Very sad to report the unexpected death of a close friend and master model builder Charles(Chuck) Helppie. Chuck was hospitalized for 15 days in his home state of Michigan before passing yesterday from kidney complications. He was one the original founders of our original NNL in 1980 and as I personally remember it actually said"I guess that makes us nameless nation luminaries " at the infamous first gathering in my garage when the whole concept was conceived.
Chuck was a master model builder of the first order having been a prolific award winner in the MPC contest era years. Anything he could imagine for his models he had the talent to scratch build. He was several years into a McLaren build in preparation for the next Salt Lake contest in '23 when he passed. Anyone who him was subject to his razor wit and unique sense of humor. RIP Chuck!