Beyond The Box Art®

Episode 39 - SMW Competition Judging & Automotive Modelling

Beyond The Box Art®

Show Notes

Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 39 Cars, Competitions & Chairman Wong! SEO Title: Beyond The Box Art® Episode 39 | Automotive Modelling, IPMS Competitions & Bolton 2027 Meta Description: Episode 39 explores automotive scale modelling with Rich Middleton and Matty's Custom Scale, IPMS competition advice from Andy Brown, Bolton 2027 and the final IPMS Dispatches. Hiya Benchmates — Episode 39 has landed! This time we're finally giving automotive modelling some proper attention. Joining us are IPMS(UK) President Rich Middleton and our new automotive Stash Inflation reporter, Matty from Matty's Custom Scale, to ask why cars and motorcycles sometimes seem to sit apart from the wider scale modelling hobby — and whether automotive modellers get the recognition they deserve. More importantly, we look at what aircraft, armour, ship and sci-fi modellers can learn from car builders, particularly when it comes to surface preparation, paint, polishing and achieving those intimidatingly flawless finishes. Apparently, covering the mistakes with mud isn't always an option. Dan is understandably concerned.

🚗 Automotive Modelling — Rich Middleton & Matty Cars, motorcycles, motorsport, commercial vehicles and custom builds represent a huge part of scale modelling, yet they can sometimes feel like a hobby within the hobby. We talk to Rich and Matty about why that might be, how automotive modelling differs from other genres and the techniques that everyone can take back to their own workbench. From paint preparation and gloss finishes to metallics, interiors and presentation, there's plenty here even if you've never built a car in your life.

Matty's Socials:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mattys_custom_scale https://www.instagram.com/design.by.mcs YouTube: http://youtube.com/@mattyscustomscale Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054451211245&mibextid=LQQJ4d TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattys_custom_scale?_t=8UZMLIJX0OA&_r=1 Cults3D: https://cults3d.com/@MCSDesign Email: [email protected]

🏆 Competition Modelling — Andy Brown IPMS(UK) Competition Secretary Andy Brown returns to take some of the mystery — and hopefully some of the fear — out of entering a model competition. We discuss what judges actually look for, common mistakes, presentation and what first-time entrants should consider before placing a model on the table. With Scale ModelWorld at Telford approaching, Andy also explains why competitions shouldn't simply be viewed as something for elite modellers. Sometimes the biggest step is simply entering.

🇬🇧 The Final IPMS Dispatches Episode 39 also marks the final ever IPMS Dispatches, and we're sending it out with the return of Chairman Wong — Paul Wong. We catch up on IPMS(UK) news, the build-up to Scale ModelWorld and look ahead to the Bolton IPMS Model Show 2027, the UK's largest one-day model show and home show of Beyond The Box Art®. Brownie will be there. This time Dan and Shane are coming too. Bolton has been warned! But the end of IPMS Dispatches isn't the end of our IPMS coverage. In Episode 40, we launch IPMS Connect — our new international section bringing together news, people and stories from across the wider IPMS community.

⭐ Stash Inflation Report The Stash Inflation team are back with another worldwide round-up of new releases and modelling temptation. Balders covers aviation, Dan tackles armour, Nevs heads to sea, Shane takes care of Gunpla and sci-fi, and Matty brings us the latest automotive releases. As ever, Beyond The Box Art® accepts absolutely no responsibility for any resulting purchases.

So grab a brew, head to the bench and join Brownie and the Beyond The Box Art® team for automotive modelling, competition advice, IPMS news, new releases and the usual bench-top banter. Beyond The Box Art® The Scale Modellers Podcast. Models. Modellers. Meaning.

