A tribute to a great modeler and his wife

[The Creative Explorer]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't both the 1/12 57 Chevy and the 1/12 Camaro pictured get magazine coverage? they look very familiar.

If so; I am interested in those articles, especially that Camaro is amazing.

[Danno]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't both the 1/12 57 Chevy and the 1/12 Camaro pictured get magazine coverage? they look very familiar.

Yes. You are correct.

They were built by Andy "Moose" Kallen, namesake of the GSL "Moose is Loose" award.

The Camaro's "web" panels were created by burning styrene sprue and moving the model's body around in the smoke plume above the burning plastic. Not a technique recommended for children or careless people. "Moose" was neither.

[Danno]

I saw the 68 Jo-Han Eldo kit I sold to him at the Milwaukee Miniature Motors show!!! Great story about that. Some guy was trying to hammer me on the price and I refused this guy's insulting "offer". Andy was right behind him and picked up the kit. I knew him from one of the first GSLs when he lived in Montana. I gave it to him for about what the jerk prior to him was trying to get it for just because Andy was a nice guy.

Fast forward to a few years before he passed away. I saw a few Pyro Brass kits on Ebay and I e-mailed the seller to find out if they were the ones that were plated or had "gold" plastic in them. It turned out to be Andy and he said they were the plated ones and he was just going to send them to me because he remembered the deal I gave him on the Eldo. He said, "Sometimes payback isn't a bitch!"

Andy, that was certainly a "Moose" story! He was a 'Moose-ific' kinda guy!

[Danno]

WOW!! What an awesome collection of built and boxed kits,and finely built too from what could be seen in the pics. I had no idea there were/are so many NASCAR kits available. Thanks for sharing.

There are not and have not been many bigger NASCAR fans. I don't think there was ever a NASCAR model that he did not have at least a couple examples in his collection. And that's not even addressing the die casts and other memorabilia.

[Danno]

Brian, is there a reason you haven't mentioned his name? I believe you are referring to Andy Kallen, aka, Moose. If so not only was he a great builder (and obviously collector) he was a great ambassador to the hobby. He was a fixture at the GSL contests every year or every other year. His personality and humor kept everyone entertained year after year. I was only fortunate to have met him twice before his passing but just those few meetings was a privilege for me. It was his building style that helped create an award given out at each GSL contest called the Klingon Cruiser award. And yes, Renee has obviously done a fine job at continuing his legacy with her involvement in the hobby. I missed the last contest but the one before that I know she was there because they started up a new award which was something of a spirit award given to each years best showing of being a true ambassador to the hobby and to the show itself. She was the presenter of that award.

As far as the collection goes; that is one of the most extensive collections that I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing.

Wayne, correct on all counts. However, as Andy told it, he was the instigator of the Klingon Kruiser Award but it came about as a reaction to a model built and entered in GSL by our very good mutual friend Mike Carroll. Andy dubbed the strange custom a Klingon Kruiser, Mike called it that, and the 'award' was born. After that, the award has been bestowed on the most bizarre creation entered at each GSL. Andy was tickled that the Klingon Kruiser Award took on a life of its own. Mike Carroll's original Klingon Kruiser is on display at the International Model Car Builder's Museum in Salt Lake City, home of the GSL. (As are a couple of Moose's builds.)

Edited September 20, 2010 by Danno

[Danno]

Duplicates are usual when you buy many collections...

He didn't buy collections. The kits in his collection were primarily purchased off the shelf when new, many of the multiples were purchased from retailers on clearance when the kits went into discontinued status, and a small percentage were purchased via eBay in more recent years (to fill gaps in his collection).

[Danno]

