Program about building models on PBS...... anyone remember?

[JollySipper]

I believe there was only the one episode, but there was a program on PBS about building models....... I remember the hosts going over opening the driver's door on a Ford pickup that was molded in brown. I was just wondering if anybody remembered it, or may have had something to do with it.

 

[ranma]

late 1970's early 80's PBS Program called Adventures In Scale Modeling.. There are some episodes on You Tube .... I remember the show as it was broadcast on both PBS 39 Fort Wayne Ind and WBGU 27 Bowling green Ohio. I think it was made in tandum between West Vir/ South Carolina???

Edited August 8, 2023 by ranma

[Jack L]

8 minutes ago, ranma said:

late 1970's early 80's PBS Program called Adventures In Scale Modeling.. There are some episodes on You Tube .... I remember the show as it was broadcast on both PBS 39 Fort Wayne Ind and WBGU 27 Bowling green Ohio. I think it was made in Boston???

I know Charlie Ryder was in one don't remember when

[StevenGuthmiller]

At first, it sounded completely new to me, but after looking at the videos on YouTube, it does look very familiar.

 

 

Steve

[JollySipper]

Well, it's cool that it was a series! They kind of left me with a cliff hanger, of sorts...... After opening the door on the pickup, he said something to the effect of "next episode, we'll show how to make hinges." Did those hinges get made? or Was it a started project that never got finished? Like so many of our projects.......... LOL!

[Fat Brian]

I remember this show. I saw it in the early 90s when I first got into modeling. The episode I remember most was detailing a 57 Chevy body and was the first time I had seen bare metal foil.

[RSchnell]

I watched that show as a kid with my grandfather! If I remember right they did the show in the basement of a museum. Spraying rattle can paint inside with no booth, etc. The host was a bit dramatic and really played up the part of asking a lot of silly questions. 

One thing that sticks out in my mind is after one of the episodes where they were building an AMT '32 Vicky, my grandfather said to me- "here let me show you a better way" and he did. I was fortunate that my grandfather was a master modeler and really showed me the ropes. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[Russell C]

5 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

.... after looking at the videos on YouTube, it does look very familiar.

Never heard of it. Quick search in Youtube turned up this account which has collected many episodes, this one will show the list off to the side when you click on the "Watch on Youtube" option:

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by Russell C

[Straightliner59]

I think Testors was involved with it. I was working in a hobby distributorship, when it was on. I seem to remember seeing Testors correspondence touting it. 

[Lunajammer]

I too remember it. I always got such a kick out of the name, "Adventures In Scale Modeling," like right up there with cliff diving and swimming with sharks.

I was working in television and very shortly prior to this show airing I had pitched a similar idea to our local PBS affiliate and got a positive reception. I patterned my idea off a format similar to "Motorweek" where three features would be profiled in each half hour episode along with brief fillers to tie them together. It would depict all forms of plastic modeling. Features would include not only specific modeling subjects like techniques, build projects, modeler profiles, conventions, industry news, etc., but would also feature stories that supported modeling, like walk arounds of celebrated autos, fighter planes and ships, film studio model shop tours, injection molding, sci-fi trends, etc. The more we explored the concept the more engaging the idea became. Once the outline had been laid all we needed to do was create a pilot and get backing. I actually shot and edited one segment on an IPMS convention to get things started.

Unfortunately, Adventures in Scale Modeling was dry as dirt, much too slow and subject specific for general TV viewers. Heck even I found it boring and I was the target audience. For that reason, Adventures pretty much killed any further interest in my idea proposal.

Edited August 9, 2023 by Lunajammer

[Mark]

It may have worked back in the day had it been done better.  Now, you only need a look at YouTube...several such providers with fresh info tailored to your interests as opposed to trying to cover different subject matter in order to please some of the audience some of the time.

[Lunajammer]

4 hours ago, Mark said:

It may have worked back in the day had it been done better.

Correct. Modeling at that time was in the middle of a very strong resurgence, the momentum of which lingers today. Adventures in Scale Modeling was a response to that growth. As you suggest Mark, I don't think the idea could be mass marketed today with so many other interest specific venues available.

Edited August 9, 2023 by Lunajammer

[Brian Austin]

I posted this some time ago.  Show is from the 1980s-90s.

There were also some fascinating model making TV shows in England.  Scroll down to my next post in the above discussion.

Edit:  I just noted that the link goes to the start of the thread, not my individual post.  Sorry.  See page 5 of that thread.

Edited August 10, 2023 by Brian Austin