185.3K
Downloads
231
Episodes
We're an adult-oriented fine scale model building podcast that focuses on the craftsman modeling side of the hobby!
Episodes
Friday Aug 23, 2019
Friday Aug 23, 2019
We go over a bunch of awesome topics and questions from our Patrons this week and covered a lot of awesome areas and some new topics. We also cover some of the new benefits our existing and NEW patrons will receive including monthly contests for craftsman kits and model building contests! You can learn more about how to support our show and how to become a Patron here: https://patreon.com/hoscalecustoms
We then dive into our weekly topics, this time covering how to add some weathering to storefronts, windows and doors with a little dry-brushing. Then we get into how we both save a little bit of scale lumber on each of our builds to make sure we have an extra stockpile of bracing and trim lumber!
Contest Information: This week's winner is Ken A.
This week's Contest: Let's see your ugliest brush! We want to see the most beaten up, ugly brush you have in your collection!
You can submit your photos to the pinned post on our Facebook Page or email it to podcast@hoscalecustoms.com. All photos must be submitted by Thursday 8/29/19 at 11:59:59pm est. Each winner will receive a free RailroadKits.com Craftsman Kit and a HO Scale Customs Koozie!
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
We're talking about how we both use wooden clothespins to hang instructions, reference materials, photos, and really whatever we need to from our workbench this week.
Todd has a metal workbench, so he tells us how he easily and quickly glued some small magnets to the back of the clothespins and just pops them onto the metal bar at the top of his work area.
Brett has a home-made wood workbench so he just adds a small drop of wood glue (that's literally the only glue he uses as we all know) to glue a few clothespins to his workbench as well.
This is neat because it's something that neither of us planned together or thought of together, but both of us have used the same object with a little different method of application to hang our instructions and reference photos.
What do you use to hang up instructions while you're working?
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Thursday Aug 15, 2019
Thursday Aug 15, 2019
This week we had a very awesome guest on the show! A first for our show of this type, a model railroading hobby shop owner and a hobby shop that LOVE!
Todd's been to Mainline Hobby Supply a bunch the past couple years and Brett has made a few of these trips down to the shop with him. Every time we visit Mainline Hobby Supply we end up spending wayyyy too much time there and our wives definitely end up finding ways to pass the time while we wander around the endless detail parts, scenery parts, and modeling supplies in the aisles here.
We dive deep into the history of Brian Wolfe's history at Mainline Hobby Supply and how him and his wife have built this awesome shop up from literally the ground up.
In addition to the history and info about Mainline Hobby Supply, we talk with Brian about what he see's in the hobby today as well as his involvement in the Blue Ridge Summit Clinic's Day we attended the past couple years.
We love this little shop and it's more than just a local shop with their online store, shipping worldwide! Visit their site here: https://www.mainlinehobby.com/
You can also sign up for Mainline Hobby Supplies newsletter here.
This week's contest winner: Nathan Kline
This week's contest: Submit a photo of something you're obsessed with (keep it clean) whether it's model railroading related or anything! You can submit your photos to the pinned post on our Facebook Page or email it to podcast@hoscalecustoms.com. All photos must be submitted by Thursday 8/15/19 at 11:59:59pm est. Each winner will receive a free RailroadKits.com Craftsman Kit and a HO Scale Customs Koozie!
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Brett talks about using a lighter (can be replaced with other heat sources like heat gun) to heat up the plastic body of the Ford pickup truck that he's working on right now. This is a simple way to add some body dents to vehicle models and can certainly be used on all scales for adding dents, dings, and gouges to models! Please take extreme caution and wear all proper protection and work in a well ventilated area if you attempt this. Safety is the most important issue when working with heat.
The for our Double-Tip Episode, Todd tells us how he scribes the underside of the chipboard material for roofing. He explains to scribe them in 1/16" or 1/8" widths to create the appearance of lumber on the underside of the roof where the underside of the overhang would normally be painted brown or flat black. What a simple and awesome way to add some hidden or subtle details to your structure, even if you're the only one that ever knows it is there.
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Friday Aug 09, 2019
Friday Aug 09, 2019
It's nearing the end of summer here in our world and we take some time in this episode to talk about what we did this Summer both on the layout, with our projects and what we did that wasn't model building or sitting around the layout.
