Bench Time - Model Railroading Podcast

Catch Bench Time #210, our first ever live stream episode! Join Todd & Brett as we dive into the world of scale modeling, discussing our latest projects and updates after a brief spring break. We cover various aspects of the hobby and share our tentative plans to attend the AMPS 2025 International Convention in Camp Hill, PA (May 15th - May 17th). Tune in for the usual banter, modeling insights, and maybe a few live stream hiccups! Live Stream Link: https://youtube.com/live/e9rznHwdiwk AMPS Convention Link if you want to check it out: https://www.amps-armor.org/SiteMain/Main.aspx (non-affiliate link)

This week we had the pleasure of having a long-time listener and supporter of the podcast, Matt Probst on the show to share with us his history and journey in model railroading and how he has really exploded onto the scene of our hobby online by putting together some amazing scenes and work on his layout! The other great thing about having Matt on the show (which was long overdue) was that he is literally our neighbor as far as the hobby goes! He grew up practically down the street from us and it was long overdue to have him chat with us and tell us what he's been up to. Matt also recently started a model railroading YouTube channel and it's taking off as he shares his techniques and layout progress with the world. Check it out, he's making some pretty awesome videos and sharing a lot of great tips & answering questions about scenery and more on his channel. Link to Matt's My HO Scale of Model Railroading is here: https://www.youtube.com/@mattprobst2321   Episode artwork credit to Matt Probst

Welcome back to the show James A Powell of Dirt Spot.7 and Monster City Studios! This week we had a blast talking with James about setting scenes, working with limited resources or forcing yourself to do more with less, and the fun and differences of the various types of detail parts that are available now. We also got super into the colorized historical videos of cities from the early 1900's. Check out this great YouTube channel that colorizes old historic videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw Make sure to follow all of James pages to check out everything he is up to here: Dirt Spot.7 Monster City Studios  

We really don't have much to say about this week's episode other than it was full of some really off the wall topics and we just let it rip! Brett and Todd do go over some layout updates, Brett's recent build of Ligget's Hay Kit of the Month by FOS Scale Models (not an affiliate link) and how he made his homemade hay bales with transfer tape.   The rest of the episode was... Well you just gotta listen because we were all over the place on this one!

Ouch! This week on Bench Time, Brett shares the gory details of his recent encounter with a miter saw, a cautionary tale for all hobbyists. (Spoiler: fingers and spinning blades don't mix!) We'll also dive into some inspiring model railroad layout discussions, exploring creative design and construction techniques. And to keep your projects looking their best, Todd's here with invaluable tips and tricks for maintaining your paint brushes and paints, preventing that dreaded gunk buildup. Whether you're a seasoned modeler or just starting out, this episode has something for everyone – just maybe keep your fingers away from power tools while listening! Tune in for laughs, lessons, and a little bit of shop talk.

This week's episode is packed with exciting updates from our world of model railroading and model building. We dive deep into the latest transformations of our layout. Brett's been hard at work adding hills, planning a serene "wooded" area, revamping the wharf, and developing the intricate downtown/city section. Then, we check in with Todd on his epic, never-ending train station project. He shares his recent progress and discusses the details of his latest modeling endeavors. Plus, Todd recounts his experiences at the Great Scale Model Train and Railroad Collectors Show, sharing insights and highlights from this must-attend event for any model railroading enthusiast. Join us for a dose of inspiration and practical tips for your own layout!

Welcome back to Bench Time with Wiley's Scale Modeling! In this episode, we sit down with the talented duo behind Mudd Creek Models, Frank and Natalie. We delve into the world of laser-cut wood structures and detail parts, exploring their passion for creating incredibly realistic N and HO scale components. From intricate buildings to essential windows and doors, Mudd Creek Models offers a fantastic range of products to elevate your layout. Join us as we chat with Frank and Natalie about their design process, the challenges of laser cutting, and their commitment to quality. Whether you're a seasoned model railroader or just starting out, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Check out Mudd Creek Models' website for their full product line: https://muddcreekmodels.com/ And be sure to follow them on Facebook for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/289147449717697/ There are no affiliate links or paid promotions by this manufacturer. This information and links in this podcast are all to pass along a great manufacturer in the hobby for you to enjoy or pass along.

It's been a few weeks since our last episode, but we're back from the holiday break and we've been cranking out some great model railroading work and progress on the layout.  Brett Finished the Walthers Merchant Row I, and had been adding track to the layout, so you'll soon be seeing some trains running soon! We also spend too much time talking about bubblegum… But we're proud of it.  In addition we also talked about the price of the insulation foam that we use for the layout and how it seems to keep going up every time we need more of it. It's crazy, but that's the times we're in.  There was also a discussion about including videos in the instructions of craftsman kits, which we're both in favor of! Todd goes on a rant about hobby knifes and acrylic paints at the end too, so stay tuned for that!

This week we talk about the difference between going 50%, 90% or 100% on a model kit build, what it takes and doesn't take to make a kit more realistic. Todd's example is how he built the Merchant's Row II kit to look almost real as if you were walking down the sidewalk in front of that building.    Then we talk about the monstrous train station that Todd is building along with the Merchant's Row I kit that Brett has started!   We wrap up the week talking about some plans for the background/upper section of the city on our layout!

Join us this week for some layout updates and some stories from our reenacting past!

How grateful are we to have been able to record 200 complete episodes of the Bench Time Podcast together as Father and Son? We can't even begin to explain how much we've learned by sharing our journey together in the model railroading and fine scale modeling community with all of you! Over the past six years we've been able to meet so many great people and with our new plans and slight changes to this podcast, we plan to meet many more!  We thought it would be fitting to check in on a few of our friends and bring on a new guest to the show for the 200th episode. So what better way to share the episode with 4 great individuals in the hobby! First up is Wayman Humphrey of Pro Scale Models! Check out his great work and YouTube at these links (non-affiliate links):  Pro Scale Models on YouTube Pro Scale Models on IG Pro Scale Models on FB ProScaleModelsco.com  Second on the list are Ryan and Tom from White Rose Hobbies, the local Hobby Shop in York, PA (non-affiliate links): WhiteRoseHobbies.com  White Rose Hobbies on FB Also, since he was mentioned check out Fred Eisen's grat YouTube videos, including the store tour! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnRYfX7Cwq_obGLyIuPGGHA/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0 We had a blast with Ryan and Tom and we hope that we can focus on other aspects of the scale modeling and general hobby world in the future on the podcast! Thanks for joining guys! Last but definitely not least was return guest Ron Klaiss of Mine Mount Models, LLC! Ron has a great line of fine scale models across a variety of scales! Check out all of the great stuff that Mine Mount Models has on their site, including the Mine Mount Minutes for tips & tricks: (non-affiliate links) MineMountModels.com Mine Mount Models on FB Mine Mount Models on IG It's been such a great time, and we appreciate that there are a few people that tune in and listen to us ramble… Here's to 200 more!

We're one away from 200! And Todd's busting out the 1:87 scale again on his workbench as we are looking to make some major progress in the coming weeks on the layout. We've got a lot planned for the next episode, but enjoy this week's as we ramble on in our typical fashion!

This week we chat about some architectural history after Brett's recent visit to Harper's Ferry and todd explains the history of the small town in France that he is building his diorama from, Narbonne, FR.    In addition to the brief history lessons, we give some model building updates and discuss our recent projects which include: Adding realistic scale barnacles to piers for a waterfront building Using UV resin for covering up / filling in gaps in scale figures and models  

Well, where do we start? This week we had an explosive mix of topics... From Brett's new Temu tools that he picked up, nipples, things that anger us at the workbench and items that you wouldn't want to accidentally sit on from your toolkit or workbench. Can you believe we're almost at 200 episodes? We're working on some ideas for episode 200, but want some input from you guys too! Drop us a message on our FB page to suggest something fun for us to do or a new topic to cover!

The new Roast My Build Facebook group which is already at 46 member. Join now for some model build roasting!   Brett gives his update on the new Coke Zero Oreo Limited Edition - it's awful   Todd talks about applying paper signs to his 1/35 scale diorama and how the paper edges look unless you work to sand down those visible edges, so to avoid them he took the step to paint them on the side of his building!   Brett will also be going live this week on Facebook and YouTube for some of his wharf buildout on the layout! Stay tuned for details on live workshop sessions later this week!

