Von Don Koolkat

I'd rather do the right thing and use the coupon as it's intended. Otherwise, it's akin to switching price tags. Just sayin;..Same if I'm undercharged - notify the cashier and give the excess back.

Things like this can be solved simply by subscribing to the mags you like. Then you don't miss any of them.

I've known Bill for years and talk to him every year at Santa Maria. He is happy to do a model show pick there for me (in my latest issue).. He is a real gentleman and craftsman. The stogie is his trademark. Bill was well known LONG BEFORE Monster Garage.

Tim, the last year for the model car contest (run by Bob Paeth) for the Oakland Roadster Show at the old Exposition Building was 1963. Having just moved from Lincoln, Nebraska, the first year I attended the Oakland Roadster Show was 1964, There was no model car contest at the 1964 show. I remember being disappointed in there not being a model contest, and frankly was highly disappointed in the change in style of the full size hot rods and customs. Although they were very well built, they didn't look like the ones I had seen in Car Craft and Rod & Custom magazines. From my recollections, Mark Gustavson had told me the project was based upon the 1960-63 shows, allowing replica models of rods and customs that 'could' have conceivably been at the ORS. In this way, the choices of models to be built was wider. At that time of the project, documentation and photos of this building (which had been torn down) were sparse. I think they (mostly Ken Hamilton) did an awesome job on this. I wanted to participate in the project, but it wasn't meant to be. The completion of the Oakland Roadster Show Diorama and subsequent article inspired me to build my own version of the show. Ken Hamilton graciously furnished me with information on the structure that he had. I decided on a different view of the show. I also chose to omit the elaborate roof superstructure but retain the columns, catwalks, and walls. The finished diorama of mine is 6 ft x 30 inches - just the right size for a folding table. I was assisted in this project by Bob Karoll, Dan Morris, Robert Blanco, and Fred Huff. My project was finished just in time for the fiftieth anniversary Grand National Roadster Show in 1999 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Due to it's size, I've only shown my diorama at 2 other shows - one local one, and once at West Coast Kustoms Paso Robles car show. The late Eric Rickman recognized the show diorama right away. With the internet today, there's a lot more photos and information available on the Oakland Roadster Show. About six years ago, Mark gave me a tour of the Museum - the ORS diorama there is very impressive! I also have the six foot tall Budd 'The Kat' Anderson Memorial on temporary loan to the Museum so more modelers can see it.

This is not much different than calling a different type car a custom or a kustom or customized. We all have our own vision of what they are, and they frequently differ in our mind view. Some people used to say "Real hot rods don't have fenders".... but many others differ with that 'take' on it. It doesn't matter what it's called - I know a rat rod when I see it (according to my own vision of one, of course).

Looks like a kool hot rod to me. I don't consider it a rat rod or a street rod. Thanks for showing it.

I think it depends what part of the country you are in. California has always had it's share of rebellious kids (and older ). I can't speak for the other states. Ratrodders do emulate what early hot rodders did up to a point (chopped tops, early V-8's, etc.) but after that, go off on their own. Most of the ones I've seen take pride in building their rat rods on a budget, ending up with 5-10K max invested, sometimes less. You can get a rusty ol' early body pretty cheap sometimes. I've had people tell me what I 'should' do with my own 33 down to style, color, and grille shell, but in the end it's my choice and my miniscule budget to accomplish what I want (a semi-traditional hot rod). Ratrodders do what they enjoy, which is what I think we all should do...but that's just me.

My personal favorites are TRADITIONAL style hot rods and kustoms. I am right back where i started - for all the rest --- been there, done that. Do what you enjoy doing, whether it's muscle cars, factory stock, sports cars, diesel trucks and trailers, etc.

Just my opinion here - Rat rods are their own category, although blending often occurs between street rods, hot rods, traditional, and yes, rat rods. To me, the original 'rat rods' were the jalopies of the 30's, 40's, and 50's. Then hot rods, then street rods. I think today's rat rods are an expression of the rebellion of the younger generations against the uppity billet-laden STREET rods of the 80's and 90's. You likely know the type...the pastel high buck street rods with the "Heartbeat of America" graphics, and the ol' geezer sitting in his lawn chair in his flamed shorts never leaving the front of his car For a lot of rat rods, the more extreme the better, often violating most people's 'good taste'. Some of the techniques like extreme lowering and extreme top chops are fine, but when they are designed like a conglomeration of junkyard parts (design-wise), all bets are off. The good thing about many rat rods are they are DRIVEN, and the owners have fun with them. Everybody has their own definition of a rat rod. For some, it's a hot rod with patina like an old survivor, and for others it may be a rolling pile of worthless junk. To each his own. I like my PERSONAL vision of a kool rat rod... but an unsafe, poorly designed junker....not really...I never liked what I will call 'goofy' cars.

Quality wise, Bill does the BEST work! THE Craftsman!

Sometimes model manufacturers wait too long on some subjects. When there are multiple versions of a subject in other mediums - resin and diecast, for example, they may have missed the boat. It is better to be the first, as if other companies see possibilities, the piece of pie becomes much smaller. When a market is flooded, the pie is gone quickly.

Trademarks are a much higher level of legal 'trouble' than copyright. Asking permission is always the proper way to go. Trademark and copyright law can be very complicated and not very clear cut. Look up 'fair use' on Google and you'll learn a lot, even if it is rather vague.

Since I was born just a few months after the end of WWII, my nostalgic interests are anything between the depression era (like dry lakes and ending @ 1965-ish. I had muscle cars - but am not nostalgic for them. The Viet Nam era was tough for a lot of us in that time. I remember the sixties and WAS there. Having a choice between the greaser era and the hippie era, I made the right life choice - to stay in the greaser era.and be nostalgic about that.

I agree with James.

I'm planning on it for 2013. Tom Coolidge did photography of it for my GSL special issue at the last event. It's one of those events I had always wanted to attend at least once, along with NNL East and the NNL Nationals. I build for myself, not for competition, so I'd likely just put mine on the display only table. I've known Mark for close to 30 years - great guy, but always extremely busy. I've been to the Model Car Museum, but not GSL. Looking forward to going.

I'm on the right. Not sure who the short guy is...

I concur with Tim's post, and Harry's synopsis of NNLs. I've never understood why the concept was so difficult to understand. So many people refer to NNLs as 'contests'.- even sometimes in 'Contest Annual' publications... After @30 years, the important thing is we have some great shows to participate in and enjoy!

I wouldn't get any. There's a lot more desireable kits that have NEVER been done.

I'll be there for sure, as always!

Stuff happens to all of us.

There's also coverage of the Barris Modelrama Culver City model car show in the same issue.

Randy was a good friend of mine. They don't come any better. As Bob said above, Randy was out to promote the hobby in anyway he could. Vaya con Dios, Randy....

Humidity and moisture creates an environment for mold. There are thousands of types of mold. From what I was told, only one variety is dangerous (in home, usually bathrooms or plumbing leaks).

You might also check out the Utah Model Car Association club - SLC area.

John, FANTASTIC MODEL, as always! I understand one of your other models is a cover car in a July issue magazine. How many can say the same?