| Have you or anyone you know ever built a model | | | | created a line of 1/32 model kits for the Gowland |
| truck? If they have then they have had a part in | | | | Brothers. A few years later saw the birth of both |
| keeping alive a hobby that has been around for | | | | friction and coaster cars that were used by auto |
| many years. Model trucks are not only for those | | | | salesmen in order to appeal to the parents of |
| who love to build them. There are many avid | | | | noisy children while their parents car shopped. |
| collectors who love to build up their model | | | | Most of these were built by companies named |
| collections. Have you wondered how a hobby with | | | | AMT and SMP. Most of these all came already |
| such a following ever get started? | | | | assembled. |
| As a gimmick, banks in the nineteen forties began | | | | Coming out of the fifties and into the sixties |
| to hand out model trucks that were actually | | | | model building really took off. Several different |
| banks. Made by a company named Banthrico | | | | model makers began production of their own lines |
| these first die cast models were hollow and had a | | | | and this time became known as a hay-day for |
| slit in the top for customers to drop their loose | | | | hobbyists. From Revell to AMT and from Jo-Han |
| change into for safe keeping. Available in many | | | | to Monogram many different model makers |
| different models, these banks normally had the | | | | began to finally produce the model kits with which |
| bank's information printed on the roof of the cab | | | | we are familiar today. These kits came |
| or on the bed. These printed model trucks are still | | | | unassembled and were usually copies of the actual |
| in very high demand today by collectors. Not too | | | | trucks that rolled off the production line at the |
| much later a company named PMC (Plastic | | | | beginning of the production year. Complete down |
| Manufacturing Corporation) began to make a | | | | to the smallest details these trucks were normally |
| plastic version that was available to the public. The | | | | produced on a 1/25th scale. |
| scale of the models at this time varied between | | | | Once model building reached the seventies the |
| 1:25th and 1:20th. | | | | hobby began to decline. Other pastimes rose up |
| World War II saw drastic changes in the new | | | | to take the place of model building and many |
| model building hobby. As metal became scarce | | | | builders began to grow up and change hobbies. |
| due to the war effort new hobbyists saw the | | | | With the rise of the video game came a further |
| birth of model building kits that were produced | | | | decline in model building as a hobby though the |
| from both wood and plastics. Ace and Berkley | | | | late 80's did see some renewed interest thanks |
| were the first to produce these wooden model | | | | to the partnership of Monogram and NASCAR. |
| kits but not too much later the first true plastic | | | | The hobby has enjoyed a new lease on life |
| car kit came into being. Made by the company | | | | thanks to some magazines that came into |
| Revell, one of the world leaders in hobby kits, the | | | | publication as well. Maybe not as strong as it once |
| first plastic model was actually conceived by Derk | | | | was the model building industry is still alive and well |
| Brand. Mr. Brand, from England, had previously | | | | today. |