In this episode of the Bench Time Podcast, Todd and Brett dive into another week of modeling, griping, and a few laughs along the way. Here's what we cover:   Westboro Sandhouse Progress: Brett shares his latest updates on the ongoing Westboro Sandhouse project. What's coming together? What's been a challenge? Get the latest scoop on this long-term build.    Reference Photos for Old Models: We discuss the importance of using reference photos when building older models. How do you find the right photos? And how do you use them to bring your models to life? We share our tips and tricks.   Shelf Queens: Let's be honest – do you have any shelf queens? We talk about those half-finished, long-neglected projects collecting dust on our shelves. Why do we abandon them, and will they ever see the light of day again?   Todd's UV Resin/Light Gripe: Todd is back with another rant – this time about UV resin and lights. What's grinding his gears? Tune in to find out.   Restoring the Original Craftsman Kit: Todd takes us down memory lane as he works on restoring an old original craftsman kit that he built years ago. What's it like to breathe new life into a project from the past?   Did You Ever Lose Your Shit?: We get real about those frustrating moments when things don't go as planned. What's the most aggravating experience you've had while modeling? We share our stories – the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.   The Most Overrated Aspect of This Hobby: What part of modeling is overhyped? We each share what we think is the most overrated aspect of the hobby, and we're not holding back.   Temu - HOrrible or HOt?: Finally, we delve into the world of Temu. Is it a treasure trove of HO scale goodies, or just a pile of junk? We sift through the offerings and give our honest opinions on whether Temu is worth your time and money.   Join us for another week of modeling madness, and don't forget to share your thoughts on this week's topics in the comments!

Bench Time #194   This week on the Bench Time Podcast, Todd answers a listener question about how he sets up his work area to help him work better and setting up his work area for his impatient personality. The we both talk about unpacking the boxes of all of our buildings that we had packed up over a year ago, and the laying of the track roadbed. Does anyone know about the shortage of cork or cork board? Apparently there is no current cork shortage after in-show research but why is it so hard for the hobby stores (at least around here) to stock the cork roadbed? Or are they just not ordering as much inventory anymore? We'll get to the bottom of this…

Welcome back to the Bench Time Podcast, this week we have Matthew Hankins back on the show for his second appearance! The last time we had Matt on the show, it was for Episode 127 when we talked about his work with the Four County Society of Model Engineers as well as some of his modeling work.   This week talked with Matt about his diorama work, working with the different scratch builds, shadow box builds and how keeping the variety of work changing allows him to keep his attention span fresh.   Then he goes into his scratchbuilding process for all the different wood sections he builds on his structures. From some sections being the modular wall sections from FOS Scale Models to using strip wood to layer on all of the different features on more unique buildings.   We also talk a lot about the different styles and the different things that drive each of us as modelers… It's not the destination, it's the journey!   Watch Matt's videos on his Patapsco Falls Division YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@patapscofallsdivision2579    Check out his Patapsco Falls Division facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064555072590    The Patapsco Falls Division website at: https://patapscofallsdivision.net    Feature photo credit: Matthew Hankins - Patapsco Falls Division

Todd gives us a bunch of updates, gripes, and tips as Brett works to kickstart working again after a long vacation the past 10 days. In addition to Todd's updates on the French Cafe diorama, he also talks about a creative and innovative modeling technique that he used to turn an error or mis-casting on a diorama figure into a really awesome looking hat for the lady outside the cafe! This ties into what we talk about with getting creative and being true modelers!   Brett is also currently working on editing up two new YouTube videos, so keep an eye out for them on our Wiley's Scale Modeling YouTube Channel!

