Bill Schuler
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Bill replaced the Gemini spacecraft atop a Real Space Models 1/72 scale Titan II booster with an injection-molded craft from Dragon to model the Gemini 6 mission. He painted the rocket and spacecraft with Tamiya acrylics and Alclad II lacquer over Mr. Surfacer 1500 White primer.
Sean Brannin
Sunset, Utah
To finish Felicia, a 1/4 scale 3D-printed steampunk character from Ritual Castings, Sean applied acrylic and artist oils with an airbrush, paintbrush, and washes.
Travis Haussener
Monticello, Utah
After painting Live Resin 1/35 scale SEALs with MRP lacquers and Vallejo and Ammo acrylics, Travis posed them on a base with a cast plaster rock and a tree made by wrapping a piece of wood with glue-soaked toilet paper.
Ace Rider
West Valley City, Utah
Ace added custom wiper caps to a Revell 1/25 scale 1949 Merc Custom Coupe. The low-slung ride gleams under Tropical Glitz Seductive Plum topped with 2K clear.
Dane Ligon
Layton, Utah
Needs must! The driver of the MAIM 1/35 scale mech combat suit Dane brought to the show has taken a tactical stop. After detailing the cockpit, adding an IR light, improving the exhaust and external wiring, and fitting a Tamiya cannon, Dane painted the futuristic combatant with Model Master enamels and weathered with washes and pastels.
Aaron Mikesell
Logan, Utah
To depict the startup sequence for an SR-71, Aaron posed an Academy Blackbird on a scratchbuilt base surrounded by AG330-1 start carts and crew ladders he designed and 3D-printed. He painted the aircraft and scene with lacquers, acrylics, enamels, and artist oils from Mr. Color, Mission Models, Vallejo, Revell, Testors, Winsor & Newton, and Alclad II.
Lance Olivares
Salt Lake City, Utah
Aftermarket decals were Lance’s only addition to his otherwise out-of-the-box build of a Bandai 1/144 scale RG Sazabi. He finished the mobile suit with Tamiya spray-can clear flat to protect the markings.
Martin Drayton
Park City, Utah
Martin’s 1/35 scale film crew is about to discover what happens when you get a little too focused on what’s in front of you and fail to see the bigger picture in the wilds of Africa. He filled an Italeri Series 3 Land Rover with Value Gear stowage and painted it with AK Interactive Real Colors lacquers. The groundwork is resin and wood over foam.
Ian Weber
Lehi, Utah
Ian hand-painted this 1/12 scale model of Batman and Robin from the 1966 TV series with acrylics. The dynamic duo came as a 3D-printed model.
Asmir Kovoric
Boise, Idaho
To give a Revell 1/24 scale ’40 Ford Pickup modern custom flair, Asmir added a 3D-printed steering wheel, wheels, and shifter as well as aftermarket grille, side-exiting exhaust, and taillights. The luxurious finish is Splash Paints lacquer under gleaming 2K clear. “It’s my idea of a dream truck,” he says.
Jay Bergeon
Las Vegas, Nevada
For a restomod 1986 El Camino, Jay fitted a 3D-printed LS1 Magnuson supercharged engine, 3D-printed tires and wheels over Pegasus disc brakes, photo-etched metal door locks and rear badge plate, and scratchbuilt fog lights to a 1/25 scale AMT/Ertl kit. After priming the body with Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black, he finished the beaut with Zero Ultramarine Black lacquer.
Mike Morris
Las Vegas, Nevada
To replicate the custom 1921 Olds Model 43 built by Jethro in the 1968 season of The Beverly Hillbillies, Mike added a blanket and rope to an otherwise out-of-the-box build of the AMT/Ertl 1/25 scale kit. Otherwise, he combined optional parts from the family truck and Granny’s hot rod for the unique vehicle he painted Testors Fiery Orange.
Ethan Furler
Henderson, Nevada
Ethan finished a Young Miniatures 1/10 scale Royal Air Force Spitfire pilot with acrylics and weathered with pastels.
