Vic Rood
West Allis, Wisconsin
Vic Rood’s old-school 1932 Ford roadster is all set for racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats. He replaced the engine in an AMT 1/25 scale kit with a fuel-injected Olds 425, wired it, and scratchbuilt headers. There’s no paint on the body of Vic’s Ford; he just buffed the plastic. Where he did paint, Vic airbrushed the colors and slightly weathered the engine.
Lance Noltemeyer
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Thirty hours of work produced Lance’s 1/24 scale Veilside Nissan Fairlady Z. He added a body kit to a Tamiya kit, and brought in a 3D-printed diffuser and BBS LM wheels. Lance airbrushed the body Sikkens Autobase Brilliant Gold, masked, and followed up with Jet Black.
Mike Kollver
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Mike cut the top off an MPC 1970 Pontiac GTO hardtop to model this sweet blue ’70 convertible. He ran a 1969 442 frame underneath and detailed the engine with a MAD distributor and spark-plug wires.
Richard Schaffer
Sparta, Wisconsin
“The model depicts an aircraft used for artillery spotting and light bombing,” Richard said of his Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale Rumpler C.IV. He superdetailed the engine and spruced up the cockpit with aftermarket seat belts. He painted with acrylics and lacquers from Tamiya, AK Interactive, and Ammo, and weathered with washes typically used on green vehicles, and added artist oils and pastels to simulate dirt.
Matt Key
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Dan Gurney approached Team Lotus with an idea for an Indianapolis 500-winning design that included a Ford V8 that eventually bore fruit as the Lotus 29. Matt built his 1/25 scale model from an MPC kit, shaving the body and wiring the engine. He painted with Tamiya Pure White and dressed the race car in markings from Indycals.
Kreg Woods
Vassar, Michigan
Kreg airbrushed MCW Black enamel over Mr. Hobby Black Primer on the body of his Revell 1/25 scale 1968 Dodge Dart. He wet-sanded the black, applied gold striping with a Gaahleri paint marker, clear-coated, and polished the finish. The street machine stands on 3D-printed tires and wheels, and the hood sports NASCAR pins.
Alan Barton
Warwick, Western Australia, Australia
Ern Harewood’s 1932 Ford coupe, Little Sport, is a famous hot rod from Australia’s early hot-rodding days and was a show winner in 1965. Alan brings the car to life in 1/25 scale, starting with a Revell five-window coupe and converting it to a sport coupe. He shortened and Z’d the chassis, included running gear from a Revell 1937 Ford pickup, scratchbuilt nerf bars, roll pan, taillights, and a ’55 Ford right-hand-drive dash.
Alan Barton
Warwick, Western Australia, Australia
Ern Harewood’s 1932 Ford coupe, Little Sport, is a famous hot rod from Australia’s early hot-rodding days and was a show winner in 1965. Alan brings the car to life in 1/25 scale, starting with a Revell five-window coupe and converting it to a sport coupe. He shortened and Z’d the chassis, included running gear from a Revell 1937 Ford pickup, scratchbuilt nerf bars, roll pan, taillights, and a ’55 Ford right-hand-drive dash.
Eli Van Helvoirt
Wrightstown, Wisconsin
Thirteen-year-old Eli did a bang-up job on his Tamiya 1/35 scale Willys jeep. The radio, dash, and fire extinguisher came from an Eduard detail set, and he packed the back with stowage from a Tamiya M4A3 Howitzer. Eli base-coated the jeep Tamiya NATO Black and then topped the body with Olive Drab. Tamiya Khaki Drab colored the seats. He picked out details with black Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color and dusted up the tires and lower body with Tamiya Weathering Master pigments.
Victor Demichei
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Victor calls this 1/25 scale unit the Autonomous Amphibious Urban Assault Vehicle. Coming completely from his imagination, Victor scratchbuilt this model. It includes a bomb-sniffing “robo” dog, wheels made from Nerf bullets, motors derived from earbuds, four 8-foot-tall robot officers, a .50-caliber machine gun, water cannon, concussion rockets with launcher, and a plethora of equipment fit for a dystopian future cityscape.
