Another model maniac joins the Coffin Corner
Apr 5, 2024 13:56:37 GMT -6
Rallymaster, stevielewis, and 1 more like this
Post by Gort on Apr 5, 2024 13:56:37 GMT -6
Greetings model builders! I have been visiting the Coffin Corner for many years, but never became a member until now due to Dave's encouragement. Yeah, I'm a little late to the party.
I'm Joel Fletcher, a 68 year old retired animator and visual effects artist. And of course, a big show rod enthusiast! I could go on about my past career, but the subject here is models so I will try to stick to my involvement in that arena, although they do overlap a bit.
Like most of you, I built models like crazy as a kid. Later on in the 1980s I got the bug again and started to collect and build, only this time with adult skills. I managed to amass a pretty huge collection of kits by placing want ads in model magazines. Speaking of model mags, they never covered Show Cars at that time, so I decided to remedy that by creating an article about my all-time favorite: Roth's Mysterion. Fortunately I landed the cover and feature article in the May 1984 issue of Scale Auto magazine. Perhaps it played a small part in generating new interest in Roth and show car kits. I planned on writing more articles, but was sidetracked by a move to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams of becoming an animator.
After moving to LA, I took on whatever gigs I could get in the entertainment business. My experience with building models actually helped me to get professional model making and sculpture gigs for feature films and advertisements! Anyway, around 1992 I was preparing a book proposal with my friend Rick Polizzi titled CLASSIC PLASTIC, about the more unusual model kits, including show cars, produced in the past. Unfortunately I had to bail on the project because I was hired as an animator on a little movie called The Nightmare Before Christmas. Therefore Rick ultimately became the sole author, although I continued as a consultant for the book. Many of my build-ups and kit boxes were included in the book however, which was gratifying.
In 1994 there was a powerful earthquake in Los Angeles, and my display case filled with precious built kits toppled over. Over half of them were irreparably destroyed! The survivors all needed repair to various degrees. I learned my lesson to secure any tall furniture to the wall, which is a must in earthquake territory.
My kit collecting got really out of control when ebay came into existence in the late 90s. I was making decent money working for Disney at the time, so my wife couldn't complain too much about the kits piling up.
However, after my grail kits were mostly acquired, the mania started to dwindle. Getting into the 21st century, I started doing the opposite and sold off most of my collection on ebay and at model conventions, keeping only my favorites.
Nowadays I still build kits, about one or two a year. My latest builds were two Starbird kits, Orange Hauler and Futurista. Next on the list is Mysterion, to replace the one from my magazine article destroyed in the 1994 earthquake!
I'm Joel Fletcher, a 68 year old retired animator and visual effects artist. And of course, a big show rod enthusiast! I could go on about my past career, but the subject here is models so I will try to stick to my involvement in that arena, although they do overlap a bit.
Like most of you, I built models like crazy as a kid. Later on in the 1980s I got the bug again and started to collect and build, only this time with adult skills. I managed to amass a pretty huge collection of kits by placing want ads in model magazines. Speaking of model mags, they never covered Show Cars at that time, so I decided to remedy that by creating an article about my all-time favorite: Roth's Mysterion. Fortunately I landed the cover and feature article in the May 1984 issue of Scale Auto magazine. Perhaps it played a small part in generating new interest in Roth and show car kits. I planned on writing more articles, but was sidetracked by a move to Los Angeles to pursue my dreams of becoming an animator.
After moving to LA, I took on whatever gigs I could get in the entertainment business. My experience with building models actually helped me to get professional model making and sculpture gigs for feature films and advertisements! Anyway, around 1992 I was preparing a book proposal with my friend Rick Polizzi titled CLASSIC PLASTIC, about the more unusual model kits, including show cars, produced in the past. Unfortunately I had to bail on the project because I was hired as an animator on a little movie called The Nightmare Before Christmas. Therefore Rick ultimately became the sole author, although I continued as a consultant for the book. Many of my build-ups and kit boxes were included in the book however, which was gratifying.
In 1994 there was a powerful earthquake in Los Angeles, and my display case filled with precious built kits toppled over. Over half of them were irreparably destroyed! The survivors all needed repair to various degrees. I learned my lesson to secure any tall furniture to the wall, which is a must in earthquake territory.
My kit collecting got really out of control when ebay came into existence in the late 90s. I was making decent money working for Disney at the time, so my wife couldn't complain too much about the kits piling up.
However, after my grail kits were mostly acquired, the mania started to dwindle. Getting into the 21st century, I started doing the opposite and sold off most of my collection on ebay and at model conventions, keeping only my favorites. Nowadays I still build kits, about one or two a year. My latest builds were two Starbird kits, Orange Hauler and Futurista. Next on the list is Mysterion, to replace the one from my magazine article destroyed in the 1994 earthquake!
