Art & Inspiration Counterpoint to models and Michael Paul Smith's dioramas

I don't have the patience anymore, but those are some really nice models!

 

The old local car club does a carshow every year in the winter. When I was a punk in the 80s it had a huge model contest, entrants got a free passs for the weekend. That meant lots of kids looking at the cars, bringing their PAYING parents. It was a win win for the club. They didn't even have to run it, the hobbyshop did. When I moved back here in the 90s I put a kit together to take to the show with one of my wifes disabled adult clients who built models. Guy loved the fact he was in THE SHOW! he dropped 100+ dollars with a model vendor and had my wife bring several paying clients from their facility. The club however had decided that the modelers were getting too much for free. You got one ticket to enter, not a pass. Had to use a side door for setup and takedown, couldn't wander and see the cars during setup. It was like we were red headed stepchildren. And now you hear the Counts of the Cobblestone wonder why there are few young folks into old cars? Duh!

 

Jeez,
I thought this thread had died... First off, thanx for the post. Secondly, no deal. I don't do anything on spec anymore. Besides, I feel quite strongly that the promoter should be in control of any of the "supporting" events held during the show weekend and collect all the inputs he needs for post event reporting while the event is going on.

- That means the promoter should be seeking out a qualified model car club to run the show at least a year in advance. You may not recall this, but I was the guy who suggested you contact the Suncoast Model Car Club to run your last model contest in Ocala - so you wouldn't have a repeat of the disaster held at the contest the previous year. I think they did it well. Did you ask them again for this year?

- the judges / juror should only be an experienced modeler(s) - no offense meant. Perhaps a celebrity / guest to choose special award(s). In the past I've seen lots of awards made by "non-modeler" and they tend to PO the peanut gallery because they seem to be made superficially by folks who really have no idea what it took to build any particular model or, more importantly, does not know the difference between stock supplied parts in kits from features on the models that were scratch-built / custom made.

- As for show reporting, all the promoter just needs to know when the awards have been made, arrange a time after the ceremony to photograph the top cars with the help of the contest organizers and get a short list of the winners, hometowns, etc. Should take 30 minutes, max. Probably 6-10 photos.

- Lastly, the promoter should make every effort to have custom bicycles, pin stripers, custom tool boxes, self-propelled mini-cars, swap meet wagons, flamed mail boxes, pedal cars and other contraptions displayed at a more appropriate locations than next to the model car contest. Perhaps at a PPG or HOK booth? Near the vendors with welders? In their own contest areas? As lobby displays?

Later, and thanx, Gary

 

Not a model car builder but I'm into Model railroading so I know the work involved in making these models. I enjoy looking at them when ever I go to a show that displays them. Syracuse always has a nice display.

 

uhmmm... you dont write 500 words on spec? Really?

it takes 30 minutes.

wow... someone wants coverage but wont put .5 an hour into it.

yes.

they are.

I do a pick on my own...

again..,. you call for the promoter to be more involved, and then say I'm not qualified to offer a trophy. I'm not really clear on what you really want.

there is a schedule posted at each show.

looking for volunteers to write up the story, trust me there is plenty for a promoter to at a show.

again, look for volunteers. Anyone up to the task?


look, i get it, more coverage of the model car shows. My point is, at least at Billetproof, there is coverage of the model car shows. My other point is that... if more coverage is wanted, someone could step up and put a little effort into it.

Last I heard the model car magazines were not covering table shows. So I really dont know what more can be done.

 

I keep hearing that car modeling is a dying hobby. Here on the HAMB there are 623 members of a model builders social group, with 221 fairly current discussions and 310 pictures. I don't think that is too bad for a dying hobby, and this isn't even a model car forum.
But...as long as I've open my big mouth I too have a couple of pet peeves about model car contests and coverage.
1. The display tables are usually too low. I'm fairly tall and I would like to see the displays closer to my eye level.
2. While I understand the need for identification of the models I find the models posed on the entry forms very distracting. Maybe we need to prevail on Mr. Smith to photograph a few contests!

 

Model car shows held at 1:1 shows are a big deal. Not only does Billetproof support our hobby,but so does the NSRA. Every year at our show that is held at the NSRA Southeast Nats,and the Billetproof Florida show,the crowds around the model tables are usually so large,that it is tough to get a spot to view the builds. We get many compliments from the 1:1 guys on the work we do and they tell us they look forward to our event as well as the actual car show itself. I think the model car shows and the 1:1 car shows go hand in hand,even if we don't get alot of press in the big magazines. Thanks Alan (Billetproof) for supporting M.A.G.S. (Modeling Associates of the Gulf Coast) and the show they put on.

