A local man has a lifelong hobby that not only passes the time, but takes him across the province to compete.
Warren Kostick built his first model at the age of 12, and it has been a part of his life ever since.
Now 52-years-old, Kostick took his Caterpillar face shovel model to Vancouver含羞草研究社檚 annual Auto Modelrama March 25, where it won best of show.
含羞草研究社満卟菅芯可鐦It was surprising, because the competition was quite good,含羞草研究社� said Kostick.
含羞草研究社�(The judges) see the amount of work that goes into Cat models,含羞草研究社� he said, noting that the judges are comprised of participants.
With over 500 hours of work over two winters put into the face shovel, it含羞草研究社檚 the largest and most complicated model he has built.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 know that I含羞草研究社檒l ever do one that complex (again,)含羞草研究社� he said.
The model was built from scratch on a 1/125th scale with over 600 nuts and bolts, 165 hydraulic pieces, and over 1360 individual parts, largely made up of styrene plastic, brass, and aluminum.
含羞草研究社淢y models are built to be as functional as the real thing,含羞草研究社� said Kostick, with some of his models utilizing working lights and audio to produce engine noises.
含羞草研究社淭hese aren含羞草研究社檛 models you can go buy off a shelf. I never take my builds for granted.含羞草研究社�
But the Auto Modelrama was home to tough competition.
含羞草研究社淭here was a fellow there with a large Lamborghini,含羞草研究社� said Kostick. 含羞草研究社淚 thought he was going to get best of show.含羞草研究社�
Over the years, Kostick has taken his scratch built models to various different shows with his first in the late 90s, but since moving to Vernon from Kamloops in 2003, he has only competed in the Vancouver show, winning a total of five best of show awards over his past three visits.
Even though his area of competition has been restricted to Vancouver by the move, he and his wife are happy to have come to Vernon.
含羞草研究社淐oming from Kamloops was a nice change,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淓verything is so lush and green, we really enjoy it here.含羞草研究社�
And, in their new home in Vernon, Kostick was able to turn his basement into a showroom for his models, the perimeter full of plexiglass-covered cabinets showcasing Kostick含羞草研究社檚 elaborate collection of over 200 models, comprised mostly of cars.
Kostick started building scratch models in the 90s, and it has become a multifaceted hobby for him.
含羞草研究社淲hen you含羞草研究社檙e scratch building a model, there are so many different aspects,含羞草研究社� said Kostick, who spends between 300 and 500 hours on each scratch built model. 含羞草研究社淵ou have to be a draftsman and an engineer.含羞草研究社�
While building his first Caterpillar model, Kostick emailed another hobbyist in Europe to find parts, who suggested he submit articles to Truck Model World, a European model building magazine.
含羞草研究社淣ow when I含羞草研究社檓 doing models, I含羞草研究社檓 thinking about the article and the pieces I need,含羞草研究社� he said.
Despite the success he has seen, Kostick continues to build models simply because he loves it.
含羞草研究社淚 like the challenge of designing and building these complex models,含羞草研究社� said Kostick. 含羞草研究社淎nd when they含羞草研究社檙e finished I have and a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at creating a one of a kind model.
含羞草研究社淚t helps to occupy my time because my mind is always going. I can含羞草研究社檛 sit in front of the TV and watch sports for eight hours a day,含羞草研究社� he laughs. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 more gratifying than getting a beer belly.含羞草研究社�
To avoid becoming burnt out from the meticulous building, Kostick spends more time on his models during the winter while his work as a heavy equipment operator with LB Chapman Construction slows down.
含羞草研究社�(That way) by the time winter rolls around, I含羞草研究社檓 anxious to get back in there,含羞草研究社� he said.
When he isn含羞草研究社檛 working or building models, Kostick spends his time playing guitar and working on his muscle car, but model building will always remain part of his life.
含羞草研究社淥nce I retire, I hope to spend even more time dedicated to it,含羞草研究社� said Kostick.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be a lifelong thing for me. I don含羞草研究社檛 see it fading out anytime soon.含羞草研究社�
