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Gregg

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Everything posted by Gregg

  1. until
    The Last GSL May 4-7, 2023. Sheraton Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah. As of today, 1/27/23, all rooms are booked, look for more hotel info soon: http://www.gslchampionship.org
  2. I was sent an email (Thanks, Bob!) to let me know that some of the contacts in the old MCM Club Directory page were way out of date. Iʻve taken that link down, and if we can get updates on the contacts for the clubs, hopefully we can get that club directory updated, complete with my first ever GIF linked map! Thanks. Donʻt post updates here yet, just wanted to let it be known that the original page has been removed, and will be updated. Have to figure out how to do this so that there is some rhyme or reason to it.
  3. Here's a quick update above from what I have posted on Facebook: The next two surgeries will be done on two days (for example, a Thursday and a Friday). First surgery will be through the front. A thoracic surgeon will assist with the procedure along with a vascular surgeon. They will have to break two ribs to get to the thoracic area (T12-T10). They will remove the disc(s), and either fuse or attach hardware to the vertebrae. The next day, the posterior lumbar surgery will include removing the existing rods, from L1-L5, and extending it up to and including T-10. My other doc will decide whether or not to remove the Spinal Stimulator that was implanted in February 2019. I will probably be completely down for a month or so, and then slowly get back up to "normal." We are looking at probably at least a couple of months. We are going to have to get some full-time nurses here to take over what I do during the day (Adult DayCare Provider for wife's two parents), and for myself for a short time. Plus, get the insurance companies to finally agree on coughing up some of that gabillion dollars they don't want to pay out. I'm finishing up Slot Cars #8, thanks to my new bestie friend who is really helping out with my terrible layouts, and Model Cars #207 is being nit-picked. I need to get replacement or new writers for all the columns that have lost their writers. As you may know, Wayne Moyer was with me from Day 1, and even before. We need to look at either getting someone to help with that part of the mag, Collector's/Diecast, or adapting it, which is happening for this issue right now. Also need to get my arse in gear and get the working editorial calendar in place, so everyone knows what is what, when is when, etc. Why I am getting so worked up now for the rest of the issues coming up? With this surgery, it will be the end. Either the end of all my troubles dealing with not being able to sit up and work, or quite literally, THE END. A lot of friends have given me their behind the scenes look at what they had during the same types of surgeries, so although I'm scared kaka-less, I know that I'll be in good hands, and it's going to work out fine. If not, anyone want to buy a magazine from my widow? JUST KIDDING. Geeez, I still have a cents of huemore, don't sew me... YES, TYPOS.... MISTEAKS..... It's the way I cope, and I'm sticking to that story... So, one, or two, more scalpels, and that's it, nothing to hold me back, no more insurance worries, just everything settled, and time to get caught up, take care of all the past that needs to be paid and caught up, and save for the future. If this sounds vague, sorry, but hopefully it makes some cents (hint in that last word).
  4. Email me your address, I do have you listed, in Luisville, KY
  5. Sorry, just saw this post. One of the highlights of my earlier "tours" was the shop tour I did of Fred Cady's shop/house. I am still in awe not only of the work that Fred has done over the years (all by hand), but his house and shop is amazing! I am an avid architecture fan, my dad was an architect here in Hawai'i, and have been a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, and member of the foundation, for many years. Now Fred's house may not be a FLW house, but that is the first thing I thought of when I was there! I still have some of the photos that I snuck while upstairs, I only took photos of his shop for the "In The Studio" article I did on Fred Cady Decals, way back when. I have probably looked at those photos over a dozen times just in the past year or two, I love his house!!! And as for Fred, not a nicer guy will you ever meet!
  6. Mike, email me. It should not say last issue on label. Send me a pic of label, if can. Please talk to me via emails.
  7. WOW! You guys are right! Just opened my poly bag with my issue in it. BAD BAD BAD!!!! Something seriously went wrong with the printing of this. I apologize to everyone for this. On my proofs, they were fine. Perfect, in my eyes, but the printed ones. OMG!!! Some were okay, but the ones, well, most of them, OUCH! Okay, this one is on me. Not blaming meds, or anyone else, this is me. I will see what printer says, because the digital proof was okay also. From what I remember in doing the mag in Denver, everything could be adjusted when the press was run. Someone should have seen this. My bad, and letʻs just say things like this makes me do better. No one is perfect, and this is just another stumble along this twenty-year path.
