Gregg

I have to thank Steve Mohlenkamp for the tutorial in the different wide angle view shots. Stephen Miller from Canada was a huge help all day, helping out with the spec sheets, photo cards, and keeping everything going. Thanks, guys!!!! You really made this show so much better, and I really do appreciate all the help.

What a lot don't understand, or can't grasp, is the fact the with the direct dealer sales, MCM can pay for itself, each issue, if I can get the dealers to pay on time. No other magazine that I know of can say this. They all go through distributors, who now charge 60% of the cover, plus poundage fees. I do all the invoicing, billing, accounting, etc., MYSELF. There is no middle man, or anything that gets in the way of that cash flow. Does this not make sense? Or is the argument now going to be: What about us subscribers, we paid for ....... Yes, and a lot of that money went to Golden Bell Press. I did not see a single penny from before I took it all over. I don't know what else I can say, explain, or type. This will work, with the support, trust, and push from all of you, whether or not you subscribe, buy from the hobby shop, or get digital copies.

Here's some quick pics, just a sample, I have to work 26/8 on the rest of the Contest Issue now:

That's a great idea! Always wanted to be that cool guy with that cool hat, maybe a nice Fedora?

Would have been great to get a picture of the iPhone shot I took for backup!!!! Seen some other photos you guys took of me. Dang! I am so BALD!!!! The hair ain't what it used to be, especially when you see the video Kurt did. That's when I was REALLY GOOD LOOKING.... :-)

One thing that I brain farted on was the amount. It's $150 for a limited number of 200 Lifetime Subscriptions For some reason, the number 200 stuck in my head, and I didn't do the coding for the payment button the way that it should be. If everyone is going to dwell on the past, then obviously, then please don't post such negative comments. Yes, I know everyone has a tough time, some more than others, but the past is the past. I'm going to do whatever I can to go forward, and if that's not good enough for you, I'm sorry, really sorry. But don't spread your negativity here. I'm trying to move forward, and every time someone bashes something I've done, or not done, it really makes me think about why I'm doing this.

I don't know if this was an honest question, or something got lost in translation. What do you mean owed from the past? Every single subscriber who has a paid subscription has, and will, continue to get their issues. The subscription is for EACH ISSUE, not per year, although it's been a long time in between issues (last count was one year plus since last issue), I'm not going to quit. Unless that's what you want me to do? Or, was this question a sarcastic comment?

These are just a bunch of quick table shots that we took. Still trying to get up to speed, I only got up now (been asleep for almost 24 hours now...) It really was a great show! Got to see a lot of old friends (yes, pun intended), and met a lot of you who have supported me and the mag over the years. I'm really glad that I was able to go, even though the physical toll may be with me for a long while, the memories will be with me forever. Mahalo nui loa! And, no, I don't know who won, I was only there for 26 hours, had to leave before the breakfast/announcements.

Kurt, what a great video!!! Didn't know (or maybe more like I didn't remember) that you did video. This was so good!!! I'll send you an email, got some questions for you. Great seeing you at the show.

I wanted to post this here first on the forum, since the forum is, and has been, the backbone of the magazine. Many of you have wondered what’s going on, not only with the magazine, but myself as well. Well, there's good news, and bad news. First the bad news. This past February I had my eighth back surgery, where they implanted an electrical spinal stimulator, and so far, it’s been a failure. The temporary test/trial period in January had good results, but the permanent implanted one has not given the same results. Hopefully, it’s fine tuning, or reprogramming, but for now, it’s still laying down most of the time, I’m still on way too many pain pills, and now I’m just trying to deal with it. Now for the good news. With this surgery behind me, and no real hope in the near future for any sort of pain relief, I’m going to be going full steam ahead as if nothing is going to stop me. I’m putting all my efforts into getting the magazine back on track, back on the newsstands, and back in your hands. However, I need your help. I’d like to offer a limited amount of Lifetime Subscriptions to our loyal readers to get the next three to four issues printed and mailed out. This will only be for 200 subscribers, for a limited time. There will be some neat swag to offer, Lifetime Member Model Cars Magazine patches, dash plaques, and t-shirts, and the big news will be unlimited access to all the current digital back issues that we have. So, what’s this going to cost? Right now, crunching the numbers, we are looking at a Lifetime Subscription to go for $150 (sorry, I had put $200, which is the limited number of orders. My brain cell (the last one), got stuck on that number. It's $150 for Lifetime Subs). This will raise the capital we need to really get going, and to hire some help so that we can work on the rest of the digital back issues. Currently, we have easy access to all digital files only back to 2012, but we have all digital files down to 2003, but they have to be converted in a time-consuming process. Long story short is I first did the layouts for the magazine using the computer program called Quark, but I lost the original CDs/DVDs for the first three years. The 2003 and later files need to be converted from Quark to InDesign using proprietary plugins that have been purchased. Some have asked about the viability of doing a lifetime subscription offer, and that that would hurt or affect subsequent renewals. With a “regular” magazine, that may be the case, but one thing about Model Cars that makes us special is that with our direct dealer sales, those sales almost pay for the full printing and mailing of our regular issues. Granted, once our numbers go up, and they will, we will be better equipped to deal with the increased circulation, and go after even more newsstand and dealer sales. I hope this all makes sense. I’m not trying to pull anything over on anyone. I want to make this magazine work, and if the past twenty years have shown you guys one thing, it’s that I don’t give up. Twenty years, wow, that’s a long time. This October 2019 will be our 20-Year Anniversary, and that will be huge and special issue. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you want to become one of the only 200 lifetime subscription members, you can go to: www.modelcarsmag.com/lifetime and use the PayPal form. I’ll also set up in the next few days a mail-in form for those that like doing things the old fashioned way. Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) Gregg

Every single day I've been dealing with the post office. Not complaining, just with the switch of ownership of Slot Cars over to Model Cars (long story), now we can mail Slot Cars under the Model Cars permit, which will be easier, hopefully save some money on the rising costs of the shipping, and get the mags to everyone faster. Build? I can't even see the workbench. All I see is paperwork, paperwork, and PAPERWORK!!!!!! Thanks for everyone's patience, and support.

