Best Scratchbuilding Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 46: Verko's Vault 1:13:14

1d ago1:13:14

1:13:14

Your hosts have been hustling to get the scoop on Verko’s Vault for some time. In this episode, they finally got the full run-down on the exciting plans for what will be one of the largest museums of miniatures yet opened to the public. We also have another of Jim’s ongoing Questions for Barry, this one involving how to effectively fade colors with…

1
Episode 45: Erik Swinson 1:30:07

1M ago1:30:07

1:30:07

In this episode, your hosts talk with Virginia Beach-based professional miniatures painter Erik Swinson, one of the most stunning talents on the scene today. Erik streams on Twitch most Wednesday evenings: https://www.twitch.tv/erik_swinson If you can't make those live streams, you can watch them later on his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.co…

1
Episode 44: Abstraction in Miniatures and Digital vs Traditional Scratchbuilding 1:32:16

2M ago1:32:16

1:32:16

On this episode, your hosts tackle two big ideas they’ve been thinking and talking about a lot lately. First up: The notion of throwing away all the “rules” and thinking more abstractly. They also talk about digital modeling and 3D printing in terms of it's advantages and disadvantages versus traditional scratch building. For photos of what we disc…

1
Episode 43: Jon Harbuck 1:39:36

3M ago1:39:36

1:39:36

We chat with Alabama-based modeler Jon Harbuck, an attorney, a true Southern gentleman, and a favorite for the powerful storytelling in his work. We also talk about Barry and Joan's recent trip to Las Vegas for a painting workshop taught by Matteo di Diomede held at Verko's Vault, the exciting new miniatures museum. For photos of what we discuss in…

1
Episode 42:Current Projects, Various & Sundry 1:46:09

4M ago1:46:09

1:46:09

In this episode, your hosts talk about what’s been happening at their work benches, and (as usual) a few other things, including a movie they’d been eagerly anticipating but which, alas, let Jim down. Barry gives an update on his restoration of the classic Shep Paine box diorama “A King of Shreds and Patches (Hamlet Sees the Ghost of His Father),” …

1
Episode 41: Bob Sarnowski 2:09:11

6M ago2:09:11

2:09:11

Warning: Unlike most of our episodes, this one has some profanity. We talk to veteran MMSI member and expert painter Bob Sarnowski. We also recap MMSI 2023. Listen to find out why there will be one less thing Jim can tease Barry about. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdio…

1
Episode 40: Barry and Jim on their Favorites (and their Failures) 1:54:31

7M ago1:54:31

1:54:31

Your hosts aren’t at all sure that anybody will be interested in this rather self-indulgent episode, but hey, we were just responding to a request from one of our loyal listeners, Jamie Stokes in Australia, who left a voice mail for us on Telbee (and everyone is welcome to do the same by clicking here!). You can find photos and links to information…

1
Episode 39: A Conversation About the Open System With Marijn Van Gils 2:27:15

8M ago2:27:15

2:27:15

Another illuminating chat with Marijn, this time on the subject of the open system of judging miniatures and models. We also answer a listener voice message from Grant Mayberry about what to expect at your first open miniature and modelling show. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioram…

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Episode 38: Dave Youngquist and IPMS 2023 Nats 1:32:50

9M ago1:32:50

1:32:50

Jim and Barry talk to Dave Youngquist of the ace online hobby shop Last Cavalry. They also chat about Barry's recent trip to the IPMS/USA National Convention. Photos of the pieces we discuss can be found on our blog on Boxdioramas.comBy Jim and Barry

1
Episode 37: Gary Baker, hair and Historex 1:59:17

10M ago1:59:17

1:59:17

In this episode, your hosts have a fascinating chat with British native, now San Diego-based painter and modeler Gary Baker. In addition to being big fans of his work, and agreeing that he’s one of the finest gents we’ve met in the hobby in recent years, we were eager to hear Gary’s thoughts about sculpting and painting hair—he’s a professional sty…

1
Episode 36: Mike Hilleary 1:37:05

10M ago1:37:05

1:37:05

Barry and Jim had a splendid chat with Mike Hilleary, the Connecticut-based modeler they consider one of the best painters in America today. The boys also used the opportunity of a question left on the show’s voice mail to discuss that recent editorial in the IPMS Journal by the group’s president David Lockhart, which effectively claimed that there…

