.

ASM_Folds-Of-Honor-Briefing_12uly24-Meeting_PDF Download

November 25, 2023

2023 AIR FORCE ANNIVERSARY BALL

Mike Blohm Air Force Ball, Community

ASM’s Model Display at the 76th Anniversary Air Force Ball
By Mike Blohm

Our ASM model display at the Air Force 76th Anniversary Ball was a huge success and enjoyed by all the attendees. The event was held on Saturday, November 4th at Kirtland Air Force Base. It celebrated the 76th birthday of the USAF, which became a separate service on September 18, 1947 with the passage of the National Security Act of 1947. The theme of this year’s event was “The Evolution of Flight.” Therefore, we presented two displays with a total of 108 models, which was a record for an AF Ball event. One display covered that main theme, and the second covered our “USAF 1947 to the Present” theme. We also threw in some models on New Mexico and Albuquerque Air Base history. I was initially worried that we would not be able to pull together a good “evolution” display, but it turned out great. We brought 40 total tubs and boxes in three cars to the event. This was our fifth display at an AF Ball. Pictures of the event and the displays are provided below.

Pictures of the 76th AF Ball Event

“USAF 1947 to the Present” Display

This year we had two large sets of tables both in “L-shaped” configurations in separate corners of the room that we were located in. This worked well for our two separate displays. We had models ranging from 1/200 through 1/32 scale. The “USAF 1947 to the Present” display had 75 models. The tables here included – from left to right – the Korean War with12 models; Southeast Asia/Viet Nam (SEA) with 13; Air Defense Command (ADC) with 7; cargo, transport and air refueling aircraft with 7; modern fighter, support, and training aircraft with 25; Strategic Air Command (SAC) with 6; helicopters with 3; and was capped-off with a 1/32 scale F-16C Thunderbird on the end built by Frank Randall. I completed three models just in time for the event to fill some gaps in the SEA, ADC, and SAC areas. These were, respectively, an O-1 Bird Dog finishing up the SEA forward air control (FAC) aircraft and a F-86D Sabre Dog both in 1/72, and a B-47B Stratojet in 1/144. We still need some cargo and bomber aircraft built in 1/144 scale.

Pictures of the “USAF 1947 to Present” Model Display

“Evolution of Flight” Display

The “Evolution of Flight” corner had 33 models that started with the Wright Flyer on one end and worked chronologically through major aeronautical developments up to the Space Shuttle and a few “future Air Force” models as well. These included some U.S. WWI and WWII aircraft of note: Raoul Lufberry’s Nieuport 17c (Lafyette Escadrille) and Frank Luke’s SPAD XIII, and Dick Bong’s P-38J and George Preddy’s P-51D. These were followed by some “firsts” aircraft consisting of the Me-262, P-80A, XFY-1 Pogo VTOL aircraft, XF-85 Goblin, X-1 “Glamorous Glennis,” X-3, XF-92, X 15, a huge 1/48 scale SR 71 Blackbird (loved by all attendees), F-15 and F-16XL test birds, and the YF-22 and YF-23 test aircraft. In the NASA space program section, the models included the Mercury-Redstone “Friendship 7” flown by Alan Sheperd; Mercury-Atlas “Freedom 7” flown by John Glenn; Gemini Titan-3 “Unsinkable Molly Brown” flown by Gus Grissom and John Young; the Apollo-11 Command and Service Module “Columbia” and Lunar Module (LM) “Eagle” enroute to the Moon; and the LM “Eagle” landed on the Moon. Next were models of the Space Shuttles “Challenger” on the crawler launch pad and “Discovery” in the landed configuration. The “future US Air Force” models included an X-Wing Starfighter in Southeast Asia colors and an F-4X “X-Wing Starfighter,” which were also loved by the attendees. The left end of the table had a B 17F and B-24J and info on the Albuquerque Air Base Bombardier School during WWII; and a P 38H Lightning model and info on Capt Danny Roberts – New Mexico’s fighter ace. On display behind the NASA models was the USAF Missile Models collection, located here because we ran out of space on the “1947 to Present” tables. This collection included 14 models of USAF cruise missiles, IRBM and ICBMs, and the Bomarc SAM. I built those models for the 2022 AF Ball. One item that I brought with me but forgot to put next to the Wright Flyer was a white-colored wooden egg, as the initial “evolution of flight.”

Several of the unit commanders and leadership came by to thank us for putting on the display and told us that everybody had enjoyed seeing all the models. They mentioned that the display certainly covered the USAF’s evolution of flight. They do want us back next year. Of note, they added our ASM logo from the ASM Website home page to the back page of the event’s program where they had “Special Thank You to Our Team Kirtland AF Ball Sponsors” and all the sponsors listed. Pictures of the program are included below.

Mike and Matt Blohm and Frank Randall set up the display and manned the tables during the event. Thanks to the following ASM members who loaned models for the display: Frank Randall (27 models), Victor Maestas (4), Don Gatewood (4), Steve Brodeur (4), Bob Henderson (3), Mark Vaughn/Cavalcade of Wings (2), Len Faulconer (2), Josh Pals (2), Patrick Dick (2), Brian Peck (1), Scott Jaworski (1), and Mike and Matt Blohm (56 – a lot of these have been built for ASM’s displays over the years). Pictures by Mike and Matt Blohm and Frank Randall.

Please let me know if you are interested in building any models that could be “borrowed” for use in our reoccurring ASM displays each year. They do not need to be IPMS Nationals entry quality – just a nice build – and the undersides will likely never be seen. You can peruse the pictures to see what gaps we have at this time. We do have some new builds already in progress.

November 1, 2023

Cherry Hills Library Display (updated)

Casey Rupley (webmaster) Articles/Reviews, Community

(originally posted content from October 4)

The ASM WWI model display has been installed at the Cherry Hills branch of Albuquerque Public Library.

Special thanks to Don Gatewood, Jim Coatney, Scott Jaworski, and John Tate for making it happen.

Don Gatewood will be giving a special presentation on “The Art and Craft of Scale Modeling” at the library on Saturday, October 28, from 11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.

(new content from November 1)

ASM Members Don Gatewood and Dave Tingley gave a public presentation at the Cherry Hills Branch of the Albuquerque Public Library on October 28th, 2023 on scale modeling and WWI. In attendance were ASM members Jim Coatney, Michael Howell and John Tate, as well as Jim and Don’s wives and other members of the public. The meeting was well-attended and the room well-suited to the presentation.

Dave Tingley gave an entertaining talk on the basics of scale modeling and caught the interest of potential junior modelers in our hobby. Don Gatewood gave a reprise of his April 2023 talk on WWI aviation which was just as interesting as his club presentation. Both presentations were a success and well-represented ASM.

This ASM model display and presentation set a good example of how even small-scale ASM activities can generate public interest in our club and hobby and are worth pursuing. If ASM members become aware of similar presentation opportunities in the future please pass along the information to the E-Board.

1 2 3 4