There’s always so much to do at WonderFest!

The days are packed with events. Once the show closes at 5, we fill the nights with events, too.

Friday Daytime: Pre-Show Workshops

Badger & Black Heart logos

Badger/Black Heart
Airbrushing & Model Finishing Class

9am-3pm – Spend a day learning to paint on a fantastic work of art!

Register now for the Black Heart/Badger model airbrushing class at WonderFest 2024. The painting subject for the class will be Black Heart’s 1:3 scale Werewolf…13 inches of lycanthropic fury… sculpted by Joe Simon. The headliners for the class will again be Gordon Oberman and Jeff Camp. The class will be limited to the first 24 folks to register and will use Badger Air-brush products that will be provided to all participants.

The class offers two options:

  • Option A is $425 and includes a Badger’s Patriot airbrush and a low noise/auto stop compressor, 12 bottles of Badger
    paint, Black Heart’s 1:3 scale Werewolf bust, and six hours of expert instruction.
  • Option B is $365 and includes everything in Option A except the compressor.

Compressors will be provided for all folks to use during the class. We encourage participants to bring their own paint
brushes for fine detailing and a couple of wide brushes (1 to 2 inches wide) for dry-brushing.

For payment and registration info follow the button below.

AFM logo

AFM Model Boot Camp

9am-5pm — Come for the instruction, leave with the knowledge!

Hey Modelers, are you ready to get small this year? As in small scale micro-modeling? Well, we are, and we’re proud to announce AFM’s all-new Mummy Diorama Class! The Mummy Lives, and you could be the one to bring him to life! Small scale modeling requires specialized techniques and this comprehensive class will teach an impressive array of modeling challenges unlike any training seminar before it!

Techniques covered will include:

  • Working with Metallic Waxes to define metallic surfaces.
  • Wet-on-wet painting techniques: mixing and blending colors on the model.
  • “Painting” with pastel shade sticks.
  • Using alcohol to create surface textures and weathering.
  • Plug n’ play lighting kit to create a flickering fire effect in a fire pit custom-made just for this class.

Class fee is $310 per student, offered on a limited seating capacity, and it’s open to modelers of all skill levels. Apply now to reserve your seat for this AMAZING opportunity now by contacting AFM at the link below.

Spacedock image

Design Futuristic Models:
3D Modeling for 3D Printing Innovation!

8 am-6 pm | Instructor: Stephen Burns

New to 3D? This class is perfect for you. Take a deep dive in learning how to build in Blender specifically for 3D printing. Blender 3D is an open source 3D software package that allows you to build, texture, animate, create effects and 3D print. And it is amazing!! This class will focus on getting to know Blender 3D as a software and how to build, texture and render your 3D visions.

3D Printers have come down in price tremendously. Class will address two types: Resin printers (SLA) and filament printers (FDM). Printing Software to be used and discussed will be Chitubox, Lychee and Cura.

Cost is $275 per person. Prerequisites: Bring your own laptop, install Blender 3D (it’s free!), and have a mouse that has a scroll wheel for the middle button.

Iwata/TAG TEAM logo

SCIFI MODELING SCHOOL
Sponsored by TAG Team & Iwata

9 am-4 pm in the Madison Room

This class is SOLD OUT as of 2-22-24!

SciFi Modeling School Episode V: Return of the Falcon with Guest instructor Mike Salzo!

We’re pleased to announce the opening of registration for our Friday Paint Class. Learn and practice some of Mike’s weathering techniques on the MPC Millennium Falcon kit from Round 2. As usual, TAG Team, in conjunction with Iwata-Medea, will be providing Eclipse CS airbrushes and air source for our students, along with needed supplies. You’ll also learn to use Medea’s NuWorlds Paints and Wash Medium.
Limited to the first 12 paid registrations.
This class is SOLD OUT as of 2-22-24!

Saturday-Sunday Daytime 

Dealers!
10am-5pm

Two Dealer Rooms!

Dealer iconOpen 10 am till 5 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Dealers from around the world will be set up at more than 160 tables.

Early Bird tickets are available to get in two hours early on Saturday morning. See the Admissions booth.

501st Legion logo

501st Legion | Bluegrass Garrison

We’re so happy to welcome the members of the 501st Legion – Bluegrass Garrison.

You’ve seen the 501st on the Mandalorian series as well as adding a distinctively Star Wars presence at our past shows! They add a life-size element amid all the model-scale ones on display.

The Bluegrass Garrison will also be collecting donations for Norton Children’s Hospital.

Exhibits

10 am-5 pm both days – in Dealer Room B

Kogar's Korner logo

Props, monsters, art and costumes…and the stuff that (scary) dreams are made of!

Kogar’s Korner

Our annual exhibit tables in Dealer Room B, inspired by the collection of Bob Burns! Thanks to collector Tony Hardy and his talented friends, Kogar’s Korner will have plenty of eye candy on display.

art of two raffle tickets

Charity Raffle & Auction

Open Saturday 11 am–5 pm, Sunday 10 am–5 pm – in Dealer Room A

Every year at WonderFest there’s a Raffle and Silent Auction to benefit worthwhile charities. This incredible effort has raised more than $22,000–while hobbyists have taken home startling goodies–thanks to the generosity of many donors and friends of WonderFest.

