My First Memory of Model Building

I remember when I was about five or six years old, my father sitting at a card table that he set up in the living room. I said, What are you doing daddy? He replied, that he was going to build a model ship. I was fascinated at the concept, even though I had no idea what a model was at the time. I gazed in wonder as he open the box to reveal all the parts. I was amazed as he started gluing the ship's hull together. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen! Everything was going along just fine and the model ship was coming to life before my very eyes. I really enjoyed talking to my father as he worked on this model. Then  one evening, things took a turn for the worst as he attempted to attach the rigging. He became frustrated, and then mad and then he got up and left the table. When he returned he seemed ready to try it again. After a couple minutes his frustration returned. The next thing I know he was cussing at that model ship and then he threw it in the trash can and that was the end of that!

Unfortunately for my father, he picked a kit that was too hard for him and sadly, he never built another model again. To this day, I have never built a model ship! I turned to model cars and trucks as the subject manner that I enjoy building. The valuable lesson I learned from that day was to start out with an easy model and work you way up to the harder kits as your skills improve. When you do that you will build confidence to try harder kits and you will fall in love with the hobby! Model building is supposed to be an enjoyable diversion from the stress of daily living. Keep it simple and have fun! Go ahead and start building!!

The oldest model in my collection, 1970 Plymouth GTX

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/

It All Started With A Corvette!

When I was a kid, my Uncle Jim had a blue book shelf in the corner of his bedroom and on the top shelf was a row of model cars. In fact, they were all Chevrolet Corvettes. He had a model for every year through the 50's and 60's. I was amazed at how beautiful they were. I would go up to his room and stare at them everyday. I admired the details of each model and how well my uncle had put them together. This may also be the first time I can remember giving into temptation. I had been told not to touch the Corvettes by my uncle. One day it was too much handle and I picked up one of his models. It was a '57 Corvette and I started playing with it. Before I knew it, parts started falling off of it and then the front wheel fell off! Oh no, I had done it now. I placed it back on the shelf hoping my uncle wouldn't notice, but I knew he would and that I was going to be in big trouble! The lesson learned that day was don't touch what isn't yours. My uncle was mad at me. I received two spankings that day, one from my grandmother and other from my dad! I guess that's what made that day so memorable. It's funny when you look back and see how the events of one day can change your life forever. That day was the moment I decided I wanted to build model cars!

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/

Dodge Ram 3500 Service Truck

My family and I have worked in the the construction field for years in one form or another. I started working on heavy equipment when I worked for Genstar Stone Products Company back in the mid eighties. I have always wanted to build a model of a mechanic's service truck. I decided to start with an AMT Dodge Ram 3500 Dually Snapfast Plus kit. I added a laptop to the cab's interior and I modified the seat so that the center storage section was in the lowered position for additional workspace.

Here's the first mock-up of the utility body.

A resin utility body from Modelhaus was added and then I started adding other accesories including an air compressor with gas engine, a hose reel made from a sewing machine bobbin, impact gun, a water cooler, fire extinguisher, a vise on the rear bumper, chain, tool box, gas can and a hydraulic cylinder from the AMT Cat D8 Bulldozer.

Duplicolor saddle tan paint was used. The utility body interior was painted with flat black to simulate a spray on bedliner. The decals came from AMT's Autocar dump truck kit. The chrome wheels were stripped and painted gray black center caps with and I weathered the tires with real mud! This is one of my favorite models because it was so much fun to build. I was very happy with the results. I have also won a couple trophies with it at different model shows. That's what it all about, having fun!

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/

2003 Jeep Rubicon Ocean Lifeguard Unit

I wanted to build a model of a Lifeguard unit that you might see on a beach somewhere. My first thoughts were of the lifeguard rigs on the TV show Baywatch. There were other cool things to check out besides watching Pamela Anderson run down the beach in that red bathing suit! I noticed these cool looking rigs on the beach. This Jeep Rubicon Ocean Lifeguard Unit is my version of one of those rigs you might find here on the East Coast beaches using the Jeep Rubicon as the basis for the build. This has turned out to be one of my favorite models. It was so much fun to build! 

The starting point was Revell's Lara Croft Tomb Raider Jeep Rubicon.

(A full plastic version of this kit will be coming soon!)

The rear seat was left out and a treadplate floor covered with Bare Metal Foil was added. The kit off-road lights were cut down from four lights to three and turned into an emergency light and mounted to the hood. That turned out pretty cool.

I started by scratchbuilding a new roll cage using Plaststruct tubing. Then various accessories were added such as a resin surfboard, flippers, stokes basket,whip antenna and radio.

I found the decals and some of lifeguard accesories in this kit that I purchased on ebay. It only cost me $3.00. When I received it there truck wasn't in it. I contacted the seller and he ended up sending my money and told me to keep the kit. What a bargin!

Great looking surfboard from my friend Norm Veber at Replica & Miniatures Company of Maryland. I've been told that the only missing is a scale version of Pamela Anderson!

Check out my other models at my Fotki photo sharing website. http://public.fotki.com/Wheels4ever/