Plastic Model Mojo

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 2026Subscribe, share this with your build group, and leave a review with the model you’re bringing—who’s ready to roll?SQUADRON Adding to the stash since 1968Model Paint SolutionsYour source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes and David Union Power ToolsModel PodcastsPlease 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!PatreonBuy Me a BeerPaypalBump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed BarothAd Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" BairMike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.

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 materialSQUADRON Adding to the stash since 1968Model Paint SolutionsYour source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes and David Union Power ToolsModel PodcastsPlease 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!PatreonBuy Me a BeerPaypalBump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed BarothAd Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" BairMike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.

Show sponsor KitMasx has big news—they solved their US shipping headache so hobbyists can actually get the product they want. To sweeten the return, there’s a December-only Mojo30 code for 30% off. Please support Kevin and Janelle at KitMasx.From there we zoom out to a  trade stories from the Murfreesboro show, celebrate friends old and new, and tentatively circle Chattanooga in January, weather willing. The plan for December is intentionally lighter but richer: a shop-talk year in review with practical takeaways, followed by a visit from our friend Paul Gloster, fresh from travels and sunny Australian skies while we shovel through winter.The real engine is community. The dojo just crossed 5,500 members, with deeper engagement around first-time subjects, bare metal finishes, helicopters, and kit-specific tips that save hours at the bench. We’re asking for raw WIP all month—cut styrene, taped canopies, test fits, problem-solving notes—because shared progress beats polished perfection every time. If you’ve been stuck, this is your nudge: grab a mask set, line up the frames, and get paint down while the motivation’s hot.Tap the Mojo30 discount at kitmask.com, post your work-in-progress in the dojo, and help a fellow modeler finish strong. If this conversation sparks ideas, follow the show, share it with a club mate, and drop a quick review—your support helps more builders find their way back to the bench.Give us your Feedback!Rate the Show!Support the Show!PatreonBuy Me a BeerPaypalBump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed BarothAd Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" BairMike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.

Big news for modelers who’ve been waiting on cross-border orders: Kit Mask is shipping to the United States again, and the process is finally simple, transparent, and predictable. We sit down with Kevin to unpack how tariffs forced a pause, why Canada Post’s suggested “solutions” came up short, and how Janelle engineered a multi-service workflow that calculates duties at checkout so there are no surprise bills after delivery.We walk through the hard lessons of cross-border ecommerce: why unclear rules make risk management nearly impossible, how horror stories from carriers shaped the plan, and what it takes to test, refine, and relaunch without leaving customers guessing. Kevin shares early results from the reboot—clean deliveries, happy customers, and order volume ramping back to where it left off. We also talk openly about capacity, production catch-up, and the real people behind the scenes who keep a small brand moving.Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for HeritageCon with full stock and on-the-ground support at the booth, plus a spotlight on One-Man Army products. As the exclusive Canadian dealer for new One-Man Army releases, Kit Mask will bring sought-after detail sets and precision tools directly to local builders. To celebrate the shipping comeback and ease the tariff sting, we’re rolling out a December-long sale with a clear promise: no panic, no rush, just fair prices and time to choose. Use the code MOJO30 for 30% off throughout December and get your bench ready for a strong finish to the year.If you care about reliable shipping, transparent costs, and quality masking solutions that make paint work clean and fast, this conversation is for you.Subscribe, share with a modeling friend, and leave a review to help more builders discover the show—and the savings.KITMASX  - Use Discount Code MOJO30 for 30% off your order through the month of DecemberGive us your Feedback!Rate the Show!Support the Show!PatreonBuy Me a BeerPaypalBump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed BarothAd Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" BairMike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.

What if the fastest way to level up your modeling wasn’t waiting to “get better,” but picking a fear and building straight through it? That’s the heart of this episode, where we sit down with Seattle modeler Tim Nelson to explore an intentional, cross-genre approach that turned anxiety into momentum. From smart starter ships and museum deadlines to vacform methods and CAD-assisted conversions, we share practical systems that help you finish more models and have more fun doing it.We open with show travel, stash-thinning honesty, and some cottage-industry collabs that could turn obscure fasteners and conversions into real products. Then we dive into Tim’s roadmap for facing “big scary” subjects: choosing a stepping-stone container ship before tackling USS Tennessee, curating rotating Museum of Flight displays that reward clarity over micro-perfection, and using mentorship to demystify vacforms with repeatable techniques. You’ll hear how disasters are normal, how to hide mistakes well, and why museum quality and contest quality are different—in a good way.There’s also a love letter to weird and wonderful subjects, like a 1/72 “Old Bill” London bus converted into a WWI pigeon loft, complete with delicate 3D-printed birds. Tim explains how small, story-rich builds strengthen composition, finishing, and research skills that transfer across aircraft, armor, ships, and figures. We round things out with a first foray into CAD and resin printing—a custom bullet nose for a Lockheed Vega—and big ambitions for RMS Olympic in dazzle camouflage. Along the way, we tackle club-building tips, listener mail from Bali to Terre Haute, and a few favorite new releases (plus a gentle rant on 3D-figure accuracy).If you’re looking for a spark to get back to the bench—or permission to try something you’ve always wanted—this one’s for you. Hit play, subscribe, and share your next “fear target” with us. What bold build are you starting this week?Northwest Scale ModelersMuseum of FlightTim's Old Bill Pigeon LoftSQUADRON Adding to the stash since 1968Model Paint SolutionsYour source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes and David Union Power ToolsModel PodcastsPlease 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!PatreonBuy Me a BeerPaypalBump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed BarothAd Reads Generously Provided by Bob "The Voice of Bob" BairMike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.