Victor Demichei
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Victor calls this 1/25 scale unit the Autonomous Amphibious Urban Assault Vehicle. Coming completely from his imagination, Victor scratchbuilt this model. It includes a bomb-sniffing “robo” dog, wheels made from Nerf bullets, motors derived from earbuds, four 8-foot-tall robot officers, a .50-caliber machine gun, water cannon, concussion rockets with launcher, and a plethora of equipment fit for a dystopian future cityscape.
Ronald Neuendorf
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Slixx decals adorn Ronald’s Monogram 1/24 scale Firebird pro street dragster. He wired the distributor and tachometer and painted the car with Tamiya Aluminum, Gun Metal, and Italian Red. Revell Chrome spray rounded out the quarter-mile warrior’s appearance.
Chris Juno
Clyman, Wisconsin
“I’m not a fan of modern four-door vehicles,” Chris said. So he turned an AMT 1/25 scale 2021 Dodge Charger into a two-door with a 1970s muscle-car feel. To do it, Chris grafted a resin 1970 Dodge Charger roof onto the AMT body, modified the inner and outer door panels, 3D-printed new wheels and tires, and applied modified decals he received from master car modeler Mike Dowd.
Chris Juno
Clyman, Wisconsin
“I’m not a fan of modern four-door vehicles,” Chris said. So he turned an AMT 1/25 scale 2021 Dodge Charger into a two-door with a 1970s muscle-car feel. To do it, Chris grafted a resin 1970 Dodge Charger roof onto the AMT body, modified the inner and outer door panels, 3D-printed new wheels and tires, and applied modified decals he received from master car modeler Mike Dowd.
Rick “Doc” Buikema
Clinton, Iowa
Doc brings back the classic Coca-Cola jingle with his rat rod, The Real Thing. It started as an AMT 1/25 scale Ford pickup, but nothing was left alone. The engine is a Detroit diesel with exhausts made from rabbit-ear antennas. A 1923 Mack chain drive turns the rear wheels, and a lip balm container serves as a gas tank. Doc made the airbags from plumbing O rings. He painted with spray paint and used salt, pastels, and artist oil paints for heavy weathering.
Maynard Nigbor
Wausau, Wisconsin
Maynard added gauze nets to his Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV), which he built from a HobbyBoss 1/35 scale kit. Model Master enamels provided the realistic colors and Maynard used ink-and-alcohol washes and pastels to provide believable weathering.
Larry Hahn
Wonder Lake, Illinois
Wheels from Larry’s spares box set off his Revell 1/25 scale 1968 Chevrolet Chevelle. He plumbed and wired the engine, layered the trim in Bare-Metal Foil, and modeled a vinyl top. The unique paint job is Dupli-Color Cayman Green with a Clear Blue top coat.
Mike Klessig
West Bend, Wisconsin
Having built a few IBG kits in the past, Mike knew he would enjoy modeling its 1/72 scale IAR 80, a Romanian World War II fighter. He built the unique aircraft box stock except for an antenna wire. Mike airbrushed the camo freehand with Mr. Color lacquers and applied a Model Master Burnt Umber wash for a touch of weathering.
Kevin Couch
Findlay, Ohio
Parts from here and there and everywhere went into Kevin’s 1/25 scale rat rod. He chopped off the cab of a 1937 Chevy pickup and then started adding bits and pieces until he arrived at his destination. Kevin dry-brushed the cab, weathered heavily using the salt technique with acrylic paints and a gray “wet” wash.
Tom Schiera
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Tom dressed his Trumpeter 1/32 scale F6F-5 Hellcat for service as part of the USS Randolph carrier group that participated in the Iwo Jima Allied air attacks before the Marines landed on Feb. 9, 1945. Quinta 3D decals improved the cockpit, and resin machine guns replaced the kit’s weapons. Eduard masks kept the canopy glass pristine as he airbrushed on Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics. Pigments and Abteilung 502 artist oils provided dirt, streaking, and fuel and oil stains.
Steve Schiera
Plano, Illinois
For his first time building armor, Steve chose a Tamiya 1/48 scale M1A1 Abrams. He upped the detail with photo-etched metal parts and painted exclusively with Vallejo acrylics. Steve airbrushed primer first, pre-shaded, laid down the base color, and post-shaded. Then he applied multiple filters made from thinned artist oils.
