Late Breaking News for GSL XXII

Please check in here often for the latest information on the Twenty-Second GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention, presented by the Utah Miniature Automotive Guild – a Region 10 IPMS/USA Chartered group with assistance from the International Model Car Builders' Museum. Here, we'll post new information and developments on GSL-XXII, along with the date(s) that news is posted so that you can keep track of when you last checked in.

The GSL XXII Preview is here...

News for GSL XXII

July 17, 2008

The GSL Championship is delighted to announce that noted builder Jim Devine will join Mark S. Gustavson and Bob Wick as the third judge for GSL-XXII. Jim received the GSL-XXI Best in Class Award for his thoughtful phantom entry: "Cad Healey"

The Championship is also pleased to announce that a Round Table presentation on scale vehicle contest judging will be presented Thursday night, April 30, 2008. Hosted by moderator Mark S. Gustavson, selected judges from around the United States will give their perspectives on how they have judged contests. So far, Bob Wick will participate, representing the GSL Championship. Other noted builder/judges are being invited presently – more on this shortly. 

Our Seminar schedule continues to develop. Note the following topics that will be presented (along with others – details on the other seminars will be forthcoming):

Advanced Tips: Scratchbuilding in Metal, Metal Plating, and Paint Booth Design and Construction. Greg Nichols and Jim Devine  (Presented on Thursday, April 30, 2009)

White Paper:  "Considerations in Planning Championship Models" by Bob Wick and Mark S. Gustavson This session will include the complimentary distribution of the third edition of the modeling booklet (How to Build Better Scale Model Vehicles: Construction Considerations for Building Championship-Caliber Models). The current version of this booklet is currently available on the Museum's website here. This seminar will include a Power Point presentation. (Presented on Friday, May 1, 2009).

July 8, 2008:
Plans for GSL-XXII continue with great plans underway. At this date, the following instructional seminars are scheduled to be presented to those attending the next Championship:

• Advanced Tips for More Realistic Models by Greg Nichols and Jim Devine
• White Paper:  "Considerations in Planning Championship Models" by Bob Wick and Mark S. Gustavson This seminar will include distribution of complimentary booklet (Paul Anagnostopoulos, layout), and be aided by a Power Point presentation
• Simple Tips for More Realistic Models
• How to Get a Championship Finish, Part One.  Presenters: Dave Morton, Steve Boutte, Mark S. Gustavson  Power Point and Video Presentations
• How I Built It – GSL-XXI Best of Show Caterham by Mark D. Jones
• Brass Brazing and Fabrication
• GSL Friday Night: The Wonders of the International Model Car Builders' Museum

Of course, the number and names of the seminars and other presentations are subject to change before GSL-XXII commences.

Note also that we'll be publishing a special, complimentary booklet of the past GSL Best of Show winning models that will discuss each of these great models and explain why they were chosen. 

May 29, 2008

The Twenty-Second GSL Championship marks the 30th year of this world-leading competition. In celebration of that fact, GSL is pleased to announce that we will be hosting a special display of the Best of Show models in each of the preceding twenty-one championships. Letters have been sent to each of these leading modelers, telling them of the special display, and asking them to come to the 2009 Championship and to bring their winning models with them. Here are those builders:

GSL-I (1979) David Baird (1932 Cadillac Roadster),
GSL-II (1981) Mark S. Gustavson (Custom Corvette)
GSL-III (1982) George Layton (Drag Van – "Prospector")
GSL–IV (1983) Dave Berry (Indy Race Car)
GSL-V (1984) * Bob Barnett (Kopper Cart Replica)
GSL-VI (1985) * Rick Somerlot (Custom 1939 Chevy)
GSL-VII (1986) Jairus Watson (1936 Ford Station Wagon)
GSL-VIII (1987) John MacGowan (1941 Willys Pickup)
GSL-IX (1988) Fred Grumke (1932 Ford Woody Wagon)
GSL-X (1989) John MacGowan (1937 Ford Woody Wagon)
GSL-XI (1990) Steve Catron (Markley Bros. Bellytanker)
GSL-XII (1991)* Augie Hiscano (1932 Ford Victoria)
GSL-XIII (1992) Randy Derr (Sunoco Camaro)
GSL-XIV (1993) Russ Schwenkler (Honda RS 1000 motorcycle)
GSL-XV (1994) Larry Boothe (1957 Ford Thunderbird)
GSL-XVI (1997)* Augie Hiscano (1933 Ford Roadster)
GSL-XVII (1999)* Augie Hiscano (1932-1/2 Ford Roadster)
GSL-XVIII (2001) Tom Kirn (1931 Duesenberg)
GSL-XIX (2003) Bruce Owen (Virtue RSX)
GSL XXI (2005) Dave Cummins (Bugatti Aerolantique)
GSL-XXII (2007) Mark D. Jones (Caterham Super 7)
 

