Wiley's Bench Time - Model Railroading Podcast

Bench Time Podcast #95: Jeff Grove of Carolina Craftsman Kits & The Craftsman Courtyard

https://hoscalecustoms.com/

We were so excited to get Jeff Grove of Carolina Craftsman Kits back on the show to talk about a bunch of topics this week!

We started the conversation out about the new CCK limited kit, Shawyers Store which has an awesome mansard roof and cupola. The kit also features a unique shape in which Jeff explains in detail how he went about designing. This is an awesome looking limited run and from our experience with all of the CCK kits we’ve done, this one is sure to be a great build! The kit will be available soon so keep checking back for more details on it! Check out his new kit here: Shawyer’s Store HO Scale Kit

Then we dive into the current state of his layout! Jeff has been working away and progressing well on his personal layout which was documented on the recent video by Joey Ricard from Trackside Scenery (future guest… hint hint) which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/jHtOnrkymlY 

Finally, we talk about the upcoming Craftsman Courtyard at the upcoming Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, MD. There are going to be a TON of great vendors there, many of who have been guests on our podcast, and we’re excited to be set up there to build some models and to run some clinics for the attendees! This show is going to be a BLAST and we’re really looking forward to it!

Contest Information: Winner, Joe Middleton & his sneezing story

This week’s contest, we’re asking you to share your favorite/best INTERIOR detail part! Share your photo to our pinned post on our Facebook page or email it to us at podcast@hoscalecustoms.com. One winner will be selected to receive an HO scale craftsman kit from RailroadKits.com and a koozie! Entries must be received by Wednesday 10/9/19 at 11:59:59pm.

Love our content? Consider supporting us!

If you love our content and want to support us while getting bonus content, consider supporting us here! https://patreon.com/hoscalecustoms

Model Building Toolbox Talk #14: Pallet Knives for Modeling

Pallet knives serve a wide range of uses on our workbenches and that's what we're talking about this week!

Todd and Brett dive into the different uses for our pallet knife sets (Todd has a stainless steel set & Brett has a cheap-o plastic set) though both of them use different types of pallet knives. 

Whether you're using metal or plastic, you can use your pallet knives for shaping scenery, working with detailing and scenery mediums, spreading spackle, and much more!

Listen through to the very end for some cooking tips with Brett as he takes a very big turn off the tracks and gives you some cooking tips on how he makes his scrambled eggs. Listen here, you need to stay well-nourished if you want to keep making great models and working late into the night on your kits... So what's more important than some good grub?!?! Right. So take these recipes and do what you want with them, but they do make some kick-ass scrambled eggs. 

Bench Time #94: The Hodge Podge Episode - Model Railroading

Hodge Podge: a confused mixture. Official definition here.

Have you ever had a workbench disaster? We'll assume that the answer is yes. 

If you've worked as a scale model builder for any period of time, you have definitely had a disaster at your workbench and we talk about that this week!

We also answer some Patron questions in the first part of the episode! Then we dive into our funniest and most disastrous workbench disasters. From shaking paint containers that were open, plaster disasters, ink wash spilling, and a funny Testors glue rant/discussion, we talk about all the bad things that have happened at our workbenches as we've worked on our models.

Contest Information: This week's winner is Mark Rheaume!

For this week's contest, we're asking you to share a funny story of your workbench disaster! Whether you spilled some stain, made a paint mess, broke something, or just created an absolute mess for yourself on your workbench. We want to hear your story! One winner will be selected to receive an HO scale craftsman kit from RailroadKits.com and a koozie! Entries must be received by Wednesday 10/2/19 at 11:59:59pm.

 

Bench Time #93: Waterfront Details Everyone Can Do!

We dive into some waterside details that everyone can do if you have any water on your layout. Whether it be a river, lake, swamp, bay, ocean, or overflowing sewage pond. Who knows what your layout has?!?! But there is one thing for certain, if you have water, you can make these waterfront/waterside details!

