Would you be interested in building and donated a model to a tourist attraction that has been in a US for over 80 years?

[Bowtienutz]

Shameless Plug I work part time at Roadside America, Inc. website http://roadsideamericainc.com/ Roadside American has been in operation for over 80 years. I'm the Electronic tech and do general maintenance. This is a 6000 Sq. Ft. indoor Village. The display covers a large part of American history from an Indian Camp, western town, Anthracite Mining operation. A logging operation. A Modern small town in modern America.  I've been a modeler for over 50 years Some of the cars are toy cars and need to be retired and put in a display case. Some are horrible Warped acetate cars that plain need to be replaced. I've talked extensively about this with this problem and he has given me free rein to do what I'd like if maintain the flavor of the display.   I'm looking for people to build a curbside car from the 1900- to 1970. In stock flavor, no drag cars dirt track cars or big rigs, we simply don't have the room for them. We ask the cars to be stock representations of the cars of that vintage they can be used throughout the display. Please consider no one will be able to touch the cars only employees for routine cleaning. Cars need not have to use an engine or chassis if you can mount the tires in the wheel well. We are in the process of redoing a lot of the electronics in the display and would like to have LED lighting to as many cars as possible for a realistic night scene We are looking for factory colors with nice paint jobs and bare metal trim making them as close to showroom stock as possible
  
All the modelers will get credit for their work with your name and hometown if you wish in our program.  At some point in the future I'd like to do a modern show car event in the town of Fairfield (the name of the scale town) that we can put on display for the summer months, still curbside but with opening hoods and detailed engines and details as you wish open to all years. These cars will be put on display in our lobby in a display case. If interest, please contact me for more information. Thanks  Vince

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looks like a fun place to visit...and to work.

[gtx6970]

Cool . What scale do they need to be ?

[ChrisBcritter]

According to the website, 3/8" scale or 1/32.

Would they agree to trading off some of the retired cars for replacements? I saw this photo on your website; just putting it here for info - I'll remove it if that's a problem:

Edited March 22, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[JTalmage]

That's really cool!

There's a place here in Cincinnati called EnterTRAINment Junction.... and it's primarily focused on trains, but they have a MASSIVE facility and it goes from the 1800's to modern day and their display is the G scale or whatever is closest to 1/25... and so all the cars in the display are 1/25 scale! I was amazed. They also want people to donate cars to their display as well.

[IHSS]

Is this the place with the giant Amish couple in the parking lot? I have family in Hanover. I stopped there a few years back. But it was closed. I might have to plan another family visit to stop in and check it out. It looked really interesting and now that I know what I missed I'm really bummed out it was closed. I did take a picture of the Amish couple as my wife and I thought that was odd being from the Boston area. I'll have to take a look at my stash, I may have something to donate. 

[tedd60]

If you've never been there ... do take the time to go.  they used to have a bleacher section where you could sit and watch "night" fall over the track.  They even played the Star Spangled Banner.  A great piece of Americana.

[Bowtienutz]

Thanks Chris for adding the photo. .Because of how large the display is Most of the cars are  1/25 scale Like the picture above part of the town of "Fairview" I guess I should have made that clear in my original post. Jeff, sorry You missed us on a rare occasion we are closed. Normally we are open daily except Christmas Day. Tedd glad to hear you've seen us, The night display is pretty neat You can also view the display from the upper level Stairs are located on both sides of the display giving an incredible view and great photo opportunities we are constantly making improvements and the place is much better than it was just a few years ago. We have some great people that are really dedicated to keeping this incredible place going  

 

[curt raitz]

Thanks Chris for adding the photo. .Because of how large the display is Most of the cars are  1/25 scale Like the picture above part of the town of "Fairview" I guess I should have made that clear in my original post. Jeff, sorry You missed us on a rare occasion we are closed. Normally we are open daily except Christmas Day. Tedd glad to hear you've seen us, The night display is pretty neat You can also view the display from the upper level Stairs are located on both sides of the display giving an incredible view and great photo opportunities we are constantly making improvements and the place is much better than it was just a few years ago. We have some great people that are really dedicated to keeping this incredible place going  

 

So Vinnie

1/25th is the scale you are looking for?

I'm definitely interested in building a couple of models for your display.

Now I've got a place to send those "slump-buster" builds I occasionally do. 

[Bowtienutz]

We are looking for 1/25th scale. Please post a picture here. Let's see your project. 

Roadside America 
109 Roadside Drive, 
Shartlesville, PA 19554 
Phone: (610) 488-6241

Please put attention 
Brian Hilbert 
or Vince Putt on your package

Also mark it Fragile UPS can be..... Well UPS

[oldr-n-drt]

vince................you have a PM......................oldr-n-drt

[vamach1]

Drove by it dozens of times on the way to northern NJ but never stopped there.  I will stop for sure next time. 

