Danno

We're looking forward to your visit, Simon! Don't forget to plan on spending some time with us after the event is over; we're having a barbeque in honor of our out-of-town guests!! We'll be scorching some cattle and other edible creatures and sipping some beverages and swapping some lies, 'round the old Cactus Car Modelers' camp fire.

Brian, I'm thinking ... "Miscellaneous." Since we don't have a "wacked-out urban warfare" class. Or, maybe in honor of our new sponsor (Peoria Volkswagen), maybe we should have a "Punch Sub" class!

Woo Hoo! We just inked another event sponsor for DESERT SCALE CLASSIC 6! The new Peoria Volkswagen dealership has signed on as an event sponsor! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Two shows/contests in one! Saturday, April 24, 2010, the Sixth DESERT SCALE CLASSIC (fondly known as DSC6 ) will unfold at the Postal Workers Union Hall, 3720 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ! Presented by Cactus Car Modelers, sponsored by Moonight Modelers, Tucson Miniature Automotive Club, Torco Oils, Peoria Volkswagen, AAA Insurance, Dan Doane. Doors open at 8am. Vendor mart and contest. Registration for entries until Noon. Entry fees: $12 for 1 to 5 models, plus $1 per additional model. 2-N-1? (*) Critically judged contest for entrants; 27 categories/classes; awards presented for 3rd thru 1st each class; Master Awards for Best Detail, Best Engine, Best Interior, Best Paint/Finish, Best of Show. (*) Peoples Choice balloting for models entered by Cactus Car Modelers Club members. [Cactus Car Modelers members are not eligible for competition in the judged contest.] ALL DAY RAFFLES - MAKE-N-TAKE FOR KIDS - PROJECT TABLE - DISPLAY TABLE - REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD CONCESSION ON SITE - FUN FOR EVERYONE

Two shows/contests in one! Saturday, April 24, 2010, the Sixth DESERT SCALE CLASSIC (fondly known as DSC6) will unfold at the Postal Workers Union Hall, 3720 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ! Presented by Cactus Car Modelers, sponsored by Moonight Modelers, Tucson Miniature Automotive Club, Torco Oils, AAA Insurance, Dan Doane. Doors open at 8am. Vendor mart and contest. Registration for entries until Noon. Entry fees: $12 for 1 to 5 models, plus $1 per additional model. 2-N-1? (*) Critically judged contest for entrants; 27 categories/classes; awards presented for 3rd thru 1st each class; Master Awards for Best Detail, Best Engine, Best Interior, Best Paint/Finish, Best of Show. (*) Peoples Choice balloting for models entered by Cactus Car Modelers Club members. [Cactus Car Modelers members are not eligible for competition in the judged contest.] ALL DAY RAFFLES - MAKE-N-TAKE FOR KIDS - PROJECT TABLE - DISPLAY TABLE - REFRESHMENTS AND FOOD CONCESSION ON SITE - FUN FOR EVERYONE

Got mine today, too. Personally, I think MCM's way of doing the 'annual contest coverage' is great! But I don't have time to debate it ... I wanna go get lost in that big, thick contest issue that did not cost an extra arm & leg in addition to the cost of subscription.

Hey, Gabe! Bob Zetterman the traveling Modelhaus peddler is going to be at Desert Scale Classic 6 in Phoenix on April 24, 2010! You can write up a wish list and fill your shopping cart with Modelhaus goodies at the Postal Workers Union Hall, 3720 W. Greenway Road, 8am to 2pm (swap meet/vendor sale); the contest/show will be over at 4pm. See you there!

Tom, The Model Car & Pedal Car Show is always inside the big tent/building where the indoor vendor booths/displays are; just inside the main public entrance (the public admission ticket windows). The past several years we've been situated in the NW corner of the building. Sorry you missed us and we missed you! But, we're gonna do it again in November, so come see us!

Brian, Detail Master makes a wicked hood pin set. Highly recommended.

Marty, I can save you a whole bunch!! I have several of those RARE limited-edition Encore kits, probably 6 or 8 of 3,000. Because you are such a good friend, you can have a mint one for the bargain price of only $250. Save yourself $50! Or, you can have one for only $200 (the Encore sticker on the box is curled and discolored). Save yourself $100. Or, you can have one for only $150 (the Encore sticker on the box is hand-printed and the plastic seal looks suspiciously like saranwrap). Save 50%. Or, you can have one for only $100 (all the lights, lightbars, radios and antennae are missing, but I can sell you some great resin copies). Save a bundle. Or, I can go through my copcar salvage bin and come up with all the parts for one for only $75, including some cracked, yellowed, partially-cut-up decals. Whooo, hoo! We're really saving money now on that extremely rare kit! LOL. Seriously, everybody is right. There's nothing special about the kit; they're out of production and likely not going to be produced again; but there are tons of them out there. You should usually be able to pick one up in the $25-40 price range. I saw one at the swap meet last Saturday but didn't even pay any attention to the price on it because they are so plentiful and I already have enough for my lifetime. Take a pass on this one. My 2cents worth.

