ASM’s Model Displays at the Folds of Honor Patriot Gala
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.
Folds of Honor
2023 FOLDS OF HONOR PATRIOTS GALA
ASM’s club model display at the 2023 Folds of Honor New Mexico’s Patriot Dinner went very well. The event was held at the Isleta Resort and Casino’s Convention Center in Albuquerque on September 8, 2023. The Folds of Honor (FoH) provides scholarships for children and spouses of America’s fallen and disabled Service members, and also America’s first responders (police, fire-fighters, EMTs, and paramedics). The Patriot Dinner is one of their primary fund-raising events with silent auctions and old-fashioned live auctions during the dinner. This was our fourth model display in support of a FoH event.
The theme of ASM’s display was “Models of Aircraft, Ships and Military Vehicles Used by the U.S. Services.” We had about 70 models on two long tables. We brought 23 tubs and boxes of models but were not able to display them all due to having just two tables.
The display was set up chronologically beginning with the Korean War and Southeast Asia (Viet Nam) periods at the left end. The center section had models of Air Defense Command fighters and a BOMARC, Military Airlift Command transports, and Strategic Air Command bombers. Next were models from the Gulf War and current time aircraft. We did have representation of US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps subjects. On the right end we had helicopters, beach assault ships and vehicles on a water base, and armor/military vehicle models, including Ken Piniak’s large 1/16 scale M1A1 tank. A lot of former tank drivers talked to Ken about that item. Many attendees came up and asked if we had a certain type of aircraft. I talked with the grand daughter of a pilot who had flown the F-86 Sabre in the Korean War and had spent some time as a prisoner of war.
The goals of our ASM club model displays are to promote the hobby of scale modeling; make an outreach for new members; and to perform community service by supporting civic events. I think we met all those goals with this display, and we were thanked by many attendees and the FoH New Mexico President for being there to support the event. We did pass out a few ASM fliers as well. A big thank you to all the ASM members who provided models for the display: Victor Maestas, Steve Brodeur, Mark Vaughn (Cavalcade of Wings), Keith Liotta, Ken Piniak, Frank Randall, Bob Henderson, and Mike and Matt Blohm. Thanks also to Ken Pinak, and Matt and Mike Blohm for manning the tables. Pictures of the display and the event are provided below.
Here is a link for Folds of Honor – New Mexico: https://newmexico.foldsofhonor.org/
Next up is the ASM club model display at the 2023 Air Force Ball, which has just been moved to November 4, 2023 at the Mountain View Club on Kirtland AFB. Please consider loaning some USAF-themed models and “Evolution of Flight” models for that event.
Folds of Honor logo. Unpacking and setting-up 23 tubs of models. Display when the set-up was complete.
Long hallway at Isleta Conference Center where displays were set up. The ASM display is at far end near the doors to the large banquet/dinner room. Attendees viewing models.
Models organized chronologically from left to right on the tables.
Memorial display to deceased New Mexico military and first responders.
Auction room and dinner room, and event in progress.
Packing-up.
2022 FOLDS OF HONOR PATRIOTS GALA
ASM’s model display at the 2022 Folds of Honor Patriots Gala went extremely well and was enjoyed by all the attendees. The event was held at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque on August 20, 2022. The Folds of Honor (FoH) provides scholarships for children and spouses of America’s fallen and disabled Service members. The Gala is one of their primary fund-raising events with silent auction and old-fashioned live auctions during the dinner. ASM has provided built models for their auctions, and we had a 1/48 scale F-35A Lightning II built by Scott Jaworski in this year’s auction. Scott’s model was won with a bid of $60. This was our third model display in support of an FoH event.
The theme of ASM’s display was “Models of Aircraft, Ships and Military Vehicles Used by the U.S. Services.” We had 102 total models on four 6-foot long tables. This was a record number of models for a FoH display, as well as our three Air Force Anniversary Ball displays. It took us about an hour to get set up. We had approximately 25 tubs of models.
The display was set up chronologically beginning with the Korean War and Southeast Asia (Viet Nam) periods at the far-left end. The center section had models from the Gulf War and current time periods. On the right end we had a large section of helicopters and armor/military vehicle models. Ken Piniak’s large 1/16 scale M1A1 Abrams tank had a lot of lookers, especially when he rotated the tank’s turret and fired it’s cannon at the conclusion of the event.
The goals of our ASM model displays are to promote the hobby of scale modeling; make an outreach for new members; and to perform community service by supporting civic events. I think we met all those goals with this event. We did pass out a lot of ASM fliers, so perhaps we will get some new members. A big thank you to all the ASM members who provided models for the display: Victor Maestas, Steve Brodeur, Scott Jaworski, Mark Vaughn, Keith Liotta, Ken Piniak, Frank Randall, Brian Peck, and Mike and Matt Blohm. Thanks also to Frank Randall, Ken Piniak, and Matt and Mike Blohm for manning the tables.
2019 Folds of Honor “Red, White, and Blue Celebration Dinner”
The Albuquerque Scale Modelers club provided a 1/48 scale A-10A Thunderbolt II “Warthog” model for the auction at the Folds of Honor New Mexico’s “Red, White, and Blue Celebration Dinner” fund-raising event held on September 23, 2019, at the Tanoan Country Club in Albuquerque. The Folds of Honor Foundation provides scholarships and other assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country. The model was built by Mike Blohm. The Monogram model kit was donated by Brian Peck. The Folds of Honor was very appreciative of our donation and thanked us for again contributing models for their auction. ASM had two F-16 models for their 2018 event.