Some of the details we cover that you can use for your water scenes include: 

• Ramps instead of steps
• Pilings
• Nets
• Chains
• Sunken barrels
• Tires

Contest Information

Contest Winner: Jeff Fleisher

This Week’s Contest: What's your favorite MRR publication book, magazine, print. Maybe someone will see something they want to check out?!?! One winner will be selected to receive an HO scale craftsman kit from RailroadKits.com and a koozie! Entries must be received by Wednesday 9/25/19 at 11:59:59pm.

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com or do you love our content? Consider supporting our show!

Model Building Toolbox Talk #13: Extreme Power THICK Instant Adhesive

It's Toolbox Talk time and this week Todd is telling us bout his recent use of the Extreme Power THICK Instant Adhesive.

This is a strong adhesive that he's had better luck with compare to other CA glues. From working with metal parts to plastics and other parts, this seems to be a stronger and less frustrating alternative to many hobby CA glues out there. 

it's available from Hobby Lobby and it seems to set much faster than many of the other CA glues out there. 

Check it out here: Thick Extreme Power Adhesive - 1 Ounce (not a promotional link)

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com or do you love our content? Consider supporting our show!

 

Bench Time #92: Gravel Roof & Rub-N-Buff

We’re coming to the Craftsman Courtyard at the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium Maryland next month! We talk about coming to the show and a little bit about what we’re going to be doing there including some clinics, and building some stuff right at our table! So if you’re coming to the show be sure to swing by and say hi to us!

Here are some of the show links: 

• Craftsman Courtyard FB Page
• Great Scale Model Train Show site

Before we hit a bunch of Patreon questions, we talk about the Patron contest build and how you can get in on that! More details here: https://patreon.com/hoscalecustoms

We had a BOATLOAD of good topics from the patron group this week so we covered that and then followed up with the explanation of how my Dad did the gravel roof of his current build.

Next up we talk about our tools of the week, Todd had his home-made tool and Brett threw a new medium in, instead of a tool… Silver leaf rub-n-buff! Video to come soon of him using it.

PLEASE don’t judge Brett’s poor taste in music (okay, judge him… he doesn’t know any better) as we then go over our weekly music selections!

We also have some AWESOME, and we truly do mean ABSOLUTELY AWESOME guests coming up in October so hold on-to your pants because it’s going to be a fun month!

CONTEST INFO: Podcast contest winner Gregory Gay

For this week’s contest we’re asking you to share with us some music you’ve been listening to while you work! We listen to literally anything so let’s hear what some of you enjoy listening to! One winner will be selected to receive an HO scale craftsman kit from RailroadKits.com and a koozie! Entries must be received by Wednesday 9/18/19 at 11:59:59pm.

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com 

Model Building Toolbox Talk #12: Making Scale Newspapers

Todd talks about making scale newspapers to scatter around your street scenes, structures and dioramas. These are super easy to create and they make a realistic real-city look.

This is something that we can all do and the best part is... It's extremely affordable!

Are there any other details like this that you've added to your diorama's or layout?

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com 

Bench Time #91: Media Overload - Too Much Stuff, Not Enough to Use it On!

Fine Scale Freak shirts are available now! Enter code FREESHIP919c4799d at checkout for free shipping until 9/22/2019: https://hoscalecustoms.threadless.com/designs/fine-scale-freak

Have you ever wondered if you REALLY need all of the media and mediums that we seem to collect? Now don't get us wrong, it's fun to get new stuff and we are in no way telling anyone that you shouldn't buy new materials and supplies. But sometimes I think we all get wrapped up in this brand, that brand, and "you HAVE to use that when you do this" kind of talk. When in reality, you can get by with a lot of other alternatives that you might already have or can pick up for a fraction of the cost.

The other danger of the overload of media and materials is that it can quickly overwhelm and cause anxiety in newer fine scale and craftsman modelers who we're trying to get into this hobby to make it grow! So instead we discuss some alternatives and ways that people can 'de-clutter' or undo the overload of options that you might feel like you "just have to have"!