[peteski]

Do you want the modeler to install working LED head/tail-lights, or is that something you want to do yourselves once you receive the donated models?

If modelers are to install the lights, what voltage will you be using to power the display?

How close will the viewing public be to these models?

[Bowtienutz]

I would prefer to install the led lighting myself. If you could drill out behind headlights, parking lights and tailights that would be very helpful I've set up the design I'm using special low heat Led's and fiber optics and I'm using with special connectors so cars can be cleaned  without affecting the lighting of the display. They can be  moved about the display as we clean and with my hidden connections things will work out well. Making things universal make maintenance issues much simpler. I've found a place on ebay that I was able to bulk purchase seated drivers adding more realism. We only have three guys actually working on the display. I handle electronics and Jeff does painting restoration and preservation of display and Brian works on the trains with help from a guy that really knows lots of stuff about old lionel trains We are a small staff. I'm a disabled Vet I'm only there Tuesdays and Thursdays I wish I could put in more hours I've finally found something rewarding to do. My first visit to the place was 1964 I was about 6 years old. The viewing public can get within a foot or two away from the display but large plexiglass panels prevent anyone from actually being able to touch anything. Someone mentioned odd scale vehicles we have done alot to remove those or putting some of them in an area where you can't really determine the scale because maybe trees would be around it to make them less obvious. Come on by and say hi. It's a wonder way to spend an afternoon.and it won't break the bank. 

[peteski]

Thanks for the thorough explanation Vinnie. I was also an electronic tech few jobs ago, and I still dabble in it as a hobby. I'm into lighting and animating my models.

For a writeup of one of my LED installs see this thread.

What are "low-heat LEDs"? All the LEDs I use are low-heat (unless I smoke one, which generates a short burst of high-heat and smoke).  I almost never do that - I know better.

Sounds like you either want the curbside models to be easily disassembled, or to just glue the wheels to the body and leave the chassis off (so you can install the wiring)? But the interior should still be attached to the inside of the body?

As far as multiple scales go, the smaller scale cars could be used in the background, creating a forced perspective. The buildings should also be smaller scale. This trick is often used on model train layouts.

Edited March 23, 2017 by peteski

[ChrisBcritter]

Pretty cool setup you have there - reminds me of the layout at the L.A. County Fairgrounds at Pomona which is a huge outdoor setup in 1/24 scale; they still had some of the old promos they got back in the '50s on display (mostly '52-'54 Ford sedans). Some of the streets are even set up with electric tracks that run rubber-tired model semi-trailers. One thing they did that you could try: a drive-in theater with a screen showing train films!

Check out their site; might give some diorama ideas:

http://fgrr.org/

Anyway, back on topic - would you be willing to do any trades?

Edited March 23, 2017 by ChrisBcritter

[Bowtienutz]

Pete you got a firm grasp on what is needed. Not all the cars have to be lighted, but I would like to light up as many as I can especially those used on roadways those in parking lots etc. not necessarily . Using the Smaller scale cars is exactly what we try to do force the perspective. Chris I'm sorry but trades would not be worth your effort most of the cars are either badly warped or broken and nothing that I would feel comfortable trading out. You know the kind of stuff that you just cruise by at a swap meet table.

Thinking back to the era of 1934 when Lawrence had started this he had no idea that the display would still be around 50 years after his death. We often ask ourselves what would Lawrence do with today's technology. He was a pure genius. And has inspired model railroad fans all over the world to build layouts. Roadside America has been featured in lots of modeling and railroad magazines over the decades.

[fairlane1320]

  I'm looking for people to build a curbside car from the 1900- to 1970. In stock flavor, no drag cars dirt track cars or big rigs, we simply don't have the room for them. We ask the cars to be stock representations of the cars of that vintage they can be used throughout the display. 

Vintage hot rods and race cars scream Americana!

[gbdolfans]

Hi Vinnie, that is so great looking!!! Where do you get the drivers you mentioned? Do you have a link?

I have several built kits that I might be willing to donate.They are complete with finished chassis.Is that OK for you?

Thanks,George

[gtx6970]

All my stuff is 1/25. except for an unbuilt 1/43rd scale 69 AMX.  and maybe  ( just maybe)  a few misc 1/24th scale kits in the mix

I cant sell the AMX ,,,,,, so building and donating it  is a very real option I would gladly consider.

As far as 1/32nd scale I got nuttin

[Howard Cohen]

Like some others, I am having trouble understanding why you need multiple scales? I have built and seen dioramas of all sizes and scales and seldom do they mix scales. Train people do not mix scales, rather they set up different layouts. The 'forced perspective' idea doesn't work in a lot of cases, especially when the diorama is live rather than on a photo or shadowbox. Can you please explain further? 