Marty, Brian, Thanks also for your assistance! Just a little info for everyone: The Model Car and Pedal Car Show is presented by Goodguys Rod & Custom Association; it is sponsored by Revell; Revell provides the kits for the Make-N-Take event which is part of the Model Car and Pedal Car Show. For last weekend's SPRING NATIONALS, we had more than 150 kids (all under 15 years of age) build kits at the event. When they have finished, they get to take their models home and we encourage them to keep building throughout the year ... and to come back and enter the Junior Class of the Model Car Show! One year, a 12-year old boy built his first model at our Make-N-Take. He took it home, and at the next year's event he showed up with the same model ... after he had taken it apart, customized it, detailed it, and painted it! His beautiful custom car won Best Junior Model!! THAT's what it is all about! Some members of the Moonlight Modelers Club of Phoenix (like Marty and Brian) and some members of the Cactus Car Modelers Club lend assistance to Goodguys by helping the kids learn techniques and solve assembly problems; they also help the overall event by staffing the Model Car and Pedal Car Show. The clubs don't present, produce, or sponsor the event, but many of their members help by protecting the models on display and by answering spectator questions, etc. Goodguys repays the favor by allowing the clubs to display their banners and flyers for club events. Many members of both clubs enter models for display or competition in the Goodguys event. Goodguys presents awards to entries based on both peoples' choice balloting and critical judging. The clubs are not involved in judging or awards. By the way, at this 1st SPRING NATIONALS, spectators cast well over 800 ballots in selection of the Peoples' Choice Award. We present two events in Scottsdale each year; in 2010 it was the 1st GOODGUYS SPRING NATIONALS last weekend and it will be the 13th GOODGUYS SOUTHWEST NATIONALS in November. Thanks for your interest, Dan Baker Model Car and Pedal Car Show Director Goodguys Spring Nationals/Southwest Nationals

Tom, Yes we were in the main tent/building, where the main entry to the event is; among the vendor displays. Just a little info: The Model Car and Pedal Car Show is presented by Goodguys Rod & Custom Association; it is sponsored by Revell; Revell provides the kits for the Make-N-Take event which is part of the Model Car and Pedal Car Show. Some members of the Moonlight Modelers Club of Phoenix and some members of the Cactus Car Modelers Club lend assistance to Goodguys by staffing the Model Car and Pedal Car Show. The clubs don't present, produce, or sponsor the event, but many of their members help by protecting the models on display and by answering spectator questions, etc. Goodguys repays the favor by allowing the clubs to display their banners and flyers for club events. Many members of both clubs enter models for display or competition in the Goodguys event. Goodguys presents awards to entries based on both peoples' choice balloting and critical judging. The clubs are not involved in judging or awards. By the way, at this 1st SPRING NATIONALS, spectators cast well over 800 ballots in selection of the Peoples' Choice Award. We present two events in Scottsdale each year; in 2010 it was the 1st GOODGUYS SPRING NATIONALS last weekend and it will be the 13th GOODGUYS SOUTHWEST NATIONALS in November. Thanks for your interest, we're sorry we missed you! Dan Baker Model Car and Pedal Car Show Director Goodguys Spring Nationals/Southwest Nationals

I previously used a plastic Sterilite/Rubbermade container with the supposedly-latching cover, but found they were loose enough to permit sloshing and spilling, creating mini-Tsunami like messes all over the place. Following a tip from a friend on the Spotlight Hobbies board, I tried the container box that Swiffer mop pads come in. It's great!! Much better seal, no leaks, sloshes, splashes, spills! And, just the right size for most bodies without wasting too much liquid. I now have one for the purple pond and another for Bleche-Wite (for cleaning/soaking resin bodies). The only problem - you'll first have to be very nice to the little lady to get one, or you'll have to use the mop pads yourownself just to get the container!! Try it. You'll like it.

Got your PM. I'll check on your question and get back to you. Greg's kits are complete ... chassis, engine, interior, and fantastic cast resin clear bubble tops! Everything except the decals, tires, metal axles and the front springs (the MPC kit had metal coils for "working" suspension). You can sustitute cut-down ballpoint pen springs. Wait til you see the pix!

