Aaron Thomas
Charlotte, North Carolina
Aaron called his Tamiya 1/24 scale Porsche 911 GT3 a “great, fun little kit.” He built it out of the box, airbrushed it with Tamiya lacquers, and even discolored the exhaust with heat stains.
Irene Rogal
Madison, Wisconsin
Irene, 14, built and finished a Hawk Classics “Beach Bunny Catchin’ Waves.” She sculpted a custom base, adding seaweed and sand to water made from Mod Podge and plaster. Beach Bunny’s hair was partly resculpted, and Irene added her bikini lines. “The poor lady barely fit together,” Irene said. “She had to have her sides completely reconstructed.” Irene mostly hand-painted her scene with Scale Colors and AK Interactive acrylics over gray primer.
Steven Simmons
Newport News, Virginia
This 1/8 scale resin figure from E2046 depicts Ritos Tortilla from the anime Shukufuku no Campanella. Steven replaced the kit’s cast necklaces with wire and beads and airbrushed and hand-painted acrylic colors. He achieved those straight lines on Ritos’ dress with masking and a steady hand and shaded with pastels.
Didier Hachem
Brossard, Quebec, Canada
This brightly colored figure represents a samurai of the Akechi family. Didier made minor modifications to the Pegaso 90mm miniature and hand-painted it with acrylics. The groundwork was made with natural wood and grasses and finished with artist oils.
Didier Hachem
Brossard, Quebec, Canada
This brightly colored figure represents a samurai of the Akechi family. Didier made minor modifications to the Pegaso 90mm miniature and hand-painted it with acrylics. The groundwork was made with natural wood and grasses and finished with artist oils.
Sarah Dornseif
Sanford, Florida
This FineMolds 1/72 scale Star Wars TIE Interceptor was Sarah’s, 17, first sci-fi model. She built it out of the box and airbrushed it using Tamiya acrylic paints and a Paasche H4. Sara masked the windows with Tamiya tape and weathered with a homemade wash.
Eric Xu
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Eric, 16, built this Very Fire 1/700 scale USS Des Moines (CA-134) heavy cruiser as it appeared in 1946. He improved the basic kit with aftermarket decks and anchor chains, and employed the photo-etched metal and resin parts supplied in the kit. He painted the ship in stages, starting with hull red, flat black for the waterline, and neutral gray for the remainder. He picked out details with Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color and dry-brushed salt streaking.
James Elmore
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Ancient Spartans and Persians face off in this depiction of the action at Thermopylae. James painted the Flying Machine 54mm figures with Reaper, Pro Acryl, and Vallejo acrylics.
Rick Keasey
Edwardsville, Illinois
This Andrea Miniatures 120mm DAK Panzer Pionier, 1942, was entirely hand-painted by Rick. Artist oils bring the face to life, and he finished the rest of the body and uniform in acrylics over gray primer.
Kendall Brown
Plano, Texas
This amazing 1/72 model of Vought Kingfishers on a P-6 catapult was based on a photo of USS New York (BB-34) from June 16, 1943. Kendall scratchbuilt the turret and catapult, and he used the shells of vintage 1960s Airfix kits for the airplanes, adding Gaspatch .30-caliber machine guns and scratchbuilding all the other details, including the engines, canopies, and struts. After airbrushing on True North and Model Master enamels, he weathered each panel with artist oils and watercolor pencils applied with a wet paintbrush. Kendall modeled the deck from basswood soaked in enamels thinned with mineral spirits. He soaked the planks in thin superglue, sanded the deck flat, applied Pledge Floor Gloss, and then buffed it.
Kevin Batterman
Sunnyside, New York
Kevin hand-painted a Paleocraft 1/20 scale Barbourofelis resin figure. The fierce cat wears acrylic paints and artist oils, washes, and pastels. Kevin made the base with Durham’s Water Putty.
Michael Polin
Knoxville, Tennessee
Tamiya, Vallejo Metal Color, and Citadel acrylic paints dress Michael’s intimidating Games Workshop 28mm Imperial Knight. He primed the figure black, masked and airbrushed, brush-painted details, and weathered with Flory and artist-oil washes.
Michael Polin
Knoxville, Tennessee
Tamiya, Vallejo Metal Color, and Citadel acrylic paints dress Michael’s intimidating Games Workshop 28mm Imperial Knight. He primed the figure black, masked and airbrushed, brush-painted details, and weathered with Flory and artist-oil washes.
Richard Sliwka
Warrensburg, Missouri
Richard modeled the USS Cooner (DE-172), a Cannon-class destroyer escort in Measure 31 camouflage, in the Atlantic Ocean, 1944. PollyScale acrylics were used throughout.
Vladimir Yakubov
Morgan Hill, California
“This shows the USS Monterey (BM-6) during its transit across the Pacific during the Spanish-American War,” Vladimir says of his scratchbuilt monitor. He airbrushed the ship with enamels, masking the deck, and weathered with Tamiya washes. Vladimir made the water with AK Interactive gels.
James Boulukos
Wading River, New York
This Tamiya 1/24 scale Fiat Abarth 695 SS rolls on Ukrainian Scale Car Production resin wheels and benefits from rear window louvers and aftermarket interior details. James painted his Abarth Vallejo Game Color Sunrise Blue and sealed it under Mr. Super Clear Gloss.
James Boulukos
Wading River, New York
This Tamiya 1/24 scale Fiat Abarth 695 SS rolls on Ukrainian Scale Car Production resin wheels and benefits from rear window louvers and aftermarket interior details. James painted his Abarth Vallejo Game Color Sunrise Blue and sealed it under Mr. Super Clear Gloss.
Eric Yakubov
Morgan Hill, California
Eric, 8, kitbashed his vision for what he called a “Cyber Tank.” He airbrushed it with Vallejo acrylic paints, applied Tamiya washes, and used a base bought at the IPMS/USA National Convention in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2024.
Gabriel Horton
Stephens City, Virginia
Dark Angels Primarch Lion El’Jonson strides the battlefield with two Watchers in the Dark after his 10,000-year slumber, bent on a mission of vengeance. Gabriel, 15, brush-painted the Games Workshop 28mm Warhammer 40K figure with Citadel acrylic colors and finished it with Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color.
David Chelmow
Richmond, Virginia
David scratchbuilt a 1/48 scale cross-section of HMS Echo, a sloop-of-war launched in 1797 by the British Royal Navy. Other than painting the wood at the waist, Davide left the model in its natural color. He used a variety of tight-grained woods, cutting and milling the lumber himself.
David Chelmow
Richmond, Virginia
David scratchbuilt a 1/48 scale cross-section of HMS Echo, a sloop-of-war launched in 1797 by the British Royal Navy. Other than painting the wood at the waist, Davide left the model in its natural color. He used a variety of tight-grained woods, cutting and milling the lumber himself.
Bradley Weirick
Ocala, Florida
Bradley enjoys scratchbuilding, and he did plenty of that with his 1/25 scale 1951 Chevrolet. There are bits of an AMT kit in there, but Bradley scratchbuilt the chassis, custom grille, and the car’s head and taillights. He chopped and sectioned the body, widened the quarters, and tucked 3D-printed wheels under the fenders. For the paint, Bradley airbrushed the gold-based graphics, followed up with 13 coats of candy red, and then completed the look with six coats of 2K clear.
Bradley Weirick
Ocala, Florida
Bradley enjoys scratchbuilding, and he did plenty of that with his 1/25 scale 1951 Chevrolet. There are bits of an AMT kit in there, but Bradley scratchbuilt the chassis, custom grille, and the car’s head and taillights. He chopped and sectioned the body, widened the quarters, and tucked 3D-printed wheels under the fenders. For the paint, Bradley airbrushed the gold-based graphics, followed up with 13 coats of candy red, and then completed the look with six coats of 2K clear.
Bradley Weirick
Ocala, Florida
Bradley enjoys scratchbuilding, and he did plenty of that with his 1/25 scale 1951 Chevrolet. There are bits of an AMT kit in there, but Bradley scratchbuilt the chassis, custom grille, and the car’s head and taillights. He chopped and sectioned the body, widened the quarters, and tucked 3D-printed wheels under the fenders. For the paint, Bradley airbrushed the gold-based graphics, followed up with 13 coats of candy red, and then completed the look with six coats of 2K clear.
