Tom Geiger Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 I was going through some albums the other day and thought I’d share. This is the first model I built as an adult, back when I decided I wanted to get back to the hobby. It’s the Johan 62 Studebaker Lark convertible. This was a current release when I bought it at Hobby Masters in Red Bank, NJ back some 30 years ago. The Stude was dear to me because my father bought a four door sedan new. It was our family car through 1966. Later on I actually owned a 1:1 for a bunch of years. I promised myself I’d be careful and do my best. Still, I didn’t know much about model building techniques, and available tools and materials just yet. For instance, the finish is hardware store brand spray paint and I did so directly onto the black bare plastic. I didn’t know to prime it! Somehow I got a nice finish! On my first shot, all the trim was brushed Testors silver. It’s still so on the windshield frame, but once I learned about Bare Metal Foil, I went back and redid the side trim. I had come into two sheets of the Autoworld license plates, so I used the Hawaii pair here since it’s a convertible. On my build, the chassis was just sprayed flat black. A few years later I went back and gave it the weathering treatment once I learned how to do that. It was key that I was successful in building this model. I had tried and failed on another model a few years earlier. I don’t know if I would have continued if this one went south. Soon after finishing this Studebaker, I discovered Scale Auto Enthusiast Magazine on a news stand in Boston while visiting there. In the back, there was a classified ad for the Tristate Scale Model Car Club. I responded and the rest is history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spottedlaurel Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Really interesting to see and hear about it Tom, it's stood the test of time very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drodg Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 That still looks very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertw Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 My first 1 to1 car was a handed down 1954 Stude in the mid 1960s. Drove it for a few years then got a newer car, sure wish I'd kept it but then I'm sure we all have cars that we wished we had kept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewetwo Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Looks great Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatz4u Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Tom, your Lark looks very nice, while mine didn't hold up as well......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixties Sam Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Nice model and interesting story, Tom. I like old Studes! Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doorsovdoon Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 I haven't seen this kit before. Looks really nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Nice looking Lark Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom99 Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Looking very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phildaupho Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 Very interesting and enjoyable slice of history. Good looking model as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicgas Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr moto Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 That's a great story, Tom, and a great looking build. A Johan 62 Lark was also the first model I built when I returned to the hobby and I painted it white but with a blue interior. I'm a lifelong Stude enthusiast and also built the first release of that kit back in 1962. It got painted red that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve H Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 Hi Tom, nice build. I really love hearing the history and stories behind the models. Thanks for sharing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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