John Giglio
Bloomington, Illinois
John replaced the tracks on his Academy 1/35 scale M3A1 Stuart with Bronco working tracks, scratchbuilt the headlight guards, added straps and buckles for tools and stowage bags, and made camo netting from medical gauze. He primed his Stuart with Tamiya Fine Primer from the spray can and airbrushed with Vallejo acrylics. Oil-paint pinwashes, chipping, and artist pastels and pigments for dust complete the look.
Craig Jarboe
Montpelier, Ohio
It’s always fun to see the super-deformed “egg” tanks at shows, and Craig built Meng’s 1/35 scale M5 Stuart. He painted the tank with Real Colors Olive Drab and Faded Olive Drab for highlights. An enamel pinwash popped the details.
Don Burger
Dalton City, Illinois
Don finished his Tamiya 1/48 scale P-47D as a member of the 365th Fighter-Bomber Group, also known as the Hell Hawks. He added an aftermarket drop tanks and bombs underneath and achieved the bare-metal look with AK Interactive Xtreme Metal acrylic paints. An artist-oil wash brought out the panel lines and added just a bit of weathering for a post-D-Day look.
Ken Erickson
Grant Park, Illinois
“This ‘what if’ represents an engineering APC constructed from things acquired by a small nation’s defense forces,” Ken says. Called “The Junkyard Dog,” he started with the hull of a Trumpeter 1/35 scale Brazil EE-T2 Osorio and went to town adding parts from his spares box, styrene sheet, and resin-cast ERA panels. He painted it with the MERDC tropical and decided not to weather, instead presenting a carrier ready for inspection.
Dan Cummings
Grand Rapids, Michigan
One of the more fun models at the show, if you’re a Dungeons & Dragons player, you know exactly what’s happening here. Dan’s model shows a party of adventurers meeting an ugly fate as they are digested by an infamous monster called a gelatinous cube. Above ground, a bard happily sings and dances, none the wiser to what is happening beneath their feet. Dan carved the base from foam with a hot-wire cutter and 3D-printed the gelatinous cube, rat, and bard.
Mike Brignola
Sunbury, Ohio
Mike’s Sturmpanzer I Bison came from a Dragon Models 1/35 scale kit he built out of the box except for the extra gear. He painted with Model Master enamels and weathered with Ammo pigments.
Derrick Kus
Painesville, Ohio
Derrick built his Revell 1/350 scale U-boat U-552 out of the box. He painted with a mix of Tamiya spray paints, acrylics, and Vallejo Model Color—no airbrush in sight. The water stains and other weathering were achieved with washes and pastels. He bought the base from a craft store and mounted the submarine on it.
Nathan LaPorte
Saint Clair, Michigan
Nathan dressed up his Tamiya 1/35 scale Flakpanzer IV “Möbelwagen” (moving van) with a Voyager Models detail set and photo-etched metal fenders. He 3D-printed the tracks, ammo cans, helmets, and empty shells. He used the hairspray technique for chipping, airbrushing the darker “chip” color over the whole model before applying the camo freehand. Nathan covered the base with Vallejo and AK Interactive texture products, along with real bits of foliage.
Paul Wheeler
Springfield, Illinois
Paul “loves Tamiya 1/48 scale armor,” so it was a natural fit to build the Tamiya 75mm howitzer motor carriage M8 Scott. He primed the model with Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black and painted with Tamiya acrylics to build up light layers. Weathering consists of dry-brushing and light use of artist oils.
Chad Bowser
Manheim, Pennsylvania
Chad built a Tamiya 1/48 scale Dewoitine D.520 and marked it for service with the French GC II/7 3rd squadron in June 1940. He airbrushed the markings, scratchbuilt the pitot tube and wingtip lights, fully riveted the airframe, and added Brassin wheels underneath.
Rick Keasey
Edwardsville, Illinois
The 3D-printed 1/10 scale sculpt for Rick’s “Maverick” came from R2 Miniatures. He painted the bust’s face with artist oils and applied acrylics everywhere else—all over gray auto primer. “Kind of looks like Tom Cruise,” Rick says. You don’t say?
John Kokarewich
Bartlett, Illinois
John modeled the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) on its first wartime mission in February 1944, ferrying Army, Navy, and Marine Corps aircraft to the South Pacific. Built from a Hasegawa 1/350 scale kit, he packed it with photo-etched metal details, Black Cat weapons and directors, Flyhawk life rafts, and Trumpeter and 3D-printed aircraft.