Wayne LaBar
Wilmington, North Carolina
Meet the future of pylon racing with Wayne’s diorama, The Last Pylon. Two Fichten Foo 1/35 scale anti-gravity gondola racers vie for first place 2,000 feet above San Francisco in the 2225 Red Bull Anti-Grav Grand Prix. Wayne 3D-printed the gondola racers and scratchbuilt the pylon and base. The colorful liveries were airbrushed Mr. Color and Alclad II lacquers. For the base, Wayne printed a photo on sticker paper and applied it for a dizzyingly realistic effect.
Hugo Garcia
Edinburg, Texas
Hugo set about building a 1/25 scale replica of his old farm tractor, a John Deere 310 with a backhoe, starting with an AMT kit. He scratchbuilt the seat assembly, made new hydraulics, and gave the bucket out back some bite with new teeth. He painted the tractor Rust-Oleum Satin Harvest Peach and created the well-used appearance with pastels and washes. The base is made from wood, Celluclay, and static grass.
Tim Nelson
Kirkland, Washington
Tim said he was going for a “Fly, you bugger!” vibe with this model of a World War I B Type pigeon loft. He paired Emhar figures with a 1/72 scale Roden kit and 3D-printed pigeons for a scene that might have happened on the Western Front. Tim employed Tamiya acrylics, artist oils, and pigments to paint and place this unique vehicle in Europe during the Great War. If you look closely, you can see the pigeon droppings stippled on for that added kick of realism.
Ricky Hoskin
North Chesterfield, Virginia
Calling his version of the RX-78-3 Gundam mobile suit a low-visibility variant, Ricky took his cues from RAF fighters in desert camo during World War II. After airbrushing the mech Mr. Surfacer Mahogany Primer, he pre-shaded, painted the base colors, post-shaded, and then added highlights. The desaturated colors are all Real Colors lacquers, and Ricky weathered with AK Interactive enamel pinwashes. For the base, he cut MDF to size, routed the half-round detail stripes, and made the placard and custom decals. Then he painted it to match the Gundam.
Doug Corp
Charlestown, West Virginia
Doug scratchbuilt his 1/25 scale antigravity recon vehicle from Evergreen styrene and parts from his spares box. He airbrushed most of the model and scene with Vallejo acrylics, and then turned to brushes for details. Tamiya weathering powders placed the recon unit in situ, and the base is a shadow box bought from a craft store and converted for Doug’s purposes.
Ken Belisle
Jacksonville, Florida
Ken dove into an original Revell 1/32 scale AH-1G Huey Cobra kit to model this striking attack heli assigned to the U.S. Army 120th Aviation Company “Arctic Knights” in Alaska. He scratchbuilt most of the engine compartment and added a resin cockpit and weapons. He painted the red-and-white scheme with MRP lacquers over gray primer.
Ken Belisle
Jacksonville, Florida
Ken dove into an original Revell 1/32 scale AH-1G Huey Cobra kit to model this striking attack heli assigned to the U.S. Army 120th Aviation Company “Arctic Knights” in Alaska. He scratchbuilt most of the engine compartment and added a resin cockpit and weapons. He painted the red-and-white scheme with MRP lacquers over gray primer.
Gene Berger
Hampton, Virginia
You don’t see many 1/32 scale submarines displayed at model contests, and Gene’s Japanese Type A mini sub was a welcome surprise. Based on a boat captured early during World War II, he scratchbuilt his replica, pouring the cast resin hull in molds he made. He airbrushed the hull with aModel Master Acryl he had on hand and weathered with pastels and washes.
Roberto Dibiase
Simpsonville, South Carolina
Inspired by his time in Iraq, Roberto built an M1083 MTV from a Trumpeter 1/35 scale kit and finished it up with acrylic paints, artist oils, and pastels. He scratchbuilt the base, including the sign, and made the scene appropriately dusty with Ammo pigments.
Ashley Abernathy
Glen Allen, Virginia
Going small, Ashley built a Flyhawk 1/72 scale Panzer II Ausf L almost entirely out of the box, replacing the main gun with two sizes of metal syringe. He base-coated the tank dunkelgelb and then airbrushed the green splotches on top. The base was an old trophy plaque to which Ashley added a cast resin road with sidewalks. He planted trees and small shrubs on either side to complete the scene.
Clay Caras
Oakdale, Connecticut
Perhaps one of the most unusual models at this year’s convention was Clay’s 1/35 scale Hafner Rogabuggy. He took a Tamiya Willys MB jeep and scratchbuilt the body and interior of the strange aircraft. He airbrushed the model with Real Colors lacquers, weathered with washes, pigments, and artist oils, and made a base to show off his one-off conversion.\
Luis Perez
Ponte Verda Beach, Florida
Starting as a Revell 1/12 scale RM Kustom chopper, Luis modified the front fork and added a jerry can as a gas tank for a U.S. Army-themed ride. He primed and base-coated with Army green and used gloss and flat finishes to help break up the monochromatic finish.
Luis Perez
Ponte Verda Beach, Florida
Starting as a Revell 1/12 scale RM Kustom chopper, Luis modified the front fork and added a jerry can as a gas tank for a U.S. Army-themed ride. He primed and base-coated with Army green and used gloss and flat finishes to help break up the monochromatic finish.
Rick Reinert
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
To depict the harsh conditions of serving in The Solomons during World War II, Rick heavily weathered his Tamiya 1/32 scale F4U “Birdcage” Corsair. After wiring the engine, scratchbuilding the cowling actuators, and upgrading the cockpit and canopy with aftermarket details, he painted with Tamiya and MRP colors. Weathering was handled with various AK Interactive and Ammo washes.
Lee Rothgeb
Richmond, Virginia
Armor in factory markings are always a treat, and Lee didn’t disappoint with his Dragon 1/35 scale Maus. Pushed out of the factory to defend Berlin in the final days of World War II, he added photo-etched metal grates under the vents and a turned-aluminum barrel. Dry-transfers helped add authenticity. The base color is red oxide decorated with white acrylic, weathered with chipping fluid. Pigments simulate dust, streaking, and grime, and they were created with black artist oils.
Ray Engineer
Greenville, South Carolina
Ray built his Revell 1/96 scale SM-62 Snark out of the box to model the test missile on a launch gantry. The eye-catching paint scheme was airbrushed with Tamiya acrylics and careful masking. Ray made the base and painted it himself.
David Neeley
Mooresville, North Carolina
David improved a Hasegawa 1/48 scale Phantom II with an aftermarket cockpit, camera and avionics bay, and Brassin exhausts. To finish it as an RF-4E in the service of the Hellenic air force, he airbrushed the camo pattern freehand, post-shaded, and applied Icarus decals.
Chris Derks
Alexandria, Virginia
Chris’ 12-year-old son picked an Academy 1/48 scale A-10C Warthog for his dad to build, and also chose the Osan Air Base markings for it, too. A Quinta cockpit, Mini Craft Collection seat and fans, and a weapons loadout courtesy of Eduard and Reskit round out this monster build. Chris painted his A-10 with Gunze Sangyo lacquers and used Uschi van der Rosten photo-etched metal stencils to create mottling to suggest wear and tear.
Chris Derks
Alexandria, Virginia
Chris’ 12-year-old son picked an Academy 1/48 scale A-10C Warthog for his dad to build, and also chose the Osan Air Base markings for it, too. A Quinta cockpit, Mini Craft Collection seat and fans, and a weapons loadout courtesy of Eduard and Reskit round out this monster build. Chris painted his A-10 with Gunze Sangyo lacquers and used Uschi van der Rosten photo-etched metal stencils to create mottling to suggest wear and tear.
Robert DeMaio
Orlando, Florida
To depict a Japanese A6M2b Zero Mod. 21 that took part in both the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1942, and the Battle of Midway in June 1942, Robert turned to a Tamiya 1/32 scale kit. He did not prime his model, simply cleaning it with a moist paper towel before airbrushing it with Model Master enamels. To weather, Robert applied a wash of Model Master Flat Black acrylic paint, liquid soap, and water, let it dry for 15 minutes, and then wiped it lightly with a damp cloth, accentuating panel lines.
Dan Dornseif
Sanford, Florida
This big Airfix 1/24 scale Hawker Siddeley Sea Harrier FRS.1 was finished in markings correct for the Falklands War. Dan scratchbuilt the fighter’s wheel wells and used select aftermarket parts for further details. He painted with colors from MRP and Tamiya and weathered the Harrier with homemade washes and colored pencils.