1
Episode 35: MFCA 2023 1:30:50

11M ago1:30:50

1:30:50

On May 5 and 6, your hosts once again traveled to the outskirts of Philadelphia for the 80th Annual Show sponsored by the Miniature Figure Collectors of America, one of the premier exhibitions of miniature arts in the U.S. In this episode, Barry and Jim offer some thoughts on the show recorded after the fact, as well as some live recordings amidst …

1
Episode 34: Joe Berton 2:32:11

1y ago2:32:11

2:32:11

Joe has been an active modeler since his teens in the early 1970s, and he is one of the most acclaimed artists and well-loved friend-to-all in the miniatures hobby. A retired art teacher, he’s a man with a million stories (and a rather famous alter ego, at least among baseball fans). We enjoyed every minute of talking with him, and feel like we’ve …

1
Episode 33: Ingvild Eiring 2:13:44

1y ago2:13:44

2:13:44

Your hosts have been big fans of Ingvild Eiring’s box dioramas since she first made us aware of them by emailing this Web site and asking if we thought it would make sense to add a gallery for her. Heck yes!, we said, and what’s more, we thought we could learn a lot by chatting with this extraordinary artist, since she straddles the worlds of our p…

1
Episode 32: Travis Haussener 1:58:27

1y ago1:58:27

1:58:27

On this episode, we talk with one of Barry’s fellow modelers from Utah, Travis Haussener, who, despite the shared passion for miniatures and modeling, differs from him and co-host Jim in two pretty significant ways: Athleticism (you won’t find either of us getting buried in an avalanche, mainly because you’d never find either of us on skis), and, u…

1
Episode 31: Tools (and Other Stuff) We CAN Live Without 1:23:27

1+ y ago1:23:27

1:23:27

Tools (And Other Stuff) We Hate (according to Jim), or Tools (And Other Stuff) That Just Haven’t Worked for Him (according to Barry, who is overall a kinder person). You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want …

1
Episode 30: Will Pattison 1:37:39

1+ y ago1:37:39

1:37:39

One of our favorite and most outspoken voices in the hobby, we thought it was long overdue for us to chat with Will Pattison, especially since Jim needed some advice on chipping, and Will is the master! Will frequently posts to the Scale Modelers Critique Group on Facebook, shares his knowledge on his YouTube Channel, and talks modeling and other t…

1
Episode 29: Mike Good 1:50:06

1+ y ago1:50:06

1:50:06

The name of California-based miniature sculptor Mike Good should be familiar to many in our hobby. We talk with him about his work, his interests, and his methodology. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We wan…

1
Episode 28: Greg Cihlar 1:14:22

1+ y ago1:14:22

1:14:22

Barry and Jim talk with Chicago-area modeler Greg Cihlar, a consistently gold-medal maker of striking dioramas and vignettes in the historical world (World War II a specialty) who’s also branched out to do some stunning work in the fantasy realm. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioram…

1
Episode 27: Tools (and Other Stuff) We Can't Live Without 1:53:06

1+ y ago1:53:06

1:53:06

In this episode, Barry and Jim wax rhapsodic about tools and other stuff they can’t live without on their workbenches—and they have A LOT of fun doing it! We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Con…

1
Episode 26: Pat McGrath 1:14:45

1+ y ago1:14:45

1:14:45

http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects/2022/8/19/episode-26-actor-playwright-and-modeler-pat-mcgrathhttp://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects/2022/8/19/episode-26-actor-playwright-and-modeler-pat-mcgrathBased in Dublin, armor modeler and orc sculptor Pat McGrath is a talented miniaturist, as well as a fine artist, an actor and a playwright; he per…

1
Episode 25: John Bonanni/IPMS Nationals 1:20:05

1+ y ago1:20:05

1:20:05

Jim and Barry chat with John Bonanni about the 2022 International Plastic Modelers' Society USA national convention (the "Nats",) which they attended in Omaha, Nebraska in July. John is the second vice president of IPMS/USA and happens to share some of our views on how IPMS contests might be improved. You can find photos and links to information di…

