How many MCM board members work in the model car field/industry?

[chepp]

I'm in the "dark side" of the model car business: I'm in the design department of a die-cast manufacturer. One of my "babies" is a 1:26 1955 Buick Century CHP car. It had to be 1:26 to fit in the box. I'm thinking of combining the body and interior with a 1/25 nailhead and chassis from a '60s Riviera plastic kit. The difference in scale will make the engine and wheels look just a little bigger in relation to the body -- not a bad thing when building a modified car.

[Gregg]

Interesting topic, David.

I will be watching this one.

And to the others, keep the wise cracks, sarcasm's, and all the negative hostility on your side of the computer screen.

[Guest Dr. Odyssey]

Thanks Gregg, but I don't mind a little levity. I really expected there to be more "industry insiders" members here. Or are you all sworn to secrecy?

[tim boyd]

My only paid work for the model car industry occured in the mid-late 1970's while I was in college. I did box art models for AMT, built-up product samples for AMT's Sales Meetings with their sales reps, and in a number of cases, partially to substantially scratchbuit display samples of upcoming kits based on AMT factory blueprints. It didn't pay well at all, but it did allow me to learn quite a bit about the industry as well as prepare myself for future full time employement in the industry that, well, never actually materilalized.

Since then, several of the model companies have consulted me about their future kit ideas, and they have solicited my own ideas (a few of which have actually - or may yet still - materialize as kits). I think this soliciting of ideas is a somewhat common practice with a number of long time model car hobbyists/builders and writers. I have never been paid a single penny for any advice or ideas that I have offered.

When I was writing the Modeler's Corner column for Street Rodder, some of the companies would send me samples from time to time, which wasn't income but could be considered to offset some money I might have spent myself, but that practice pretty much ended sometime nearly 20 years ago.

And in recent years, Revell has asked me several times to build up advance samples of their products and share them on the Internet, and in a few cases (but far from always) I have agreed. Haven't been paid for that either, just afforded a pretty cool sense of satisfaction in knowing that I am being allowed the privilege of sharing a new kit with everyone before it is widely available for them to buy.

As one of you mentioned above, this is very much a niche hobby these days and there are just not the resources at the model companies to pay people for their involvement in helping out. Still, it's a cool hobby so no complaints here.

So that's my story,....anyone else want to offer theirs? TIM