This week's episode felt more like old times! We figured it would take a few episodes to get back into the swing of things, but damn this week was a ton of fun. Brett and Todd give us an update on the new "E" layout because it finally has all of the bench work completed and is ready to begin working UP from the base now. Then Brett gives us a quick update on the status of his new build, which he spent some time this past Monday night showing his work on during a Facebook/YouTube live session. After that, Todd discusses the finishing steps to his diorama of the French Cafe that he's wrapping up before he gets into his HO scale model building again. Then we jump into some listener questions and of course, Todd had a complaint and grievance that he aired out on the show (or two, or three). Since we mentioned RailroadKits & Microlumina, we figured we would give you guys a link to check out some of their awesome kits, details and lighting options for your model railroad layout! Check them out here: RailroadKtis & Microlumina. Don't forget, they also have the F&SM Metal Castings! (neither of these two links are affiliate links, just wanted to direct you to awesome things)

Hey gang! We're back with Bench Time #190 and the typical internet problems that Brett loves! This week we give you all some updates on our newest work, plans for the layout, gripes, and a funny eye doctor story. Question for all of you: What are some topics that you'd like us to cover in the coming episodes? We're always willing to share our stories and what we're building but want to hear from you what are some content topics you'd like us to discuss next week?

We hope you all have a safe memorial day weekend and take time to remember the reason we all have the ability to enjoy this holiday. This week we're back with the usual rants and discussions about the hobby. Brett also talks about his crusty paint bin and the things we save in the hobby trying to be cheapskates. What are you working on currently at your workbench?

Hey Fine Scale Freaks! Guess what? Todd and Brett Wiley are back at the bench, and we couldn't be more excited! It's been over a year since our last episode, and boy, do we have some catching up to do. So, here's the scoop: we've been through a lot – layout teardown, house demolition, building a new home, and finally moving back in. Now that the dust has settled, Brett is ready to dive back into the bench, and we're both gearing up to piece together a brand new, much larger, and way improved layout. In this episode, we'll fill you in on what Todd's been up to in the modeling world, including some cool new clubs he's joined and all the latest projects he's been working on.  We're thrilled to be back and can't wait to share our journey with you. So tune in and let's get back to some fine scale modeling fun. Happy to be back, Fine Scale Freaks!

This week we had James A. Powell on the show for a long-overdue appearance! James talked with us about some exciting new things he's working on including a soon available pre-order of a new book he is featured in from White River Productions. https://shop.whiteriverproductions.com/products/swts NOTE: Brett was incorrect about White River productions and the Civil War History book, it was not WRP and instead a different publisher with a similarly scenic sounding name. We started a TikTok, it may be available for the next week, or the next decade... who knows. But follow us there! https://www.tiktok.com/@wileysscalemodeling Follow James A. Powell's different pages and adventures at the links below: https://www.facebook.com/MonsterCityStudios https://www.facebook.com/DirtSpot/  

Wayman Humphrey from Pro Scale Models on Facebook, YouTube and even TikTok joined us for his first guest appearance! We talked about everything from his intro into scale modeling, his love of art, music, tattooing, and everything in-between. Make sure you check out Wayman's art and videos at the links below. We can't wait to have him back for some deeper model building and bench time talks! YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2LXm7buhIQJzcxylBzhUMg Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/proscalemodels 

This week we talk to Brian Wolfe from Mainline Hobby Supply! This is one of our favorite hobby shops in the PA / MD region and if you have a chance to stop by when you're in the area, definitely pay them a visit! Another interesting thing we hear from Brian about his history with the hobby shop is how he literally had his blood sweat and tears in the shop build. It's these kinds of places that we need to keep in business as the hobby evolves. At the end of the show we go into a little news and history of the East Broad Top Railroad. They're operating and running Engine No 16 which was recently restored. Check out more about the EBTR here: https://eastbroadtop.com/

Welcome back for Bench Time #184 where we featured Bernard Hellen of Miniprints.com! We were very excited to get Bernard back on the show, and coincidentally it was almost two years to the day since we had him on last, you can catch his other episode here: Bench Time #159: Bernard Hellen of Miniprints Bernard talks about some new developments from miniprints and how we can't believe that he's coming up on the 4th anniversary of the business! We also discuss some of our favorite miniprints models, oddities, processes for sourcing 3d models, and some info on the new space for miniprints. You should also check out miniprints.com/halloween for some neat and unique prints! Another point of note, is his peanut butter lid challenge (which Brett is very interested in!), and to check out his live sessions on YouTube on the 1st Wednesday of every month.

