Judges Info/Bios

Judges Info/Background/Experience:

Dave Ball   --   Model builder for 68 years.  Multiple Regional Winner, National Winner in Aircraft.   22 years judging experience.  Lifetime modeler and knowledgeable automotive person.

Larry McMillan   --   Model builder for 68 years.  Winner of many model contests.  30 years of judging experience including Regionals in Cleveland in late 1990’s.  Lifetime model builder.

Jim Mesko  (deceased) --  Model builder for 60 years.  A numerous model show winner at local, Regional, and National events in both IPMS and AMPS competition.  A Viet Nam Veteran and author of 40+ books on armor, aircraft, & ships and an author for Squadron Signal publications. He was one of the world’s most knowledgeable people on armor, aircraft and ships as well as corresponding models.

Dave Blankenship  --  Model builder for 56 years.  Winner and placer at numerous model contests, including local and IPMS.  Has judged for many years.

Steve Heather  --  Model builder for 41 years.  Has won gold, silver, & bronze in AMPS Nationals as well as numerous place awards in many local contests.  Currently in 13th year of judging.

Larry Davis – Model builder for many years. Member of IPMS/USA since 1971. 10 time National winner in IPMS/USA. Has won hundreds of Regional awards inc. Best of Show. Has judged at many Regional model shows. Author of over 75 books for Squadron Signal publications. Author of several major titles for Cartech Books and for Schiffer Books.  Editor of Sabrejet Classics magazine.  A member of SSMC.

Adam Tomlinson – Model builder for many years. Has judged many years at NNL and IPMS Regionals and volunteers at most local shows. Current President of the Northeast Ohio Akron IPMS chapter. Has judged for over 29 years.

Russell Gwin – Member of the Y City Scale Modelers Club in Zanesville & a model builder for 38 years. Has judged for 28 years. A 1ST Place winner at the Toledo NNL in 2003.

Pete Diekmann – Model builder for 71 years. Numerous model Show winner w/most recent 1st Place wins in “Under Construction” class at Zanesville YCSM show & “Competition” class at Elida, Ohio LT show & 1st in Die Cast in Pa.  Has judged for 17 years. Current President of SSMC. 

Kevin Mallett – Model builder for 60 years. Judged previously for 11 years in various shows Ohio & West Virginia. Is a multiple 1st Place winner at Zanesville YCSM, Columbus BlizzCon, Stark Scale Modelers Club, & W. Va. Shows. One of Ohio’s most knowledgeable people on automotive model kits and parts.

Jim Athya – Model builder for 39 years. Has judged 11 years, and has many top placings in many shows, particularly IPMS.

Dean Kleines  --  Model builder for 42 years.  Model winner for 1st Place in local IPMS contest & 3rd at Regional.  Has judged for 14 years.

Steve Dottavio – Model builder for 60 years. Has won 1st & 2nd place in several local contests, as well as Bronze Award at the Louisville, Ky. Wonderfest. Recently won 3rd place at the IPMS Columbus Show, and 1st Place at 2023 Stark Scale Modelers Show.

John Shimek  --  Model builder for over 46 years.  A Regional & National IPMS winner.  Judging for over 25 years, including at Nationals for 13 years.

Glenn Marek  --  Model builder since 1964 with many winning and high-placing models. Professional photographer w/coverage in several model car magazines & all Toledo NNL's. Has judged for several years. Trophies won at Cleveland Custom Autorama for Best Truck, Best Motorcycle & 1st Place Car.

Eric Mayle - Model builder for many years with several winning and high placing models, and several model photos published in model car magazines. SSMC member.

Jim McCormick - An excellent builder of detailed dioramas for many years.  SSMC member and judge of youth class.

Robert "Red" Davis - Model builder, collector and vendor for many years. A knowledgeable veteran in the hobby, with a keen eye for details.

Dan Heinzerling - Long-time member of the North Coast Auto Modelers Club in Cleveland and model builder since 1982.

Kevin Wallenhorst - Model builder for 41 years. Has judged for over 11 years. Current President of the North Coast Auto Modelers Club in Cleveland.

Charlie Patterson - Model builder for many years. Long-time member  and current Treasurer of the North Coast Auto Modelers Club in Cleveland.

Martez & Malakai Wheeler - Youth members of the SSMC who will judge the Baby Blue class, which they suggested for this year's show.

We ask that no one interrupt or converse with any of the judges during the model judging, as they have many models to judge in a short amount of time, and we want get the awards ceremony started on time. Thank you.

The Stark Scale Modelers Club would like to thank all the above judges for their time in judging at our shows, both past and present.   We take pride in selecting  veteran, knowledgeable, skilled, fair and impartial people from all areas of Ohio, to judge at our contest.