We’re back from HeritageCon feeling the best kind of tired, the kind you earn after a weekend packed with great people, hobby shop stops, and a contest floor full of inspiration. We share highlights from the trip, what stood out about the quality and sheer volume of models, and why getting to an event in person can put real mojo back in your modeling.

April is upon us, and we’re looking ahead to the AMPS International Convention in South Bend, Indiana, plus teasing upcoming content: an on-site Wheel Of Accidental Wisdom shop talk recording, a listener question on restarting the hobby from scratch, and practical tips we’re gathering on attending overseas model shows and what it takes to travel well as a scale modeler. We also check in on the Dojo’s growth and why sharing contest flyers helps the whole community.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the next drops, and if you enjoy the show, share it with a modeling friend and leave a review. What contest or hobby event are you planning to attend next?

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Bases By Bill
Your source for custom display bases, laser engraved airfield and carrier decks.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

A simple lunch-break experiment turns into a genuine “wait, what just happened?” moment: we take AI prompting seriously, generate photorealistic figure concepts for a WWII Eastern Front diorama, and push that workflow toward a printable 3D result. The speed is exciting, the pitfalls are real, and the implications for scale modeling feel closer than most people think. We talk through what worked, what broke during iteration, and why details like hands and equipment accuracy still matter if you care about believable miniatures and historical modeling. 

Before we get nerdy, we’re also in full HeritageCon mode. We share practical travel prep, the registration warning you do not want to learn the hard way, and the kind of listener meetups that make model shows the best part of the year. Listener mail and DMs bring in great topics too: Mission Models paint solutions, custom decal experiences, 1/72 SA-2 and Patriot missile system kit leads, new tools for the hobby room, and a reminder that great customer support still sets the best companies apart. 

From there, we widen the lens to inspiration and momentum. We compare the pull of books, period photos, model show tables, and conversations with other builders, then pivot into our benchtop updates, including scratch-built hardware fixes, 3D print “can’t live with it” corrections, and a quick faves-and-yawns scan of new releases and accessories. 

If you’re into plastic model kits, dioramas, 3D printing, AI-generated miniatures, and the future of the hobby, hit play and join the conversation. Subscribe, share the episode with a modeling friend, and leave us a review so more builders can find the show.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Bases By Bill
Your source for custom display bases, laser engraved airfield and carrier decks.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

April is stacked with model shows, but not all scale model contests feel the same once you walk into the room. We line up three very different events and get into the details that actually matter when you’re deciding where to spend a Saturday: when doors open, when registration closes, what judging looks like, how strong the vendor room is, and what you can do while the judges are working.

First stop is the Roscoe Turner Invitational outside Indianapolis in Lebanon, Indiana. It’s a big traditional IPMS-style one-two-three show with the familiar spread of categories, a serious vendor hall, great onsite food, and special awards that fit the region. There you can enjoy a figure painting seminar hosted by Bret Avants.  We also talk about a smart operational idea that judges love: using shared plastic bases so staff can move models without touching your build.

Then we jump time zones to CoMMiesFest in Golden, Colorado, where the vibe is relaxed but the planning is sharp. They rebuilt their judging workflow into a browser-based system that runs on your phone, added fun theme and specialty awards, and packed the day with seminars, demos, seating, and a food truck to keep people engaged instead of disappearing during judging. If you care about sci-fi modeling, Gunpla, minis, and a show that’s trying to welcome adjacent hobby communities, you’ll want to hear how they’re approaching it.

We wrap in Northern California with the Wine Country Model Expo in Petaluma, which leans into open judging and an exhibition-style layout that groups each modeler’s work together so conversations happen naturally. Add seminars, raffles, a charity silent auction, and a post-show social gathering, and you’ve got a blueprint for where “model show culture” might be headed.

If you enjoy Model Show Spotlight, subscribe, share this with a modeling buddy, and leave us a review so more builders can find it.

Brought to you by... The World of Armor

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Bases By Bill
Your source for custom display bases, laser engraved airfield and carrier decks.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

An AI prompt that becomes a real scale figure you can hold in your hand sounds like science fiction, but the gap just got a lot smaller. We sit down with returning guest Jake McKee to walk through the exact, messy, real-world workflow he is using right now to create custom 3D printed figures for a diorama, starting with an AI-generated photoreal image and ending with a printable STL. We dig into what works, what breaks, and why “yes, no, and maybe” is the most honest answer when you ask whether AI can “sculpt” for the hobby.

Jake explains how tools like ChatGPT for image creation and Meshi.ai or Tripo for image-to-3D conversion fit together, why simple standing poses succeed faster than compact seated drivers, and how artifacts show up when the software has to guess hidden geometry. We also talk about the practical reality of paying for subscriptions or tokens, the difference between fast results and better meshes, and when learning Blender becomes the fastest path to cleaning and reposing a figure instead of endlessly re-rolling prompts.

