Steve Geer

You nailed it all: Imagination, ingenuity, aesthetics and class-A construction – what a build! Who would ask for more? Tremendous job there Steve.

I’m sure there will be plenty of snarky comments about how atrociously miss-proportioned the original 1/24 Monogram ’69 Camaro Z/28 is – and they would be absolutely correct! It almost hurts to even look at it . . . But there are zillions of them still out there along with new ones being sold once again under the Revell label. I’d avoid that Camaro kit like the plague but, if you happen to end up with one, there is a method of salvation if anyone wants to do the work. Section It! Take a small horizontal slice (maybe 2.5 scale inches) out of the upper body (just above the character line over the wheel arches) and slap it back together. Of course, almost nothing else in the kit will fit correctly after sectioning the body, but if you’re a real glutton for punishment just to improve it’s wretched shape, you’ve got nothing to lose. I repeat: Nothing! I rebuilt one of ‘em doing that mod quite a few years ago – here’s pix of the basic modification and finished product.

Scale Equipment Ltd. Rally II wheel w/trim ring . . . Basically a resin repo of an MPC 14"(?) Pontiac wheel from the late 1970's -- fits quite a few different kit tires.

In addition to the magnificent Fireball Rally II rims/trim rings, there is yet anther option. Scale Equipment Ltd. also offers a resin set with and without chromed trim rings. http://seltd.net/ez-catalog/X344897/24

Thanks Tom! Great to get the compliments, Steve -- Thanks! and nice to get a confirmation that building meaningful cars from our past is a worthwhile direction. Thank you Ismael for the kind comments. So many cars play roles in our lives and they each have a story. I hope yours are memorable also. Wow, Dennis -- thanks so much for the compliment! Enjoyed the mention of your cousin and his GTO. I've owned two different ones and they were truly my favorites over the years (long time Pontiac guy). Wish I still had 'em . . . Thank you David! Your comments are appreciated. I'm leaning toward doing more of my real-life rides (when/if I can find the pieces) and I'll take the encouragement 'cuz you're right: The flashbacks are a kick . . . Thanks Don -- The comparison is a nice compliment. Only wish the model could be translated back to the 1:1 . . . without the wreckage

Thank you Donato -- appreciate the New Year wish and kind comments. Thanks Bob. I've recently started building more replicas of cars from my younger days and while they can sometimes be more difficult than customs or modified rides, the can also be more rewarding too. Sorry your old ride faced the same fate as my GTO -- ouch! -- hopefully you modeled it and at least have a replica to fill some of the void. Appreciate the comment -- thanks Mike!

Thanks Michelle! Appreciate the compliment. Thanks! Much appreciated Craig, Thanks! Thanks for the compliment Keith, appreciate it. Yes, Phil, it is indeed a treat to have a replica on the shelf . . . since another full-scale GTO is beyond my reach at this point. Thanks! Thank you Tom and Don for the kind words on the model. The 1:1 GTO was an awesome machine and even 45 years after its end I still miss driving it, but I REALLY wish I'd never missed that stop sign . . . It was a fun and occasionally exhausting build but glad to have it. Thanks for the compliment. Thank you Larry, Chris & Bill -- the kind compliments are greatly appreciated Appreciate the thought -- thank you David! Thanks for the compliment John, but . . . Ouch Hate it when that happens and anyone loses a favorite driver in a wreck - especially a Camaro. Never a good day. Always glad to get another compliment Terry - many thanks! Wish it wasn't a choice between one or the other but . . . thanks for the kind words! Appreciate the kind words -- it was a challenge at certain points but I knew the subject matter would be worth it Thanks for the acknowledgement. My workbench and I were sorta strangers in '23 but hopefully we'll get to be friends again this year. Thanks for the compliment on the GTO Thank you David -- appreciate the kind words. Love hearing the compliments -- thanks Carl! AND to everyone: Thank you all . . . I get a huge amount of inspiration from this forum and the many talented builders who hang here, not to mention getting to read all the encouraging words. Means a great deal. I also have to give a shout out to Can-Con [Steve Milberry] (https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/profile/14864-can-con/ ) for adding extra inspiration to my build with his beautifully done GTO/Judge model from 2015. I'd always had the desire to build a 1/25 scale replica of my GTO but his model pushed me to get it started and gave me an idea of how it should be done.

