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

So much for the multiple posts / search function failures, but I'd like to take a moment - as a model builder since my early childhood - to ask why the promoters of 1:1 car shows who include model contests and the commercially supported "build and take" programs sponsored by model mfgs. for kids pay so little attention to the efforts of the participants? Are you listening Goodguys? NSRA? Billetproof?

Isn't it a wonder why the diorama building skills of Mr. Smith and his amazing photos get so much interest on the HAMB and yet the thousands of modelers who participate in events held all over the nation ICW big car shows get so little coverage in the pages of their respective membership pubs? What's the average coverage, 3-6 pix overall for each show? Amazingly deficent! And with absolutely no mention of the winners in the side-bars? Shit, custom pedal cars and hot-rodded swap meet wagons get more ink than the models and they have NO WHERE the hours of effort or detailing or creative expression in them as many of those little model cars.

Anyone else out there think that the scale model guys need to get some more ink in event reporting?!?!?!? How about Goodguys supporting another national contest, in the vein of the old Revell contests? Gary

 

Well we got mostly unrestricted coverage here every Sun. Seems to be a pretty good turn out with some amazing stuff. Maybe once again, the hamb outshining the rest of the crowd.

 

I think the major element in the popularity of that link that was posted was the amazing photography that that guy did. The models themselves weren't really even the real focus, after you see the buildings and backgrounds that were created.
I love to look at model cars, but this guy is on a whole other level when it comes to presenting them.

 

Sure we do and I'm glad of it. But go back thru your old GG rags and try to find, let alone see, what the model makers were doing at each GG event. Imagine there was a 1:1 car show with 200+ cars, and the printed coverage of that show was a mere 3-4 photos and no names / places were associated with the vehicles. That's the way model car contests are covered by the big show promoters - even though there was a contest, trophys were awarded, and a great deal of effort was not only made to build the models, but by the builders and their families to get the entrants work to / from the event to enter and retreive them. It's not like these models just fall out of the sky from a "diecast" box made in China for you to look at while you stroll from booth to booth in the vendor halls. A great many of the model car guys are REALLY serious about what they are doing. I just think they deserve better.

In my childhood, I won two times in the National Revell contest. The last time I won a 4ft trophy and a Yamaha dirt bike. And I got some ink in the national model car magazines. I doubt I could compete with the builders these days, but I'd sure like to see them get the same chances I had and some well deserved recognition. Gary

 

Here is my analysis. Most of us, really never grew up. When I was 16 you had to cobble together what you could to have something to drive. My defroster doesn't work so well. I carpool to work with another guy. He bellyaches about it all the time. I'm simply enjoying the drive.

It doesn't bother me any more than it did when we had to take turns scraping ice off the inside of the windshield on the way to school. I was just happy to be driving. When he drives, we take his 2006 Mercedes.

I still get the same feeling when I mess with a model car. I'll still get down and look at it from a level point of view almost like I'm looking at an actual car.

I get a bigger thrill pulling back the trigger of my AFX race track speed control than in riding in my friends Mercedes.

The big shows have slews of $100,000+ shop built bragging right creations. Some IMO have let the youth in them completely go. Others haven't.

 

When I was young and building models in the early 60's the Oakland Roadster show had the granddaddy of model car contests. Seems like it got lots of magazine coverqage as well. I had won all the local shows at the hobby stores so I started building a 40 Ford 2dr Sedan. Probably a Revell or AMT kit. I sectioned it, cut the doors and trunk open and hinged them. Upholstered it in black tuck and roll using real leather cord that was the kind people used to braid cept most of that was plastic. Had brake lines, Hilborn injected V8 with all the spark plug wires radiator hoses and other detail that didn't come in the kits. Made frenched openings for exhaust dumps at the rear of the front fenders. Also had an antenna frenched into the rear fender. Frenched tailight openings with 60's vintage caddy lights in them. Painted it metallic gun metal gray. Never got it to the contest and don't remember why but probably had something to do with my getting my first real car a 36 Ford 1/2 ton with a 48 Merc flathead, 39 gearbox and rearend and hydraulic brakes. Mostly painted red oxide primer. Chromed everything I could unbolt. Found the remnants of that 40 model a while back and surprised at how good the work was.

 

Might be fun for some of us that still have their early models to post some pictures unless that is too far of the subject of this site.

 

i hear what your saying, although i recently had two of my 1/8 scale rods featured in an american magazine. not bad for a kiwi boy.
i think models are a great way to get young people into rodding, so more coverage at events would be helping the hobby.

