Greg Schmidt
Appleton, Wisconsin
Greg combined a Revell 1/24 scale Beetle kit and a Revell 1/24 scale NASCAR No. 28 Davey Allison Havoline Thunderbird to model a one-of-a-kind NASCAR VW Beetle. It looks like Bobby Hill is the driver of this “what if” racer that Greg painted with Testors enamels and topped with modified kit decals.
Greg Schmidt
Appleton, Wisconsin
Greg combined a Revell 1/24 scale Beetle kit and a Revell 1/24 scale NASCAR No. 28 Davey Allison Havoline Thunderbird to model a one-of-a-kind NASCAR VW Beetle. It looks like Bobby Hill is the driver of this “what if” racer that Greg painted with Testors enamels and topped with modified kit decals.
Michael Krueger
Plymouth, Wisconsin
Michael’s dad built this MPC 1/25 scale 1933 Chevrolet panel truck in 1966. It survived the years, although it wasn’t in tip-top condition. Michael restored the model with engines from an AMT 1/25 scale “Too Much” twin-engine dragster and car urethane paint and clear coat.
Mike Kollver
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Small-scale cars are a new passion for Mike, and he showed off his blue Pyro 1/32 scale Bugatti Atalante coupe. No paint on the body here, just the polished plastic! He modified the front wheels to allow them to turn, added plug wires, and painted the brightwork with Revell Chrome.
Bob Pedersen
Ingleside, Illinois
Bob amped up his Revell 1/25 scale ‘62 Chevy Impala with a two-tone paint scheme and 3D-printed rotors. He primed it with Mr. Surfacer 1000, wet-sanded, sprayed the red and black metallic flake, and finished with 2K clear.
Bob Pedersen
Ingleside, Illinois
Bob amped up his Revell 1/25 scale ‘62 Chevy Impala with a two-tone paint scheme and 3D-printed rotors. He primed it with Mr. Surfacer 1000, wet-sanded, sprayed the red and black metallic flake, and finished with 2K clear.
Mario “Shadow” Mendiola
Chicago, Illinois
Shadow customized his 1/25 scale 1956 Lincoln Premiere with a 1960 Ford roofline, an AMT Pontiac Grand Prix interior, and taillights from 1950 and 1955 Chevrolets. He put down a silver base, taped on the patterns, and painted with House of Kolor Kandies: Tangelo Orange, Pagan Gold, Red, Maroon, and Root Beer. Shadow says it’s a tribute to all Kustom builders.
Scott Estee
Silver Creek, New York
Scott’s Drag City Casting resin ‘32 Ford roadster pickup dons Barbatos Rex Steel Apple over Tamiya Gloss Black. He improved the kit’s engine with an Iceman Collections carburetor, Parts by Parks aluminum air cleaners, a Beehive oil filter, and Pro-Tech spark-plug wires, boots, and loom. It is peppered with lots of other extras including a Texas 3D Customs Winterfront grille, Ron Coon steering wheel and pedals, and MCV Products wheels with Detail Master valve stems.
Scott Estee
Silver Creek, New York
Scott’s Drag City Casting resin ‘32 Ford roadster pickup dons Barbatos Rex Steel Apple over Tamiya Gloss Black. He improved the kit’s engine with an Iceman Collections carburetor, Parts by Parks aluminum air cleaners, a Beehive oil filter, and Pro-Tech spark-plug wires, boots, and loom. It is peppered with lots of other extras including a Texas 3D Customs Winterfront grille, Ron Coon steering wheel and pedals, and MCV Products wheels with Detail Master valve stems.
Frank LuQue
Rockford, Illinois
Wait a minute! That’s not a Corvette! Frank said Tim Body dared him to come up with something different, so he took the challenge. His 1/25 scale off-shore speedboat combines four different kits — a Revell 1/25 scale Mustang Mach III, AMT 1/25 scale Allison Thunderland, Revell 1/72 PT-109, and Monogram 1/24 Firebolt jet -powered racer. Frank sprayed a gold base, applied a black wash, and then went over that with Dupli-Color Metalcast Blue.
Frank LuQue
Rockford, Illinois
Wait a minute! That’s not a Corvette! Frank said Tim Body dared him to come up with something different, so he took the challenge. His 1/25 scale off-shore speedboat combines four different kits — a Revell 1/25 scale Mustang Mach III, AMT 1/25 scale Allison Thunderland, Revell 1/72 PT-109, and Monogram 1/24 Firebolt jet -powered racer. Frank sprayed a gold base, applied a black wash, and then went over that with Dupli-Color Metalcast Blue.
