In The Beginning - 62 Studebaker

[Tom Geiger]

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!  

[Spottedlaurel]

Really interesting to see and hear about it Tom, it's stood the test of time very well.

[drodg]

That still looks very good.  

[robertw]

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.

[ewetwo]

Looks great Tom.

[thatz4u]

Tom, your Lark looks very nice, while mine didn't hold up as well.........

[Sixties Sam]

Nice model and interesting story, Tom. I like old Studes!

Sam

[doorsovdoon]

I haven't seen this kit before. Looks really nice.

[cobraman]

Nice looking Lark Tom.

[slusher]

Looks great!

[Tom99]

Looking very good.

[Phildaupho]

Very interesting and enjoyable slice of history. Good looking model as well.

[Classicgas]

Very nice. 

[mr moto]

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.

[Steve H]

Hi Tom, nice build. I really love hearing the history and stories behind the models. Thanks for sharing!!