larrygre

HI Noel, I'll be posting an introduction to the team in our new Forums area for MCM news and updates soon, with their permission. Personally I have no interest in competition with other scale modeling magazines. Our beloved hobby is shrinking, as much as none of us like to admit it, from the glory days of the 1990s. Roy Sorenson does a great job with Model Car Builder and I consider MCB, as well as other online and in print publications on model cars, contemporaries. We have to be united in spirit and purpose to keep the hobby alive and kicking, so to speak, especially now in the age of COVID 19.

Hi Rich, When the relaunch happens, please do drop him an email and remind him.

Hi Tom, This section of the Forums will be to communicate news and updates about the magazine, and to have a place for fellow modelers (our readership) to ask questions about MCM and to offer and discuss ideas and suggestions for the magazine in an interactive manner. Think of it as a real-time suggestion box and not just a one way dropoff point. Its important to the team here at MCM that the interactive nature continues far into the future. We need your input, and we'll never stop asking for it and appreciating it. I'd like to find a less corny way of saying ":This is YOUR magazine", but I think you get the idea. As far as build pics and the like, there are already Forum spaces for that. And yes we'll be looking at those as well.

UPDATE *** UPDATE *** UPDATE It's been a while since I've posted an update on whats going on at MCM. Right now the team is working to put a new infrastructure in place, one that will help us a) get the magazine out on schedule (barring an act of God), and b) enabling us to be more responsive to our customers and subscribers. This also entails a closer relationship between this Facebook presence, our popular Forums, and our MCM website. All of this behind-the-scenes work won't be immediately visible to all of you, as its a slow and painstaking process. As someone experienced in project management, I know that for a fact. However, as the improvements get rolled out, I will be posting them both here and on the Forums. I'm a great believer in the old slogan "an educated consumer is our best customer." Thanks for hanging in there with us as we move closer to relaunch. Best regards,

Hi Greg, Thanks so much for your kind words. Let's talk at length when we can, it's been a while since we've had a good chat!

Hi Bob, You are absolutely right. Monumental indeed. We're having to put a whole new infrastructure in place. Fortunately its all coming together rather well, and the team is positive. As to success and failure, I've always believed in this quote from a very wise man named Daisaku Ikeda: “If you lose today, win tomorrow. In this never-ending spirit of challenge is found the heart of a victor.” As always, thanks for your support and your continued interest.

Hi Charlie, Thanks for offering! We are always looking for "new blood" to provide content for the magazine. I will be in touch on FB. Best regards,

UPDATE *** UPDATE *** UPDATE Several of you have inquired about what is happening with existing subscriptions to MODEL CARS Magazine. Gregg and I have spoken at length about this, and he has authorized me to give you an update on policy concerning existing subscriptions. Here goes: 1. ALL EXISTING SUBSCRIPTIONS REMAINING IN FORCE WILL BE HONORED FROM RELAUNCH OF THE MAGAZINE ON FORWARD. 2. ANYONE WITH AN EXISTING SUBSCRIPTION THAT WOULD LIKE TO CANCEL AND RECEIVE A REFUND CAN DO SO. REQUESTS FOR CANCELLATION AND REFUND MUST BE SENT TO gregg@modelcarsmag.com. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL REQUESTS RECEIVED TO DATE FOR REFUNDS FOR UNFULFILLED SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE BEEN HONORED. 3. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING EXISTING SUBSCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE SENT DIRECTLY TO GREGG AT gregg@modelcarsmag.com. Information and rates for new subscribers are still in the works, so if you want to subscribe, we ask that you please be patient with us and watch this FORUM for updates. As always, thanks for your support and your interest in our magazine.

Some pretty good video of the Villa Riviera can be found in an episode of The Outer Limits (original show) circa 1965. The episode is entitled "The Duplicate Man." Also featured in the episode is Barris' "Grecian" custom '47 Studebaker, mocked up as a futuristic police car.

Hi Kerry, Nothing wrong with being Old School! I'm kinda fond of it myself! I'll be active in both places, not to worry. And were getting closer day by day to relaunch. Thanks so much for the kind words and good wishes.

