Episode 67: Scenery and Groundwork

The Military Miniature Society of Illinois held its 51st Chicago Show on the weekend of Oct. 16-18, and as always, it prompted a lot of thoughts from your hosts. In this episode, Barry and Jim are joined by the latest Chicago Medal winner Joan Biediger, who as always is a more thoughtful addition to the show than it deserves!For pictures and more info on this and other episodes, visit our blog.

Also:Inspired by this episode of Her Shrink Ray Eye about the joys of the spare parts box, some ruminations on our own.Thoughts about the big changes at Dragon Models and the end of Andrea Miniatures, and a question: Is this day coming when styrene models and metal figures will be extinct? (For that matter, pro-manufactured resin: Just buy the file and print it yourself?)Thoughts on two more Her Shrink Ray Eye episodes: Artistic Paralysis At the Bench: I Still Couldn't Choose and You Don't Need the Next Best Project, in particular how those relate to us.Ask Barry: Questions about clear-coating before and after decaling and weathering, the Vortex paint mixers vs. shaking paint stirrers.Plus: Thanks to listeners Jim Patrick and Jon Working!

Your hosts’ pal and one of one of their all-time favorite Small Subjects guests Joe Berton had a busy summer checking in on some notable collections of miniatures, and these visits got him thinking about what all of us “makers” can learn from a lovingly displayed array of our fellow artists’ work.

Your hosts last talked with wonderfully imaginative modeler and Austin, TX-based tech consultant Jake McKee about the possibilities (and, yeah, some of the downsides) of Artificial Intelligence in the hobby back on Episode 55 in February 2025. In hyper-speed tech-time, that might as well have been 250 years ago, recorded on parchment with quill and ink like the Declaration of Independence.When he saw Barry at the Rocky Mountain Hobby Expo in May—and claimed the More Than Meets the Eye award sponsored by the Her Shrink Ray Eye podcast, as discussed on our last episode and featured in the last installment of this blog—Jake suggested to Barry that he had a whole lot new to say about AI and modeling based on his recent digital discoveries. And since he’s such an engaging and forward-thinking guest, you didn’t have to twist our arms to have him back for a return visit!

In this episode, your hosts talk with New Jersey modeler Pete Culos, an active member of the MFCA and APG (the Artists Preservation Group), one of the most creative box-diorama builders today, and an all-around fine fellow. We also talk about another incredible Rocky Mountain Expo in the Salt Lake City area, and the special awards sponsored by this podcast and Joan’s podcast “Her Shrink Ray Eye.” 

In this special “crossover” episode, Jim and Barry are joined by his beloved Joan, host of the fantastic podcast “Her Shrink Ray Eye,” to share their thoughts about last month’s annual MFCA Show in Trevose, PA, and, with some agitation by Jim, the dwindling or scarce participation in the “original” category (which many other open-system miniatures shows call “open”).

In this episode, your hosts hit the dirt running, so to speak, tackling the importance of the scenery in a diorama or vignette, starting with the question of whether we begin by building the setting (an approach Jim has taken of late) or if that comes last (Barry’s tendency). 

Central Virginia-based modeler (and retired entomologist!) Mike Pierce has been an inspiration to your hosts since we first met him at one of the MMSI’s post-show critique sessions. He’s a modeler who’s always trying new things, and he tells great stories—both in his work, and in conversation. In this episode, we have a fine visit and hear more than a few of his tales.  

Barry and Jim chat once again with U.K. modeler Chris Meddings about a new international online “juried exhibition” he’s launched called the Upturner Prize, which, as he puts it atop the web site, is intended for “celebrating  modellers who push the limits of miniatures, models, and what they can  say, with an annual prize for artistic creation in miniature.”Your hosts round out this episode with a new segment Jim has now formally named: “Ask Barry.” 

Jim talks with Norris, Tennessee-based modeler Raphael Shelton, who Barry thought had an interesting perspective on “doing the hobby just for fun,” something those of us who are obsessed about this thing of ours (and who talk about it on a podcast) can sometimes forget. Jim and Barry also discuss what they’re working on (or playing with, if you prefer) at the moment.