Frank LuQue
Rockford, Illinois
Wait a minute! That’s not a Corvette! Frank said Tim Body dared him to come up with something different, so he took the challenge. His 1/25 scale off-shore speedboat combines four different kits — a Revell 1/25 scale Mustang Mach III, AMT 1/25 scale Allison Thunderland, Revell 1/72 PT-109, and Monogram 1/24 Firebolt jet -powered racer. Frank sprayed a gold base, applied a black wash, and then went over that with Dupli-Color Metalcast Blue.
Ronald Neuendorf
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Ronald decided to build a movie car with a big personality: the Polar Lights 1/25 scale Herbie the Love Bug. He covered the VW Beetle in Testors Extreme Lacquer White Lightning and Rust-Oleum Gray for its classic look and filled the mounting holes in the canopy roof before gluing it in place.
Ronald Neuendorf
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Ronald decided to build a movie car with a big personality: the Polar Lights 1/25 scale Herbie the Love Bug. He covered the VW Beetle in Testors Extreme Lacquer White Lightning and Rust-Oleum Gray for its classic look and filled the mounting holes in the canopy roof before gluing it in place.
Troy Riley
Janesville, Wisconsin
Troy’s fiery rat rod is originated as an AMT 1/25 scale ‘49 Mercury. Other than the Iceman wheels and plug wired, just about all the parts came out of the kit box. He cut a flame pattern in the hood, and filled the space with plastic rod. Troy said he through everything at his Merc, including red primer, black, brown, and orange acrylics, and washes and pastels.
Rick Hendricks
West Bend, Wisconsin
For his clean build of a Revell 1/25 scale Kurtis Midget with an Offenhauser engine, Rick ran plug wires and painted the livery with Kaleido acrylics. This tiny race car looks ready to drive.
George Plew
West Allis, Wisconsin
George built an AMT 1/25 scale 1935 Chevy modified stock out of the box and airbrushed its orange enamel finish freehand before adding decals and pastel dirt.
George Plew
West Allis, Wisconsin
George built an AMT 1/25 scale 1935 Chevy modified stock out of the box and airbrushed its orange enamel finish freehand before adding decals and pastel dirt.
Chris Juno
Clyman, Wisconsin
The decals look nice on Chris’s Revell 1/25 scale Midnite Cowboy custom 1979 Chevy wrecker. He painted with Testors lacquers and added 3D-printed bull horns up front. He had STS decals print him replacement markings for truck because the kit ones were a little too old for good adhesion.
Bob Kremer
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Bob realized while building his Airfix 1/32 scale Triumph TR4A that the body and chassis were warped, so he decided to turn it into a junker. He painted the car British racing green and simulated dirt and rust with washes. He placed it on a base he bought from a craft store, and created a vignette with a tree and downed limbs made from real sticks and covered the car and ground with leaves made of barbecue seasoning.
Howard Quednau
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“At the 1989 Sanremo Rally, Lancia won, but this car ended up on its roof,” Howard said about his Italeri 1/12 scale Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v Sanremo 1989. He added a scratchbuilt hand mic based on photos from that period and replaced the kit hoses with braided ones. Howard placed the car on a plywood base covered with rocks, dirt, and static grass. Pigments and artist-oil washes match the vehicle to the base.
Howard Quednau
Minneapolis, Minnesota
“At the 1989 Sanremo Rally, Lancia won, but this car ended up on its roof,” Howard said about his Italeri 1/12 scale Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v Sanremo 1989. He added a scratchbuilt hand mic based on photos from that period and replaced the kit hoses with braided ones. Howard placed the car on a plywood base covered with rocks, dirt, and static grass. Pigments and artist-oil washes match the vehicle to the base.
Frank Imp
Mukwonago, Wisconsin
Frank built his 1/24 scale show rod with parts from classic Monogram kits, like the 1940 Ford pickup, Boot Hill Express, and Beerwagon and JoHan kits. He sprayed on a silver base coat before metallic purple, and finished with metallic blue faded around the edges using a piece of cardboard as a stencil.
Tom Sieben
Mountain, Wisconsin
Tom was stationed in Germany and built an AMT 1/25 scale 1955 Chevy Bel Air, which was subsequently stolen. Afterward, he stepped away from modeling for many years, and when he came back, he decided to re-create his stolen beauty. And what a job he did! Tom modified the chassis and drive train for a pro-tour look, added aftermarket wheels, and painted a two-tone scheme using HoK Champagne and Bob’s Paint Tangelo.
