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