How about some Re-Introductions?

[Bruce Poage]

This modeler (Bruce Poage) resides in Topeka, KS. I am 63 years young and have been building kits since I was 12 years old. My childhood was spent in our home in northwest Kansas. I started with airplanes(B-36, B-447, B-52, etc) and the Revell Highway Pioneers kits. Then I saw the first AMT annual issues. Ah yes, the '58 Impala and Edsel. How about those fins on the '59 Buick and Impala. I still have the box my first 3-N-1 '32 Ford came in. Models were my life. After college there were the first job(elementary teacher) and family. My modeling was on hold for about 8 years. I had two sons who put a few models together but never had a lot of interest as they were in the early stages of video games.

As I told my wife of 43 years if we had money and I had any mechanical skills we might have a problem. But I have no mechanical skills and aren't rolling in $$. So I continue to model. In 1999 two of my modeling friends worked with me in leading a mentoring group whose primary focus was getting kids 10-14 together with an adult to put models together.

I am now retired--sorta. We live in Topeka where I have my own modeling room in the basement. I can model anytime I wish. (I see on one wall 125 kits yet to be assembled.) I like street rods, pickukps and mild customs. I am particularly fond of sedan/panel delivery body styles. My skills are far from expert but I have fun and try to improve. This year I entered my first model contest, Heartland Nationals. I always look forward to contact with area modelers.

[cruz]

Name is Marcos Cruz, live in Maryland and belong to two clubs, Central PA model Car Club and the Maryland Automotive Modelers Association. I am a telecommunications Techniciam currently working for Bowie State University as a PBX and telephone Maintenance Technician. I am 45 years young and have been building models on and off as long as I can remember. In 1992 while living in Puerto Rico and being away from the hobby for quite some time I picked up my first issue of "the other magazine" (Sorry Greg, yours was not around yet) and that was enough to get me back into the hobby. After this, a few weeks later I found out that some modelers where getting together close to where I lived and decided to attend their get together that day. What really brought me back into this hobby to stay was a model built by who I consider to be the most talented builder in Puerto Rico, Carlos de Jesus with a stunning 69 Camaro. I did not know that so many aftermarket parts were available for these models and it just blew me away. Several years later I moved to Maryland and discovered the MAMA club and have been really into this since, I have met a lot of special friends in this pastime and also have improved a lot over the years. Of course what I like the most is the sharing of friendships and ideas and a little trophy here and there isn't bad either

[LVZ2881]

twist harder Gregg!!!!

[Mal.au]

Hi Mal Salton here on the forum as Mal.au, I'm 42, I live in Sunbury Victoria Australia hence the .au in the forum name and have been married for 14 years with 2 great kids

I have been building models for years and years on and off, I build mostly drag cars but more recently I have been branching out into hotrods and le mans cars, I have been building a bit more often lately because my 12 year old son is getting into modeling, he is building something that interests him a tuner car, that's in between trying to become the next Aussie to play professional baseball in the USA for the Yankees if you believe him

Regards Mal

[lonewolf]

Well,it's taken my "spare time" of the last 2 days to get to the last post on this topic,so I guess it's my turn.My name is Tony Guitard and I'm 47 years young.I'm married to my soul mate and high school sweetheart Debbie.I have a son Mark,a step-daughter Cassy,who has blessed us with 2 beautiful grand-daughters Tayla & Lana,and a step-son Allan. We live in Nova Scotia,"Canada's Ocean Playground".

I started building models at the age of 13.My first attempts were pretty crude,but I had a lot of fun.My father used to buy and sell just about anything at the weekly flea market at that time.I don't recall where or how he got them,but he ended up with what amounted to a van load of model kits and paints to sell.I was allowed to pick a half-dozen out of them and the rest got sold at the market at prices that were ridiculously low even for that time.What I wouldn't give to have another crack at what are now vintage kits!

Once I reached my late teens,my interests turned to real cars and girls.Anyone see a common theme amongst us guys here?

