The editors at
FSM are all about seeing the hobby grow, so when we heard about a new scale model car video series in the works, we jumped at the chance to learn more about it and the creators.
Steve Magnante's Super Models is a laid-back and informative jaunt through a particular moment in automotive history followed by the building of a 1/25 scale kit of the same car. Each episode is filled with archival material, historical facts, and scale modeling techniques.
The namesake of the show, Steve Magnante, proves himself to be an excellent host, with his vast knowledge of classic cars. “The goal here was to find that common ground that nearly every car person can relate back to, and that’s model cars — we all built them as kids,” says the series creator and director, Mike Pantaleo. “Couple that with Steve's absolute passion for the modeling hobby, his encyclopedic automotive mind, and his ability to tell a great story, and I don't know how that show can lose!”
The series will air weekly beginning on June 7, 2021, for a limited run on the MotorTrend app, available on nearly every app-capable device.
You can also watch the first episode on Motor Trend's website here.
“There is something really nice about having another show out there that isn't filled with artificial drama and isn't designed to spike your adrenaline levels to get you to keep watching, says Pantaleo. “It's a really nice, oddly relaxing show that you can put on for your kids and still enjoy yourself.”
Here are some photos from behind-the-scenes of the first few episodes.
“Model cars are where we all came from and just because you're not building a 69 Z/28 Camaro on your lift at home doesn't make you any less of a car enthusiast,” says Pantaleo. “Modeling is something I loved as a kid — despite every window having my thumbprint in glue — and I hope that this show can spark a resurgence of the hobby amongst viewers.”