Danno

Tom, Our "spies" gave very favorable reports! We can't imagine the size and volume you deal with. And yet, you always achieve the pinnacle of events! It's amazing. Our "spies" loved their visits to your model-mecca, and had the best times. (You and your crew were exceptionally gracious, as always.) What I meant by 'semi-NNL' was that the original NNL concept was no judging, no awards. Period. Any event, even NNL-East, that gives out any award is not a pure 'NNL.' NNL-East is probably about as close as any gets, but it's still not pure, according to the origins of the concept. Many other self-designated 'NNL's are that in name only and many of those have deviated much farther from the pure concept. There are some events that are called 'NNL' that have totally lost the idea. All of which has created a great deal of confusion. Ours is not an 'NNL' style event and we've never called it one. We choose to do the old-fashioned critical judging and award-awarding. It works for us. I'm not sure it would work for your venue and I'm not sure NNL-style would work for our venue. Life's just different in different places. (Notice I avoided the worn-out cliché 'different strokes for different folks.') But make no mistake, no slight was intended in any way and I hope you didn't perceive it so. (Maybe the week of the run-up to the event is not the time for abstract discussions ... I know I'm tired, and I'm certain you must be, too!) As always, we have all the respect in the world for you guys and what you do. We just wish we could attend one of your events! And you're always welcome at ours. Dan

Perhaps. But we don't do so badly ourselves. Tom and gang do a great Semi-NNL format. We do a different format, so there's not really a lot of cross-pollination.

Getting tight ... only 2 days to go!

Ze pipe.

Those weren't defectors, Tom. They were spies.

I knew that. I think.

We can't see his hands.

Some of you guys are painting a lot of contests with a broad brush. None of this happens at any of the events I've been involved with in promotion or judging, with one notable exception - the 'Best Finish' or 'Best Paint' master awards. Having pointed out that obvious exception, let me tell you that it is not 'dipped in syrup' acrylic-paperweight-tarantula finishes that get the judges' attention or that win awards {other than the aforementioned 'Best Finish', which is judged differently}. What gets judged first in my events is basic craftsmanship that displays cleanliness, purity, accuracy, and realistic replication of a viable vehicle. What kicks the majority of entries into the 'also-ran' group at the back of the class is the absence of basic craftsmanship. I can't even begin to estimate how many very good models don't make the cut to the higher levels of judging because of glue smears, misfitted or misplaced or MISSING parts, sloppy assembly, untreated ejector-pin marks, untreated molding lines, or even bare plastic showing, let alone the wheels that don't touch the ground or point in differing directions. It's surprising how many models don't meet the requisites for the classes they are entered in. Those are the things that eliminate the vast majority of entries from the winners' circle. Realistic finishes are often the tie-breakers. Honey-dipping is great for Christmas hams, but it seldom wins in our contests. An accurate finish is much higher on our Richter scale. If it's a dirt track circle-burner, it better not have any clear on it. Unless you can roll the 1:1 into our hall and show us it was dipped in goo. Customs, they probably better have a super-cleared finish because 1:1 customs do. Even then, if the clear is so deep the model has beveled hood, door and trunk openings, it ain't gonna beat an accurately finished model. If a NASCAR model wins in our contests with a ski-boat clearcoat, it must be because all the other NASCAR models are gluebombs or also have ski-boat clearcoats and the winner was a more credible presentation. It may well happen elsewhere, I don't know. But it doesn't happen on my watch. I've had the guys with 37-part clears complain that their model should have won because it was shinier than all the others in the class, until I point out the basic flaws that their cokebottle clearcoat couldn't gloss over.

Yeah, right. You have too many chores to take care of here on Saturday. Not saying you can't . . . But, if you do . . . don't come back.

ONLY MORE DAYS UNTIL: West of the Mississippi > > > > > > Desert Scale Classic East of the Mississippi > > > > > > NNL East Be sure to attend one of these great events!

Decent build, but you really need some sill plates to hold the rear half of the body to the cowl.

Greg's resin castings are among the best you'll find! You won't be disappointed with anything Greg ships.

Stupendous Studes! Most excellent, both.

Beautiful!!

I'm with Terry on this. There's nothing more devastating than a house fire ... let alone a total loss house fire! Thank God that you and your family survived. The complete loss of everything is unfathomable, but at least you have each other and your health. Let us know when you're ready to restart the hobby part of your life. Best wishes.

Sweeeeet!

Only 4 Days to Go!

Good job!

Sweet.

Hurry! Only 5 days until the big day! Get your OnLine Registration in now! Hurry! They're going fast. Don't take a chance of missing out. Operators are Standing By. For the next 50 Registrants only, you get the free Satisfaction of being one of the next fifty registrants!!!

Hurts?

Actually, before I even got 1/2 way through this thread, I had formulated my post in my head. Then I found two other posters who said virtually verbatim what I planned to type. Like Bill and Harry, my answer: I don't have any particular budget. I spend whatever it takes to produce the result I want.

Excellent!

Would you like fries with your rice, sir??

Probably the air filter elements ... they attach to the underside of the triangular aircleaner (referred to by some as a 'batwing' aircleaner) at the extremities, just over the valve covers.