When a youngster presses his nose against the display case and gasps in amazement, Mitch Griess knows he’s accomplished his goal—modeling an oil drilling rig site that intrigues the imagination and documents the details for posterity.

Mitch shares the story of the North Dakota oil industry with his dioramas in such detail that the displays have been made a part of history—as museum exhibits—and are being used for training at technical colleges.

The first diorama Mitch ever created is on permanent display at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck, N.D. Another 1/48 scale oil drilling and workover rig site diorama is displayed at the Pioneer Museum in Watford City, N.D. He has also built models which are so exact they are being used for training at technical colleges and by companies in the oil industry.

Mitch’s attention to details and artistic talent, coupled with his own work experience in the oil industry, helped him create the dioramas and models.

“I’ve always been blessed with artistic talent, but I had a bigger yearning to work outside,” he says. 

While attending high school in Sheridan, Wyo., he airbrushed art onto vehicles and was encouraged to pursue an art career by a teacher. But he also worked for a water drilling company during high school. 

“I loved it. I loved the aspect of drilling, so when I got out of high school, I went into the oil fields right away,” he describes.

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Among the Fords in John Hare’s extensive Bonus Built series collection are some versions made in other countries. This version is from PlastiMarx of Mexico. The box delivery van promotes a department store. ​

Some of the hard-working Ford trucks in John Hare’s collection were made by the Ralston Toy and Specialty Company, usually known as Ralstoy. ​

Among the many unique Ford Bonus Built series Ford trucks in John Hare’s collection is this truck and low loader trailer with a tractor. ​

Among the more than 50 scale vehicle makers in the John Hare Ford truck collection are a series of Marx-made versions. Many represent working tasks or body styles available in the full-size Ford-made trucks. ​

A line of period Ford vans made by Crown Premium resemble a parking lot of the Bonus Built series delivery trucks ready for work. Ford introduced the truck as the “vannette” in 1949. ​