This week, Brett talks about his holiday week off and a visit to NYC and American Girl Doll store.... We also cover some measuring mess-ups (or was it), Todd's canyon fears, adding fine snow from woodland scenics to the white water of a waterfall, some more glue talk, and Todd's mishap with his fine scale eagle.

It's the holiday season, so we decided to kick back, let loose and we definitely went all over the place! Todd discusses his Neopolitan-like build and Brett chats about the new rocks and progress on the Terminal area of the layout where he's adding a gulley/storm water runoff area. We also talked about some more affordable plaster that a long-time listener and original guest of the show, Steve had recommended to us. The details on it, directly from an email to us from him are below: "This is from AGES ago, but I use Durobond 45 for all my rockwork - it is a fraction of the cost of plaster in hobby stores.  Here's an old blog post on it: https://rgsrr.blogspot.com/2013/11/enterprise-and-hesperus-scenery-update.html For example - here's 25lbs for it - $10 at Menard's: https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/drywall/joint-compound/sheetrock-reg-durabond-reg-45-pre-mixed-setting-type-joint-compound/381110/p-1444445395321-c-13060.htm?tid=-6689639879862189084&ipos=2" Enjoy!

Jason walks us through the setup process of his business, how he got off the ground what it was like when he first opened up selling kits with Jason Jensen Trains.  Then we go over the two new kits he's now made available, the process of coming up with the new kits, and the trials & tribulations of getting them ready for sale. After going through the new and exciting news Jason Jensen Trains has to share, we cover the listener questions and banter more about current work, modeling talk, and more!

We covered a VERY wide range of topics this week, starting with some Halloween fun, updates on what Brett & Todd have been working on, and some plaster tips from Todd! Vote for Brett's Cocoa Puffs Pumpkin here: https://verberdentalgroup.com/poll/pumpkin-contest-2022/   

The last time we had Jeff Grove on the show was in March of 2021 for episode 169. This week we talk with Jeff about:  Layout up-date, where he's at currently with his double-decker layout. The top level is 1945 era; bottom layer is 1970's. Coal mining & lumbering. New Kit: Cape fear Supply Company.  New Kit: from Jason Jensen. New Kit from Frank Salondino Mud Creek Craftsman Courtyard at Timonium, MD This week's photo credit: Carolina Craftsman Kits - Jeff Grove

We summarize our trip out to Oklahoma, Todd goes on a rant, we talk about cats on a plane and Brett gives you insight on how he finds time to work in the workshop with his busy work/life schedule!

Brett's been working on Pap's Pizza, a new road that follows an old railroad grade, and he goes off into a whole story of the red light district which turns into a funny and typical story of the podcast. I mean, what 40's city didn't have a little shenanigans going on? He also discusses the recent 3D printing of the pallet stacks and end-of-the-line track buffers. Todd goes into his recent work on his current build and then derails on the whole hobby shop rant and talks about his scenery from the current section of the layout that he's working on! Then we go into some modeling tips, some were funny, and the others were mildly valuable. Take what you want, and laugh at the rest. Brett also goes into his recent conquering of the Paqui One Chip Challenge… It was a ride of spicy, hot, sweaty emotions.  After all of the modeling content, we spend the next part of the show going over our takes and opinions on the Top 25 in College Football after week 1! Hopefully, if you're a college ball fan, you'll stick with us through our wild and crazy chat about the early season of College Football!

Join us this week as we talk with Doug Foscale of FOS Scale Models about some of his new developments, adventures in 3D printing and the new limited run kit available now at https://fosscalemodels.com You can pick up the Axel Road Limited Run kit at the following links: USA Orders: https://fosscalemodels.com/collections/ho-scale-kits/products/axle-road-ho-scale-limited-run-kit-u-s-a-only Canada Orders: https://fosscalemodels.com/collections/ho-scale-kits/products/copy-of-the-flat-iron-district-ho-scale-limited-run-kit-canada-only International Orders: https://fosscalemodels.com/collections/ho-scale-kits/products/copy-of-the-flat-iron-district-ho-scale-limited-run-kit-international-only

We want to welcome everyone back to the Bench Time Podcast with the Wiley's! This week we go on our usual rants, talk about a little history, go over our current work updats and we even go way off track on a rant about horseradish and wrap up with some aimless sports banter! Enjoy, we're glad to be back freaks!