If this company has been around for 80 years, can they afford to pay a nominal fee for models or do they offer a taxable donation receipt? I have built models for museums and charities and they issue me a taxable donation receipt. 

[Bowtienutz]

We Are looking for 1/25th scale models preferably curbside. A smaller model like a 1/32 placed in the middle of the display figure 20 feet or more from where you can see it on a mountain Road "forces" the perspective that it's further away. Does that make sense?  No one 1/25 scale car near it only trees and a mountain road. We are not a museum or a mega buck operation. We are not a museum or a charity We just can't afford to do that. I work there for minimum wage part time because I need to deal with my disabiities and with my anxiety. It's very low pressure operation and with mostly a part time staff.   Museums can give a tax donation receipt. Not businesses Take that up with the FEDS if you like. Sorry Howard and others I just can't help you with Tax donations certificates or payments for your models. I would like friends to participate out of the goodness of their heart. All I can promise you is your work will be recognized and I'm sure you will get a kind thank you from an organization that truly loves bringing smiles to people. I you feel that you need more than that There are plenty of slots available for Pro modelers on ebay Sorry I'm not trying to be a smart ass. Sit down with me at NNL East and I'll buy you a beer and try to explain this I'm sure you'll understand where I'm coming from.

OH and don't expect to get a tax donation receipt  if you  donate to the National model car Museum in Salt lake city either. Rick Somerlot use to live in Salt Lake and was very tight with Mark. Ricks dieing wish was that his car could go to the Museum. He had sold it when he came across hard times. But I was able to procure it and show it to Rick's mom before I left for Salt Lake. I asked Mark for a Tax form for to give to Ricks mother. And he said NO. Rick Somerlot's Candy Red Metallic '39 Chevy had won people's choice award. It was a Model Magazine cover car at the time. I should have taken it  home with me and given it back to Rick's mother. What happened next was Mark Gustovson arrange to have all the models that were to be donated or restored to the museum covered under a white cloth for a presentation.  Much to our Horror Mark came into the room late and put a big handful of binders right down on top of Rick's model smashing it to bits. Much to the horror of many modelers that had other models they restored or were donating to the museum. Maybe someone that still goes to that show can tell me if Ricks Chevy was ever restored that is if they can get an appointment with Mark's model museum. I never got an apology, Rick's mother never got an apology, from him I sure didn't tell her what happened it would have broken her heart. That was the last time I've ever gone to salt lake and I'll never go again.

Edited March 24, 2017 by Bowtienutz

[Howard Cohen]

OH and don't expect to get a tax donation receipt  if you  donate to the National model car Museum in Salt lake city either. Rick Somerlot use to live in Salt Lake and was very tight with Mark. Ricks dieing wish was that his car could go to the Museum. He had sold it when he came across hard times. But I was able to procure it and show it to Rick's mom before I left for Salt Lake. I asked Mark for a Tax form for to give to Ricks mother. And he said NO. Rick Somerlot's Candy Red Metallic '39 Chevy had won people's choice award. It was a Model Magazine cover car at the time. I should have taken it  home with me and given it back to Rick's mother. What happened next was Mark Gustovson arrange to have all the models that were to be donated or restored to the museum covered under a white cloth for a presentation.  Much to our Horror Mark came into the room late and put a big handful of binders right down on top of Rick's model smashing it to bits. Much to the horror of many modelers that had other models they restored or were donating to the museum. Maybe someone that still goes to that show can tell me if Ricks Chevy was ever restored that is if they can get an appointment with Mark's model museum. I never got an apology, Rick's mother never got an apology, from him I sure didn't tell her what happened it would have broken her heart. That was the last time I've ever gone to salt lake and I'll never go again.

As for that 'museum' in Utah...I made several donations to it years ago...never received a thank you, a receipt, acknowledgement, nothing...yet I see my items on the website listed as 'donor' rather than my name. I also made a donation of a AMT '49 Merc in the name of a friend who had built it as a short track car in the early 60s when the kit was first released. That was why I asked about a tax receipt. A real not-for-profit museum can give out tax receipts and I was not sure if the place you work is a museum. Thanks for your explanation  

[Bowtienutz]

One Thing I can guarantee you will not be listed as a "Donor"  my first visit to Roadside America was when I was a little kid  in 1964 Mom got me a clear trailer and my older brother got a Ford GT car They sold model cars in the lobby at that time.. it started me in the madness of modeling and I've never looked back. I will come up with something special for people that help us out  It's not a mega buck operation All family run with a lot of love and respect