All posts by Hutchins AAron

Born in Deutschland 1965, hometown was Bütthart, parents were not U.S. government employees. However, when father was tricked into joining the U.S. Air Force Civil Service, in 1969, with the promise that we could remain in Germany, we were promptly shipped off to Iran. Due to one of my Iranian educators being disappeared, along with her husband, by the U.S. ally Shah of Iran's Israeli & U.S. created Savak (for the then official terrorist act of promoting the idea that women can vote), and due to my U.S. citizen mother being placed on Savak's Terrorist Arrest List (for supporting the idea that women should vote, at that time the U.S. ally Shah of Iran did not allow women to vote, now they can) we left Iran for the United States in 1973, literally in the middle of the night. At the U.S. Embassy airbase the CIA operated Gooney Bird (C-47) was so packed with other U.S. citizens fleeing our ally Iran (because the Shah gave the OK to arrest any U.S. citizen for such terrorist acts as promoting the concept of voting) that we were turned away by the Loadmaster and had to take a chance on a civilian flight out of Tehran's airport. My father told me he and my mother had three culture shocks; first when they arrived in Germany as civilians, then after being shipped off to Iran as U.S. government employees, then again returning to the United States as unemployed civilians (because so much had changed in the U.S. while they were gone, their only news source was the U.S. Armed Forces Radio & Television Service which heavily censored information about the home front). Since I graduated high school in 1982 I've worked for U.S. government contractors and state & local government agencies (in California), convenience store manager in California, retail/property management in Georgia, California and Idaho. Spent the 1990s in the TV news business producing number one rated local news programs in California, Arizona and Idaho. 14+ years with California and Idaho Army National Guard and the U.S. Air Force. Obtained a BA degree in International Studies from Idaho State University at the age of 42. Unemployed since 2015, so don't tell me the economy has recovered.

Kit Bashing, Reviews

Another Airfix B-24 Bday Bomber Build, made in France?

Video March 17, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Finally, an 11 month late birthday bomber build, another ancient Airfix B-24J Liberator is done! But, I now believe both of the old-skool 1/72 scale Airfix Liberators I built have an inherent molding problem, possibly the result of being produced in France:

The old Airfix kit is way outdated, having been first produced in the mid-1960s, however, I think it has one thing going for it; it’s raised rivet details.

If you look at war time photos of bare metal versions of the real thing you will see clearly that the Liberator is covered in noticeable raised rivets, and the old Airfix engineers were obviously obsessed with capturing that look.

This recent Airfix bomber kit build, and the other B-24 bomber I completed a year prior, suffered from the same problems; misshapen/warped fuselage parts. I realized both these kits were from the time period when Airfix was under new ownership that had moved production from merry ol’ England to France!

To deal with the warped/misshapen fuselage halves I had to cut off the mounting pins, then use plastic bread bag clips as ledges to force the starboard half to meet-up with the port half. The back half was glued first, then after dry the front half was glued.

Bread bag clips:

Unfortunately, the tail end of the fuselage is short on the starboard side and has to be fixed with putty and sanding. This problem is also found on the original Made in England issue of the kit.

I have an original 1960s Made in England kit which does not appear to have the fuselage warpage problems:

See more of my model kit building videos in my YouTube channel’s ‘Model Kit Procrastinator’ Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLmSZxOl5e4&list=PLkZrLGwZbnj_VHa3s9lTJQv79UCXjvYX-&pp=gAQB

November 2024: Birthday P-47D Thunderbolt: Family connection, and made in U.S.A. Monogram -vs- made in China Revell!

February 2024 (the last year video):

Late Model Gift Build for somebody born on Xmas; Airfix Birthday Bomber

Idaho, Technology

Chrome in the Dome, 2025!

Video March 10, 2025 Hutchins AAron

In 1970 (Cold War), the first in the U.S. fully enclosed colligate sports arena opened; the ASISU (Associated Students of Idaho State University) Minidome.

In 1988 (Cold War), the name was changed to Holt Arena to honor the athletic director who pushed for the creation of the Minidome.

In January 2024 the name was officially changed, again, to ICCU (Idaho Central Credit Union) Dome, due to the arena’s recent refreshment being funded mostly by the financial institution. However, the signage on the arena wasn’t changed until later in the year.