Fast forward to 2001.While off work with a back injury,my wife said to me "You need a hobby".I said,"I used to build model cars as a teenager", so she encouraged me to give it another go.I haven't stopped since.While she will sometimes shake her head at me,she supports me entirely.What more can a man want?She is to the point that when we're in stores and something catches her eye,she'll ask,"Honey,can you use this for your models?"You don't get any better than that.

Anyway,I would like to close by saying that this is about the best thread ever started on here,and I enjoy this forum completely. I've never seen such a great group of people so ready to help anyone that will simply take the time to post the question that they need answered.The knowledge and talent level continues to astound me on a daily basis.Thanks to all for your help.

[cruzn]

Whew after reading all the others especially Billy's Mine will Not be the Next American Novel.

My Name is Dwayne Bressem I came off the assembly line on the 29th day of June in 1957. In San Francisco California.

I have 50 original years under the hood. I have a lot of Model memories But can't really Pinpoint a year that I really started.. maybe 9 or 10.

One of the first shows I attended was the NNL west when it was near the Oakland Airport ( Hilton Hotel Maybe?). In I believe 1987. After that My Model addiction grew and grew.

I Moved to St Joseph Missouri In 1999, I am employed as a CNC Machinist for Grey Manufacturing. The Only Jack Manufacturer

in the USA. we build a lot of Automotive Mechanic assecories.. from 7 ton Jack stands to a wireless column LIft.. look up grey Manufacturing for More Info.

Been with My Lovely Lady Sandi since I moved here.

Bought a house and Now it seems small ( too Many models LOL)

I spend a lot of my time with Home Improvements. So My Lodel Building is Not at a stand still but about 1 a year.

I build Most drag cars .. Funnies and dragters and a few Customs that I have Ideas for.. Especially for the KKOA show next Year. Maybe get Steve H out for that one..

I attend the Heartland show here In Kansas city and another couple In Omaha Neb. also down to Springfiled Mo and Council Bluffs Iowa Where I have met Many great Modeling friends.

I am In the Procees of starting up a NNL style show here In St Joseph.. The first One will be on Oct 20th..

Its a Nerve wrecking job wondering if it will get off to a good start..

Maybe By this time Next Month I will be a Bundle of Nerves in anticipating this.

Ok I don;t want this to be a Billy K diatribe, so ....

Happy Modeling..

[Billy Kingsley]

You just be happy I didn't post that on MCL Dwayne, I still have two email addresses on the list

Hey, at least a few of you are reading it!!

Hey Marc, my great grandmother made bathtub gin for Baby Face Nelson in the Prohibition Era...Apparantly he really liked my grandmother, bouncing her on his knee when she was a baby. At least that's what she told people!!

[robertw]

I'm "the other Corvette Guy" although I lurk on the forum a lot more then I post. My modelling interests include Corvettes, European sports cars and Canadian aircraft in 1/72 & 1/144 scales.

I started modelling as a child and still have one of the first models I ever built, an Aurora Triplane. It was given to my grandparents, thus surviving the inevitable destruction that comes with childhood toys. I do have the remains of a few cars from the early '60's, the era that often saw thread, corduroy and cardboard being used to modify models. I keep them hidden in dark places. A few from those mid '60s builds are still good enough to keep at the back of the shelf, that old AMT Kandy Lacquer holds its shine forever.

After high school I fell into the clutches of aircraft folk and built nothing else for many years only returning to cars around 1990. That was about the same time as the pangs of my 'mid life crisis' started telling me to buy the car that I had dreamed about since my teens, a Vette. That was achieved just a few years later and my '88 Red on Red coupe, now with just over 50,000 miles on the odometer, is still my pride and joy. I've also been building Vettes, trying to collect at least one of every 25/24 kit ever released (still have a ways to go) and preparing a list of every Corvette kit and promo ever produced (almost done that project) ever since.

Spent 32 years working in the educational field as a teacher and in-school administrator but retired a year ago to dedicate myself to building models. For some reason I don't seem to be getting any more built now then when I was working, I'll have to see what I can do about that. The online message boards while very informative can absorb a lot of time if you let them and I've certainly enjoyed reading everyone's biographies no matter how long or short.