After the interview, we shift back to the bench with updates on current builds, HeritageCon anticipation, and an experiment that a lot of car builders and decal junkies will appreciate: a one-off custom decal order for a Moosaroo Cup Miata. We share what the print quality looks like, how the decal film behaves, and what we would do differently next time.

See Jake's workflow and links to his favorite AI tools here!

If you are curious about AI in scale modeling, 3D printing for dioramas, custom figures, or faster ways to generate masks and patterns, this one will spark ideas. Subscribe, share the episode with a modeling friend, and leave us a five-star rating and a review so more builders can find the show.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Bases By Bill
Your source for custom display bases, laser engraved airfield and carrier decks.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

Ready to watch text turn into tiny people you can actually paint? We kick off March with big plans, bigger shows, and a hands-on look at a workflow that converts AI prompts into resin-ready 3D figures for your next diorama. It started with a listener asking how to crowd a Union Pacific Big Boy display, and it grew into a full pipeline: prompt, generate, refine, export, print, and paint. 

Beyond the bench, we mention HeritageCon plans and flag open registration for the US nationals. Our lineup continues with a shop talk episode focused on motivation—what keeps us building when time is short—and show spotlights for April, including Roscoe Turner in Indianapolis and the Wine Country Model Expo in California. The Dojo on Facebook just cleared 5,700 members, and daily posts now deliver show reports, 3D previews, and jaw-dropping builds that make you want to prime something tonight.

If you love scale modeling, resin printing, or just the thrill of learning a new trick, press play and join us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s eyeing a new printer, and leave a review telling us what figure you want to generate next.

Email us at  [email protected]

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

When the days are short and the bench time is shorter, what keeps us building? We open the studio door on a fast, funny, and honest ride through the parts of scale modeling that actually matter: a workspace that invites you to sit down, a ritual that signals “now we create,” and a community that shows up when motivation dips. The mailbag sets the tone—digital galleries that make old builds new again, a legendary decal mishap that proves perfection isn’t required, and a smart question about the power of influencers. Do YouTube pros push products or possibilities? We separate inspiration from imitation and share how to borrow techniques without losing your voice.

Then we tackle fear targets with real tactics. A 1/32 resin Viggen in splinter camo? Treat the paint job as its own project, build clean first, and practice masks on a cheap mule. Wingnut Wings rigging anxiety? De‑risk the process with repeatable steps and scrap‑wing drills. Along the way, we rediscover why the hobby sticks: it’s Shangri‑La for busy minds, a hands‑on history lab, and the start of friendships that carry far beyond the bench. Listener stories echo our own—escapism, creativity, and shelves that chart the evolution from Wildcat to Bearcat.

On the bench, we move a Hellcat through oils, satin, and chips, and push the Roosevelt build with neat bare‑metal‑foil masking tricks for razor‑clean trim. In the stash‑temptation corner, we nerd out over new releases: Tamiya’s M24 Chaffee, BT upgrades and turrets, a 1/48 Vulcan with the wingspan of a stingray, and a 1/35 Me 323 that begs for a rolling cargo diorama. We wrap with the simple rule we live by: if you’re not enjoying it, change what you’re doing. Want more of this energy in your feed? Hit follow, rate us five stars, and share the show with a modeling friend who needs a spark.

Pelicon'26 - a show to attend in the Tampa, FL area
Emmas Planes - a listener recommened website

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

The Model Show Spotlight is brought to you by The World of Armor!

A flying Lancaster overhead, rows of models below, and a sold‑out vendor hall buzzing with deals—HeritageCon 2026 is set to deliver a full‑throttle modeling day inside the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. We sit down with the new coordination team to share what’s changing, what’s staying great, and how to lock in your spot before entries sell out.

We break down the essentials: March 29, doors at 9 a.m., with registration moving to the museum’s system to streamline both admission and model entries. Pre‑registration opens March 1 at 9 a.m., and there’s no registration at the door, so timing matters. Expect a packed floor with over 140 vendor tables, from local shops to aftermarket specialists offering barrels, tracks, decals, tools, and the kind of book deals that vanish fast. Between the C‑47, B‑25, and the museum’s showpiece Lancaster, you’ll have instant reference material for weathering, modulation, and panel tone decisions you can take straight to the bench.

Programming keeps the momentum high. Judging starts at noon while the seminar track runs with Harvey Lowe on aircraft modulation and weathering, plus our live “Wheel of Accidental Wisdom”—a fast, practical, game‑style session where crowd questions turn into build tips and giveaways. The contest follows a familiar IPMS structure: armor by era and side, aircraft across pre‑war to Cold War, a growing Gundam and sci‑fi presence, plus robust auto and ship categories. Specialty awards add local flavor, including best Canadian subject, best fighter flown by a Canadian pilot, best Ukrainian subject, veteran recognition, people’s choice, and judges’ best of show.

We also share travel and weather tips for late March in Ontario, the on‑site cafe plan, and how the community energy carries from the vendor aisles to the evening hangouts. If you’re aiming to compete, pre‑register, pack smart, and double‑check your category. If you’re there to learn, sit in on the talks, snap reference photos under the Lancaster, and make a wishlist before you hit the vendor hall.