The model was built as an A-10A of the 78th Fighter Squadron “Flying Tigers” of the 23rd Fighter Group while assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group at Jacobabad, Pakistan, in March 2002. The scheme was from the Print Scale 48-073 A-10 Thunderbolt II decal sheet. The kit came with decals for a warthog-faced A-10 of the 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 917th Tactical Fighter Group, Air Force Reserve in a Europe 1 paint scheme (two greens and one gray). However, I wanted to build a three grays scheme with the colorful shark mouth used by the 23rd Fighter Group Flying Tigers, as that would be more appealing to any potential bidders on the model.
The kit was built out of the box other than the decals. It is an older kit with raised panel lines, and a lot of fit problems that required sanding. The 1/48 scale kit is pretty huge. I usually build 1/72 scale aircraft, and the A-10 was bigger than a B-17 model in 1/72. It probably had more parts. too. To avoid it being a tail-sitter, I loaded the front of the fuselage below the cockpit with modeling clay holding a lot of fish sinkers–as much as I thought the narrow nose gear would hold. To my dismay, the model sat back on its tail after I had everything put together. The kit does come with a clear plastic “support stand” that I had not wanted to use, but did use in the end. It is way back by the tail and is pretty unnoticeable. I used a whole lot of Master Model Light Ghost Gray (FS36375) and Dark Ghost Gray (FS36320) to paint it. What I really would have liked was a decal or a template for the fake canopy on the underside of the nose that is in Gunship Gray (FS36118). I ended up drawing the outline of that in pencil and then painting it on. I was surprised at how well that came out. Building the ordnance took a long time. I built six CBU-71 canisters (that is the closest thing the pieces match to), four AGM-65 Mavericks and two LAU-88 triple rail launchers, and an ALQ-119 ECM pod. Getting all those attached to the pylons was a major pain.
The base for the model is a large 18 x 20 picture frame. I inserted a thick grey-colored mat under the glass that looked like an aircraft parking ramp, and had a 3 x 4 inch metal plate built with the appropriate wording about the model. That plate and a smaller plate stating “Model by Albuquerque Scale Modelers” were then attached by double-sided tape onto the glass.
The A-10 model sold for $150 in the auction. The winner donated it to the nine-year-old son of one of the scholarship recipients at the dinner. The boy is a special needs child who is “all about airplanes.” So the model is going to a good home. The 2020 Folds of Honor event will be held at a larger venue, and they do want ASM to put on a large model display for that event. So start building for that!
2018 Folds of Honor Patriots Gala
ASM put on an excellent model display at the 2018 Folds of Honor Patriot Gala, which was held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the Santa Ana Star Hotel Casino in Bernalillo. The Folds of Honor provides scholarships for the children and spouses of America’s fallen and disabled Service members. The Gala is one of their primary fund-raising events, where donated articles are auctioned off in a silent online auction and old-fashioned verbal auction during the dinner.
We had 81 total models on three tables located in the auction room, and we had a lot of attendees come by to look at the models and ask questions. Thanks to all the ASM members who loaned models for the display. There were six ASM members manning the tables. Thanks for this help to Josh Pals, Frank Randall, Chris Kurtze, Ken Piniak, and Matt and Mike Blohm.
Because of concern there would not be enough models available for the 2001-2018 time period, the display was opened to include subjects from the Korean War and the Viet Nam War. Attendees at the event last year had asked about subjects in use by the services prior to 2001, so expanding it worked, and the “old-timer” attendees were happy to see these models as well. Our display next year will continue with that expanded theme.
Chris Kurtze and Patrick Dick both provided a 1/48-scale model on an F-16C Fighting Falcon in the markings of the New Mexico Air National Guard’s 150th Fighter Wing “Tacos” for the auction.
Feedback from the Folds of Honor leadership was that all the models were “works of art” and that the F-16s were a hit and did very well in the auctions. Chris’s F-16 was auctioned at the dinner on Saturday and Patrick’s was auctioned at the Golf tournament on Monday, October 22. Special thanks to Patrick and Chris for donating their models. We learned later that Chris’s F-16 was sold for $250 and Patrick’s for $225.
The breakdown of the 81 models at the display was as follows. Korea: 12; Viet Nam: 17; 2001-2018: 36; Other: 16. This is ten more models than we had at last month’s Air Force Ball display. We have already received a request for one more Tacos F-16 for a museum in Gallup. ASM should continue to support this very worthwhile effort in 2019.
2017 Folds of Honor Patriot Gala
The ASM model display at the September 23, 2017, Folds of Honor (FoH) Patriot Gala fund-raising event at the Sandia Resort and Casino went very well, and I would like to thank everyone who loaned models and helped man the show. We had forty models in the display spread out over six tables, with good representation of all the US Services in armor, ships and aircraft/helicopters in a lot of different scales. We had two nicely done figures/vignettes, but no dioramas. We also had the “What is scale modeling?” signage out. We had a lot of people come look at the display, especially military personnel, and they all enjoyed the models. The People’s Choice (PC) model contest did not get a lot of participation, likely due to lack of advertisement and the way the ballroom was set up. The PC winners will be announced at the October 6 ASM meeting.
I have asked for some feedback from the FoH leadership on how they enjoyed the display and whether they would like ASM to do it again, but I have not heard anything back yet. At the ASM meeting we will talk about some lessons learned to make it better if we do it again in 2018. Thanks to Bret Kinman, Josh Pals, and Matt Blohm for helping to set up and man the display. Some pictures are included below. The FoH Foundation provides scholarships and other assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or disabled in service to our country.
