Plastic Model Mojo

Two model shows, two very different philosophies, one shared goal: make the scale modeling hobby feel bigger than your workbench. We’re in the thick of show season, and we’re shining a light on events that are actively evolving what a great model show can be for builders, vendors, and first-timers who just want to learn and meet people.

First up is SilverCon in Sacramento, California, hosted by IPMS SilverWings. We get the full run-down on the essentials modelers actually need, including doors-open and judging times, the “Heavy Metal” theme for best natural metal finish, and how their first-year online registration works. We also talk through the vendor hall, raffle timing, parking and nearby food, and why you should plan ahead: payment is cash only and there’s no ATM on site. SilverCon is also pushing for broader participation by welcoming genres that don’t always show up at IPMS contests, plus new options like resin-only, 3D printed, all-metal, and vacform categories.

Then we head to Utah for Rocky Mountain Expo near Salt Lake City, a model exposition built on open system judging. Instead of stacking models into categories, builders display their work together under their own name so conversation becomes the point, not an afterthought. We dig into their inclusion-first approach, their upgraded venue, vendor growth, food options, and a seminar lineup that ranges from technique demos to research skills. We also get into their judging values: no touching models, no default flaw hunts, and useful feedback, capped off with a fast awards ceremony that respects everyone’s time.

If you’re into model contests, IPMS events, open system judging, scale modeling seminars, or just want a better model show experience, you’ll walk away with ideas and a couple of destinations to put on your calendar. Subscribe, share this with a modeling friend, and leave us a review with the kind of show format you want more of.

SilverCon - IPMS Sacramento

Rocky Mountain Expo

The Model Show Spotlight is brought to you by:  The World of Armor
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Adding to the stash since 1968

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KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler

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

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

Your bench time is precious, so when something starts sabotaging it, like CA glue fumes wrecking your sinuses or a half-finished kit stalling for months, we want fixes that actually work. After two big shows in three weeks, we finally do some much-needed housekeeping and burn down a mountain of listener mail with the kind of practical advice you can put to work immediately.

We dig deep into cyanoacrylate sensitivity and respiratory irritation, including why RC builders have been dealing with it for years, and what modelers can do right now: odorless CA options, simple airflow changes that keep fumes out of your face, using smaller amounts of adhesive, and when it’s time to step up to a real VOC-rated respirator. We also compare alternatives for photo-etch and light-duty parts, from thick PVA-style hobby glues to specialized water-cleanup adhesives that can still give you solid grab and a strong bond.

Then we shift into build documentation and project tracking, because remembering your last paint mix, the exact spot you used a color, or the next step you planned shouldn’t require detective work. We talk notebooks, Rocketbook scanning workflows, apps that track time and paints, and why even simple notes can save a project, or help you repair one after an accident. From there, we share recorded segments from HeritageCon and AMPS, including a lively tracks discussion, favorite show finds, and the best part of any contest: meeting the modeler behind the work.

We also chat with Aaron Skinner about his move to Round2 and what it’s like developing kits from the production side, including research, tooling realities, and why some projects take so long to reach your workbench. If you enjoy model shows, armor modeling, aircraft builds, hobby tools, and the wider scale modeling community, there’s a lot here to chew on. Subscribe, share the show with a modeling friend, and leave us a rating so more builders can find the conversation.
Brushrage App - As mentioned during the episode!
Super'Phatic Glue - The adhesive from Deluxe Materials mentioned

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.

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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.

He beat a brutal stretch of chemo, got the all-clear, then asked the question every craftsperson quietly fears: do the hands and the mind still work the same way? Our friend Ed Bareth is back, and he’s turning that question into plastic, paint, and proof with a 1/32 Trumpeter Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless built for awards-level judging.

We dig into what “national quality” really demands in large scale model aircraft building, where every shortcut shows and every improvement has to be clean. Ed walks us through his smart aftermarket picks and why they matter: Kelik 3D instrument panels for the cockpit, Eduard photo-etch dive brakes that live or die by build sequence, resin wheels, and One Man Army paint masks that look incredible but punish sloppy placement. He also shares how he’s documenting the project in clear chapters so you can follow the full process from cockpit painting and washes to canopy masking and final finish.

Then comes the part that spirals in the best and worst way: LED lighting inside an enclosed model airplane. What starts as “let’s illuminate the cockpit” becomes a real engineering problem with battery placement, a hidden on off switch, and even a detour into Bluetooth and phone control before he brings it back to something dependable. We also talk about using ChatGPT for paint mixes, fading recipes, and weathering guidance for a 1944 USS Enterprise three-color scheme, plus why you still have to verify references when AI confidently hands you answers.

If you want practical scale modeling tips, honest talk about returning to the bench, and a front-row seat to an ambitious 1/32 build, press play. Subscribe, share this with a modeling buddy, and leave us a review with your answer: what’s the next project you’re ready to level up?
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
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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.

Staring at a perfectly organized workbench and still not touching plastic is a special kind of frustration. A listener writes to us after a 30 year break from scale modeling, and the problem is not motivation, it is overload: canopy masks, weathering trends, endless paint lines, 3D printing, and YouTube builds that look like museum pieces. We get it, and we map out how to start again without letting modern “best practices” crush the fun.

We dig into what has actually changed for the better in plastic model building, including why newer-tool model kits from the last 10 to 12 years can make your first comeback builds smoother and more rewarding. We talk practical choices like building out of the box first, using canopy masks to remove a major aircraft pain point, and picking an airbrush and paint system that fits your space and your health. We also hit real-world problems like CA glue fumes and sensitivities, plus how better ventilation and smarter workflow can help.

Then we tackle the mindset traps: clean models can still win, heavy weathering is not a rule, and comparing your early builds to top YouTubers is a fast path to burnout. We share simple accountability ideas like time tracking, writing down paint mixes, and keeping a project notebook in the box so nothing disappears onto the shelf of doom.

If you enjoyed this, subscribe, share the show with a modeling friend, and leave a top rating and review so more builders can find Plastic Model Mojo.

Here is Kentucky Dave's link mention for some great aircraft related items:

Scale Planes by Kevin Dittmann

Here are some links to projects utilizing image-2-STL AL processes to generate scale figures.

At LargeScalePlanes:
Me262A-2a/U2 - Works in Progress - Large Scale Planes
1/32 P.1101 at Oberammergau - Works in Progress - Large Scale Planes
1/32 Ju-87D Stuka - Works in Progress - Large Scale Planes
At LargeScaleModeller

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.

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.