Tom Sieben
Mountain, Wisconsin
Tom was stationed in Germany and built an AMT 1/25 scale 1955 Chevy Bel Air, which was subsequently stolen. Afterward, he stepped away from modeling for many years, and when he came back, he decided to re-create his stolen beauty. And what a job he did! Tom modified the chassis and drive train for a pro-tour look, added aftermarket wheels, and painted a two-tone scheme using HoK Champagne and Bob’s Paint Tangelo.
Steve Freund
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Steve had childhood memories of a truck from the area he grew up in. To model it, he combined a DMan Models resin cab and an AMT 1/25 scale Ford LNT-8000 snowplow. He added 3D-printed mirrors and wheels with Scenes Unlimited tires, and sculpted the dirt load from Styrofoam. The rust spots were created using the salt chipping method, and Steve gave the dirt its color with powdered pigments and craft paint.
Mike Klessig
West Bend, Wisconsin
Mike made minor mods to declutter his Revell 1/24 scale Porsche Diesel Junior 108 tractor and “make it more ‘racy.’” Part of a group build that dressed the same kit in different Porsche liveries, Mike painted with Ammo Cobra Motor Paint Vaillant Green and Pure White, masking to match the tractor’s contours.
Don Molitor
Omro, Wisconsin
“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” Don said of his diorama featuring a worn out ‘29 Ford Model A pickup. Built from a Revell kit, he added multiple layers of thinned rust colors and pastels to the body. He holed the body in a few places with a rotary tool to show where rust had eaten through. He made the groundcover on the base from clay maché and grass tufts. Don completed the scene with real tree branches, leaves, and natural flocking.
Tom Nowak
Hales Corners, Wisconsin
Tom restored an AMT 1/25 scale Groove Boss supermodified including adding eight-stack injectors from an accessory pack. He painted the model with automotive colors and clear.
Chris Krueger
Plymouth, Wisconsin
“This model gave me a surfer/Cali vibe, so that’s how I built it,” Chris said of his Iceman Collections 1/25 scale resin 3D-printed model. He added an aftermarket swamp cooler and scratchbuilt a trailer with parts from his spares box. It wears metal flake over Tropical Glitz Coral Reef. Chris cut the stencil for the floral pattern on a Cricut machine and then sprayed the individual colors.
Bob Maderich II
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bob buckled up and dove into a Heller 1/24 scale Ferrari 512 S from 1971. He upgraded the kit with 3D-printed parts, wired the engine, and painted the less-well-known yellow racing scheme with Tamiya colors.
Bob Maderich II
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bob buckled up and dove into a Heller 1/24 scale Ferrari 512 S from 1971. He upgraded the kit with 3D-printed parts, wired the engine, and painted the less-well-known yellow racing scheme with Tamiya colors.
Paul Johnston
Adell, Wisconsin
Who doesn’t want a Dakar rally vehicle? Paul built an Italeri 1/24 scale 1982 Paris-Dakar Mercedes Benz G230 and upgraded it with aftermarket seat belts. Airbrushed Tamiya acrylics and cardboard shavings simulated dirt and caked mud.
Duke Spangler
Waukesha, Wisconsin
To make an oilfield sow bed and truck, Duke made extensive use of an AMT 1/25 scale Alaskan hauler kit, utilizing the cab, hood, grille, and parts of the interior. But then he had to turn to his own devices, scratchbuilding and finding aftermarket parts to complete what is an exceptional build. He painted with Dupli-Color colors over a solid primer base.
Bill Read
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bill dirtied up a Tamiya 1/24 scale Peugeot 206 WRC to show it after it’s run a lap. He built it out of the box and sprayed a variety of Tamiya acrylic browns from a distance for the dirt and dust, getting closer for thicker deposits.
Rob Schmidt
Blue Grass, Iowa
Rob scratchbuilt the trailer for his JoHan 1/25 scale ‘65 Rambler wagon from Evergreen styrene and parked an AMT 1/25 scale Double Dragster on it. For the wagon interior, he replicated maps and magazines and filled the back with luggage. Rob wired and plumbed the dragster, added resin parts to the double V8s, and scratchbuilt the air scoops. He painted the wagon 1963 Nocturne Blue and finished the race car with fingernail polish.