Jerry Wells
Lillina, Alabama
On July 14, 1969, El Salvador started a war with Honduras that happened to coincide with riots over the World Cup qualifiers, and the short conflict became known as the Soccer War. Jerry’s Academy 1/72 scale F4U-1D wears camouflage and markings for El Salvador during the war. He upgraded the kit with a resin cockpit and engine.
Frank Babbitt
San Jose, California
Frank converted a Hasegawa 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb to a Mk.Vc (trop), scribed panel lines, added an Eduard photo-etched detail set to the cockpit along with a resin seat, and placed metal gun-barrel extensions for added realism. He painted the camouflage with PolyScale acrylics and marked it for the service with the Royal Australian Air Force.
John Nanartowicz III
Ocala, Florida
This 1/25 scale Peterbilt 386 rotator wrecker was assembled from Revell, 3D-printed, and cast resin parts, with the sleeper coming from an Italeri Peterbilt 377. John airbrushed five coats of automotive lacquer for the finish and added a custom dragon decal.
Scott Bregi
Newport News, Virginia
This Ebbro 1/20 scale 1966 Formula 2 Brabham BT18 depicts the 1966 series champion. Scott added fuel, oil, and brake lines, instrument cables and wiring, and scratchbuilt exhaust hangers and mounts. He masked the nose to paint the gold stripe. Oil washes helped detail and weather the engine.
Rocky Sink
Vinton, Virginia
You can’t make a 2022 Corvette Z51 much tastier than it already is, but Rocky does by draping his in Tamiya Pure Orange sprayed straight from the can. He built the Revell 1/25 scale model straight from the box.
Eric Kalamaja
Pilot, Virginia
Talk about unusual! Clem Gibson’s 1947 Ford Mustang comes to life in Eric’s 1/24 scale model. He used an AMT chassis and an MPC P-51 Mustang to get things rolling and scratchbuilt the radiator and many of the engine details. Eric brush-painted his Mustang with Vallejo acrylics and weathered it using Tamiya pigments.
Charles Rice
Barnwell, South Carolina
Charles marked his SS Models 1/35 scale 3D-printed U.S. M2 medium tank kit with Tamiya decals. He painted it with Tamiya Olive Drab and post-shaded by lightening the color. Afterward, Charles applied a light dot filter and popped panel lines with an artist-oil wash. Pastel powders provided the dust.
David Key
Ringgold, Virginia
David enjoys “desert” weathering: “Lots of dust and sand, plus it’s dry, which means no rust on bare metal.” He dusted up his Dragon 1/72 scale LRDG truck, but not before adding resin and photo-etched details along with tiedowns and thread for rope. David made the base from wood and a layer of Mod Podge, texture, paint, and pigments for the groundwork.
Larry Litoborski
Garland, Texas
Pyro produced a 1/32 scale kit of a beautiful classic car, the Alfa Romeo 6C, and Larry had to build it. He replaced the kit’s solid plastic wheels with 3D-printed wire wheels and detailed the engine and dash. The color is Tamiya Pure White mixed with Racing White, thinned with Mr. Leveling Thinner, and airbrushed over Alclad II White Primer. As a barrier to keep the kit’s bright red plastic from infecting the overall color, he prepped with Alclad II Aluminum and Pledge Floor Gloss before priming.
Richard Clairoux
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
“This Viggen is special with comic strip character “Hägar the Horrible” on the tail, painted for the Viggen’s retirement from the Swedish air force,” Richard says. He modified a Special Hobby 1/48 scale Saab JA 37 kit with a CMK resin seat, wheels, and canards, a Maestro ram-air turbine, and detailed the cockpit and gear bays with Squadron products. Richard mixed Tamiya paints to match Swedish standard colors and painted the Viggen’s typical splinter camo, masking for each color.
Roger Woods
Gastonia, North Carolina
This Airfix 1/72 scale O-2 Skymaster landed with Roger, who drilled holes in its fuselage to fit a styrene-tube exhaust and scratchbuilt most of the interior. He added rivets and markings to the exterior to model the aircraft Richard was assigned to at Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in 1978.
Matt Wesley
Wilmington, North Carolina
Matt’s Lunar Models 2001: A Space Odyssey Space Pod was made over as a one-man construction pod. He modeled the arms from the landing gear in a Moebius Models Colonial Viper Mk.I, constructed pincers from a Panther tank, and added other greeblies as he saw fit. He finished it with enamel paints and set it on a base with an image of an unfinished space station in the distance.
Glenn Skidmore
Jackson, New Jersey
Glenn modified a Roden 1/32 scale PT-17 Stearman into a crop duster with 3D-printed parts, including the sprayers and a new engine. He airbrushed the biplane with Tamiya and Vallejo acrylic paints and used washes and pigments to give it the appearance of a plane used for work.
Glenn Skidmore
Jackson, New Jersey
Glenn modified a Roden 1/32 scale PT-17 Stearman into a crop duster with 3D-printed parts, including the sprayers and a new engine. He airbrushed the biplane with Tamiya and Vallejo acrylic paints and used washes and pigments to give it the appearance of a plane used for work.
Devin Poore
Hoboken, New Jersey
Ships made a big appearance at this year’s IPMS/USA National Convention, and Devin’s tiny Combrig Models 1/700 scale HMS M33 World War I monitor was part of the flotilla. He added aftermarket railings, mats, and figures to the tiny warship and mounted it to a custom base. Devin painted the monitor with Tamiya, Vallejo, and AK Interactive acrylics and weathered with artist oils, pigments, and pencils.
Mike Zender
Camp Dennison, Ohio
A scratchbuilt cowl, engine mount, and tail support are just a few things that stand out on Mike’s Tamiya 1/72 scale P-47D. He also installed an aftermarket engine, gun bays, and .50-caliber guns. Mike pre-shaded select panels and painted his Thunderbolt in the midst of a maintenance overhaul with Mr. Color lacquers.
Brian Duddy
Dayton, Ohio
Brian painted a Young Miniatures 1/9 scale bust of Lt. Ira Kepford, Corsair pilot with VF-17. He added headset wires to the model along with lieutenant bars on the flightsuit. He finished the bust mostly with artist oils over an airbrushed primer and used dry transfers for the lettering.
Ron Mikal
West Seneca, New York
If the colors of Ron’s 1941 Willys street rod don’t grab your attention, the opened doors and trunk and its tubbed rear end sure will. He cranked up the temperature on a Revell 1/25 scale kit, applying automotive paints with a spray gun and detailing the heck out of the monster under the hood.
Dana Smith
Weaverville, North Carolina
Growing up on a dairy farm, Dana said equipment always seemed to be under repair in the field. Here, he modeled just that with a MiniArt 1/24 scale Lanz Bulldog D8500 tractor circa 1938. Dana scratchbuilt a wooden toolbox, removed the safety panel to show internal workings, and placed a newspaper from Germany, 1940. The tractor wears Tru-Earth acrylics, mostly brush-painted. Dana custom-mixed the colors, providing successively lighter shades to model faded paint and wear. He weathered with pigments, starting with the darkest areas and working toward lighter shades. The model’s foam base sits atop a rough-cut cedar plank.
Chris Surber
South Point, Ohio
Chris modeled an Eduard 1/72 scale Turbolet L-410 UVP as a plane used for recreational sky diving. He had to add a lot of weight to the engine nacelles to keep the model from being a tail-sitter, but says the 3D-printed landing gear are plenty strong to handle the additional weight. He painted with Mr. Hobby acrylics over Tamiya White Primer.
Rick Troutman
Lynchburg, Virginia
E.D. Weiner’s 1967 zebra-striped P-51D pylon racer is definitely an attention getter. Built from a Hasegawa 1/48 scale kit, Rick removed all the military gear from the cockpit, scratchbuilt a new instrument panel, and added a rear floor and internal structure. He cut the horizontal stabilizers and main wings, scratchbuilt Larson wingtips, removed the gun fairings, and filled all the wing panel lines. Aftermarket decals provided the snazzy markings over Testors White enamel.
Chris Derks
Alexandria, Virginia
A full suite of Reskit aftermarket parts enhanced Chris’ Hasegawa 1/48 scale A-7E Corsair. He masked and painted most of the markings for an aircraft serving in the Persian Gulf, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis. Chris used Gunze Sangyo lacquers and weathered with Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color and artist oils.
Frederick Seitz III
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
We don’t see many snowspeeders at contests, so we took the chance to photograph Frederick’s Bandai 1/48 scale out-of-the-box build. It wears airbrushed Vallejo acrylics, and Flory washes, pastels, artist oils, and AK Interactive colored pencils handled the weathering.
