Tho I have a few more WIPs on the table. I'm going to call it for the building this year Thanks for looking.

Today we add the test shot sprues to the art, features & CADs of this new boxing of MiniArt's 1/48th scale Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9. Mimetall Prod. Jagdgeschwader 301 "Basic Kit" in our preview...Read on... »

Zimi Model has a brand new tool of the US Marine's machine, the ACV‑P (Amphibious Combat Vehicle – Personnel). We look at the kit's art, features, the machines in our preview...Read on... »

Merry Christmas all! Just recently I finally brought my two B-2 Stealth Bombers across the finish line thus allowing me to reach another Milestone. Without further ado, here they are: Number 499 in my 1/72 scale aircraft collection: Testor's 1/72 scale B-2 Stealth Bomber BuNo 21066, which are the original kit decals issued: Number 500 in my 1/72 scale aircraft collection: Testor's 1/72 scale B-2 Stealth Bomber "Spirit of Missouri" which are the decals issued at the 2006 IPMS National Convention: And just to prove that I'm not posting the same aircraft, here are the two of them side by side: Those are some big boys! Thank you all for looking in, comments are welcome!

Merry Christmas to all. This is one of the models I finished recently., being launched from the shipyards this past Monday. This is the Hasegawa 1/700 scale Hikawamaru passenger liner: It was a kit I picked up for a buck in our Distressed Kit Auction so it went together fast. Thank you for looking in, comments are welcome.

Kotare Models delivers a Festivus surprise with the announcement of the Spitfire Mk. 1a, late production, in 32nd scale. We look at the three BoB markings, the real kites & the kit's features & pre-order bonus in our preview...Read on... »

I built this electronic version of the S-3 Viking with a Black Box resin interior, Paragon resin wing folds, and the Metallic Details resin/PE engine set. Here's the BB resin cockpit painted and installed. It fit better than any other resin cockpit I've ever used on a model! Note that it's actually an S-3A/B cockpit and the main IP isn't accurate for the ES-3A electronic cockpit; but who can see under that dark tinted canopy? Even so, I did install only one of the control sticks to be more accurate for this version. The ram air intake in the tail fin was just a hole in the kit, so I used some of the tubing seen there, capped off with a punched plastic disk to create an intake duct. Using the Paragon resin wing folds involves major surgery and some heavy sanding to blend them into the wings. You do need to be careful also not to break off the small disks that do extend a bit higher than the folds on the top side, though they're not as fragile as they look. This the Metallic details resin and PE engines set, partially assembled. The instructions take careful study as they don't show clearly all of the casting areas that need removal. However, once you start trying to test fit things you'll figure out there's more to be done! The resin parts fit together VERY well! The advantages offered using this set are the realistic fan blades that you can actually see through ala the real engine, circular intake housings with no seams to sand, and they and their pylons all fit so well to the model I was able to paint them and decal them separately and then add them to the model after painting and decaling the fuselage. This pic of the left engine shows just how amazing the finished product looks! The markings came from a CAM decal sheet. The model was pre-shaded with black lines before painting the overall Light Ghost Gray scheme and then all panel lines were done with a pencil. On to the rest of the pics! The only other anomaly on this kit was the need to add 25+ antennas of various shapes, sizes, and types in various spots! The kit instructions require a bit of study to be sure to get them all in the right spots. This is #21 for this year and I'm going to try to slide yet one more quick build in just under the wire in the coming week! Critiques, questions, and comments welcome as always! Gil

Texas decided January should belong to scale modelers, and we’re not arguing. We map out two can’t‑miss events—Model Fiesta in New Braunfels and Winter Blitz in College Station—so you can plan builds, book time, and show up ready. From streamlined online registration to judging formats that respect your effort and schedule, this is a practical guide wrapped in pure hobby energy.

