Steve Overy

Designer

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Steve Overy and Mike Murray were based in St. Leonards on Sea, on the second floor of an old character building just back from the seafront. But it was not always like that – Steve had been in the film industry in the early 1980s and Mike was still at school.

Steve’s interest in aviation led him to join the English wing of the Confederate airforce, where he met John Allen, then a PR man. In turn, they got together with Keith Williams in 1983 to form SMTS (Scale Model Technical Services), Keith having previously been employed by Western Models for a number of years. Their first employee was Pat Land, now with his own business – Model Assemblies. A 1953 Packard Carribean was the first model they made for Richard Briggs’ Mini Marque 43 range and SMTS’ own first model was an Arrows A6 F1 racing car.

Subject ID: 82849

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Steve Overy and Mike Murray were based in St. Leonards on Sea, on the second floor of an old character building just back from the seafront. But it was not always like that – Steve had been in the film industry in the early 1980s and Mike was still at school.

Steve’s interest in aviation led him to join the English wing of the Confederate airforce, where he met John Allen, then a PR man. In turn, they got together with Keith Williams in 1983 to form SMTS (Scale Model Technical Services), Keith having previously been employed by Western Models for a number of years. Their first employee was Pat Land, now with his own business – Model Assemblies. A 1953 Packard Carribean was the first model they made for Richard Briggs’ Mini Marque 43 range and SMTS’ own first model was an Arrows A6 F1 racing car.

The partnership lasted for about 3 years, until 1986, when John and Keith went on to run SMTS and Steve acquired a plating business, which he installed in Hastings, in 1987. During this time Mike had been working for SMTS, after leaving school to start work as a panel beater and paint sprayer, but left to join Steve when he moved his business from Hastings to Caves Road in St Leonards. The plating business was moved to Caves Road as well, but was dispensed with as being too time consuming as the model manufacturing became established.

In 1987, Illustra commenced making models for Minimarque 43 and carried out other contract work. One such contract was for Jimmy Saville’s TV programme – Jim’ll Fix It. Yes, Steve fixed it for Jim, by making all the medals given to the people who appeared on his show. Over the years, many more models were built for the Minimarque 43 range. Generally classic American cars were modelled, in keeping with Richard’s wealth of knowledge in that field of interest, particularly with Packards and Cadillacs.

Most models were delivered personally by Steve to Richard at his home in Halsham, near Hull. On more than one occasion Steve had to return to base with all the models because of an incorrect colour or some other fault, such was Richard’s insistence on perfection.

Mike’s role encompasses every discipline in the business – pattern making, mould making, casting, building and painting – all self taught. The painting was especially important as they find that collectors are very particular about the final finish.

Whilst getting themselves established Illustra had a yearning to produce some models in their own name and it was not long before a Lamborghini Muira was produced as an Illustra model, followed by an Aston Martin DB5. The patterns for both of these models were made by Richard Stokes. A Ford GT70 and a King Cobra were other early cars in the Illustra range and a Porsche 962 was a first to be highly detailed. Then came their Midlantic range of sports racing cars all made in resin. Another name they use is Highway Travellers, a series of legendary motor cars.

After Richard’s death in 2002, a run of 100 1934 (Richard’s birth year) 1107 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupes were issued as a Richard Briggs Memorial Model.

They were then marketed as Minimarque, most of their models are exported to the USA, where Illustra have several dealer outlets as well as some customers they supply direct. Grand Prix Models, J.M. Toys and Peregrine Model Cars are a good source for their ranges in the UK. Steve Overy passed away in 2012 and the Minimarque range is still being sold by Illustra.

Subject ID: 82849

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Subject ID: 82849