Craig Brown
Glendale, Arizona
An iconic bomber, the supersonic Hustler made an appearance in Craig’s XB-58A prototype built from the Monogram 1/48 scale kit. To model “Old Grand Pappy,” he rescribed panel lines, added resin engine intakes and nozzles, and added rivet details to the nacelles. Craig converted the tailgun to a cone and installed a metal pitot tube. A smooth primer coat provided a base for an Alclad II natural metal finish. He airbrushed Tamiya lacquers for the red, white, and black areas.
Bill Koppos
Patchogue, New York
Bill built his Zoukei-Mura 1/32 scale Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu out of the box (he said those kits have plenty of detail), but did add figures from a Zoukei-Mura crew set. The camouflage was airbrushed, and Bill masked and painted all of the markings. He made a base for the lightly weathered aircraft using sand to provide texture for the concrete and aftermarket grasses.
Wes Shull
Ashburn, Virginia
This Zoukei-Mura 1/32 scale He 214 Uhu bomber received a Quinta 3D-decal set for the cockpit, and Wes brought in 1ManArmy stencil masks for the markings. He painted the mottle camouflage freehand with an Iwata airbrush and Tamiya and Mr. Color lacquers. Flory and Tamiya washes provide just a touch of weathering.
Wes Shull
Ashburn, Virginia
This Zoukei-Mura 1/32 scale He 214 Uhu bomber received a Quinta 3D-decal set for the cockpit, and Wes brought in 1ManArmy stencil masks for the markings. He painted the mottle camouflage freehand with an Iwata airbrush and Tamiya and Mr. Color lacquers. Flory and Tamiya washes provide just a touch of weathering.
Wes Shull
Ashburn, Virginia
This Zoukei-Mura 1/32 scale He 214 Uhu bomber received a Quinta 3D-decal set for the cockpit, and Wes brought in 1ManArmy stencil masks for the markings. He painted the mottle camouflage freehand with an Iwata airbrush and Tamiya and Mr. Color lacquers. Flory and Tamiya washes provide just a touch of weathering.
Lewis Hicks
Glen Burnie, Maryland
The custom fender skirts and additions from a Continental alone would have made Lewis’ 1/25 scale 1960 Impala lowrider stand out, but paired with its incomparable paint job, it’s downright astounding. Taking inspiration from all lowrider paint styles, Lewis combined them onto one palette, exclusively airbrushing automotive lacquers.
Larry Trout
Marysville, Ohio
Larry detailed his Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale LVG Cv.I engine with Taurus spark plugs, wires, and plumbing. He ran rigging and decorated the fuselage with Uschi van der Rosten wood-grain decals. The lozenge patterns on the wings were Aviatic decals. To add a bit of World War I grime, Larry weathered with washes, artist oils, and pastels.
Stacy Anderson
Miami, Florida
Stacy’s Kinetic 1/48 scale MQ-9 Reaper carries Eduard GBU-12 and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles under its long wings. After priming and pre-shading, he airbrushed Mission Models acrylics and then applied a pinwash of both black and brown Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color.
Jim Harley
Northfield, Ohio
Richard Kaplanek and L.D. Monaghan shared a P-51B called “Dottie and Butch” in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. Jim re-created this plane with an Eduard 1/48 scale kit built out of the box. The lightning bolts on both sides were masked and painted around the extensive wear and paint chipping. The exposed metal is Mr. Metal Color Aluminum. Jim ran brake lines and added plumbing to the landing gear bays.
Jim Harley
Northfield, Ohio
Richard Kaplanek and L.D. Monaghan shared a P-51B called “Dottie and Butch” in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II. Jim re-created this plane with an Eduard 1/48 scale kit built out of the box. The lightning bolts on both sides were masked and painted around the extensive wear and paint chipping. The exposed metal is Mr. Metal Color Aluminum. Jim ran brake lines and added plumbing to the landing gear bays.
Robert Seitz
Tolland, Connecticut
Robert replaced the hose and pipes on his Wave 1/20 scale Ma.K. Fliege. He primed the fighting suit and then airbrushed Real Colors for the final colors. Robert dinged and knicked his Fliege with AK Interactive paint markers and got a grungy appearance by spraying colors through a stencil.
Curt Haskell
Huntsville, Alabama
Using a combination of airbrush and brush-painting, Curt brought an Electromancer figure from The Witchguild to life. A combination of lacquers and acrylics was used to give this crazy wizard the juice he needed.
Tony Abbott
Sumter, South Carolina
The Soviet-designed S-75 Dvina (known as the Guideline by NATO countries) was used throughout the Vietnam War. Tony painted his 1/72 scale model in Vietnamese camo with Humbrol enamels, added a pitot tube to the nose, and improved the launcher details with handles and various other parts. An artist oil wash helped tie everything together.
Sunil Gupta
Gaithersburg, Maryland
To place a Mirage IIIc during the Yom Kippur War, Sunil built an Eduard 1/48 scale kit and applied markings from Isradecal. MRP lacquer provided the appropriate colors, and he masked camouflage with Quake Hold museum putty. A mix of pastels and pre-shading gives No. 159 a proper, lived-in feel.
Tom Bebout
Milford, Ohio
Tom built a Hasegawa 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang out of the box to model “Little Joe.” He painted with Tamiya lacquers, made exhaust stains with pastels, and marked panel lines with a fine artist pen.
James Strauss
Richmond, Virginia
Based on a chopper his dad used to buzz around when going to tour missile bases he commanded in 1963, James scratchbuilt this 1/48 scale OH-23G Hiller Raven. He did use True Details photo-etched metal seat belts and cut down a rotor blade from his parts box. He painted his little bird with Tamiya Olive Drab and Yellow over gray primer.
Rick Taylor
Everett, Washington
Acrylic paints make up the MASSTER camo scheme on Rick’s Dragon 1/35 scale M752 self-propelled launcher and the green on the Lance missile. He converted the missile from conventional to nuclear, scratchbuilt the exhausts under the grates, replaced the seats with ones he made from Apoxie Sculpt, added seat belts and control boxes, and ran cabling. Rick weathered with enamels and oils.
Jack Legere
Titusville, Florida
Jack finished a Takom 1/35 scale Panhard AML in Kenyan service, participating in the Somali war against al-Shabaab. He painted with enamels and then went to town, weathering with washes, artist oils, pastels, and dry-brushing.
Charles Segars
Hartselle, Alabama
You’ll find no aftermarket parts on Charles’ 1/72 scale Fiat CR.42CN Falco night fighter. Converting an Italeri kit, he scratchbuilt the fighter’s spotlights and over-wing generator. After watching a World War II film of the aircraft he was modeling that showed little weathering, Charles kept his weathering to only select washes. He finished a wooden plaque with groundwork as a base.
Chris Collier
Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
“This is a replica of a car I came across on the Mecum Auction site,” Chris said of his Revell 1/25 scale 1970 Cuda. He souped up the model with MCG photo-etched metal details and Fireball Modelworks wheels and carbs. Chris airbrushed this street muscle MCW Ivy Green Metallic lacquer and topped it with 2K clear.
John Badgley
Deatsville, Alabama
John modeled an EA-18G Growler from the VAQ-137 electronic attack squadron sitting on the flight deck. The fighter initially came from a 1/48 scale Meng kit, to which John added aftermarket ejection seats, instrument panel, afterburner cans, and decals. He sprayed the Growler with black primer, pre-shaded each panel line, and then airbrushed the final color mix, gradually building up the color. John did only minor chipping to the ledge and floor of the cockpit. The base was completely custom-made, including a 3D-printed catwalk.
Scott Bricker
Haymarket, Virginia
Scott built an AFV Club 1/48 scale F-5E and marked it for Brazilian service. He replaced the ejector seat and marked the jet with a combination of freehand painting and decals in a scheme celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Brazilian air force’s 1st Fighter Aviation Group.
Michel Laperriere
L’Assumption, Quebec, Canada
The MiG-23 Flogger is one of Michel’s favorite Cold War fighters. He built Trumpeter’s 1/32 scale kit, adding aftermarket detail parts, correcting the canopy, and accurizing the intake shape. He used Gunze lacquers for the camouflage, masking as needed. Washes and pastels lend to its candid appearance.