On the 7th-8th of March 2025, Idaho State University (ISU)-College of Technology Automotive Program held its yearly ‘Chrome in the Dome’ car show.

Cold Friday afternoon, waiting for the car show to open, 07MAR2025:

A tale of two Chargers, Dodge that is, 07MAR2025:

Goldilocks said “This rice burner is too long, and this rice burner is too little!”:

2024: Motorcycles at the Chrome in the Dome

I had a challenging time getting into this Challenger, but I still want it (somebody buy it for me, please):

A couple of Hot Rods:

Dr. Pepper & Rutbeer Ford pickups:

Chevy 350 powered 1968 Toyota Land Cruiser:

Hippie-Dippie van and electric King-mobile:

A couple of tri-five princes of Bel-Air:

One hundred and eleven years old 1914 Ford Touring survivor:

1971 AMC Javelin SST (Super Sonic Transport? No, Super Sports Touring):

1950 Plymouth Deluxe:

‘Proud’ Fiero with a fiery V8:

Chevy Super Mod:

Cabin Over Engine:

A super Nova called Mayhem:

Awards were issued, even to the little ones:

The hundred and one years old ‘Depot Hack’ needed some help.

Time to head ’em up and move ’em out, even the little ones:

For more of my Chrome Dome videos check out my ‘Cars Showing Off’ playlist on my YouTube channel (and subscribe!): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj9l1IMiwgu49bsmVG95CIaM

2024: Part-5 Chrome in the Dome

U.S.

Trump’s Wall War! February 2025.

Video March 3, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Again, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP, aka Border Patrol) truck, manned by U.S. Army Soldiers, parked behind a sign marking the border between the U.S. and Mexico, near Mount Cristo Ray-Sunland Park, New Mexico, 20FEB2025.

Operation Southern Guard; the initial deployment of more than 1-thousand-6-hundred active-duty military personnel brings the total military Title 10 forces along the border to nearly 4-thousand personnel.

U.S CBP agent captured an illegal after notification from U.S. Soldiers/National Guard patrolling nearby Santa Teresa, New Mexico, 01FEB2025.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon border patrol operations, I edited from a video via Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Jacquelin Frost, 18FEB2025:

Officers with U.S. Northern Command (USNorthCom) discuss national security concerns, including border enforcement, with Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy (Marina), Admiral Raymundo Morales Angeles, on 07FEB2025.

ARIZONA

The U.S. Army’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion-10th Mountain Division arrive on Libby Army Airfield (a joint military/civilian operation with Sierra Vista Municipal Airport) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, 11FEB2025. I edited video recorded by Specialist Jerron Bruce:

CALIFORNIA

On 19FEB2025, crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Haddock captures 20 illegals approximately 21 miles west of Point Loma, then handed them over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol) in San Diego:

U.S. Marines with 7th Engineer Support Battalion-1st Marine Logistics Group, in support of 1st Combat Engineer Battalion-1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire along the southern wall near San Ysidro, 13FEB2025. I edited a video via Lance Corporal Diego Berumen:

Is FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) hiring migrant workers to tackle the ‘HazMat’ fire clean-up in California? In one section of this FEMA video (via Kevin Nha) you can hear instructions being giving to the workers in ‘Mexican’ Spanish, for debris removal at Loma Alta School/Oak Knoll Montessori in Altadena, 02FEB2025:

CUBA, GUANTANAMO BAY

On 25FEB2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Naval Station Guantánamo Bay during an illegal migrant holding operation as a part of Operation Southern Guard. I edited this from video via Corporal Cassidy Shepherd:

On 04FEB2025, ‘high-threat’ illegals began arriving on U.S. Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, via C-17 Globemaster-3. Video via Chad McNeeley:

FLORIDA

On 18FEB2025, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported capturing a human smuggler, and returning the 23 illegals being smuggled to the Bahamas.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conduct arrests of illegals in West Palm Beach, 11FEB2025. Video by Corey Bullard:

MARYLAND

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Middletown, Maryland, 13FEB2025. Video by John Blackburn:

