A TELEVISION show has spurred a Mount Gambier truck driver to start crafting scaled replicas of heavy vehicles similar to those he has driven almost every day for over three decades.
Over the years Dion Chambers has re-created over 50 different model trucks.
Taking time and patience, Mr Chambers said he has loved every moment since he started the hobby in 1980.
“I honestly began to question it to begin with as I did not think it was for me,” he said.
“They are static, but quite fragile items and all of the ones I have made have taken years of effort.
“The rewards of seeing the end result are absolutely mind-blowing.”
Mr Chambers has been an entrant at the Gaydon Model Truck Festival held in England in 2001, 2002 and 2004, returning to the event again in June.
“This year saw a fairly huge show with over 350 entrants and I took out a second and third placing as the only entrant from Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
“This year was special as it was 15 years since my last attendance and in December it is my 50th so I decided to make a trip out of it.
“People do not understand the hobby until they see it and how much effort is required.”
Mr Chambers said the unique craft resulted in no two models looking the same.
“You could have a pair of the same make and model and I bet my top dollar one will be slightly different to the other,” he said.
“I have built one, had it stolen and built it again and it never came up as well as the first one.
“My largest truck – a windmill carrier – took me two and a half years on and off which is the longest it has ever taken me.”
The truck driver said he had to source parts for his models from across the world.
“I have my usual suppliers but if there is anything else I can not find I make it from scratch on my own,” Mr Chambers said.
“I use photographs as templates and look at the image to base off the design.”
Mr Chambers said his job as a truck driver went hand-in-hand with re-creating scale model trucks.
“It has allowed me to understand all the components, inside and outside of a truck which is beneficial as I drive five days a week,” he said.
“I love my job and there is never a dull moment.”
Mr Chambers is currently building a scale model Scania S650T Torpedo for the On The Road model car, truck and motorcycle show held in Jabbeke, Belgium during March next year.
Mr Chambers said he chose to build the particular model because the bar is set high at the European event.
“The truck was released in Belgium this year and I was told I was the first one from Australia to purchase one of the model kits,” he said.
“There is only around 12 of the trucks made at the moment as they go to the Netherlands and are custom-built.”
Mr Chambers looks forward to next year’s event and plans to continue his hobby for years to come.