That's right, we talk a little bit about what we did this fine Summer that didn't deal with building models and trains.
We also go a little into the importance of getting away from the workbench or layout and doing something else either by yourself, with your friends and with family!
In addition to that, we also go through what were some of the best Patron questions we've fielded yet. They made us think and actually had both of us digging a little deeper for an answer that wasn't readily available. Topics from our Patrons included when and how we decide to rip sections out of our layout, how we select structures to build, the pros/cons of running a father and son podcast and site, and a couple more.
NEW PATREON ANNOUNCEMENT:
We found it time to update our Patreon and we want all of our listeners to be aware that we've changed the benefits of becoming a Patron in order to add MORE value to your Patronage.
We will not be holding a Patron-Only semi-annual model building contest for a nice prize of our choosing (prizes will be announced before each contest), and a monthly drawing for a Craftsman Structure Kit! All Patrons $1/month and up will be able to participate in the semi-annual (two a year) contests, and all Patrons $2/mo and up will be entered to win a Craftsman Kit every month. We even got a sweet bingo ball/lottery ball spinny basket picker thing to pick the monthly winners!
All Patrons also will still receive access to our Patron Facebook group and extra, exclusive overtime podcast episodes.
Join in on the fun and head on over to our Patreon page here: https://patreon.com/hoscalecustoms for more details or to become a patron.
This week's contest winner: George Nagle
George submitted the following pics of his Builders-In-Scale Harbormaster/Warehouse and said "I went with very heavy weathering and peeling paint on the board and batten siding, and cut lots of dry-rot and rodent holes in the freight doors."
THIS WEEK'S CONTEST: It's a simple one. We want to see what you've been up to that isn't model railroading or train related this summer. It doesn't have to be a selfie, or any pics with YOU in them, but we want to see what you've been up to! You can submit your photos to the pinned post on our Facebook Page or email it to podcast@hoscalecustoms.com. All photos must be submitted by Thursday 8/15/19 at 11:59:59pm est. Each winner will receive a free RailroadKits.com Craftsman Kit and a HO Scale Customs Koozie!
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
This week we have TWO tips for you and we let Todd run with his toolbox tip first.
Todd goes into the importance of having a spare roll of paper towels stored around the workbench but placed in a location that doesn't get in the way. Now Todd isn't a Bounty or Brawny man, but even when he's using the discount or store-brand, there are a multitude of uses of a couple rolls of paper towels for around the workbench or work area.
Here's the paper towel holder tutorial from our listener Dan Pugatch, which is an awesome idea and Brett has done at his bench!
Brett then dives into the importance of treating yourself to something nice occasionally. This was all sparked by the feeling when he bought some new paint brushes and was motivated to go straight to the bench and get cranking away at some projects with these new brushes.
Sometimes the things on our workbenches or work area's get stale, or you hit a wall and you need some motivation, and it might just take buying a new "thing" to get yourself out of that funk. It might just spark you to build something AWESOME!
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Friday Aug 02, 2019
Friday Aug 02, 2019
We’ve done a little housekeeping this week and finished updating a few things you might notice throughout the HO Scale Customs world.
From a new website design, podcast intro (might change this up from time-to-time still), new youtube video, and some upcoming changes to our Social “look and feel”, we’re trying to just add some fresh paint to our look. Not a big deal, but just in-case you notice some things looking a little “newer”, that’s what we’re doing!
Okay next, onto the topics this week…
We covered A LOT this week and let’s dig into it!
The first thing we talked about this week is the importance of making sure you’re using the correct gel medium when doing water the way we showed you in this video. The problem was Brett was in a hurry on Sunday night and he neglected to read the labels of two stacked containers of gel medium, accidentally picking the matte gel instead of the gloss version. Everything seemed hunky dory until the next day when he went into his basement, all excited to check out his newly created water on the layout only to notice that he had made foggy, matte waves… Needless to say Brett wasn’t happy and he had to rip it all out and start over.
Lesson learned: ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK YOUR MATERIALS!!!