Rob Schmidt
Blue Grass, Iowa
Rob scratchbuilt the trailer for his JoHan 1/25 scale ‘65 Rambler wagon from Evergreen styrene and parked an AMT 1/25 scale Double Dragster on it. For the wagon interior, he replicated maps and magazines and filled the back with luggage. Rob wired and plumbed the dragster, added resin parts to the double V8s, and scratchbuilt the air scoops. He painted the wagon 1963 Nocturne Blue and finished the race car with fingernail polish.
Rob Schmidt
Blue Grass, Iowa
Rob scratchbuilt the trailer for his JoHan 1/25 scale ‘65 Rambler wagon from Evergreen styrene and parked an AMT 1/25 scale Double Dragster on it. For the wagon interior, he replicated maps and magazines and filled the back with luggage. Rob wired and plumbed the dragster, added resin parts to the double V8s, and scratchbuilt the air scoops. He painted the wagon 1963 Nocturne Blue and finished the race car with fingernail polish.
Marty Neyrinck
Dixon, Illinois
Marty took the term kitbash to heart with his unique 1/25 scale VW Beetle Funny Car. He lengthened a Revell V-dub body to fit an AMT Gremlin Funny Car chassis. Then he gathered parts from more than 20 kits, including JoHan and MPC donors, to complete the Durachrome Bug. He painted the car Dupli-Color Red from a spray can, topped it with Testors Clear, and finished with markings from Gooche Decals.
John Ostrega
West Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Frank Mundy drove a Chrysler 300 at the Milwaukee Mile for the 1955 season. To replicate it, John started with a Moebius Models 1/25 scale 1955 Chrysler 300 stock car, modified the door panels, cut down the front seat, and sanded off the carpet and floor grooves. He painted with lacquers and weathered the chassis and interior with pastels.
Randy Wolfram
Richfield, Wisconsin
Randy’s AMT 1/25 scale open rail dragster is ready to roll with upgraded wheels and spark-plug wires. He primed, painted with Dupli-Color paint, and polished with Turtle Wax. Decals, clear coat, a light sanding, and an application of silver polish finished it off.
Tom Koch
Watertown, Wisconsin
Tom “used lots of junkyard parts” to create a slingshot dragster hauled by an AMT 1/25 scale ‘60 Chevy Fleetside pickup. He combined Testors Gray and Royal Red with metallic colors and a flattening agent to give the truck, trailer, and dragster each a realistic finish.
Tom Koch
Watertown, Wisconsin
Tom “used lots of junkyard parts” to create a slingshot dragster hauled by an AMT 1/25 scale ‘60 Chevy Fleetside pickup. He combined Testors Gray and Royal Red with metallic colors and a flattening agent to give the truck, trailer, and dragster each a realistic finish.
Al Stout
West Allis, Wisconsin
Al built his AMT 1/25 scale ‘34 Ford slammer out of the box and airbrushed decanted lacquer for a car reminiscent of one he saw raced at the Wisconsin State Fair in the 1960s.
Mike Gehrke
Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Dull-coated chrome, aftermarket magneto, and NASCAR seats elevate Mike’s AMT 1/25 scale 1981 Ford Bronco. He layered on Tamiya Flat Black, detail-painted the grille, and employed various metallic colors to spruce up the engine compartment. A friend with a real Bronco helped him fashion skid plates to model an SUV that’s ready to venture off-road.
Mike Gehrke
Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Dull-coated chrome, aftermarket magneto, and NASCAR seats elevate Mike’s AMT 1/25 scale 1981 Ford Bronco. He layered on Tamiya Flat Black, detail-painted the grille, and employed various metallic colors to spruce up the engine compartment. A friend with a real Bronco helped him fashion skid plates to model an SUV that’s ready to venture off-road.
Matthew Key
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Matthew wired, plumbed, and added velocity stacks to his MPC 1/25 scale Chevy II altered wheelbase drag car. A Badger airbrush helped him paint the custom mix of Tamiya pearl colors.
Matthew Key
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Matthew wired, plumbed, and added velocity stacks to his MPC 1/25 scale Chevy II altered wheelbase drag car. A Badger airbrush helped him paint the custom mix of Tamiya pearl colors.
Brady Wallskog
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Brady did a superb job on the custom, hand-drawn look on his Tamiya 1/24 scale 911 Porsche GT3 RS (992) with multiple layers of masking, painting, placing decals, and a matte clear coat. Using all Tamiya acrylics for the bulk of the work, he weathered with AK Interactive chipping fluid and scratching with a wooden skewer. Other additions include 3D-printed wheels, a custom interior, and a scratchbuilt roll bar.
