This last July, the KC Slammers and the modeling community lost our good friend Steve Barnes. He has served our club for many years as vice president and would always be at the front of the line to volunteer for whatever needed to be done. Steve has spent many a long day and worked well into the night helping with our annual Heartland model show and contest. He was a long-time model builder and frequent visitor to model shows. Steve loved talking with fellow modelers and vendors at our show and countless other model shows around the Midwest. He also enjoyed rock and roll music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, and could go into great detail on that subject as well.
His models focused on subjects from the early days of hot-rodding and custom car building in the 50’s and he enjoyed custom painting techniques. Steve could talk for hours about the old customizers and the cars they were famous for building. Many modelers will know him for his Ed Roth Tweedy Pie and other Roth creations, his George Barris/Alexander Brothers Little Deuce Coupe and numerous custom cars with Gene Winfield style paint fades.
I have always admired Steve’s dedication to caring for his daughter Kara, his pleasant demeanor, willingness to help others, knowledge and friendship. Steve was a longtime friend and will be greatly missed.
Steven Wayne Barnes, November 14, 1952 – July 11, 2024
