Santiago Somocrurcio
Waterdown, Ontario, Canada
Straight from Gundam SEED Destiny comes Santiago’s Bandai 1/100 scale Master Grade MBF-02 Strike Rouge Ootori version. Built out of the box, the Gundam features a pilot painted with acrylics and enamels, and Santiago picked out panel lines with an acrylic wash
Evan Zuk
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Imagining a tank from the Battle of Leningrad, Evan built a Takom 1/35 scale Panzer III Ausf N, painted it Real Colors Panzer Grey Blue, applied chipping fluid, and followed with acrylic Tamiya White for wintery camo. He made the base from XPS foam, textured pastels for the mud, and AK Interactive Snow.
Rob Tremblay
Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada
Rob’s HK Models 1/32 scale A-20G Havoc depicts a late-war bomber in the skies over Europe. He improved the kit with RB Model .50-caliber metal gun barrels, 3D-printed crew, and mounted the plane and falling bombs on acrylic rods over a photo of a target glued to a particle board base.
Ericsson Catillo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ericsson added LEDs to his Bandai 1/144 scale High Grade Gelgoog Menace Lunamaria Hawke Custom for its eyes and main thrusters. He mixed custom metallic colors from Tamiya, Mr. Hobby, and Gaia Notes to replicate the mech from the show Gundam SEED Freedom.
Bob Esplin
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bob couldn’t help himself: When he saw the Fine Molds 1/12 scale Deckel FP1 Universal Precision Milling Machine, he knew he had to build it. “Who else has one of these built?” he asked. He mixed Vallejo acrylics to get the correct green and added years of use with washes and weathering colors.
Chris Oberfell
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
A resin seat and wheels and aftermarket decals dress up Chris’ Tamiya 1/48 scale P-47D “Razorback” Thunderbolt. He painted everything with Tamiya acrylics, building up the colors in layers for visual interest. Chris masked and airbrushed the invasion stripes before chipping with a sponge and adding dirt and oil with washes and artist oils.
Nick Shearman
Keswick, Ontario, Canada
After 30 years away from the hobby, Nick stepped back in with a 75mm piece showing an indigenous hunter squaring off with a grizzly bear. Packed with tension, Nick hand-painted the scene’s figures with colors from Vallejo, AK Interactive, Tamiya, and Winsor & Newton.
John Aiello
Cottrellville, Michigan
John built an E2046 1/6 scale Deadpool resin kit, hit it with Dupli-Color automotive primer, and then airbrushed with Reaper and Vallejo acrylics mixed with Mr. Leveling Thinner. He post-shaded the regenerating degenerate with pastes and dry-brushed highlights.
Sophie Gilham
Norwich, Ontario, Canada
Sophie, 10, painted her 3D-printed dragon hatchling and then used washes and dry-brushing to deepen shadows and pop highlights. She covered the figure’s wooden base with dirt and grass from Woodland Scenics.
Jolodymyr Dziubak
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
This Aoshima 1/24 scale Pagani Zonda wears carbon-fiber decals and photo-etched metal details. Jolodymyr airbrushed the finish with Mr. Hobby paints.
Jolodymyr Dziubak
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
This Aoshima 1/24 scale Pagani Zonda wears carbon-fiber decals and photo-etched metal details. Jolodymyr airbrushed the finish with Mr. Hobby paints.
Ed Cotton
Alliston, Ontario, Canada
This amazing scene features an Eduard 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.VIII in a World War II maintenance area. Ed scratchbuilt the base from basswood, Woodland Scenics landscaping material, and dirt from his backyard. He upgraded the Spit with an aftermarket engine and cockpit. The ground crew are Tamiya figures.
Jason Gilham
Norwich, Ontario, Canada
Jason designed and 3D-printed this 1/35 scale Twirly Bird kiddie ride and placed it on a cast-plaster base to depict it out of order. He painted with acrylics, airbrushing the base coats and highlights. Washes added weathering, and dry-brushing showed wear and tear.
