Wiley's Bench Time - Model Railroading Podcast

Bench Time #40 - Bill Sartore of Microlumina Model Railroad Structure Lighting

This week on the Bench Time Podcast we explore another segment of fine-scale modeling that is all too often neglected and understated. Lighting! The niche within our niche. Who better to teach us a bit more about the subject than our special guest, Bill Sartore of Microlumina at microlumina.com? Bill shares with us all the facets of using lighting to take your modeling to a deeper level and kicking up that visual delight we all get when we turn down the lights and create an entirely different and new ambiance you get with lighting effects. He has provided lighting products for some of the very best layouts and the artists we are all familiar with who have built them. He discusses the LED’s, how they are used and some of the basics of getting started into wiring your layout or diorama easily with just some basic wiring and soldering knowledge. He also helps us understand the use of lighting for different applications and defines some of what we will all need to know to get started!

We ourselves have yet to get into the lighting aspect of our own layout. Perhaps we were so caught up in the structure building and landscape scenery or perhaps we were a bit intimidated by something we didn’t know much about. Whatever the reason, it was time to man up and start learning. After this episode, we have a better grasp and are now ready to dig in and get to work!

We hope you enjoy this fun episode with our guest and lighting Guru! You can also see him at the Fine Scale Model Expo this November 1-3 in Albany! Have a great weekend!

Please visit Microlumina to see the great lighting products and instructions and ideas at: microlumina.com

As discussed in the podcast, here is the link to Bill’s Lightbite articles he has written for getting on board, Led lights, current limiters, and series and parallel bookcases. These are great reads for getting you started on a new adventure of fine-scale modeling: https://microlumina.com/p/lightbites

Bench Time #39 - Ron Pare of the Modelers Guild & Just Another Scale Modeler on Youtube

Listen, we know, we know, we messed up and said it was episode 40 in the intro to the show, we were just too excited to hit that mark and we messed up. It's actually episode 39... Sorry for the premature milestone!

This weekend brings in the Fall season, and here on the Bench Time Podcast we will kick off the cooler season by hosting Canadian Modeler Ron Pare of the Modelers Guild facebook group, and youtube channel Just Another Scale Modeler. Ron is an excellent detail modeler who has brought a lot to the model railroad community through social media, podcasting, and vlogging on youtube with his channel that created over 160 videos focused on teaching the skills of the hobby with instructional, informative topics, kit reviews, and many live builds of structures and scenery. Something we can relate to entirely!

He has unselfishly devoted a lot of his personal time and money through the years to help others improve and enjoy their modeling and he brings with him a positive attitude and a sense of humor that the hobby needs like a big shot in the arm!

Today on the show he shares with us some of his ideas on structures and scenery, tells us about his new studio, and his new layout he is building, shares some super cool tips with us, and we discuss some of the nuances of the artistry, state of the hobby and the many aspects of model railroading that we all love. We had a great time with Ron as our guest and our first testing of new audio equipment we are using to improve the quality of sound to the podcast and we hope you enjoy the show! Have a great weekend!

Show Links:

Modelers Guild facebook group

Just Another Scale Modeler - Youtube Page

Product Links:

Weldbond 8-50160 Universal Adhesive 5.4 oz

Weldbond 8-50030 Universal Adhesive, 101 fl. oz.

Hap Hazard's HARDWARE - SEED & FEED STORE in HO Scale

Other Links:

Marklinofsweden

Luke Aps Wargaming Youtube Chanel

Bench Time #38 - Fine Scale Model Expo with Hal Reynolds, Jimmy Deignan, Doug Foscale & Bob Seckler!

Today on HO Scale Customs “Bench Time Podcast” we present an extra special episode on the upcoming Fine Scale Model Expo 2018 held this November 1-3 in Albany NY! We have as our guests this week four awesome guests who make it all happen for this power packed, amazing show that brings you every aspect of fine scale modeling! We have with us Hal Reynolds, Jimmy Deignan, Bob Seckler, and Doug Foscale all at one time on the cast, and they tell us every single detail and aspect of this upcoming event, from it’s history to the clinics, the contests and the vendors you can see there this year. Where to stay, how to register, and the layout tours you can visit are all covered here! We leave no stone unturned so that you the modeler will know all you need to make your experience one you will never forget!