 

hey I agree...I used to spend whole days with a magnifying glass tracing fuel, brake, wiring systems too small to see to decide between amazing builds for a $4.00 trophy at local modelramas here in Eugene...then sponsorship dried up and the club meets at the local grange but perseveres just like the big rodders.....JUST KEEP BUILDING and I'll keep shooting photos.....jim W

 

Not my experience. A 1/8 32 Ford I built got a pic in the GG Gazette as big as many of the real cars... Thanks KIRK!

 

My opinion is that the model car contests, crafts for women, tether car races, buses to the local mall etc. are added by promoters to offer something to keep other family members (wife, kids etc) of the guy who brings the car, interested in staying all day.
The cars are the reason for the event and the others are just to try and get more participation by offering some other things to do for those that don't want to look at cars all day.
That not to say that some of the full size car guys don't like those things too, but I imagine it is the minority.
maybe a promoter can weigh in ......

 

And this kind of goofy thinking is just why this thread is needed. Crafts and trips to the mall are non-auto diversioins no doubt, and the only reason those types of vendors attend is to have the chance to make some money. But if you think the model makers aren't just as serioius as the big car guys are about their builds... you are way off the mark. You are short-changing their efforts, skills and automotive / hot rod enterests. Gary

 

Congrats Dan. You are one of a very small minority. Tell me, in that issue of the Gazette did your name or any of the details about your model also appear with the pix? Did you win an award? How many others won awards? Were pix of all the other award winners printed next to yours? How many models were entered? What club or group hosted the event or judged the cars? Etc. Etc. I don't know for sure of course, but considering all the model car event coverage I've seen, I doubt there was any substantial coverage. And, more than likely, it would be a safe bet that there was greater coverage and larger pix of customized pedal cars adjacent to, if not included with, the write-up for the model contest in that issue.

The write-ups for the modeling events generally read like "canned" press releases and include generic soup of the day statements about how everyone enjoyed seeing the models, how much fun the kids had building them, etc. Sadly, they are so uninformative as to be interchangable with any other model contest on the promoter's schedule (in any year for that matter) or printed in a side bar adjacent to any 3 random pix of model cars without notice.

I have no doubt, as an 1/8th builder myself, I saw the photo of your car, liked your build and thought it was worthy of publication. But, dare I ask, did your model appear in print because you won your class? Or was it because you were a HAMB member? Perhaps a personal friend of the promoter / photographer?

PS I'm pretty much done entering model contests, my old eyes can't do much below 1/8th scale anway, so I'm not pissed about anthing I build not making the podium or getting in print, personally. I just think it's really sad the effort and skills of the modelers aren't recognized. IT AIN"T JUST PART OF THE FUCKING CRAFT SHOW, BOYS. Gary

 

Maybe it's because there's Scale Modelers and magazines of the like that cover all of that already. Just a guess. I build models,and have had a few make it in to Lowrider Bicycle magazine when it first started,but I wasn't upset that it wasn't in Lowrider Magazine. Magazines like Lowrider,Hotrodder,OSR,CK DeLuxe,and all the like are catering to the full sized cars,not scale modeling. Maybe someone should invest in making a Scale Rod & Kustom magazine that covers the scale rod and kustom modeling community.

 

I hate to say this,but building a full sized auto and a scale model isn't even in the same ballpark. You don't have to make sure the model is dependable to drive and actually runs. No one is short changing anyone. I don't take a model car to a car show to try and win an award,I would take my full scale car there to win an award. If you want to win an award for a model car,go to a model car show,they have them all the time.

 

I suspect the vast majority of model builders that attend contests at real car shows are either too young or can't afford 1:1 builds. As you no doubt can tell, I started with models 50+ years ago and then moved into the real thing when I could. It takes every bit of conceptualizing, pre-planning. body work, detailing and painting skills in miniature, less the operational things of course, to build models. And some take a very long time to finish. I built a model drag racer in 1965 that had EVERY wire, hose and fitting a real car would have had to have to run. It even had carb return springs, working steering, a dip stick and fluids in the pan / tranny and diff. It was 1/25th scale and I was an amateur at it. I had no idea what made a car run back then, so I had to research my plumbing and wiring to make sure it was correct. Ya think I learned anything about cars doing that? Had my interests peaked for 1:1 things?

And lastly, while there are dedicated model car magazines, for some dumb ass reason they don't cover the model contests at big car events either. Go figure, as taking your models to a show at a big custom car event like Goodguys is a BIG deal. Nothing to compare to 30 models at the local hobby shop (and, BTW, those kinds of local shows have all but dried up). At a big car show, you get to see a LOT of models, see what other modelers are doing, and of course see all the real ones for inspiration. Other than the very prestigious NNL type model shows held around the country, there is NOTHING as good as a model car show at a real car event! But the coverage of them sure could be better, as would your increased understanding of what it takes to build one. Gary

 

Weird,because when I was taking them to contests at my local hobby shop,there were at least 250 cars in 9 categories,plus three best overall trophies. The big shows were held at Ontario Hilton by the airport and featured around 500+ cars. I've been building models for near 20 years now,and I still stick by what I said. A real car event is for real cars,a model car show is for model cars. You don't see people trying to win trophies for their 1:1 cars at model car events,do you? You don't see them get angry because there isn't a picture of their hot rod they drove to a model car event in a modelers magazine? I just don't get why you're so bent about it. I build models for therapy,and to keep my hand/eye dexterity sharp,not for recognition.