  8. As for the black background, it was a test. Since it was a special show, I tried something something. I have five negatives so far, but I haven't seen my printed copy yet, so maybe it is the actual printing of it. Will I do it again? Maybe for features, or something else. I do like the way it came out, but that's just me, on screen, and doing proofs. Some of them were just amazing.
  9. Thanks, Tom!!! See, I knew I wasn't making this up!!!! I have the USPS manual downloaded, and also have it in sections that applies to me/us. One thing I have a problem with now is with Slot Cars. It's a pending application, and no one here (Hawai'i) can give me a definitive answer, one way or another. Still trying to get that sorted out. Thanks for this, I'm going to copy it into my Power Of Six note/file.
  10. The Power Of Six I can’t count the number of times we have had this complaint: "I haven’t received my issue yet. The hobby shop/friend/or other reader has received their copy or copies, and I have not gotten mine yet. What gives?” We did a test when we had Plastic Fanatic years ago, when we used to mail the magazine from our house, using our bed as the distribution/sorting table. It comes down to The Power of Six. If there are less than six magazines that go to the same post office periodical drop zone (“PDZ”), then they get bundled together with all the other less than six copies/subscribers, and then sent to the main sorting station, which there are usually only one or two per state. Then they get sorted out and hand placed with other slow boat pieces, like those bulk mail junk mail pieces every one gets. If there are six or more, they go to the the nearest PDZ, which there is in almost every city or town. Then they get to your door quickly. Does this make sense? We mapped it out once and did a zone by zone analysis, which is how we ended up with our Power Of Six theory. The local Post Office agreed, but they wouldn’t say so on paper or email. Also note, these are own phrases/descriptions, the 4,000 pound mailing manual may call it something else. Please, re-read the start of this post. I'm trying to find out when the magazines arrive, NOT WHEN THEY DON'T.
  11. Thanks, Randy. I'll start sending out the dealer invoices now, hopefully they will get there by the time the mags get to dealers/shops.
  12. I did contact them once, and it showed up in their "inventory", but I never heard anything back from them. That was many years ago, and left a sour taste in my mouth. They listed it with no further contact with me, no contracts, terms, etc. It was strange. I know that was a while ago, so maybe it will be better this time. Thanks!
  13. That's right! I forgot about them. I know Model Empire gets a huge shipment also. Thanks, Michael!
  14. This is what I like. Constructive ideas that brings out really good questions. I had a dealer list on the site a while ago. I'll try an update that also. With the change in my app/program I use now, it should be easier to do, once I learn how to do it....
  15. I should have my office copies in about a week. Still doing the after mailing paperwork, and things are not too good here right now, so maybe a bit longer. You bring up a good point, find someone to do wholesale/online sales of the printed mags, freeing up some time and physical work. Thanks!
  16. Please let me know when it DOES show up, not that it hasn't. I set the notifications to ON for this, and I'm getting a lot of emails/notifications. I usually don't have notifications on, since the email quota for my last brain cell is so small, I need to keep the inbox at a manageable level. Thanks.
  17. Ingram, my last newsstand distributor, closed when I went down for a while. I have to apply to a brand new company, and start the process all over again. Right now, just the 194 hobby shops.