Unfortunately, several of these great builders have passed on (their names are marked with an asterisk). The International Model Car Builders' Museum (link to: is honored to have eight of the Best of Show models and hopes to make arrangements with other builders to loan their models to the Museum. 

GSL Trustee is designing a special display for these models which will include the presentation of the actual model or photographs of the model if a builder can't attend GSL. We also hope to prepare a special booklet on these winning models. Also, those Best of Show builders in attendance will gather in the GSL Contest Hall on Saturday for a group picture. 

Plan to be at GSL-XXII to see these winning builders, and watch for how great building has progressed since 1979!

For additional information on GSL History, go here: 

May 25, 2008

During its Friday night special seminar, the International Model Car Builders' Museum will be pleased to introduce John Estlow back to the hobby. In 1964, John won the top award at the International Championship Guild – a model car contest run at a series of full-scale custom car shows in the Midwest of the United States. His incredible winning full custom 1949 Mercury – presented in a stripped-out television set because of the many lights and electronic controls – still exists in excellent condition, and John will be bringing his winning model and the display to GSL. 

Check out the following vintage and contemporary pictures of John's model:

John's model was a watershed in the hobby. The custom Merc featured dozens of working features and operating lights. John presented his model in the old TV set which features many feet of wire and power supplies, and other controls, in the concealed base!  That's John in the picture at the time he received his top award in 1964. 

The custom Merc, and all of the lights and controls, is in great shape and fully operational. The ever-affable John will travel across the country to GSL and display the model and its setup at GSL-XXII. (There is only one model here – mirrors produce the left and right images). 

You can read a full story on John and his model by going to this back issue of the Museum's newsletter, The Builder

April 2008

Please note the following news about the upcoming Twenty-Second GSL Championship and Convention:

If you wish to learn about the day-to-day details about GSL-XXII, go here:

For information about the Classes for GSL-XXII, go here:

If you want to learn about how the GSL Championship is judged, go here:

If you want to know how you can become a sponsor or help with GSL, go here:

March 2008

We're pleased to offer the first update for the Twenty-Second GSL Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention presented by the Utah Miniature Automotive Guild – a Region 10 IPMS/USA Chartered group. Please read the GSL Preview which offers the latest details on the next Championship. Note that some of the Class rules have been importantly modified: Box Plus now permits the use of any part recommended in the instruction sheet (e.g., the old AMT Styline kits); the rules for the two Commercial Classes have been clarified; the Common Kit specifies that either the AMT or Revell Camaro kit may be used; and the two Competition straight line Classes – Drag and Land Speed Record – have been substantially rewritten to make the classification of entries easier for contestants and the GSL judges).

We're planning for a terrific array of seminars and events to accompany the terrific competition, as well as two days of tours of the International Model Car Builders' Museum, the GSL Players, the Museum benefit auction, and a great Trade Show. Still at the same great facility – the Sheraton City Centre in downtown Salt Lake City – the next GSL Championship will continue the tradition of the best and most genial competition available anywhere in the world.

About the Group nine Class featuring the venerable AMT 1950 Ford convertible, most of the GSL Trustees will be competing in this popular-vote only Class, including past GSL Best of Show winners George Layton and Mark S. Gustavson

Note also that we no longer permit mail-in entries because of substantial damages that these models always suffer in transit. If you can't attend, please find a friend to bring your entry(ies) to GSL.