This is really nice to see and even nicer to read!!!!!! Thank you for sharing this treasure trove! There are those out there gnashing their teeth and tearing their hair out when they see stuff like this but I look at it this way -- obviously, here was a man who was blessed with a wife who shared his interests and the collection will be kept as such - a collection. One day, all that stuff will be for sale and when it is, there will be that much less of it available and many of those sealed and built models will be even more precious than they are today to say nothing of harder to find. Personally, when I look at a colection like that, I do not feel any jealousy, envy or disappointment that I can not have any of it. For the mnan who obviously spent years collecting, his appreciation for model cars went way beyond just hoarding - everything is neat and tidy and well displayed which tells me that he really appreciated and liked the stuff and he enjoyeded just having it. Somehow, although he was obviously passionate about the hobby, I don't think that he collected models and viewed them as an "investment". Ask yourself this - how many of those models were probably bought on clearance sales and would not exist today had he not bought and preserved them? Many if not most, were probably mundane, common and discontinued kits that would have been bought and now be long since gone into a dumpster. One day, as said, these will all find theoir way into the hands of guys like us who appreciate and love model cars and most will in due time be built and displayed. Just my opinion and I know there are those whoo disagree - but t's just an opinion. Thank you and thank the lady for allowing us to see the collection. I wish that my stuff was as neatly stored and displayed.. maybe I have some motivation now to try to get organized. One last thought - it's refreshing to see that this man's wife is not like so many others who would "clear out all that junk" because she obviously has an interest in her husband's hobby and his life. How many wives would be selling the collection off - not because they need the money but because they resented the time that he devoted to his simple hobby? She's a princess - no doubt about it in my mind!

Renee is all that. She was extremely supportive of Andy's hobby, very involved herself, and she maintains his built-ups, kit and memorabilia collection and hobby room just as they were the last time he saw them.

Renee is still very active in Moonlight Modelers, although she has only ever built two models herself (at Andy's insistence), and she helps Cactus Car Modelers put on the Desert Scale Classic and she helps me put on the Good Guys Model Car and Pedal Car Shows at the Southwest Nationals and the Spring Nationals, both in Scottsdale.

And to underscore it for anyone who is curious: no part of the collection is for sale. Period.

[Railfreak78]

I read the op three times... something is missing. Who is the article about (the husband)? And what is his name?

In all honesty I did not know him. I figured Dan would step in and let us all know about him just like he did I had no idea he was this well known minus the fact that he has a lot of awards and you can tell he traveled.

Danno thanks for all the info!

[Ben]

I know that a lot of people buy a ton of kits... many more than they could possibly build in their lifetime. And I sort of get that.

But buying 5,6,7,8,9 of the same exact kit? That I just don't get...

Hey Harry, you'll see that a lot with guys that build the Nascar stuff. Reason being is that all you have to change is the decals to have a different car. The aftermarket companies made tons of decal sets that could be used with those kits to make darn near every car raced!

[Darren B]

for the parts harry, that's why i have many of the same kits.

I'm the same way, for the parts, or the decals, or tires and wheels too!! Actually I could afford 3-4 kits, before i got married, LOL, now im lucky to get 1 copy of a kit im looking for!

Edited September 20, 2010 by Darren B

[Darren B]

Man I can't get over this collection, man there are tons of kits, kits i have never seen before. Awesome collection. It looks like a hobby shop!

[tuffone20]

I joined Moonlight Modelers in '08 and did not know anything about Andy and his awesome hobby room and the 1st time I was there I just couldn't get over what I was seeing!!

And after hearing all of the story's about Andy, I wish I had had a chance to meet him and learn from him.

I've only heard great things about him.

Here are some more photos that I took last year when I saw it for the 1st time.

[tuffone20]

A few more photos, some of his builds and his work bench just as it was. And one of his wife Renee and she was telling us it was time to leave the hobby room and go vote on some models!

[Chuck Most]

Wow- the guy sure did like his stock cars and light commercial stuff! And people think I'M a nutcase for having a couple hundred kits stashed! (Well, I am a nutcase, but that's beside the point! )

[Gregg]

That brings back some memories, and tears as well.

I remember going there once or twice.

I was amazed, and still am.

Rennee is dear to my heart, I can't imagine what she had to go through.

And she is one tough cookie to boot.

Yes, Moose will be missed, as will a lot of our ohana.

That's the sad thing about this "job."

I get to be real good friends with so many great people that when Mother Nature comes calling them home, the pain is deep.

I can't tell you how many great friends I have lost over the years.

All of this because we play with toys.....

Go figure.

Thanks for the post, I really do appreciate it.

[Greg Cullinan]

Here is all my thoughts in no particular order

Very touching story about this hobby and the people who make it.

Renee is a patron saint of modeling it appears.

The collection makes me wish I had found out about these toys when I was a kid.

It really looks like there were some cool kits during the hobby's hay day. :lol:

The two door Crown Vic has a 50 Coupe flavor to it and it's awesome.

[runsw/scissors]

WOW!!! thanks for sharing. I never new the man, but can tell by these pictures that he was passionate about our hobby. I am sure he will be missed by those who knew him . What really blew my mind was the vast amount of referance material that he had. Very impressive collection.