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Episode 52: Bad Etiquette, Toxic Groups & Honest Reviews: The Gloves Are Off

Joining the insanity this episode are Jason Hanscom from Blue Ox Model Shop and the Model Car Mania Podcast, along with Frank Perrone, for a show packed with rants, controversy, hobby talk, and plenty of laughs.

Rob kicks things off with TWO epic rants. First up: a discussion about what happens when proper show etiquette goes straight out the window, sparked by the actions of a particular modeler at a recent Virginia show. Then it’s off to the wonderful world of social media, as the guys tackle how a certain modeling group has seemingly gone from being about the hobby to becoming increasingly toxic.

Once Rob’s blood pressure returns to somewhere near normal, the crew takes a quick detour to talk ArmorCon 2026, coming to Danbury, Connecticut, October 2nd and 3rd. AMPS President Neil Stokes and ArmorCon Head Judge Georg Eyerman join the show to give us the rundown on the upcoming event, judging, what attendees can expect, and everything ArmorCon.

Then it’s back to our regularly scheduled insanity.

Listener mail brings up a great question: What actually makes a good product review? The guys discuss what they want to see in reviews, what information actually matters, and whether reviewers should be willing to call out the bad along with the good.

From there, it’s a rapid-fire quick-answer round, upcoming show talk, social media shout-outs, and all the usual nonsense you’ve come to expect from the Modeling Insanity crew.

And whatever you do… stick around for the outtakes at the end.

Controversy. Rants. ArmorCon. Honest reviews. Bad decisions. And plenty of laughs.

It’s Episode 52 of the Modeling Insanity Podcast. Take a listen and enjoy the insanity!

Armorcon 2026 info visit https://www.northeastmilitarymodelers.com/armorcon

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Episode 51: IPMS Nats Aftermath: Brand Loyalty, Killer Kits & Hobby Hot Takes

Fresh from the IPMS Nationals, the Modeling Insanity crew is back with stories, highlights, new releases, questionable purchases, and the usual post-Nationals exhaustion with Special Guest Ben Pluth.

Then the gloves come off as the guys tackle blind brand loyalty and the modelers who will defend their favorite manufacturer to the death—even when the kit has more problems than the instructions have steps. They also revisit “the kit that killed you”: that one soul-crushing build that nearly sent the entire stash to Facebook Marketplace.

Finally, it’s rapid-fire insanity as the crew debates what truly makes a kit great, which old-school techniques still deserve a place at the bench, the modeling rules they regularly ignore, which kits or subjects desperately need to be redone, and which manufacturer they would trust to produce their ultimate dream subject.

Grab your sprue cutters, lower your expectations, and prepare to defend your favorite brand—it’s another completely insane episode of the Modeling Insanity Podcast! Make sure to stay for the fun AI Outro at the end of the show.

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Episode 50 – The State of the Hobby

For our 50th episode, we invited Dave Grummitt, Managing Editor of Military Modelcraft International to help us tackle one of the biggest questions in scale modeling: What the hell is happening to our hobby?

Nothing is off limits.

Has social media made the hobby better… or has it turned every build into a popularity contest? Are “likes” replacing craftsmanship? Are model shows still the heartbeat of the hobby, or are they becoming an excuse to shop and complain about the judging? Have manufacturers made kits so good that we’re running out of excuses for our own mistakes? And here’s the question that may start the biggest argument of them all… if you’ve got 800 unopened kits stacked to the ceiling, are you really a model builder—or have you become a plastic collector with a building problem?

Riv also takes shots at those keyboard warriors on social media, the fear of honest critique, shrinking attention spans, aftermarket overload, YouTube experts, and whether we’ve become so obsessed with buying the next “must-have” kit that we’ve forgotten the simple joy of actually sitting down and building one.

Nobody was safe. No opinions were filtered. And if you’re looking for an echo chamber, you’ve picked the wrong podcast.

Will everyone agree with us? Absolutely not. In fact, if this episode doesn’t make you nod your head, laugh out loud, or yell at your speakers at least once, we probably didn’t do our job.