NORTH CAROLINA

On Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Marines with 1st Battalion-6th Marine regiment-2nd Marine Division deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, onboard a KC-130J Super Hercules, as part of President Trump’s plan to use Guantanamo to house violent illegals captured in the U.S., video via Sergeant Rowdy Vanskike, 02FEB2025:

On Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Marines with 1st Battalion-6th Marine regiment-2nd Marine Division deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, onboard a U.S. Navy C-40A ‘Clipper’ (Boeing 737), video via Lance Corporal Landon Lingle, 03FEB2025:

TEXAS

Riverine operations of the never ending Operation Lone Star, video report via Master Sergeant Amber Monio and Staff Sergeant Derek Gutierrez, 23FEB2025:

About 1-hundred Texas National Guard personnel with Operation Lone Star went through U.S. Customs and Border Protection training from 18-20FEB2025, in McAllen. Video report via Master Sergeant Amber Monio:

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) arrested a ship captain for employing illegals, among other crimes, near South Padre Island.

California and Texas National Guard patrol along the southern borders of New Mexico and Texas, video report via Sergeant First Class Christy Van Drunen, recorded between 25JAN-05FEB2025, released on 13FEB2025:

Georgia Army National Guard inspect a train entering the U.S. near Uvalde, 12FEB2025.

Captured illegals are put aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130 on Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, 12FEB2025. Video by Corporal Adaris Cole:

This U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) video, via Todd Packard, claims to show “routine daily” arrest operations in El Paso, on 03FEB2025:

The USCG captured 11 Mexicans illegally fishing in U.S. territorial water. They had illegally fished approximately 1,595 pounds of red snapper along with nine sharks!

USCG HC-130J Super Hercules, deportation operations on Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas, 02FEB2025.

VIRGINIA

U.S. ICE video, via John Blackburn, recorded during early morning of 04FEB2025:

January 2025: New Year, New President, same war on drugs & illegals?

Check out my ‘Border War U.S.A.’ playlist on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj8cKlJz-MWvlTazK36w4b4O

International, Technology

No more NATO-România MiG-21 ‘Fishbed/Lancer’!

Video March 1, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Romania retired its last active Cold War era Mikoyan & Gurevich (MiG) 21s on 15MAY2023, officially replacing them with new versions of the Cold War era General Dynamics F-16s: “Decommissioning of the MiG-21 LanceR aircraft and the accelerated transition to the operation of the F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force.”–Forțele Aeriene Române

Romanian Ministerul Apararii Nationale retirement video report:

Romanian F-16s; I edited this from a NATO video, non-disclosed location over Europe, released July 2023:

I edited together several NATO ‘walk-around’ videos (mostly silent videos) recorded between 2016 and 2020:

Serbian Armed Forces video from September 2018’s International Air Tactical Exercise Air Solution (involving Ohio National Guard, Romania and Serbia):

2020: NATO’s MiG-21 (with more videos of Romanian MiG-21s, including a report about Romanian pilot’s last flight in MiG-21)

For more MiG videos go to my ‘Forever Wars’ playlist on my YouTube variety-show channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkZrLGwZbnj93-HZy9E6tQvyrXyMi_-x7

U.S.

20FEB2025, U.S. Secretary of Defense announcements.

Video February 22, 2025 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says main stream “woke” news media is lying about Defense Department cuts! Welcomes DOGE inspectors:

The actual physical location of the Pentagon is in Virginia, not Washington DC. Washington DC is the mailing address for the Pentagon.

14FEB2025: United States + NATO-Poland.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Brian Hegseth reports on efforts to use Guantanamo Bay, on Cuba, to hold violent illegals.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Brian Hegseth reports on the 29JAN2025 crash between U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk and American Eagle Flight 5342.

Technology, U.S.

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, in war-time color!

Video February 21, 2025 Hutchins AAron

An early P-40 Warhawk.

AT-6 Texan versus P-40 Warhawk.

A row of early P-40s, no information came with the photo.

Somewhere in China, date not given.

26th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Group, somewhere in China.

A pilot and his P-40.

Maintaining in Panama.

