Excelsior to Enterprise and back - History of the AMT 1/1000 USS Excelsior Model Kit

Did video games really kill model building? For decades, we've been telling ourselves the same story. Kids used to build models. Hobby shops were everywhere. Then video games arrived, the kids disappeared, and the hobby began to decline. But what if we've been blaming the wrong thing? The history of plastic model building tells a more complicated story. Manufacturers were already struggling before home video games became popular. Department stores, toy aisles, magazines, clubs, and local hobby shops once formed an enormous network that introduced new people to model building. And as those opportunities disappeared, something important disappeared with them. In this episode of the Sci-Fi Model Podcast, I explore the history of the plastic model industry, the changing role of hobby shops, and what companies like Bandai, Games Workshop, and Tamiya can teach us about attracting new generations of model builders. I also share some experiences from behind the counter at The Hobby Centre, including the sometimes complicated relationships between manufacturers, distributors, and the retailers working to grow the hobby. Because maybe we've spent too much time asking who killed model building. And not enough time asking who's creating the next model builder.

When our basement flooded, something happened that I wasn't expecting. People showed up. And a surprising number of them were people I'd come to know through the Hobby Centre — customers, builders and people I see every week. Which made me wonder: When does a hobby shop stop being just a store? In this episode of The Sci-Fi Model Podcast, I look at hobby shops as "third places" — the spaces outside home and work where people repeatedly encounter one another, strangers become familiar, and communities can form. That takes us into online and parasocial relationships, the disappearance of physical third places, what convenience sometimes replaces, and something our economic system isn't particularly good at measuring: The value of the relationship. Because maybe hobby shops aren't just retailers. Maybe they're also a kind of social infrastructure. Places where somebody can walk through the door knowing nobody and eventually become somebody people notice when they're missing. Sometimes the thing we're building isn't the model at all. It's the community around the table. THE SCI-FI MODEL PODCAST Short, researched commentaries from the workbench about model building, creativity, culture, community and the world around us. The model is the starting point, not the destination. #ModelBuilding #ScaleModels #HobbyShop

What is Jason's Space Dock, really? The Sci-Fi Model Podcast is back—but this time, it finally has a reason to exist. In this episode, I go back to where Jason's Space Dock began: rediscovering model building during one of the most difficult periods of my life, finding inspiration from other builders, learning the craft, taking on commissions, and eventually discovering that telling the story could be just as important as building the model. Along the way, I realized something. The models were never the whole story. They're where the conversation begins. Jason's Space Dock is about the people who imagined the things we love, the decisions that shaped them, the craftsmanship that brought them to life, and the curiosity that makes us want to understand them a little better. That's also why the Sci-Fi Model Podcast finally has a place. Some stories belong in a build video. Others need a deep dive. And sometimes all you need is a microphone and an interesting question. Welcome to Season 3. This is More Than Model Building.

Welcome to the SciFi Model Podcast where Jason (Jason's Space Dock) and Ken (By the Dice Games) dive deep into the messy, hilarious, and sometimes frustrating world of scale modeling, sharing lessons, tips, and stories from decades in the hobby. In this episode we tackle everything from the hidden pressures and gatekeeping in the modeling community to dealing with criticism and ego without letting it kill your creativity. Whether you’re a beginner just opening your first kit or a seasoned builder chasing ever-greater detail, there’s something here for every Plastic Addict.

In this episode of the Sci-Fi Model Podcast, Jason and co-host Ken Bowman dive deep into the world of YouTube content creation for sci-fi modelers. From growing your channel, overcoming algorithm challenges, to mastering engaging intros that hook viewers, they share insider tips and real talk about the highs and lows of being a YouTube creator in the modeling community. Plus, enjoy lively discussions on Gundam, Star Wars modeling, and how showing your process — mistakes included — builds connection and inspires others. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned builder, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you improve your YouTube modeling videos, build your audience, and embrace creativity in the hobby.