Death comes to us all, as the saying goes, and while your hosts aren’t feeling particularly morbid at the moment, we certainly look around from time to time at all of the tools and paints and supplies on our workbenches; the closets and shelves full of un-built kits; the stacks (and stacks and stacks) of books; our displays of the figures, vignettes, and dioramas we’ve built and collected from friends and artists we admire, and the odd piece of militaria we’ve acquired and think, “Who’s going to take care of all of this STUFF when we’re gone?”

And we bet you’ve asked this question, too.

As a maker and as a collector, our pal and repeat Small Subjects guest Joe Berton certainly has. What’s more, he has helped clear out the collections of quite a few of those we’ve lost who shared our passions—including some pretty epic ones. In this episode, we asked him to help us think about preparing for the inevitable, in part because we don’t know anyone who’s more expert in this regard, but also because, Joe being Joe, he brings plenty of laughs and quite a few memorable anecdotes to what could have been a somewhat dark discussion (but isn’t, we promise!).

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

We tackle the topic of Artificial Intelligence and some of its possible impacts on our hobby in this discussion with Jake McKee.  Jake is a consultant in the digital realm, a photographer, a devoted modeler, and a blogger (with both a tech blog and a modeling blog). In the past, he’s done digital marketing for Lego, and he’s also worked at Apple. He’s been thinking about A.I. a lot, and he certainly helped us formulate our thoughts, and consider the possibilities.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our Facebook groups:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

In Episode 52, when Jim expressed interest in the new 1/16th-scale Gecko Models Universal Carrier kit, Barry suggested a “buddy build,” with each of them tackling the beast—something he now regrets. This episode is devoted to their ongoing frustrations with the build (and, for Jim, some fun, too). Although Barry initially suggested the idea, he later worried that no one would be interested in talk about a kit few if any of the listeners might build. But Jim thought it wound up being about more than the build, focusing on how your hosts each approach modeling and the inherent and inevitable problem-solving.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our Facebook groups:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

In this episode, we chat with one of the legends of the hobby: Francois Verlinden, who is alive and well at age 78. He retired to Palm Beach, Florida, after the company that bore his name closed in 2016, but he is occasionally painting again “just for fun”—including some of those Warhammer minis the kids love!

We also talk about our buddy build of the Gecko 1/16 Universal Carrier.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our Facebook groups:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

Your hosts expand on their own answers to one of their favorite questions for guests—How did you get your start in this small-sized pursuit of ours? They dive into some of their earliest modeling experiences, talk about people who helped get them started, and tell us about some of the kits and figures they loved tackling as kids.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our Facebook groups:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

This time we talk about the recent 2024 MMSI Chicago show with Pat Vess and Joe Berton. We also talk about some things the guys have planned for next year's 50th anniversary show.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our group builds:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

For their 50th episode, your hosts talk with versatile Texas-based modeler, sculptor, and painter Doug Cohen, whose work stands out at any show he enters, as readily identifiable as his sense of humor.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our group builds:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

In this episode, your hosts chat with Minnesota-based painter and sculptor Scott Primeau, a consistent gold-medal winner, Chicago medalist, and self-effacing talent whose attitude and ambition inspires both of us.  We also talk about getting over some of our modeling fears.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our group builds:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

Jim and Barry chat with another of their favorite painters from the fantasy realm, and one who’s been on their wish list of guests for quite some time: Natalia Oracz.

They also talk about the inaugural Rocky Mountain Hobby Expo in Salt Lake City, an open show which was held on June 22.

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our group builds:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]

Jim and Barry talk with Joan about her extraordinary box diorama “Algorithm As Art,” a gold-medal winner at MFCA 2024. Jim calls it one of the most important boxes in the history of the form—for its imagination, its execution, the ideas it raises, and the discussions it prompts. (Be sure to read his piece about it here.)

For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects

Join one of our group builds:

Historex:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex

Flats:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats

Fantasy Busts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts

Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality

email us at [email protected]