Because of the cost of doing so, the Championship no longer generally publishes the GSL Preview and the GSL Manual. These documents are available only online through this website.

We'll update the text on this website by early April but, until then, please refer to the GSL Preview for the latest/most correct information on the upcoming twenty-second GSL Championship.

September 2007

As detailed under the August 2007 date heading below, the Group 9 kit for GSL-XXII is the AMT 1950 Ford Convertible kit. To help you with some ideas if you wish to build a custom shoebox, you can go to Mark S. Gustavson's Custom Clinic site and check out a considerable quantity of photos of custom '49-51 Fords. Go here to check out the great pics posted there. Note that Mark S. Gustavson will be competing in the GSL-XXII Group 9 Class – he really likes shoebox Fords, and he's building a fresh custom shoebox model to compete in this Class. This is the first time since 1981 that Mark has competed in GSL! Keep in mind that the First through Fourth Place winners in this Class are selected by popular vote, and no model in the Group 9 Class can win any Master Award (therefore, Mark S. Gustavson will remain the chief judge for the juried Classes). If you want to compete with Mark, he'll meet you in this Class.

August 20, 2007

Date and Place: The GSL Trustees are pleased to announce that the Twenty-Second GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention will be presented April 30 through May 3, 2009 by the Utah Miniature Automotive Guild – a Region 10 IPMS/USA Chartered group – at the Salt Lake Sheraton City Centre Hotel (the same excellent place where GSL-XXI was held).

The overnight room prices have increased by just one dollar per night! Here are the details: All rooms are $92 base rent (1-4 person occupancy) plus room tax of 12.46% for an approximate per room cost of $103.50.

Plans are now underway for the Twenty-Second GSL Championship. We will again present the traditional range of competitive Classes, three days of seminars, two days of Museum tours, the Museum-benefit auction, the famed Trade Show, four days of renewed friendships and shared experiences, and the Awards Breakfast on Sunday morning, May 3. 

Changes to Classes: There will be a few changes to the Classes. First, the previous "open wheel" and "closed wheel" competition classes have been eliminated because those Class definitions created substantial ambiguities in model classification and judging. Those two Classes have been replaced with these Classes:

Competition: Drag. This Class is for scale models of vehicles intended exclusively for one-eighth and one-quarter mile straight line acceleration competition. Qualifying models may be of any vintage, style, or class, and must be built in accordance with the applicable 1:1 competition rules of a sanctioning organization (NHRA, UDRA, NDRA, etc.) for the vintage of the scale model depicted. Where the quality of two models is equivalent, preference will be given to models displaying information authenticating the technical details of the entry.

Competition: Landspeed Record This Class is for scale models of vehicles intended exclusively for landspeed records on the dry lakes (Muroc), Salt Flats (Bonneville), beaches (vintage Daytona) or in any other recognized setting or venue. Qualifying models may be of any vintage, style, or class, and must be built in accordance with the applicable competition of a sanctioning organization for the vintage of the scale model depicted. Where the quality of two models is equivalent, preference will be given to models displaying information authenticating the technical details of the entry.

The Common Kit Class will feature the AMT 2009 Camaro Kit. The Group 9 kit is the AMT 1950 Ford convertible.

A major change to the Class rules will be to Group 9. Not only have the Trustees identified the venerable AMT 1950 Ford Convertible kit as the subject matter, but the "rules" for this Class have been somewhat relaxed for the purpose of encouraging added participation and enjoyment.  Additionally, the GSL Trustees will be themselves entering this Class (including the GSL Judges Mark S. Gustavson and Bob Wick) since the four winners in this Class are selected by popular vote (and not by GSL Judges) and because no Master Award winners can come out of this Class. Mark S. Gustavson will return to GSL competition for the first time since the first and second Championships. 

