72 10-4 Magazine / August 2025 knowing it was coming, I was still quite awed to see it in person. You might think, “How detailed can a model made from kid’s toys be?” The answer is: very. His ability to scale down and translate into limited pieces is impressive. The first one, Unit 1, started as a 351 Pete, just like his grandfathers. “I was raised to be a fourth generation trucker – it’s just in my blood.” Growing up playing with LEGO with his cousin, the two of them would build tiny versions of trucks. As the boys got bigger, so did the models. High school years saw a hiatus in block time, and they were put into storage. A little while after graduation, Matt had been thinking, “I can do this better now,” and decided to get them back out. Four models from his original fleet were still intact. Things have snowballed since then, with the fleet now over 100, and far more sophisticated in design. He explained that the truck sets he had as a kid weren’t any specific model, or very accurate. To build what he wanted, he would have to make it up as he went. “That’s the glory with LEGO – you can change stuff, and it doesn’t require as much patience or time, because you don’t have to get it all right the first time.” Working from a list of trucks he likes, Matt moves them up or down the list as pieces are obtained. “I started building some that I one day wanted in real life, with this cool paint scheme or that option.” During the builds, he sees what needs to be adjusted and fixes them along the way. Sometimes a build can be delayed by not having enough of an obscure piece. Pieces used to be sourced from garage sales and marketplace, but now there’s a store near him where he can go through bins for what he needs. Whatever material you use to make models, there’s space for it at the Ashland event. And whatever trucking-related collection you have amassed, there is space for that, too. Vendors range from hand-built wooden trucks and toys to parts, polishing supplies, and collectible items from fleets. The next Ohio Vintage Truck Jamboree will take place in 2026 on June 26-27. I look forward to seeing you there! For information on bringing trucks, models, memorabilia, or being a sponsor, visit www.ohvintrkreu.com. And, with a little luck, maybe the 2026 show will be rain free, for once! Hey, we can always dream, right!! n
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA1MjUy