Tom Geiger

The first online forum I was involved with was the AOL Hobby Forum and the weekly Auto Modelers Chat we had every week. Second for me was the Model Car List on Yahoo Groups. Then I found the Hobby Heaven board which I've participated in a long time. For me, Scale Auto Enthusiast is what got me back into the hobby. I had a few false starts back in my 20s but I never got through finishing anything because I made the same mistakes I did as a kid and had no friends involved in the hobby with me. I still have the '68 Barracuda (The Avenger release) and Johan Oldies '60 Desoto that I ruined. I found Scale Auto on the shelf of a book store in Boston around 24 years ago. I was amazed that there was once again a model magazine! I stayed up all night reading that issue, then I ran back to the store in the morning and got the two back issues they also had on the shelf. There was a classified ad for the Tri-State Scale Model Car Club. I responded and the rest is history!

Agreed! I'm fortunate to be in an area that has clubs and shows so I'm able to find those $5 kits, started kits and old built ups that I buy because they're cheap and I think I may be able to use them for something someday. I don't hesitate to crack one open when I need a part. I love 50s pickups so I never hesitate to buy those on the cheap. I have a large 1950 Ford pickup parts box that I just dumped another two kits worth of parts into. I love having extras of the same part. Recently I was working on a sectioned pickup and blew through three cab floors until I got it right. Knowing I have extras gives me the confidence to dig in and cut plastic!

Some of us participate in the Forum for the camaraderie and friendships too. Part of that is acknowledging friends progress and finished work. I do agree that I don't like seeing that there are new posts in threads I'm following only to click on it to read "awesome". I always try to add something to the discussion if I comment, but a lot of guys aren't that vocal.

I guess so but I haven't tried it. The reason I used the Taco Bell napkin is because it was the color and texture I needed. The difference between what I've done and the techniques I've seen posted is that I don't soak the material in a watered down glue mixture. I merely put enough of a coat of glue on the seat to hold it down without soaking through. That leaves the fabric (aka the napkin) looking and feeling the same way it was prior. I just made a headliner from one for the same car. I cut the shape from a business card, then glued the napkin to it. Came out well and it will go into the car.

That's truly amazing! Great model and in our favorite scale too. Best I've seen is the old AIrfix 1/32 scale kit. I had it as a kid and never got it together. I have an unbuilt one today that someday I'll take a shot at!

Here's some photos I took back in 2004: Bet ya didn't see that coming from the first photo!

Argh! I know how you feel about that radiator cap. Detail like that is like trying to neuter gnats!

Very nice build on one of my favorite old kits! Funny thing, I've had a bunch of this issue (opening hood) that I've used for parts restoring old Craftsman issues, but I've never built one.

or the other modern conveniences that we take for granted today. + The ATM, direct deposit and online banking - Remember having to get up on Saturday morning to get to the bank to cash your paycheck or you'd have no money for the entire weekend? + Microwave ovens - Remember Jiffy Pop and having to heat up left overs on the stove? + Cell phones - Remember sitting home waiting for a phone call? Or if you missed your buddies leaving on Friday evening you'd never find them? + VCRs / DVRs - Remember having to be home a specific time to see your favorite show? + GPS - Even my wife can find places now! + E-Tickets for concerts, movies and plane rides - You used to have to drive places to pick up tickets, now you can just print 'em out! I'm sure there's a ton more. And a bunch of new stuff coming in the future!

A while back I got the reissues of the Double Dragster kit and the Tony Nancy dual kit at the same time. I looked in those boxes and realized I could build a million different versions from the stuff in those two boxes! And that's what it was like for kids in the early 60s when those appeared!

Very nice! I hope to build some big Fords of this era someday.

Awhile back I bought a bunch of incomplete / started 1930s classic car kits to use for parts. I've robbed parts from them for my rat rod builds as well as a 1930s car made into a truck build. I believe they were 3 for $10.

