How about some Re-Introductions?

[Steve H.]

Hey Gang,

The board membership has grown by leaps and bounds... I'm not even sure who's on here anymore.

This idea seems to work well on the other board, so lets take a moment to re-introduce ourselves! I'll go first...

Steve Hinson, San Jose, CA. I've been building models since the late 60's, took a break for most of the 80's. I got back into it in 89 and haven't looked back since! Along with building, I help run the NNL West show (Its good to be the president! ). I started (and finished) a local model club, with monthly meetings, but no real purpose other than to hang out and swap ideas. As locals moved away the club went extinct. I've been involved in numerous make and takes and a few "classroom" stints, teaching local boy scouts and such about models. I've always felt we should give back to the hobby while we enjoy its benefits!

Recently, I've had the opportunity to travel to several shows across the US, and have found model builders across the nation to be a great group of people! I think I've made a few friends along the way...

I used to chase the trophies, now I just listen to the voices in my head and build whatever turns my crank!

I'm a CAD draftsman, doing layout work for computer chips, for the last 25 (or so) years. Married, two beautiful daughters ages 14 and 17 and more projects on my bench than I know what to do with!

[Tonioseven]

Hey. I'm Antonio. I'm 38. I build models and BMX bikes (which I enjoy riding immensely! ). I get a sense of accomplishment with working with my hands and building satisfies that need. Not much else to say but visit my website! Thanks.

Edited September 14, 2007 by Tonioseven

[crispy]

I'm Chris and live in Minnesota. Married with three boys aged 13, 14, 1nd 15.

I've been building for quite some time, over 10 years now but had always had an something going since age 13, I'm 37 now.

I'm intermittently affiliated with the local model club as time permits. As you all know, their isn't much time. With work and home I'm happy to get 15 minutes before bed in my hobby room.

I build what I like. At this juncture it seems to be anything German, Italian and new. Although this new Revell Mercury sits on my workbench...

Chris

[Canada Jeff]

Hey there. I'm Jeff from Calgary, Canada. One of the new guys around here. I've been building for about 25 years, since I was around 7 years old. My Dad used to build before us kids came along (and a little bit afterwards), and I got this disorder from him. I'm mostly a "Rod and Custom" sort of guy. I haven't posted any of my builds on this board yet, but I'll try to get some photos up this weekend.

A little personal info: Married the best woman in the world (5 years this month), one cat who likes to steal model parts, currently no kids, but we have one on back-order (in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia).

Nice to meet ya. Thanks for hosting this little party.

Who's next?

Edited September 14, 2007 by Canada Jeff

[Harry P.]

Hi, I'm Harry...and I'm an alcoholic.

Oooops, wrong room!

But seriously folks...I grew up in Chicago, and have been building models since the 60s... stopped for about 20 years while I did the wife and kids routine, and got back into it about 10 years ago. My "real job" is a graphic designer/artist/illustrator. Three kids (3 adults, actually...23, 21 and 18), a cranky ex-wife, a 67 Impala convertible and a house out in suburban Chicago.

Next, please...

Edited September 14, 2007 by harrypri

[parki]

Hi there everybody. I'm Adam from Devon in the U.K, I have bean building models on and off since i was a teenager. I love Kustom cars and Hot Rods and also enjoy building Japanese cars too. I build just for myself as unfortunately model clubs and shows are pretty much none existent down hear, apart from the military modeling guys. Anyway this is a great forum and I really must try and get some of my builds finished. oh yeah I'm a production operative for a small local electronics company.

[Len Geisler]

I'm Len Geisler, I am an automation systems applications engineer, with a specality in the wireless field. I live in NW NJ, close to the PA and NY borders. Kinda of a "Lone Wolf" builder, have attended some meeting of the TSMCC, but since I moved and they did, I dont have the time to make the drive...

I have been modeling since the mid to late 80's and been reasonably serious about buying at lest the past few years.

I like to build, Vette's, rod, customs and pick up trucks of all different flavors. I am finally getting back in line and getting some building done and working on two Vette's and looking forward to starting my Revell Merc....