Here is the text for the GSL-XXII Group 9 Class. Read the text carefully to see how competition in this Class has been opened up:

The GROUP 9 Class is intended to revive and celebrate vintage building styles, to create a fun and challenging forum for builders, to present a low-key venue for creative and enthusiastic building, and to celebrate the way models were built in the "good old days." The GSLXXII GROUP 9 model is any issue of the AMT 1950 Ford Convertible kit. For this Class, the kit can be built in any style with the skills and craftsmanship that you have today, but constructed using materials and supplies (except adhesives and paints) available 30 or more years ago (1979 or earlier). There are just three additional limitations: no one-off machined or photo-etched parts not fashioned by the entrant, no aftermarket products available after 1979, and no resin bodies or resin body parts. Bare Metal Foil may be used because it became available in 1979.

Fourth through First Place Awards are selected by popular vote ballot, and announced as part of the Awards Presentation on Sunday morning. No entry in this Class is eligible for any Master Award. A model entered here may not also be entered in another Class, and an entrant may enter any number of models in this Class.

GSL OnLine:

In order to control the rapidly increasing costs of presenting GSL to the international modeling community, GSL Trustees have decided that we will no longer print the GSL Preview and the GSL Manual. In the past, printing and distributing these documents have cost the Championship nearly $3,000. With the rapid growth of internet community, and the fact that virtually everyone has internet access through a home computer, GSL will distribute the GSL Preview and the GSL Manual by PDF to our very large e-mail audience. 

You can receive GSL publications and regular updates via the Internet. In fact, we urge you to do so we can save money that can be used for other GSL activities. Here's how it works: Whenever GSL headquarters is ready to publish a document, you will be notified via e-mail. You can then download the document in Acrobat PDF format. To view an Acrobat document, you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is a free application available from Adobe Systems.

If you wish to sign up for e-mail notes about GSL-XXII, please go here, fill out the form, and submit it. 

GSL Videos: We are delighted to let you now that the International Model Car Builders' Museum has made available a series DVDs of selected seminars from GSL-XIX (2003) and GSL-XX (2005). These seminars are highly-informative, and you get to enjoy that presentations almost like you were at GSL. Note that the sound reproduction is better for the GSL-XX sessions because our sound equipment was much better at that event.

Please order by the number before the description of each DVD. Make out all checks and money orders to "International Model Car Builders' Museum" and mail to 10291 South 1300 East, PMB #131, Sandy, Utah 84094. Note that all DVDs are copyright GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention with all rights reserved. Please do not make unauthorized copies of these DVDs because that will just harm the Museum: Note that all proceeds (other than the cost of mailing) goes directly into the coffers of the International Model Car Builders' Museum which is the chief sponsor of the GSL International Scale Vehicle Championship and Convention.

Download Order Form

Here is a list of the DVDs presently available (with more to come from GSL-XXI!):

GSL XX (2005)

Price: Each Video is $11.95 plus $1.50 shipping for first DVD, $.50 additional, $2.50 max shipping for any number of GSL-XIX DVDs.

DVD1-XX
Scratchbuilding in Large Scale - Cummins

DVD2-XX
Concept Cars - Roger Yu

DVD3-XX
Diorama Construction - Miguel Barbosa
Epoxy Putty - Mike Good

DVD4-XX
Fashioning Panels from Brass - George Layton

DVD5-XX
How I Built the Virtue RSX - Bruce Owen

DVD6-XX
Mechanical & other Detailing - Mark Jones
Detailing Racing Cars - Stephen Miller

GSL XIX (2003)

Price: Each Video is $9.95 plus $1.50 shipping for first DVD, $.50 additional, $2.50 max shipping for any number of GSL-XIX DVDs.

DVD 1-XIX
More Simple Tips... Nichols & Devine
Model Car Mechanical Detailing - Mark Jones

DVD2-XIX
Model Car Photography- Doug Whyte
Thinking Outside the Box - Roger Yu

DVD3-XIX
Elementary Machining and Soldering – Augie Hiscano

DVD4-XIX
Scratchbuilding in Large Scale - Dave Cummins
1937 Ford Tapertail - Dave Cummins

DVD5-XIX
Etching Polishing and Plating - Bill Cunningham
Scratchbuilding in Metal - Tom Kirn

DVD6-XIX
Racing Car Wiring & Plumbing Fundamentals - Stephen Miller