Great finish! All these '60 Desoto posts on the board have me thinking about pulling my ancient started kit out and building it!

Same reason you need to wear a seat belt on an airplane. All the bodies are neatly strapped into numbered seats!

I agree. It's funny how things work out. Originally we saw the Internet as a threat to model building. It worked out just the opposite. It put hobbyists all over the world in contact on a daily basis. It brought those who live in remote areas that don't have access to clubs into the fold. It puts research and rare parts within our reach within minutes. Most important is that as we get older and the herd diminishes in numbers, we have a way to communicate, no matter where we are. And we will gather together at big shows like NNL Toledo / East / West and GSL.

Hey I identify with that remark. I've been a stamp collector about 40 years. The big difference between model builders and stamp collectors is that stamp collecting is that nobody tells you that you have more stamps than you will ever be able to use! The parallel is that stamp collectors are equally concerned that the young aren't entering their hobby and it's becoming an old mans game. I don't get involved in stamp collecting as I did in the 1970s. I don't belong to clubs or go to shows. I don't follow current stamp offerings, and since they're so plentiful and of questionable subject matter, I just don't have an interest. My own collection is classic issues of the 19th and early 20th century.

I'm currently a member of this board and the Spotlight Hobbies board. As far as board bull and challenging the moderators -- how friggin tough is it to play nice and follow the rules? I've never gotten any warnings on either board. I'm not into drama. I can debate an issue without resorting to name calling. I have enough drama in real life. The hobby is my escape. I don't have a problem with either board's management or moderation. I like the Spotlight format of one forum with the latest on top. Every time I log in I immediately see what's new. I'm still trying to get used to the format of many subjects here. I find that some of the subjects don't get read as much as the others. I've posted in some with no reads for days. I do use the "view new content" button and am unsure of the criteria it uses. I find that if I view one post and go back to it, the contents of the page have changed quite a bit.

I've grabbed up a number of AMT '58 Plymouths cheap over the years to use as donors for several Johan '59 Plymouths I have and an Excel '59 Dodge. I've also hoarded a bunch of AMT '41 Plymouth kits for the flathead six to use in the same kits. My cousin had a green '59 Belvedere with a six in it I intend to build someday. I also have some of the '67 Mustangs to put that chassis under early Mustangs and Falcons too.

I consider the social aspect of the hobby most important. I've often said that if it was just about little plastic cars, I would have lost interest a long time ago. I know a ton of people via email and board posts from a number of boards. I recently stepped up my presence on this board because I saw there were a lot of good guys here that I didn't know. I also have met a good number of modelers from across the country, from attending many of the East Coast shows and the GSL in Salt Lake. Wanting to meet guys from the boards was what motivated me to go to Toledo and GSL. I do know folks from this board too, for instance I know Jeff Johnston in person!

Agreed. A Jay Leno series would be like the old Reggie Jackson series. For a big name like his, he'd no doubt want big bucks, and I don't believe the investment would be worthwhile.

To have the 100 point car, one would send the chrome out to get done in those days! He should've!

I know a couple of guys who love to use the Miss Deal Studebaker chassis for builds. I guess that's what you'd call a good donor kit. Me? I have a couple of each of the old standards parted out in shoe boxes. Cars like the AMT '57 Chevy and Ford, AMT '55 and '57 Chevy pickups, AMT '53 Ford pickups, Revell 50 Ford Pickups. I manage to pull parts off those old staples for a variety of projects.

Just checked in the mirror... yup, it's me. Thanks Dan!

I just invested the last hour or so in reading all 20 pages. Great work and I enjoyed the saga. It rationalizes my own insanity of getting things right and doing things over that nobody else will notice! Kudos! I look forward to the completion and seeing the finished model at NNL East. You only have like 3 months! Get cranking! BTW,we did the van theme at NNL East this year because of the recent reissue of several of the old van kits and because we see a resurgence of guys building old vans like this. Just what we are looking for!