Michel Laperriere
L’Assumption, Quebec, Canada
The MiG-23 Flogger is one of Michel’s favorite Cold War fighters. He built Trumpeter’s 1/32 scale kit, adding aftermarket detail parts, correcting the canopy, and accurizing the intake shape. He used Gunze lacquers for the camouflage, masking as needed. Washes and pastels lend to its candid appearance.
Mike Meredith
Clinton, Ohio
Mike skipped primer and got to airbrushing enamels on his Tamiya 1/48 scale F-14D Tomcat. He juiced the interior with Quinta 3D decals and weathered with pastels and watercolor washes.
Jim Jenson
St. Augustine, Florida
An Eduard 1/48 scale P-51B Mustang received Brassin gun bays to model “Lou III” on D-Day, flown by Col. Thomas Christian, commanding officer of the 361st Fighter Group. Jim airbrushed Mr. Color lacquers for the main colors and turned to artist oils for pinwashes, shading, and fading.
Ron Odell
Henderson, Nevada
This model of the Japanese Imperial Navy I-27 submarine has special meaning for Ron. It launched the midget sub M-14 in the attack on Sydney Harbor on May 31, 1942, and the ship Ron’s dad served on was in the harbor at the time. Ron built AFV Club’s 1/350 scale kit and added a photo-etched metal set for better accuracy. He primed his model with Mr. Surfacer, pre-shaded, and then airbrushed thin coats of Tamiya paint to build up the color. Ron detailed the deck with artist oils. For the base, he carved insulation foam with a wire wheel, worked it with paper towels and gesso, painted, and 12 coats of gloss varnish later, he was finished!
Tim Burke
Scotia, New York
Tim built the Edu-Toys 1/20 scale da Vinci submarine out of the box. He used acrylic paints for the base color, washes, and filters, and even cracked out an old Aztek airbrush to do the job!
Scott Pursell
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Inspired by Delta Airline’s Breast Cancer Awareness livery, Scott decided to put his own twist on it. He built a Revell Germany 1/144 scale Boeing 767-300ER and airbrushed it a sparkling Tropical Glitz Pinkalicious over Ammo One Shot Primer. After four coats of paint, Scott finished with aftermarket decals.
David Mason
Standish, Michigan
Droopy has never looked so excited! David resized and hollowed a file for use on a resin 3D printer and used Model Master and Tamiya lacquers to airbrush the figure. He hand-painted Droopy’s eyes and mounted him to a red oak board left over from another project.
Robert Rule
Manassas, Virginia
In this scene, called “A Bloom Among the Ruins,” a Russian tanker meets a Russian soldier, and has only issued vodka to offer her. In turn, she only has flowers taken from the top of the wall to give. Robert made extensive use of aftermarket details on the Tamiya 1/35 scale T-34 and scratchbuilt the walls and garden gate, carving each individual brick from spackle.
Timothy Holland
Leonardtown, Maryland
Bravely, Timothy built a Revell 1/28 scale Camel and finished it as a Navy scout plane assigned to the USS Texas (BB-35) in 1919. He added a scratchbuilt hydroplane, rigged the model with various diameters of nylon thread, and added photo-etched metal details to improve the cockpit and control surfaces. The bureau number was made from white decal paper using a vinyl cutter. Timothy primed to find imperfections, airbrushed the Camel with battleship gray, masked to paint the tail stripes, and picked out details with a brush.
James Green
Rural Hall, North Carolina
James took the barrel from a Mantua 1/17 scale French naval cannon kit and decided to scratchbuild everything else, from the deck and ship side to the gun carriage and barrel. He left most of the wood natural, using just a light stain, and painted stanchions, the rail, and select parts of the base black. There are more than 27 feet of wood strip in James’ model, and 530 tree nails.
Dale Mason
Toledo, Ohio
Dale’s first attempt at phantom flames turned out pretty well, in our estimation. He painted them through a hand-cut mask with Model Master enamels and a Badger 155 airbrush. Dale also removed the bed floor from the rear of this Monogram 1/24 scale 1925 Ford Model T pickup and replaced it with real wood.
Kaliste Saloom
Lafayette, Louisiana
A Warhammer 40K Necron Canoptek Doomstalker walks through the aftermath of a recent battle, hunting survivors. Kaliste built the model out of the box, but enhanced the base with gravel and broken glass from an old gold-colored beer bottle he smashed to look like crystal rocks. He brush-painted the Doomstalker with Citadel acrylics and used a variety of inks and washes for panel lines. Dry-brushing brought out highlights.
David Vickers
Southport, North Carolina
“Sahara Cuppa” depicts a scene of the famous British SAS taking a tea break (a very British thing to do) while fighting in North Africa. The 1/35 scale figures come from New World Miniatures and Legend, while the Jeep is a Tamiya offering. David used Tamiya colors for the Jeep and building, and Vallejo acrylics for the figures.
Mark Gamble
Austintown, Ohio
This Trumpeter 1/350 scale USS Hornet (CV-8) has more than 400 photo-etched metal detail parts, and Mark cut out the door to the hangar deck to allow him to detail it and let viewers see inside.
Ethan Idenmill
San Diego, California
Ethan built this Hasegawa 1/72 scale Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 crash truck in honor of IPMS San Diego member Joel Hendricks, who passed away earlier in 2025. Ethan had to make one of the top-ride lamps from scratch because he lost the kit part. He airbrushed the 6x6 with acrylic paints and based it on an old model award topped with AK Interactive asphalt.
Thomas Guelliero
Oak Park, Illinois
This F8F Bearcat has seen better days! Thomas built an Academy 1/48 scale kit and combined it with a Tamiya figure and base to model a heavily weathered World War II fighter in the South Pacific. He achieved the faded and chipped paint with chipping fluid and sandpaper.
Mikkel Petrich
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Mikkel removed the tire mount from the roof of his ICM 1/35 scale American ambulance serving in France during World War I. Using Real Colors lacquers, he pre-shaded and then painted the model. Artist oil washes supplied light weathering.
Rob Bracci
Stratford, Connecticut
Sikorsky is a name synonymous with helicopters, and Rob’s 1/72 scale diorama shows Igor Sikorsky’s first practical heli, the VS-300, at his factory in Stratford in 1942. He built and finished the Bren Gun kit out of the box. For the base, he scribed wood grain on plastic planks and utilized foliage from Woodland Scenics.
James Morando
Tiburon, California
“Sbriganti!” depicts Italian soldiers repairing a broken down German-made Kubelwagen in Sicily, 1943. A Meng 1/35 scale kit served as a starting point. James added parts from a Tamiya Maintenance Crew kit, added tow hooks and a rope, and draped an Italian flag over the spare tire and wheel on the bonnet. He carved the base’s cobblestones in AK Interactive foam, sculpted the tree and bench, and the water from the fountain was made with fishing line and artist gel.
Phil Daniels
Southern Shores, North Carolina
Phil took several photos of a real M1 ABV (Assault Breacher Vehicle) that he utilized when building a Rye Field Models 1/35 scale kit. He rounded out details with styrene and copper wire before painting the AFV with enamels and lacquers from various brands. Artist oils handled the weathering while pigments simulated desert use. A walnut base supports the ABV with 1/4-inch styrene sheet finished as a highly trafficked work area.
Sergio Laurenzano
Neuquén, Neuquén, Argentina
X-Craft midget submarines were first deployed by the British Royal Navy in 1943 and successfully laid charges beneath the German battleship Tirpitz. Sergio built a Merit/I Love Kit 1/35 scale kit and added an Eduard photo-etched set along with a scratchbuilt propeller. Tamiya and Mr. Color lacquers color the hull, with final touches from LifeColor acrylics and Abteilung 502 oil paints.
Daniel Mattei
Richmond, Virginia
Games Workshop Warhammer 40K Eldar have some of the most unique — and spectral — models in the entire universe. The Skathach Wraithknight is no exception. Daniel’s only modification to the figure was to add magnets to the arms to make them interchangeable (a great idea if you’re looking to change a loadout for your next game). He primed his Wraithknight black, then built up the colors from brown to off-white. Daniel used a stencil to airbrush the hex pattern on the cockpit glass, and then brush-painted everything else. He 3D printed the base and added grass and moss ground cover.
Max Whitaker
Ralston, Nebraska
Max, 13, built a Lee-Brooke railway gun from Vargas Scale Models. To complete the 1/35 scale model, he scratchbuilt an ammo box and made a base from foam, modeling mud, and model railroad grass. Max painted the railway gun with Ammo and Tamiya acrylics and a paintbrush, only turning to an airbrush when he needed to spray gloss or flat varnish.