I have also recently changed my thoughts on building hows and whys.....If it looks good to me, it is good.....Since I changed my methodology ( Thanks largely due to the writtings of Drew Heirwater ) I have gotten more stuff done. When I was counting rivets and matching paints, I got almost nothing done.....

[TimKustom]

Hello all,

My name is Tim Kolankiewicz, been building pretty much steady for over 25 yrs now, since I was 6 yrs old. In the last several years I've had to slow down a bit...marriage, home building, yard maintenance, vintage RV restorations, do take up some of my building time, but it's all fun though! I like building any style, mostly detailed, but will throw a simple build in every once in a while. Like going to the shows and seeing/meeting all the builders out there.

Spends most of my days creating art behind silver mac for Luckie & Co. ad agency. Check it out at http://www.luckie.com/ Click "Place Order" to get the tour...

No kids, too many cars to fix to feed any extra mouths, great wife that supports/contributes to the whole "car fetish" thing.

And Tonio, I too play with BMX/freestyle bikes. You can see my old GT that's now going thru a minor restor now...

http://public.fotki.com/timkustom/real_car...-gt-pro-freest/

[Mike]

Mike Hoekstra

I'm up here in Grand Forks, ND about 80 miles from the Canadian border. Been building models off/on since I was 6. I lost all of my kits and building stuff about 10 years ago when a huge spring river flood took out the city and my parent's basement. I got back into it again 3 years ago (WOW have things changed), sold my Playstation2 and all the games and invested in modeling after realizing how much I'd enjoyed it again. I build cars, and pickups 99.9% of the time, though I'll occasionally throw in a diorama or a sci-fi space ship for giggles now and again. I build mainly what I dub "attractive" for cars be it the attitude of the car, the body lines, or it's got a great decal/paint scheme (specifically race cars). I'm no professional builder, but it's a fantastic way for me to "decompress" after a long day and share something with others.

On a more personal side, I'm 31, married to the most supportive, awesome, everything wife in the world, and have a 4 1/2 year old son (whom I'm trying to get in to building) and a 2 1/2 year old daughter (who's very interested but too young yet) and live in a house in a quiet part of down town GF. By day, I am a warehouse supervisor for a local (tri-state) tool/construction tool retail company. I also play bass in a local variety band on the weekends for some extra $$$$$ and fun money for buying models/supplies. I also collect 1/64 die-cast cars. Mainly 60's Camaros, Nissan Skylines, and new concept Camaro's.

Here's my website - http://www.freewebs.com/mhoekstra

Next...

Edited September 15, 2007 by Mike

[Tonioseven]

And Tonio, I too play with BMX/freestyle bikes. You can see my old GT that's now going thru a minor restor now...

http://public.fotki.com/timkustom/real_car...-gt-pro-freest/

That's just awesome!! Here's a link to my Dyno NSX resto... http://public.fotki.com/Tonioseven/dyno-bike-restoration/

They're kind of like models only you can ride 'em! Lol!!

[Paul Payne]

Hi, my name is Paul Payne. My wife Elizabeth and I live in Erie, PA., with our poodle Abbie and our cat Black Pearl (named long before the movie...) I am a foundry tooling engineer and Betsy makes jewelry at home which she sells in local shops and on line (Damselfly Studio). I am 54 years old, started model building when I was 6, left in my teens, then started again in my 20's when a friend mentioned he was chopping the top on a model pickup (thanks, Big Bill!) Right now I enjoy building models of 1940's style hot rods, inspired by many great new books on this time period. I also like Bugattis, Millers, Duesenbergs, Offy engines, high performance sports cars, land yatchs, customs, and concept cars (did someone say "mmmm- Chronos"?) I lived in Marietta, PA. for a number of years and was a member of the Keystone Miniatures Model Club. I still see the guys at NNL East. Right now I am doing more parts scratchbuilding when kit parts don't suit, and as always there is the elusive good paint job..... My current project involves building two Deuces at once, one strictly from the 40's with a souped flathead, the second very similar but with disc brakes, wider tires, and a Ford Boss 429 engine with dual ignition and a blower with 4 Weber carbs.

