trogdor Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Not trying to put anyone down, or minimize anyone's models. And this is not intended to hurt anyone's feelings. OK enough of the PC nonsense Who do you admire most for their talent ? From what I've seen in my short time on the forum, My first vote has to go to Bill aka MrObsessive. The things he does with models blow me away. And a vote goes to the man who I'm all but convinced is Bills son, goes to Aftashox. Your builds are just beautiful.
MikeMc Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 I must agree with Mark....three of the BEST builders around....and I will mention the BEST body and paint man ...Bob Downie. But with everything involved.. ego, sharing and just being great guys.....I vote for Bill and Bob!!
MrObsessive Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 (edited) Thanks for the compliments guys! I have to say though that a couple of the best builders I have seen and where I got my inspiration, have to be Larry Boothe and Juha Airio. Neither of them post on the board though. Those of you long time MAMA's Boyz know Larry and some of the FANTASTIC work he's put out over the years. And Larry was doing working features long before I was attempting it! Juha's work simply blows me away as he can take a common kit and turn it into something uncommon. A '56 Studebaker from a '55 Chevy?? Unreal! You've got to see this model to believe it! One that got me fired up back in the '80's, and made me determined someday to try my hand at roll-up windows, is none other than Ken Hamilton! I'm not sure if Ken's ever posted on this forum, but his work is well known among long time builders and his dioramas are simply outta this world! Aftashox as my son?? Hmmm............. Edited June 10, 2010 by MrObsessive
meaneyme Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 I am relatively new to this forum also and I do have my own favorites. I would also go with Bill Geary and Bob Downie, I think their talents are just phenomenal. I also like another modeler in this forum that has been a big help and of course, who I think builds and paints beautiful models and that is Marcos Cruz, always there when I need him. I have also seen the work of Tom Kren and Peter Lombardo, they also do fantastic work.
Zoom Zoom Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Aw shucks My simple models can't hold a candle my personal favorite, who would be Juha Airio. He consistently nails the look of a car, in-scale, and with not only incredible fidelity, but stunning craftsmanship. I don't think he even makes fingerprints Not only can this guy build killer replica stock models of very unique subjects, but when he does a custom it is always amazing...he's not just a builder, but he's a great designer too. He has an eye for proportion, detail, and design that is stunning. It's really hard to pick a "best", because there are so many builders who inspire and build amazing models. Probably my favorite model in the world, by one of the nicest and most talented guys you'll ever meet, is the 1/12 '69 Sunoco Camaro by Randy Derr. Bill Geary impresses with a stunning amount of detail, and often perfectly working details. I know he'll get that working soft top one of these days. Clay Kemp, Bill Cunningham, Dave Thibodeau, Dave Morton, Ken Mouton, Chopper, Pat Covert, Tim Kolankiewicz, Bill Stillwagon, Gary Kulchock, Rob Mepham, Pico Elgin, Eric Cole are just a few of the guys I look up to.
MrObsessive Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Gerald A. Wingrove. Manuel Olivê Sans. Now those two would make a clean sweep at any show they compete in! Gerald's models in particular could stump many a trained eye when it comes to "Real or Model" for instance!
Harry P. Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Like someone else said, some guys excel in a certain area, some in another area. I can't really judge who's "best" but I can judge who are my favorites. And of course this is not a complete list because I am inevitably forgetting several names, but off the top of my head... People who post here regularly: For paint and general clean, sanitary work: Bob Downie. For creativity: Peter Lombardo, Virgil Suarez For detail: Dave Thibodeau, John Teresi, Jeff Sauber, Bill Geary, Dave Eicherly, Mario Lucchini and several others I can't remember right now... but they post in the Big Boyz section most often For general wackiness and off-the wall subject matter: Chuck Most And of course Miss Congeniality: George Hernandez!
Harry P. Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 What Harry, I don't get a mention, not even as "Most Obnoxious"!?! ;) See... told you I'd forget somebody!
george 53 Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 ooooH, I'M Soooooo Honored! I Just want to thank God, My Manager, My Producer, my sound director, am video crew,....
Rick Forrester Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Just afew I look up to and like there work. Bill Geary CHOPPER Randy Derr Gary Kulchock Bill Stillwagon Lyle Willits Bill Borgan Tom Kren
highway Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Even though I know most of the people who have posted are mostly car modelers, I'm surprised no one (HARRY!) mentioned our own Model Trucks section moderator mackinac359, Tim Ahlborn! Yes, everyone else mentioned so far is great in their respective specialties, as Tim is in trucks. I wish I could build trucks just half as nice as he does!