Rob Wheeler

[fastbackfiero]

Hi, my name is Mike Rager, i'm 30 married with one boy 1 1/2 and one on the way, I am a part time police officer and a full time councelor with at risk teens. I've been building models since I was 8yrs old and still build them pretty much the same as I did back then...sloppy! I live in Johnstown Pa and I feel like i'm the only one around thats into models, no one around me that I know of builds, I would love to join a club but there are'nt any around.

I build mostly cars, i've tampered with airplanes but I love the cars, imports, exotics, muscle, trucks, bikes, lowriders,customs, and anything else with wheels.

Nice to meet ya!

[cruzn]

You just be happy I didn't post that on MCL Dwayne, I still have two email addresses on the list

Billy... You Know I think highly of you and the way your Modeling skills have Improved since the early days of the MCL.

You have come a Long ways and I am proud of Your accomplishments in the Hobby..As you should be also..

Dwayne

Edited September 17, 2007 by cruzn

[Steve H.]

Hi, my name is Mike Rager, i'm 30 married with one boy 1 1/2 and one on the way, I am a part time police officer and a full time councelor with at risk teens. I've been building models since I was 8yrs old and still build them pretty much the same as I did back then...sloppy! I live in Johnstown Pa and I feel like i'm the only one around thats into models, no one around me that I know of builds, I would love to join a club but there are'nt any around.

I build mostly cars, i've tampered with airplanes but I love the cars, imports, exotics, muscle, trucks, bikes, lowriders,customs, and anything else with wheels.

Nice to meet ya!

I've always wanted to visit Johnstown... My mom was born (1925) and raised there, so I've heard about the flood, seen postcards of the incline train, etc...

[Ariel]

Hello Everyone

My name is Ariel (AL) Hernandez or Dr. Epstein 36 years of age. I have been trying to build since 99, when I gave up slot car racing. I like to build all kinds of car models and motocycles my interest sway more to race cars, hot rods, pro touring etc. I am a member to Phila Area Car Modelers, MAMA's Puerto Rico Scalebuilders and the Jersey Shore Club. Don't get to build much or not at all with 3 young ones at home and coaching sports its leaves very little time for model car building. But enjoy the hobby very much try to make all the shows possible, make model meetings and stay up todate on stuff going on in our great hobby.

Still buy models as if I was building 1 a day.

[Aaronw]

This is becoming quite the thread, nice to see who you people are. I'm 39 married with a 7 year old son, I'm a fire captain at the Valley station in Yosemite National Park. We have the Ward LaFrance used to film the 70's TV show Emergency! which is pretty neat for those of us that watched the show. The job also requires that I live in the park so I do have some distractions nearby, this is the view from my model table.

On the downside my nearest LHS is over two hours away, and its not that great so I've had to become patient and learn all about online modelshops. No local clubs either so the internet has become a big part of the hobby for me.

Anyway, I've been building models off and on since I was a kid (6, 8?) my dad got me started. I've always built a little bit of everything from cars to aircraft, spacecraft, horror (remember those glow in the dark Godzilla and King Kong models?). He even kept me going through high school when many quit the hobby, he'd pay me $20 to build him various battleship models (which he bought but said he didn't have time to build, pretty sly way to keep your kid home at night). Now I'm paying him back by teaching him how to resin cast the missing parts he needs to restore many of his WW2 naval recognition models.

I had my longest break from the hobby after high school, between work and school there just wasn't time (probably 88-98). I started to dabble again after I got a career position with the US Forest Service in Arizona, I bought some 1/72 armor since they were fairly cheap and didn't take to much work to finish. I also met my wife while working there.

About 2001 I really got back into the hobby when I was working with a guy who also built models, he gave me some websites (FSM, SA) and the ready source of help and inspiration really helped keep me building (along with ebay which helped provide me with more kits than I'll ever build). Then I met a guy who built fire apparatus models and that is when I went bonkers, I started learning to scratchbuild, resin cast and learned about the aftermarket. Now I probably build about 70% fire apparatus and 30% everything else.