Peter Rasmussen
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
In his scene, Peter shows a moment during the Soviet Union’s taking of Berlin in 1945 as a photographer snaps a picture of soldiers after they’ve taken a fortified German position. He used Master Box figures and the turret from an Italeri 1/35 scale Panzer IV. The base was made from plywood, cardboard cobblestones, plaster rubble, and balsa strips.
Colin John
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Colin scratchbuilt his 1/16 scale MG EX181, called the Roaring Raindrop, from epoxy and 3D-printed and CNC-machined parts. He airbrushed the body with MCW enamels and finished the rest with a combination of Tamiya and Alclad II lacquers.
Zen Barbiarz
Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
For a street machine version of a 1987 Buick GNX, Zen chose a Monogram 1/24 scale kit. He painted with Tamiya spray paints from the cans, starting with a black base, followed by Gunmetal, Clear Red, and Clear. He wet-sanded and polished with Novus products.
Zen Barbiarz
Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada
For a street machine version of a 1987 Buick GNX, Zen chose a Monogram 1/24 scale kit. He painted with Tamiya spray paints from the cans, starting with a black base, followed by Gunmetal, Clear Red, and Clear. He wet-sanded and polished with Novus products.
David “Blappy” Guertin
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
You’ll be happy to know Gulf Racing continues its proud heritage even in the 23rd century. Blappy kitbashed his Gulf shuttle and flatbed hauler from three Polar Lights 1/32 scale Star Trek Galileo kits, embellished with 3D-printed parts, and marked them with Gofer Racing decals. The base was made from wood and scribed styrene sheet.
Jeremy Kennedy
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Inspired to build a futuristic Royal Canadian Air Force rescue vehicle, Jeremy came up with this 1/72 scale VTOL using a Bandai kit to start. He lighted the engines, added a search light, and made a rescue door and custom life rafts. The wooden base is covered with Woodland Scenics resin water, painted, and dry-brushed.
Jean Rousseau
Russell, Ontario, Canada
Jean added a 3D-printed Black Box wide-body kit, roof rack, surfboard, tires, and wheels to a Revell 1/24 scale kit to make his V-dub T1 Samba bus. He airbrushed a Mr. Color Silver base coat and went over it with Tamiya Metallic Black and Tamiya Metallic Red for a bodacious two-tone, wide-body, California beach cruiser.
Adam Grainger
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
The two-tone exterior on Adam’s Monogram 1/24 scale 1970 Road Runner is Splash Paints Absolute Black above Model Master Plum Crazy, with both topped by Testors Wet-Look Clear. He built the model out of the box and picked out all window trim, interior trim, and wheel arches with Bare-Metal Foil.
Adam Grainger
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
The two-tone exterior on Adam’s Monogram 1/24 scale 1970 Road Runner is Splash Paints Absolute Black above Model Master Plum Crazy, with both topped by Testors Wet-Look Clear. He built the model out of the box and picked out all window trim, interior trim, and wheel arches with Bare-Metal Foil.
Greg Hanchuk
Berea, Ohio
Greg turned a Zvezda 1/35 scale UAZ-3909 into a gun truck by chopping off the back roof and sides and installing a DShK machine gun. He added Quinta 3D-printed details and Armor 35 flat tires. He painted all the camo on the Evolution figures freehand. The custom base has a cork roadbed with Ammo Asphalt paste, Meng grass, and AK Interactive bushes. The scene depicts the Donbas brigade fighting during the Battle of Ilovaisk in summer 2014.
Jackson Lanaus
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Jackson replaced the hover plates on his Games Workshop 28mm Space Marine Gladiator Lancer with tracks and resculpted the gunner. He painted with AK Interactive 3G acrylics and Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color.
David Dilkes
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
David painted a Young Miniatures 1/10 scale Cowboy bust to show the character illuminated by moonlight, except for on the right side, where he used object source lighting to cast a glow from a lit cigar. He used a range of paints, including Pro Acryl, Scale 75, and Kimera. Other than the priming, all painting was done by hand, mostly with glazes.
Jacob Pizzuti
Paris, Ontario, Canada
Jacob replaced all the molded handles on his Ammo 1/35 scale T-55 with copper wire, improved the cast texture on the hull, and filed the fenders to replicate battle damage. He airbrushed the tank with Tamiya and AK Interactive acrylics, post-shaded, and picked out highlights by hand.