Chris, Desert Scale Classic starts at 8am; registration/entry ends at noon. The swap meet runs til 1pm. Awards at 4pm. And, don't forget about Goodguys Spring Nationals next weekend, Friday thru Sunday, March 12,13, 14. It's at Westworld in Scottsdale, 8am each day til 5pm on Fri & Sat, til 3pm on Sunday. The longest-running model car show and contest in the Valley! The ONLY pedal car show and contest around. You can register/enter model cars and/or pedal cars all day Friday or Saturday from 8am to 11am. Come out to Goodguys and bring all your models!!

Happy Birthday, Gregg ... from your former club and all your old friends here on the BIGGEST island ... oceanfront Phoenix! (Fond memories of the dude who showed up for meetings with the cardboard boxes of new-old stock Fantastic Plastic back issues, way back in the Before-Model-Cars-Magazine Days!) And, like the man said, Mahalo Nui Loa for all you've done for the hobby!

Charles, Nice job on your bubble collection so far. Here's a little help on your future projects ... Cosma Ray ~~ you're right, an original MPC kit is RARE and PRICEY when (and IF) found. I have one that I acquired after years of searching. However, there is great news! A Phoenix resin caster extraordinaire, Greg Wann, has a resin Cosma Ray kit available at a modest price - certainly a ton less than you would usually have to pay for an MPC kits -- and they are BEAUTIFUL!! Around here, we call him The MasterCaster, because his products are top-drawer. You can hook up with him on the Phoenix Model Builders Bulletin Board ... he goes by the handle "Arotarot" and posts there often. Easiest way to get there is to go to MoonlightModelers.com then go to the Links page and click on the Phoenix Model Builders button. I have several of his Cosma Ray kits ... I'm building a replica of each version of the 1:1. I'll try to photo & post the parts from Greg's kit by the weekend. If you've always wanted a Cosma Ray, Greg's kits are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Nice, Martay, nice!!

Super nice job on both of them!!! Thanks for sharing.

It was a deeply channeled early 60's Chevy 1/2 ton cab. You can see the basic shape in the doors, and in the rear 1/4-views, the cab corners show up clearly.

The very FIRST GoodGuys Rod & Custom Association SPRING NATIONALS Model Car and Pedal Car Show is only 2 weeks away!! The Valley's longest-running model car contest has expanded to twice a year! HotRodHeaven only knows how many 1:1 rods, customs, classics, and specialty show cars and trucks will be on display, too, for modeling inspiration and reference! Scottsdale's WestWorld on Fri - Sat - Sun MARCH 12, 13, AND 14, 2010. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO KICK OFF THE 2010 MODEL CAR SEASON !! Put your models on display for the biggest audience in Arizona! Awards in more than a dozen categories, plus Best of Show and Peoples' Choice. Registration is 8am to 5pm Friday, 8am to 11am Saturday, show is open 8am to 5pm Friday & Saturday and 8am to 3pm Sunday. No entry fee for models or pedal cars. Enter as many as you want! Bring as many as you can! Everybody loves to see them all. One time admission gets you onto the grounds for all activities - entry of models get you a free second day pass for Sunday! For more information - email GoodAZGuy@cox.net.

Which one is the rat? Just kidding! (Bad old joke. Or, old bad joke!)

We had such a great time in November, we're gonna do it again next month! March 12-13-14 in Scottsdale at Westworld Park, the kick-off to the 2010 Goodguys season ... and the first model car event in the Phoenix area for 2010. GOODGUYS 1st SPRING NATIONALS MODEL CAR AND PEDAL CAR SHOW ... with big cars, too! No entry fee for models or pedal cars; registration open 8am - 5pm Friday, 8am - 11am Saturday, awards presented Sunday, pick up Sunday 2pm - 3pm. Free Revell Make-N-Take for the kids on Saturday at 1pm and Sunday at 11am. Check the link to see a photo essay of the models and fans and activities of the Scottsdale/Phoenix Goodguys 12th Southwest Nationals, the longest running model car show/contest in Arizona. Goodguys 12th SW Nationals Link http://www.moonlightmodelers.com/Goodguysphotos.html Come see us.

Nice job!

Uh oh! Mickley has some serious competition! Looks like a worthy recruit to the Snowbird Patrol ranks!! Great job!

142 (certified) in a '74 Plymouth Gran Fury 440 Magnum. The Corvette I was chasing was not going quite as fast. He could not believe I caught him. I have to say that Gran Fury, my Nova 9c1 and a '78 Fury II (could never get the Fury IIs over 130) were the best police cars I ever had the privilege of piloting. (I missed out on the Camaro police Z's; dangit.) You guys that have run that fast on 2 wheels; well, that's just nuts! Way too many variables even with four wheels on the ground. Glad you made it to the brink and back.