 

Just what year was it there were 500 models at a local hobby show? Nothing like that around here now. The big national rod and custom shows are the best places to display your work and see the real thing. Outside of attending auto racing events and getting in the pits, how else are you going to learn about cars and hot rodding? I'm NOT a trophy hound by any means and all I'm talking about is perhaps ONE full page of coverage in the Gazette per event that has a model contest - not about putting model cars on the cover or stealing the show. The Gazette wastes that much ink on photos of people at vendor stalls or crafts booths, or just standing in line at registration. And none of that coverage encourages young "real" car builders, eh? I'm fired up because I'm interesting in supporting and encouraging younger modelers and future car builders. Just like to see the ink spread around a little more. Gary

 

I'm in Southern Californi8a my friend,and trust me,the model shows out here were huge back in '94 and '95 all the way up until '98 and even as recent as 2003. The Hilton show in '96 boasted 700 models +/-. A local even at Outlaw Hobbies(Since closed,and where I used to race slot car drags,hard body class) pulled around 250-300 cars in '95 and use to get around the same turn out up until it's closing in '97 or '98. Another point I should make,is the guys shooting the car shows for the mags,make the good money off the real thing as compared to the small scale because they are being paid to cover the car show and the full sized cars,and if they even take photos of something like a model car contest or showcase,it's because they thought it might be something of interest and hope that the magazine editors will cover it.

 

I don't know why, it made it in the gazette.... I'd like to think it was in there cause it looks Bitchin'!! I don't know KIRK! personally, and I didn't even win an award (it was GG Texas 2008) I guess I understand what you're saying, but I don't care if I ever win an award, I build because I like to do it, and I please only myself. I didn't even enter any cars in the GG Texas 2009 basically because I'm lazy and didn't feel like hassling with it because the trunk of my car was filled with Hot Dogs, brats and fixings...

Honestly, I think this is a non-issue. As a modeler for 30 years, this has never crossed my mind. 99% of the car events I attend do not have model contests, so I'm glad when a promoter takes the extra effort to do one. Anything else beyond that is a bonus.

 

The Goodguys Gazette had a monthly model column for YEARS. It was cancelled due to lack of interest. I didn't even receive ONE letter when it was gone, and I get letters all the time about everything else under the sun.

I'm a huge model fan, and the model contest and Make 'n Take at EVERY Goodguys event are frequent stops of mine so I can check out what's there.

 

There is nothing "Goofy" about this thinking. Look at KIRK!'s response to dropping the column. None of the model car guys even cared enough to write in about the cancelled column. The fact is these are CAR SHOWS - not model car shows. I am not degrading the efforts or seriousness of the builders, and nowhere did I say that.
I think the goofy thinking is that you expect CAR SHOW coverage to give more space to something that is not the main focus of the show. It's as "Goofy"" as the guy who complained that when he brought his restored boat to a car show it didn't get any big recognition - It wasn't a Boat Show, nor are these events model Car shows.
I dig looking at the highly detailed versions but don't ever expect that they will be more than a side show to the main event.

 

I noticed it was gone, but probably me, Fidgiter and 5 other guys read the column!

 

Well, shit, Fidgter was my hope for it. His stuff is incredible, but he fell off the map with regards to the Gazette for some reason and stopped sending his article in.

 

For Kirk, Dan and all, I noticed it was gone, too. But I never thought "how-to" articles like the last big one Ira did were appropriate either. Sorry for the drama, but it's just hard to believe nobody cares that much anymore. I guess video games and diecast killed it all, eh?

As much as I dig the GG Gazette - where else can you get a big, glossy full color pub with coverage of that many great cars from around the Nation?- I sure wish one page per event could be focused on models that win in their respective categories. A double pager over the gutter would be astounding and certainly too hard to accomplish.

In the brown-nosing department, the Gazette is certainly a better deal than subscriptions to other monthly rags like Street Rodder if you want to keep up with what's going. The the price of membership in the GG alone is well worth paying just to get the Gazette even if you didn't have a suitable car!

