What happens when the hobby you love starts feeling like a chore? We go straight at that question with Jim Bates, exploring how burnout creeps in, why favorite subjects can become fear targets, and what it takes to rediscover honest joy at the bench. Jim shares how a demanding year pushed modeling to the margins, why armor felt freer than aircraft, and the simple mindset shift that turned “perfect or quit” into “finish and learn.” Along the way, we unpack airbrush avoidance, photoetch dread, and the tiny victories that rebuild momentum—like stripping a botched primer, repainting, and choosing progress over paralysis.

We also get practical. You’ll hear how keeping short journal notes, and accepting weekend-only bench time can remove friction and make modeling sustainable again. We talk about the limits of step-by-step boilerplate articles, why video excels at teaching technique, and how personal writing can spark creativity in ways a camera can’t. Jim’s revived blog, A Scale Canadian, is his sandbox for that approach: short, thoughtful posts that value honesty over hype.

There’s fresh inspiration too. We walk through Model Mania at the Museum of Flight—a display-only, public-forward event with seminars, demos from Rick Lawler, and zero contest pressure—plus a quick tour of new kit announcements that caught our eye, from Airfix’s Canberra and JU 52 to MiniArt’s Opel Maultier. To close, we share bench updates: Shermans and Cromwells, a Hellcat edging toward weathering, a T-33 off the shelf of doom, and a KV-85 waiting on brass.

If you’ve been stuck, second-guessing, or saving “the good kit” for a better version of yourself that never seems to arrive, this conversation is your nudge. Build for you. Finish something small. Protect your joy. Then tell us what you’re tackling next. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

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MiniArt adds to their Mercedes 170V series with this Kfz.2 German Radio Car Type 170VK in 1/35th scale. We look at the art, CADs, features & real thing in our preview today...Read on... »

For a while Das Werk have been teasing the number "6" in their social pages; today we find out what this is about with six new releases announced in Nuremberg. See them in our preview...Read on... »

Special Hobby has several releases slated for February. Some new, some (re)newed. See them in our preview...Read on... »

With over 650 titles in print, Fonthill Media publishes high-quality subjects including Archaeology and Ancient History, Aviation, Biography, Local History and Heritage, Military and General History, Sport, Transport and Industrial History.

Arma Hobby is offering a great little accessory for anyone looking to create a WWII/Korea US airfield diorama, or even just a nice base for your 1/72 aircraft model.

This small base is nicely packaged in and a stiff cardboard envelope, somewhat reminiscent of “Apple style” clean design. The resin base appears to be 3-D printed and has extremely crisp detail. No flash or any attachment points to trim away, it is ready to paint and prime right out of the box (envelope). No instructions or paint diagram of any kind are included. But a neat little feature is a QR code that links to free 3D printer files for a group of airfield accessories such as fuel drums, wheel chocks, a fire extinguisher, and a few other goodies. Not having a 3D printer, I was not able to test these out, but it certainly is a nice little bonus!

A snowbound Kentucky chat meets sunny Jacksonville plans as we sit down with Bob Tate from IPMS First Coast to explore how JaxCon reshaped the classic model show into a warm, community-first experience. Think Friday evening setup and a pizza social to slow the pace, then a crisp Saturday run with registration at 9, judging at noon, and a focused awards wrap by 5. It’s efficient, friendly, and designed so builders, vendors, and visitors all get time to breathe and actually talk models.

We dive into the heart of their approach: an open gold, silver, bronze system that evaluates each model on its own merits. No podium pressure, just recognition for quality work. Bob explains how initial resistance gave way to buy-in once people saw honest standards and consistent results, and why they still zone tables by genre for judging flow and easier browsing. The result? Strong turnout with 150+ entrants, 600+ models, and a calmer show floor where learning beats rivalry.

JaxCon’s extras add real value. A sold-out vendor hall arrives early on Friday, three food trucks keep lines short, and the raffle is both exciting and strategic. One-dollar random draws every half hour keep the buzz going, while five and ten-dollar targeted tickets let you aim for high-value kits. That structure raises enough to offer free public admission, which brings new eyes to the hobby without raising participant fees. This year’s theme, 80 years of the Blue Angels—rooted in Jacksonville’s history—anchors special awards alongside memorial trophies that honor club members and their passions.