So pull a kit off the shelf… preferably one you’ve owned for more than ten years… grab your favorite beverage, and join us for a conversation that’s equal parts thoughtful, hilarious, and guaranteed to stir up debate.

This is Episode 50 of the Modeling Insanity Podcast. The glue may be dry, but the opinions are anything but.

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Episode 49: When Modeling Isn’t Enough

What happens when building models isn’t the only thing that keeps your mind busy? In Episode 49, the Modeling Insanity crew takes a fun detour from the workbench to discuss what truly makes something a hobby. From relaxing pastimes to unexpected obsessions, the guys explore the activities that help them unwind, recharge, and maintain a healthy balance outside of scale modeling.

Along the way, they share personal stories, plenty of laughs, and reveal some of the surprising hobbies that keep life interesting when the glue dries and the paint cures. Whether you’re a modeler with a side passion or just looking for a good laugh, this episode proves that sometimes modeling isn’t enough.

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Episode 48: Artificial Intelligence, Real Inspiration, & Zero Personal Space

Join Rob Riv, Frank Donati, Justin Ryan, and Steve Santucci for another unpredictable episode of the Modeling Insanity Podcast as they dive into a wide-ranging discussion on the growing role of artificial intelligence in the hobby. From AI-enhanced photos and generated artwork to the impact AI may have on how modelers share and present their work, the crew offers their thoughts, opinions, and plenty of spirited debate along the way.

The conversation then shifts to a more personal topic: what inspires them to build. Whether it’s box art, historical subjects, reference photos, museum visits, movies, books, or the work of fellow modelers, each host shares what fuels their passion for the hobby and keeps them coming back to the workbench.

Of course, no episode would be complete without a classic Rob Riv Life Lesson Rant™. This time, Rob tackles one of society’s greatest unsolved mysteries: why some people feel the need to stand six inches behind you in stores, checkout lines, and hobby shops. Equal parts observation, frustration, and comedy, it’s the kind of rant that only Rob can deliver.

So grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join the insanity. There are laughs, opinions, hobby talk, and more than a few questionable life lessons. Because honestly, what the hell are we doing if we can’t have a few laughs along the way?

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Episode 47- Live From the Floor: With AMPS Nats Recap & Rob Riv Unleashed

In this Episode the guys recap the Amps International Show that took place in South Bend Indiana with lead ins to 7 Live fun and insightful interview segments at the show. The guys were joined Live at the show by Brad Belsheim, Shaun Pekar, Adam Jackson, Nick Butta, Dave Vickers, Jeff Herne, Fank Blanton, Mike Sacklyn, Lee Fogel, Ashley Abernathy, and TJ Haller. Rob Riv also goes on an epic rant at the beginning of the show and breaks an unwritten Podcast rule. But the rules needed to be broken this time. This is the longest running show we have produced coming in at 3 hours and 46 minutes, so take a listen, have some laughs and most importantly relax and enjoy...

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Episode 46 - Replacing Private Ryan & The Road to AMPS Nationals Unscripted

In this episode the Insanity decided to record a 100% unscripted show and invited 6 special guests to first try and win Justin Ryan's co-host seat on the show. After the Win Justin Ryan's Seat segment is over the guys discuss listener questions on the fly and get into a great discussion. Oh and there is also a nice Riv Rant thrown in to hopefully help the long drive to South Bend Indiana for those heading to the AMPS Nationals. So sit back, have a few laughs, and enjoy the show.,...

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Episode 45 - All AMP'd Up with Special Guest Dave Vickers

In this episode Frank Perrone joins the guys to talk with Amps Master and Chief Judge Dave Vickers. The guys talk about the new changes that will take place at the AMPS International Show in South Bend Indiana in April. The guys also talk about what's on their bench as well as upcoming shows and also give Shout Outs to some great work they have seen on social media. There is a great and funny cold opening as well as a closing to the show, so make sure to stay after the end music. Hope you enjoy and have a few laughs.

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