Dang! I was going to list this car, with two other of the huge 1/12 kits (the Porsche and the Benz), but you maybe make me change my mind!!!!

sorry for not seeing this earlier. Yes, the magazine is still alive. No, I haven't had that eighth back surgery, yet, don't know when it will be. A quick update, as of this week, August 21, 2018, I am working 25/7 on getting the mag back up to speed. Still don't have anyone helping with the art/layout/design, so I will be borrowing what I can from Harry's old layouts, tweaking and using what he taught me over the years. As for the history of the mag, it's a little off, but that's a story for another day. I thought I had put the whole timeline up here a while ago. Yes, it costs a lot to print and mail the mag, and it's a constant battle to follow up on billings, not to mention the endless updates to the circulation data/files, all the filings, forms, and other legal/beagle things that have to be done. Figure Golden Bell had 12 people upstairs who did all of this, full time. No, I'm not giving up. Yes, there are those who would love to see the mag, and me, go away, but too bad, not going to happen. As for some other issues, as stated in private emails, this was supposed to have turned over to "Solicitors," but nothing has ever happened. Yes, I keep EVERY SINGLE EMAIL, received and sent. I also have now, I think it's up to seven, file cabinets of all the paperwork from the mag over the years. When will the next issue be out? Soon, is all I can say. Once I'm physically able to do this, nothing will stop me, and I won't take any more crud from anyone. I do want to thank everyone who has stood by, and behind me, over these past few years, and even decades. The mag will be 20-years-old in 2019, which is amazing. So, 2018, I know I'm late, again, but watch out, here I come!!! k den Gregg

That is his real last name. Why would you even bring something like that up?

MCM T-SHIRTS, NEW COLORS: Grey & White, plus some more sizes We have our MCM T-Shirts once again, and this time (after many many requests), we have them in ash grey, and trial run of six (6) X-Large White shirts. We also have the big boyz sizes of 3XL and 4XL. We made a few medium black ones. Unfortunately, we have the Black Large and X-Large stashed away in storage, and we won’t be able to get those back out for another month or two. They are black Hanes Tagless, and they do run a bit large. I used to take an X-Large, but now the Large fits me better. They are $18 for Large and XL, $20 for XXLarge, $22 for 3XL, and $24 for 4XL. Shipping for each shirt to a U.S. address is $4.00. Visit the site, MCM T-Shirts to order yours today! There is a limited amount of the shirts available, and in the two days they have been available, I have sold ten already! I only had a total of 48 shirts made this time, but if they sell out quickly, I'll have my new screen printer James get started on another batch, this time with more shirts, more sizes, and maybe some other goodies if he can work on them for me. Mahalo!

Thanks And we just lost Tom West as well the other day. Sad days

I do have an article/series coming up on the chrome paint, picked up the whole system a while ago. One of these days I'll be able to start it. It's a long, hard, and dare to say, physically demanding way to do chroming.

Thanks, Lee! Today may also have been the last hurdle Will know in about a week or two If this is true, than Haole Lu Yah!!!! Yes, my pocho play on words.....

I hope you are being sarcastic Last issue was mailed out 8/21/17

Issue #205 was sent to printer last week Doing the last of the paperwork now, it's been plated/printed, and should be mailed out once they get the rubber check for postage from me. Heads Up: There are two misteaks that I know of that I missed in one bit, it's my fault, no excuses, but this was a very hard issue to do. It's Harry's last issue, and every time I worked on the bit it hurt, I know, sappy to say, but that's the way it is. So, now it's 26/8 on Slot Cars #7, and then work on 206 AND Contest Issue, at the same time, hopefully I can sit up long enough to do this. Thanks for your patience, and support

Welcome, Kevin. An attorney, hhhmmmm.... :-) Don't know if you checked out the Big Boyz section here. Facebook also has a big scale group. 3D printing is real big now, pardon the pun, I have done a few articles on this, and I have a few 1/16 projects featuring 3D printed parts coming up in the mag soon.

I have locked this thread, for now Yes, eModelCars was a nice try, never did pan out Wasn't really a waste of money, more like time and resources I know there is a classified plug for this software, maybe once we get the site/software/server updated, can look into that, and make it a pay side But for now, it's a no. If you want to send me your kits, that would be great Or better yet, send money!!!! :-) Getting there, but for now, every day now is bookkeeping/accounting/filing/updating/cross-checking/mailing/data/and of course, farting....

It seems that the mailing label for Issue #204 has caused a lot of confusion. It shows: EXPIRATION ISSUE 209 (your actual number will be here) A lot of people are reading it as the issue in your hand is your last issue, your Expiration Issue. Not True (unless your number is 204). The number below it is your expiration issue. The printer made the misteak (yes, I still spell it that way), and they have said it won't happen again (yeah, write...) I had asked that the label read: EXP ISSUE: 209 on the top right of the label Didn't happen. So, I apologize for the confusion, and if you renewed early because you thought it said this was your expiration issue, thank you for your support, and patience, while things get back on track.

I should have posted this earlier Two guys have stepped up and helped with the index! Jim (CrazyJim, I hope I got the screen name right, and Bob from Cali have been working on the index. Now I have to start putting them together on the site, and hopefully link them to the past issues. I know, more things to do, but now there is a great start on the indexing, and it will make things a lot easier. Mahalo nui loa Jim and Bob!