Guest Talks!
10am-5pm

Guest Presentations

icon of Vulcan presenter with audience

10 am-5 pm both days in the Upstairs Theaters

Every year our industry guests do presentations, participate in panel discussions, and do audience Q&As!

A schedule will be posted in the days leading up to the show.

How-To Demos
All Weekend

How-To Demos for Figure and Hardware Modelers 

WonderFest demo logoThese FREE presentations by modelers change every year and usually last from 30 minutes to an hour, (or even two). Focus is on major topics and skills demonstrations. Some will allow the viewers to go hands-on and try the techniques shown.

Two tracks are offered: One for figure modelers and one for vehicle/hardware modelers.

A list of demos topics and times will be posted closer to the show date.

Airbrush 101

SAT: 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm; SUN: 11 am, 1pm

Iwata logo

During WonderFest weekend, sign up for one of six FREE 75-minute, hands-on classes (limit 12 students each class), staged and sponsored by Iwata. No charge for WonderFest attendees.

Follow this email link to sign up >>

Make & Take for Kids 16 & Under

Saturday-only: 11 am–1 pm & 2–4 pm in the Elliott Room

Round 2, Black Heart and Kaiju Modeler logos

Kids ages 16 and under can learn how to build or paint a model—and then take it home.

A great place for beginners to try model painting without fear. Best of all, it’s free!  First-time modelers age 16 and under can learn to paint a model using acrylic paints—with help from a crew of patient and experienced volunteers—and then take the finished model home! (Above that age can participate, but there will be a small fee of $5.)

Thanks to Round 2 for donating snap-together kits and Black Heart Models for donating small resin busts this year! And to Kaiju Modeler and WonderFest for supplying paint, brushes, and hairdryers to speed the process.

There’s no better way to bring a new generation into our fantastic hobby!

Friday-Saturday-Sunday Night Programs

Friday

Iwata/TAG TEAM logoTAG Team/Iwata Airbrush Party

7:00 pm – Madison Room

Chat with TAG Team staff members! Try Iwata equipment! Show your models!
  • Test Drive Iwata Airbrushes and Compressors.
  • Try NuWorlds Paints! Formulated for plastic, metal and resin.
  • Talk with experienced Iwata representatives.
  • Meet Iwata artists and see some of their work.
Do you use an Iwata? Bring some build ups to show! We’ll be there to receive models for display starting at 6:30. Please plan to retrieve your display model by 10:30.
See you there!

Free to all WonderFest attendees.

Friday Nite Grindhouse

Friday Night | WonderFest Grindhouse

8 pm – Upstairs Theater

Program to be announced…

The Louisville Gore Club cranks up the WonderFest Grindhouse experience again this year! Free to all WonderFest attendees with door prizes and loads of fun!

Saturday

The Rondo Awards: Fan-voted and presented at WonderFest!

Saturday, 4 pm in Upstairs Theater A

Fandom’s only classic horror awards decided by fans, for fans!

Rondo "I Voted" Button
We’re happy to welcome David Colton and company back to WonderFest for their live awards presentation for the best in print, film, web, art, media, toys and models… in short, just about everything that makes our monstrous world go ’round!

So make a date with Rondo for Saturday evening. Seating starts at 4 pm in Upstairs Theater A.

Learn more about the much-coveted acromegalics at www.rondoaward.com.

Are you an IRON MODELER?

Saturday 6 pm-10 pm

Iron Modeler logoIt’s like ‘Iron Chef,’ but with models!

Eight 3-person teams are given a “base item” (could be a kit, could be a random item), a big pile of parts, greeblies and assorted castaway household items, and four hours to build the best model they can out of what they’ve got. A spray booth and paints are provided as well, but teams need to bring any glue or tools. At the end of four hours, the models are judged and the Iron Modeler Champion Team is crowned, giving them bragging rights for the next year. Oh, and there’s prizes too.

Official start time is 6pm, but you can arrive any time after 5:30 to set up your table. Teams should arrive no later than 5:45. If your team is not there by the 6pm start time, another team will take your place.

If you have any questions, just email John Lester.

Saturday Night in the Upstairs Theater:

Chiller Cinema LIVE!

Chiller Cinema LIVE!

Our friendly horror host and fan fave Doctor Gangrene (Larry Underwood) presents genre favorites in his usual style with a with a cool, fun double feature!

Program to be announced…

Sunday

Sunday Wrap PartyThe 2024 Wrap Party!

Sunday at 7:30 pm in the Upstairs Theater

Food and drink, plus a special program to be announced!

Choose to eat at the event ala carte, visit the cash bar, or just come for the fun! Food and drink sold separately.

Tickets are just $9 per person, sold at Admissions and at the door.

Food and drink sold separately.