[Peter Lombardo]

OK, I'll give it a go. I am Pete Lombardo, 58 years old, feel like 25, thank God. Married to a great woman who tolerates me and have a married daughter and an engaged son and I am a co-owner of an advertising agency here in New Jersey . Started building when I was 10 or so, lost interest when I discovered real cars, girls and the related activities, (wink,wink, nod, nod). After school and a stint in the US Navy, started back into modeling with the Tamiya 1/12 F1's and Porsche kits. Gave those away (I was such a jerk) when we moved from our first house as I was then into HO Trains and building layouts. In 1990, sold off the HO stuff and jumped back into model cars. Started doing racing stuff only, as I said before, I was a Tamiya snob. About 2000, I started doing street and custom cars as I was getting tired of building exact replicas of race cars. I wanted to paint cars the colors I wanted to, so I changed direction. I like doing a wide variety of subjects but especially like cars that are a little different. I am basically fearless. I will try building and opening anything.... if you don't try, you never know if you can do it. I trust my experience. My other hobbies are drawing (pen and ink), oil painting, totally addicted to golf (low single digit handicap) and working on my MG's (have a beautifully restored 1960 MGA (1976 MGB engine and tranny) in BRG and currently rebuilding a 1977 MGB in pearl maroon w/tan interior and chrome bumpers) (will look great when done) and of course I talk way too much, as I can go on all day....sorry, I need a time out here.

[41CHEVY]

My turn, I'm Paul from Shirley L.I.N.Y. 54 years old. I've been build some what steady since 1959. I tend to build everything, depending on my mood. Armor, aircraft, ships ,cars ,trucks and just plain stuff. My favorites are cars and trucks. Thats me!!! Paul

[Chas SCR]

Hi my name is Chas Cochran i'm from Battle Creek Michgian and just into modeling 5yrs ago, I have ben building real 1:1 street rods for about 10yrs and figur I would start my daughter into modeling so she could learn some of the stuff. I like to build street rods and street machines and replica style cars. And today im 39 yrs old with my daughter that turn 14yr and we share the same intrest as are birthdays.

Happy modeling .

[Luis Ayala]

All right, my name is Luis Ayala and I have been married with a beautiful woman for the past 12 years. I live in Puerto Rico, and I am 40. I have two kids, a boy (10) and a girl (8). My wife has more hobbies than I do; she is into scrap booking, ceramic figures & glass mosaics. My kids and her are also into scale building, so you go figure…

I run a small local forum at PR and with the help and support of my fellow modelers and “The Small World of MB†I host a small event every year on February, “Muscle Car Model Fest Madnessâ€.

I have an Associate Degree in Production Engineering and I am a Nortel Networks Certified Design & Support Specialist. For the past 16 years I have been working in the communications field, 11 of them as a self employee (contractor) and 5 years as a regular employee of “Telefonica Empresas†involved with VOIP, Frame Relay & Point to Point Connections.

When I was 12 my mother bought me a 57 Chevy molded in black. That was my first kit ever… She couldn’t afford to buy me more models at that time, so years went by and finally I officially started model building as a hobby on February 2003. I build mostly “Factory Stockâ€, but I always have room for any subject. I like cars from the 1930’s till the 1970’s but my main interest are cars between the 30’s & 50’s.

[Randy Kern]

Hi, everybody. I'm Randy Kern. I live in New Holland, Pa, a small town amongst the Amish, about an hour from York or Philly. Married with a daughter, step-daughter, son and two dogs. I'm 51, and have been building model cars off and on since the early '60s. It took a recent operation a few years ago to get me back into the hobby for good. I build mostly street machines, some drag racers, sports cars, street rods and a few trucks. I joined a model car club recently that's near York, the Central Pa Model Car Club, that I really enjoy going to meetings, field trips and shows. The club members are some of the best builders in the hobby, and I'm proud to call them my friends. They seem to like me, as I've been voted to VP of the club, and I haven't gotten too much flack yet I have a 1/1 running project car, an Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite that needs more dollars put into it, that lately have been going toward dumb stuff like furniture, home projects, etc. I think this forum is a great place to hang out and learn more about the hobby!

