Can you believe it? It's already time to start our plans for the 2td annual HOBBY TALK KUSTOM KONTEST! :woohoo: Wow, what a fast year it has been.

For you new guys (and we have so many, I am thrilled) let me catch you up on how this works. Last year, I wanted to do something to "give back" to our customizing family here on Hobby Talk. I decided on what else but a custom contest. :rolleyes:

I named it the HT Kustom Kontest spelled with K's in honor of our long time HT friend and brother Kenny Kaos. Though he is not on as much as we would like, he is still around as time permits. The rules are simple, a once a year contest open to one and all. Make up to 3 entries and post them into a single thread for easy voting. Then by popular vote, we decide the winners and prize packs go out to the top three places.

Here is the only hitch....we all start with the SAME car!

Our first year was based on the AMC Javelin by Johnny Lightning. We had 9 entries I belive and some amazing work was turned it! It was won by the then new comer LUMMOX. In fact, I belive that the contest is what lured him to HT in the first place (no pun intended!) and for that we are ALL winners.

I will post pics of last years cars and WONDERFUL awards (By our own G_G) a bit later. Go back and do a search if you want to see them now, but please don't pull those threads back up to the current boards as not to confuse then with now.

The official rules thread will be posted in mid January. The entry deadline will be March 1st or April 1st. We will vote and decide, do you want 6 weeks or 10 weeks to get it built? All details will be clearly outlined in the ruled thread, but that is later, now we have to start with question one...WHAT DO WE BUILD???? :confused:

It needs to only meet two requirements. First, it must be a JL casting. After all, that is what put Hobby Talk on the map, so in that tradition, we will stay with JL.

Second, we have to choose a casting that is readily available to members every where. A casting we would enjoy building, that would get our creative juice flowing and truly inspire us at large. For example, I wanted to do a Mustang last year, in fact I wanted to do a Mustang THIS year. But I just don't think there is a current release that is universal available enough to select. What do you guys say?

What ever we select, I will buy extras for members who can't find the casting in their area and offer it at a flat rate. I think last year I offered them at $6 delivered USPS Priority stateside just to make sure all could participate.

Many folks said they would be ready for round two, so get set, cause here it comes! OK gang, lets get this thing started....

What is your thought and suggestions for this years starting point casting?

Who will start the ball rolling? :wave:

i'm in

I'm in too Ward.

Fantastic guys, thread has been up for only a few hours and were up to three.

But what casting are we going to work from. We have about two weeks to make our decision. I am looking around at what seems plentiful (at least in my area) and wondering what we should use.

My first suggestion is the 1968 Olds Cutlass or the Chrysler C300. There seems to be a ton of variations all over the place here. But it need to be fairly universal for guys to find.

I don't know that it has to be the same release or paint option, but it DOES have to be the same casting. I am open to the leadership of the members on this point.

Talk to me.

Even though I am a beginner customizer, I could try ;)

I am in also

I am all in for the 68 olds cutlass.

Maybe have everyone check at stores and make a list of what castings are easily available and vote from the list. Contests are fun...this should be a good one. :thumbsup:

Jerry

I have seen some of the Daisy Duke Jeeps hanging around, not sure if it's the same everywhere. I'm sure there would be some great customs with a Jeep.

Also I could help members out if someone needed one.

I would love to participate :thumbsup:

I think it should be 10 weeks to give time to participants who dont have many oppurtunitys to works on their design. Im open to any car for a custom. Ive seen alot of the wwagons around. Maybe a 50s panel or a hearse. Idk, doesnt matter, ill customize anything. I saw the results from 2007 a few months back, amazing work. Im really excited to get a chance this year to be involved. :wave:

Ryan

Count me in, and I'd like the 10-week work time, please!
As for casting? I dunno, whatsoever you may choose will be fine by me.

Well you gotta know I'm in!
68 Cutlass sounds cool, Jeep could be interesting as well.
I like the hearse idea, but I'd prefer a casting with an opening hood myself.

anything is fine with me......on second thought how about any year mustang but must be jl.

anything is fine with me......on second thought how about any year mustang but must be jl.