Contact Email: [email protected] Website: www.beyondtheboxart.com Show Sp

More from Beyond The Box Art®

Oct 22, 2026

Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 40 IPMS Connect Goes Global, Fischkopp's Big Reveal & Telford 2026! SEO Title: Beyond The Box Art® Episode 40 | IPMS Connect Launch, Fischkopp Stranraer & Scale ModelWorld 2026 Meta Description: Episode 40 launches IPMS Connect with IPMS USA, reveals Fischkopp's Supermarine Stranraer from SMC Eindhoven and previews Scale ModelWorld Telford 2026.

Sep 24, 2026

Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 38 From Red to Yellow! Heller/Glow2B, DBMK update, VMZ2026 and the Return of a Missing Benchmate! Hiya Benchmates — Episode 38 has landed! After joining James Skiffins and Malcolm Childs for a very special farewell to Just Making Conversation in our last episode, we're back to business as usual - though with a little JMC magic thrown in! Well, as close to business as usual as things ever get around here. This time, we're catching up with some familiar faces from the modelling industry, looking ahead to an international online modelling competition and welcoming back a member of the Beyond The Box Art® team who has finally managed to escape the clutches of his work roster! We're joined by Dale Luckhurst, who has swapped red for yellow in his new role as Brand Manager for Heller, part of Glow2B, to talk about his new position and what the future holds for this iconic model kit manufacturer. Will Packard from DBMK returns to bring us up to speed on developments since the release of their much-anticipated 1/32 Sea Fury earlier this year, including progress on some exciting upcoming projects. We also welcome Tim Holland from Modellers Without Borders, who joins us to talk about VMZ2026, their second annual online modelling competition, and how modellers from around the world can get involved. And, of course, the Stash Inflation Report returns with another collection of new releases, aftermarket accessories and completely unnecessary temptations. But perhaps the biggest surprise of all... Martin Drayton is back! Yes, after what feels like an eternity of conflicting work rosters, the planets have finally aligned, and Martin rejoins the Benchmates from his home in sunny Utah. We were beginning to think he'd changed his phone number.

Sep 10, 2026

Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 37 Just Making Conversation — Episode nealry, almost 100ish! with James Skiffins & Malcolm Childs Hiya Benchmates — Episode 37 has landed! After heading onto the tabletop with Jamie Tranter and Paul Regan to explore the huge world of wargaming in our last episode, this time we're doing something rather different. In fact, this episode isn't simply another edition of Beyond The Box Art®. It's two modelling podcasts sitting down together, sharing a few stories, looking back over nearly six years of broadcasting... and making one last conversation. We're joined by James Skiffins and Malcolm Childs, the voices behind Just Making Conversation, for a very special joint episode celebrating the show, the friendship behind it and everything that happened along the way. And yes... There may be a reason James and Malcolm appear to have arrived carrying their possessions tied inside red-spotted hankies on sticks.

Aug 27, 2026

Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 36 Wargaming with Jamie Tranter & Paul Regan Hiya Benchmates — Episode 36 has landed! After heading behind the scenes of Scale Model Challenge with Robert and Margot Crombeecke in our last episode, this time we're turning our attention to another enormous part of the wider modelling world. We're putting down the instruction sheets, reaching for the dice and venturing onto the tabletop as we explore the world of wargaming. Whether you're already an experienced gamer, enjoy painting figures and building scenery, or have always wondered what happens once all those armies are finally finished, this episode offers a fascinating look at where modelling, gaming and storytelling meet.

Aug 13, 2026

Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 35 Inside Scale Model Challenge with Robert & Margot Crombeecke Hiya Benchmates — Episode 35 has landed! And after the incredible response to our last episode and the first IPMS Presidents Round Table, we genuinely want to start by saying thank you. The emails, messages and comments that arrived following Episode 34 have been quite extraordinary. What began as an idea to get national IPMS Presidents around the same virtual table clearly struck a chord with modellers around the world. Even better, that conversation isn't going to be a one-off. The Presidents Round Table will return annually, and the invitation is open to all national IPMS Presidents who would like to take part. But for Episode 35, we're packing our metaphorical bags and heading to the Netherlands...

See all episodes →