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 Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 annual Auto Modelrama March 25, where it won best of show.

91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频業t was surprising, because the competition was quite good,91裸聊视频� said Kostick.

91裸聊视频�(The judges) see the amount of work that goes into Cat models,91裸聊视频� he said, noting that the judges are comprised of participants.

With over 500 hours of work over two winters put into the face shovel, it91裸聊视频檚 the largest and most complicated model he has built.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know that I91裸聊视频檒l ever do one that complex (again,)91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淢y models are built to be as functional as the real thing,91裸聊视频� said Kostick, with some of his models utilizing working lights and audio to produce engine noises.

91裸聊视频淭hese aren91裸聊视频檛 models you can go buy off a shelf. I never take my builds for granted.91裸聊视频�

But the Auto Modelrama was home to tough competition.

91裸聊视频淭here was a fellow there with a large Lamborghini,91裸聊视频� said Kostick. 91裸聊视频淚 thought he was going to get best of show.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淐oming from Kamloops was a nice change,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淓verything is so lush and green, we really enjoy it here.91裸聊视频�

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 Kostick91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淲hen you91裸聊视频檙e scratch building a model, there are so many different aspects,91裸聊视频� said Kostick, who spends between 300 and 500 hours on each scratch built model. 91裸聊视频淵ou have to be a draftsman and an engineer.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淣ow when I91裸聊视频檓 doing models, I91裸聊视频檓 thinking about the article and the pieces I need,91裸聊视频� he said.

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

91裸聊视频淚 like the challenge of designing and building these complex models,91裸聊视频� said Kostick. 91裸聊视频淎nd when they91裸聊视频檙e finished I have and a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at creating a one of a kind model.

91裸聊视频淚t helps to occupy my time because my mind is always going. I can91裸聊视频檛 sit in front of the TV and watch sports for eight hours a day,91裸聊视频� he laughs. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more gratifying than getting a beer belly.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频�(That way) by the time winter rolls around, I91裸聊视频檓 anxious to get back in there,91裸聊视频� he said.

When he isn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淥nce I retire, I hope to spend even more time dedicated to it,91裸聊视频� said Kostick.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be a lifelong thing for me. I don91裸聊视频檛 see it fading out anytime soon.91裸聊视频