1
Episode 24: Pat Stansell 1:43:55

2y ago1:43:55

1:43:55

In addition to being a fine armor modeler, Pat is a helluva funny guy, who wrote to your hosts saying he’d be eager to chat with us, after we mentioned our enduring fondness for the late, lamented magazine he edited, Military Miniatures in Review. Eager to get the story behind the sad demise of that fine mag, as well as to hear what Pat is currentl…

1
Episode 23: Calvin Tan 1:33:41

2y ago1:33:41

1:33:41

Calvin Tan has been recognized as one of the most talented sculptors and figure painters in the world, especially among those working with WWII subjects. A graduate of RMIT University who is now the Department Chair at DigiPen Institute of Technology, he’s one of the most eloquent artists we’ve interviewed on this podcast in terms of drawing connec…

1
Episode 22: Box Dioramas 1:50:07

2y ago1:50:07

1:50:07

You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com And, in the wake of MFCA 2022 and a continued period of busy modeling by people stuck inside avoiding COVID, we've added a ton of new updates to boxdioramas.com, all of which are charted on the News page, though it's also a lot of fun to ju…

1
Episode 21: Taesung Harmms 1:18:51

2y ago1:18:51

1:18:51

Taesung Harmms is the driving force, artistic director, and primary sculptor behind Alpine Miniatures, one of the highest-quality producers of resin figures in the hobby’s marketplace today. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com And, in the wake of MFCA 2022 and a continued per…

1
Episode 20: Marion and Alan Ball, plus the MFCA Show 2022 1:56:34

2y ago1:56:34

1:56:34

Painter Marion and sculptor Alan, happily married since 2003, are one of the most dynamic duos in the world of military miniatures. This episode features a chat with them, along with our recap of the 2022 MFCA Show outside Philadelphia in mid-May. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdiora…

1
Episode 19: Marijn Van Gils 2:02:10

2y ago2:02:10

2:02:10

Marijn Van Gils has been high atop our list of guests who we were most eager to talk to ever since we launched this podcast, some 18 episodes ago now. We’re both big fans of the sculpting, painting, and composition of his dioramas and vignettes, which almost always offer unique views of their subjects and a sly sense of humor. Please visit Chris Me…

1
Episode 18: Jack Lynch - Also, a discussion about transporting figures to shows 1:27:11

2y ago1:27:11

1:27:11

In this episode, as we gear up for the Miniature Figure Collectors of America Show just outside Philadelphia on May 13 and 14, 2022, we chat with one of the event’s organizers and a veteran member of the long-running club, Pennsylvania modeler Jack Lynch. We talked about the club and the upcoming exhibit, as well as about the many roles Jack has pl…

1
Episode 17: Chris Meddings. 1:49:04

2y ago1:49:04

1:49:04

Bristol, England-based Chris Meddings is a master modeler whose scratchbuilding skills are especially stunning; the co-host (with Will Pattison and Tracy Hancock) of the Sprue Cutters’ Union podcast; the owner of Inside the Armour Publications, and a budding figure sculptor and painter. We talked with Chris about all of this and more, and followed …

1
Episode 16: Talking painting in acrylics and the benefits of modeling clubs with Pat Vess and Joe Berton 1:39:03

2y ago1:39:03

1:39:03

Jim and Barry talk to Joe Berton and Pat Vess about the Military Miniature Society of Illinois. They also discuss Pat's recent switch from painting in oils to acrylics. Jim and Barry talk about the benefits of belonging to a modeling club. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com …

1
Episode 15: Dennis Levy and more (Including Barry almost gets tased by a Swiss security guard) 1:58:54

2y ago1:58:54

1:58:54

Dennis Levy has been a huge inspiration to the two of us for years, and he was high atop our list for interview subjects from the day we started this podcast. We had a blast talking with Dennis about boxes and more. Jim and Barry also chat about abandoned projects and discuss some unreasonable actions by Barry which almost caused an international i…

1
Episode 14: Bill Horan 2:12:49

2+ y ago2:12:49

2:12:49

Bill Horan needs no introduction, at least in our small world. Barry and Jim talk to the master painter and sculptor, and, as always, discuss some of their favorite pieces from his extensive and impressive canon. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great …

