A fresh year deserves a fresh bench. We kick off 2026 by trading the “dark time” for bright, practical momentum: a clearer plan for January, two focused releases on the calendar, and an open invite to help shape what comes next. We look back at five years of recording and realize the best thing we built isn’t an episode catalog—it’s a thriving community that keeps growing and teaching each other every week.
First up, we outline episode 155, where we get specific about what progress looks like this year: realistic build goals, smarter habits at the bench, and small changes that add up to more finished kits. Then we preview episode 156, a Shop Talk with our friend Jim Bates, who brings hard-earned insight on modeling and life. Expect candid updates, practical tips, and a few topics we’ll hammer out before the mics go live so the conversation stays tight and useful.
We also open the door for clubs and show runners. If your group has an event coming in February, throw your hat in for our Show Spotlight. The earlier you reach out, the better we can tell your story and help more modelers find your tables, vendors, and categories. On the community front, the Plastic Model Dojo just crossed 5,600 members and keeps climbing. Join for WIPs, product tips, new releases, and the kind of encouragement that gets you to the finish line. If your post gets stuck in spam, ping us—we’ll get it unlocked. And keep the listener mail coming; questions and hot takes help us steer future segments toward what you care about.
Ready to trade resolutions for results? Hit play, join the Dojo, pitch your club’s show, and tell us what kit you’re starting. If you enjoy the pod, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more builders can find us.
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SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968
Model Podcasts
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KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler
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Episode Transcript
Kev, tell everyone why you started Kit
Mask.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:02):
Well, manually masking canopies sucks, and
somebody had to step in to savethose countless kits from the
shelf of Doom.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:10):
And now we've got over 400 sets and counting.
We've got old kits, new kits,forgotten kits, you name it.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:15):
Yeah.
And if we don't have it, justask.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:17):
Yeah, people don't realize we take custom
requests and we even have aservice that gets you canopy
masks for free.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:22):
We do.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:22):
Our masks are precision cut, they fit well,
they're easy to apply.
Kevin cuts and tests every set.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:29):
Several times.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:30):
Yeah, precision is kind of his thing.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:32):
And Janelle, she does everything else.
She cares about each customerand is the heart of our
business.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:37):
If you ever reach out, you're talking
directly to us.
Real people, real modelers.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:42):
And if you don't love your masks, we'll
refund or replace them.
No questions asked.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:46):
Visit kitmask.com, join the mailing
list, and treat yourself toeasier, cleaner masking.
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:52):
Kitmask, made by a modeler for modelers.
Janelle (KitMasx) (00:54):
Hey, what about me?
Kevin (KitMasx) (00:55):
You're not a modeler.
Kentucky Dave (01:12):
Happy New Year, Mojovia.
Happy New Year to you, Dave.
Happy New Year to you, Mike.
Happy New Year, listeners.
Mike (01:19):
That's right, man.
It is 2026 and we're ready tohit the ground rolling, I hope.
Kentucky Dave (01:24):
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
I cannot wait.
Mike (01:27):
Normally we lead off with where we've been and where we're
going, but these holidays havekind of thrown wrench into that.
There's not many shows forstarters.
Well, there is in January, butthey're too far away.
But, you know, we don't reallyhave any plans for through the
the month of January to getanywhere.
But I know you're coming out ofthe dark time.
The dark time's over, man.
(01:48):
The days are getting longer,too.
Kentucky Dave (01:50):
Yes, the dark time is over.
Days are getting longer.
Things look bright and sunnyahead.
I'm very optimistic about 2026.
Mike (02:01):
Well, I am too, man.
And the amazing thing to me isI was looking back through all
the episodes on the website androlled it all the way back to
January 2nd, 2020, and thinking,man, that seems like not that
long ago, but it also seems likeforever ago, depending on which
hand you're looking at.
And I just I can't believe it,man.
(02:21):
We've been doing this for fiveyears, going on six.
Kentucky Dave (02:25):
Yep.
Mike (02:26):
It's amazing.
Kentucky Dave (02:27):
It is.
It is.
It's uh it's been wonderful.
You know, I won't I won't lieand say it's no work, but it's
light work because I think youand I both enjoy the heck out of
it, and we enjoy all of theinteractions.
You know, I'm I'm again, I'mnothing but optimistic about
(02:49):
this year.
I think you and I have somesome ideas on where we want to
develop this and where we wantto go in the future.
And 2025 was a great year for.
So I'm I'm looking forward to2026.
Mike (03:25):
Well, Dave, January is going to be a pretty typical
month.
We're gonna have two featureepisodes and maybe uh a show
spotlight in there somewherebecause we know we got some
shows coming up in February.
Kentucky Dave (03:35):
That's right.
The the spring show season willstart very quickly.
Mike (03:40):
Well, we've got episode 155 and 156, and we mentioned
some plans and big ideas for2026.
So in in episode 155, we'regonna kind of dig a little
deeper into what our hopes andaspirations are for 2026 and
then any kind of hard concreteplans we're making at our own
bench or or just wherever.
(04:02):
See what we can get out of thattopic.
Because I know we both gotlooking forward to well, we
typically look forward to a lotof the same things.
We want to get a little bitmore done.
We want to meet more people,but we'll save that conversation
for episode 155 and see what202 2026 is gonna be for uh for
you and me, bud.