Ready to roll? Subscribe for more show spotlights, share this preview with your build group, and leave a quick review so other modelers can find us. Then set a reminder: March 1 at 9 a.m.—get registered and we’ll see you under the wings on March 29.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

Ever stalled on a “dream build” because you’re afraid to mess it up? We went straight at those fear targets—perfectionism, PE jitters, bare‑metal dread, and the myth that pros are “just fast”—and came back with practical fixes that make the bench fun again. Kicked off by a wave of listener mail, we connect the dots between honest expectations and real skill barriers, then show how to shrink both: build your favorite subject twice (one OOB as recon, one for the opus), keep something always in paint to protect your airbrush touch, and use smart crutches—canopy masks, 3D prints, and layered decals—so your craft effort lands where it matters.

Community kept shaping the journey. From clubs that outlive geography to vendor‑table conversations that compress months of trial and error, we heard how connection turns paralysis into progress. One modeler finally tackled a family B‑17 after years of hesitation and discovered the power of “a hundred little builds,” learning new techniques while honoring a story that mattered. Another shifted from failed journals to a public build log that doubles as a searchable memory. Along the way we swapped tips for taming CA, tested custom decals (plus an opacity workaround), and compared wet vs. dry color shifts on new AK Real Colors. Yes, we even found a French marine catapult and may have paid for it twice—worth it.

Bench reports? The Hellcat is decaled and heading into gloss, the long‑parked T‑33 is back on the rails, and Moosaroo is heating up with a vignette twist and custom markings from a boutique printer. If you’ve been avoiding your favorite subject, this is your permission slip to jump: make a plan that fits your time, turn one big build into guided sprints, and let technology erase the chores that steal your mojo. Hit play, then tell us: what’s the one fear you’re finally tackling this month? If this resonated, subscribe, share with a modeling friend, and leave a quick review so more builders find the show.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

Snow may slow travel, but the calendar is heating up. We swap plans and call out standout events across the map, including BlizzCon in Columbus, AMPS Atlanta, 4M Mayhem in Michigan, Rochester’s Hope It Don’t Snow, and the Old Dominion Open in Richmond. For planning and entries, IPMSUSA.org remains the essential resource, with listings that stretch well into spring. That rhythm—research, build, show, repeat—keeps the hobby humming even when the weather says stay home.

Community is the thread. The Plastic Model Dojo has surged past 5,600 members, and the feed is full of show flyers, build logs, and finished models that show serious skill. We highlight a new Gemini book, and we touch on current work heading to Kennedy for Artemis, a reminder that the same care we bring to scale builds echoes in real-world engineering. It’s all connected: precision, patience, and the joy of making.

We also set up two upcoming topics that need your voice: what stops us from starting, and what do we truly get from this hobby—calm, community, challenge, or something else entirely? Share your story and help shape the conversation around motivation and meaning at the bench.

Subscribe for more modeling insights and show news, share this with a friend who needs cleaner canopies, and leave a review to help others find the pod. Got thoughts or tips to add? Send us a note and join the Dojo—your build might spark someone’s next breakthrough.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.  

What happens when the hobby you love starts feeling like a chore? We go straight at that question with Jim Bates, exploring how burnout creeps in, why favorite subjects can become fear targets, and what it takes to rediscover honest joy at the bench. Jim shares how a demanding year pushed modeling to the margins, why armor felt freer than aircraft, and the simple mindset shift that turned “perfect or quit” into “finish and learn.” Along the way, we unpack airbrush avoidance, photoetch dread, and the tiny victories that rebuild momentum—like stripping a botched primer, repainting, and choosing progress over paralysis.

We also get practical. You’ll hear how keeping short journal notes, and accepting weekend-only bench time can remove friction and make modeling sustainable again. We talk about the limits of step-by-step boilerplate articles, why video excels at teaching technique, and how personal writing can spark creativity in ways a camera can’t. Jim’s revived blog, A Scale Canadian, is his sandbox for that approach: short, thoughtful posts that value honesty over hype.

There’s fresh inspiration too. We walk through Model Mania at the Museum of Flight—a display-only, public-forward event with seminars, demos from Rick Lawler, and zero contest pressure—plus a quick tour of new kit announcements that caught our eye, from Airfix’s Canberra and JU 52 to MiniArt’s Opel Maultier. To close, we share bench updates: Shermans and Cromwells, a Hellcat edging toward weathering, a T-33 off the shelf of doom, and a KV-85 waiting on brass.

If you’ve been stuck, second-guessing, or saving “the good kit” for a better version of yourself that never seems to arrive, this conversation is your nudge. Build for you. Finish something small. Protect your joy. Then tell us what you’re tackling next. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes, Mixing supplies, and great advice!

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
Buy Me a Beer
Paypal

Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
Ad Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" Bair

Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.