A few years ago I started a reference website for fire apparatus builders http://www.geocities.com/cnf_e32/index.htm and last year was asked to help moderate the Scale Fire House http://www.scalefirehouse.com/ which basically means I help delete the spam for porn, viagra and low interest loans since the actual members are a pretty mellow bunch.

Edited September 17, 2007 by Aaronw

[simonr]

Hi, My name is Simon P. Rivera Torres. I'm from Aguas Buenas, but, I live in Caguas, Puerto Rico. I have a B.M. in Music Education, and a Master Degree also in Music Ed. from the University of Miami. I 've been working as a Band, trumpet and music theory teacher for the last 10 years now. Besides that, I had been working as a professional trumpet player for the last 30 years. That work as a trumpet player had give me the chance to travel around the world and in some of those trips the chance to visit some hobby stores on some interesting places as Holand, London, California, Frankfurt, etc. Our beloved friend Gregg Hutchins can tell you guys how hot it's the trumpet playing here in Puerto Rico, we had a lot of fun here last year in his visit to our island.

I started on the hobby when I was 4 when I "tried" to build a Pinto model using bits of paper as glue because my parents didn't allowed me to use glue. After that, I started a little bit more seriuoslly with WWII combat planes, were almost no cars in my table then. The Revell ARMY Funny Car freak me out then because of all the parts I saw in the box of one of my class mates at the school. Then in my 7th to 12th grade were also some Battle ships and aircraft carriers, some cars were added to my collection. From that time I remember a yellow Monogram Porsche 911 and a Formula 1 model. That period extended from 1969(4 years old) to 1982 when I stoped my modeling life with a Testors 1/48 F-5.

It was back in 1997 in a trip from Cali to Bogota in Colombia, where I picked up a Model Magazine and started to read about the building of the Jeff Gordon's NASCAR Chevy that I was hunted again by the hobby. I was amazed how much the hobby had advance in 15 years. A couple of days after, I was taking an after meal walk in the streets of Bogota, that I notice a hobby shop that have a model of my favorite car maker...PORSCHE! a 1992 Italeri 911 Turbo, I'm still have that model. 2 weeks after I went to a music trip into Miami, and I visited the Orange Blossom store that I heard was the late Augie Hiscano property's, I bought a lot of stuff there and the rest was history. I started like a mad! To me, that was when I started this seriuouslly.

Since that afternoon in Bogota, Colombia 10 years ago I've had some happy moment, some sad and no too happy ones, but, what the hell,..let's remember the best ones and take as always the best from the not so happy ones. I can't forget the first time I won an award here in the island, a 2nd or 3rd place with a Porsche 959. That was a lot to me for several weeks. After been trying to improve my modeling skiils(I'm still trying though!), 3 years later, I visited for the first time a show in the states, the 1st Scenic City Classic at Chattanooga,TN. It was real impressive, imagine to see and meet in your first trip the person that I consider my model cars teacher, Pat Covert; the late Auguie Hiscano, Mark Gustavson, Ted Lear, Gregg Hutchins was there too, Bill Cunningham, etc.

After that one in year 2000, I've been in several more every year until this year. The list include: ACME Southern Nats, LIARS, Classic Plastic, TAMS, Birmingham, GSL XX, Heartland Nationals in Overland Park, and this year's GSL.

Among the awards on that shows I have:

1-2000 ACME TOP 10

2-2004 Birmingham Top 15 and Best of show

3-2001 LIARS Best paint award

4-2007 GSL XXI Small Class Best in Class award

5-2006 Heartland Nationals Best Detailed, Best Foreign, Best Small Class and Best of Show

Even with those award I'm always looking to improve and to share all that I can with anyone that ask me. I think this is the best of all and like I said from my 2003 trip to the TAMS show in Norfolk Virginia....."Have Fun".

Best Regards

Simon P. Rivea Torres

[bobss396]

I'm Bob from Long Island, NY. I'm married for 26 years between 2 wives and have two boys are 19 & 15. The older is a college student (computer animation) and the youngest is in high school and an aspiring rock star. Both of them build off and on but I probably scared them away from the hobby. I work as a Production Engineer for a large defense contractor that was sold as of last Monday. No stress here...

