A GEOGRAPHY OF MODEL BUILDING

[Dr. Cranky]

I wonder how many of us believe that the place where we live, or the geographical region we inhabit has a great deal to do with the models types and styles of models we end up building. In other words, to what extend does place (location, location, location) inform what you build and how you build it.

Just curious.

Here is an example: I grew up in Southern California surrounded by lowriders, surf wagons, and all kinds of custom vehicles, including old school choppers, etc . . . and I find that this many years later these types of vehicles still tug at my heart strings . . .

Edited March 25, 2012 by Dr. Cranky

[Sixx]

Yeah, I think so. I'm in the middle of a town that is full of motorheads!!! Lots of street rods, muscle cars and classic crusiers. The same goes for my hometown in Iowa,same type of cars. I have not seen any " far out " tuners or anything like that. I used to live down the street from Route 66 Dragway in Joliet Illinois, man, was that fun!!!! Loved hearing test & tuning, then of course the big show on the weekends!!!

[Harry P.]

It would make sense that the kinds of cars you have the most interest in are the ones you grew up seeing the most. Guys who grew up in SoCal would be more into customs and all sorts of wild automotive stuff than say, a guy who grew up in rural Vermont!

[charlie8575]

An interesting perspective. And one that I think may hold true.

However, I also think that people will simply develop their own tastes. For example, I've always found the capital C Classics to be impressive, magnificent machines. But, I hardly grew up "around" them, save for the ones you'd see at car shows periodically. Had I grown up in Southern California, around all the lowriders, customs, and such, I would still probably have that interest, but may have some interest in customs, too.

Here in New England, we tend towards historical preservation, and I think a lot of my building is heavily influenced by my love and respect for that. I really like doing replica-stock (or as close as I can come,) and have a replica of a car I might have driven, or that I simply find interesting.

So...does geography have an influence? Probably. But I think it's a combination of what you develop interest in and the direction you're given when you're young that influences all of your building, and the other interests and behaviors your demonstrate in life. As the twig is bent, so inclines the tree...

Charlie Larkin

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks for the great comments so far, this is exactly the kind of discussion I had hoped to get started. Keep on sharing.

[The Creative Explorer]

I wonder how many of us believe that the place where we live, or the geographical region we inhabit has a great deal to do with the models types and styles of models we end up building. In other words, to what extend does place (location, location, location) inform what you build and how you build it.

Just curious.

Here is an example: I grew up in Southern California surrounded by lowriders, surf wagons, and all kinds of custom vehicles, including old school choppers, etc . . . and I find that this many years later these types of vehicles still tug at my heart strings . . .

Nothing. I live in The Netherlands, in a quiet area and far far away from any exotics and cool stuff. I would say I get my inspiration from travelling, internet and TV.

[Agent G]

I grew up, and later worked, an entire career in the midwest. St Louis is the pits for anything car related. Most of my ideas came from living in SoCal courtesy of the Marines, and a career spent driving different cars.

G

[Dr. Cranky]

Erik, those are great sources, in particular for those of us (myself included) who live it smaller or out of the way places.

[Ramfins59]

I was born and raised in NYC and moved to Long Island in the mid '70's. Growing up I remember seeing what I guess you would call the East Coast Customs. I still like what is called the J.C.Whitney or Bolt-On customizing on the 50's cars... Lake pipes, spinners, dummy spots, twin antennas, skirts, Connie Kits, bullet taillights, etc... all the "doodads...

[Dr. Cranky]

Rich, all the things you mention give me nostalgia when I see them on vehicles now. I guess that's the point.

[martinfan5]

I grew up here in the Valley of the sun, so not really a hot spot for anything cool or custom, but I grew up in the 80's so build I what I grew up seeing, and from stuff on TV, cars that I can relate too, but of late, my taste of building has move to the exotic or non US makes, thanks to TopGear UK show.

But what it comes down, if I see car I like, and there is a kit of it, I will build it.

Edited March 25, 2012 by martinfan5

[Wagoneer81]

I think that location and environment can have a lot to do with modeling preference... I know it had a profound effect on me. I live in a small town right in the heart of what used to be known as 'GM Country'... We live smack in the middle of a triangle whose points are made by the cities of Anderson, Marion and Muncie, IN. Back in the day, there were some 18 or so GM plants divided among the three citys, GM was this areas bread and butter... Ford lovers beware... Also, I live 6 miles south of Fairmount, IN. For those who don't know, that is the hometown of the late James Dean. Every Sept, they have 'Dean Days/ Museum days, to honor him. The rod-run outgrew Fairmount several years ago and is now split into two, three-day shows. One in Fairmount, one just up the road in Gas City... Needless to say, I've been exposed to classic muscle cars and customs of every kind from an early age and I love seeing them in scale. On top of this, I also grew up around big-rigs. Dad drove OTR for almost 20 years and I did some time behind the wheel myself so, it makes sense that I love classics, muscle and heavy commercial vehicles... Ohh, did I mention three older brothers who are all prior military? Military vehicles, armor, aircraft... Hence, my diagnosis of Advanced Modelers ADD...

