Plastic Model Mojo

What happens when scale modeling becomes historical detective work? Jake McKee joins us to share his extraordinary journey creating an historically accurate 1:35 scale Clubmobile—a converted GMC truck that brought donuts, coffee, and a touch of home to WWII soldiers near the frontlines.

This isn't just any modeling project. McKee walks us through the challenges of researching these vehicles that largely disappeared after the war, requiring him to piece together fragmentary evidence from archives, photographs, and specialized libraries. We explore how he's using CAD design and 3D printing to recreate not just the vehicle's exterior, but its complete interior—from donut-making machines to record players with loudspeakers.

Beyond the technical aspects, we dive into the human story of the "Donut Dollies"—civilian women who drove these trucks dangerously close to combat zones while facing constant harassment. Despite their contributions to troop morale, most returned home without recognition or veterans' benefits, their wartime experiences often dismissed or misunderstood.

The conversation moves beyond simple modeling techniques to explore how scale modeling can preserve important historical narratives. McKee's dedication to accuracy honors these forgotten women while demonstrating how our hobby can contribute meaningfully to historical remembrance.

Whether you're fascinated by unusual military vehicles, 3D printing techniques, or the untold stories of WWII support personnel, this episode offers a compelling look at how one modeler is bringing a remarkable piece of history back to life. Follow along as we explore the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and historical preservation in one of the most thought-provoking modeling projects we've encountered.

Jake's Clubmobile Blog Post

iMODELER Blog Post on the Tulsa Route 66 Model Expo

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Armor modeling enthusiasts, mark your calendars! In this deep-dive conversation with Neil Stokes, newly elected President of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society (AMPS), we unveil everything you need to know about the upcoming AMPS International Convention taking place May 15-17, 2025, at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Neal shares details about what promises to be their biggest show yet, with approximately 700 competition models expected and over 110 vendor tables already booked. Located just across the river from Harrisburg and near both Hershey Park and Gettysburg Battlefield, the venue offers convenience for attendees and activities for accompanying family members.

What sets AMPS apart from other modeling competitions? Every single entry receives written feedback from judges, helping modelers understand their strengths and areas for improvement. This educational approach has fostered an incredibly high standard of craftsmanship that continues to impress even veteran attendees.

Beyond the competition floor, visitors can look forward to special attractions including "Lady Lois," a full-scale M3A1 Stuart tank on display Friday, an extensive raffle, and seven specialized seminars including four hands-on workshops covering advanced modeling techniques. This year's theme is "African Armor," encompassing everything from World War II North African campaign vehicles to modern conflict equipment.

 Neil offers insight into AMPS' strategic future, actively reaching out to "armor-adjacent" modeling communities including sci-fi, Gundam, and Warhammer enthusiasts. These newer modelers often enter the hobby through different cultural influences but bring tremendous talent and fresh perspectives that enrich the traditional armor modeling community.

Whether you're a dedicated armor modeler, curious about expanding your skills, or simply love meticulously crafted miniatures, the AMPS International Convention offers something for everyone.

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When modelers gather to talk shop, magic happens. This episode pairs hosts Mike and Kentucky Dave with special guest Jeff Groves (the Inch High Guy) for an enlightening conversation that dives deep into the beating heart of the scale modeling hobby.

Fresh from attending the Roscoe Turner show in Indianapolis, Jeff shares his experience at one of the region's premier modeling events, sparking a candid discussion about the current state of model contests. The trio examines trends in vendor behavior, judging systems, and show formats that affect the modeling community's experience. Their insights reveal both concerns and potential solutions that could enhance these vital gathering points for hobbyists.

The conversation shifts to modern weathering and scenery products, where practical experience trumps marketing claims. Dave recounts his adventures with water effects taking days longer to dry than advertised, while Jeff advocates for reliable staples and even dollar store cosmetics that deliver consistent results. Mike cautions about the short shelf life of specialty weathering products, offering wisdom that could save modelers both frustration and money.

Perhaps most compelling is their passionate exploration of model bases and displays. With Dave asserting "if it's not a really well-done base, don't put it on a base," they dissect common mistakes and share principles for creating displays that enhance rather than detract from your models. From the "elephant on a postage stamp" problem to overly cluttered dioramas, their practical advice applies to modelers of all disciplines.

The episode rounds out with a look at their current projects, including Jeff's impressive batch build of eight Japanese aircraft, and highlights noteworthy new kit announcements. Whether you're a contest regular, a weathering enthusiast, or simply looking to display your models more effectively, this conversation offers valuable insights from modelers who speak from decades of combined experience.