I started building planes and cars when I was about 6, but mainly did cars and trucks. I built up until I was 18, gave up the hobby until I was 40. I worked fixing cars up to 1980 but had to give it up due to injuries from a car accident in 1978. Had a few awesome street machines that got me into trouble along the way. Got into the machine shop business in 1981, started my own part time machine shop in 1988 and am still in business. I got into stock car racing as a part of my rehab in 1981, built a couple of successful race cars along the way. I hung up the firesuit in 1987.

Got back into the hobby at 1995 as my kids got a little older. Really built some crude stuff at first, but soon discovered aftermarket parts and REAL paint. As a result of having machine tools around, I make a lot of my own parts and tools for myself. I have a dedicated hobby area that is pretty well set up but still needs a spray booth. I'm a member of the local LIARS club and have around 10 projects in the works right now.

Bob

[lonewolf]

I think it's about time to bump this topic to the top again. As of today, we have 1800 registered users of this forum but we've only had 64 replies to this. Let's here from some of you other guys. With the incredible growth over the last few months I've also noticed that the talent level has increased accordingly. There's some pretty amazing building going on with you guys. It'd be interesting to hear what makes you tick and what or who inspires you. Don't be shy. Step up to the plate and take a big swing!!

[Seattle Mike]

Hi - I'm Mike Siegman. Many of you may already know me, as I've been involved with this hobby forever, and have travelled to many parts of the country. I have just moved to the Seattle area, after spending the last 16 years in Michigan. I've been married for almost 25 years and have 3 kids. I've written for Scale Auto over the years, many of you may remember my Forum 43 column. Hopefully, I will be able to continue my writing for Gregg in the very near future.

I started building at the tender age of 5, which was a long, long time ago. My building interests are pretty varied. I'm still heavily involved in 1/43rd scale, but do a lot of 1/24-1/25 scale building as well. I have enjoyed a lot of the work that you guys have posted over the years, especially the models of Marc Nellis, Darin Bastedo and Ismael Gonzalez. My main interests are Ferrari's, street machines, and endurance racers, but other cars of interest seem to find their way into my collection as well. A lot of you have seen some of my work, but never realized it, as I've done a fair number of box art models for Revell over the years.

I'm hoping to get involved with the local club once I really get settled here in Seattle. I'm also looking forward to getting to some of the various west coast shows now that I'm a lot closer to them. I'm hoping to get back to NNL West next March, as I haven't been out to that show since the early 90's.

[Mike Whatshisname]

For those interested, I've got the Cribb Notes for Billy Kingsley's bio for sale for $9.99.......per chapter!

Hi, I'm Mike and I'm a dioramaholic! Issued in 1963, I lived the first 30 years of my life in the Hudson Valley area of New York (born in Newburgh, high school in Marlboro, New Windsor, Middletown). Yup, I made the rounds before moving to Cincinnati in 1992 with my soon to be wife and her son.

It was in Cincinnati that I discovered model cars. My wife had to work the 4th of July weekend (a 4 day weekend for me) and I was looking for something to do with all that time when a friend of mine, who I later learned built box art cars for AMT, turned me on to model car building and a local model club called Cincinnati Auto Replicas. From there I found my niche in the hobby...building dioramas. I enjoy building just about any type of vehicle pre-1963, modifieds, pickup trucks and especially light commercial. Most of the time they are well-weathered vehicles but occasionally will build something shiny.

I was editor of the C.A.R. model car club newsletter "C.A.R. Times" for 4 years and gave that up when I moved to Pennsauken New Jersey for a new job. I am a CIA grad, no not that CIA, and have been a Product Development Research Chef for 17 years. Currently I work at a food flavor company in Philadelphia.

Currently I occasionally write the Diorama column for MCM which was one of my "hobby goals". Hobby goals I have yet to achieved and hope to one day are to win an NNL with a diorama and to have one of my dio's grace the cover of a model car magazine.

My biggest hobby thrills were being Editor for the CAR Times, winning my first Best Of Show and the first time I had a picture of my models published in a magazine.