John Clancy
Menominee Falls, Wisconsin
John is well known as a paper modeler, and he worked his magic to build Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter novels and movies. He printed the parts on an inkjet printer, which took up 17 standard-size leafs, but found out the instructions were written only in Chinese. After some searching, he found someone online who had built the model and followed their directions. After a week, mostly spent cutting out the various parts, John had re-created Harry Potter’s alma mater in miniature!
Mike Kohta
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Mike’s diorama, Age of Innocence, depicts Ukrainian troops on a captured Russian tank waving at a photographer and refugees. He used 1/35 scale Dragon and Trumpeter Shika AA and BMP3-E tanks and added LEDs from Evans Designs to illuminate their interiors. Painting, Mike went with Vallejo acrylics, Tamiya enamels, and artist oils, and worked both with an airbrush and paintbrushes.
Stew Edwards
Grafton, Wisconsin
A Merit 1/24 scale 1953 Aston Martin DB3S kit served as a starting point for Stew’s model of a Le Mans 1953 works car. He opened up the hood, tonneau cover, and trunk, replaced the chassis with one from an AMT Cobra, and built the front suspension with parts from a variety of kits. The engine came from a Revell Aston Martin DB4.
Stew Edwards
Grafton, Wisconsin
A Merit 1/24 scale 1953 Aston Martin DB3S kit served as a starting point for Stew’s model of a Le Mans 1953 works car. He opened up the hood, tonneau cover, and trunk, replaced the chassis with one from an AMT Cobra, and built the front suspension with parts from a variety of kits. The engine came from a Revell Aston Martin DB4.
Bob Kremer
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Bob watched a video with a 1963 Honda T360 truck and was inspired to build a model of it. He found an Arii 1/32 scale kit of the vehicle and added a spare set of steel wheels for a more authentic look. Bob painted the little Honda Tamiya Grey Green and Wooden Deck Tan from spray cans. Some pastels and light washes show this truck is out and about.
Joe Simon
Jackson, Wisconsin
A Flagship Models 1/192 scale kit of the American Civil War ironclad USS Keokuk, 1863, underwent extensive modification to make it acceptable to Joe’s high standards. He turned masts from brass rods for the all-resin kit, turned the cannons from brass tubing, and made the awnings from white glue. Joe primed the model with automotive primer and airbrushed a variety of paints for the final appearance, including Vallejo, Testors Model Master, and Tamiya acrylics. The deck was brush-painted.
Bob Pedersen
Ingleside, Illinois
Bob’s Revell 1/25 scale 1932 Ford five-window coupe wears a juicy Tiki Paints Pineapple Pearl finish over Mr. Surfacer 1000 primer. He wired the engine and detailed the frame and rims.
Bill Wedeward
Waterloo, Wisconsin
Bill built his Tamiya 1/35 scale Soviet SU-85 out of the box and painted it with Scale Colors acrylics. Dark artist-oil washes and post-shading brought the visual interest, as did a Bases by Bob wooden base to place the tank destroyer at Kolberg in 1945.
Jeff LaMott
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Keith Rider sold his R-4 to Bill Schoenfeldt after the 1936 racing season. The new owner replaced the engine, named it the Firecracker, and went on to win two events and get a top speed of 260 mph. Jeff’s 1/32 scale replica started as a Williams Bros. kit built from the box. He painted it with Testors enamels and picked out panel lines with a brown wash.
Ken Kellner
McHenry, Illinois
With the right background, you’d be hard-pressed to tell Ken’s Revell 1/25 scale Ford F-150 Raptor from the real thing. To create a show truck, he cut the roof off, scratchbuilt sun visors, a tonneau cover, a roll bar, and headlight buckets. He primed the body with white Tamiya Primer and followed up with coats of Dupli-Color lacquer and Testors Clear.
Bob Clift
Milton, Wisconsin
Bob’s Heller 1/72 scale de Havilland DH-89 Dragon Rapide replicates Great Britain King Edward VIII’s own airplane that became the King’s Flight in 1936 when he ascended the throne. Bob added EZ Line rigging and painted the livery with Tamiya colors.