Mike Idacavage
Marietta, Georgia
The special dragon scheme for the JSDF F-15J 303rd squadron during the 2003 TAC Meet inspired Mike to build a Micro Ace 1/144 scale model to replicate it. He drilled out the solid cockpit and replaced it with a resin one, added scratchbuilt FOD covers, and lengthened the fuselage. For the cloud dragon, he made a mask by reducing a 1/72 scale drawing, then painted it.
Shiblee Hasan
Santa Clara, California
One of the more unique bases at this year’s IPMS/USA National Convention, Shiblee’s Orange Hobby 1/350 scale USS Hercules (PHM-2) didn’t disappoint either. He pre- and post-shaded and used Mr. Color and Tamiya lacquers to achieve a detailed finish. He laser-cut clear acrylic for the base, 3D printed the sides, and made water from epoxy.
Paul Curtis
Lansing, Kansas
No major modifications were made to Paul’s Tamiya 1/48 scale French Dewoitine D.520, but he did have to purchase aftermarket decals because the originals shattered or curled. Depicting a Free France fighter after the fall to Nazi Germany, AK Interactive Olive Green, NATO Brown, and Intermediate Blue make up the fighter’s camouflage, with the bottom painted Light Ghost Gray. Paul picked out panel lines with a fine artist’s marker and pastels modeled dirt, exhaust stains, and gunpowder residue.
David Russow
Jacksonville, Florida
An M4A1 Sherman crosses a treadway bridge somewhere in Germany, 1945. David added photo-etched metal details and a hedgerow cutter to the Dragon 1/72 scale tank, and he scratchbuilt Sommerfeld matting on the turret and side. Foam blocks form the base’s basic shape with balsa covering the sides. The building comes from HQ72.
Ron Campbell
Olive Branch, Mississippi
Flying Tigers roundels always attract attention, and Ron’s Airfix 1/72 scale Curtiss Hawk caught our eye. He finished the plane with Model Master enamels for R.T. Smith, 3rd Pursuit Squadron, Kunming, China, 1941-42. Ron cut masks from Tamiya tape for the camouflage, and lightened paint for a bit of post-shading.
Scott Samo
Leonardtown, Maryland
“This was my first tank,” Scott said. “I’m an aircraft builder.” Well, we think Scott did a fine job on his Iraqi T-55A from the 5th Mechanized Division, 26th Armored Brigade. Building a Tamiya 1/35 scale kit, Scott replaced the plastic barrel with a metal one, upgraded to Friul metal tracks, and added wire tow cables. He airbrushed the entire model in acrylic paints, weathered it with an airbrush, and chipped the paint by hand.
Bill Moore
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
“Final Inspection” features Bill’s box-stock Tamiya 1/48 scale Jagdpanzer primed with Tamiya acrylic paint and detailed with AK Interactive pigments and Abteilung 502 oils. The foam base has corkboard glued to it and covered with acrylic paste. The stands on the factory floor are 3D-printed.
Tony Zadro
Marietta, Georgia
The 12.8cm Pak 44 gun was originally under design by Rheinmetall and Krupp, with the former deciding to go with a version of the 128mm FlaK, which was eventually canceled. Tony built a Great Wall 1/35 scale kit of the massive towed gun and positioned it for the final defense of Berlin. He added hydraulic lines to the carriage and made the base from foam and plaster.
Ken Riley
Crossville, Tennessee
Ken built a Profil 24 1/24 scale Ferrari 499 P hybrid hypercar in the livery of a private entry at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. Top Studio rivets, bolts, electronics housings, wires, and Scale Motorsport and Model Factory Hiro carbon-fiber decals improved the details, while Zero paint matched the hypercar yellow.
Jared Nuss
Williamsburg, Virginia
Cassian Andor’s U-wing looks stellar here with Jared’s custom 3D-printed base and LED-lighted engines. A Bandai 1/144 scale kit served as the canvas for Real Colors lacquers and markers. Jared masked the markings and used a Silhouette Cameo cutting machine for the wing bands.
Irvin Edwards II
Accokeek, Maryland
Custom resin and 3D-printed parts plus LEDs helped Irvin modify a Bandai 1/100 scale Forbidden Gundam to depict it after having taken damage from an energy weapon. Tamiya and Vallejo paints complete the model.
Bob Waltman
Navarre, Florida
Bob sculpted his 80mm “Lady Knight” from Apoxie Sculpt and painted her with Scale 75 and Vallejo acrylics. He used Silflor products to create the groundwork, setting the scene for a warrior who has felled a dread beast.
John Davis
Conway, South Carolina
Mr. Hobby Fluorescent Yellow slaps you in the face when looking at John’s No. 12 Ryan Blaney Menards Ford Fusion NASCAR. He built a Revell 1/24 scale No. 10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental kit and replaced the markings with decals from Powerslide. He scratchbuilt the window net, fuel filler cap, seat belts, helmet, racing seat, radio antenna, and GPS.
James Brannan
Mechanicsville, Virginia
You may recognize the Revell 1/24 scale ZZ Top Eliminator coupe under all that faded paint and rust. Beyond the heavily weathered appearance, James also cut open and hinged the doors and trunk, and hinged the hood to open. And of course, there has to be something in the trunk.
James Brannan
Mechanicsville, Virginia
You may recognize the Revell 1/24 scale ZZ Top Eliminator coupe under all that faded paint and rust. Beyond the heavily weathered appearance, James also cut open and hinged the doors and trunk, and hinged the hood to open. And of course, there has to be something in the trunk.
James Brannan
Mechanicsville, Virginia
You may recognize the Revell 1/24 scale ZZ Top Eliminator coupe under all that faded paint and rust. Beyond the heavily weathered appearance, James also cut open and hinged the doors and trunk, and hinged the hood to open. And of course, there has to be something in the trunk.
James Brannan
Mechanicsville, Virginia
You may recognize the Revell 1/24 scale ZZ Top Eliminator coupe under all that faded paint and rust. Beyond the heavily weathered appearance, James also cut open and hinged the doors and trunk, and hinged the hood to open. And of course, there has to be something in the trunk.
Gil Hodges
Orange Park, Florida
Gil painted his 1/48 scale M3 Lee 3D-printed kit, including the markings, with Model Master enamels. The basic scheme places the tank at the beginning of Operation Torch, and Gil used only a simple pinwash and pastels for details and weathering.
Mitchell Slaughter
Roxboro, North Carolina
It’s not a model contest without a Phantom II, and Mitchell brought his Zoukei-Mura 1/48 scale F-4EJ Kai in the “Farewell to Phantoms” livery for the JASDF 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron 2020 tour of Japan. He upgraded the cockpit with a Quinta seat detail set and painted with Mr. Hobby Metallic Blue before placing decals.
Mark Miller
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Mark’s only addition to his Dragon 1/72 scale M103A1 was a length of guitar string for the antenna. He airbrushed the heavy tank with Tamiya acrylics and detailed with an oil-paint pinwash.
Stuart Malone
Kansas City, Missouri
The Junkers D.I was the first all-metal fighter airplane, and Stuart modeled one from a Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale kit. He upped the already highly detailed kit with a 3D-printed floor compass, lead wire for throttle and trigger controls, and wood veneer laminate hand-carved for the prop. Piano wire and brass tubing serve as spark plugs wired to 3D-printed magnetos. Stuart scaled a photo of his subject, cut out the camo pattern for a mask, and attached it with poster putty before airbrushing for a just-soft line. Using the kit decals, he said it took about a week of applying Solvaset to get them all to conform to the corrugated surfaces.
Andrew Frill
California, Maryland
Building an Eduard boxing of a Zvezda kit, Andrew brought a 1/48 scale Lavochkin La-5FN to the convention. Assembled box stock except for resin wheels, Andrew concentrated on his finish, priming with Mr. Surfacer 1500, painting the camouflage freehand, and weathering it with a photo-etched metal stencil. Further weathering was achieved with artist oils and pigments.
Keith Scruton
Marietta, Georgia
Inspired by photos of a tugboat he took in Chesapeake, Virginia, he went to work on a Revell Germany 1/108 scale Harbor Tugboat kit. He filled the windows with Micro Krystal Klear and painted with Model Master enamels. The finish was achieved with an airbrush, spray paints, dry-brushing, washes, and real rust from a metal scouring pad.
