Plastic Model Mojo

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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A slow start, a full heart, and a clear plan. We kick off 2026 by resetting our modeling habits, sharpening the skills that matter most, and putting dates on the calendar to turn ideas into finished work. HeritageCon is pulling us forward, but it’s the day-to-day that will make the difference: tighter bench time, better canopies, and bases that finish strong instead of phoning it in.

One photo sent us down a rabbit hole—captured Soviet armor at Kummersdorf with mysterious inventory rectangles. We trace similar markings across other vehicles and share why the rectangle’s color might be yellow, then ask armor specialists for hard provenance rather than AI guesses. That curiosity fuels the whole episode. The dojo keeps paying dividends, from canopy wax tips and stencil-cutter know-how to encouragement from modelers solving the same problems. We celebrate KitMask extending mojo30 for 30% off through HeritageCon and spotlight how small breaks in cost and friction can nudge more projects across the line.

We lay out our goals for the year. Aircraft need spotless canopies—polished clear parts, confident masking, and frames that sit sharp and true. Speed is focus: fewer distractions, more finishes without losing joy. Armor projects get a base upgrade with cleaner edges, smarter terrain transitions, and groundwork that complements the model instead of competing with it. On the adjacent front, we commit to mastering a Cameo stencil cutter for crisp markings and layered paint effects, and we push to launch phase two of our website so the community can learn and share even more.

On the bench, the Hellcat weathers the tiny-stencil storm, the Moosaroo rally build earns custom decals and a clever mixed-material interior, and the KV-85 stacks sub-assemblies toward primer. Our 2026 wish list is ambitious but grounded: MiniArt T-34/76 variants, a modern JSU-152, an early D3A1 Val, a 1/72 Privateer, and a 14-meter Daihatsu for Pacific dioramas. If you’ve got insight on Kummersdorf markings or a kit rumor we should track, jump in. Subscribe, share the show with a modeling friend, and leave a quick review—then tell us your top skill goal for 2026.
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!

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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.

A fresh year deserves a fresh bench. We kick off 2026 by trading the “dark time” for bright, practical momentum: a clearer plan for January, two focused releases on the calendar, and an open invite to help shape what comes next. We look back at five years of recording and realize the best thing we built isn’t an episode catalog—it’s a thriving community that keeps growing and teaching each other every week.

First up, we outline episode 155, where we get specific about what progress looks like this year: realistic build goals, smarter habits at the bench, and small changes that add up to more finished kits. Then we preview episode 156, a Shop Talk with our friend Jim Bates, who brings hard-earned insight on modeling and life. Expect candid updates, practical tips, and a few topics we’ll hammer out before the mics go live so the conversation stays tight and useful.

We also open the door for clubs and show runners. If your group has an event coming in February, throw your hat in for our Show Spotlight. The earlier you reach out, the better we can tell your story and help more modelers find your tables, vendors, and categories. On the community front, the Plastic Model Dojo just crossed 5,600 members and keeps climbing. Join for WIPs, product tips, new releases, and the kind of encouragement that gets you to the finish line. If your post gets stuck in spam, ping us—we’ll get it unlocked. And keep the listener mail coming; questions and hot takes help us steer future segments toward what you care about.

Ready to trade resolutions for results? Hit play, join the Dojo, pitch your club’s show, and tell us what kit you’re starting. If you enjoy the pod, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more builders can find us.
Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes and David Union Power Tools

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

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Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
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A good year in modeling doesn’t happen by accident. It grows out of small bench wins, a few brave skill pushes, and the friends who show up at the right time. We wrap 2025 with a clear-eyed look at what worked, what changed, and how to carry that energy into 2026—plus a rich conversation with Australia’s own Paul Gloster on moving his entire modeling life across states without losing momentum.

We start with holiday check-ins, realistic bench talk, and the simple joy of a new tool that actually solves a problem. From there, we dig into the skills that moved the needle this year: sharper re-engraving, cleaner canopies, tighter scratchbuilding, and just enough 3D printing to expand what’s possible. Then we head into travel and community. Four days at the IPMS National Convention changes your modeling in ways a two-day show can’t—deeper seminars, patient conversations, and the kind of learning that sticks. It’s where “model friends” become friends, and where you can see a kit built before it lands in your shop.

Paul’s segment is a masterclass in keeping mojo alive during a move. He shows how to triage a stash, protect finished builds with foam and tubs, and assemble a small, reachable “twelve-kit shortlist” that keeps you building while the new bench comes together. He catalogs tools by role, keeps a “desert-island” core set handy, and ensures references are within reach so progress doesn’t stall. If you’re searching for how to move built models, how to store unbuilt kits long-term, or how to set up a temporary modeling bench, you’ll leave with a proven plan.

We also riff on the kit news that made 2025 pop: Fine Molds’ Zeros and F-104s, Tamiya’s 1/72 F-14, Rye Field’s JS-2, and Arma’s incoming 1/72 Me 262. More than eye candy, these releases give modelers fresh canvases—better engineering, great markings, and subjects that reward both clean builds and heavy weathering.

If you’re plotting your own 2026, here’s our take: set one or two honest goals, pick a some that stretch you, and build the bench you want to return to. The rest follows. Enjoy the episode, share it with a modeling friend, and help someone new find their groove.

If you had a favorite kit reveal or a skill breakthrough in 2025, tell us about it. And if this resonated, please follow, rate, and leave a short review—it helps more modelers find the show.
Model Paint Solutions
Your source for Harder & Steenbeck Airbrushes and David Union Power Tools

SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

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!
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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.

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?
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
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.