I am still a member of Cincinnati Auto Replicas Model Car Club (never heard of a club to turn down dues), Philadelphia Auto Car Modelers, New Jersey Shore Model Car Club and MAMA's (you just have to go to 1 of their meetings to be a member). I wish I lived closer so I could go to more meetings.

Peace to all and remember to "have fun with it".

Beware the BLUE STUFF

[bigphoto]

Hi my name is Tim Ridout , I hail from west Michigan I have been building models for most of my

43 years I like to build rods customs mostly Ford products I also have a passion for 1/43 also like

to build 1/72 armor and helos also like to paint figures. I also like to photograph vintage road racing

have been published many times in Victory Lane Magazine. My day job is a pizza man!

Edited November 20, 2007 by bigphoto

[CAL]

Hello, I am Christopher, otherwise known as CAL, and modeling saved my life – seriously.

I grew up building models, tanks, cars, and airplanes. I even did some stick and tissue as a kit. However, I am a car guy first. I remember the 1st model. My dad did most of it, but as I recall it was some off scale kit of the Gulf Porsche 917. My dad and me did a few other kits together before he got too busy with his Indy Porsche shop: a Hubley Duesenburg SJ, which I still have, and a Lamborghini. In fact if I thought long and hard about it I could probably list every kit I ever built since I was a kid.

However, I was a troubled teen and really wasn’t into modeling past about 16. Girls, drugs and alcohol were much more appealing at that time, and for the next 15 or so years that mostly what I did. It was getting way out of hand and I was hanging around bad dudes with lots of weapons everywhere I went. I thought this is crazy, what have I become. If this doesn’t end soon it’s going to kill me. I am either going to OD, get shot, or ending up in prison. So I got out of dodge and cleaned up at least off the drugs 1989. It took a few more years to sober up, but I did in December 1991 I pretty much had my last good drunk

Shortly after that, I had a good stable job building racing engines, and I found myself with a lot of extra money and time and was rapidly getting bored. I built a SBF Super Gas late model Mustang but that was too much like work. We were already running a TAFC out of the shop and my Mustang was more in the way than anything else.

While that was all well and fun it was the same as road racing Porsches. My dad had a Porsche shop and my brother was taking care of Camel Lights, 962s and building 200mph 911s. So I kind of found my way back into that circle, never really loosing the fondness of Porsche I have. Now it's more of an obsession. Porsche kits make up the biggest part of my car kit collection with over 60 911 kits alone.

In any event, it’s amazing how much you can save when you’re not wasting it on girls, drugs, and alcohol. On a whim, I stopped in a LHS and saw a Top Flight radio controlled P-40 Warhawk. I though hey now that’s pretty cool, but of course I was quickly talked out of it by one of the store employees.

I began rummaging around the plastics and found a Revell Hi Tech kit, which had a small PE fret including. Never seen anything like that before so I picked it up. I quickly found a new use for that extra money I had, and after figuring out I needed some tools and an airbrush to even begin to try and build this aircraft with it’s fancy camouflage. So the next day I bought an airbrush and some tools and starting build a model. The rest is what you say is history.

I did go back and get that Top Flight Warhawk and took up flying RC planes for a while, and eventual progressed into the real thing were I did about 20 hrs in a Cessna 172. I was seriously considering a career as a pilot, but my more responsible side told me to go to college instead. So I sold my 710hp SBF 9.30 sec Super Gas Mustang III and went to college.

I did a lot of modeling and started a pretty good-sized collection of kits during my collage years. Mainly, because I had a PT job at a LHS and got a pretty good discount on kits and supplies. I was also getting pretty good at building and started displaying my work at the shop.

One day a guy comes in and sees a Tamiya F4F Wildcat I built and offers me $70 for it. I am thing okay, what’s the catch? No catch he is just a lonely old guy who just lost his wife and likes models, however, admittedly cannot build plastic kits himself. He also wants my P-47 Hi Tech kit which was the first kit that got me back into the hobby. I am kind of sorry I sold those kits, but no they are on display for everyone to see.