Brady Wallskog
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Brady did a superb job on the custom, hand-drawn look on his Tamiya 1/24 scale 911 Porsche GT3 RS (992) with multiple layers of masking, painting, placing decals, and a matte clear coat. Using all Tamiya acrylics for the bulk of the work, he weathered with AK Interactive chipping fluid and scratching with a wooden skewer. Other additions include 3D-printed wheels, a custom interior, and a scratchbuilt roll bar.
Tony Hartjes
Deforest, Wisconsin
This model marks Tony’s first time heavily weathering a vehicle. He started with an original AMT Craftsman 1/25 scale 1964 Comet Caliente kit and took the step of poking holes through the body for advanced rusting. Tony replaced the original hood with a resin cowl, cut the interior floor and front seat, and replaced the door panel with a ribbed section of a tonneau cover. The salt method and a paint brush provided chipped paint, and washes gave this Comet its weary appearance.
Tony Hartjes
Deforest, Wisconsin
This model marks Tony’s first time heavily weathering a vehicle. He started with an original AMT Craftsman 1/25 scale 1964 Comet Caliente kit and took the step of poking holes through the body for advanced rusting. Tony replaced the original hood with a resin cowl, cut the interior floor and front seat, and replaced the door panel with a ribbed section of a tonneau cover. The salt method and a paint brush provided chipped paint, and washes gave this Comet its weary appearance.
Stew Edwards
Grafton, Wisconsin
Stew altered a 1/24 scale 3D-printed Group 44 Triumph TR-6 by first removing the bumpers and adding wheel flares. He custom-built the interior, including the dashboard, made a windscreen from the clear plastic on a package of dental floss, and placed it all on Fujimi wheels and tires. The Tamiya Pure White paint job was topped with Fred Cady decals.
Stew Edwards
Grafton, Wisconsin
Stew altered a 1/24 scale 3D-printed Group 44 Triumph TR-6 by first removing the bumpers and adding wheel flares. He custom-built the interior, including the dashboard, made a windscreen from the clear plastic on a package of dental floss, and placed it all on Fujimi wheels and tires. The Tamiya Pure White paint job was topped with Fred Cady decals.
Wayne Puffer
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Wayne’s 1969 Coronet R/T started from a Monogram 1/24 scale 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440 that received a Harts Parts conversion kit and underwent other modifications, like opening the trunk, wiring under the hood, scratchbuilt interior detailing, and solder exhaust pipes. He de-chromed parts and repainted them with Revell Chrome and finished the body in House of Kolor Kandy Orange.
Wayne Puffer
Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Wayne’s 1969 Coronet R/T started from a Monogram 1/24 scale 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440 that received a Harts Parts conversion kit and underwent other modifications, like opening the trunk, wiring under the hood, scratchbuilt interior detailing, and solder exhaust pipes. He de-chromed parts and repainted them with Revell Chrome and finished the body in House of Kolor Kandy Orange.
Chris Newton
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Chris modeled his tribute to now-closed Zeb’s Auto and its shop truck (that he now owns!). He combined an HRT Studios 3D-printed body with an AMT 1/25 scale 1950 Chevrolet to make a 1948 Studebaker pickup. He primed the body with red oxide and gray primers, base coated it green, and painted it various overlapping colors using a sponge, dry-brushing, and washes to get the final worn appearance.
Chris Newton
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Chris modeled his tribute to now-closed Zeb’s Auto and its shop truck (that he now owns!). He combined an HRT Studios 3D-printed body with an AMT 1/25 scale 1950 Chevrolet to make a 1948 Studebaker pickup. He primed the body with red oxide and gray primers, base coated it green, and painted it various overlapping colors using a sponge, dry-brushing, and washes to get the final worn appearance.
Victor Demichei
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Victor’s Ford “Nife” Global Terrain concept vehicle is powered by a plumbed and wired V12 made from two V8 engine blocks. You can see the body of a 1953 Ford pickup, but the interior is all scratchbuilt, including bucket seats and seat belts, the dash, levers, and pedals. He painted the Nife Tamiya Titanium Gold with Gun Metal accents.
Victor Demichei
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Victor’s Ford “Nife” Global Terrain concept vehicle is powered by a plumbed and wired V12 made from two V8 engine blocks. You can see the body of a 1953 Ford pickup, but the interior is all scratchbuilt, including bucket seats and seat belts, the dash, levers, and pedals. He painted the Nife Tamiya Titanium Gold with Gun Metal accents.