Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan, was the site for the 17th annual Motor City NNL scale model show and swap meet on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. Modelers filled the table with 450 models, and 1,400 visitors attended the event organized by the Detroit Area Auto Modelers. Known as one of the premiere NNL shows in the U.S., it draws modelers from all over the Midwest.
Ron Harris used the two engines from the old Monogram S’Cool Bus to build this wild rat rod. He also added a scratchbuilt spider-web insert for the roof.
A purple-to-green shifting House of Kolor paint scheme creates a dynamic finish on Scott Wiknich’s AMT ’39 Chevy wagon hot rod.
How about a Corvair flat-four engine in a parts box Model T body? Tim Kringer scratchbuilt the seats, frame, and other parts to complete the unique hot rod.
Harold Helzer brought his 1968 Road Runner for the JoHan subtheme category. He finished it with Testors Butterscotch and a flat black hood.
George Garner’s entry in the JoHan subtheme category was Mickey Thompson's Mustang Funny Car. The 50-year-old kit still holds up well today with engine detailing and self-adhesive metal foil on the interior sheet metal.
Matt Viggiano’s Lamborghini Murciélago has its doors and engine cover popped to show off the interior. He replaced the Aoshima kit engine with a resin one from Hobby Designs, and Matt reports that made the kit all the more challenging to build. “Change one thing and you need to change others,” he says.
Jeff Newhart combined the Moebius Models 1964 Nova SS with a 1965 Nova gasser from the same company to get this convincingly weathered drag car. He used a file to produce rubber tire dust and white glue to apply the rear fenders behind the slicks.
Doug Ungemach’s AMT ’60 Chevy pickup includes an aftermarket big-block Chevy engine and lots of kit bashing. The drag race, road race, and rat truck mash-up is finished in weathered Gulf blue and orange livery to poke fun at the trend of using heritage colors.
The theme category at this year’s Motor City NNL was “90 Years of the ’32 Ford.” Tom Kren entered a clean Revell ’32 five-window with hood and wheels from the Revell Stacey David “Rat Roaster.”
The lowrider category featured this Revell ’92 Cougar with a complex masking and airbrush stripe job by Jimmy Murphy. The base coat is Custom Paints LTD Spectracoat Silver with Tamiya clear colors and top-coated with Mr. Clear Color GX Violet. The build is mostly box-stock with scratchbuilt front and rear spoilers and Pegasus wheels.
Dean Berndt won the Motor City NNL “Built Bud’s Way” award recognizing excellence in door slammer drag racing subjects. The super-clean build of Monogram’s Bob Glidden Motorcraft Thunderbird had an opened trunk and a removable front clip to exhibit the fuel line and wiring details.
Lowrider models offer the opportunity to let a modeler’s craftsmanship shine. Michael Leland’s AMT 1964 Impala has multiple hinged features and uses craft-store foam for seats and interior trim. He hand-painted complex graphics with acrylic enamels over a Krylon Purple base. A topcoat of Tamiya Clear Red ties it all together.
Andrew Bogusz’s grandpa was a late model sportsman racer at Mt. Clemens Race Track, and it inspired him to build this AMT Plymouth Valiant Scamp. He used photo references and Photoshop to produce images for his decals and printed them on Testors' White Decal Paper. Careful trimming yielded the sharp, one-of-a-kind graphics on Andrew’s Valiant.
An MPC Ritchie Evans Pinto modification gave Mike Garrett a break from his usual build subjects. He lowered the asphalt short-track racer and added a scratchbuilt hood, shocks, engine details, and an opened trunk.
Tom Nowak took an AMT 1967 Chevelle pro street, a classic 1980s subject, and updated it with a modern color scheme of Chrysler Cement Gray with black wheels and trim. The slab-sided intermediate has a flawless 2K clear coat. Technical details include Competition Resins wheels and Detail Master gray flocking for carpet.
Mark Ugo is the keeper of this beautiful build and entered the Moebius Models International Lonestar tractor on behalf of the late Kenny Matheny, who loved its look. The model was built by Harold Helzer, finished with ’64 Ford Metallic Red from Bob’s Paint.
Steve Goldman went to Motor City NNL to represent Round 2, but he had time to enter this awesome AMT/Round 2 Custom Corvette, newly released in 2022. MCW lacquers and an Iwata airbrush yielded the groovy green paint job. Redline tires from the AMT VW Superbug 1971 Unity (Coke) add contrast.
Chris Meacham’s Revell 1969 Boss 302 Mustang has an engine bay full of a 3D-printed 5.0-liter Coyote engine. Other modern touches include carbon-fiber accents, racing seats, and 20-inch wheels, which are also 3D printed.
A standout in the box-stock category was James Testor’s build of the Tamiya AMG GT3. Aftermarket Goodsmile Racing Hatsune Miku decals are applied over Tamiya White and Mr. Hobby Red. The model was completed in six weeks with 40 hours invested in the decal work!
Steve Perry built this 1986 Honda VF500 Interceptor from Tamiya’s 1983 VF750 kit. The replica of his real bike includes a recontoured gas tank, fairing, and seat. The rear bodywork is completely scratchbuilt. Steve machined the wheels from aluminum on a Sherline lathe and mill.