Greg Schmidt
Appleton, Wisconsin
Much of the work Greg put into his Monogram 1/24 scale custom Chevy van is on the inside, like a custom overhead console with CB radio and eight-track tape deck, a center console to hold those tapes, a tuck-and-roll dash and door panels, a wet bar, mini fridge, and bed in back. Outside, he ran “warrior” side-pipe/running board exhausts, scratchbuilt a sunroof, roof vent, roof rack, and rear ladder. Testors One-Coat lacquers cover the exterior, and he marked his van with decals from two Monogram 1960 Chevrolet Impala lowrider kits.
Deb Salmon
Somerset, Wisconsin
Deb bought two Monogram 1/24 scale Corvette SS hatchback kits for $5 at a flea market to build one complete model. Built box stock except for the Pegasus wheels (the kit wheels were missing from both kits), the unique ’Vette wears Tamiya Gold with Model Master Multi-color Glitter Clear. Tamiya Smoke tints the T-tops and back windows.
Jeff Barrette
Madison, Wisconsin
Master Model .50-caliber blast tubes replaced the kit guns on Jeff’s Hasegawa 1/48 scale P-47 Thunderbolt. Alclad II lacquers and Model Master enamels and acrylics provided the bare-metal finish, olive drab, red stripe, and red triangles. He used Barracuda Studios decals to mark the aircraft for “Haulin’ Ass,” flown by Lt. Jim McWhorter, 365th Fighter Group, “Hell Hawks,” 1944.
Tim Pennington
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
An AMT 1/25 scale 1972 Chevy wedge hauls a 1960 Chevy fleetside, which in turn hauls a go-kart and trailer. Tim lowered the suspensions on both trucks and the trailer, employed Pegasus wheels throughout, and dressed up the backend of the pickup with 1959 El Camino taillights. He reversed the mirrors on the wedge, mounting them from the roof. Tim painted with custom-mixed Tamiya colors, and he made a stencil on a Cricut to help him airbrush the flames.
Tim Pennington
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
An AMT 1/25 scale 1972 Chevy wedge hauls a 1960 Chevy fleetside, which in turn hauls a go-kart and trailer. Tim lowered the suspensions on both trucks and the trailer, employed Pegasus wheels throughout, and dressed up the backend of the pickup with 1959 El Camino taillights. He reversed the mirrors on the wedge, mounting them from the roof. Tim painted with custom-mixed Tamiya colors, and he made a stencil on a Cricut to help him airbrush the flames.
Deven Lehst
McHenry, Illinois
Deven swapped out the stock engine in his Revell 1/25 scale kit for a Pontiac 455 to model a 1983 Hurst Oldsmobile Cutlass street machine. He ran fuel and brake lines, added spark-plug wires to the engine, installed a custom exhaust, and placed a custom hood out front. He sprayed the two-tone black and silver finish from cans, masking in between for the demarcation.
Deven Lehst
McHenry, Illinois
Deven swapped out the stock engine in his Revell 1/25 scale kit for a Pontiac 455 to model a 1983 Hurst Oldsmobile Cutlass street machine. He ran fuel and brake lines, added spark-plug wires to the engine, installed a custom exhaust, and placed a custom hood out front. He sprayed the two-tone black and silver finish from cans, masking in between for the demarcation.
Marvin Bochum
Elgin, Illinois
Marvin purchased a 3D-printed 1962 International Travelall online and then went to work scratchbuilding the engine compartment, interior, hitches, the front bumper and winches, and the aluminum exhaust. The custom decals mark the Travelall for the Springfield, Ohio, fire department. A “what if” build, Marvin said, it “just made sense,” because Travelalls were manufactured in Springfield.
Marvin Bochum
Elgin, Illinois
Marvin purchased a 3D-printed 1962 International Travelall online and then went to work scratchbuilding the engine compartment, interior, hitches, the front bumper and winches, and the aluminum exhaust. The custom decals mark the Travelall for the Springfield, Ohio, fire department. A “what if” build, Marvin said, it “just made sense,” because Travelalls were manufactured in Springfield.
Marvin Bochum
Elgin, Illinois
Marvin purchased a 3D-printed 1962 International Travelall online and then went to work scratchbuilding the engine compartment, interior, hitches, the front bumper and winches, and the aluminum exhaust. The custom decals mark the Travelall for the Springfield, Ohio, fire department. A “what if” build, Marvin said, it “just made sense,” because Travelalls were manufactured in Springfield.