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害羞草研究所檚 annual Auto Modelrama March 25, where it won best of show.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚It was surprising, because the competition was quite good,害羞草研究所� said Kostick.

害羞草研究所�(The judges) see the amount of work that goes into Cat models,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 the largest and most complicated model he has built.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know that I害羞草研究所檒l ever do one that complex (again,)害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淢y models are built to be as functional as the real thing,害羞草研究所� said Kostick, with some of his models utilizing working lights and audio to produce engine noises.

害羞草研究所淭hese aren害羞草研究所檛 models you can go buy off a shelf. I never take my builds for granted.害羞草研究所�

But the Auto Modelrama was home to tough competition.

害羞草研究所淭here was a fellow there with a large Lamborghini,害羞草研究所� said Kostick. 害羞草研究所淚 thought he was going to get best of show.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淐oming from Kamloops was a nice change,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淓verything is so lush and green, we really enjoy it here.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淲hen you害羞草研究所檙e scratch building a model, there are so many different aspects,害羞草研究所� said Kostick, who spends between 300 and 500 hours on each scratch built model. 害羞草研究所淵ou have to be a draftsman and an engineer.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淣ow when I害羞草研究所檓 doing models, I害羞草研究所檓 thinking about the article and the pieces I need,害羞草研究所� he said.

Despite the success he has seen, Kostick continues to build models simply because he loves it.

害羞草研究所淚 like the challenge of designing and building these complex models,害羞草研究所� said Kostick. 害羞草研究所淎nd when they害羞草研究所檙e finished I have and a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at creating a one of a kind model.

害羞草研究所淚t helps to occupy my time because my mind is always going. I can害羞草研究所檛 sit in front of the TV and watch sports for eight hours a day,害羞草研究所� he laughs. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 more gratifying than getting a beer belly.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所�(That way) by the time winter rolls around, I害羞草研究所檓 anxious to get back in there,害羞草研究所� he said.

When he isn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淥nce I retire, I hope to spend even more time dedicated to it,害羞草研究所� said Kostick.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be a lifelong thing for me. I don害羞草研究所檛 see it fading out anytime soon.害羞草研究所