A fan of old hot rods, Mark Casto wired the hemi engine in an AMT 1/25 scale Ford five-window coupe, replaced the shifter with a stick pin, and subbed in rear wheels from a ’67 Chevelle Pro Street kit. The finish is MCW Yellow enamel under 2K clear.
“I like to build movie cars,” said Bobby Kos of his Revell 1/25 scale ’48 Ford finished as Greased Lightning from the 1978 musical film Grease. He painted the out-of-the-box build with Tamiya Pearl White.
Rob Metzner spent two weeks on his straightforward build of a Revell 1/25 scale ’57 Ford gasser. His no-fuss model includes no mods and was painted with Krylon spray cans.
To capture the look of the demolition derby cars he saw at county fairs growing up, Jeremy Schul tucked the frame from a 1967 Chevy Impala under an AMT 1/25 scale 1976 Impala and beat the hell out of the body panels. The, uh, finish is Krylon Apple Green and Rust from the spray can.
Showing his passion for vintage firefighting equipment, David Parsley modified an AMT 1/25 scale American LaFrance pumper with a resin Ford cab from American Industrial Truck Models. He painted the firetruck red with Rust-Oleum colors and fashioned the emergency beacon from glass.
Jason Foster painted AMT’s 1/25 scale Li’l Gasser with Gaia lacquers for no other reason than a love of the wild show-rod style.
After dropping an AMT 1/25 scale ’69 Ford F-100 nearly to the ground on an Iceman frame and tucking 3D-printed wheels under the corners, Scott Hoover painted his restomod pickup charcoal gray and black under PPG clear.
A fan of “Dyno” Dan Nicholson, Mike “Raisin” Garrett used Slixx decals to mark a JoHan 1/25 scale Ford Maverick Pro Stock the drag-racing legend drove in 1970. The kit lacked an engine bay, so Raisin fitted one cut from a Monogram Mustang to house the Ford Cammer engine. The car is finished with Dupli-Color paints.
Mon Dieu! Mark Harmon rolled in with this beautifully finished Ebbro 1/24 scale Citroen DS21 built out of the box and painted with Tamiya Champagne. “I like Citroens,” he said, and we must agree based on his model. C'est une belle voiture, non?
“A truck I would love to own,” said Jake Leatherman. He built an AMT 1/25 scale ’60 Chevy Custom Fleetside out of the box and painted the two-tone finish with Krylon Light Yellow and Tamiya Racing White.
Hauling in style, Sam Husk arrived at the show with a Revell 1/25 scale Kenworth that he lowered and dressed up with scratchbuilt bumpers, fenders, visor, and exhaust stacks, as well as crafting several parts from aluminum. The rig’s striking finish is HOK Tangelo Pearl under Pro Scale 2K clear.
The AMC Marlin was a unique car in its own right, but Don Puling Jr. took it up a notch by sliding the chassis from an AMT GTO under the body and interior from a JoHan 1/25 scale kit. To finish, he sprayed Tamco Ron Burgundy Pearl topped with 2-part clear.
Terry Barchers converted AMT’s 1978 Dodge pickup into a pulling truck with numerous 3D-printed parts, including the chassis, wheels, tires, weight box, fuel tank, and headers. After finishing it with Tamiya and Dupli-Color paints and 2K clear, he applied STS decals.
Working with the Fujimi 1/24 scale Ford GT40 Mark II his daughter picked up in England, Gene King drilled the lightning holes in the seats. He finished the endurance racer with Tamiya lacquers.
Celebrating the elegance of 1930s motoring, Scott Burggraf built an AMT 1/25 scale 1932 Chrysler and cut open the golf-bag door. The gleaming finish was achieved with Dupli-Color automotive touch-up paint.
For a club build of the AMT 1/25 scale 2021 Ford Bronco, Glenn Fahrni added a 3D-printed spare tire cover and an antenna from his spares box. He finished the SUV with Tamiya spray lacquers, including blue, flat black, and clear.
Taking part in a motorcycle group build, Eric Larotonda built a Heller 1/12 scale Yamaha YZR M1 2004 out of the box. He painted the racing livery with Tamiya Racing Blue and buffed the paint with Novus Polish.
Jinkies! Madi Humes, a fan of Scooby-Doo, built the Polar Lights 1/25 scale Mystery Machine.
“A friend asked me to build it for his wife,” said Vern Heizer of this resin 1956 Lincoln Continental Mk.II. He customized the coupe by chopping the top, detailed the engine, and fitted an interior from a ’62 Pontiac. The custom work extended to the finish which Vern mixed using pearl white and orange.
Inspired by the 1971 movie Two-Lane Blacktop, Greg “OG” Gibson scratchbuilt a new front end and tilting hood for an AMT 1/25 scale 1955 Chevy. The detailed 454 engine and gray primer match the movie car.
Tom Dill spent a month building a Moebius Models 1/25 scale International Lone Star rig and painted it in the livery of R&L Carriers, the company where his son-in-law works, with Caddy auto paint. “Best looking truck on the road,” he added.
The hot rod is a Revell 1/25 scale ’32 Ford two-door sedan, but Dale Bartley scratchbuilt the body of the Winnebago transporter it sits upon. He matched the car and its ride with Tamiya Bright White and Light Blue lacquers. “I like Winnebagos,” he said.
Describing Revell’s 1/25 scale Jeep Rubicon as an easy build, Brian King capped it with Tamiya Yellow, ensuring it can’t get lost in the wilderness.
A fan of truck models, Wayne Skinner built an AMT 1/25 scale Kenworth Aerodyne Cabover and trailer, adding a toolbox to the trailer. He painted the matching livery with lacquers.
MPC’s 1/25 scale Wild Breed Mustang wears Tamiya Gun Metal thanks to Mike Jinkens. “I liked the style,” he said of his out-of-the-box build.
Showing his love for early Pro Stock cars, Jeff Ross finished a JoHan 1/25 scale Sox & Martin Boss ’Cuda with automotive paint. Eschewing the kit markings, he applied decals from Slixx for a car driven by Jack Werst.
Building a replica of a car he owned, Dennis Tull modified the body and trim on a Modelhaus 1/25 scale resin 1965 Impala wagon to convert it to a Biscayne long roof. He painted the car with Tamiya lacquers.