Jorge Moreyra
Simpsonville, South Carolina
This Warhammer 40K ork has claimed this patch of earth and stretch of lava river as his! Jorge brush-painted his Games Workshop figure with AK Interactive acrylics and made the stone for its base from cork. The grass, vines, and other vegetation were taken from various wargaming suppliers.
John Colsante
Mendham, New Jersey
This 1/48 scale de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver in U.S. service was built out of a Dora Wings box. John primed the model with Mr. Surfacer and painted it with Tamiya lacquers. He also designed and 3D-printed the unique base.
Bob LaPadura
Georgetown, Delaware
It’s rare to see a Bronco Models 1/35 scale Rheinmetall Rheintochter R1 built, but Bob’s is spectacular. He finished it with a combination of Tamiya, Floquil, and Mr. Color paints, airbrushing the majority. Paint chips were picked out with a fine brush, and the wood grain on the fins was accomplished with decals.
Donald Worley
Colonial Heights, Virginia
A variety of unusual models showed up at the convention this year, including book nooks and even UGears wooden mechanical puzzles. This one, called the UGT-24 Endurance Racer, included plastic windows and nearly 1,000 parts. Donald clear-coated the wooden body with white glue.
Jeff Barrette
Madison, Wisconsin
Jeff made FOD covers and landing-gear door retraction rods for his original Lindberg 1/48 scale Douglas X-3 Stiletto. This model of the plane that is famous for an attempt at breaking the sound barrier wears Gunze and Alclad II lacquers and Tamiya Clear Green on the glass.
Donald Stewart
Faith, North Carolina
The S-1 Sleigh from the animated movie Arthur Christmas comes to scale modeling thanks to Donald’s scratchbuilt design. Based on the film’s CGI model and photos, he built the model from paper and cardboard, vinyl coating, and acrylic paint for the lights.
Zackery Henderson
Harrah, Oklahoma
Zackery ran thin wire rigging from the net cutter to the conning tower on his otherwise box-stock build of a Meng Warship Builder Type VII U-boat. Tamiya acrylic paints brought the cartoon submarine to life, and Zackery depicted hull streaks with artist oils.
Johnson Wang
La Puenta, California
Johnson corrected the canopy on his Hasegawa 1/48 scale SBD-3 Dauntless and improved the flaps with an Eduard detail set. He painted all of the markings because the kit decals shattered, leaving him without another option.
Tom Zona
Hillsborough, New Jersey
The Bandai MG Gundam Stormbringer F.A./GM Turbulence kit allows you to build either mobile suit out of the box, but Tom decided to take his favorite parts from each mech and create his own custom Gundam. He scribed panel lines and applied decals from another kit. Tom painted with Mr. Color, Splash, and Odenkan colors. Ammo, Vallejo, and Tamiya products added dirt, streaks, and pinwashes.
Benjamin Pada Jr.
San Jose, California
Benjamin marked and painted his Tamiya 1/48 scale P-47D Thunderbolt as “Miss Mutt,” Lt. Col. Robert Rowland’s fighter, for November 1943. He didn’t prime the model and only masked for the tail and the leading edge. Inside, Quinta 3D decals dressed up the cockpit, and Benjamin scratchbuilt an engine harness.
David DeNardo
Aberdeen, New Jersey
An out-of-the-box build, David’s HobbyBoss 1/35 scale PzKpfw I Ausf F (late) wears Tamiya acrylics over primer and flat black pre-shading. A pinwash popped details, and a dot filter and pastels added visual interest.
Neil Teitelman
Dallas, Texas
The Boeing B-47 Stratojet has some of the coolest lines in aviation, and they’re captured in Neil’s 1/144 scale RB-47H model from Academy. He primed the strategic bomber with Tamiya Black Primer and built up layers of various metallic colors. Acrylic and oil washes added even more variation and depth to the finish.
Danny Herron
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama
Danny’s Takom 1/16 scale M113 is truly something to behold. He went above and beyond, detailing the interior with additional wiring with lead, plastic, and rubber lines. Danny scattered spent round casings, cluttered the floor with resin boxes, and covered everything with dirt appropriate to an APC just returned from patrol in Vietnam. He superdetailed the ramp, cut the engine access panels, and ran fuel and electrical lines. Danny modeled weld seams from Green Stuff two-part epoxy putty.
Danny Herron
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama
Danny’s Takom 1/16 scale M113 is truly something to behold. He went above and beyond, detailing the interior with additional wiring with lead, plastic, and rubber lines. Danny scattered spent round casings, cluttered the floor with resin boxes, and covered everything with dirt appropriate to an APC just returned from patrol in Vietnam. He superdetailed the ramp, cut the engine access panels, and ran fuel and electrical lines. Danny modeled weld seams from Green Stuff two-part epoxy putty.
Danny Herron
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama
Danny’s Takom 1/16 scale M113 is truly something to behold. He went above and beyond, detailing the interior with additional wiring with lead, plastic, and rubber lines. Danny scattered spent round casings, cluttered the floor with resin boxes, and covered everything with dirt appropriate to an APC just returned from patrol in Vietnam. He superdetailed the ramp, cut the engine access panels, and ran fuel and electrical lines. Danny modeled weld seams from Green Stuff two-part epoxy putty.
Dave Matiko
Saint Thomas, Pennsylvania
A Moebius Models 1/25 scale 1965 Coronet got some added attention with Bare-Metal Foil, decals from Performance Detail Products, and Detail Master spark-plug wires. To model the “Hemi Honker” drag car that campaigned in the 1960s, Dave primed the body with Dupli-Color primer, sprayed Tamiya White and Red from the cans, and airbrushed PPG Omni two-part clear coat.
Dave Matiko
Saint Thomas, Pennsylvania
A Moebius Models 1/25 scale 1965 Coronet got some added attention with Bare-Metal Foil, decals from Performance Detail Products, and Detail Master spark-plug wires. To model the “Hemi Honker” drag car that campaigned in the 1960s, Dave primed the body with Dupli-Color primer, sprayed Tamiya White and Red from the cans, and airbrushed PPG Omni two-part clear coat.
Pat Villarreal
Rowlett, Texas
Pat applied the 1950 paint scheme of No. 6062 to an Eduard 1/48 scale Bell X-1, added a pilot figure from an F-86 kit, and replaced the wingtip and nose probes with pins filed to a sharp point. After painting with Tamiya Gloss Orange and White, he buffed the finish with a used dryer sheet for an appropriate sheen.
Dave Pross
Weston, Connecticut
Certainly one of the most unusual models at the convention this year, Dave entered his 1/48 scale Big Wind Hungarian firefighting tool used in Kuwait in 1991 to put out oil-well fires. Underneath is a Tamiya 1/48 scale T-34 tank chassis. Dave scratchbuilt the top, incorporating MiG-21 engines from Tempmodels.
Glenn Thorn
Moorestown, New Jersey
This 70mm scene from Nuts Planet is called “Devastator Victor.” Glenn airbrushed primer and pre-shaded the wall before turning to brush-painting the rest of the figure with Vallejo acrylic colors. Enamel washes created rust streaks and water stains.
Anderson Seo
Westport, Connecticut
These Games Workshop Warhammer 40K Necron Canoptek Spyder and scarabs are creepy! Anderson removed the molded-on bases for the scarabs and replaced them. Vallejo acrylic paints handled most of the work for these crawlies, but Anderson also used Scale 75 Gold for select areas and craft paints for the bases. Bark stands in for big rocks, pebbles for small rocks, and crackle paint, Vallejo grass tufts, and cut sprues for crystals round out the models.
Michael Lamar
Austin, Texas
Michael built an Arma Hobby 1/72 scale Ki-84 Hayate and included Eduard seat belts. MRP lacquers captured the Frank’s striking scheme.
Steve “Chaz” Chorazewitz
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Competing in the out-of-the-box competition this year was Steve’s Hasegawa 1/72 scale F2A-1 Brewster Buffalo. He wrapped 36-gauge wire around a needle to depict a spring for the antenna on the tail, but that was allowed per the rules. AK Interactive 3G and Vallejo acrylics depict an eye-catching paint job, replicating Lt. John Smith “Jimmy” Thach’s Buffalo serving on the USS Saratoga in 1940.
Nik Brightwell
Franklin, Massachusetts
What is it pointing at? Nik said it depicts a “samurai” Gundam about to fight. He based his custom mech on a Bandai 1/60 scale Red Frame Astray, painting it a completely new color scheme, scribing new panel lines, adding armor made from plastic sheet, and water-slide decals. The base is painted foam with aftermarket trees.