[bsoder]

Hi my name is brian and I'm a plastiohlic like my buddy Steve I also live in San Jose Ca. married to my very tolerant wife Hope, a son and stepson one married and one livin' in "sin" one wierd dog and an even wierder cat been modeling off and on since I was around 8YO but seriously back into it about 7 yrs. build cars mostly, but as a true addict I do "experiment"

[kurth]

Kurt here ...

I am 31 .. kinda young by modeler standards. My Father built models when I was little, and I started building models at age 7 or 8 I think. I've always liked to build Airplanes, and cars. When I was in high school I got "serious" about modeling, learning to Airbrush, and learning the importance of fitting parts, sanding seams and such. I was distracted in college by radio control car racing as well as just being busy while in college. I still managed to finish a model once in a while though. Once I was done with college and life settled down a bit I was able to get serious once again in 1999. Since then I've gone back and forth between building planes and cars, but I am building mostly cars at the moment.

I tend to build out of the box, focusing on the basics, filling seams, removing mold lines, getting the model to sit on all four wheels,and smooth paint. I like to build all kinds of automobiles, Exotics, muscle cars, imports, formula 1, early 90s nascar,large scale cars, and big rigs. If I find something that captures my imagination, I'll build it.

[Olle F]

Alright, this is like a friggin AA meeting, but anywho...

I'm 47 years old, originally from Sweden but have lived in TN for about 10 years now. I make my living by being married to a nurse practitioner, and get the funds for my hobbies by working as a construction engineer. Have built models since I was 6-7 years old, but I am way too torn between all my hobbies to make any progress in any of them. I was really happy to find this forum, as it gave me a lot inspiration to start building models again (can't thank you guys enough for posting your projects ). Right now I have been sidetracked by a 383 build for my 1:1 '69 Chevelle, so it might take a while before you see any progress pix from me...

[Billy Kingsley]

I'm Billy Kingsley from Wappingers Falls NY....the home of the ONLY dedicated POW/MIA memorial park in the entire USA!

I'm 22 years old and have been a "car guy" most of my life...which actually comes from my mom, unlike most people. My mom grew up surrounded by cars (her grandfather owned a junkyard in Peekskill, NY from 1932-1987) and many other relatives in the car field. Most of her many uncles owned shops at one time.

My dad was also in the car field, working on private school buses and for many years working on mail trucks, both mechanical and body, in Yonkers NY until he died in 2002.

It's all because of my mom that I'm a modeler...and a NASCAR fan.

A little more personal history first....I've been collecting 1/64 cars since day one...My brother collected Hot Wheels in the 1970s somewhat, and when I was born in 1984 he gave them to me...My first car, as far as all 4 of us could remember, is a 1/64 Yatming 1970s or 80s Toyota Celica with an opening rear hatch, that got broken off a long time ago. I havn't looked through my 1/64 cars in years, and I don't actually know where it is...It was red, but most of the paint is long gone. It lived a hard life!

Anyway, I collected Hot Wheels and Matchbox, Majorette, Yatming, and whatever else I could get at the time, and when Johnny Lightning came back in 1994 I collected them too. That was one of the biggest things in my life at the time, and I still get some from time to time, mostly Johnny Lightnings.

Anyway, in 1992, my mom planted the idea in my uncle Skip's ear to get me 1/64 NASCAR diecast for Christmas. 12/26/92 is probably one of the most important days in my life, as it is when I became a NASCAR fan...instantly! To this very day, 1/64 NASCAR IS my #1 hobby....And ALWAYS will be.

Also in 1992, is when models entered my life....but only partially. We have a VERY small house, and on thanksgiving day myself and my dad would always be in the way in the kitchen while mom was trying to cook...She suggested that we build a model togther to keep us out of there

We did models, one a year, on Thanksgiving day from 1992-1995. Never any paint, but lots of Testors glue. The First, a 67 Chevelle has since gone missing. I have the others though, a Bugatti EB110 and a 56 Chevy Bel Air. The other from that time period was a snaptight airplane. The only plane I've built, and it's covered in dust, but still in (mostly) one piece.

Dad had had enough and we didn't do any more, but we had accumulated several others, including what I consider to be my first and second models, both AMT kits, both from 1994.

