Early Model Builder Pioneers

[Dr. Cranky]

Every hobby has it's founding practitioners and people who helped establish standards, tips and technique break-throughs, etc, and I thought it would be cool (for some of us who are older and still remember) to chime in with names of these instrumental builders who helped pave the way . . .

It could also be people who helped grow the hobby and industry.

Here's a good start, but it seems to be there has to be a few more people who kept pushing the limits and boundaries of model building and the hobby:

http://www.themodelcarmuseum.org/Models/models.html

Edited July 9, 2012 by Dr. Cranky

[darquewanderer]

The good news is it is a good site. The bad news is Mark hasn't updated his site in several years. Been there, read everything available... several times.

[Dr. Cranky]

James, precisely why I think it's a good idea to have this thread . . . even if it turns out to be a simple roll call of people who've been important and who've made an impact on building and the hobby.

The first name who always pops up in my head is Augie Hiscano.

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/augieh.htm

Edited July 9, 2012 by Dr. Cranky

[Dr. Cranky]

For someone who loves this kind of information, a HOBBY TIMELINE would be so cool . . . it could be an interesting piece . . .

Who started doing what when and why . . .

Many of us know exactly when a particular kit was released or tooled, but most of us don't know who started certain break-through techniques like wiring engines and so many other things . . .

I am hoping this thread could serve our collective memory, young and old . . .

[Dr. Cranky]

Who would have thought the better article about the hobby (in general terms) was to be found at WikiPedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_car

[Dr. Cranky]

Articles like the above focus mostly on the Industry pioneers, which is find, but I'm much more interested on the practitioners, the early folks who made excellent progress and brought us to our present day building skill set.

[Casey]

I thought the IMCBM had a Hall of Fame? I recall SAE including a candidate along with their Kit of the Year voting years ago, but maybe they no longer do that?

[Greg Myers]

Definitely Don Emmons and the year Rod & Custom did special issues just for model cars. http://www.themodelc...ons/emmons.html

Edited July 9, 2012 by Greg Myers

[Art Anderson]

Dave Shuklis, Don Emmons, Joe Henning, Budd Anderson (no relation) all come to mind as early "pioneering" builders of car models as most of us come to know it.

Art

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, Art.

Greg, I have most of those early magazines, but I don't know where they are right now.

[vintagestang]

This isn't early pioneers but Donn Yost.

[charlie8575]

Hemmings Classic Car runs a column every month on some automotive pioneer.

Perhaps it might be interesting for Model Cars to incorporate a column like that. Or short pieces on highly influential products that have come along.

There's a lot of history that isn't been told, and it would be nice to see it coming out into the open and be able to read about it.

Charlie Larkin

[jdcar32]

I dont know names offhand but it seems to me that some of the early standout kits ( mostly Revell stuff with advanced engineering ) had to have had people involved in their development. Not just company founders but some of the "behind the scenes" folks who designed and pushed for opening doors, working steering, detailed motors, etc. If it wasn't for these guys we would have been building with promo's a lot longer........

[drball]

Harry Ballard, my father. He introduced me to modeling as a young child by nurturing me and showing patience. He was a master wooden ship builder and made many different types of plastic models while I sat on the other side of the card table and worked on my kits.

[TooOld]

Don Emmons is definetly one I remember from his arcticles in Model Car and Science magazine . And although they weren't true pioneers in the hobby , I'd have to say that Jim Keeler and our own Ira Dahm had a big influence on me in the late 60's early 70's .

[Harry P.]

Henry Borger.

I don't think he can be considered a hobby "pioneer," but he was definitely someone who got me excited about model cars when I was a kid. His many models featured in Car Model Magazine (remember that one?) got me really excited about model cars.

[jeffs396]

How about Roy Sorenson & my friend Kevin Drake???

of NNL West founders fame?

Edited July 9, 2012 by jeffs396

[southpier]

Dave Shuklis, Don Emmons, Joe Henning, Budd Anderson (no relation) all come to mind as early "pioneering" builders of car models as most of us come to know it.

Art

these fellows did have some skills. and let's not forget guys that brought us great kits. Bob Paeth comes to mind.

Edited July 10, 2012 by southpier

[TooOld]

Henry Borger.

I don't think he can be considered a hobby "pioneer," but he was definitely someone who got me excited about model cars when I was a kid. His many models featured in Car Model Magazine (remember that one?) got me really excited about model cars.

Yep , I remember Henry Borger . He's another Hall of Famer .

[Draggon]

Im with Harry and Bob. Hank Borger alone changed my building style for the better. His many Car Model articles taught me new techniques, and made me a much better builder.

[FASTBACK340]

My childhood Heros have all been mentioned. Boeger, Keeler, Emmons, Shucklis, Paeth. All of these builders influenced my initial go-round with the hobby. Then, like most of us....I left the hobby.

When I found model cars again as an adult I watched builders like Dale King & Juha Aria taking it to the next level.

Gerald Wingrove was my first exposure to master scratch building. While most of Mr. Wingroves builds we're not what I would build, you couldn't ignore his craftsmanship

Great links being posted. Thanks!

[Mercman]

I remember reading in one of those old issues a young fellow named Mark G. was complaining about the Amt 58 Chevy kit with the opening doors.

I think Hank Borger should be included, as his AWB cars were a big hit back then.

[rel14]

Whaa Hoo, i remember going to the 5&10 store, getting a model, and a Coke, and getting chance back from a dollar,, Remember the dollar a car load Drive-in. Remember when the Hobby shops have a Slot car track, and models, the greatest place in the world to hang out,, Rod & Custom was stuff like the Monkey mobile, Batmobile, Munsters and other really cool cars..

* As a little kid, i would watch my brother, and think, i can do that,,.......................

Edited July 10, 2012 by rel14