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?

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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 simple lunch-break experiment turns into a genuine “wait, what just happened?” moment: we take AI prompting seriously, generate photorealistic figure concepts for a WWII Eastern Front diorama, and push that workflow toward a printable 3D result. The speed is exciting, the pitfalls are real, and the implications for scale modeling feel closer than most people think. We talk through what worked, what broke during iteration, and why details like hands and equipment accuracy still matter if you care about believable miniatures and historical modeling.

Before we get nerdy, we’re also in full HeritageCon mode. We share practical travel prep, the registration warning you do not want to learn the hard way, and the kind of listener meetups that make model shows the best part of the year. Listener mail and DMs bring in great topics too: Mission Models paint solutions, custom decal experiences, 1/72 SA-2 and Patriot missile system kit leads, new tools for the hobby room, and a reminder that great customer support still sets the best companies apart.

From there, we widen the lens to inspiration and momentum. We compare the pull of books, period photos, model show tables, and conversations with other builders, then pivot into our benchtop updates, including scratch-built hardware fixes, 3D print “can’t live with it” corrections, and a quick faves-and-yawns scan of new releases and accessories.

If you’re into plastic model kits, dioramas, 3D printing, AI-generated miniatures, and the future of the hobby, hit play and join the conversation. Subscribe, share the episode with a modeling friend, and leave us a review so more builders can find the show.

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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.

April is stacked with model shows, but not all scale model contests feel the same once you walk into the room. We line up three very different events and get into the details that actually matter when you’re deciding where to spend a Saturday: when doors open, when registration closes, what judging looks like, how strong the vendor room is, and what you can do while the judges are working.

First stop is the Roscoe Turner Invitational outside Indianapolis in Lebanon, Indiana. It’s a big traditional IPMS-style one-two-three show with the familiar spread of categories, a serious vendor hall, great onsite food, and special awards that fit the region. There you can enjoy a figure painting seminar hosted by Bret Avants. We also talk about a smart operational idea that judges love: using shared plastic bases so staff can move models without touching your build.

Then we jump time zones to CoMMiesFest in Golden, Colorado, where the vibe is relaxed but the planning is sharp. They rebuilt their judging workflow into a browser-based system that runs on your phone, added fun theme and specialty awards, and packed the day with seminars, demos, seating, and a food truck to keep people engaged instead of disappearing during judging. If you care about sci-fi modeling, Gunpla, minis, and a show that’s trying to welcome adjacent hobby communities, you’ll want to hear how they’re approaching it.

We wrap in Northern California with the Wine Country Model Expo in Petaluma, which leans into open judging and an exhibition-style layout that groups each modeler’s work together so conversations happen naturally. Add seminars, raffles, a charity silent auction, and a post-show social gathering, and you’ve got a blueprint for where “model show culture” might be headed.

If you enjoy Model Show Spotlight, subscribe, share this with a modeling buddy, and leave us a review so more builders can find it.

Give us your Feedback!
Rate the Show!

Support the Show!
Patreon
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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.