It's been a hot minute since we last recorded and we've decided to bring back a monthly version of our show! The same old us, a little less censored (you may hear some word fly), and just as colorful as we used to be. We've been busy working and you can see all the pics of our work here: https://www.facebook.com/hoscalecustoms  Are you part of our listener group? If not you can join the Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2189549561072602 

It's been a while, and we told you that we weren't going to completely disappear... So here we go for some fresh new content and some shop talk about what we've been up to since our last episode back in the Spring. We covered a lot in this episode, so just give it a listen and check in with us in the comments section with what you have all been up to! If you're not part of the Overtime at the Bench listener group on Facebook, join in here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2189549561072602

We've been fumbling our way through the podcast world since 2017 when my Dad and I launched this show together. There have been many laughs, memories and great times shared together between us and ALL of the listeners and we both believe that this is the right time for us to hang up the microphones and focus more on our families and model building time together.  This isn't the end of the road for our model building, live Facebook builds, and YouTube videos (which we want to get back to), but this will be the final podcast for the Bench Time Podcast as we know it. We've received some tremendous support from the ENTIRE community and at no point was this decision easy, but we've been struggling to meet family and other requirements for a while now and this is a decision that we haven't made lightly.  From Todd and myself, we want to thank every one of our listeners, past patrons, guests, and everyone that we've met from this journey.  We also want to stress that we're not going away. We're going to do the LIVE videos more, and we'll be sharing modeling adventures on our Facebook Page and Overtime at the Bench Modeling Group. We're going to use this time to focus on our families and professional lives as well as building more kick-ass models! Thank you everyone for following us from the beginning and make sure to follow us on the following channels/pages to stay updated on our model building adventures! Overtime at the Bench Facebook Group Wileys Scale Modeling on Facebook YouTube Instagram We

What's on your workbench this week?  We go over what's on our workbenches this week and chat about the current group build!  If you missed this week's live-build, you can watch a replay here: https://youtu.be/cg46HQJZa2c We PROMISE to have a way better video resolution next week!!! If you want to tune in next week, make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel or our Facebook pages: Wiley's Scale Modeling on YouTube Wiley's Scale Modeling on Facebook

Jeff Grove was this week's guest and we covered what's new in his Carolina Craftsman Kit world as well as what he's up to in his "retired" life now. We covered some of the benefits of having a great local group of fellow modelers and we even chatted it up about Brass locomotives! We all had a blast talking to Jeff and we hope that you enjoy our conversation with him. Check out Carolina Craftsman Kits here: https://carolinacraftsmankits.com/ (non-affiliate link) If you're into supporting AWESOME foundations and charities, you need to check out what James Powell is doing right now with the Magic Wheelchair here: Donate to James A. Powell's drive here: https://www.classy.org/campaign/race-for-the-wall/c331890 Check out the Magic Wheelchair here: https://www.classy.org/campaign/race-for-the-wall/c331890 DirtSpot.7 Facebook Page

We packed this week's episode full of techniques straight from Doug Foscale! So get your pen and notepad ready because this week's show is jammed with great techniques and tons of great things to try at your workbench. Big thanks to Doug for the time this week and we can't wait to do more technique episodes with him and other modelers going forward.  Since we've covered the background on most of these guys, we think it's time to switch up the style and pick their brains a little more for EVEN more great model building techniques and hints. If you're interested in checking out FOS Scale Models newest kits and products, check them out here: https://fosscalemodels.com/ (non-paid link) My dad and I, as well as a bunch of fellow modelers in our overtime at the bench facebook group also enjoy the Kit of the Month kits, so if you're interested in that, check it out: https://fosscalemodels.com/collections/kit-of-the-month-club-1 (non-paid link)   The photo for this week's episode cover is the 1/35th scale diorama kit that Todd is working on, you can find that here: https://fosscalemodels.com/collections/1-35th-scale-diorama-kits/products/kino-1-35th-scale-diorama-kit (non-paid link)