Hi Paul, Just keep doing what you're doing. Participate here on the Forums and on the Facebook page. Keep building and sharing your builds. Get involved, if you're not already, in model car clubs and associations, even in these days of COVID quarantine, online meetings are better than none at all. Join IPMS - they need more car modelers in their ranks. Stay connected to friends and fellow builders. Consider writing and submitting articles to MCM. And hang in there with us as we get closer day by day to relaunching the magazine. Best regards,

Hi Randy, Thanks ever so much for your kind words. STRICTLY STOCK was truly a labor of love for me, and I'm always grateful for everyone who read the column and let me know how much they enjoyed it. I'm confident that the relaunched MCM will encapsulate that same spirit of community and sharing of knowledge. If someone tells me at some point "Its like SAE all over again", I'll be bowing my head in utter gratitude. Best regards,

Hi Bob, We're still working out the logistics, so I would not want to speculate on exactly when that issue will happen. We're getting closer to relaunch every day, so I ask you to "stay tuned" for updates.

Hello friends and fellow model car enthusiasts, Many of you know me, but for those who don't, I'm Larry Greenberg, and I have a long history of being a scale model journalist. i started writing for the former Scale Auto Enthusiast Magazine in 1982, penning major articles and later, a book review feature. In 1989, The late Gary Schmidt, who founded SAE, asked me to pen a column for a new sister publication to be called CAR MODELER knowing my penchant for replica stock modeling - which I was happy to do, named it STRICTLY STOCK, and it lasted through the five years of that magazine's existence. STRICTLY STOCK then moved to the pages of SAE, and I am still to this day grateful and appreciative for all the kind words and comments from our readership. That column, and my relationship with the magazine, ended with the new corporate owners "revamp" of the magazine into "SA without an E" in 2002. The 'soul' of the revised magazine was no longer what its founder intended it to be. Gregg then asked me to come onboard MCM and to take over the Reviews column. I was grateful that he thought highly of me, and asked him how long did he want me to shepherd the column. His response, which still brings a chuckle to me, was "How about forever? Does forever work for you?" Since then, I've penned the Reviews column and several major articles for MCM. Gregg has now asked me to take a greater role in the magazine, including its reboot and relaunch, promoting me to Associate Editor. I'm honored to have been asked, and I will do my very best to help make MCM the best and most relevant publication devoted to our beloved model car hobby.

To everyone who has expressed their good wishes to me for coming on board, you have my sincerest thanks. I am grateful for your support in this undertaking. It's going to be a bumpy road in some senses yes, but please bear in mind, I'm not doing this alone. Gregg and I are working together along with several of our fellow enthusiasts, to not only bring MCM back on track, but to make it a real vehicle for our worldwide community of builders and enthusiasts, not just a "how to do it" journal. Many of you remember the late Gary Schmidt, founder and publisher of the original SCALE AUTO ENTHUSIAST Magazine. Gary's "mission", if you could call it that, was to provide a vehicle to help sustain and grow the hobby. A vehicle that connected our community of, yes, SCALE AUTO ENTHUSIASTS. "How-to-do-it" was only part of the vision but not the lion's share of it. Look at the hundreds of fellow car modelers that attend the various NNLs, model contests, swap meets, etc., and anyone can see that our hobby is no solitary pursuit. That mattered to Gary, and that's why the word "ENTHUSIAST" was part of the magazine's name. Gregg shares that commitment to the model car community that Gary had. Thats the biggest reason I've supported him for nearly twenty years, both as a writer and columnist, as a friend, and now as an Associate Editor. And thats also one reason I'm glad he asked me to step up and be a greater part of the magazine's future. In these days of shrinking retail hobby stores, fewer contests and social gatherings, and yes, in these days of COVID-19, keeping our community of ENTHUSIASTS vibrant and connected is ESSENTIAL. And that is the vision I will always be keeping in mind. My grateful thanks for your support of MODEL CARS Magazine, and for your good wishes for our efforts to bring you the best and most relevant publication for our beloved hobby.

Hi Gary, Only because this all happened very quickly. I've been asked to moderate the Facebook page for MCM, so I got started there. In any case, I'm in both places now and happy to be.

The German modelling press has leaked the list, guys...here ya go. 1/24 #05795 Mini Collection Set (reissues Original 998cc Mini Cooper and 2003-vintage Mini Cooper, paints and cement) #07064 Mini Cooper Rallye Monte Carlo 1964 (modified reissue) #07065 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback (reissue, ex-Monogram) #07066 Lamborghini Diablo (reissue, ex-Monogram) #07067 1953 Corvette Roadster (reissue, ex-Monogram) #07070 Trabant 601 Universal (modified reissue, station wagon type variant) #07071 VW Golf 1 Cabrio (NEW TOOL) #07072 VW Golf 1 GTi (NEW TOOL) #07073 Ferrari “La Ferrari” (NEW TOOL) #07423 Iveco Stralis (reissue, ex-Italeri) 1/25 #07068 2005 Chevy Impala Police Car (reissue, ex-Revell SnapTite) #07069 Corvette C5-R “Compuware” (reissue, ex-Revell USA) 1/16 #07455 Peterbilt 359 reissue, ex-Monogram) Thats all she wrote, folks. Personally, I'm looking forward to the 1st generation Golf kits, and an affordable kit of the LaFerrari.