As it happens the guy that bought my kits killed himself a few weeks later. I guess living without his wife was just too hard on him. His daughters contacted someone at the local Aircraft Museum and donated his collection to them. They went through and kept the “good stuff:†kits that were well build and tossed out what was left. Well my Tamiya Wildcat did end up in the museum, but I never did find out what happened to my P-47.

That was in 1993, and I was real active in the modeling community in the 90s. I belonged to a couple of clubs before me a few other guys formed our own club, where I held the office of President for a year. We put on some really good model shows and contests and did several demos at the malls, and I was winning awards with my kits, including a silver and a gold and a honorable mention at the Chicago IPMS Regional contest, which I feel pretty good about because I was up against some strong competition.

Never made it to a National, I was getting kind of burned out of IPMS politics and kind of went my separate way. I transferred colleges and ending up in Denver, Colorado where I finished my BFA in Film Writing and Directing, which is another whole story to be told.

That is kind of only scratching the surface of my modeling. I build pretty much anything that is is cool. Sometimes, even if it's a subject I don't like but the kit itself is neat or cool I will build it. Besides having an large Porsche collection I have some muscle car kits but mostly road racing stuff. I also have a large collection or WWII aircraft and armor and several RC warbirds, a RC heli , and a RC RS4-3 with ever hop up and upgrade you can get. I also got heavy into figures and have several "Girl" kits.

I even did a few modeling articles and reviews, have been published a few times and started sculping my own figures.

The past few years have been hectic and crazy. Not much time for modeling and my last project was put on hold for a few years. I met a wonderful woman, who was part of that chaos but we settled down and bought a house were I live now with her, our cat, Jack Sparrow, and our 100lbs Rottweiler, Bear. I have a dedicated modeling room, which was part of the problem before – we moved around a lot and never had the time or space to model. I was recently laid off and now have a little extra time and brought that project back out, and is what I am currently working on:

Eleanor from Gone In 60 Seconds.

Had it not been for modeling I am not sure I would have stayed off the juice, and not many know this story. Now it's keeping my sanity, spirits up, and my mind off other things during a difficult time for us.

Edited November 18, 2007 by CAL

[Luc Janssens]

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!

Steve Hinson, I remember that name, you were very helpful in finding model and book shops in the bay area in the late 90s.

Again Thanks Steve!!!!

Kind regards

Luc Janssens

Belgium

[Dr. Cranky]

My name is Virgil, and I've been back in the hobby now for about 8 years or so . . . and in that time, as most of you have done, I have had to work hard to catch up and get some tools and kits, that now that I am an adult I can half afford to get, like a lathe, mill, and a spray booth, etc . . .

Most of these years, I've hung out at different diorama forum because though I build cars every once in a while, it is the diorama that really intrigues me . . . and so I've been busy building a few of those and a train layout that is now sitting where my 55 Chevy should be . . . but I finally got the Chevy running so it's become my daily driver . . .

Anyway, I build all sorts of models . . . and lately I've really be quite taken with the whole rat rod scene . . .

In real life, I am a professor at a big, big, BIG Florida University . . . where I teach creative writing and literature . . .

For samples of my work, you can check out my Fotki archives.

[bandit.93]

Hey guys. I'm Cody from Morehead,KY (its next to a county somepeople like to call the armpit of the south, what would we be then?). I'm 14. I've been building models for about 3-4 years. I mostly like to build sports cars, exotics, trucks, and hot rods, and maybe the occasional tuner.

And thats all I have to say about that.

[James W]

I used to build models, but had to quit because I'm still reading this endless thread...thanks Steve

My name is James Warkentin(war-ken-teen') I am 42 and I have been building hiatus free since I was 8. On the personal side I have been married 21 years this month, to a wonderful supportive wife. We have two kids, 10 and 7, who enjoy building to be with Dad, but it was a great day when my son asked to work on his own project even though I was not in the room. My daughter may or may not carry on the model thing, but that is alright.

