Wiley's Bench Time - Model Railroading Podcast

What is better to kick off with the first guest of 2019 then to be joined again by Doug Foscale of FOS Scale Models for The Bench Time Podcast episode 55?   How about a whole show filled with tips, ideas and techniques on modeling from one of the best in the biz!  We start off with some questions from the listeners for Doug on how to pack a diorama or model for travel to a show or event to prevent...

Become a Patron & Unlock More! TGIF fine scale modeling friends!  This week on Episode 54 of the Bench Time Podcast we explore the things we can do to a structure beyond the walls and windows, things such as fire escapes, duct and pipe work, billboards, stairwells, etc.  And we discuss how very easy and cheap it can be done with realistic results!  But these are things we often forget to add when...

Episode 53 of the Bench Time Podcast by HO Scale Customs brings us to the end of the year and the last episode of 2018! This week we discuss what is on our workbenches, Todd’s new build of KC’s Workshop’s Cameron Street Apartments and how he has detailed some of the multi-diverse materials of walls with some pretty neat tricks to create ivy vines, vintage wall signs, and window blinds, creating la...

This busy weekend and upcoming Holidays on tepisode #52 of the Bench Time Podcast by HO Scale Customs we list and review some of the best non-professional modelers works from 2018!  In no particular order, we pick ten or so of our favorite structures, dioramas and sections of layouts base on our own personal opinions and there were so many many more we simply could not have fit in a single episode...

Our new Bench Time Voicemail # is 717-601-2348 Call us and leave a friendly message, question, or comment and hear it on the roundup at the end of next week's show! This weekend on The Bench Time Podcast Episode 51 we have an extra special treat for you with special guest and patron Jake Johnson!  Jake is a professional model maker with Train Shack, and he has worked as a dimensional designer and...

Welcome to the weekend Fine Scale Modelers! We’re diving into holiday trains this week and talking about some of the memories we have had with holiday set-ups, train sets and what we do (or did) for the holidays. Brett talks about his Bachman Big Hauler which he’ll set-up soon under the christmas tree. Do you have any holiday train memories you’d like to share? Put those stories up on our Facebook...

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 g...

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 p...

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...

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...

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 we...

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 followin...

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 pl...

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...

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 wil...

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 kickin...

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 ,...

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 Foscal...

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? Vis...

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 bri...

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 countle...

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...

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 scener...

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...

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 abou...