1
Episode 13: Bill Merklein 1:28:26

2+ y ago1:28:26

1:28:26

In this episode, Barry and Jim talk with veteran East Coast painter, sculptor, educator, and miniatures enthusiast Bill Merklein, a thoughtful artist and great raconteur. A towering figure in the world of G.I. Joe collectors, he brings a truly unique perspective to the world we cover in Small Subjects. You can find photos and links to information d…

1
Episode 12: Game-Changers 1:18:06

2+ y ago1:18:06

1:18:06

On this episode, Barry and Jim discuss some of their personal “Game-Changers,” pieces they saw that blew their minds, inspired them, and got them thinking in different ways about the possibilities for miniatures. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great …

1
Episode 11: Nick Infield 1:47:36

2+ y ago1:47:36

1:47:36

Nick has earned an international reputation for his boxes—many of which touch on his other passion for film—and his was one of the first artists galleries we added to boxdioramas.com! We also offer some useful tips when sculpting or converting for scaling your work. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podca…

1
Episode 10: Michael Kontraros/2021 MMSI Chicago Show 1:59:24

2+ y ago1:59:24

1:59:24

Michael Kontraros is one of the top sculptors in the world in the fantasy realm. For years, he won gold medals and wide renown for his one-off sculpts, which are painted by some of the top artists in Greece, and which are greatly sought-after by collectors. He now runs his own company, Michael Kontraros Collectibles, where he produces stunning figu…

1
Episode 9: Joel Glass and a discussion about collectors 1:31:43

2+ y ago1:31:43

1:31:43

We talk to Joel Glass, a collector of miniatures and a supporter of the MFCA show in Philadelphia as well as World Expo. We also share our thoughts about the world of collecting miniatures. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com…

1
Episode 8: Greg DiFranco 1:45:21

2+ y ago1:45:21

1:45:21

This episode features an interview with Greg DiFranco, a master painter renowned for his use of shadows, light, and color, as well as a damn fine sculptor and a champion of flats who has raised that aspect of our hobby to new heights. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Conta…

1
Episode 7: Mike Blank 1:33:39

2+ y ago1:33:39

1:33:39

This episode features an interview with Mike Blank as well as a discussion of last Saturdays online MFCA show. We also talk about one of our favorite online shops, Last Cavalry and a few other things. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmai…

1
Episode 6: Our Favorite Books and Periodicals 1:14:48

2+ y ago1:14:48

1:14:48

In this episode, your hosts Barry Biediger and Jim DeRogatis talk about some of their most beloved, must-own modelling tomes filling their book shelves, as well as magazines present and past. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com…

1
Episode 5: Ben Komets 1:17:11

2+ y ago1:17:11

1:17:11

This episode features an interview with Ben Komets, a talented and inspiring fantasy miniature painter. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.comBy Jim and Barry

1
Episode 4: Penny Meyer 1:03:36

2+ y ago1:03:36

1:03:36

This episode features an interview with our friend, the excellent flats painter Penny Meyer. Pics of some of the pieces discussed and links to further information can be found at the Small Subjects Blog, which is part of the Box Dioramas website.By Jim and Barry

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Episode 3: Why are so many modelers reluctant to paint figures? 1:16:39

3y ago1:16:39

1:16:39

We discuss some of the reasons plastic modelers might be reluctant to paint figures. Also, why does it seem to be so difficult to explain the process of figure painting? We will attempt to convince a few more modelers to give it a try by talking about why figures can add something to your models. We also give some tips for beginners that will hopef…

1
Episode 2: John Rosengrant 1:13:45

3y ago1:13:45

1:13:45

In this episode, we interview John Rosengrant, who is not only an excellent modeler and figure sculptor, he has one of the coolest day jobs as a special effects artist. John has created some of the most memorable and iconic characters in movies and television. Legacy Effects, the special effects company John co-founded: https://www.legacyefx.com/ A…

1
Episode 1: Entering Your Work In Model Shows and Accepting Critiques 52:18

3y ago52:18

52:18

Welcome to Small Subjects! In this first episode, Jim and Barry share their thoughts on accepting critiques and having your models judged at shows. Also, some thoughts on the different types of exhibitions or competitions.By Jim and Barry

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