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Jeff Rice

Oct 4

Flagler resident Larry Romkee is exhibiting his customized Hot Wheels creations at The Orphanage through the end of the year.

Customizing Hot Wheels, and occasionally other brands of die-cast models, is a passion that took over Larry's life about six years ago. Since then, he has been successfully selling his creations on eBay and is a member of several Facebook custom Hot Wheels groups.

Larry Romkees creations are often mashups of two or more toy cars, all from the artist's fertile imagination. (Photos by Richard Birnie.)

Originally from Idalia, Larry grew up on the family farm and attended grade school and junior high school there. After a move to Wray he graduated from Wray High School and attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. Larry took an auto body and painting course at NJC, which resulted in a 25-year career in that business. Eight of those years were spent operating his own business but he has also worked at auto body shops in Wray, Yuma, Flagler, and Burlington.

Romkee says the 1/64 scale die-cast models he works with are made of a zinc type metal that resembles pot metal. He splices different models together such as a T-bucket and a stagecoach, or a cab over and a Ford panel truck. Sometimes there are up to four different models spliced into one. He will interchange wheels and then splice a 4X4 base onto a car body. Perhaps his most stunning custom creation is a metallic fuchsia colored bullet nose Studebaker stretch limo. It was created by splicing two "McDonalds Happy Meals" bullet nose Studebakers together and finished off with his signature colorful flames.

When it comes to painting his creations, Romkee uses a combination of rattle can paint, model paints applied by airbrush, and nail polish. Each paint job is sealed with a urethane clear coat which makes the colors more vibrant.

Romkee has lived in Flagler for 30 years and considers himself semi-retired. His hobbies are working on and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and customizing 1/64 scale die-cast toys.

Larry Romkee's customized Hot Wheels exhibit runs 9 through December 31 at the Orphanage, 300 S. Main Street, Yuma. Hours for the exhibit are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4pm; Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm. The Orphanage is closed Mondays. Romkee's creations will be on display during the open house on Friday, Oct. 7, from 5 to 8 pm,. Refreshments will be served.