IS YOUR COUNTRY REPRESENTED IN THIS HOBBY?

[Dr. Cranky]

We know the United States, CANADA, AUSTRALIA and the UK are big model car building countries, but I am curious to know about other countries out there. And if so, what interesting trends and styles do you see.

If you are from countries other than the US, CAN, and the UK, can you please tell us about car model building activity in your country. I am interested in hearing about model car specific clubs, and builders who have become nationally known in your country.

I am posting this because I think many of us are curious about car model builders in the rest of the world.

Please let us hear from you.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Edited February 17, 2013 by Dr. Cranky

[Draggon]

Ck out "Korkut Varol" He's a genius.

http://korkutvarol.com/

[mistermodel]

My main intrest is big rig models and from what Ive seen on the net most of europe and austraila have huge model truck following,way ,way, bigger than what we see

[Erik Smith]

Well, I am half Finnish, and I know there are a few Finns on the board.

As for famous Finn modelers? Does the name Juha Airio sound familiar?

[Guest Johnny]

No??

[moparfarmer]

We have a site on FB that started out with six or seven from our model club in Winnipeg. On our FB club there are many from Peurto Rico and Austrailia. Some big hitters too...

[Harry P.]

Well, I am half Finnish....

Top or bottom half?

[W-409]

I'm 100% Finnish Model builder, so I'll say something.

We have FCMA which is Finnish Car Modelers Association and it organizes Model car shows here in Finland and publishes a magazine called Vitriini (where I am a "Journalist", too) and it is really nice magazine especially when thinking that it's for Members only and it is made on free time. The main event FCMA puts together year after year is FCMA Open in November, and FCMA is organizing Model Car shows in American Car Show and many other events.

FCMA Forum is alive too and there are some really nice builds. And at the local Model Car Shows there are usually 100-200 models. We have a few Model kit dealers, for example TietoNikkari, Hobby Point, Mallikauppa, Tmi Jarkko Turunen etc. The only Aftermarket dealer, Model Car Import is now closing though.

A few excellent Finnish Model Car Builders and an example of their work....

-Juha Airio http://tapahtumakuvia.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Tapahtumat+2012/Model+Cars/IPMS+Open+13.10.2012/PA130321.JPG And http://tapahtumakuvia.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Tapahtumat+2012/Model+Cars/IPMS+Open+13.10.2012/PA130285.JPG

-Tapani Rauramo http://tapahtumakuvia.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Tapahtumat+2012/Model+Cars/FCMA+Open+3.11.2012/PB030360.JPG

-Eero Kumanto http://tapahtumakuvia.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Tapahtumat+2013/Custom+Culture+Show+16.-17.2.2013/Model+Cars/DSCN0951.JPG

...And so many more. The hobby is alive in here!

[Dr. Cranky]

Erik, yes, Juha is a great model builder. We've known about his work for a long time.

[Tom Geiger]

There is a robust group of modelers in South Africa. The Kimbereley Modelers Society in Kimberley, South Africa hosts the South Africa NNL every year. I have some friends in that group, Peter Thomas, who visited me here in the US, Gerhard VanVuuren and I know Chris Roos posts on the boards here occasionally.

[Dr. Cranky]

Tom, thanks for the leads, I know Gerhard too.

[Tumbe]

Finnish Car Modelers Association www.fcma.fi

FCMA Forum http://www.fcma.fi/FCMABBS/

Juha Airio models http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/model_cars/model_cars_from_others/models_by_juha_airio-1/

Air-Trax resin (Juha Airio, Tapani Rauramo&Niko Niemi) http://public.fotki.com/tomcoolidge/scandinavian-resin/

Eero Kumanto models http://www.riemudesign.com/pienoismallit.htm

[Dr. Cranky]

Thank you, Tuomas.

[Shelby 427 1965]

Well.. In Ireland the hobby isn't exactly flourishing from what I've experienced.