[my name is nobody]

my story is quite simple...... I grew up in a rural setting. lots of cars and trucks around.

my Pop had some nice cars, all-Ford stuff. And I was exposed to High Horsepower vehicles at

an early age. My Mother had five brothers, who were all gear heads. And they would visit us often.

Usually on leave from the military. During the sixties & early seventies, I saw a whole parade of cars that

those guys purchased. mainly, Musclecars. some of my early memories as a kid were white knuckle rides in

high horsepower machines.

My hometown also had a small college. And a large number of people from out-of-state attended that school.

maybe it was just the era, but they all seemed to show up with some interesting cars.

An odd thing happened though.............Once these students would arrive with their vehicles,

Almost every one of them would catch an odd bug. They wanted to Ski in a beautiful nearby ski area.

Students would sell the cars that I assume Mom & Dad had bought them. And buy ski equipment

and season passes to that ski area. So some really great iron passed through my town.

The buyers were most often local kids, buying vehicles for the first time.

I saw some amazing cars go through that town.

I fondly remember a nice young guy driving up to my house in a

1970 Camaro. Red & White. Jacked up, Cragar rims and a L88 hood.

This guy was out front waiting for my older sister, and I was looking this Camaro over.

Looking at a badge on the front fender, I asked what "Motion" stood for. The guy was patient

enough to show me some of the things that made that car memorable.

And still remember my jaw dropping at the burnout he left out in front of the house.

The seventies were awesome, as most of the used cars around town were musclecars,

and it influenced me tremendously. From my first car to the cars I have now.

It also influenced what modelcars I wanted to build.

I feel lucky to have grown up in that town, in that era.

Gunnison Colorado was a great place to be a kid.

Western State College attracted alot of bright people with some nice cars

And Crested Butte Colorado is still an awesome place to ski.

[Austin T]

I came from the boonies in Kentucky,to me there is nothing more beautiful then finding a old car parked in a field or barn,sheltered from time.It's like stepping back into an era I never was in.

[Kostas Parchas]

I was born and grew up in Athens Greece. Since I remember my self, trucks was always in my heart. Movies like Convoy and Maximum Overdrive are my favorites and I still like to wacth them.

I can say that I feel proud that my 2 years old dauter already can say ''truck'' (in the Greek language of cource) and she is very happy when we are traveling by car and she can see trucks. Then she says loudly ''daddy truck!!!".

OK now about the topic, I am buildng only 1/24 & 1/25 trucks, I have a lot of European truck kits to built but my favorite theme is American trucks, all makes but Peterbilt is my favorite of all. I have never been in the US and I have only see just once, a Kenworth W900 in real life about 20 years ago. It was a promo truck or so.

So, this is my anwser to your question, in my opinion, it doesn't mater only where you are living but also what is your favorite subject, what is in your heart and what you are in love with!!! Here follows some pictures with my waiting to be built kits:

Greetings from Athens, Greece,

Kostas.

[Foxer]

I'm not so sure this works in my case, but on second thought ... I grew up in the middle of Old Yankee Connecticut and there weren't many customs I saw around in the 50's. One person had a custom in high school .. a chopped 49 Merc with skirts and Buick trim. I bought all the custom and rod magazines I could find and those are what influenced my building .. going so far as to use the 1:1 techniques to do my modeling customizing .. like wrapping wire around dual headlights and molding that to the body.

Later I spent time in Germany during service and became interested in EVERYTHING there. I bought a Triumph TR4A when returning and many Volkswagens .. most of which I've modeled (or, at least begun! ehhe ) Modeling cars I've owned so that would make the "model where you live" statement as true as you can get!

[Qwit Pushin]

I can't speak for others but in my case I would say it was less about geographic location and more about the people who influenced me. My dad was an auto-body man by trade and he restored or hot-rodded cars as a hobby in his personal time. He owned old 40s era coupes and trucks, Tri-five chevys, a Firebird, GTO, Chevelle SS, even an old '49 Willys Jeepster. As a kid I also liked hanging out at the body shop with him on eve's and weekends when he and the shop owner would work on custom vettes and assorted hot rods for other customers. When I was old enough to read I stumbled upon my dad's Hot Rod magazine stash and discovered Barris, Watson and Jeffries, among others. All of these people have influenced my choice of subjects and building style. So if by 'geography' you mean to include the people who lived near me, then yes, I suppose there's some connection. I'm just saying that had these people or others with similar characteristics and interests existed in some other part of the world, I suspect my subject choices and building style would be no different today than they are. Interesting question, though.

[mikemodeler]

Great topic Doc! Growing up in the 60's/70's, I had neighbors who were older that had some influence in my vehicle tastes and build choices, both then and today. There were the two brothers down the street who were always working on and tweaking their '68/69 Camaros. Fords and Mopars were not real popular in our neighborhood and therefore I am mostly a GM kinda guy. There was a neighbor who had several Chevy 4x4 pickups with snow plows and those days helping him with them also formed some of my build choices along the way.

I wish I could say that the last 25 years working in the automotive parts field, mainly on Import vehicles, has me wanting to build BMWs and Mercedes but I would rather build my 12th '69 Camaro!

Having moved from Chicago to Charlotte 7 years ago hasn't changed my build tastes, although one of these days I will build one of the many weathered cars and trucks that I see on my travels through the Virginia and Carolina countrysides!