Fast forward to November 7th, 1999. While an important day historically, it also is a personally important day too.

For years and years, the AMT 53 Ford Pickup, issued in 1994, sat at the bottom of the basement steps on the shelf down there. Every time I would look down there, I saw it. In 1999, I got the urge to build it...I had pulled it up and looked at it (Likely for the first time since 1994) and mom suggested that I build it. I had a decade old or more collection of paint from Testors, one of those packs you get at Wal-Mart that has 6 or 8 colors in it.

I laid out some newspapers on my floor and went to work, building it over a period of two nights. (I can't recall what days of the week it was, but if was not a weekend I had to go to school before I could finish it). I thoroughly enjoyed it! I painted the bed gold because I didn't have any brown paint. The body was red, and everything else was flat black.

One of the other kits I had laying around was an AMT 1994 Mustang annual.

I built that the next night. I knew by then this was something I wanted to do more of...so we went to Wal-Mart and I bought a Revell 48 Ford Woody. That was pretty complicated but I had it done within two nights. Another trip to Wal-Mart the next day and I brought home a Revell 66 GTO.

After three trips to Wal-Mart in a week mom decided this was not going to work and encouraged me to buy several. I ended up buying 7 and that was the beginning of my keeping a stash...something mom probably regrets because now the basement is full of kits...Literally....I have more then 700 stuffed in there now! I still have one of those kits in the stash, unbuilt! An AMT 41 Ford Woody. It was too much for me at the time, and while I could build it now, I choose not to because of it's historical importance to me. I did paint the body blue at one point, and I do regret that now, I wish I had left it bare plastic....Oh well! too late now!

I plugged on modeling in my little own world until June or July 2000. I think I did discover the 2 LHS's in that time, but I still wasn't too aware. Then, in June 2000, we went to Lake George, NY, where I spend quite a bit of time, and there in the shop that is still there, and I still visit, I saw sitting there Scale Auto Enthusiast #131. I bought it, and I believe a kit or two as well, and in the Hannaford parking lot I started reading. The only thing I could think was "whoah!" There was so much more to this then I ever imagined. At that point, I knew no other model builders...I talked to no one about it, except my mom, brother and dad. That was the issue that had the editorial about the Model Car List yahoo group. We had only gotten our first computer a few months earlier but when we got home a month later, I joined the MCL at 15. (I remember it was August 4th, 2000, Jeff Gordon's birthday, is how I remember). I still am a member there, although I don't hardly look anymore.

That just spiralled away, until I joined every single modeling Yahoo group, but, more importantly, the Hobby Heaven board. That is still one of the three model boards I try to check daily, with here and Randy's NASCAR modeling board.

But, I was still pretty much building by myself. I was posting online, but I rarely posted my work. I didn't get a digital camera until August 2003. (that'll be important later)

Then, on February 5th, 2002, my dad died of cancer. It was the absolute worst day of my life, and it still bothers me. (I won't even get into that here). A man I had never met, but had talked to online and once or twice on the telephone, came to my dad's funeral. That man was Rick Hanmore. That made a distinct impression on my entire family...

Rick had been trying to get me, along with some other people, to at least visit the Town of Newburgh Model Car Club at least once for more then a year. The very next month, March 4th, 2002, I made the trip for the first time...mostly as a thank you to Rick...and it changed my life for the better...Much Better! I was hooked, and I paid my dues that night.

I've been a member ever since!

From that point on, I tried to make every meeting, and while I havn't always been able to, I've tried...It IS the reason I am still a modeler.

I was still brush painting everything...if painting it at all. My stuff was absolutely horrible, and I was pretty despondent over my crappy building skills. At the TNCC picnic, Rick and the guys taught me how to spray paint...Well, that was it. While still not great, my building has VERY much improved, and it's ALL because of the TNMCC. In April 2004 I started building NASCAR models and that has pretty much been most of my building since then.

I've been now a quarter of a way across the country for model shows, and plans for further trips...More on that later, IF it can actually happen.

And that's pretty much where we are now. I've taken over much of the TNMCC's paper trail, as they say, doing the roster, the newsletter, the club message board and the Club Fotki...

They are truly the best modelers I know, and the best club I could EVER hope to be associated with.