If you’re planning to attend regional shows or thinking about how to evolve your own, JaxCon offers a practical blueprint: reward excellence, encourage connection, and make the logistics work for people first. Enjoy the insights, steal a few ideas, and share your favorite show innovations with us. If this spotlight helped, follow, rate, and leave a quick review so more builders can find the show.

In addition to JaxCon,  a couple of other shows we would like to promote are:

4M Mayhem hosted my the Mid-Michigan Model Makers on February 7th

and

AMPS-Atlanta 2026 on February 20-21

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Trumpeter has two more kits for February – the M1133 Stryker MEV in 72nd & the sweet Buccaneer S.2D in 48th scale. We have colours, decals & built-up kits in our preview...Read on... »

Hi ! Here another project I have done in the past , this was a club challenge , one fellow was providing with an resin fuselage of an BOEING P-12 and outer wing of an P-38 LIGHTNING , and the ideal was to create something with it.. Here what mine turn out .. . the fellow who gave us the parts name is GADBOIS and he live on POLPEAUX street , so I call this project GABOISI POLPO, if you like to view more pics , just follow this GOOGLE link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ary4FzcLzpVP1mtd7 Enjoy ! Jmarc

There is a strong Italian theme in the newest 2026 releases from Italeri before we get the full catalogue. We have a sneak peek at some of their new (& re-released) items featured today in our preview...Read on... »

HI ! Here another project that I been working on the side ,I plan to do several of them … but lets start with this one from the 'NEXT GENERATION serie '… If you like to view the complete WIP on this project, just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/UECshHgpHyfRTFHJA Here where I'm at : (JAN 22th )....Today ,I continue working on the landing ponton ! If you like to view the complete WIP on this project, just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/UECshHgpHyfRTFHJA Enjoy ! Jmarc

I know I'm late, but it's been a crazy, busy first of the year. Most of our departments will be open; however the Motor Pool 'crew' is still on hiatus for another couple weeks. Still, there's lots to see in the Hangar and Shipyards, I'll be showing almost everything I have under construction that I'm putting a priority on to finish. So let's board the trams and go see what we're working on in this new year! Starting in the Hangar, we have these.... In the first bay, we have the F-35 that was started a few months ago: The next bay has the cockpit assembly for the E-2C Hawkeye started a couple months ago as well: Next to that is the F-15E Strike Eagle, almost ready for final assembly and paint: The next bay has a gift from a friend, the British Harrier Jet: In the next bay we have the British Swordfish that was started some time ago: This one has the decals done and is ready for rigging. In the next bay, is the Fairey Seafox, all painted and ready for further assembly: In this next bay, is the F-86 that I got in another kit; still trying to determine what country I'll place it with: In the next bay here, we have the beginnings of the French F-84G, cockpit and nose intake: In the next bay over is one I've been wanting to add to my Italian Air Force, this is the MBB-323: In this bay, another cockpit started, this time for the An-2 Colt: Finally in the last bay, there's the C-46 that was given as a gift to me earlier: And that concludes this tour of the Hangar, now on to the Shipyards. We have a lot going on at the Shipyards here, in these next few slipways, we have some small boats under construction, first slip is the USS Defiance Vietnam-era patrol boat: The next slip has the Coast Guard Icebreaker Eastwind, all completed: It got the decals on it next: In the next bay is the Tugboat Lucky XI, all painted up and waiting for final detail parts and decals: Still trying to find the decals for that. Meanwhile in the next slip is the Tugboat Long Beach in the same state: This one did get the decals and some additional detail parts, just looking for the last ones: Finally, the small boat slips have the PT-109 in this last slip; all details are on except the most breakable ones and the gun on the deck is secured; it just needs the tie-down ropes on it: Now on to the larger ships. In this next slip is the USS Montrose Assault ship: After some time, she got all the detail parts and masts: In this next slip we laid the keel for a British submarine, the HMS Astute. It's a fast and easy build: This got paint and is now waiting for decals for finishing: In these next two slips are the two French frigates Normandie and Aquitane. Both are now painted and the Aquitane is waiting for additional parts to finish up: In the next slip is the hospital ship SS Hope, now all built up and painted: In the next slip is the USS Alaska still waiting for full assembly: Meanwhile, we laid the keel for the USS Albany a Chicago-class missile cruiser after it's conversion: Finally in this last slipway, we laid the keel for the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier: As I've been waiting for this, we continued with the interior of the main hull: Interestingly enough, Trumpeter 'took pity' on us modelers and painted and decaled the main deck and ski ramp: Here it is dry-fit on the hull: That is gonna be interesting. That completes the tour of the Shipyards, so on to the back lot where other projects are underway.... Here in the Automotive Garage, we have one of the cars I've been trying to build. This seems to be as far as I can go with this until I get another kit to cannibalize since the box had been weakened and a bunch of parts are missing: Now going back into the Back Lot, we have this figure of the Red Knight of Vienna waiting for paint: As well as the European auto dealership that seems to be stalled due to the sprues for one of the buildings are missing: And in the Space Port, the little UFO is still waiting for final paint coat: And that completes our tour showing every current active project we're working on. Thank you all for looking in, I hope you enjoyed this preview of the many (I hope!) projects that will be completed in this new year. Stay tuned for more, and comments are always welcome!

