Welcome to the weekend our fine scale modeling freaks! And with this weekend’s episode # 49 brings us to December and we talk about how we both loathe the cold Winter months ahead, and how to survive it through modeling and all that can be accomplished on our benches. With Winter also brings us to the Holiday season and a time of year for many where we buy, and receive gifts and wouldn’t it be great to have a list of ideas on what to get for modeling instead of that ugly pair of socks and yet an...
Nov 30, 2018•1 hr 27 min
Happy Thanksgiving weekend modelers! This week our guest for episode 48 of the Bench Time Podcast is Edz Camila, an extremely talented fine scale model artist from Singapore! Her work can be found all over Instagram and Facebook representing Singapore Miniatures, D.T. Railways, and she has an amazing following of admirers in both, including us here at HO Scale Customs. It was our long awaited pleasure to speak with her on the podcast and find out a bit more about her and her talents. She special...
Nov 23, 2018•1 hr 16 min
TGIF fellow fine scale freaks!! This week on episode 47 of The Bench Time Podcast, Brett shares his techniques for painting structures with a sea sponge to give an aging, peeling paint, weathered effect. Then Todd and Brett discuss how they scenic out a structure once it is placed on the layout and how to focus on just that small area of concentration to create a scene. It is one thing to just build the structure and add details directly to it, but it is an entirely different and at times more o...
Nov 16, 2018•1 hr 21 min
We return to the workbenches again this week following another awesome time at the Fine Scale Expo, and we introduce a up and comer on the kit manufacturer scene; Ron Klaiss of Mine Mount Models . Ron gives us the nitty gritty, down low on his structure kits and laser cut building material available, the thought processes and what is involved in starting a business in the kit designing world, and he helps us chime in on answering some of our weekly questions from our listeners and patrons. A gre...
Nov 09, 2018•1 hr 22 min
Today on Bench Time Podcast #45 we are on location in downtown Albany NY, at the Albany Hilton for the 2018 Fine Scale Model Railroad Expo! This week is a shorter podcast because everyone here was busy setting up for the big show, but we bring on Special Guests, the Expo Organizers, Jimmy Deignan, Robert Seckler, Hal Reynolds and Doug Foscale to talk some more about the big show happening this weekend, Thursday November 1 throught Saturday November 3. We discuss what you will see when you attend...
Nov 01, 2018•23 min
Welcome to the weekend modelers! Our episode 44 this week features returning special guest and amazing modeler Jason Jensen of Jason Jensen Trains! As always with Jason we get so caught up, gabbing about modeling ideas, tips, tricks that lose track of time. This episode is no exception and is a long one (partly because we lost power on the first night recording and had to continue the following evening) ! But WOW it is just packed full of info and modeling content! We discuss what we each have o...
Oct 26, 2018•2 hr 21 min
For the 43rd Episode of the Bench Time Podcast, this week Brett and Todd Wiley discuss scenery involving trees, static grass, bushes, and all the other necessary vegetation associated with making a layout go from boards and white plaster to simulated mother earth. They also cover how they apply it in a city/urban layout that involves a lot of concrete sidewalks and roads and all of the unusual places people don’t think of but it commonly appears, plus all the many different types of available sc...
Oct 19, 2018•1 hr 45 min
This week we’ve been crazy busy on the layout and some family things, but we’ve managed time to get episode 42 done a little early (recorded monday). Brett’s been working on his waterfront as usual and though it seems like it’s been forever that he’s been working on this thing, he is actually making progress, but it’s just a TON of layers. It should be photographable later this weekend for all to see. Todd is wrapping up the Danby Saw Mill and if you’ve been on our Facebook live videos lately, y...
Oct 12, 2018•1 hr 4 min
Is your workbench and surrounding area complete mayhem or an OCD design studio? This week on the “Bench Time” podcast, hosts Brett and Todd Wiley of HO Scale Customs explore and discuss the many ways the manage their work area when they model. From the types of workbenches the the way they organize and store their spare parts, paints, glues, tools, supplies, details, and unfinished kits, You will hear how each have contrasting styles and ideas with unique reasons that allow them to work efficien...
Oct 05, 2018•1 hr 22 min
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 an...
Sep 28, 2018•1 hr 41 min
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...
Sep 21, 2018•1 hr 50 min
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 even...
Sep 14, 2018•1 hr 21 min
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 n...
Sep 07, 2018•1 hr 12 min
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...
Sep 01, 2018•2 hr 8 min
Become part of the show 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 b...
Aug 24, 2018•1 hr 40 min
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...
Aug 17, 2018•1 hr 30 min
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 ni...
Aug 10, 2018•1 hr 22 min
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 weeken...
Aug 03, 2018•59 min
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 gr...
Jul 27, 2018•1 hr 19 min
Support us on Patreon! On this special extra episode #30 of the Bench Time Podcast our guest is super size, large structure, urban scenery fine scale artist Frank Varga. His structures are a marvel of extreme detail, and his city scenes on his layout are jam-packed with everything your mind and eyes can think of. On his tall ho-scale buildings that borderline skyscrapers in scale, there is no details spared. We’re not just talking about on the roof or on the ground level, but from top to bottom,...
Jul 26, 2018•1 hr 24 min