I generally build models that originate in my imagination but this time I attempted a 1/25 scale replica of the 1969 Pontiac GTO I owned in my (much) younger days. It’s taken years as my modeling mojo ebbed and flowed but somehow it finally came down to ‘now or never’ to get it across the finish line so I could at least claim one completed build for 2023. Yes, there are a few fiddly finishing details and touch ups that didn’t quite make the deadline — wipers, antenna, outside rear-view mirror, etc., but I’m tired . . . those will get added soon. So here’s what went into it: The exterior is a Model King funny car body — which is a re-mold from the original dealer promo tooling. I opened the hood and added bracing around the engine bay, but other than that, and cleaning up seams/sink marks, it’s just as it came from the box. The interior tub and seats (with the correct upholstery pattern & door engraving) were salvaged from a badly smashed ’69 promo I found at a swap meet long ago. I removed the armrest/center console to make it authentic to my 1:1. The promo’s dashboard was missing so it was replaced with one from a Monogram 1/24 Judge (a surprisingly good fit!), an A/C vent outlet was added and I cobbled up a little floor mounted 8-track player, reminiscent of the aftermarket unit the original owner had installed prior to my purchase. The engine, chassis & running gear were sourced from a reissue MPC 1972 GTO kit. I swapped the kit-supplied automatic trans for a 4-speed then added wiring, plumbing & a few air conditioning pieces as under-hood details. The fan shroud came from a discarded die-cast, which also donated the fixed-headlamp grills. The Rally II wheels came from (I think) a Revell-issue ‘70 Trans Am, wrapped in tires from my spares. Although my life-size GTO was born wearing ‘Limelight Green’ paint, I had it re-sprayed Pontiac’s 1973 ‘Florentine Red’ shortly after buying it. The model’s matching color came from Automotive Touchup, with a coat of Tamiya TS-74 Clear Red for a little added depth. That was followed by several coats of TS-13 Clear and polishing. The upholstery was sprayed with Tamiya TS-7 Racing White (a close approximation of Pontiac’s pearly off-white “Parchment”) and the carpet is embossing powder. The windshield got a sun-shade and all the inside/outside trim is good ol’ Bare Metal Foil with some brushed-on Molitow here and there. I’ve often said that GTO “fit” me better than virtually any other car I’ve owned since — it was such a blast to drive — making the creation of this replica a rewarding nostalgia build . . . even if it took forever to complete. Anyway, may everybody's 2024 modeling wishes all come true — Happy New Year! And thanks for looking. Comments and questions always welcome. This was the inspiration car — my 1:1 ’69 GTO (including evidence of its unfortunate demise):

Have several but t his one was sitting right up front in the display cabinet . . .

Scale Auto Enthusiast June 2000

Impressive work on your Forty Fordor conversion – looks straight from the factory. Great job! I’ve had the same transformation on my workbench for several years. After seeing yours I’m feeling motivated to continue the build in the hope of getting mine to turn out half as nice.

Several of my cars from eons ago . . . and their replicas. The 1960 Corvair 500 was my first car, purchased in 1966 and the Triumph TR3 was my wheels around 1973 or so. The replica Corvair was constructed from an SMP (AMT) annual kit and the Triumph built from an old US Airfix (Hubley?) kit. My 1969 GTO was procured sometime in 1975 and the 1/25 replica was built from pieces of an MPC promo annual and a bunch of other parts. In each case, my original 1:1’s were all somewhat rattier than their shiny styrene counterparts portray. But hey, those were the good ol’ days . . .

Fireball Modelworks sells a beautiful set of 1/25 GM external door handles (8 to a package) . . . which I've actually used on a Corvair 🙂 https://www.fireballmodels.info/fmr-047.htm

First model car kit I ever attempted long, long ago and I’ve tried at least twice more over the decades to make a decent model out of that kit . . . without much luck. The Caddy is indeed a tough build but you clearly mastered it. Beautiful job and stellar photography!

When I first started going to car shows, customized hot rods were prevalent and seeing one these days really brings it all back. You did a stellar job of capturing the “look” of that era. You nailed the concept, color and detailing perfectly. What a terrific build!

Many fire and emergency vehicle decals and other paraphernalia here: Mostly 1/64 scale but some generic 1/24 sheets as well, such as below. https://inquarters.com/Fire_Decals.html

Beautiful T-Bird! Color, stance, detail -- everything adding up to one great lookin' model. Even the inverted rear bumper looks as though Ford might have built it that way.

Thank you for the kind compliments gentlemen . . . I appreciate the interest and responses. Haven't posted a lot of completions lately since many of my projects keep getting stalled but nostalgia sort of drove the Corvair to almost finish itself. Have 3 more cars from my past underway -- hope you'll also like the next ones also.