As for what I build...Well, I've gone long already...so many things! I most build NASCAR, from the beginnings of the sport until today. I love it all, and if I could I would build ever car that ever ran a race. Obviously, that will never be possible, but I'm going to build as many as can over the next decades

I mostly build box stock, I'm still pretty new at this, and still experimenting with adding detail and stuff like that. I've not had much good luck with putty or body modifications. Practice makes perfect, or at least that is my theory. I'll keep at it until I get it right.

Along with NASCAR, I will build many, many things. I love musle cars, and always will...but there's so much more. I love the big giant 1950s cars, gleaming chrome and fins and more. Fendered cars are incredibly cool to me, and I even love the brass era: In short, I love cars. My building styles tend to lead toward mild custom, factory stock, or a combination of both. I don't always go with factory colors, even on an otherwise factory stock build; I tend to paint things whatever color I think something will look cool in

Otherwise I will use custom wheels (NO Big ones), and my motto could very well be "Cragars fix everything". I will lower a suspension or raise it, depending on the look I am going for. I'd love to build Matt Trotta style customs but I don't have those skills. Yet!

I don't know or really care about engines or chassis and stuff like that, so I focus on the paint job and body. I rarely do any modifications, usually dechroming a street car into a older NASCAR race car. For NASCAR builds I focus more on the right color and proper decaling.

I also love Pickups but I can't figure out how to spray paint them accuratly...To get full coverage I usually have runs. Still working on that!

I even have a few airplanes I wish to build...an SR-71 Blackbird that I found for $4 on sale a Kmart a few years back and I wish to do at least WWI era flyer.

Currently, right now, I've got the hankering for some hot rods. Going to the Adirondack Nationals and Goodguys East Coast Nationals the past two weekends certainly didn't hurt that. I've seen so much to give me ideas, and they will be put to plastic SOON. I even bought and started a Revell 49 Mercury directly because of the Adirondack Nationals!

I will NEVER build a "rat rod". Primer is not a final color! I also can't stand those hideous big wheels, and won't build them either. I rarely build foreign cars, and especially not Japanese cars. I do have a soft spot for German cars and have more then a few in my stash. Spending a day at the Saratoga Automobile Museum with VW Dave got me thinking about VWs, and talking about some things I want to build with him made me want to actually do those builds! Some of which I've been contemplating for several years, like replicating my dad's 83 VW Rabbit.

In short...I'll build many things. The old adage "So many builds, so little time" is very, very true.

Sheesh, I really can write a book sometimes, can't I? LOL!

You can look at all my photos here:

http://public.fotki.com/ElCaminoBilly/

And I am especially happy with this album, chronicaling my builds, in the correct order that I built them, fully labeled as to what they are. You can track m progress from really bad, to bad, not not so bad, to maybe even good LOL! There is only one photo of each model in this album, and many of them have been re-shot and appear in the "All My Models" album, which is the first album on the main page. Some have gone missing, so are not included. When I find them, in they will go!

http://public.fotki.com/ElCaminoBilly/my_models_in_order/

Thanks for reading all this, if anyone bothered!

[charlie]

I'm charlie from memphis tn.I've been back in modeling since 1980 whick as been good for me.since 84 most of my modeling is done in hotel rooms.whick my job keep me traveling 40 to 45 weeks a year at three to five nites a week.do all the clean ups and modifiing are done in hotel rooms and the painting is done at home.

my job is store set supervisor traveling 9 nine states.I've meet a few modelers over the years which as been fun to do.plus checking out different hobby shops all over the place is fun.because you never no what you might find in there.

I enjoy building muscle car,dirt track,ashaplt cars ,and scratchbuild car haulers also.which they take alot of time building them also.

[Frank Steffens]

I'm new here...I'm 34 and live in Ronkonkoma New York. I'm originally from NYC, and have been working for the phone company for 11 years. I have one 16 year old son.

I've been building my whole life, with several hiatus' (or is it hiatii?) over the years. I build planes (USN and USMC aircraft) and cars. I love hot rods, muscle cars and sleepers. At best, I'd describe my models as "four footers"....they look pretty good.....from four feet away!

