My 5 Favourite Modelling Channels

Five of most entertaining YouTube model making channels, in my opinion...

Despite being a big TV fiend and that - these days - there are a HUGE amount of streaming services available I have come to rely on YouTube as my principal source of small screen entertainment these days. I usually start my day with my daily sketching practise while listening to a string of my firm favourite video blogs.

Chief among the video subjects that I like to watch are vloggers who show off their scale modelling skills with examples of their techniques and how they approach specific model builds. In this I do have a tendency to be drawn to the rather more unusual subject matter or modelling approaches.

So, without further ado, here's this year's most watched modelling channels with and example of the kind of creativity and cleverness that impresses me...

1. Fog of War: BF Comet Armoured Troop 1/100 (15mm)

I'm only a mediocre model maker at best and I'll never be one of those impressive hyper-realism display model builders who go to extreme pains to create something which looks exceptional real in miniature. I'm more of a 'war game' level modeller who is satisfied if my models look reasonably good at arms length! 😄

For this reason, I tend to watch other military modellers who, likewise, concentrate on simplified models intended for the tabletop wargaming hobby - like those from Armourfast, Pegasus, Plastic Soldier Company, etc - and generally avoid the super-detailed kits like those of Tamiya, Dragon and Eduard. 

The Fog of War channel regularly does quick and manageable build which also shows the 'average modeller' how to make the finished models look surprising good with some simple techniques...

2. Paul the Restorer: Dinky Custom restoration Hawker Hurricane

While my particular interest in modelling is plastic models I do enjoy watching videos about the restoration of vintage - and sadly worst for wear - diecast models too. I grew up with Matchbox, Dinky and Corgi models and so it's great seeing old damaged ones being made good as new again!

3. Minibrisks Craft: Soldiers didn't expect to meet a monster in the jungle

A type of modelling that I really admire is the making of dioramas. Mixing scale model making with the art of terrain making to produce a frozen moment in miniature if fascinating to me. Traditionally dioramas were the province of military modellers, to show off a particular vehicle build in a historically realistic setting, but these days the production of these scenes has blossomed into mini-movie-like moments in their own right!

I particularly like scenes which mix realistic models with fantasy encounters and there are some exceptionally talented artists out there doing so with incredible detailed work. But, my favourite is the Minibricks Craft channel because they produce some exciting dioramas which you - if you are an 'average' modeller like myself - can just about imagine that's 'do-able' if you took the time!

4. Adam Savage's Tested: One Day Builds: LEGO Blade Runner Blaster!

Again, moving away from scale plastic model making, I do like to watch some 'prop making' builds. Live Action Roll Playing (LARPing) and Costume Play (COSPlay) are both very popular offshoots of the popularity of fantasy movies and games. Indeed you cannot go to a sci-fi, movie, comic or gaming convention these days without noticing the amount of attendees who like to dress up as their favourite character!

While there are many specialist companies who make Cosplay items these tend to be VERY expansive, therefore YouTube is awash with 'how to' videos which show you how to build this or that fantasy dressing up piece on the cheap. I find these builds ingenious and very creative in their use of everyday materials, and at times materials which you would never imagine as being exactly ideal for the purpose... 😉

5. Peter Oxley: Matchbox L.R.D.G. 1/76 Chevy & Jeep Review

Aside from watching models being built I am also a fan of videos which cover the history of models and reviews of new and old kits. Basically, I'm nosey and kinda like to see what's inside a box before buying it or having a look at kits that might be out of production now but which look like they might have been interesting builds.

Peter Oxley has one such channel where he opens up interesting kits and reviews their contents. What's especially entertaining is that Peter has done a series specifically about the old Matchbox kits which were a really big thing when I was a teenager in the 1970s! Being just a kid and with just a small weekly pocket money allowance I was never able to build all of these particular kits so Peter has allowed me to see what I was missing at the time.

This particular video highlights a kit I would have loved to have owned and build - the desert LRDG set...

So there you go, that's what I've been watching this year about models and model making. Next time I will be looking at my favourite military history channels, thanks for popping by!