Jay Newhouse
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Jay built his Model Shipways 1/48 scale 18th-century longboat to match the kit box top. However, he simulated nails in the deck and replaced all the rigging and blocks.
Mark Ronan
Bloomington, Indiana
Replicating a bird that flew with No. 145 Squadron of the RAF in Italy 1945, Mark built an Eduard 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk.VIII out of the box. He primed the plane gray from a spray can, followed by black acrylic for some shading variation. Then he airbrushed the ocean gray and dark green camo on top. A touch of brown and black oil washes and pastels for exhaust stains finished the job.
Bill Grosso
Fishers, Indiana
Wanting something a little more than out of the box, Bill detailed his Tamiya 1/48 scale F-4B Phantom II with aftermarket wheels, cockpit, and tail cap. He painted the fuselage with Mr. Color acrylics and handled the exhaust cans and underside of the empennage with Alclad II lacquers.
David O’Connor
Richmond, Kentucky
David built his Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale Halberstadt Cl.II (early) out of the box except for EZ Line rigging and Aviattic lozenge camouflage for the wings and tail planes. He chose to mark his Cl.II as the striking “4” from the Royal Bavarian Schusta 26b in 1917.
Curt Cayemberg
Wentzville, Missouri
Many tanks wore a tiger paint scheme during the Korean War, and Curt painted his Pegasus 1/72 scale M46 Patton in the yellow, black, and red. He replaced the molded lift lugs with metal wire before applying acrylics for the paint scheme. Curt covered a wooden base with Celluclay, static grass, rocks from his street, and tea leaves.
Travis Collard
Louisville, Kentucky
This 1/2 scale BD-1 from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a 3D-printed file Travis modified to house lights. He installed LEDs and a battery in the head and body and painted with Mission Models colors mixed with Pledge Floor Gloss. As it is here, BD-1 looks factory fresh, not yet having explored the far reaches of a galaxy far, far away.
Kip Pelton
Crestwood, Kentucky
Kip built a Hasegawa 1/35 scale Chubu 01 and placed it in a scene where it’s been parked for charging. He 3D-printed the EV charging station and added lights to the Chubu. The base is made from foam with cork for the painted roadbed.
John Tinay
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Always up for something eye-catching, John settled wild “Crocodile” decals over his Provence Moulage 1/43 scale Audi R8 as it ran in Adelaide, Australia, in 2000. And yes, the livery is entirely decals. We’re sweating just thinking about it.
Brian Acker
Mooresville, Indiana
This fun, Eduard 1/72 scale Zlin Z-37A Čmelák was built out of the box except for the addition of a crop sprayer. Brian painted with Mr. Colo acrylics over a black base coat and detailed with Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color.
Mark McCollough
Elkhart, Illinois
Everything on Mark’s MPC 1/25 scale 1971 Dodge Demon was box stock except the rear wheels. Taking paint colors left over from other builds, he modeled a car he imagined a high schooler would have patched together. He used rust-effect paint, salt chipping, and cinnamon for rust on the lower body.
Jake Leatherman
Bryan, Ohio
Jake built a Revell 1/25 scale ’69 Yenko Corvette the way he would want one from the dealership. Box stock except for the wired engine, his Vette wears MCW Monza Red under MCW Clear.
Jake Leatherman
Bryan, Ohio
Jake built a Revell 1/25 scale ’69 Yenko Corvette the way he would want one from the dealership. Box stock except for the wired engine, his Vette wears MCW Monza Red under MCW Clear.
Matthew Malogorski
Columbus, Ohio
Matthew added stowage from Verlinden, AFV Club, and Legend to his Academy 1/35 scale M551 Sheridan. He airbrushed the light tank with Model Master and Tamiya paints for service in Desert Storm in 1991. Pinwashes, chips with an artist’s pencil, and a base round out the build.
Mark Spalding
Cumberland, Indiana
A Brassin engine set powers Mark’s Eduard 1/48 scale RF-51D Mustang. Tamiya, AK Interactive, and Vallejo paints with just a touch of artist oils for weathering give the fighter an appropriate appearance for flying recon out of Kimpo Airbase, South Korea, 1951.
Mark Spalding
Cumberland, Indiana
A Brassin engine set powers Mark’s Eduard 1/48 scale RF-51D Mustang. Tamiya, AK Interactive, and Vallejo paints with just a touch of artist oils for weathering give the fighter an appropriate appearance for flying recon out of Kimpo Airbase, South Korea, 1951.