  18. Finally, after what seems like a million years, or at least days, the latest issue of Model Cars Magazine was printed and mailed from Denver on or about November 7, 2019. If you guys can let me know when (and only when, not that you don't have it yet) you get your copy, I would appreciate it. I'm trying to see how long it takes to get delivered across the country. Remember, just because someone farther away from Denver got their magazine sooner than you, there's a reason for this, and I've explained this many times before. It's the Power Of Six (Kelly and mine scientific experiment and analysis of the periodical mailing with USPS) that magazines/periodicals have to deal with. When a magazine gets shipped to six or more readers in a specific postal zip/drop zone, they get those mags bundled up in one bag, and sent directly to that local post office. For those magazines where there are not six or more readers, those mags get bagged together and sent to a bigger post office/drop zone. And this goes on and on with the fewer mags in other zip code zones. Hopefully this makes sense, Kelly and I did a lot of head scratching on this back in 1997-98 when we were shipping and mailing the mags from here in our little one-bedroom rental, taking over the bed as a work table, pissing our cat Indy off to no end. This issue is the Contest Issue, and it was supposed to be a stand alone issue, but since it was so late, we've included it in the regular subs. I will be trying to put together another contest issue for the regular spot, Feb/March, of 2020. I'll try and make that one bigger, more current, and a stand alone copy. That's another ball game, need new UPC/Bar Codes, filing numbers, permit, etc. But I'll do what I can in the next month or so and see if I can do this. A lot of people may get p'd off about the lateness of the shows covered. We could have not run them, some from a couple years ago, but it wouldn't be fair to not only the guys who had their models photographed, but all the work our photographers did would be lost, and that's something we didn't want to do. So, hopefully these are modelers/builders you haven't seen before, and will get some good ideas from this issue. It was a trip through memory lane doing this, 100% without Harry, and it was hard to do, having to stop and think about him so many times while I faked my way through doing layouts like he did. I have a hidden weapon now, helping me with the layouts (I stole him late in the process, hopefully he'll stick around with me :-))), and he really helped with some of the stuff I wasn't able to do. Thanks, bud! So, yes, it's late. Yes, shows are late. But I'm still here, sorry to disappoint the nay-sayer/sayers, and that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Gregg P.S.: I'm still trying to get some help with the digital side of the mag, ads, and other things, so you may see some changes over the next weeks. Hopefully it won't be too disruptive.
  19. Would like to get the word out to my Fellow Car Modelers for next week's Incredible Model Kit, Toy & 1st Inaugural Car Show entitled: "Streets of Old World" We will be having 50+ Incredible Cars from Customs, Classics, Hot Rods, Exotics, Low Riders,, Military and even PD & Fire Classic coming out to take over the Charming Cobblestone Village and Shops at Old World Village in Huntington Beach CA. on Sunday August 18th from 7am til 3pm, In addition to the Giant Festival Hall will be packed with 70 Eight Ft Vendor Tables selling tons of Models Car Kits,Die-Cast Cars, Slot Cars,Tanks, Ships, 1/6 Scale Vehicles and Figures, Hot wheels, Dinky, Matchbox, 1:18 AutoArt, Maisto, Burago, etc. Great Food and Music and Fun People! Contact: modelkitexpo@gmail.com
  20. As an update on this, no, did not get close to 200 Lifetime subs. The trip to GSL cost me a grand total of $45.96. $13.50 for airfare (I am a lifelong Delta man, and used my miles from years ago), room was free (thank you to a friend), and dinner the Saturday night. Yes, I was there for 26 hours, and then three days at home on the floor.I came close to running out of pain meds, and that was not fun. It killed me, but it was worth it. Hope this settles some of the nay-sayers.
  21. I have contemplated posting this before, but I think you guys need to see what the whole situation is here at home. The long/short story is, this 8th back surgery in February has been a failure. Plus, for the past year and a half, I've been the full time adult day care provider for my wife's 87-year-old parents (both of them), with dementia, and other health issues. She does the night shift, and by the time she get's home, I'm literally dead to the world. We have now gotten some daytime hospice care for them, so it frees me up some during the day. I know, hospice, that's a bad sign, but actually, it's the term the providers use so that they can provide the care they need before they really go downhill. If any of you have done this, day care for your parents, you know what it's like. Doing this for both of her parents, well, let's just say there are days that well, just suck. Still finishing up Contest Issue, #206. I know I may get a lot of negatives on the lateness of some of the shows, some are from 2017, but it's been passed around, and we think that with all the effort that went into covering the shows, we should include them. I will try and work on another Contest Issue as soon as I get up to speed. Thanks again for all of your patience, and support, and not giving up on me, or the magazine. I'm not going to give up. I have way too much invested in this to give up, and I don't quit.
  22. I need help from someone who is okay with using Photoshop. I need to have the numbers to the group photo from GSL. It's a huge file so far. Need to be able to copy the format that I have started, putting numbers in front of everyone in the group shot If you know how to use Layers, and got some time, I would appreciate the help. This is the screenshot of the Photoshop file as it is now If this makes sense to you, great. If not, that's fine, I need someone who can just jump in and finish the numbering, in the layers, as is. Thanks.
  23. I found similar stuff at the local craft store. Was going to try it also. As for the article on the dash boards, it's gotten bigger from when I started, and now I'm trying to find someone who can help with the 3D design part of the article.
  24. My infamous GSL Group Shot:
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