Yea, I think that would make for a cool collection of rides at the end, and I would jump right in the middle of that mix. But that would be a different, more open ended event then this one.

The "twist" on the HTKK is that everyone starts with the same casting, and we all see what shows up on the other end. Last year proved that the idea could work beautifully! Rusted rods, racers, zingers, pick up thing'ies...they were all their at the end, but all started from the same casting.

The only thing that I may be somewhat flexible on is that the casting be the exact same, but does not have to come from the same series. For example, a Dodge Dart ( I wish they were around!) that could come from 10 different series, but is the same casting. You guys keep up the chatter on this issue.

Last, we need to make sure that what ever we choose, it need to be readily available in my area. Not that I am important, but in order for me to offer castings to guys at a delivered rate of $6 requires me to be able to buy them and ship them from here. If you do the math, I loose a couple of bucks per car (with the postage) and I could not afford to buy the bulk stock and pay shipping here before I resend. And I am not asking anyone else to make a financial commitment to this contest. I will always pick up the tab of this one.

I hear you guys, we will have 10 weeks to build. The entry thread will open March 1, 2007. It will be open for a period of time ( most likely a week or two) and you will have that time to build as well. You can enter up to three cars, and you can post them any time into the thread while it is open. So you guys will get your 10 weeks.

OK, talk amongst yourself! :wave:

Count me in. hood

This is great - I'm glad to see this KK tradition continue. You GO, Ward!
And in the interest of tradition and a formula that was proven to be sucsessfull and very interesting,
I'd say keep 'em all the same casting AND the same release.

As far as which one, I don't know. There seems to be alot of MC 10 pack cars floating around,
maybe one of them??? The gold 442??? - Just a thought.....no,...wait...
Oooo, I know, how 'bout a Corvair? - Hey, It's something dIfFeReNt!
Or how many cool things could be done to the Olds Rocket 88? I can think of 2 or 3 ways to violate that casting! :D
Dirtie Dav!e

Sorry Ward if I missed this during the original Kontest,,,Why do we have to build a JL?
Personally I believe the "Custom Diecast Forum" is a no holds barred forum, and if we say build a '55 Chevy the allowance of any brand increases the possibility to find one, and keeps coin in your generous pocket.

What do the contestants think on this?

Second...Once a casting has been chosen, could'nt that be the "go for it" part of the contest as well....Like You now have until the 1st of March to locate the make/model (given), and for those who like to customize at a comfortable pace, they could confirm their finding of said item, and then begin when they want, getting that little extra bit of time?

Any way,,Count me in..I need the motivation


Jeff Fleetwood

I respect anyones opinion on this but I think part of the identity of this Kontest is
that they're all the same car. That doesn't mean that if it were different I wouln't think
the contest wouln't be just as good - just different. What ever evryone decides is good w/me!

I think if we all started with the same car it would be better. That way we all have the same base to our custom

Ryan

I like the Olds 88 idea, Lummox..... or the 442, or the jeep, or what ever we come up with! I'm in, my only real opinion has been satisfied (10 weeks!) and I'm pondering now....

Man! 2 build contest announced on the same day! I have a bike build off starting on March 1st as well at ratrodbikes.com (http://ratrodbikes.com) , but count me in. :thumbsup: I vote for the Olds 88 rocket. I just bought that casting 2 days ago :D

I may play too. I'm not that good but getting better. My camera should be here today. My daughter took it home to learn how to use it, then she is going to teach me. I'm electronically challenged.

I am in again. Enjoyed it last time. I know who the competition is this time. I will have to try and have something for them. :wave:

I am in again. Enjoyed it last time. I know who the competition is this time. I will have to try and have something for them. :wave:

dont worry about me i've slowed down and can't walk and chew gum at the same time anymore. ya better watch bob thow :thumbsup:

I haven't found the olds 88 But I have found the 68 cutlass. I might have to see if someone can help me find a 88 olds, anyone know where.

dont worry about me i've slowed down and can't walk and chew gum at the same time anymore. ya better watch bob thow :thumbsup:

Who, me...? I aint nobody. I'm new at this. Still learnin.