[crazyrichard]

well here is holland >

holland actually has a hudge and massive modelbuild population .

when i was a child holland was even bigger modelbuild wise , i myself discovered the hobby on a late age ..

so its sad to say the new generation isnt really a hands on glue it together generation.

they rather facebook about things yoy wonder why anybody would take the time to put that on teh inetrnet.

gamers ... etc etc

but i'm glad to say my 8 year old son does game but he also loves to play outdoors , he is most happy playing with trash like papers and ... and always fiddeling with stuff , building lego ...

and last week we bought his forst modelkit , he really wanted it , i said think about it because you dont have to do this , only if you really want to (i think thats important never to push kids into a hobby)

so that said he wanted and we bought a snap tite kit from a corvette

back to holland , a lot of active forums and a big variety of styles , we also still have a nice ammount of real live modelbuild shops but we noticed the number of shops deceasing due to the online shops

its hard to keep your head above the water these days with economy so a lot of shops just could not stay open

on duch forums you will see all sorts of sections

>boats

>trains

>airoplanes

>cars

>trucks

>motorcycles

>military in every form

>diorama's

> sci fy

so yes holland is a real modelbuild country

also a very very big rc scene over here , and like everywhere the cars are well represented but in holland you also have a hudge crowd of boating enthousiasts , not weird seeing we have such a big port / harbour and a lot of people working in the harbour

do stuff like that in thier free time or retirement

my dad also builds and already did when i was a baby , he builds boats , but not rc and not kits

he scratch builds all his boats and makes the hulls out of very stirdt white cardboard sheets and also uses old palstics

he builds cranes en on the attic he build a whole harbour , with ships , cranes trucks ..

[Dr. Cranky]

Thank you for the wonderful information, Richard. Best wishes to all the good friends over in The Netherlands. Go Orange Machine! Long live Johan Cruyff!

[the4thlord]

Well i'm from India....

1 Billion + people and just 1 dedicated online hobby shop located in one big city.

Model building is considered 'playing with toys' here... (sad but true)

i don't know of any famous builders here nor have i heard of any!

I know the hobby has MAJOR potential in India, but whats keeping it back is the lack of material, lack of re-sellers, and lack of major modeling communities!

I know of a group of people who are trying to build a substantial community but it isn't really taking off!!

[Dr. Cranky]

Gaurav, that's sad and true, but I think it's the attitude of millions of people all over the world. As a hobby, few see its beauty. Everyone is caught up in working all the time. Nobody has the time, etc . . . It's good to know that excellent builders like you are leading the charge though. I am sure others will see the beauty of it and join in.

[Hillbilly]

Here in Norway it`s not a lot of people in the hobby that i know of, sorry to say. It`s cosidered a toy thing amongst most people sad but true. If you should buy a kit you most try the toystores, but little or nothing to buy there, it`s slim pickin. It`s a good thing that i can buy online.

[Junkman]

I actually wouldn't put the UK among the Phalanx of car modelling. When it comes to cars, this is traditionally Diecastland.

90% of the plastic modelling activity here is done by people who think the war was very nice and unfortunatley ended way too soon.

IMO, the traditional plastic car kit modelling countries are the USA and Japan.

Edited February 24, 2013 by Junkman

[Harry P.]

I actually wouldn't put the UK among the Phalanx of car modelling. When it comes to cars, this is traditionally Diecastland.

90% of the plastic modelling activity here is done by people who think the war was very nice and unfortunatley ended way too soon.

IMO, the traditional plastic car kit modelling countries are the USA and Japan.

Agreed. And Canada and Australia also seem to have a thriving car modeling culture. But while the plastic modeling crew in the UK may be small, there are some very good builders among them.

[Junkman]

But while the plastic modeling crew in the UK may be small, there are some very good builders among them.

I won't deny that for a second. The work I've seen at the Telford Scale Model World is outstanding.

[The Creative Explorer]

In contradiction of what Richard tends to believe, The Netherlands isn't a 'huge' modelling country. There is only one major club and there are barely any specialised stores for modelling.

I wish it would've been different, but it isn't so.

The belgiums are more enthusastic about the hobby, basically every major city andlarger town has his own club and meets regular.

[Dr. Cranky]

Thanks, Erik. I hope some of the folks from Belgium will chime in.

[1972coronet]

It is always intriguing to me to find that there are fellow enthusiasts in other countries ; and , especially when those enthusiasts are into North American vehicles (!!).

Brother Grzegorz ( let me apologise for misspelling his name here ) is a prime example ! Absolute talent ; beautiful workmanship .

W348 and W409 have consistantly turned out some gorgeous replicas as well ( love your race cars , guys !). Certainly , our brothers in Jolly Olde have also contributed some splendid works as well .

I would like to see ambassadors from the U.S. , England , France , etc. , etc. , as well as outreach-type organisations , promote the hobby ! It's a great escape for anyone , and may be of help to the citizens of unstable countries / regions to keep their minds occupied , especially the children of those regions .

I know , totally unrealistic . A nice idea none-the-less ...

Keep those awesome builds coming , my fellow overseas plastic fanatics !