Greetings, new IPMS member from Sharpsburg GA. Have been active for last five years mostly 1/72 military aircraft. Some building in 1/35 tanks and 1/700 battleships. Excited to be involved in a community and learn new techniques. Just started airbrushing in the last couple months.

A storm with a name is bearing down on the Ohio Valley and mid-south, and that changed everything. We hit record to get a clear, direct update out fast: Winter Blitz moves to Saturday, February 28, 2026. Same venue, same plan, just smarter timing so no one risks a long drive on icy roads. Consider it a bonus window to finish your build, refine that finish, or finally try the stencil set that’s been staring at you from the bench.

We walk through how the decision came together and why venue relationships matter. A flexible museum partner meant the organizers could pivot without losing momentum, vendors, or goodwill. Along the way, we open our Model Show Spotlight calendar and invite clubs with February, March, or April dates to pitch their events. Tell us your categories, your surprises, and the small details that make your show easy to love. When information is clear and personal, more modelers show up, and the scene grows stronger.

Community recognition fuels the hobby, so we update our lighthearted “agent” roster to thank the folks who keep this thing moving—from the Indy connector who solved the famous patty run, to the straight-shooting blogger who pressure-tests our ideas, to the Winter Blitz leader who keeps raising the bar. We also tease an ambitious 1/32 SBD Dauntless build headed to the dojo, loaded with aftermarket and stencil work that will spark questions and copycat courage.

If the storm keeps you home, cue the kettle, sharpen a blade, and make progress while the snow stacks up. Then spread the word so no one makes a wasted trip: Winter Blitz is February 28, 2026. If you enjoy these updates and the community love, tap follow, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review—what are you building before the new date?

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SQUADRON
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Model Podcasts
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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.

Red Fox are extending into 3D-printed parts to suit some of your favourite kits. They are kicking off with parts for the Super Hornet & Growler in 32nd scale. We have a short look at what's coming in our preview.Read on... »

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48 scale metal landing gear for Tamiya’s Fairey Swordfish Mk. I/II. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide more robust landing gear, given its metal properties.

In the Package

The metal pieces are packed in a clear blister container with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided.

Rado Miniatures' latest sets include front wheels for the Sd.Kfz 251 halftrack, corrections for the US M10/36 & a pair of guns & upgrades for your Hetzer or StuG, amongst others. They are all on his website now; check them out in our preview...Read on... »

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All five of us have some great discussions around 2 central topics - "What do you do when you have Mojo, but can't seem to find the passion for your next project?" and JB disagrees with Rob Riv on the most important part of a model - the details of the build versus the finish of the build.