Kentucky Dave (04:20):
Yep, I'm looking forward to it.
I think it's gonna be great.
Mike (04:24):
And then later in the month we have episode 156, gonna
be a shop talk format, andwe're having our buddy Jim Bates
back.
We haven't had him on in awhile, so it's time to get Jim
back on here and see what he'sup to and get his input on three
or four topics we'll we'll hashout before we send him the
outline.
Kentucky Dave (04:45):
Well, I know he's looking forward to it.
Jim and I talk nearly every dayin one form or another, text,
phone call, whatever.
So for me, you know, I'vetalked to him all the time.
But yeah, we've it's been waytoo long since we've had him on.
He's he's div he's goingthrough a lot modeling-wise and
(05:06):
life-wise and all.
And I think Andy's got a showcoming up, and so I think it
will make for a really livelyconversation.
Mike (05:14):
Well, I hope so.
And speaking of shows, and youknow I mentioned the show
Spotlight.
If if you're out therelistening and you're involved
with a club or group who'sputting on something in
February, and you'd like to befeatured in our model show
Spotlight, we'd like to haveyou, especially if you've never
if the if your particular show'snever been featured before.
So we'd like to start uhstacking the deck for that and
(05:36):
getting that all in the worksand uh look forward to hearing
from some folks, Dave.
Kentucky Dave (05:41):
Yep, you can email us at plasticmodelmojo at
gmail.com or you can DM useither way, or or you can
respond in the link in theepisode.
Anyway, just reach out, contactus sooner is better.
Yes.
Uh simply because, you know, wewant to get the show spotlight
(06:01):
put together.
We want to feature your showwith as much lead time uh as is
appropriate.
So please do reach out.
Mike (06:11):
Yeah, lead time for your show and lead time for us to
actually get the thing togetherand out on our schedule, too.
So yeah, let us know throughthe avenues that Dave just
outlined there, and uh, we lookforward to hearing for some
folks.
Well, Dave, I know I've added abunch of people to the dojo
since Christmas, and thenseveral before Christmas.
(06:34):
So things are things are stillstill going the right way, man.
Kentucky Dave (06:38):
Yes, they are.
As of this recording, we have5,608 dojo members.
So we've crack cracked 5,600.
We're adding anywhere from 65to 75 members every month.
It's it's just fantastic.
(07:00):
Please, if you're a listenerand you're not a member of the
dojo, now keep in mind that'sdifferent from our Facebook
static page, the Plastic ModelMojo.
But if you're not a member ofthe Plastic Model Dojo Facebook
page, please consider joining.
We'd love to have you.
(07:21):
There's a lot going on.
A lot that hasn't included meover the dark time, and I
apologize for that.
One of my resolutions for 2026is to not only be on the dojo
more, to post more, which meansbuild more, which is also one of
(07:41):
my resolutions.
So, you know, I continue to beimpressed by what people post
there, whether it's new productannouncements from our our
support our sponsors and orother manufacturers to completed
kits.
Man, those are alwaysinspirational to me.
(08:04):
To, you know, work in progressor reports regarding a
particular product and howthey've used that.
In fact, I I got some tips froma listener about a product that
I'm gonna take a look into.
I'm you know, the dojo's great.
Please join, pleaseparticipate, and please help us
(08:27):
continue to grow this community,which is without a doubt the
best thing that has grown out ofMike and I doing this podcast.
And Lord knows when we startedit, we didn't think about that
at all.
Not not at all.
And I've we were we were dumbfor not even realizing it.
(08:47):
But it's not only is it there,but it is the best part of the
podcast.
Mike (08:53):
And I'll mention we're still struggling with some
things getting tagged as spam.
And like you've mentionedbefore, Dave, it seems to be
things that are gettingcross-posted.
Kentucky Dave (09:02):
Yep.
Mike (09:03):
Typically we're pretty fast on those.
If we let your post lag alittle bit on getting it flipped
over and published on the dojo,just uh shoot us a message and
remind us it's out there becausesometimes I don't see the
notifications for those.
Kentucky Dave (09:15):
Yeah, that that happens to me.
What happens is, especiallyduring the dark time and you
know, holidays and all thethings that that entails, all
the family time.
I'm not, I don't have theopportunity to pop in on my
phone and check the dojo andcheck particularly the spam
folder.
So if you've posted somethingand it hasn't gotten approved
(09:41):
and posted within 12 or 18hours, just go ahead and shoot
us a DM.
Mike (09:48):
Yep, we'll get that worked out.
And also mention we lookforward to interaction not just
on the dojo, but listener mail.
So, folks, please write intothe show.
Let us know what you think,send us a question, whatever you
want to do.
It's uh it can be done at uhplasticmodelmojo at gmail.com or
the Facebook messaging systemthrough DM at the face with
Facebook Messenger.
So let's get that mailbag full,folks.
(10:10):
We're looking forward to it.
Kentucky Dave (10:12):
I've had some great DMs in the last week
that'll obviously be talkedabout in the next episode, but
please keep the DMs coming.
Mike (10:21):
Well, with that, Dave, we'll get on out of here and get
on to our 2026 plans, man.
So as we always say, so manykits.
So little time, Dave.
Let's get some modeling done.
Kentucky Dave (10:32):
Yeah, let's get some modeling done big time.
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