I got this from a silent color film, recorded sometime in 1942. It shows the nose-names applied to newly arrived P-40E Warhawks (to replace the P-40B/Cs that were destroyed by the Japanese) on Hickam Field, Territory of Hawaii:

Before the Second World War started France had ordered hundreds of Curtiss P-40 fighters, but did not receive them due to being invaded by Germany. After the United States invaded Morocco, U.S. General James Harold ‘Jimmy’ Doolittle presided over the official delivery ceremony of Warhawks to the newly ‘liberated’ French Groupe de Chasse GC II/5 (aka Lafayette Escadrille), on Casablanca-Cazas airfield in Morocco, on the African continent. I edited from a collection of color silent films recorded by B. O’Conner on 09JAN1943 (the date of the official ceremony, in reality the U.S. had already equipped the French unit in November 1942):

Casablanca-Cazas airfield in Morocco, 09JAN1943.

U.S. Army Photo Division personnel incorrectly listed the above photo as being in Algeria (Algiers), it is from the 09JAN1943 ceremony in Morocco.

P-40 Warhawk, Aleutian Islands, 11DEC1943.

The U.S. Army photo-info says this is a ‘E’ version, but the tail looks like the ‘K’ version.

P-40 Warhawk over Mount Vesuvius, supposedly before it erupted on 18MAR1944.

Uncle Sam preps for War: Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

International, U.S.

‘Democracy & Inclusion’ equal new anti-Iran/Russia military pact!

Video February 18, 2025 Hutchins AAron

On 14JAN2025, during the last days of the Biden regime, a Strategic Partnership ‘agreement’ was signed between Armenia and United States of America. It includes, among other things, “nuclear cooperation”. Armenia sits on the southern border of Georgia (which itself sits on the southern border of Russia) and the northern border of Iran.

Video via U.S. Department of State, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, in the Harry S. Truman building, Washington DC:

U.S. Embassy Armenia: Charter on Strategic Partnership Between the United States of America and the Republic of Armenia

2021: USACE spends your money building fire stations for Armenia!

Vehicle I-D: Armenian Armor Հայկական զրահ

International, U.S.

United States + NATO-Poland, 14FEB2025.

Video February 17, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister/Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, conduct press conference and report that their main concern is increasing taxpayer funding for the purpose of supporting the U.S. military industrial complex, and expanding Poland’s military industrial complex.

Video via U.S. Department of Defense, 14FEB2025, Warsaw, Poland:

Gaza? Lebanon? Syria? It has always been about Iran!

International, U.S.

Gaza? Lebanon? Syria? It has always been about Iran!

Video February 17, 2025 Hutchins AAron

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio conduct press conference on 16FEB2025, blaming Iran for the regional wars launched by Israel.

Video via U.S. Department of State, Jerusalem, Israel:

May 2024: U.S. DoS halts weapons deliveries to Israel! Says Israel has killed too many civilians!

April 2024: False Flag? Israel bombs ex-U.S. base in Iraq?

Business/Economics, Idaho, Kit Bashing, Technology, U.S.

Pocatello Model Railroad & Historical Society, open house 15FEB2025.

Video February 17, 2025 Hutchins AAron

On a cold, blustery, snowy day, the Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society held another Open House. On 15FEB2025, non-club members could come in from the cold and watch some neat displays come to life. Hopefully the club, which also helps to preserve a very important part of Pocatello’s history, which many local railroad hating officials seem to want to bury (I’ve noted elsewhere that a major cause of the demise of the local economy is due to public officials making a decision that ultimately killed thousands of local Union Pacific jobs), will gain more members, or better yet, raise some much needed cash.

Always under construction.

Anybody remember their display in the old Pocatello Mall? Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society’s current location needs a new roof. My blustery video report:

East Idaho News, March 2024: “The railroad went to Chief Pocatello to get permission to lay their tracks through here. The Chief asked (what was in it for them) if they donated land. The railroad said, ‘Anytime you or your braves want to ride the train, we’ll let you ride it for free.’ That’s what it took to get the tracks through here.”-Larry Gilbreath, President of the Model Railroad and Historical Society

The ‘Big Room’.

Tax revolt? Some of my video from the Big Room:

Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society is funded with membership fees and donations. The club was started by Union Pacific railroad employees, and other fans of mini-trains.