In addition to that we give our Tools of the week and Todd's is this Fiskars 163050-1001 Fingertip Craft Knife (affiliate link). Brett's was just a stainless steel coffee pot... Exciting, we know. haha!

This week's contest winner: Paul Stewart!

Next Week's Contest: Comment on our pinned post on our facebook page or email us at podcast@hoscalecustoms.com what your all-time favorite episode of this show is! It can be the funniest, the best content, best interview, whatever reason it's your favorite, we want to know what your favorite of the first 91 of our episodes (+ any tool box talk episodes) is. All entries must be in by 11:59:59pm on Thursday, September 12th. One winner will receive an HO Scale Customs Koozie and a Craftsman Kit from RailroadKits.com.

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com 

Model Building Toolbox Talk #11: Using a Flashlight Around Your Work Area

Excuse the lame and awkward introduction from Brett! 

This week Todd brings a flashlight to the toolbox talk and discusses how he uses one around his work area in the dark crevices and corners to find parts dropped around the workbench.

Here's the scenario... You drop that little window or chimney, or even (gasp) a piece of cut-to-fit acetate. You know it hit the floor but you either have a dark floor or it's like Brett's, on a basement concrete floor. You look for a minute or two, frustrated and pissed off you now have lost yet another part to the abyss that is the dark area under and around your workbench. And there's no way in hell you're reaching your hand back in the corner with that unsightly cobweb! 

Now it's time time to grab that flashlight you have kept on your workbench specifically for this situation and go hunting for that lost part. but during your search and rescue mission you discover 3 or 5 or even a dozen (who knows how long it's been since you cleaned under your workbench) other parts that you forgot you even dropped last year or even longer ago!

This is something that WE ALL most likely do and a flashlight can certainly help find those pesky lost forever parts.

Like our show and want to support us? Head on over to our Patreon Page to learn how you can shoe your love while getting some really cool stuff! https://patreon.com/hoscalecustoms 

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com 

Bench Time #90: David Yale of Dave's Model Railway Stuff - 3D Printing

Dave Yale from Dave’s Model Railway Stuff joins us on the show this week and we’ve been waiting for this interview for quite some time, so we were very excited to talk with him.

Since my Dad and myself are very new and interested in the idea of 3D model printing and very unaware of the process this turned into a BIG Q&A session with Dave and fortunately he was extremely patient and willing to answer all of our questions. The 3D model making world has been around for quite some time, but we all feel that it is so un-tapped and the technology is only going to become more accessible and easier to use for everyone interested in it.

Dave went into great detail the differences in types of 3D printers and the differences in printer types including the mediums used and level of quality/detail each produces. 

He even has a site that sells some designs he has worked on either of his own or through the scaling down of models that would be of use for the hobby! You can check it out here: DavesMRS.com There’s some really awesome things that we’ve been able to get our hands on and begin to work with from Dave that we’ve included in the photos on our blog (here):

Dave also has a blog for his adventures in 3D printing you can read here: http://dcyale.com/blog/

Other awesome links from our discussion: 

• Dave’s Model Railway Stuff: https://davesmrs.com/ 
• Valley HO Trak Club: http://www.valleyhotrak.com/
• Dave’s Thingiverse Page: https://www.thingiverse.com/dcyale/about
• Dave’s Adventures in 3D printing: http://dcyale.com/blog/
• Dave’s Shapeways Shop: https://www.shapeways.com/shops/dcyale

Contest Information:

This week's winner: Jake Johnson

This week's contest: Submit a photo of something you have build or used as a detail from a piece of scrap material. You could have made a detail part with scrap or an entire building! Let's see what you've got! All entries must be in by 11:59:59pm on Thursday, September 5th. One winner will receive an HO Scale Customs Koozie and a Craftsman Kit from RailroadKits.com.

Support the show and get the chance to win craftsman kits and cool model building stuff! Visit https://patreon.com/hoscalecustoms to learn how!

Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com