This week it's just us two chatting, ranting, and listing off the builds we've been working on and what's been keeping us out of (and in some) trouble! What are you working on? Comment on our FB page with some pics of your own build! Group Build Kit Link: https://minemountmodels.com/shop/ols/products/wileys-good-times-tavern  

This week Jason Jensen and James A. Powell join us for our longest episode ever recorded as we chat about what we're all up to and some new developments from both of them as to what they're working on!  If you're not following their pages and channels, you should check them out here: Jason Jensen Trains Dirt Spot.7 We did record this in a video/zoom format, but it will take a tremendously long time to upload. So for now please enjoy it the old-school audio way, and by later this weekend we hope to have the video version up for those that want to see our ugly mugs. 

This was a fantastic episode this week as we talked to long time listener and D.A.R.E. Model Railroading Club organizer Dave Stanton about everything that he is doing to help the kids in his local community connect and create with the hobby of model railroading!  Dave has a long-standing passion for helping his community and loves to share the model railroading hobby with kids in the western Pennsylvania area. People like Dave are what we need MORE of in this hobby and we can all take a small lesson from this week's episode to make sure that we take the time to invest in our future by being positive influences on our children and kids in the community!   If you're looking for the link to the Suncoast Center for Fine Scale Modeling episode from over the weekend, visit it here: https://youtu.be/wPBIY0BTnMk 

What's up, everybody? We're back after an unexpected week off due to some unforeseen circumstances... And we're happy to be back in front of our microphones and talking to this week's guest, Ron Klaiss!  Ron, from Mine Mount Models talked with us this week about his newest kit release (which he graciously provided to us in conjunction with the upcoming group-build) of Wiley's Good Times Tavern. This is an awesome kit that we can't wait to get our hands on and build with you guys. There is also a group build special that we talk about in the show!  The Group Build will begin on Monday, March 29th, so we have plenty of time to get all of our supplies in order and prepare for the fun 6 or so weeks straight of building! In addition to the new kit and group build, we get into our usual fun banter about model building techniques, crazy rants and typical humor that we enjoy the most. Thanks again to Ron for joining us this week and we really hope you all enjoyed this week's show! Find more of our episodes here: https://hoscalecustoms.com/

First of all, we need to tip our hats in the model building and model railroading podcast world to this week's guest... Scott Mason and his podcasts and content have been someone that we've listened to with great respect as we've continued to grow in the hobby with our own skills and this father-son duo modeling podcast. We were extremely honored this week to spend a couple of hours of Scott's time talking about the history of his podcast and how he was able to grow his modeling skills, and podcasting, video instruction skills, and general interest in sharing stories and skills in this awesome hobby and community that we all share. Scott has a ton of great stories to share this week in what we hope is just the first time that we get to talk to him and swap workbench stories and lessons together. Listen in this week and kick back at your workbench as we learn about Scott and how he has worked with some of the greatest names in this hobby to do his part in keeping us all together as a community of model builders and fans of sharing our great art together!

Join us this week as we go over some model building updates and we announce the new spring group build details! you've all been waiting for the announcement of another group build and we've got the details you've been craving!!! The kit we're going to build for the group build is Wiley's Good Time Tavern from Mine Mount Models, you can get it here: https://minemountmodels.com/shop/ols/products/wileys-good-times-tavern  You can get 10% off any additional items in your order when you pick up the tavern for the group build by entering the promo code: WILEY10 We want to thank Mine Mount Models for the kits that we're going to build along with you guys and we can't wait until spring to get this started!

In this weeks episode, we talk about what you can do WITHOUT an airbrush and what it means to get the kids into arts, crafts and participating in model building!

Get an update on Brett's build of Bret's Brewery from Campbells Scale Modela as well as an update on the Tank Build from Todd! We also go over some listener questions this week for our first set of them in 2021.  We're back to the grind and looking to crank out some major work on the layout through the rest of winter!