On Sunday, May 3rd 2026, in Chatsworth, Southern California, the SoCal Open Model Car Show became the home of a truly special collaborative presentation organized by Armando Flores and his Southern California Bugs display. Artists from Southern California, the East Coast, Hawaii, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Dubai all came together in support of the project, each creating their own unique Volkswagen Beetle build. Builders such as Slowly’s Models from Australia, Kit Builder Chris from the UK, Krow Kustoms from the UK, Matty’s Custom Scale from Dubai, Hawaii Model Car Mafia, along with many talented Southern California artists, showcased their individual styles and craftsmanship. In total, more than 80 Volkswagen models were featured together in a creative pier-style diorama display, creating an immersive presentation that highlighted both the diversity and unity within the scale model car culture community.

More than just a display of model cars, the Southern California Bugs presentation represented collaboration, creativity, and friendship within the hobby. Many builders, myself included, were unfamiliar with Volkswagen Beetles before participating, and the project encouraged artists to step outside of their comfort zones and explore a new genre of model building. Through the process, many gained a new appreciation for the VW Bug while also connecting with fellow builders from around the world. While Armando Flores personally reached out to many artists, there were also numerous builders who reached out wanting to support and be part of the presentation. In the end, the project became a celebration of worldwide collaboration, bringing together talented modelers through a shared passion for scale model car culture and creativity.

-Edgar

Scale Riders