Chuck Most Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 I'll wholeheartedly support all the candidates for 'the best' I've seen so far (except for that Chuck Most clod- knowing him personally I can tell you he's a useless hack, and not much in the personality department either )- and add a couple I think have been forgotten so far... Joe Cavorley, Winston Mitchell, Bill Stillwagon, Bill Coulter, and anyone who can sucessfully pull off an old Jo-Han or Premeire kit and have the thing actually look GOOD when it's done. (Read- not me!)
Chuck Most Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Even though I know most of the people who have posted are mostly car modelers, I'm surprised no one (HARRY!) mentioned our own Model Trucks section moderator mackinac359, Tim Ahlborn! Yes, everyone else mentioned so far is great in their respective specialties, as Tim is in trucks. I wish I could build trucks just half as nice as he does! I'll see your tim and raise you Evan Hermel as well!
sjordan2 Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 (edited) Seems like all of my favorites have been mentioned, except for Alex Kustov, who also deserves kudos for his online tutorials. This list could be endless, especially if you check the Pocher galleries at modelmotorcars.com, or the superb teamwork at fineartmodels.com. And I must tip my hat to my late friend, Martin Swire, at http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels. Edited June 10, 2010 by sjordan2
highway Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 I'll see your tim and raise you Evan Hermel as well! Yes, and I noticed Rick mentioned Bill Borgan as well. I've had the pleasure of judging his work at the contest the former local club I was in held, and that was real work! The closer you looked, the more detail you found! I also have had the pleasure of judging Gary Kulchock's work as well, and also know him personally. His paint work and customizing skills are spectacular, and I nearly passed out when he bought his Beverly Hillbillies truck to our show. We all knew his wonerful customs, and were shocked to see him bring something without a mile deep gleaming paint job! He even made a faded weathered paint job look nice!
sjordan2 Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Yes, and I noticed Rick mentioned Bill Borgan as well. I've had the pleasure of judging his work at the contest the former local club I was in held, and that was real work! The closer you looked, the more detail you found! I also have had the pleasure of judging Gary Kulchock's work as well, and also know him personally. His paint work and customizing skills are spectacular, and I nearly passed out when he bought his Beverly Hillbillies truck to our show. We all knew his wonerful customs, and were shocked to see him bring something without a mile deep gleaming paint job! He even made a faded weathered paint job look nice! I hadn't heard of Gary Kulchock before, so I Googled his work and you're right – especially about the Hillbillies truck. http://public.fotki.com/gkulchock/all-my-modeling-rel/
Zoom Zoom Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 I'll wholeheartedly support all the candidates for 'the best' I've seen so far (except for that Chuck Most clod- knowing him personally I can tell you he's a useless hack, and not much in the personality department either )- and add a couple I think have been forgotten so far... Joe Cavorley, Winston Mitchell, Bill Stillwagon, Bill Coulter, and anyone who can sucessfully pull off an old Jo-Han or Premeire kit and have the thing actually look GOOD when it's done. (Read- not me!) Not sure if anyone mentioned this here, as Winston didn't want anyone to know what was going on with him, but he passed away a couple months back. He had been diagnosed w/lung cancer in February; last year it was clear his health was failing. His wish was to be cremated, no service, with his ashes spending eternity in one of his old spray guns. We're going to have a tribute for him at our NNL in November. Joe Cavorley really knew how to put on a how-to demo at shows. His humor and talent were very inspiring, and he made scratchbuilding look easy.
Junkman Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 And I must tip my hat to my late friend, Martin Swire, at http://www.freewebs.com/martsmodels. I second that. Martin was in a class of his own. Look what he could make out of very tough to build kits and I am speaking from experience here.
Junkman Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 (edited) There are quite a few late modellers who have impressed me enormously with their work. Has Augie Hiscano been mentioned yet? And back to the living - what is the name of the Frenchman who built a working model of a Ferrari in 1/3 scale? Edited June 10, 2010 by Junkman
Harry P. Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 And back to the living - what is the name of the Frenchman who built a working model of a Ferrari in 1/3 scale? That would be Pierre Insanity...
Chuck Most Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Not sure if anyone mentioned this here, as Winston didn't want anyone to know what was going on with him, but he passed away a couple months back. Joe Cavorley really knew how to put on a how-to demo at shows. His humor and talent were very inspiring, and he made scratchbuilding look easy. Didn't know Winston was no longer with us.
sjordan2 Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 Mark, I don't think we're seeking to crown "the best one" out of a huge range of dissimilar categories, but I think it's nice to recognize some of the greats for their inspirational work – sort of a Hall of Fame discussion. And sure, there's amazing stuff being done in less-obvious categories by specialists in fire trucks, police cars, etc., and it would be good if someone could identify the masters of those and other specialties. Just seeing some unfamiliar names here has led me to discover some great work since this thread started.
Junkman Posted June 10, 2010 Posted June 10, 2010 That would be Pierre Insanity... Nope, it's Pierre Scerri: http://mps-sportproto.com/en/historique.php
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