[Mad Slammer]

Hi. . . My name is Roberto Fanfan also known as Mad Slammer and also by some other nasty nicks I've earned over the years. . .

I'm born and raised in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. I'm 40 now and living in Ceiba, just south of my hometown with my wife Edit and my 2 kids, Izellah 4 and Tito who'll be 3 on the 21st of this month. Work for Puerto Rico Telephone company (that explains the avatar. . . )

I've been into model cars since the late 70's-early 80's, well everything car related for that matter. The first kit I ever had was a 1977 Pontiac Formula Sunbird, IMSA styled (I found another one on Ebay about 5 years ago). When I started building, most of my cars were gluebombs. Then after spending most of the late 80's and early 90's partying and in 1:1 Car Shows and Car Clubs, I joined a Group called Noreste Scale Auto Club, from Caguas P.R. and the rest is history. I started taking the hobby more seriously and managed to better my modelling skills. I've been to the states 6 times, once in 1984, twice in 2000, then 2001, 02 and 04. I have had the chance to meet many of the people who inspired me to get serious about this hobby. . . And I guess That's what this is all about. . .

Edited September 15, 2007 by Mad Slammer

[Towmaster Dave]

My name is Dave Melcher, I live in Tacoma, Washington, about 35 minutes from south of Seattle depending on traffic. I have been a car guy most of my 39 years of life. I have been a Tow Truck driver for a little over 15 years and love helping people. I've been building model cars since I was a little kid and remeber my first model I built, The original Cop OUt funny car, what a disaster that was. I build a variety of car subject but mostly build muscle cars. My girlfriend Dana also builds model cars when she gets a chance. This is a great forum with some very talented builders and great insipation for my builds. Thanks everyone for showing your great work and letting me share my work with everyone.

[novadose71]

Hi Rob S. here, from Neenah, WI for the last 11 years, grew up in Iowa, two miles from the Mississippi river. My dad is and grandpa(r.i.p.) was a car guy/farmer/mechanic/model builder/toy collector so it's all in my blood no matter how hard I try to get it out . Been building since I was 5 or 6, to date myself that's closing in on 30 years building now. Only a few short lags in building in that time, mostly in high school when my downward spiral into drugs, alcohol and everything associated became a priority, I should have been focusing on school a bit more(duh), I might have graduated and not gotten kicked out(I did eventually get my GED thanks to my future wife's nagging ). In 1996 I was 23 and newly married with a fresh baby boy, which gave me the kick in the rear I desperately needed. Building models(my surrogate addiction) has helped me keep my focus, and my hands busy. After my son was born, we moved to WI, some trouble with the man helped to prod me up here. I was so tired of finishing drywall, so from 1998-2000 I went to Fox Valley Technical College for collision repair, and worked in a collision shop for 3 years during and after college. During this time I joined the Winnebago Auto Modelers, which really kicked my modeling up a few notches. Now it was time to put my diploma to work, enter my dream job, restoring vintage Ferrari's and Alfa's. I was lucky enough to work on some very significant cars in this area, and several Pebble Beach 100 pointers. This really helped hone my eye for detail,,,,,,, or else. During this time my daughter was born, she's just awesome. Anyway, I was in heaven for three years until the reality of the power struggle between the owners trickled down to the workers, and a lot of us started to seek other employment. I found a great job in the paint shop of the worlds largest custom emergency vehicle manufacturer, good bennies and pay, no more weeks of 18-36 hour work day(s) before the "big show", work doesn't come home with me anymore, much less stress and a lot more time for models and family. I enjoy just about anything with wheels(even vintage farm tractors), vintage stereo equipment, rock and metal music, and in my 1:1 world I have 2 early Honda CB750K's(stock and a chopper,my daily driver until the snow flies) one CB350, and a 71 Nova I'm gathering parts for that's in desparate need of a restoration, not to stock though. Currently my modeling consists mostly of our club build display(diorama) for the Milwaukee NNL, club challenges, and some commission builds(these help pay for my model fix). If I didn't have the club and commissions guiding my subject matter, I would be building mostly muscle cars and vintage sports and race cars. That's enough, I've gotta go build something.