Small Subjects

Your hosts have been hustling to get the scoop on Verko’s Vault for some time. In this episode, they finally got the full run-down on the exciting plans for what will be one of the largest museums of miniatures yet opened to the public. We also have another of Jim’s ongoing Questions for Barry, this one involving how to effectively fade colors with an airbrush. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects Join one of our group builds: Historex: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex Flats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats Fantasy Busts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, your hosts talk with Virginia Beach-based professional miniatures painter Erik Swinson, one of the most stunning talents on the scene today. Erik streams on Twitch most Wednesday evenings: https://www.twitch.tv/erik_swinson If you can't make those live streams, you can watch them later on his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@erik_swinson Follow Erik on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erik_swinson/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erikswinson We also talk to Dennis Levy and Jack Lynch about some cool things they have planned for this year's MFCA show in May. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects Join one of our group builds: Historex: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex Flats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats Fantasy Busts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

On this episode, your hosts tackle two big ideas they’ve been thinking and talking about a lot lately. First up: The notion of throwing away all the “rules” and thinking more abstractly. They also talk about digital modeling and 3D printing in terms of it's advantages and disadvantages versus traditional scratch building. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects Join one of our group builds: Historex: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex Flats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats Fantasy Busts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality We want to hear from you: go to https://sayhi.chat/smallSubjects to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

We chat with Alabama-based modeler Jon Harbuck, an attorney, a true Southern gentleman, and a favorite for the powerful storytelling in his work. We also talk about Barry and Joan's recent trip to Las Vegas for a painting workshop taught by Matteo di Diomede held at Verko's Vault, the exciting new miniatures museum. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects Join one of our group builds: Historex: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex Flats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats Fantasy Busts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality We want to hear from you: go to https://sayhi.chat/smallSubjects to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, your hosts talk about what’s been happening at their work benches, and (as usual) a few other things, including a movie they’d been eagerly anticipating but which, alas, let Jim down. Barry gives an update on his restoration of the classic Shep Paine box diorama “A King of Shreds and Patches (Hamlet Sees the Ghost of His Father),” and Jim talks about two box dioramas he is working on. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects Join one of our group builds: Historex: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex Flats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats Fantasy Busts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality We want to hear from you: go to https://sayhi.chat/smallSubjects to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Warning: Unlike most of our episodes, this one has some profanity. We talk to veteran MMSI member and expert painter Bob Sarnowski. We also recap MMSI 2023. Listen to find out why there will be one less thing Jim can tease Barry about. For photos of what we discuss in each episode, visit the Small Subjects blog on boxdioramas.com: http://www.boxdioramas.com/smallsubjects Join one of our group builds: Historex: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshistorex Flats: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsflats Fantasy Busts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectsfantasybusts Or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite and discuss anything else miniatures related: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallsubjectshospitality email us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Your hosts aren’t at all sure that anybody will be interested in this rather self-indulgent episode, but hey, we were just responding to a request from one of our loyal listeners, Jamie Stokes in Australia, who left a voice mail for us on Telbee (and everyone is welcome to do the same by clicking here!). You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Join us on Facebook: Historex group buildFantasy bust group buildSmall Subjects Hospitality Suite Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Another illuminating chat with Marijn, this time on the subject of the open system of judging miniatures and models. We also answer a listener voice message from Grant Mayberry about what to expect at your first open miniature and modelling show. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Join us on Facebook: Historex group buildFantasy bust group buildSmall Subjects Hospitality Suite Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Jim and Barry talk to Dave Youngquist of the ace online hobby shop Last Cavalry. They also chat about Barry's recent trip to the IPMS/USA National Convention. Photos of the pieces we discuss can be found on our blog on Boxdioramas.com

In this episode, your hosts have a fascinating chat with British native, now San Diego-based painter and modeler Gary Baker. In addition to being big fans of his work, and agreeing that he’s one of the finest gents we’ve met in the hobby in recent years, we were eager to hear Gary’s thoughts about sculpting and painting hair—he’s a professional stylist and the creative director at UNITE Hair—and he made us think even more about how much character hair adds to a figure, as well as paying attention to the fine distinctions in hair styles in different eras. We’re used to focusing on uniforms and equipment and the way such change, even within the span of one conflict, but Gary got us going even deeper. Barry and Jim are excited about the Historex group build that sprung from the enthusiasm of their listeners. They discuss what makes these little white plastic kits, made up of a bag of initially bewildering parts, so fun to work with. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Join us on Facebook: Historex group buildFantasy bust group buildSmall Subjects Hospitality Suite Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Barry and Jim had a splendid chat with Mike Hilleary, the Connecticut-based modeler they consider one of the best painters in America today. The boys also used the opportunity of a question left on the show’s voice mail to discuss that recent editorial in the IPMS Journal by the group’s president David Lockhart, which effectively claimed that there would be no modeling shows in the U.S. without the group, and that people who come to and exhibit at its shows without being active members of the club are “freeloaders.” On a much cheerier note, Jim tells the story of the recent auction in Beloit, WI, of some of the classic box dioramas by Shep Paine and others, as well as some of the “super-dioramas” by Bob Letterman and Lewis Pruneau, from the collection of the late Ralph Koebbeman. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