Todd also talked about his “Stool Story” and how we’re going to update his stool back to the old one. Well, actually I guess that’s a downgrade, but it’s back to a better stool, so it’s like an upgrade undo of the upgrade that ended up being a downgrade… That makes sense, right? Well either way, he’ll be comfy again and that’s all we really care about.
Todd also talked about his technique and recipe for matching the Floquil Depot Buff paint called for by George Sellios on the Baxter’s Building Supply kit. We also talked a little bit about how cool it would be if there was a resource available for people looking to mix acrylic craft paints to achieve the colors of the old Floquil paints, so if it exists, we want to see the ENTIRE color chart made into a version to mix craft acrylics… If it doesn’t exist, we all need to work toward this goal. Might be fun if we all try to work together to make a bunch of recipe cards available on our website to use for anyone who wants them! Free of course!
Here is an existing Floquil Color Chart that points you to alternative paint manufacturers if you’re not into mixing acrylics to achieve what you need: Floquil Color Chart
Lastly we talked a little bit about what we’re working on currently and Brett dove into some of the changes that he wants to incorporate into the layout before we go building crazy and lost the opportunity to add storm water drainage systems into the city. If you’ve been in many cities in the East, you see them almost cut into the city, running beneath sidewalks, roads and buildings. Concrete waterways that direct streams and storm water through the city and into drainage areas or streams/bays. So he’ll be busy with that this weekend we’re sure.
Contest Information: LAST WEEK’S WINNER - MATTHEW HANKINS
This week’s contest: We want to see your most heavily weathered item on your layout, diorama, model, whatever. It can be a heavily weathered or run down, deteriorated object or structure. You can submit a photo via our Facebook page on our pinned post or email it to podcast@hoscalecustoms.com. All entries must be submitted by 11:59:59pm EST on Thursday 8/8/19. One winner will receive a free kit from RailroadKits.com and an HO Scale Customs koozie!
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
Have you ever used a wire brush to distress or add wood grain to a piece of lumber on your builds?
If you started out using the old-school wire brushes that look like toothbrushes (and that Brett apparently thinks really is a toothbrush), then you know the frustration with fraying and bent wire bristles.
Well, Todd talks this week about the ease of distressing with the use of a file card instead of the typical wire brushes we've always used.
Todd even got Brett one of these to replace his own wire brushes and he hasn't used anything else since!
These file cards are durable and the bristles last much longer than those on the old-school wire brushes that we've used in the past. In addition the the longevity and durability, We both think they're both just flat out easier to use to distress wood siding, pilings, beams and other wood materials on our model builds.
You can pick them up relatively cheap online and at your local hardware stores too!
Here's a link to the one that's extremely similar to the one we both use (just has a different name stamped on the handle): Osborn International 75116SP Steel File Card, 3-3/4" Brush Area Length
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Friday Jul 26, 2019
Friday Jul 26, 2019
This week we jump into a wide range of topics including some VERY good questions from our Patrons including topics such as:
- Use of airbrushes
- Cleaning models and layout without breaking
- Here's a link to the Micro Shop Vac nozzle set Brett was talking about
- Our views on model building now that we're eyeball deep into these old-school builds
- Color selection and painting techniques for Brick
Brett also goes into some detail on the work he's in the middle of on the far left end of the layout with the seaside scene including the Oysters building from CCK and the Dog Bar Lighthouse from Atlantic Scale Modelers.
After that Todd dives deeper into his experience with the FSM build that he's currently working on.
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com
Thursday Jul 25, 2019
Thursday Jul 25, 2019
We're talking junk this week on the Model Building Toolbox Talk!
Here's a simple way to add some seaside, waterside, pond, river alleyway, "wherever-way" junk to your model railroad and diorama scenes. The best part about this tip is that if you've built a kit or two, you definitely have some scrap scale lumber laying around. So you're halfway there just hoarding these extra scrap lumber pieces.
It's this easy, are you ready?
Take your scrap scale lumber and break it, snap it, weather it, splinter it, and apply it to your diorama & layout scenes whever you see it necessary to have a little pile of scrap lumber.
Brett recently did this with a waterfront scene that you can see in the photos, where he made an old abandoned "ghost dock" scene on the southern end of the Black Water Cove layout.
Make sure to visit our site any time for more great craftsman model railroading content: https://hoscalecustoms.com