Hall of Fame!
By Mark S. Gustavson

Starting in 1992, The International Model Car Builders' Museum joined up with Scale Auto Enthusiast to create the Hall of Fame to honor those who have made the most significant contributions to the history, growth and development of the model car hobby.

In the early years, we only honored one person each year. Later, in 2000, we decided that two people should be inducted each year because there were so many people, roughly divided into two categories ("Writer/Builder" and "Industry Insider"), that should be inducted. A special Museum committee nominates all persons for public voting (no person who has been nominated has participated that year). The Hall of Fame has inducted a wide range of people who have made a genuine and positive impact upon the model car hobby.

Balloting for the 2007 Hall of Fame winners was carried out on this, the Museum's web site. After several months of voting, ballots were tabulated and the individuals, listed below , were inducted into the Museum's Hall of Fame. The names of the winners, below, will be added to the special Hall of Fame plaque that hangs in the Museum.

Writer/Builder:
Ken Hamilton has been a model builder for more than 30 years. Although he started out building car models, he developed into an avid model railroader as an adult. By the mid-1980s, he was an award-winning scratchbuilder whose models took trophies with such organizations as the National Model Railroaders' Association. Then in 1984 he read about the GSL Model Car Championship. His first mailed entry was a custom 1949 Mercury coupe that stunned judges with a myriad of tiny working features. In years to follow, Hamilton developed a reputation as a diorama builder with a wild sense of humor. His models and dioramas are full of little "gotcha" features that amaze viewers with his ability to reproduce remarkable details. Hamilton has translated that ability into how-to articles and a book, "How to Build Creative Dioramas for Your Scale Auto Models." In addition, he writes the "Tips & Tech" column for each issue of Scale Auto.

Industry Insider
David VanderWal was one of the founders of R&D Unique, one of our hobby's first aftermarket companies, and through his solid business sense and unmatched customer service, the business continues to thrive today, over 25 years after its creation. Dave made many of the masters that are still in R&D's product line and are still enjoyed by hobbyists the world over. Dave was also a contributor to Gary Schmidt's Scale Auto Enthusiast," penning articles that aided many modelers in improving their work. Dave had connections to other aftermarket companies as well, supplying parts and pieces for other companies in the model car aftermarket as well as companies in other fields such as ship and airplane models. Dave has also been a supporter of the GSL tradition, attending this event for many years and even bringing home an award. Dave has been, and continues to be, a dynamic and creative force in the model car hobby.

Presently, voting is underway for the 2008 Hall of Fame Nominees.  Vote Now!! 

Here's a very nice letter received from one of the 2006 Hall of Fame inductees:

Dear Mark,

What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! Having received your correspondence of November 1, I am humbled by this high honor as an inductee into the Hall of Fame for 2006. After reflecting on the exclusive list of past inductees, it really hit me just how significant this appointment is.

As a novice model car builder, two icons of the hobby, Don Emmons and Henry "the Hank" Borger were a profound influence and inspiration on my building and later on my approach to how-to story telling. To now be recognized in the same category as these gentlemen is a genuine rush.

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to the nominating committee and especially to all the many fine folks in this endeavor who felt I have contributed in some small positive way to this hobby. I have had a life-long love affair with this hobby that continues to be such a vital part of my existence even today.

Approaching the "golden years" of our time here as they say, I can now look back and appreciate this special recognition as one of the pinnacles of my life. Thank you also for the Lifetime Membership to the Museum.

With much appreciation and humble acceptance,

Robert W. (Bill) Coulter

Previously Inducted
The Hall of Fame has inducted a wide range of people who have made a genuine and positive impact upon the hobby. Here is a list of the Hall of Fame inductees so far:

1992 Dave Shuklis

1992 Budd Anderson

1993 Don Emmons

1994 Oscar Koveleski

1995 Phil Jensen

1996 Herb Jackson

1997 Bob Barnett

1998 Bob Paeth

1999 George Toteff

2000 Gary Schmidt - Industry Insider
2000 Augie Hiscano - Builder/Writer

2001 John Mueller - Industry Insider
2001 Tim Boyd - Builder/Writer

2002 Jim Keeler - Industry Insider
2002 Mark S. Gustavson - Builder/Writer

2003 Roger Harney – Industry Insider
2003 Dennis Doty – Builder/Writer

2004 Bob Johnson – Industry Insider
2004 Terry Jessee – Builder/Writer

2005 Hank Borger – Builder/Writer, Appointed
2005 Bob McLeod – Industry Insider, Appointed

2006 Bill Coulter -- Builder/Writer
2006 Don Holthaus -- Industry Insider

2007 Ken Hamilton – Builder/Writer
2007 Dave Vander Wal – Industry Insider

2008 Nominees here...

The first Hall of Fame award (top) is filled up. Bob Wick made arrangements to get a new plaque made on which the names of future Hall of Fame inductees will be placed. These plaques will hang on the wall of the new Museum library.