Todd Schmidt
Holladay, Utah
After building a Revell 1/24 scale Chevy Monte Carlo as a car driven by NASCAR racer Kevin Harvick, Todd placed it on a lift he designed and 3D-printed. He painted the car with Mr. Hobby and Tamiya colors.
Brent Summers
Las Vegas, Nevada
It’s “an exact replica of my brother’s tank in El Paso,” says Brent of the Tamiya 1/35 scale M1A2 Abrams he rolled into the show with. He replaced the kit tracks with AFV Club parts, detailed the tank with Eduard photo-etched metal, scratchbuilt tarps, aftermarket stowage, wiring for the lights, and VMS nonskid texture. He painted the main battle tank with Tamiya and Vallejo acrylic and Model Master enamels before placing it on a groundwork of Vallejo and AK Interactive ground texture over foam to represent a gunnery range.
Kenneth Guerrero
Las Vegas, Nevada
Kenneth’s dad was a member of the 199th Fighter Squadron of the Hawaii Air National Guard in 1975, so he built Monogram’s 1/48 scale F-102A as an aircraft from that unit. He airbrushed the Delta Dagger with Model Master ADC Gray enamel.
Shawn Shuler
Layton, Utah
Shawn painted his out-of-the-box build of a HobbyBoss 1/48 scale Yak-28P “Firebar” with Alclad II and MRP lacquers over Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black.
George Miconi
Ogden, Utah
To build a British tank in North Africa, George airbrushed a Dragon 1/35 scale Sherman with Tamiya acrylics with freehand camouflage, using post-shading, artist-oil washes, pigments for dust, and AK Interactive weathering pencils for scratches.
Brett Prusso
Sandy, Utah
Brett improved ICM’s 1/48 scale B-26K Counter Invader with a ton of scratchbuilt interior details and Quinta Studio 3D-printed decals. He cut open all of the hatches and canopies to show off the work and painted the Vietnam War camouflage with Ammo and Vallejo acrylics before weathering with Winsor & Newton artist oils. For context, he placed the plane on a 3D-printed base with 3D-printed equipment and figures from ICM and Monogram.
Jacob Donaldson
West Jordan, Utah
Adding dents and homemade decals, Jacob converted an MPC 1/25 scale Dodge Van into the vehicle used by Blink-182 in the video for the song “Rock Show.” Other mods include paper wood lining, scratchbuilt mirrors, and a custom interior color.
Bruce MacRae
Las Vegas, Nevada
Going big, Bruce added a Model Cellar rider and dog to an ESCI 1/9 scale BMW R75 and finished it as a World War II German military police bike. He scratched the sidecar door and added bullet damage as well as jerry cans, wiring for the engine and lights, and painted the camouflage with Tamiya acrylics.
Jeremy Boileau
Layton, Utah
Jeremy’s improvements to a Bandai 1/144 scale MS-05L Zaku I Sniper Type included PE details, Archer Fine Transfer rivet decals, scribed panel lines, and added greeblies on the backpack. He painted the Harmony of Gundam mobile suit with colors from an Ammo Bundeswehr Smart Set and weathered with Vallejo acrylic wash and Mr. Weather Color paints.
Shawn Earl
Herriman, Utah
“Life of a surfer dude!” was all the inspiration Shawn needed to go to town on a Revell “Old School” Beach Van. The surfboard and bumper stickers were taken from real bumper stickers and designs scaled down, covered with clear tape, and affixed with Elmer’s spray glue. He painted the can with Tamiya spray-can lacquers and stripped the chrome plating with Simple Green before spraying them with AK Interactive Xtreme Metal Chrome over Alclad II Gloss Black.
David Stein
Las Vegas, Nevada
David added wiring, couplings, and a model railroad lens to an RPG Models 1/35 scale CIWS Phalanx before painting it with Humbrol colors. An artist-oil wash emphasized the details.