I digress... the March 2010 issue covered two big car shows. Unless I missed something, or didn't count well, the Texas coverage ran from page 18 to 101!!! Discounting the advertising, there was about a page of vendor pix, 1/2 page on the models (with the world's most generic write-up and it also included a very non-appropriate pedal car photo in my opinion), two pages on the autocross (who won?), a page on the swap meet, 1 pix in a small side bar on the PPG coloring contest, a page on the stock car rides, and a little over a page listing the member cars that won awards - with the owner's names and home towns.

Pocono coverage ran from page 106 -176. The PPG coloring contest got a side bar with a few pix, 1/3 page on a band, 1/3 page on some face painting clowns (literally), 1/2 on the swap meet, 1/2 on vendors, 2 pages on the autocross and (UNBELIEVABLE, the top winners were named!), a page on the track cruise, 1/2 page on the swap meet, and about a page listing the winners in the 1:1 car categories. Unless I missed it, there was not a model contest there.

Before sliding off the soap box and back into the crowd... I just can't see how hard it could be to have a photog / reporter take clear, up close pix of the winning models and get them published with the names of their builders just like the big cars. How much room could it take? What would have to be sacrificed?

What other "events" - and I mean competitive events- held within the scope of the entire weekend involve designing, building, modifiying, customizing, displaying (or operating) vehicles other than the big car show, the model car contest, and the autocross?

Thanx for listening. Gary

PS.. forgot to add the March GGG did find room for 2-1/2 pages on expensive GMP diecasts. That'd be great, excpet they are made in CHINA! The Speedway motors of diecast. No wonder I'm grumpy.

 

Gary, you may be fighting an uphill battle that you will have a very difficult time winning, but I applaud you for trying.


While I agree, I’d like to see more coverage, the sad reality I’m afraid is that model car building has become a dying hobby and using model contests as a way to entice young minds into becoming hotrodders is a method that has run its course. There are a few youngsters that are into it because their parents are, but for the most part it’s the adults themselves that are barely keeping the hobby alive. The kit manufacturers are nearly gone, or struggling to stay afloat by catering to adults. They have to charge 25-30 bucks a kit in order to stay in business, and they simply are not going after the young builders anymore.


The big model car shows that I’ve been to and the magazines that cover them are oriented toward adult hobbyists, not children. The NNLs are exhibits only and not contests. Their level of build quality, attention to detail and time invested in their models is far beyond the attention span of the average 12 year old.


There was a time when every small five and dime had a large selection of model car kits, and even grocery stores had them. Hobby shops of course had everything that the builder could ever want, but they were mostly forced out of business when Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Toys-R-Us started handling model car kits. In their heyday, these places had huge selections of model car kits, and the hobby shops just couldn’t compete. Now the big box stores have quit handling model car kits, and you almost can’t find one anymore unless you go to a craft store or shop online. Most kids would rather play with their X-Box.

 

I live in Orange, CA and there are at least Two Hobby stores that have a H U G E collection of model kits for sale. Not hard to find at all! And the Long Beach and Pomona Swap meets always have a ton of New Unopened ones as well.

 

If so, you are lucky, and I hope you patronize those places so they will stay in business. Around here, hobby shops are far and few between, and when you do find one, they are mostly oriented toward R/C, railroad, or women's crafts and art supplies. When you go in, do you see a lot of kids hanging around? I'm not talking about the one or two with their dad, I'm talking about the half dozen that rode their bikes there. Probably not.

Years ago, there were at least ten places within an easy bike ride where I could buy a model car kit. Now, I have to get in the car and drive to one of the few places that sell them, or like you say look for a swap meet. Not easy for a kid, even if he or she had the money to buy one.

 

wellllllll..... If you read some of the coverage of the 2009 Billetproof shows the model contests were mentioned and pictures published. I know that there were a couple of stories that mentioned the Billetproof Florida model car show as the biggest in the state.

Also know that at Billetproof shows I personally make the trophy for and pic a Billetproof Model Car pick (that usually includes a batch of Billetproof swag as part of the prize).

a suggestion... write up a story and take pics of the model car shows at 1:1 car shows that you attend and send it to the magazines you'd like to see it in. Magazines LOVE pre-made content.

from Billetproof Florida:





From Billetproof Washington:

 

This is a bit of a side track, just wanted to point out that the local Berkeley Ace Hardware here on Univ. Ave. is an old school store and has an odd and surprisingly huge hobby shop in the basement with tons of models and trains too. They even have dedicated staff just working in that area. The owner must be a big time hobby buff or something. It is a bit odd to just run into that when looking for some plumbing parts. The store is definitely quirky and stuff in it is not the cheapest you will find, but it is the closest store to me and I go there for things just to help support a local store and the hobby things too even though I have't done any of that since I was a kid. My 3yr old son loves going there though. If you are ever in the area and into that stuff, might be worth checking out. I have no idea how they keep it up keeping against the Internet, but hope they can keep at it.