Mark Spalding
Cumberland, Indiana
A Brassin engine set powers Mark’s Eduard 1/48 scale RF-51D Mustang. Tamiya, AK Interactive, and Vallejo paints with just a touch of artist oils for weathering give the fighter an appropriate appearance for flying recon out of Kimpo Airbase, South Korea, 1951.
Steve Butt
Midlothian, Illinois
This colorful Czech Models 1/48 scale A-12 Shrike wears Tamiya Yellow and a custom-mixed blue, airbrushed with a Badger 150. Steve applied just a light pinwash to the panel lines and no other weathering.
Michael Cotterman
Greenfield, Indiana
Michael designed a T-47 speeder and 3D-printed it to model this scrapyard loader in the Star Wars universe. He painted with Archive-X acrylics. Michael found the base online, added details in Tinkercad, and printed it. Very unique!
Brandon Gentry
Indianapolis, Indiana
Brandon added photo-etched metal details and 3D-printed cargo to his Tamiya 1/25 scale 2½-ton truck running the Red Ball Express in July 1944. He modified the driver’s pose and painted with Tamiya acrylics. The base is foam with veneer sides, VMS Smart Mud, and static grass.
Gordon Vader
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Modeling an F-104C flying from George Air Force Base in California between 1960 and 1965, Gordon started with a Hasegawa 1/48 scale kit. He improved the cockpit with Eduard photo-etched metal details and painted it with Alclad II lacquers over a Tamiya Gloss Black base. Gordon sanded the plastic with micromesh before laying down the base coat for an impeccably smooth finish.
Gordon Vader
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Modeling an F-104C flying from George Air Force Base in California between 1960 and 1965, Gordon started with a Hasegawa 1/48 scale kit. He improved the cockpit with Eduard photo-etched metal details and painted it with Alclad II lacquers over a Tamiya Gloss Black base. Gordon sanded the plastic with micromesh before laying down the base coat for an impeccably smooth finish.
Gordon Vader
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Modeling an F-104C flying from George Air Force Base in California between 1960 and 1965, Gordon started with a Hasegawa 1/48 scale kit. He improved the cockpit with Eduard photo-etched metal details and painted it with Alclad II lacquers over a Tamiya Gloss Black base. Gordon sanded the plastic with micromesh before laying down the base coat for an impeccably smooth finish.
Wes Salazar
Wentzville, Missouri
Taking a stalled project he’d started three years ago, Wes lowered the suspension on his AMT 1/25 scale 1962 Impala, tucked 3D-printed wheels up underneath, and planted an LSA engine under the hood. He detailed the suspension with real springs and added photo-etched metal seat-belt buckles for safety.
Wes Salazar
Wentzville, Missouri
Taking a stalled project he’d started three years ago, Wes lowered the suspension on his AMT 1/25 scale 1962 Impala, tucked 3D-printed wheels up underneath, and planted an LSA engine under the hood. He detailed the suspension with real springs and added photo-etched metal seat-belt buckles for safety.
Tom Choy
Champaign, Illinois
“This is an Indian air force MiG-29,” Tom said. “I thought the markings were a nice contrast to the gray.” He built his Airfix 1/72 scale model out of the box except for tape seat belts and painted with Tamiya Neutral Gray over a bit of pre-shading. He weathered the plane with oil paints.
Christopher Mayton
Lafayette, Indiana
Christopher entered an ICM 1/35 scale Studebaker US6-U3 painted Tamiya Olive Drab. He added a driver figure and stowage in the bed. Christopher weathered with an artist-oil pinwash and AK Interactive terrain colors.
Jason Sizemore
Mount Washington, Kentucky
Snorkels always look interesting on a Sherman, and they’re even more impressive on Jason’s Heller 1/72 scale M4. He used music wire for the antenna and painted it with Vallejo Olive Drab. Jason weathered with artist oils and enamels.
Chen Lu
Louisville, Kentucky
For his Hasegawa 1/48 scale P-38G Lightning, Chen scratchbuilt the safety belts, custom-designed and 3D-printed the lightning-shaped base, and heavily weathered the plane for a war-weary appearance.
Tom Gore
St. John, Indiana
Inspired by “Shut Down” by the Beach Boys, Tom built a Jo-Han 1/25 scale 1962 Dodge Dart. He painted it Tamiya Bright Yellow, lined the trim with Bare-Metal Foil, and scaled down the “Shut Down” album cover for the back seat. Tom also wired and plumbed the engine and made custom license plates.