Contributors

Bill Coulter, writer/builder

At 71, Bill Coulter has witnessed pretty much the whole model car-building phenomenon…from the beginning. He’s been building something for over sixty years. Starting around 1950 with a fascination with anything with four wheels, Coulter cut his teeth on Ace wood kits, Revell Highway Pioneers, the occasional airplane model, and many other obscure kits not deserving of mention here.

Bill was your typical closet model car builder, as it wasn’t a popular activity with the other farm kids he grew up with. It wasn’t something his parents admired most about him back in the day, either. In spite of that, he never stopped working to improve his skills, learning everything the hard way by the old-school, trial and error method. During this period (mid-50’s), the Revell-AMT 1/32nd scale American car series were his favorite, building subjects.

By 1958, AMT released their first 3-n-1 annual kits and for Bill it was a total redefinition of the hobby. Those breakthrough kits were the mainstay of his model building for many years. Also, (along with two close buds), he competed in the Fisher Body Craftsmans Guild, which was an annual contest sponsored by General Motors. It was a life-changing opportunity for him to expand his hands-on model building skill set. Learning to sculpt clay, mold hydro-cal plaster, machine various metals and develop hand-made talents that would prove essential to him in later years.

Bill was able to maintain his connection to model car building while he studied Industrial Design at the University of Cincinnati. After graduation in 1965, and between a marriage, a full-time job, and starting a family, somehow Bill was able to keep active in his chosen pastime.

By the late 1960’s, what really elevated Coulter’s building level was something they call “synergy”. Simply put, it’s where a group’s influence often results in expanding one’s individual awareness, imagination and final output.

Over the years Bill has continued to broaden his building subjects and increase his overall interests in the whole hobby realm.

Since his first published article in Car Model magazine in January 1970, many doors have opened for Coulter. He’s been blessed with the opportunity of writing for just about every model magazine (foreign and domestic) that’s been in print. Bill was never a contest-style builder, choosing instead to build and write more for the “everyman” in our hobby.

Since that time, Bill has penned hundreds of articles and columns, and he’s written nine books to date. Some have said Bill Coulter has probably written well over one million words about this model car-building hobby he loves so much. He was inducted into the International Model Car Writer/Builder Hall of Fame in 2006.

You can believe Bill Coulter will continue doing what he’s been devoted to for sixty plus years, as only God himself knows how many more years folks will have to put up with his blah-blah-blah.

 

 

 

Contributors

Jairus Watson, SketchPad

Jairus Watson is one of the best automotive artists in the country (yes, we’re biased), and his work has been featured here in Model Cars Magazine since the first issues, and even the old Plastic Fanatic Magazine. He also happens to be one of my bestest friends…

He lives up in Salem, Oregon, and is active in the model car clubs up in the Northwest.

You can check out his personal web site: JairusWatson.net

Contributors

Keith Kaucher, SketchPad

Santa Monica Hidden Talents: Customs Car Designer Keith Kaucher

Keith Kaucher’s design career started professionally in 1994 getting his first custom car design a ’69 ZR-1 powered Camaro concept published in Car Craft magazine, but in reality Keith career really started a long time before that.

 If anyone was destined to have a career in the car industry, it was Keith. Born in Santa Monica, CA in October 1960 to Martin, and Elizabeth Kaucher, He could literally name every car on the road by the time he was three, when he was five his father Martin an aircraft engineer started teaching him how to draw cars.

 Though he learned his drawing skills from his father it was his mother Elizabeth that he inhere rated his strong sense of balance and flow in design.

 Keith was nine when he started building scale models of his favorite street cars, and at 15 he began putting his design skills together with his model building skills creating one off custom cars.  

 Another big influence on Keith was his Uncle Alec also an avid car enthusiast he had several hot Chevys when Keith was growing up.  One of those Chevys was a 1966 SS 396 Chevelle.  It was silver with a painted black roof from the factory and his Uncle had modified the car with a set of 15 x 8.5 American Torq-Thrusts.   Keith just loved that car and remembers that car being a part of a life defining moment for him.

 It was in the Summer of 1971  Keith was 10 years old, his Uncle Al, Uncle Jerry, his cousin Geno and himself went to a Mama Papa burger aka  A&W  in Selma CA. one afternoon.

 He said his Uncles were in there early twenties at that time and popular with the girls locally so soon as they pulled in, these beautiful young women came up to the car a couple got into the back seat with Keith and his cousin Geno.

 The girls played up to the two youngsters in the back seat rubbing their heads and hugging them.  The song In a Gadda Da Vida was playing on his Uncle’s 8 track player.  Keith realized at that moment that this was going to be his life.  He had no idea that it would be in the design field at that time, but he knew he was hooked on the lifestyle.

 That car and that moment was such a big deal to Keith that he still has a picture of his Uncle Al and the SS396 Chevelle hanging over his design table to this day and his favorite custom wheel is still the American Torq- Thrust.