Thank you Tom - that's gratifying. Yeah, it was surprisingly enjoyable to see a little history come to life as I built it and I sort of took a page out of your book with the extra personal details to coincide with the build. Thanks Jim. Appreciate it. Thank you Emre . . . there's a bit of nostalgia underlying everything I build but nothing quite so personal as this one. It did turn out pretty well and I appreciate the kind comments. Thank you Ray. Lots I admire about your work and I appreciate you noticing mine. Thanks Roger Yeah, Steve . . . It was a fun voyage on the old S.S. Nostalgia for sure and thank you for the kind comments. Thank you Bruce -- Glad you like it. That car wasn't much of a performer, but it gave me a lifelong appreciation for Corvairs and I still love the Gen 2 models like your '66. They were lots more potent. Thank you Bill - appreciate the thought. Thanks for the compliment Dave. I tore through a lot of cars over the years and, like you, almost no pictures to commemorate them . . . but even without visual evidence, those rides were still important. Keep on buildin' models of them old beasts, even if you're the only one who recognizes them. Thanks Eric! If it didn't have the personal history, it's doubtful I'd have ever built an old Corvair just for fun. Thank for the kind words Nigel. Glad you enjoyed the narrative. Appreciate the kind words gentlemen. Thank you! Thanks for the nice comments, David -- I appreciate it. As I said earlier on, the stories and history are about the only reason I'd model certain cars, especially ones that hard to find. eBay to the rescue, again (LOL). Thank you Anders -- appreciate the kind thought

A teenager and his first car. The blurry Polaroid below, taken in 1968, shows me standing next to possibly the best $150.00 I ever spent — a decaying 1960 Corvair 500. I called it freedom on wheels . . . and life was grand! Fast forward 54 years . . . I got an urge to replicate it in miniature, so in February I bought the first of three (3) eBay glue-bombs/wrecks toward that end. It took two more original-build junkers to accumulate enough salvageable parts to make a complete model but I think the result came out decently. The model was a pretty straightforward (re)build, and once I had enough good components, recreating my Corvair in scale really wasn’t tough. The ancient SMP (AMT) ’60 Corvair kit is generally accurate and pretty well molded but it represents Chevrolet’s upscale model ‘700’ version . . . so some mods were needed to downgrade it to the base model I owned — most notably removing the belt-line trim molding and sanding down the seats and door panels to eliminate the engraving patterns of the dressed-up variant. Since all Corvairs of that era had a fold-down rear seat that made a flat cargo deck extending back to the engine compartment, I removed the model’s package tray and created a recessed parcel well under the rear window. I added a few visible amenities that I equipped my Corvair with over time. A second set of taillights (from a junkyard wreck) covered by some flat, clear red, plastic lenses I cast in a high-school arts class. All the Chevrolet & Corvair emblems were removed except the winged insignia between the headlights. The original Corvair’s interior was refreshed with a new set of seat covers in a faux-tweed vinyl which I duplicated with some homemade patterned decals. A couple styrene blocks represent the added-on arm-rests I also grabbed from the junkyard donor. And, finally (at the urging {insistence?} of my dad) the Corvair received a set of aftermarket seat belts which I duplicated on the model. The paint is Dupli-Color Universal Black over wet-sanded Tamiya gray primer with a light Novus polishing. Dashboard gauge & radio faces came from Best Model Car Parts. The best set of windows was buffed out and dipped in Future (or whatever you call that stuff now) and the whitewall tire stripes were created with a Gelly Roll paint pen. The bumpers were refurbished with BMF in places and the antenna was made from guitar string; the exhaust pipe from bent and flattened aluminum tubing and some undercarriage detail was picked out with paint pens and a bit of dry-brushing. Everything else is 60+ year old AMT kit parts. So, was my Corvair unsafe at any speed? Maybe; maybe not. All I remember is that the car and I both went a lot further in the late Sixties than anyone thought we should have. Thanks for looking! – Comments and questions welcome.

The old built-up model I purchased turned out to be beyond salvation so I'm no longer in need of the bumpers at this time.

That is simply stunning! Beautiful paint and a terrific combination of components make a gorgeous GTO . . . no matter how many years it took!

I just purchased an old built-up AMT (SMP?) 1960 Corvair which I’ll be restoring to replicate a full-size one I owned many years ago. Both front and rear bumpers are broken and I’m hoping someone has a set they’d be willing to let go or trade for? Any first-gen (’60—’64) Corvair bumpers would work. Thanks!

Super nice MG Trevor – the interior, paint color and trim work are all exceptional. Great piece of modeling!

Thank you gentlemen . . . appreciate all the kind words. I probably never will go through the work to save something that rough again (fixing the pillars was pretty much beyond MY skill set when I tackled it, but necessity is definitely a mother . . .) anyhow, my original notion was to build a replica of the 1:1 '69 GTO I owned back in the '70s. It came to a sad end (see photo) and I've always wanted to do a full-detail tribute model. Luckily, I recently found another one of these MPC bodies in great shape so . . . stay tuned!