Scratch Builder Monthly January 2026 is a supplement written and published by MJ Hobby Corner for use with making cheap models, primarily for tabletop wargaming.
The supplement is available as a 37-page PDF from Wargame Vault for $3. One page is the front cover, one the Table of Contents and two the Credits and Links.
January 2026 Edition gives an outline of the plans for the year. Each issue intends to focus on a single project. It also looks at how the magazine has always looked at using cheap and recycled materials in model making.
Realistic Space Vessels explains that the idea is to create realistic starship designs and continue experimenting with using old pens for such builds. This will distinguish the ships from the space opera ones as well as promote recycling of materials. The aim is to draw inspiration from aerospace engineering and theoretical physics to create designs.
Some Misconceptions Against More realistic Designs explains that there’s a misconception that realistic designs are uninteresting compared to dramatic, naval-inspired or fictitious models used in sci-fi.
How Will this model Be Used? explains that in an RPG the starship is the centrepiece of the space adventure, but in a tactical wargame, it takes on a different role.
Diversity of Ship designs and The Materials I have used looks at various different starship designs and materials used, none expensive.
Tools and Materials For star ship making looks at the fairly basic tools and some materials.
Some Thoughts considers scratch building as a hobby in its own right.
Project of The Month: Orbital Defense and Salvage Vessel is a step-by-step method of making a starship and variants, including design principles and materials and potential future builds.
Model Bases looks at flight stands for starships, with plastic wine glass stems being considered a good one (not mentioned, but such cheap disposable glasses are not available everywhere, and reusable ones makes them significantly more expensive).
Thoughts looks back on the construction of the project and other options for making it, especially smaller scale ships.
Let the Games Continue! is a thankyou page.
Scratch Builder Monthly January 2026 in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. The Table of Contents covers the major sections. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column format and some minor errors were noticed. There are a variety of photos of tools, materials and the various stages of projects from started to finished. Presentation is good.
There are some useful general notes on constructing starships in this issue, as well as the covered project. The project itself will work for a number of different games that involve starship combat, and it’s not built for a specific scale, though it will naturally work better at some scales than others. Scratch Builder Monthly January 2026 can be found by clicking here.
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