We start with Model Fiesta on January 3, hosted by the Alamo Chapter, where clear rules, posted scoring sheets, and an open gold‑silver‑bronze system set a fair stage. Display‑only builders get real love too, with sponsor‑selected special awards that include a Cold War theme, People’s Choice, aerospace, vehicles, sci‑fi, and more. The vendor hall is nearly full—about 140 tables—so expect plenty of aftermarket, kits, and tools, plus a handy location with food nearby. The website makes everything simple: download forms, pay online, and walk in ready.

ModelFiesta

Then we head to Winter Blitz on January 24 at the Museum of the American GI, a venue where restored Shermans and half‑tracks share space with your entries. It’s armor‑centric, fast, and focused: doors at nine, judging by noon, medals on the table, and a short ceremony spotlighting 16 Best Of categories and the sponsors who make it happen. This year’s theme celebrates military support vehicles, and the Tank of the Year target is the 38T in any variant—bring your Hetzer or Marder and go for it. New categories—Brown water Navy, Landing Craft, Helicopters, a P‑47 challenge, and MaschinenKrieger—open the door for more builders without diluting the armor vibe. There’s a Friday soft open for early drop‑off and a group dinner at Tad’s Louisiana Cooking to turn logistics into community.

We also talk Hall of Fame honors for past Best of Show winners, vendors, and a weather policy that keeps the show on unless ice shuts the roads. If you’ve been looking for a reason to finish that support truck, dust off a 38T, or finally paint a P‑47, January in Texas is your cue.

WinterBlitz 2026

Subscribe, share this with your build group, and leave a review with the model you’re bringing—who’s ready to roll?

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We have seen Meng's Turkish Terminator; now it is the turn of the Hellenic Air Force in the form of the F-4E AUP in 1/48th scale. We have details of the kit & the real aircraft in our preview...Read on... »

One thing I always tell people about the model-building hobby is how blessed I feel about the people I have met who are now my good friends. At the 2025 IPMS-USA National Convention, I made another new friend. I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Lieutenant Colonel Dusty Finley, Retired, who hailed all the way from Alaska. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the 11th Airborne Division (Arctic) of the U.S. Army. During our conversation, he told me about a book he was writing and I was thrilled when he told me he would mail me a copy. I received it, and from start to finish, I was enthralled. I have even been telling my friends new things I learned as a result of reading it.

2025 has seen several versions of Eduard’s P-40E released. Before this year, their P-40s consisted of M & N variants. Included in the 2025 lineup of P-40E Warhawks, Eduard has released a Royal Class Dual Combo R0023, P-40E Pacific Star Combo No 11185, the Kittyhawk Limited Edition Dual Combo No. 11187, the P-40E ProfiPack No. 82241, and the subject of this review, the P-40E Weekend Edition No. 84207.

Inside of the box, five beautifully molded gray sprues, along with one clear sprue, are contained in sealed bags. There are two decal sheets – one for stencils and another for markings also provided. This kit does not contain any PE or 3D printed parts.

This is author José Daniel Fernández Dugarte’s second volume of the 1992 coup d'état attempts in Venezuela, focusing on events of the February 1992 coup that were set up in the first volume, and the subsequent November coup that ultimately failed. The original manuscript was too large for the @War series, so the editors decided to break it into two volumes. Both volumes are essential to telling this complex story. This volume starts right where the first volume ends and outlines the rest of the first coup, the aftermath, then the second coup just nine months later, its aftermath, and the path of power for Hugo Chávez. Please read the first volume before attempting the second volume.

Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modeling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas. This English language book, Aero L-39- L-59- L-139 & L-159 Albatros, is authored by Jakub Fojtík Ph.D. with scale drawings by Sam Pearson. The latest in Guideline’s Warpaint series, 149, was published in 2025. A digital edition will soon be available. The latest on Guideline’s publications can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/guidelinepub/

Background

The Panzerspähwagen (Funk) P204(f) was a German command radio-equipped armored car based on the captured French Panhard 178. Command variants of the P204(f) used FuG 10 or FuG 11 radios, and the large Hochantenne (elevated) frame antenna, with some vehicles also fitted with a right-side telescopic mast. The Germans converted the P204(f) into a Funk vehicle by removing the APX3 turret and installing a fixed or open-topped armored box.

