Bryan Krueger
Denver, Colorado
Bryan modified his Gunze Sangyo 1/24 scale Dorvack PA-58N Halk based on a combination of designs by mecha illustrator Makoto Kobayashi. In addition to improving the articulation, he cast plaster bricks for the base, painted with Tamiya acrylics, and went deep into his weathering arsenal with sponge chipping, oil filters, enamel washes, and pigments.
Adrian Haas-Heye
Parker, Colorado
Rally cars have started to show up more often at scale model shows, and modelers like to show them dirty! Adrian dirtied up this Tamiya 1/24 scale Subaru WRC down to the windshield wiper streaks.
Michael Spink
Pueblo, Colorado
Fans may argue over which is better, Robotech or Macross, but we can all agree that the Veritech fighters remain as cool today as when they were introduced. Michael modeled a Hasegawa 1/48 scale VF-1J Valkyrie out of the box and painted it with MRP lacquers through his Harder & Steenbeck airbrush.
David Waples
Westminster, Colorado
Tom’s Modelworks photo-etched metal details and resin guns improve David’s build of the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Built from a Meng 1/700 scale USS Lexington (CV-2) kit, he painted it with Colourcoats enamels over Mr. Primer Surfacer 1000. Fun!
Rob Schmitt
Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Mandalorian, Boba Fett, and Grogu fight the Galactic Empire in this scene Rob calls “This Is the Way.” Of course! He used Bandai 1/12 scale models for all three figures, filling and sculpting all the articulation points. Rob made Fett’s gaffi stick and lighted the jetpack and flamethrower with LEDs.
Ron Uliano
Colorado Springs, Colorado
To model a worn and abandoned M8A1 cargo tractor decaying in a field, Ron started with a 1/35 scale Modelcraft kit. He corrected the tracks, removed the plow, and installed real wooden parts and metal chain. He weathered with a variety of techniques, including hairspray and sponges, along with freehand post-shading for a sun-bleached appearance. The groundwork comprises stucco, acrylic mud, static grass, and Martin Welberg bushes.
Brad Guy
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
This nasty, lumbering Dankhold Troggoth looks ready to squash whatever it happens to stumble across. Brad made a custom base for the Games Workshop Warhammer: Age of Sigmar figure. He painted with Vallejo acrylics through a Badger 150 airbrush and a “hairy stick.” He covered the high-density foam base with real mud, static grass, water effects, twigs, and leaves before painting and weathering them.
Stewart Bailey
Aurora, Colorado
A Mil Mi-24 “Hind” was used to represent a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter in the Russian movie “Charged with Death.” To replicate the chopper, Stewart built an ESCI 1/72 scale Mi-24 Hind-D out of the box and painted the red-and-white livery with Tamiya and Gunze Sangyo colors. He lightly weathered the heli with pencils and pastels.
Brian Criner
Centennial, Colorado
Brian modeled his “Jug” from a Trumpeter 1/32 scale Republic P-47D Thunderbolt kit with Eduard photo-etched metal and resin upgrades. Model Master Metalizer lacquers serve as the bare-metal finish, which Brian sealed with Pledge Floor Gloss and weathered with washes, pigments, and artist oils.
Michael Proctor
Evergreen, Colorado
Halflings hiding in the woods can be almost impossible to spot. Michael has modeled one of the small folks as a sniper armed with a crossbow. He used a Dark Sword Miniatures 28mm figure, Reaper acrylic paints, and modeled the base and sylvan setting from scratch.
Jeremy Elliott
Nampa, Idaho
Quinta Studios 3D cockpit details dress up the interior of Jeremy’s HobbyBoss 1/48 scale A-6A Intruder. For that gritty appearance, he primed with Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black, mottled with various grays and whites through his Badger Sotar 2020, flat-coated, and weathered with oil paint pinwashes and staining.
Christopher Whitfield
Denver, Colorado
Wanting to model a “standard, lived-in ‘Kate,’” Christopher turned to an Airfix 1/72 scale Nakajima B5N1 kit. He layered greens over Vallejo Black Primer to get various shades of fading paint. Christopher airbrushed the panel lines and applied washes and pigments for the dirty details.
Ken Meyer
Colorado Springs, Colorado
It’s hard to mistake the profile of this famous racer. Ken built his 1/32 scale Gee Bee R-1 race plane from a Williams Brothers kit. He supplied scratch details for the engine and cockpit and painted the model with Tamiya colors.
Robbie Nauffts
Arrowwood, Alberta, Canada
Robbie says of his Eduard 1/48 scale A6M2-N “Ruffe,” “I built the kit straight from the box and used an ICM figure for a sense of scale.” He made the concrete pads on the wooden base from styrene sheet, planted the grounds with static grass, rolled in Tamiya steel drums, and put a folded flag nearby.
John Bonanni
Parker, Colorado
John built an AK Interactive 1/35 scale hotel façade, all of it hand-painted with AK acrylics. Looking through The Cake Shop windows, we see a model stash that has perhaps gotten a bit out of hand. Why the combo of an old cake shop and models? John’s wife loves baking, and, well, you can guess the rest.
Bob Martines
Arvada, Colorado
Somewhere in this model resides an Italeri 1/9 scale Triumph motorcycle kit, but Bob completely altered it to forge a replica of a bobber. He airbrushed Tamiya acrylics over primer for a clean look.
Ian Kisluk
Lakewood, Colorado
Taking his cues from Star Trek: The Spaceflight Chronology book published in 1979, Ian finished a 3D-printed 1/1000 scale Romulan War Cruiser and illuminated it with LEDs. The colors on the seldom-seen starship are a combination of Tamiya and Vallejo metallic paints and iridescent pigments.