The Inch High Guy Blog

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The gentle shift from winter to spring brings more than just pollen-dusted cars and blooming trees to the modeling world—it signals the arrival of regional show season. In this April update, we recount our recent adventure to Heritage Con, which we expanded this year to include trips to Detroit and the Michigan Toy Soldier shop before the main event.

Heritage Con continues to hit the sweet spot for model enthusiasts. The perfect mix of vendors, the electric atmosphere, and the manageable size create an environment where deals seem to materialize more readily than at larger national events. But beyond the shopping, the true highlight was connecting with listeners and fellow modelers. The faces, conversations, and shared experiences represent what makes this hobby truly special—the community that forms around our shared passion.

Looking ahead, we preview two content-rich episodes coming this April. Episode 138 brings Jeff "Inch High" Groves to the Shop Talk segment to discuss avant-garde weathering products (the good and bad), the current state of model shows across America, and philosophical thoughts on model bases. Later in the month, Episode 139 welcomes back Jake McKee to explore project planning and research through the lens of his fascinating Red Cross Clubmobile build—a refreshing focus on the often-overlooked support vehicles that kept military operations running.

We're thrilled to report explosive growth in our modeling dojo community, with over 100 new members joining in less than three weeks. The increasing activity spans work-in-progress shares, technical questions, book reviews, and finished models—all supported by our extraordinary community members who consistently demonstrate willingness to help and encourage others. Have you joined us yet? Check our show notes for feedback links and ways to connect with this thriving community of model enthusiasts.

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The modeling community comes alive in this episode as Mike and Kentucky Dave return from Heritage Con at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, where connections proved even more valuable than the contests and vendors. Their journey to the Great White North yielded far more than just additions to their stash – it rekindled that irreplaceable modeling spirit that comes from face-to-face interactions with fellow enthusiasts. 

Listeners will discover the power of in-person events as our hosts share how meeting podcast fans, spending time with friends, and seeing exceptional models on display has energized their passion for the hobby. From their strategic approach to travel (stopping at Michigan Toy Soldier en route) to reuniting with familiar faces and meeting new ones, the episode captures what makes the modeling community special.

The mailbag segment addresses fascinating questions about tweezers (with recommendations beyond the hobby world), the ongoing "scale wars" debate, and creative organization methods from listeners worldwide. These practical discussions showcase how modelers continue to refine their craft through shared wisdom

A special treat arrives with the return of the "Wheel of Accidental Wisdom" featuring guest Ed Baroth. This lively segment tackles everything from household items repurposed for modeling to productivity hacks and how the hobby has transformed over decades. Ed's perspective as an experienced modeler adds depth to conversations about batch building, nostalgia kits, lost parts, and the technological advances that have revolutionized scale modeling.

Between bench updates, modeling fluid reviews of Canadian craft beers and whiskey, and heartfelt shoutouts to the people who make the hobby special, this episode reminds us why we build: for the joy of creation, certainly, but equally for the community that surrounds us. Whether you're a longtime builder or just starting your modeling journey, you'll find yourself nodding along as Mike and Dave celebrate what truly matters – the connections we forge through our shared passion.

Cole-Palmer (Lab Supplier)
Timber Woods Scale Models (Listener YouTube Channel)

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The unmistakable energy of model show season pulses through the latest Plastic Model Mojo episode as we journey from coast to coast exploring two major spring modeling events. Our cross-country virtual tour begins in sunny Florida with Don Buerger of the Pelican Model Club, who shares details about their upcoming April 26th show near Tampa.

Don walks us through the evolution of Pelican 2025, highlighting their shift to the increasingly popular gold-silver-bronze judging format where models are evaluated on individual merit rather than through direct competition. With 65 vendor tables already sold out, a movie and television theme ("Lights, Camera, Action!"), and special awards honoring club founders, this Florida event promises to be a highlight of the southeastern modeling calendar.

The conversation then pivots dramatically northwestward as Martin Paietta introduces us to the Seattle Spring Show happening the same weekend. This impressively large one-day event boasted 900+ entries from 220 modelers last year, making it one of North America's largest single-day model exhibitions. The Seattle show maintains traditional IPMS 1-2-3 judging but keeps the model room open during judging, allowing continuous viewing of entries throughout the day.

What emerges through both conversations is a fascinating look at how model shows are evolving while maintaining their core purpose: bringing together diverse modeling communities from across regions and disciplines. Whether you're fascinated by aircraft, armor, science fiction, or scratch-built dioramas crafted from yogurt containers, these gatherings showcase extraordinary creativity and craftsmanship.

Whether you're planning to attend HeritageCon in Hamilton, Pelican 2025 in Tampa, or the Seattle Spring Show, this episode offers valuable insights into what makes model shows such vital gathering points for hobbyists. Connect with fellow modelers, find inspiration, expand your collection, and experience the joy of seeing hundreds of meticulously crafted miniature masterpieces in person!