I am in again. Enjoyed it last time. I know who the competition is this time. I will have to try and have something for them. :wave:

Im going all out on the custom. Its going to be my best one yet. Already have a whole pile of old cars for different parts ready. Look forward to seeing everyones design and good luck :wave:

Ryan

Guys, I am thrilled to see all the response so quickly. Lummox, I can't do a car from the 10 packs, as I can't help folks get a hold of them!

I here what you are saying Jeff, and again, that would make great rules for a contest. Host it and I will build in it as well. It's just that this contest is based on the unique slant of everyone starting with the same casting. Go back and look at last year's offerings and see how many ways the guys approached the same car!

As for the fact that the casting has to be Johnny Lightning, I mentioned up top, "dance with the one that brung' ya"! I came to this forum through Johnny Lightning, and as I wanted to give back to the HT community, it made sense to stay with the JL brand. Really just that simple. No real hidden agenda, we just have to start somewhere!

As for the get started part, your right, once we know the casting we will be working with, you could jump right in. But the casting will not officially be announced until the start date. I am thinking I will post the "START" thread with the official car selection on January 10th, and open the posting or ENTRY thread on March 1st through March 10th. That would give builders a total of 60 days to build. Shirley (Quit calling me Shirley!)that is long enough to tear something up!

I have thought about doing another event maybe mid summer, and maybe with more "open" rules. But the HTKK is a very set format. I am hoping that others (hint, hint) will pick up the ball and run with it. I don't need to host the only contest, just one of them!

As for cars, the Olds 88 is looking pretty good right now, are they readily available out there? I will have to do a good search around my stores. I think if we use that one, we will have to use different casting colors to start. I just don't see a ton of the same one around here.

Keep it going...were off to a great start.

PS, remember gang, you do not have to "sign" up to be a part of the HTKK, you just have to post your entry into the ENTRY thread when it opens (between March 1st through 10th). BUT I do like all you guys stating your intentions, as it helps bring more guys in. We had 6 builders build 9 cars last year. I am thinking BIG this year...I am going out on a limb and hoping for 15 cars by at least 10 different builders this year. I would just love that! Well see...

Yeah, I agree - if the Rocket 88 is used, it's probably nothing wrong with using different releases of it. Especially since 2 releases of it are very close to being the same medium met. green color anyway! (Coke and Classic Gold).

Well if the old rocket 88 is what we are using can someone please help me find one.

What about the blue Duster from the Mopar or No Car series? They are hanging all over the place around here. What you guys think???

I am in provided time allows.

69 - why don't we compiled a list of what is "peg warming" in everyone's area and then chose a challenging casting from there....

I think the Mustangs, Camaros and so forth have been over done so we should try and pick somethign creative - like the corvair, 50s Olds or something like that. Give people a challenge and offer up some creativity.

Depending when my next shipment arrives, I will have something for the winner as well.

Thoughts??

** Peg Warmers here - 50s Olds, Retro cars and the Corvair (green Convert in particular).

What about the blue Duster from the Mopar or No Car series? They are hanging all over the place around here. What you guys think???

Doesnt matter one bit to me what casting it is. I do like the 88 idea, but whatever theres alot of is what we should probably do. I mostly have 13customs, wicked wagons 1 & 2, Monc 13, and modern muscle. There is another tru by my house ill go check to see what they have. Does it really matter what series the car is from as long as its the same casting? I meen most of us are probably going to repaint it anyway. Just a suggestion. Whatever you come up with im sure it will be good :wave:

Ryan

Ryan, I really liked the fact that we all started with the exact same car last year ( even the same color paint) but I do agree that most likely we will need to allow different series as long as it is the same casting. I just don't see one car (from the same series) that universal out there right now.