Michael Hutchinson
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
For his first 1/32 scale aircraft, Michael chose to model a Soviet single-engine Polikarpov I-16 from an ICM kit. A Quinta 3D decal set provided seat belts and detail for the instrument panel. He made minimal use of masks, choosing to airbrush most edges freehand. Washes faded select areas and darkened colors in others.
Bill Roberts
Niceville, Florida
Bill’s Tamiya 1/48 scale Beaufighter Mk.VI wears RAF markings for the 272nd Squadron in Malta, 1942. How? MRP, Tamiya, and Vallejo paints airbrushed in a desert camo scheme freehand. Bill picked out panel lines with Flory Models Dark Dirt wash.
Paul Gloster
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
This tiny Bren Gun 1/72 scale Extra 300L received a scratchbuilt cockpit and vacuum-formed canopy before Paul applied this absolutely bonkers paint job. That’s right, all of the Red Bull Racing livery is painted. Paul masked all the markings, matching SMS, Gunze, and MRP colors to the real thing. Astounding!
James Kelley
Gibsonia, Pennsylvania
This Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 built from an Eduard 1/72 scale kit features Eduard aftermarket cockpit, landing gear, and wheels. James airbrushed the camouflage with MRP paints and marked the fighter for service with the Republic of Slovakia.
Earl Thomas
Huntsville, Alabama
This spectacularly detailed Kitty Hawk 1/35 scale AH-6J Little Bird has Red Fox instrument panels; rocket pods, antennas, and cockpit details from Werner’s Wings; a FLIR ball from Cobra Company; and rockets from Black Ops Modeling. Earl’s model wears Tamiya NATO Black faded with a mix of the primary color and gray.
Andy Roberts
Woodstock, Georgia
Andy modeled the first plane and first flight off the USS Wasp with an Eduard 1/48 scale F4F-3. Vallejo Silver provided the bare metal fuselage, while IJN Yellow, Red, and Black made up the rest of the paint scheme. Pink primer underneath the yellow areas kept that color vibrant. Andy brushed on AK Interactive washes for the wings and airframe.
John O’Brien
Greenville, Texas
John cut open the door on his Airfix 1/72 scale USAAF Spitfire, airbrushed it with Vallejo Model Air paints using Top Notch masks, and finished it for service in North Africa.
Andy Caldwell
Rockledge, Florida
This Starter 1/43 scale 1964 Ferrari 275P simply looks fast in Gravity Ferrari Red and 2K Clear. Andy had to vacuum-form a new windshield and headlight lenses to finish this iconic racer.
Tim Swisher
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tim converted the supposedly unbuildable Accurate Miniatures 1/24 scale M8b to an M8d by widening the body, correcting the front end, reshaping the rear wing, and adding wing rings. He installed aftermarket seat belts and brought in markings from Indycals to go over the Tamiya Orange and Clear. Tim’s model depicts the 1970 Can-Am champion driven by Denny Hulme.
Darren Tamanaha
Gardena, California
Western Airlines livery graces a CRM Models 1/144 scale Boeing 727-247ADV. Darren painted the fuselage first so he could color sand it, and followed up with the wings, horizontal stabilizers, engines, and then finally all the silver bits. “I picked this 727 because my dad worked on it at Western, and I worked on the same 727 at Delta,” Darren said.
Andrew White
Hollywood, Maryland
Andrew used Star decals on his Tamiya 1/48 scale Challenger 2 MBT to depict the Queen’s Royal Hussars in Al-Amarah, Iraq, 2004. The tarp up front is from Red Zebra Models. Andrew used the hairspray method to chip the tank’s paint and made a base from scratch, creating an Iraqi street.
Richard Engar
Holladay, Utah
The XF-90 Goblin is such an interesting, unconventional airplane developed as a fighter to defend the lumber B-36. Richard built an MPM 1/72 scale kit, airbrushed it Alclad II Chrome over a Testors Gloss Black undercoat, finished the trolley, and left it at that.
Robert Hallack
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
You’ve heard of a tempest in a teapot? How about Alice in Wonderland in a teapot? Robert reworked the resin casting on the model, adding whiskers to the Cheshire Cat. He chose AK Interactive neon colors for his palette, capturing the outlandish, otherworldliness of Lewis Carroll’s novel.
Barry Numerick
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
A post-World War II Czech Avia S-199 built from an Eduard 1/72 scale kit has been improved with brake lines, brass tubing for the 20mm gun barrels, and an antenna made of stretched sprue. Barry didn’t stop there. After painting with Gunze Sangyo acrylics, he made a base out of an old award and covered it with Woodland Scenics grass.
Mark Hamrick
Buckhannon, West Virginia
Mark’s Mirage 1/48 scale Halberstadt Cl.II wears custom decals and a replacement resin engine. He finished the biplane based on a Ronnie Bar profile on the back of Windsock Datafile 157 Halberstadt Cl.II at War. The fuselage mottle was provided as a decal in the kit, and he simulated wood grain with artist oils.
Gordon Geiger
Haines City, Florida
The MPC 1/35 scale Star Wars snowspeeder goes together as easily as its more modern cousins, but it can definitely build up into a fine model with proper attention, as Gordon proves.
Gordon Geiger
Haines City, Florida
The MPC 1/35 scale Star Wars snowspeeder goes together as easily as its more modern cousins, but it can definitely build up into a fine model with proper attention, as Gordon proves.
Nicolas Poncini
Lugano, Switzerland
Nicolas commemorates New Zealand’s Antarctic expeditions in the 1950s by building an original, 1958-issued Airfix 1/72 scale Auster “Antarctic” kit. He accurized the fuselage, vacuum-formed the windshield, scratchbuilt the interior and engine, and corrected the floats. Tamiya acrylic paints brought the color, and just a touch of artist oil washes added depth and shadows.
Brian Fowler
Tarpon Springs, Florida
A soldier takes a breather in his Ma.K. SAFS Rapoon. Brian added guitar string for hoses to the 1/35 scale Aquamarine kit and simulated cast armor texture with stippled Mr. Surfacer 500. The war-weary look came from a combination of Tamiya acrylic paints and artist oil washes.
Ed Boll
Oracle, Arizona
Ed had his work cut out for him correcting a Glencoe reissue of an ITC 1/54 scale Grumman J2F Duck. He corrected the rudder with a 1-degree offset to port; sanded off all raised panel lines, saucer-sized rivets, and embossed national insignia; and re-scribed panel lines and restored the wings. After all that, painting with Testors Gloss Chrome Yellow and various Metalizer colors was easy. But still up for more, Ed constructed a beaching dolly from dimensional styrene and hand-made wire wheels.
Ed Boll
Oracle, Arizona
Ed had his work cut out for him correcting a Glencoe reissue of an ITC 1/54 scale Grumman J2F Duck. He corrected the rudder with a 1-degree offset to port; sanded off all raised panel lines, saucer-sized rivets, and embossed national insignia; and re-scribed panel lines and restored the wings. After all that, painting with Testors Gloss Chrome Yellow and various Metalizer colors was easy. But still up for more, Ed constructed a beaching dolly from dimensional styrene and hand-made wire wheels.
Matthew Lamanilao
Virginia Beach, Virginia
“No mods!” Matthew assured us of his Bandai 1/144 scale RG God Gundam. He competed in the unpainted Gundam category, so the only additions he could make were to use Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color. The rings came in the kit and are part of the Gundam’s “super form.”
Dale Still
Thomasville, North Carolina
Dale built a Pyro 1/500 scale Flying Cloud on a lark, a bit of whimsy. Why not? He brush-painted the whole model and added foil to the nameplate. Then he thought to take it to contests, just to show it and tell the tale. Lo and behold, he’s won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place with it! How’s that for reviving an old kit!
Jenny Zhang
Stony Brook, New York
Jenny, 13, used a battery-powered airbrush to paint her Bandai Super-Deformed MG Gundam Barbatos. She used plaster and modeled rocks for the base, painted them with acrylics, and pulled nylon fluff and painted it brown for billowing dust. The scene depicts Barbatos in a fight, as seen in the anime.
Po Zhang
Stony Brook, New York
Po converted a Bandai 1/100 scale Gundam 00 kit into a custom Tactical Recon Tieren. He painted the entire model with Gunze Sangyo acrylics, pre-shading and then airbrushing the camo scheme freehand. Po set the scene with a tank, tree, and figure providing scale for the enormous mech.