Get to a show folks... it's loads of fun!

PeliCON
Seattle Spring Show

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What makes the modeling community so special? In this engaging episode, Mike and Kentucky Dave explore the bonds that form when scale modelers connect beyond their workbenches. After sharing updates about plumbing troubles and work challenges that impact their hobby time (and budget!), the conversation shifts to exciting news about HeritageCon, where modeling friends from across the US and Canada will converge. Mike's unexpected schedule change means he'll make the event after all, leading to plans for a Michigan Toy Soldier Company visit with their Minnesota and Canadian modeling buddies.

The heart of this episode features three thought-provoking Shop Talk segments. First, the hosts share their plans for skill improvement in 2025, with Dave committing to finally finishing those 90%-complete builds and Mike vowing to dedicate more consistent bench time. Their different approaches to modeling shine through in the discussion about "crappy kits" – Dave preferring well-engineered modern kits that bring joy during assembly, while Mike views kits as merely "boxes of parts" that might be useful for creating his vision, sometimes finding that older, supposedly inferior kits offer better pathways to his desired result.

Book lovers will especially appreciate the hosts' recommendations for essential modeling references, from the comprehensive Detail and Scale series to specialized works like KV Technical History from Tanko Grad Publishing and Son of Sherman 2. These conversations reveal how reference materials dramatically improve model accuracy while deepening appreciation for the subjects we build.

Whether you're drawn to the technical discussions, the camaraderie between longtime friends, or the global modeling community represented through listener mail from four continents, this episode reminds us that scale modeling connects us in ways that transcend the workbench. What reference books have transformed your modeling? We'd love to hear about them!

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Spring brings excitement and an urge to connect within the modeling community while preparing for upcoming shows. Our reflections lead to discussions that resonate both personally and collectively, focusing on how our workspaces impact our creativity and interactions.

• Conversations about the arrival of spring and the excitement of model shows
• Personal experiences shared from the Columbus event and its significance
• Engaging with the community through shared experiences and workspace photos

Join us for the next conversation and don't forget to share your hobby space!

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What happens when winter weather in Kentucky meets the Plastic Model Mojo crew? We dive into the challenges of maintaining our modeling schedules amidst the chill and share our excitement for the upcoming model show season, including a much-anticipated trip to Columbus, and  for the Moosaroo Cup.

Our mailbag is buzzing with some great listener mail, like one from Rock Rozak at Detail and Scale about their release of the P-51 Mustang book series, or a short discussion on decluttering, inspired by Jake McKee's keepsake dilemma, and Ville Jurvanen's  journey to polish skills with shiny 2K clear coats.

Meet Mark Copeland, who brings a fascinating perspective from his role as Director of Educational Travel for the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. His story takes us from the airline industry to historical tours through 8th Air Force bases, and to the shores of Normandy,  emphasizing the emotional connections formed with veterans. Mark's passion for the Eight Airforce is palpable, and our conversation with him sheds light on the fascinating world of historical travel. Learning the details of these exciting tours, offers listeners a chance to join these historical journeys.

Whether you're here for the camaraderie, the community insights, or the chance to learn about spectacular educational travel opportunities, this episode promises an engaging and enlightening experience. Don't miss the stories, the history, and the promise of thrilling new projects on the horizon.

Aviaeology - Japanese tail code decals mentioned in the Episode
Twin Cities Aero Historians - IPMS/USA
National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Airforce

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Join us for a captivating look into the fabulous show HeritageCon , as we welcome Duncan Young, Robyn Germann, and Bernie Hack from the Hamilton Club to share insights about this year's exciting event.

Discover the magic behind HeritageCon, held at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario, where the atmosphere is as electric as the passion of its participants. Bernie spills the beans on the revamped registration process, allowing model lovers to exhibit their entire collection for a single fee, a nod to the IPMS USA Nationals. With streamlined support from Mark Stevens and Jim Coatney, participants can look forward to a hassle-free experience.

Our conversation shifts to the buzzing vendor area, teeming with over 130 tables, an increase over last year,  and collectible HeritageCon pin which is also new for 2025.  3 great seminars will be offered, featuring topics like 3D printing, insights from a former Canadian Armed Forces member, and a primer on Gundam/Mecha from a local club.  The newly renovated auditorium is set to host a knowledge-packed experience.

As we reminisce about the show's evolution since our podcast's inception in 2020, we can't help but express our enthusiasm for this extraordinary one-day event. Whether you're a seasoned model builder or a curious newcomer, this episode is your VIP pass to the fabulous event that is HeritageCon.

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Admission Information

IPMS Hamilton Show Registration

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