Frank Donati
St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
This unusual tank is a Mirage 1/35 scale Sicherungsfahrzeug UE 630 (f). Frank calls it the “world’s most dangerous file cabinet.” He built the kit out of the box and airbrushed Tamiya acrylics over Mr. Surfacer 1500. He used AK Interactive pencils to weather and applied an artist oil pinwash. He carved cobbles into the foam base.
Shaun Pekar
Howe’s Cave, New York
Shaun built Copper State Models' 1/32 scale Nieuport 17 as Canadian Ace Billy Bishop’s 1917 fighter. He painted with Tamiya lacquers, mixing Flat Silver and White for the doped linen. Upped the detail with Gaspatch turnbuckles. For the base, Shaun used foam edged with styrene sheet and static grass over AK Interactive Terrains paste.
Anthony Goodman
London, Ontario, Canada
Malaysians served as UN base security during the conflict between Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Anthony wanted to show the crew taking a break and sharing a drink with its pup. He built the Academy 1/35 scale KIFV and accurized it for MALBAT 1, including footman loops, antenna, straps, stowage, and interior door detail. The base is covered in a thin coat of drywall mud, fine sand, grass mats, and paper plants.
Anthony Goodman
London, Ontario, Canada
Malaysians served as UN base security during the conflict between Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Anthony wanted to show the crew taking a break and sharing a drink with its pup. He built the Academy 1/35 scale KIFV and accurized it for MALBAT 1, including footman loops, antenna, straps, stowage, and interior door detail. The base is covered in a thin coat of drywall mud, fine sand, grass mats, and paper plants.
Tim Harrison
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tim shortened the fuselage fore and aft of the wings on an Airfix 1/144 scale kit to model his COPA Airlines 737-100. He used photo-etched metal antennas and marked the plane with decals from Flying Colours.
Kerry Traynor
London, Ontario, Canada
Kerry built a Dragon 1/350 scale USS Ohio SSBN and replaced the kit prop with an aftermarket resin one. He primed and painted with Tamiya and Mr. Color lacquers, shaded panel lines, and popping highlights.
Kerry Traynor
London, Ontario, Canada
Kerry built a Dragon 1/350 scale USS Ohio SSBN and replaced the kit prop with an aftermarket resin one. He primed and painted with Tamiya and Mr. Color lacquers, shaded panel lines, and popping highlights.
Dalton Nyberg
Bridge North, Ontario, Canada
Dalton’s Tamiya 1/24 scale Mercedes AMG GT3 used aftermarket decals for Team Get Speed Performance No. 18. He primed the body white and base coated with Mr. Color White before spraying Splash Paints 2K Clear on top. He made the base out of cork.
Patrick Ellen
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Patrick’s amazing scene shows a sniper team en route to a forward area for an overwatch mission. The centerpiece is a Kitty Hawk 1/35 scale UH-60 that he outfitted with Live Resin figures, miniguns, and gun mounts. The base is foam board textured with Acetone and covered with a mixture of grout and plaster. The chopper and figures come to life with Tamiya acrylics, Testors enamels, and oil washes.
Patrick Ellen
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Patrick’s amazing scene shows a sniper team en route to a forward area for an overwatch mission. The centerpiece is a Kitty Hawk 1/35 scale UH-60 that he outfitted with Live Resin figures, miniguns, and gun mounts. The base is foam board textured with Acetone and covered with a mixture of grout and plaster. The chopper and figures come to life with Tamiya acrylics, Testors enamels, and oil washes.
Patrick Ellen
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Patrick’s amazing scene shows a sniper team en route to a forward area for an overwatch mission. The centerpiece is a Kitty Hawk 1/35 scale UH-60 that he outfitted with Live Resin figures, miniguns, and gun mounts. The base is foam board textured with Acetone and covered with a mixture of grout and plaster. The chopper and figures come to life with Tamiya acrylics, Testors enamels, and oil washes.