 

Maybe model car guys are a different form of a 1% person. I am a model car guy.
I have learned from MANY model cars, to be able to identify car parts in a swap meet.
Most people don't have the passion, desire, hobby, attention to detail, to do what we do with iron, plastic, etc., whether it's 1:1 or 1:25 scale, and sometimes have troubles understanding why we do what we do.

 

Back on the soap box... VERY sorry I miss-id'd MAGS as the Suncoast club of days gone by a couple of posts above this one. For some dumb reason I just can't seem to shake the other name. You did a a great job at Billetproof FL and of course have been continually fantastic at the NSRA SE Nats in Tampa. And I suspect if the promoters gave you twice the space you'd fill it up easily (and certainly have more room for the spectators to move around it. Gary

 

Well perhaps not every table show, but the NNLs fer sure! But its sad to say they also publish far fewer pix than they should. Making sure an event is properly promoted and covered is not the spectator's or entrant;s job, it falls squarely on the promoter - either to do it themselves or ask their supporting "host" clubs to provide it. Worst case scenario, delegate it to someone on the promoter's staff.

Regardless of how it gets done, the plea is to make coverage of the modeling events improve - to be the best they have ever been. Double dare any of the promoters to raise the bar here - mostly to reinforce the modelers sense of accomplishment - but certainly so the GG/NSRA/BP/ETC and viewers alike realize these modeling displays / events aren't just side-line distractions to keep the 1:1 car folks entertained during a weekend event. It shouldn't be in the Barnum & Bailey hall of craft show booths and flower arranging.

Some pre-event liaison to:
- find a regional club or experienced modeler to juror / judge the contest. Celebrity / promoter awards welcome, too. Do this at least a year out.
- try to find some model mfg to help promote the event, too, like RM, etc.
- have that club / juror work to notify the rest of the auto modeling / hobby world of your event, expain the classes, judging, types of models desired, etc. Remember, these are "closed" events for the most part, and normally airplanes, boats, or sci-fi models are not allowed.
- provide a suitable area, preferably indoors and out of the elements and away from pedal cars and other "fad" toy trends. Wind is a bummer!
- keep the costs down per model / entrant
- BE SURE to include return entry to the event, as the modeler's will have to return on the last day to pick up their stuff.

Post event:
- revel in your successes!
- take at least one photo of each class winning model and record the builder's name, home town and type of model, age, class, etc..
- publish the pix and winner's list. Perhaps a page in the club rag? Web site?

Sounds SO easy you'd wonder why I feel the need to ask for more coverage, eh? Well... because it is a BIG deal and means a LOT to the modlers and is GREAT for hot rodding in general.

Gotta go, the race is coming on. Gary

Modeling links from the internet for your amusement...
http://public.fotki.com/ACME-IPMS/acme_sourthern_nati/2009-nnl-southern/
http://canneysgarage.canney.net/GuestGallery/Londrake/BigRedRat/index.html
http://www.largescalemodeler.com/eighth/models/featured/turner/apair.html
http://homepage.mac.com/dwking2/PhotoAlbum4.html
http://homepage.mac.com/dwking2/PhotoAlbum8.html
http://www.manlytoolman.com/lsmodifiedpage.html
http://public.fotki.com/Csilverlake/tognottis_t__wilhel/
http://www.usfamily.net/web/stauffer/carmod.html
http://www.customstylingstudio.com/html/new_products.html
http://www.sonic.net/~joymkrs/Dahm/
http://bigyohns.com/S-H-model.shtml

 

^^^^^^^^^^Thanks for the links!^^^^^^^

 

Just an aside, but the models in Paul's dioramas are pre built diecasts. His skill is in the dioramas themselves, and the photography.

That said, the model car hobby is very unappreciated today, compared to back the hey-day, and perhaps that is why the industry is shrinking. It would help if the folks who write articles for the major pubs and newsletters had some model car knowledge, as well, so they could fully appreciate what goes into some of these models on display.

Years ago, I judged the model contest at GoodGuys Des Moines, and some bystander was pretty irate that I had given a "diecast" model an award. It was a plastic MPC 1/16th scale Cobra. Many of the people who attend and/or cover these shows just don't know what they are looking at.

Knowledge and promotion would go a long way in furthering the hobby. Kids today need this sort of thing. It inspires patience, and the ability/desire to work with your hands, and create something, rather than wasting time on video games.