Contest Aftermath

[FloridaBoy]

Our model car club, the Table Top Cruisers out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida threw a large contest this past weekend, and we had about 300 cars. Great turnout of competitors, cars and visitors. The location was prime, as it was a model railroad club in a train station, dead center of town, in Deerfield, and easily accessible from just about anywhere.

The contest was everything I expected. Lots of cars, builders, animated and enthusiastic conversations about building model cars. So, what happens when the contest is over, awards are given out, and guys are packing their cars to take back home.

I saw a continuation of the former day, only conversations were much quieter and more personal about their love of the hobby. The great combined care of picking up cars from the table packaging them and putting them in the car for the drive home was incredible. Not only respect for your build, but respect for others.

Then we gathered some chairs around and stayed a while. There were vendor kits on sale, so we bought a lot, traded a lot, and generally had fun. That is where we shared our secrets involving technique, tools, supplies and other materials to keep our cars together.

When I got home, that is when I realized the true meaning of a model car contest. It is nice to have a compeitition, for sure, but the important meaning is the fellowship and cammaderie that only model builders can generate, exchange of parts, supplies, helping each other out, and a million other things. That is the essence of the model car contest. The next time you hear of a model car contest, do not shrug or let others do the moaning and complaining, and avoid the event because it is for competitors or aggressive modelers. Just go and have fun, look at cars, and talk to people. You would not only be surprised by what is new, but was was old and available. Just go and enjoy youself and look at those fabulous cars. I know I will never miss one again myself if I can. I learned a ton even at 60 years old at this contest.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[cruz]

Hey Ken, congratulations on the show's success, I am 100% with you about the true reason about going to these events, there is nothing like sharing your ideas and talking to other people that share the same passion as you. Hopefully your next event is even bigger than the previous, who knows, I might be living in Florida by that time and we can share ideas with the rest of the Floridians and non Floridians.....

[wagonmaster]

that is one thing I love about attending shows the camaraderies is the best parts.

Tim

[Mike]

Sounds like the two contests we attend up here. Great group of guys and everyone has fun talks modeling or whatever else comes up. It's nice to earn an award, but by and large the best part is just having the opportunity to gather with your fellow builder.

[FloridaBoy]

We were real fortunate to have a medium sized successful contest. There are great qualities about small, medium and large contests, but the one thing that makes or breaks a contest is the cammaderie. But it just doesn't happen. The host club needs to extend its welcome to all modelers, whether they entered or not, to join in the festivities, and the club members, should be having a great time, even if they were tired from all of the preparations. We had a few key guys that worked day and into the night, but these guys inspired a great legion of making the contest worthwhile.

On Saturday afternoon, the room was crowded with participants, attendees, their families, passers-by (it was held at a busy train station) and people off the street made curious by our street signage. I overheard old stories, stories about the "golden age" deep discussions about adhesives, technology, problem resolution on builds, difficult and easy kits, and the list went on, and everyone was animated in their part of their discussions.

On Sunday we had our flea market with two guys, but one guy has well over 200 kits dating from way back to today.

By the time the contest was over, and we were all packed up, and starting our cars to leave, I took one last look at the contest area and although I was exhausted myself, reflected that it was worth it.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[3men2s]

thanks Ken, this are photos from the show.

[3men2s]

[3men2s]

[3men2s]

[3men2s]

and my personal favorite!!!!

[PatRedmond]

Both. Letdown because I don't build 'contest quality' and renewal to try harder next build.

[Mike]

Thank you for sharing the eye candy! Who's the builder that does the great flame work?

[3men2s]

I actually met him and talk painting with him, he did the pin stripes too

on the 3cycle and the custom chevy. Florida Boy introduce him,

hope he post the answer or thru a private massage.

Bro, is amazing how much detail on the paint itself.

the details in the building, He is another monster.

Great person and very hepfull.

[FloridaBoy]

3Men2's and group.

The builder referenced above is probably the best air brusher I ever had the pleasure of calling a friend, Jeff Selker. He is truly one of the most underrated artists around. The vehicles he painted are the 32 Rat Rod Sedan which shows sand marks and bare metal through on the chop job, which took first place in the 32 Ford Category. The other cars he did are the red '40 Ford Flatbed truck, with hand airbrushed flames, but also has a working flatbed, chopped top, opening doors, and incredible detail. One of my favorite '40 Fords of all time. The other two he did above were the Semi tractor in black with blue flames, and again, those flames are airbrushed and not decals. It is in display only as it won first in class and best of show at the last show we had. The last car he did was the '40 Ford Coupe, multicolor, which was done years ago. but not entered because it won first in class two years ago.

Jeff is a very humble guy, but his airbrushing down here in SoFla is legendary. He has done 1:1 vans, pickups, cars, customs, rods, drag cars, motorcycles, and helmets. Jeff is in my opinion as good as that guy on Rides and Overhaulin, Mike of Killer Paint. The work you see is 1/24-1/25 but on 1:1 he is quite exceptional.

Just by showing his cars, and seeing them in progress, I have improved my painting standards a thousandfold. Again, another reason for a contest, for where else would you get inspired to improve?

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[bob paeth]

I sure can reinforce Florida Boy's comments on model car contests. I have been actively involved in these activities since my first one in 1960. The contest being reported on is exceptional in that it covered two days ( swap meet ) and contest. This gives gobs of time for schmoozing. My club SABA used to hold and NNL and swap meet over a week-end but the cost of the facilities proved too much and we had to regress to a Saturday only meet. This is an open invitation to all here: if you want to over-dose on discussions, reminicing, building hints or whatever you should try the GSL in Salt Lake City. I can guarantee that you will be worn out and ready to go home when it is over. This contest covers 4 days and is without a doubt the best thing that you will ever attend.

bob

[FloridaBoy]

I would like to amplify Bob's comments about contests. I have been around, like Bob, for quite some time, and I am asked all of the time about "the golden age of model cars" which was the early sixties. I have stated quite often that because of the proliferation of kits, especially those we wished for in the "golden age" are now available to us, along with better paint, tools, supplies, adhesives, and just about everything else. Times are better now.

And to me, contests although not as frequent, are MUCH BETTER now, why? Simply, contests in the olden days consisted mostly of those done in hobby shop windows. You brought your model to the store, entered it, and the owner put it in the window to get parched in the sun, then the judging happened one night, then everyone comes and picks up what is left of their cars after being in a sunny window for a couple of weeks. Virtually no interaction between modelers, except on occasion when you were at the shop and another builder was. Nowadays, a contest is held in a protective place over a weekend, and all competitors bringing cars use that opportunity to talk up a storm.

Yeah yeah, I know, I came from the time of the AMT 40 Fords, deuces, 49 Fords and Mercs, 58 Chevies, but today you still have those plus a host of new ones, plus they go together better, and even the cars today are finished 100 times better than way back then. For those who choose not to compete, bring your models and display them, but learn how to talk to others, and learn new techniques. I have seen guys go from average modelers in our club to primo modelers just by opening up the eyes during contests, and opening up the ears during seminars.

Again, these are the good times.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

[Dr. Cranky]

I've started to go to more shows in the last couple of years because I get tired of spending the year cooped up just modeling. I think shows do offer a great chance to meet other builders and see the stuff in person and up close.

Some shows, I find, like the NNL East are so huge they are a bit overwhelming, but you have a blast . . . oh, and no matter how strong you are you end up breaking your piggy bank to bring home some goodies.