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This will be my 2nd stab at scratchbuilding a model. It's seems to be more seldom done these days since there's SO many kits available that weren't out there just 10yrs ago. Still, there ARE still gaps, especially in 1/48, which is my primary scale of choice. This will take more time than my usual builds and it will be easier to post progress as I go along as opposed to trying to post everything at once at the end. This the Martin T4M-1. It's never been made in 1/48 in vacuform or resin to my knowledge. I've seen 2-3 scratchbuilt over the last 40yrs, but no kits have been produced except in 1/72. After finding some suitable plans I had them enlarged to 1/48. You can see the two pieces cut out of the plans laying under and beside them. I started by first gluing two blocks of balsa together with a sheet of copy paper trapped between them, using white glue. This allows the two "halves" to later be pried apart. Then those cut out plans were taped to the top and side of the balsa and it was cut to the rough shape seen above on a scroll saw. Note that I actually forgot the "dip" for the 3rd cockpit opening for the gunner's position and had to add that later! The two rough halves seen above were then glued back together and the fuselage was sanded to shape. I used rough and medium grit sanding sticks for this step. Although I did cut out one of the side view templates (as seen on the left in the first pic above) to check the shape as I went, I actually found it easiest to just use "mark-1 eyeball" for 90% of the work. I'm satisfied the outline matches the drawings close enough for "government work"! The over-arching idea here is to make a fuselage that can be split back apart into 2 halves that will be used to vacuform the fuselage in plastic. Next up were the wings. I decided to use the KISS principle and just carve them from solid balsa. The wing thickness on the plans is 1/4", so I used a sheet of 1/4" balsa. I decided not to vacuform the wing parts, but to simply use them as "cores" and wrap them in very thin sheet plastic (more on that below with the tailplane surfaces). Luckily for me, the top and bottom wing of the T4M is virtually identical, so all I had to do was cut out the top wing plan and use it to cut the 1/4" balsa sheets to shape on the scroll saw. The next step was to give the block balsa wings their airfoil shapes. The first thing to do then was to draw a center line in fine tipped black marker around the edges of each sheet. Since I also had a 1/8" sheet of balsa handy, it was used as a template to draw the lines. Those center lines would help me judge the evenness of my sanding as I progressed, especially on the trailing edge since both the top and bottom rear surfaces had to taper down exactly to that rear center line! The leading edge was easily done as all it needed was simple "rounding", which was done with sanding sticks. I taped a large sheet of 80grit sandpaper to the front edge of my workbench to do the heavy sanding on to work on getting the airfoil shape. Again, I just used "mark-1 eyeball" to sand a tapering surface on the top and bottom. I switched back and forth between them frequently always trying to sand just as much on one as I'd just done on the other; and to also maintain the same angle I was holding the piece at while sanding. Once again, I found this easier than expected and the heavy 80grit paper helped speed the process along. Once both were sanded to shape I only had to add the pilot's cutout in the center to make the "top" wing. One part of scratchbuilding is knowing you have to engineer things that kits give you. I had to figure out HOW I would attach the bottom wing to the fuselage. Again, trying to go the simplest way, I decided to cut the airfoil shape into the fuselage bottom so the wing can be fit up into it. The scroll saw has more than earned its keep on this project! I tackled the tail surfaces next. Since they're smaller I decided to use thick sheet plastic to carve their blanks. After transferring their plan shapes to the sheet plastic heavy scissors was used to cut them out. They were then hand sanded to their airfoil shapes just like the wings. Note the very thin piece of .005 plastic sheet at the top of the pic. This was what I'd use to "skin" them with, so I didn't have to worry about any sanding marks on the plastic blanks. This and the following pics will show the method used to make the ribbed skinning for the horizontal tailplane, but the same method was used for the fin and rudder too. Note that the tailplane plan has been drawn in pencil onto the .005 plastic sheet, including the "rib" lines. Also note that they do not go all the way to the edges of the drawing/part. The .005 sheet was then placed onto a folded piece of paper towel to give it a slightly padded surface under it. A straight edge and a ball point pen was then used to draw in the rib lines (whether or not the ink transfers to the plastic is not important). This method creates an indented line on the inside and a raised "rib" on the outer surface of the thin sheet. Here, the tail plane blank (which had already been used in 2 previous failing attempts at ribbing!) has been superglued to the first half of its "skin". After it set, more superglue was applied to the other half and it was folded over onto the top. This method isn't perfect.... it produces rough edges at the sides and rear, but those can be carved and sanded to shape. On one of my first attempts I tried using contact cement instead of superglue. It worked ok, BUT when it came time to sand it and the .005 was sanded through, the contact cement did NOT sand well. Superglue solved that problem! Here are the rough sanded and primed tail plane parts. I'm very satisfied with the representation of the structural ribbing as being even and visible enough for my purposes. I believe that once they've been fine sanded and painted they'll look the part, pun intended! That's where things stand as of today! My next step will be to try to "skin" the wings. More pics when more progress has been made. Comments, critiques, questions, and suggestions are all welcome as always! Gil

Hello from Connecticut new member