That one stared life with now-defunct Nitto Kagaku. Kit has a faux engine insert with incorrect intake runners. ESCI bought the molds for Nitto's 1/24 kits when Nitto went belly up, and when ERTL bought ESCI, some of the ex-Nitto kits found their way into AMT boxes.. Not a bad kit, but typical mid-70s Japanese production. Fujimi's is much better.

I had both the 1971-issue Rescue Van and the "New for 73" Surf Van back when - and still have the bodies. Neither of them had an opening hood. I was disappointed in that, and cut both hoods out to hinge so that at least the front of the engine could be seen. IIRC, none of the AMT Chevy Vans had an opening hood. The FORD vans had - and still have ("Phantom" (ex-Vantom) an opening hood. If Round2 DOES indeed bring back the multi-panel body and stock parts, it will be serious kudos due them.

That ALMOST happened. It was to be Accurate Miniatures' third car kit. Unfirtunately, licensing costs and low funds put the kibosh on that one. Ahh, what MIGHT have been!

Tim, good to see you here again. Happy New Year to you and yours. See my response to Gerry re: having Ed Sexton put a bug in Volker's ear re the Lusso. Wanna lend a hand in that? The Lusso (and a BMW 2002tii) are ideal subjects for RoG, in this writer's not-so-humble opinion!

My best friend in this world, the late John Slivoski, once said to me in conversation "its not about the little plastic cars. Its about the friendships we make along the way BECAUSE of the little plastic cars." We model car guys are a diverse bunch. We may not agree on politics, religion, food, drink, you name it, but model cars are the great equalizer for us - on that, we find common ground. Let's not fight here. There's room for opinions. And when the facts contradict, there's nothing more honorable than taking responsibility for the mistake. That's one way we STAY friends. Matija, please don't be silent. Everyone's voice is valuable.

Ed Sexton: if you're reading this (and hopefully you are), pass this along to RoG. Put a bug in Volker's ear, so to speak. We need a Lusso.

You're very welcome. As is very well known about me, I do indeed love "kitology." The ESCI-Ertl SWB was so bad when first released that Ertl took the kit off the market and retooled the body. It was better, but still bad. The shape was actually closer to the rare Scaglietti-bodied Corvette than to a Ferrari 250GT SWB. Little known fact: the machinations and flawed processes that produced this kit was a key factor in Ertl's decision to liquidate ESCI as an entity, transfer the molds to Dyersville, and reduce ESCI to nothing more than a brand used on kits molded in the USA (later Mexico.) And I am with you on any Ferrari kit on the market. Hopefully the rest of the Italeri Ferraris will reappear, either in Italeri box or as Revell of Germany. I know I waxed poetic before on the Lusso...now, wouldn't it be nice to have an injection molded 166 or 212 Barchetta too? A 250 TdF? a tunnelback 1964 250GTO? A 330LMB as Bill G. suggested? Oh yeah!

I certainly hope so. The SWB was a fine kit, and it would be great to have it back. The same goes for the 275GTB/4 twins, which IMO were among the best of Italeri's car kits. Again, it depends on whether or not Revell Germany and Italeri can come to a mutually acceptable deal on the price for bagged shots. Italeri may be asking too much, in Revell's eyes. On the other hand, Ferrari licensing may be part of the stumbling block here, as RoG would have to pay the royalties, and those on top of Italeri's price for the run may just not be cost-effective for them. The kit you linked to is indeed the ex-Protar 250GTO. Not a bad kit, and Italeri's wasn't a bad kit either. I have now heard two different stories on the new announced RoG GTO: one was that its a new state-of-the-art tool, the other is that RoG is buying bagged shots of ITALERI's (not Protar's) GTO. Then again, they could be buying bagged shots from Fujimi or Gunze for that matter! Now *I* am skeptical too. And if being a reissue is indeed the case, I apologize for, as we say here in the USA, "jumping the gun." In any event, we are graced with a 250 GTO, probably the most famous of all of Ferrari's legendary Gran Turismo coupes. Perhaps one day, as I have been wishing for nearly 30 or so years, we might live long enough to see one of our esteemed model companies grace us with a proper 1/24 scale 250GT Berlinetta Lusso??????? I sure hope so!