Conquer Fear By Doing, with Tim Nelson: Episode 152

Plastic Model Mojo

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6d ago 1:58:57

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What if the fastest way to level up your modeling wasn’t waiting to “get better,” but picking a fear and building straight through it? That’s the heart of this episode, where we sit down with Seattle modeler Tim Nelson to explore an intentional, cross-genre approach that turned anxiety into momentum. From smart starter ships and museum deadlines to vacform methods and CAD-assisted conversions, we share practical systems that help you finish more models and have more fun doing it.
We open with show travel, stash-thinning honesty, and some cottage-industry collabs that could turn obscure fasteners and conversions into real products. Then we dive into Tim’s roadmap for facing “big scary” subjects: choosing a stepping-stone container ship before tackling USS Tennessee, curating rotating Museum of Flight displays that reward clarity over micro-perfection, and using mentorship to demystify vacforms with repeatable techniques. You’ll hear how disasters are normal, how to hide mistakes well, and why museum quality and contest quality are different—in a good way.
There’s also a love letter to weird and wonderful subjects, like a 1/72 “Old Bill” London bus converted into a WWI pigeon loft, complete with delicate 3D-printed birds. Tim explains how small, story-rich builds strengthen composition, finishing, and research skills that transfer across aircraft, armor, ships, and figures. We round things out with a first foray into CAD and resin printing—a custom bullet nose for a Lockheed Vega—and big ambitions for RMS Olympic in dazzle camouflage. Along the way, we tackle club-building tips, listener mail from Bali to Terre Haute, and a few favorite new releases (plus a gentle rant on 3D-figure accuracy).
If you’re looking for a spark to get back to the bench—or permission to try something you’ve always wanted—this one’s for you. Hit play, subscribe, and share your next “fear target” with us. What bold build are you starting this week?
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Mike and Kentucky Dave thank each and everyone of you for participating on this journey with us.

Chapters

1. Welcome, Weather, And Warm-Up (00:00:00)

2. Murfreesboro Show Recap And Hobby Sprawl (00:02:00)

3. Thinning Paints And New Year Organization (00:04:10)

4. Cottage Industry Collabs And 3D Parts (00:04:55)

5. Modeling Fluids: Bourbon And Ale (00:09:35)

6. Listener Mail: Honeymoons, Gundam, And Clubs (00:09:55)

7. Planning Collections, Museums, And Legacies (00:16:20)

8. More Mail: Beers, Swag, Books, Mentors, Nostalgia (00:21:45)

9. AI For Dioramas And Telford Trip Notes (00:28:05)

10. Introducing Guest Tim Nelson (00:31:00)

11. Facing Fears: Intentional Cross-Genre Modeling (00:35:10)

12. First Ship Builds And Pearl Harbor Display (00:43:30)

13. Museum Of Flight Partnership And Rotating Cases (00:49:10)

14. Upcoming Themes: 109s, Bomber Command, Bands (00:55:40)

15. Vacforms Without Fear: Methods And Mindset (01:00:10)

16. Tiny Triumph: The Old Bill Pigeon Loft Bus (01:05:50)

17. Painting 1/72 Pigeons And Roden Details (01:12:10)

18. Benches Now: Seven Builds, SBS, Airfix, AZ (01:15:50)

19. Learning CAD And First Resin Prints (01:22:10)

20. Dazzle Camouflage And Olympic Ambitions (01:27:30)

21. Glossy Car Finishes And Future Challenges (01:31:15)

22. Bench Halftime: SAM, F6F, KV-85, Miata (01:34:40)

23. New Releases: Faves, Yawns, And Decals (01:41:40)

24. Support, IPMS, And Community Shout-Outs (01:52:20)

25. Tasting Notes And Final Recommendations (01:56:40)

219 episodes

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