Northern Virginia Modelers Build with Passion and Precision

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The Passion for Scale Modeling

Scott Bricker, a 53-year-old resident of Haymarket, runs a graphic design and marketing business during the day. In the evenings, he helps his sons with their after-school activities. However, every Friday is dedicated to something special—modeling. “Friday is the build day, and there are five to six of us that meet and build,” Bricker said.

Bricker has an extensive collection of model airplanes in his basement. He is also the current president of Northern Virginia Modelers, the largest chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society in the United States, which has 120 members. With 45,000 Facebook followers, he is a prominent figure in the modeling community.

Bricker’s journey into modeling began at the age of 6. His father was an Air Force pilot, and as a child, Bricker used to ride his bike to the flight lines to watch planes take off. His father never simplified the hobby for him. “Most people don’t start with an airbrush at 6, but I did.”

This early exposure to aviation led Bricker to pursue a fine arts degree. Today, as a graphic designer, he remains passionate about details, whether in logos or scale models. For many, modeling is a blend of art and history. Bricker ensures that his models are historically accurate, often creating multiple versions of the same kit that look entirely different.

Building a model typically takes around 40 hours, but some projects can take thousands of hours. Bricker estimates that he spends at least 12 hours a week on scale modeling.

A Community of Enthusiasts

The Northern Virginia Modelers club meets monthly at Fairfax High School. While the group is known for building airplanes, the hobby encompasses various vehicles, including sci-fi and pop culture pieces. Haagen Klaus, 47, is the vice president of the club and an archeologist with a doctorate in anthropology. When not excavating pyramids in Peru, he teaches at George Mason University, photographs airplanes, or builds scale models of them.

Klaus grew up watching low-level fly-bys and developed connections with test pilots and engineers. “My first flight instructor was a F-14 fighter pilot,” he said. He applies his historical knowledge to the hobby, emphasizing accuracy. “We want to make sure it's accurate, that it represents a moment in history.”

The precision required in modeling also involves artistry. “We use some of the same techniques and materials that artists use, including sculptors,” Klaus explained. “There are lots of experts in paint in our field.”

In April, the Northern Virginia Modelers hosted the IPMS Northern Virginia Model Classic 2025 at Fairfax High School. The event attracted hundreds of attendees, with the theme focusing on the “Anniversary of the War in Southeast Asia 1955-1975.” Hundreds of distinct models were displayed, featuring 20th-century military vehicles such as airplanes, battleships, cars, trucks, and tanks. A smaller section showcased sci-fi and pop culture vehicles from “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” Transformers, and anime.

The Broader Impact of Modeling

Mason Wallace, 30, from Manassas, attended the event and has been building cars, tanks, and trains for two decades. He especially loves airplanes. Professionally, he engineers systems to detect enemy drones and flies pretend enemy drones in practice scenarios. “The skills I am learning from building models help me in my everyday work,” Wallace said.

Wallace frequently uses a 3D printer to create parts and models. “This hobby, 3D printing. It all kind of meshes,” he added.

Tim Barb, a retired U.S. Marine and former club president, ran the children's "Make and Take" table at the show. Barb enjoys encouraging children to join the hobby, as he did as a child. “This has got to be an older hobby, but we try to do these [children's tables] at our annual show.”

Bricker was pleased with the turnout at the show and even more so with the stories shared by fellow builders. He acknowledges that while scale model building is expensive and time-consuming, it is deeply satisfying. “It's reliving your childhood.”