Patrick Ellen
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Patrick’s amazing scene shows a sniper team en route to a forward area for an overwatch mission. The centerpiece is a Kitty Hawk 1/35 scale UH-60 that he outfitted with Live Resin figures, miniguns, and gun mounts. The base is foam board textured with Acetone and covered with a mixture of grout and plaster. The chopper and figures come to life with Tamiya acrylics, Testors enamels, and oil washes.
Christopher Botting
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Christopher went a unique route when finishing his Trumpeter Transformers Arcee. After building the kit, he picked out the panel lines with black Tamiya Panel Line Accent and followed up with a coat of Tamiya Pearl Clear over the unpainted plastic. He shaded with AK Interactive paint markers.
Dave Russell
Newcastle, Ontario, Canada
The Miniwing 1/144 scale Canadair CT-114 Tutor is a rare kit, and Dave gave it the royal treatment. He scaled down 1/72 scale decals and printed Snowbird markings, placed the 3D-printed pilot at the controls, and created a base to show the airplane in full aerobatic splendor. Smoke on!
Dave Russell
Newcastle, Ontario, Canada
The Miniwing 1/144 scale Canadair CT-114 Tutor is a rare kit, and Dave gave it the royal treatment. He scaled down 1/72 scale decals and printed Snowbird markings, placed the 3D-printed pilot at the controls, and created a base to show the airplane in full aerobatic splendor. Smoke on!
Wenji Wang
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Wenji scratchbuilt the cargo bay details for his Hasegawa 1/72 scale MV-22 Osprey and used Eduard photo-etched metal and Black Dog resin parts for engine and driveshaft details. He painted with a range of colors from Mr. Color, Real Colors, Tamiya, and Ammo. Wenji made the base out of foam core and finished it to simulate a concrete runway.
Wenji Wang
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Wenji scratchbuilt the cargo bay details for his Hasegawa 1/72 scale MV-22 Osprey and used Eduard photo-etched metal and Black Dog resin parts for engine and driveshaft details. He painted with a range of colors from Mr. Color, Real Colors, Tamiya, and Ammo. Wenji made the base out of foam core and finished it to simulate a concrete runway.
Wenji Wang
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Wenji scratchbuilt the cargo bay details for his Hasegawa 1/72 scale MV-22 Osprey and used Eduard photo-etched metal and Black Dog resin parts for engine and driveshaft details. He painted with a range of colors from Mr. Color, Real Colors, Tamiya, and Ammo. Wenji made the base out of foam core and finished it to simulate a concrete runway.
Dave Petrin
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
To model a CH-54A Tarhe in Vietnam, Dave improved an ICM 1/35 scale kit with 3D-printed engines, rotor assembly, filters, and cockpit. He airbrushed using GSI Creos colors and weathered with oil paints and pigments. Dave made the base out of wood and placed ICM perforated steel plates on top.
Dave Petrin
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
To model a CH-54A Tarhe in Vietnam, Dave improved an ICM 1/35 scale kit with 3D-printed engines, rotor assembly, filters, and cockpit. He airbrushed using GSI Creos colors and weathered with oil paints and pigments. Dave made the base out of wood and placed ICM perforated steel plates on top.
Dave Petrin
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
To model a CH-54A Tarhe in Vietnam, Dave improved an ICM 1/35 scale kit with 3D-printed engines, rotor assembly, filters, and cockpit. He airbrushed using GSI Creos colors and weathered with oil paints and pigments. Dave made the base out of wood and placed ICM perforated steel plates on top.
Janyce Roy
Kanata Ontario, Canada
Janyce finished her Welsh Models 1/144 scale Royal Canadian Air Force North Star for service during the Korean War. Her dad was an engine tech on North Stars during the war, so it only seems right. She tackled the vacuum-formed kit, making new spinners out of spares and painting it with Krylon Gloss White and Premier Shake & Spray Aluminum.
Andrew Newman
Bramalea, Ontario, Canada
This Rareplanes 1/72 scale McDonnell XP-67 “Moonbat” is all vacuum-formed, but Andrew was up to the challenge. He deepened and added scratchbuilt details to the wheel bays, and accurized the bay doors and cockpit. Andrew also opened the vents and intakes and added a pitot tube. The base is a stained wooden plaque with a printed copy of the airplane’s blueprints.