As for you Mr.DipStick, you got 60 days! I got faith in you! As for help....anything you would like to help with would be very much appreciated. Aside from the awards last year (done by G_G) I covered everything else. To build the prize packs cost a whole lot more than I had planed. This year will be a bit toned down just due to a little thighter money on my end, but I will make sure it still rocks! So PM me and lets talk.

I would also say the blue Duster. Its almost a peg warmer here...when there are JL pegs to be warmed ;)

I'm in too as long as I can find the casting we all decide on... Sounds like alot of fun !!!

I am in provided time allows.


** Peg Warmers here - 50s Olds, Retro cars and the Corvair (green Convert in particular).

Green ragtop Corvair!?! I love that casting! All the Vairs. Those are not peg warmers if I'm in the store. A convert would be an interesting choice. Seems that would be kinda limiting on what to do to it. I got an idea though!

the dodge dart sounds fine or the corvair. i have both here.

Oh I would LOVE to do a Dart, but they are just not out there in numbers to select I fear. I was thinking the Duster. Still cool and you can do a ton of stuff with it!

I just can't get behind a hardtop / vert casting like the Corvair. It's not a Corvair thing, it's a vert thing. Since we are going to allow various releases of the same casting, I want to start with a hardtop. That way, if someone wants to do a convertible, they have to cut off the roof and work it. Not just go pick up a casting with the roof already missing.

Right now I am seeing and hearing...

Olds Rocket 88
Plymouth Duster
Chrysler C300
68-69' Olds Cutlass
62 Plymouth Belvidere (sp?)

I would love to use that new casting of the 1969 Camaro, but the vert thing raises it's head here as well. What about that 70's model? We could have a ton of fun with those.

I suppose I could buy bulk from an online dealer for supplying the troops if we pick one that is not all over the place. Maybe some OLD would cut me some slack for buying 10 or so.
:confused:

I don't see why it would be a problem for people ordering their own JL from
Diecast Alley or Milezones. They both have a good selection and they both sell singles.
A bit more pricey for you nutty Canucks though.
;D But hey - it's the Kustom Kontest - we gots ta do what we gots ta do

Ward, I wuz thinking the same thing about the roofless Corvairs.
I have extra 'Vair hdtps but I'm prollubly in the minority.
I'd be all over doing the Chry. 300-C
or definitely the '62 Belvedere as it is my current number one favorite JL !!!

I'm thinking that participating in this would do me good. It would give me a reason to get off my butt and do something creative. If you guys have room for me, I'm in.

I'm thinking that participating in this would do me good. It would give me a reason to get off my butt and do something creative. If you guys have room for me, I'm in.

Zeb man, there is room for everyone! You know we would love to have you! :thumbsup:

69 do a poll with the 5 you posted. and run it for 3days.
i belive this will settle everything.

I agree with Gunn do a poll to see what casting we will use.

A poll it is then. Let's give everyone a few more days to look around thier stores and see if they want to add to the list. Then it's off to the poll.

We're gonna customize a pole?! Wow! This is gonna be great!
All the poles around here are so dreadfully bla`ze!

Anyone have a pic of the Olds Rocket 88? I'm not sure what that one looks like.

Hi guys, I'd like to join in as well if I can, I'm far from being a pro, but it sounds like fun. Still have room for one more? Eric

Hi guys, I'd like to join in as well if I can, I'm far from being a pro, but it sounds like fun. Still have room for one more? Eric

sure. more the merryier :wave:

Hi guys, I'd like to join in as well if I can, I'm far from being a pro, but it sounds like fun. Still have room for one more? Eric

Welcome aboard Eric! I'm new at this too but it does look like fun.

Hi guys, I'd like to join in as well if I can, I'm far from being a pro, but it sounds like fun. Still have room for one more? Eric

Heck yes, like the guys said, welcome aboard! There is no requirments to be in this contest, other then grab the selected casting and customize it befor the deadline. You will then post your pics into the "entry" thread and your set to go. Voting is by popular vote, so something as simple as a tire swap can win this thing (or at least place, top three places win!)