Verko's Vault
A World Leading Museum of Fantasy and Sci-fi models
A Work in progress
Visited May 2025
Being “friends” with people on Facebook has given me some wonderful experiences related to our hobby of painting “Little Toy Soldiers” over the years. Visiting towns and cities around the world and arranging to meet people that otherwise I’d never have had the good fortune to come into contact with.
One such person is Penny Meyer, a very accomplished painter of historical and especially “flat” subjects, her passion for the hobby, and especially supporting the teaching of newcomers and veteran hobbyists how to improve their painting, has been evident for many years.
When I found out that she was involved with Verko’s Vault, and that I’d be having a vacation in Las Vegas where it’s located, it seemed logical to ask if I could visit and see if she’s be available for a chat.
I had met Penny before – albeit briefly – at the 2023 World Expo in Eindhoven, so it wasn’t too much of a “cold call” to see if we could meet up.
So a time and date was set, and my son – Thomas – and I went along to Verko’s Vault at 11402 Dean Martin Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89141 USA.
The address alone speaks volumes to the aging European, I mean, Dean Martin Drive !!
Penny met us at the side of the building, there’s two rather large parking areas and easy access from central Las Vegas, and of course the very popular Las Vegas Strip if you choose to drive yourself, or hire a cab.
Verko’s Vault consists of two buildings separated by a portion of one of the parking areas, the first building being smaller and which is the hub of operations right now.
Inside this building is a storage area for stock that will eventually be available for sale in the onsite shop, and also there’s a 3D print farm set up in the same room.
The main reception is open plan with a large area set up to the left with desks, lamps and chairs to allow people to meet up and paint, and with a larger desk at the front with camera equipment and two large screens for when visiting modellers and painters come to give lectures and demonstrations on various aspects of modelling and painting fantasy miniatures and vehicles.
Now here is where I have to tell you that the whole site is very much a “work in progress”. All the above is operational, with regular painting meetings and seminars taking place, and within a smaller office space is a display of very large – in some cases 1:1 scale figures - of well-known characters from the movies, some of which are shown in the pictures here, and to be honest are so detailed that you’d really imagine them being able to speak.
Added to the above are a rest room and a kitchen area, along with a couple of offices for Gary Sparks – the owner of Verko’s Vault – and Penny Mayer too.
So that’s the first building, what’s in the second one then ?
Well the second building is larger for a start and to be honest Thomas and I felt rather honoured to get to see it as it is.
You ask why ?
Well simply put it’s a pretty blank canvas that as yet has to take final shape. Penny explained that there would be an entrance area with a side office where “resident / guest painters would be able to set up and be able to run ongoing demonstrations, a very large area adjoined to this would be lined with display cases, and a third room would house the shop.
Upstairs there would be a room with a cinema installed for showing various short films ranging from “how to” demonstrations, interviews and possibly filmed visits to shows and manufacturing companies – there’s a lot of possibilities just for those themes.
Another “L” shaped area would house very large dioramas with lighting and sound effects, and a third area would possibly be lined with more display cabinets.
A lift connects the ground floor to the upper area, so it will be easy for those less able to access the upper floor, although there is also a stairway opposite the lift access.
One last thing to mention is the veranda, this is accessible through doors along one side of the first floor and the views over Las Vegas and the surrounding mountains is breathtaking.
I guess I should mention Mr Gary Sparks, the fellow who has financed what to most of us could only be a dream. A massive, purpose built venue to showcase his collection of 18,000 models that he’s built up over the years, from some of the very best modellers from around the world.
The vision behind this undertaking, the gathering together of people – like Penny – who have the enthusiasm to support the ethos and ideals of what Verko’s Vault will evolve into over the next twelve to eighteen months and beyond has to be congratulated, and I get the impression that it’s already heavily supported by a lot of people within the hobby, and quite rightly so.
Thomas was pretty quiet as we were shown around the various areas, and there was a reason for that. I can talk the back end off a donkey ( a proper Lancashire saying ), but his restrained conversation and my enthusiasm amounted to the same feelings – This place is going to be blooming AMAZING !
I’m not sure how long exactly it will take to complete all the areas for the potential visitor to enjoy, but if you’re in the Las Vegas area I think it would be worth contacting Verko’s Vault to see if there’s a painting day or weekend being held on site simply to tap in to the enthusiasm and vision of the people there – it’s certainly something I’m going to do if I get the chance to visit Las Vegas again.
Final thoughts
Oh you’ve gotta go to Verko’s Vault, honestly the impression I get is that the place has already established a friendly community based there.
Once the museum etc is set up, it’s going to be something that is completely individual, completely unseen anywhere else in the world, with displays of so many different modellers and painters on show.
Peeking at the kits stored ready for the shop, I’d advise taking a decent amount of cash, because from what I could glimpse through the translucent storage boxes, there’s some real treats to be had once the shop becomes operational.
Finally I’d like to thank Penny Mayer so much for taking the time to show Thomas and myself around, to see the blank canvas of now and envision with her what is to come into being.
Verko’s Vault appears to be a very professional, very loved idea that is being brought to life with such enthusiasm by a small group of people who want to show us what can be done with little pieces of plastic, white metal and resin, and on top of that, encourage us to do the same.
It is truly fantastic to see such vision and passion working so hard to promote our hobby of painting and modelling.
I don’t think I need to wish the whole team at Verko’s Vault “good luck” because they’re making their own, but I do wish them every success, and that any obstacles they encounter are small and easily surmounted.