 It was about six years later that knew he wanted to be involved with car design. He started writing letters to General Motors asking about how to become a car designer and submitted work to them, they were impressed but surprised when they found out that Keith was only 16, but wrote him back with letters of encouragement.

 Keith’s fascination didn’t stop at car design, at 14 he began working with his next door neighbor Frank on a ’62 Corvette that he owned since 1963.  Keith honed his mechanical skills and became fascinated with engines and how to build them up for racing.

He double majored in Santa Monica High School in Art and Auto Mechanics.  After graduation he worked as a mechanic in Speed Shops and in various other automotive related jobs, while he attended Santa Monica City College.  He then went on to California State University of California where he graduated with a BA in Industrial Design.

 In 1995 Keith was hired by Superior Industries to design OEM and Aftermarket wheels, while he worked there full time he continued designing customs for clients on the side.  In 1999 he left to pursue a freelance career, it was about then that his career shifted into high gear.

Since then Keith’s work has graced the pages of Rod & Custom, Hot Rod, Truckin’ Classic Truck, Mustangs & Fords, Mustangs Illustrated, Popular Hot Rodding, Kit Car,and Hot VW magazines, not only contributing artwork, but writing the accompanying articles as well.

Keith’s success designing custom wheels for the aftermarket wheel industry fueled Kaucher Kustoms’ drive into the custom car market.  Keith was producing several custom car designs a year when his brother Mitchell joined the team in 2005.  Mitch, formerly a practicing attorney, partnered with Keith as Kaucher Kustoms began to grow. Mitch has proven to be a great addition and a fast read since he joined the team. Mitch now manages the business, sells their services, negotiates and writes contracts and sets up all show venues for the company.

In 2006 Keith and Mitch showed up with a customized 1954 Ford Victoria at the Grand National Roadster Show and left with a first place for Best Post War Hardtop Traditional Custom.

The slick looking Ford went on to be featured in several magazines, collected 17 1st place trophies out 19  California custom car shows entered, including Blackie’s Fresno Autorama  and was a feature car at the 2006 SEMA show in Las Vegas Nevada.

Since then Kaucher Kustoms has designed more than thirty custom cars ranging from ’36 De Soto Airflow to a ‘09 Camaro.  In April of 2009 Kaucher Kustoms was asked by the Good Guys organization to design the 2010 Grand prize Give Away car.  Keith designed a ’70 Mustang he named the Boss Snake, part Shelby part Boss 429 this car now completed is a real eye turner.

There are still about 15 cars still under construction now and we should begin to see them hitting the car show circuit by mid 2010.  So keep your eyes peeled at shows for cars with design by Keith Kaucher of Kaucher Kustoms on the sign board.

Contributors

Tim Boyd, Writer

Tim Boyd has been building model cars since the early 1960’s. His first contest entry was awarded Fourth Place Nationwide in the 1968 Dodge/Car Model Magazine/MPC Funny Car Contest. He went on to become a frequent winner in the 1970’s MPC National Model Car Championship, including Second Place Nationwide finishes in both 1976 and 1978, and the highest combined finish by a builder in a single year (Second and Third Place in 1978) during the entire history of the contest.

Tim’s freelance model car journalism career started in 1978 with a 17 year run as the author/photographer of the monthly “Modeler’s Corner” feature in Street Rodder magazine. He has been a regular contributor to model car magazines since 1979. He has contributed many articles to Model Cars magazine, and also contributed to its predecessor, Plastic Fanatic. In total, his work has been published in over 25 different magazine titles worldwide. In 2000, he was inducted into the National Model Car Builder’s Museum Hall of Fame as its “Writer/Builder” nominee for that year. Tim also authored the book “Collecting Model Car and Truck Kits” (MBI Publishing, 2001).

His full time career is in the 1/1 scale auto industry, where he just began his 35th year as an employee of one of the major automotive manufacturers. His current title is “Director, Design Strategic Concepts Group” and he reports to the Group Vice President, Design and Chief Creative Officer of the company.

Visit Tim’s website for thousands of photos of his model car projects as well as several “on-line how-to” articles.

Contributors

Scott Colmer, How-To Articles

The first model I built (or rebuilt) was a partially assembled Monogram Black Widow that I found at the bottom of a large wooden toy box that my Great Grandmother kept.  That was 1966. Since then I have built nothing but cars. Race cars, hot rods, and custom creations are what I like most.  I always strive to produce something unique and entertaining.

I live in Southern California with my wife Nani and our two sons Kyle and Justin. I also have a son, Sean, who lives in Spain. I have built models with all of them.  The pleasure of teaching family members to build a model is very close the same fulfillment I get when producing a How-To article explaining how to construct a part of some sort. I have enjoyed building models and being part of the modeling community for over 45 years.