On May 5 and 6, your hosts once again traveled to the outskirts of Philadelphia for the 80th Annual Show sponsored by the Miniature Figure Collectors of America, one of the premier exhibitions of miniature arts in the U.S. In this episode, Barry and Jim offer some thoughts on the show recorded after the fact, as well as some live recordings amidst all of the fun on Saturday morning—an audio vérité first for Small Subjects! You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Joe has been an active modeler since his teens in the early 1970s, and he is one of the most acclaimed artists and well-loved friend-to-all in the miniatures hobby. A retired art teacher, he’s a man with a million stories (and a rather famous alter ego, at least among baseball fans). We enjoyed every minute of talking with him, and feel like we’ve only scratched the surface, so we may well have to consider a recurring segment. (We do love the idea he floated of “Travels with Shep.”) You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Your hosts have been big fans of Ingvild Eiring’s box dioramas since she first made us aware of them by emailing this Web site and asking if we thought it would make sense to add a gallery for her. Heck yes!, we said, and what’s more, we thought we could learn a lot by chatting with this extraordinary artist, since she straddles the worlds of our pursuit, the dollhouse hobby, and fine art. (She has had several gallery exhibitions, and her work is much sought-after by collectors.) You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

On this episode, we talk with one of Barry’s fellow modelers from Utah, Travis Haussener, who, despite the shared passion for miniatures and modeling, differs from him and co-host Jim in two pretty significant ways: Athleticism (you won’t find either of us getting buried in an avalanche, mainly because you’d never find either of us on skis), and, um, he holds a PhD in organic chemistry. We thought we could glean some insights into a lot of stuff we use on the workbench all the time without having much of a clue about how it works—or what we may be doing to ourselves by inhaling or ingesting it. We were not disappointed, and in fact, we’ve already got a long list of questions for a second round with Travis in the future (and maybe his physician wife, too). Modeling may not be as dangerous as skiing off-trail in the mountains, but then again, stabbing yourself with the X-acto or spilling a bottle of plastic cement is no picnic, either. Enjoy! BTW, in spite of Jim welcoming Travis to Sound Opinions, you are indeed listening to Small Subjects. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Tools (And Other Stuff) We Hate (according to Jim), or Tools (And Other Stuff) That Just Haven’t Worked for Him (according to Barry, who is overall a kinder person). You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Join our fantasy bust group build on Facebook, or hang out in the Small Subjects Hospitality Suite. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

One of our favorite and most outspoken voices in the hobby, we thought it was long overdue for us to chat with Will Pattison, especially since Jim needed some advice on chipping, and Will is the master! Will frequently posts to the Scale Modelers Critique Group on Facebook, shares his knowledge on his YouTube Channel, and talks modeling and other things with co-hosts Tracy Hancock and Chris Meddings on the Sprue Cutters Union podcast, and he’s written for several hobby magazines. He is also no slouch at figure painting. Please note that unlike our other episodes, this episode is marked explicit because it has some profanity (a censored Will Pattison would be like an airplane model without weathering.) You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

The name of California-based miniature sculptor Mike Good should be familiar to many in our hobby. We talk with him about his work, his interests, and his methodology. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

Barry and Jim talk with Chicago-area modeler Greg Cihlar, a consistently gold-medal maker of striking dioramas and vignettes in the historical world (World War II a specialty) who’s also branched out to do some stunning work in the fantasy realm. You can find photos and links to information discussed in each episode at our podcast blog on boxdioramas.com Check out some other great modeling podcasts on modelpodcasts.com We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Barry and Jim wax rhapsodic about tools and other stuff they can’t live without on their workbenches—and they have A LOT of fun doing it! We want to hear from you! CLICK HERE to leave us a message about anything in any of our episodes, or to pose a question you’d like to hear us address, and we’ll air it in an upcoming episode. Contact us at smallsubjectspodcast@gmail.com