If you have never been to the Fine Scale Model Expo, it is something no modeler should miss in their lifetime. What can you expect? Only everything you would possibly need to build the model of your dreams all under one roof. The top modelers you have all heard of teaching you their techniques and special skills that you can learn to master, giving clinics and offering their help to anything you need. Model contests with jaw dropping visual artistry and big prizes! And these four gentlemen join us in this blockbuster episode (the most guests we have ever had at one time) and we had a blast talking with them. You are not going to want to miss this one! And HO Scale Customs and the Bench Time Podcast will be at the Expo as well to bring you live Facebook and YouTube video updates throughout all three days, with interviews and live builds and a few surprises to boot! And yes we will record that weeks cast right there at the event! So listen in and get all the info on this extra special cast!

https://www.modelrailroadexpo.com/

Bench Time #37 - Gluing Acetate windows, squaring up walls, detail parts & some special announcements!

This week we open up with a new segment, our Patron questions of the week! We’ve got three good questions to kick off this new part of the show, all three are great ones that we all run into every time we start up a new project.

Patron Questions:

• Do you prefer cast metal or resin detail parts?
• How do you apply acetate windows?
• How do you get square lines in modeling?

Want to submit a question? Visit our Patreon Page and become a part of the show!

We’re also excited to announce some news about next week’s show where we’ll have 4 great modelers who’ve created the Model Rail Expo and turned it into a must-attend event in the fine scale modeling community.

Bench Time #36 - Ken Anderson of Sippers and Switchers of North Carolina

Happy Labor Day Weekend to our fellow Modelers! This week’s Bench Time Podcast we are joined by special guest model railroad specialist Ken Anderson! Ken does it all! From structures to scenery, fine detailed scratch building to rail operations His work is beautiful, creative, and has a touch of Southern U.S. charm that you don’t often see modeled. The normally obvious in real life detail, Ken brings to you in miniature and it will make you stop and ask yourself, “Hey! Why didn’t I ever think of that?”.

A member of the Sippers and Switchers of North Carolina, a teacher of the hobby and art to many with his involvement with shows and local, regional events, Ken is always giving back whatever he can so that that others can better enjoy model railroading! Particularly, our youth. He has much to share with us, and in this episode he does not disappoint! So sit back on your holiday weekend, crack that cold beverage, turn the power onto the tracks, fire up the throttle, and enjoy learning with us!

Support us on Patreon, become part of the show!

Bench Time # 35 - Dan Raymond Artistry of Vehicle Modeling

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Good Friday Morning to our fellow Fine Scale Freaks! Join us this week on the Bench Time Podcast with expert ho scale vehicle modeler Dan Raymond! We had a blast this week speaking with Dan about how he achieves the amazing details and artistry of vehicle modeling. His trucks and cars are virtual masterpieces in transportation miniature. His vehicles can be found on countless famous model railroads across the country including the world famous Franklin, South Manchester by George Sellios.

But there is more to Dan than just his ability to make you feel like you could grab a set of keys and drive away in these works, he is an amazing teacher of his craft and gives us a lot of his tips and tricks to getting the best possible look from your own vehicles. We also talk about clinics that he will be doing at this years Fine Scale Model Expo in Albany, November 1-3, a clinic we took last year at the show, that left us inspired and motivated to improve on our own layouts vehicles. We talk him (like a Jedi Master) into doing a little live building at the expo for us and we will bring that to you live at the show! It was a great interview this week and we had a hard time ending it! Hope you Enjoy! Below are some photos of some of his recent work, photo credit goes to Dan Raymond.

Bench Time #34 - Ron Poidomani: Fellow Fine Scale Modeler & NMRA Award Winner

Help us keep the show going, get some cool stuff, become a patron!