Art, features & CADs of this new boxing of MiniArt's 1/48th scale Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9. Mimetall Prod. Jagdgeschwader 301 "Basic Kit". Check it out in our preview...Read on... »

Four releases from Italeri with three Italian icons (& four German aces) this month. Check them out in art, plastic, colours, decals & info in our preview...Read on... »

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Four of the five of us (We lost JB to his job) have a Holiday chat about... you guessed it - scale modeling! Evan McCallum AKA Panzermeister joins us for the fun and we talk about our year in review, and Evan Challenges us to recall a model we finished years in the past that has held up to our current standards, and why? We also get some TJ Rants about Star Wars along the way at no extra cost to you! 

Thanks for another great year for the Plastic Posse, Year 5 and still going strong. We appreciate each of you out there in the Posse that makes this all possible. We wish each and every one of you a Happy Holidays for 2025.

If you would like to become a Posse Outrider, and make a recurring monthly donation of $ 1 and up, visit us at www.patreon.com/plasticpossepodcast .

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After some long marathon sessions as shown in the Maddog Manufacturing thread; I was able to finally complete a model I've wanted since I was nine years old. It's not perfect, but it's mine and it's done! I present to you this model of the Budweiser Clydesdale Eight Horse Hitch: Closeup of the wagon itself: The base of this model is close to 32" long, it is a very long model. I have it on temporary display at my Church's Christmas Festival in their Tavern; after all, a tavern needs a beer wagon doesn't it? Later it might take up permanent residence at the Knights of Columbus hall where we hold our Hobby Days behind their bar since I don't really have room for it at home unfortunately. Thank you all for looking in, comments are welcome.

Airfix has released news of their 1/48th scale Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA. New parts & decals make this an "A" model. Art & details in our preview...Read on... »

A surprising theme ran through the last part of our year: when modelers stop chasing perfect and start building what they truly love, everything clicks. Your letters proved it. We heard from builders paring down stashes, organizing tools, and finally tackling “someday” subjects with less guilt and more momentum. That energy shaped our own workbenches too—methodical planning, smarter jigs, and reliable materials turned tricky steps into repeatable wins. Think KV-85 intake screens built with a custom jig, CA used with intention, Mr. Surfacer and thinner cleaning up seams before weathering could ruin them, and decals that go down right the first time.

We also talk practical stash strategy. New kits will always tempt us, so here’s what works: trade up when the upgrade arrives, and keep a short list of builds you can actually start. We’ve locked in a tight plan for 2026: an early jet like the Meteor F.1, a buddy build of the HE 162, a quirky Panzerwerfer 42 on the Maultier, and a focused approach to finishing what’s already close. Along the way we share community hacks you’ll use tomorrow—holographic craft vinyl for prismatic optics, ultra-thin PLA paper alternatives, and the magic of a simple paint inventory app that removes friction at decision time.

We wrestle with do-overs too. When is it worth rebuilding a past project, and when should the lesson travel to a new subject? The answer depends on joy. If a vignette still speaks to you, rebuild it with better kits and skills. If not, apply the learning forward and keep moving. That mindset powered our favorite listener stories this year, from club exhibition formats to seeing a dusty stash kit reborn by a friend. It’s the community at its best—sharing tips, swapping kits, and cheering each other to the finish line.

If you’re in a dark time, start small. Fifteen minutes on oil weathering, a single jigged subassembly, a quick decal session with a brand you trust. Momentum beats perfection every time. Subscribe, share with a modeling friend, and leave a review to help others find the show. Then tell us: what’s the first kit you’re starting in 2026?


Tamiya PLA Paper - Super thin styrene sheet material

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes and David Union Power Tools

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
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Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
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Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.