I grew up in Salem Oregon and live half a mile from the house I grew up in. I worked in my parents print shop running letterpress equipment, including operating a Linotype(google this one) machine that you type on like a keyboard and it casts a lead slug that is then used in the printing press. I began to volunteer as a fire fighter in '95 and was too old to start a career, but got a CDL with help from a fellow FF in '99. In 2000 I went to work for a food service company and drove a delivery route and now work for an LTL company driving a delivery truck. No more time to volunteer however. I also am a sound tech at my church which has a variety of musical groups from choral singers to electric guitar driven bands. I am a born again Christian.

On the modeling side, my dad and older brothers built models and my dad got me started. My first solo kit was the Revell 55 Chev. Mom would not let me start another kit until I finished the last. She held the line while I was in the Revell model of the month club, I chose the Prudhomme dragster to start, but one Christmas I got 8 or 9 models and there was no looking back. I've had a backlog of projects ever since. Don't tell Mom I juggle about 5 at a time now.

At a contest in about 89 I entered some glossy muscle cars but the show operator told me everybody commented on the beat up pickup truck I entered. It was poorly done so I thought I should start building a wreck from the begining. About this time the MPC 88 Silverado came out and I decided to build it as an old used truck. I got hooked up with a model club and they took my truck to a show in Portland Oregon where Bob Paeth said "send that thing to Salt Lake" So I mailed it off and a couple weeks later they sent me a Best Light Commercial trophy. I could not believe it was true until the magazines came out. Even then I had my doubts 'cause they misspelled my name.

I've done alot of weathering since then and trying to make plastic look like rusted and dented metal. I enjoy making stuff look like real life; used. I also get a kick out of learning new processes like RTV and resin casting and vacuum forming to make my own parts. I worked for an industrial design model builder who used CADCAM design and a mill to create stuff that only existed in a computer before he made it. He was killed in a car accident before we could replicate his 41 International p/u in miniature.

Like Andy Martin said, it is the people you meet that make the contests so much fun and the club members have improved my models a ton but it is the generosity of the membership that has enriched my life. This forum is a great place to 'meet' other model builders and improve our skills. It's value is incalculable, but don't forget to sit down and build something once in a while too.

[Guest rick r]

I'm Rick Rothermel, some of you may remember I used to write for Car Modeler and Scale Auto... I'm in my 'middle earlies'... okay, 57 (YIKES!) but remarkably well-preserved, I live in Anaheim, Ca. but will hopefully be relocating to Charlotte N.C. early next year.

I'm still a writer, I freelance for some automotive titles, currently Muscle Car Review, where I write features and also have a model column (combining diecast with plastic), with a set theme every month. I do a sample/publicity program for a couple of diecast companies and am a 'publicity type' for a few small automotive aftermarket companies . I've written for Rod & Custom, SAE, Car Modeller, and some other titles, and was West Coast Producer for the old Wild About Wheels series on Discovery in the early 90s. Also have an original tv-movie screenplay, deals with Mickey Thompson's death, that's starting to make the rounds of evil Hollywood agents and godless tv producers.

I've been in SoCal for 24 years, have some great friends here, and have been able to do things that I couldn't have dreamed of when I was a kid. Some of those things didn't pay all that well, but then 'adventure' is sometimes a costly thing... I've had a small business doing pinstriping and auto trim for car dealers since I was in Portland in the late 70s. (Life lesson: The real job is often what pays the bills for the 'adventures'.) The writing thing seems to be doing really well now, this year I helped Jim Wangers (Pontiac legend) with the assembly of his new book, 'Pontiac Pizazz!'. I have been fortunate to meet and work with a few of my car-guy heros over the years.

Have built models off & on since I was 8, came up in the golden age of the hobby, suffered through to the second G.A. in the 80s, hoping for a revival of sorts in the coming seasons. That seems to happen every 25 years or so, so it's TIME!

Mostly I build musclecar models, lean towared pro-touring, strive for good color and stance. Just learning photography now, so I don't post yet. I seem to have almost no time to build though, not a rare problem from what I read here.

If I might make a website referral... Okay, I'll do it anyway! www.surfcitygarage.com (take the virtual tour) and www.geetotiger.com (Jim Wangers' site)

Hang in there, do it anyway, and just make it happen!

Edited November 19, 2007 by rick r