TGIF fine scale modeling friends! On today’s Bench Time Podcast, HO Scale Customs hosts special guest and fellow structure modeler Ron Poidomani. Ron is a super detailer when it comes to building fine scale structures and scenery and has won several noted contests including the NMRA’s best structure at the NMRA convention last year in Orlando and the Railroad Model Craftsman awards with a photo spread of his Waterbury Pen Company in one of their issues that will blow your socks off! We discuss with him what is involved with preparing for a contest and the criteria that the big shows look at when judging models We also exchange with him some of his great modeling tips and tricks and he even gave us a few awesome ideas that we are going to try out ourselves! He has some pretty interesting and funny stories involving his experiences in modeling and the awesome friends he has made in the hobby who have helped him along, a common theme in this hobby! Finally we chat about the clinics he will be giving at the Fine Scale Model Expo in Albany NY, Nov 1-3. An event he has also won several contests!

Bench Time #33 - Featuring Kathy Millatt

This Friday we have another extra special treat on the Bench Time Podcast.

We take you international to the UK with our special guest Master Fine Scale Modeler, Artist, and expert on scenery, Kathy Millatt of Kathy Millatt Modeling and her YouTube Channel filled with some of the very best videos we have seen on techniques in all aspects of modeling, and in particular fine scale modeling and scenery! But not just model railroading! She does military modeling, science fiction, and so many other niches. We discuss the differences of modeling between the UK and North America, her thoughts on modeling,inspiration, layouts, and what is on the horizon, including being a judge on a television show for building model railroads. Exciting stuff and she is exciting to listen to because of the passion she exudes when talking about it. She has inspired us so many times with her YouTube videos and is a natural at teaching others, this show is no exception!

enjoy!

You can see more of her work, and watch her videos on the links below.
YouTube channel
Website & Blog of Kathy Millatt
Kathy Millatt Facebook Page

Our favorite YouTube technique episodes:
Oil Slicks Video
Dock Details Video
Concrete Pavement Video
Muddy Roads Video
Streaking Effects Video

Oh Hell! Just go watch them all! They’re all great, and you won’t be able to stop anyhow! Make sure to subscribe to her channel too!

Bench Time #32 - Friday workbench talk about laying track, new models, some layout work and more!

Happy Friday to our modeling friends! This week on the Bench Time podcast we go old school! Back to the meat and grits of fine-scale modeling like when the show began! Just Brett and Todd talking about the projects on our benches, structures getting those special or final touches, and some chatter about our take on trackwork and what works and doesn't work for us. So sit back, grip onto that hobby knife tightly, drybrush those boards or just grind your molars if you must! And have a great weekend on your workbench!!!

Below is the link to Foggy Mountain Models where you can find the textured paper rock and brick Todd spoke of in the cast: foggymountainmodels.com

Help us keep the lights on! Become a patron and join in on the fun!

And the photo for this week's cast shows the two turntable style tool caddies on Todd's bench that we talk about as well.

Bench Time #31 - Jimmy Deignan of Railroad Kits & Jason Jensen

TGIF Modeler friends! Check out this week’s Bench Time podcast Episode 31 with Jimmy Deignan owner of Railroad Kits fine scale craftsman kits! We talk with him about the many facets of his business, The acquisition of all the Fine Scale Minatures (FSM) detail castings, his love of the hobby and the many many inspiring modeling friends he has made in model railroading. And you will get to hear about his acquiring of legendary ho scale layout Pennsy Middle Division (originally built by modeling great Dave Frary) and it’s restoration and modifications that they made to bring it back to life! Also we rap a bit about the Fine Scale Expo, and how it began as he is one of the founders of this great show for craftsman builders and all modelers and this year held November 1-3 in Albany NY!

But there is more! This week, Brett and Todd have guest host and fine scale model artist Jason Jensen join them to talk with Jimmy, and grill him with a few questions of his own! Of course there is the laughs we always have on our show! So settle into your workbench stool, grab something cold to drink, and chill out with your fellow Bench Time Fine Scale Freaks! Enjoy the weekend!

Railroad Kits Website: RailroadKits.com

As discussed in the show, the downloadable PDF book by Dave Frary, The Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale for a steal at $4.99.