The Official Newsletter of the San Diego Model Car Club January 2007

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Most of us never give this a second thought, but without a place to meet, our little club wouldn’t exist. The fact that we even know each other and get together once a month is almost totally because we have a place to do it, and what most of us don’t know is that we come under real danger of losing it every single January. For one reason or another, the City Parks and Recreation Dept. changes the rules and criteria on our meeting room every year and as such, one of our members has to jump through hoops and negotiate just to make sure we still have a place to meet for the following year, and that guy is Darryl Gassaway. This latest round of bureaucratic nonsense got me to thinking about Darryl and how important he’s been to our club over the years. Darryl has been with us almost from the beginning and has always held positions of responsibility for just about the same length of time, ranging from newsletter editor to treasurer to probably some other positions I don’t even know about. During the time the club was involved with the Lower Left Coast Model Car Contest, Darryl, along with Dan King, ram-rodded that event every year and although as president, I never approved of the club’s involvement in it, I have to applaud Darryl’s tireless efforts in making that event a success. In addition, Darryl has be come a true ambassador of the model car building hobby, especially as it pertains to the Southern California area. He hosts and manages Make ‘N Take events at various car shows and related events, and travels (always by car) to different model car contests throughout California (and other parts of the US, too) and reports on them not only to us, but to different model car magazines, including Scale Auto and Model Cars magazines. He also finds time to write a column for our little newsletter every month, too. And with all that on his plate, he still makes the time to manage our money, pay our bills, and wrestle with the bureaucrats at the Parks & Recreation Dept. to keep a roof over our heads so we can still have a club. In my estimation, this is service above and beyond and we don’t give Darryl the recognition he’s really due for these efforts. While Darryl and I don’t always agree on everything, I really value his friendship and his contributions to this club, and I hope you all do, too. In addition to being an important part of the management of the club, he’s also a very active member on a monthly basis. Each month, he comes in and shares new products, industry news, and customizing tips and methods. His warm and jovial sense of humor are a big part of the character of our club, and we would never be the same without him. Last month, our president Jesse acknowledged Darryl for his contributions by giving him our club’s only trophy, the Bob Award. This is normally given to the guy who brings in the most built models each year, but it’s sort of morphed into a service-appreciation award over the last couple of years, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than Darryl. I know I speak on behalf of everyone in the club when I say a big hearty THANKS to Darryl Gassaway!

2007 THEME NIGHT CATEGORIES

1. January – Box Art – Build must look like the box art or any of the options shown on the box! No close enough’s or almost like it. 2. February – Vintage Drags – 1972 or older. Early FED and RED dragsters, Early Pro Stock, and so on! 3. March – Trucks – Pick ups up to 3 quarter ton! No commercial type stuff. Any style of build is ok. 4. April – Motorcycles and Trikes – Yup, you read right! Finally, the spoke crowd gets a chance! Any style or type welcome, but it must be at least based on a bike type of kit. 5. May – Ed “Big Daddy” Roth – The names says it all! Anything by the Large Father of customs goes! Outlaws to Rat Fink’s are welcome. Will also include other show cars that are non Roth built! 6. June – Dirt Racers – If it runs on dirt, it’s good! Baja, Dirt Track, Rally and so forth. 7. July – Red, White and Blue – Any cars painted in any of these colors or all three! Foreign or domestic qualify! 8. August – My First Build – Build a model of the first one you did or the closest you can get to the first one since they don’t make the ones our of Dinosaur bone anymore! Huh, Skip! 9. September – Commercial Vehicles – Ok, here is the one you wanted! Build a vehicle of the working class and our true heroes in public service on this special month. 10. October – Trans Am and Can Am – Road Racers unite! Here your chance to build those Accurate Miniature McClarens! If you need ideas, just ask at the meeting, you’ll get some! 11. November – Non V-8 Power – Bring out your four bangers and flat sixes yearning to roar free! You can power it with anything you like, even a rocket engine, Bob! But no V-8’s! 12. December – Land Yachts – Got a Bonneville in your stash? A Caddy burning your shelf? Then build them and bring them! Large cars only need apply!

THE DERANGED MODELER By Daryl Gassaway

Ever hear the old saying. "What goes around, comes around"? I've lived with that one most of my life, but what would you expect from someone who mostly was raised by a Quaker grandmother. Even though she is long gone the life lessons she instilled in me will live as long as I do and hopefully some will have rubbed off on my son. Another thing she always told me was, "there are two kinds of people, givers and takers, when you have the choice be a giver". When you think about it the 2 sayings are trying to say the same thing. Now you may ask, where is this idiot going with all of this? Well let me tell you.

Most of you know the club was facing the possibility of having to find a new meeting room because of city cutbacks. When I was finally able to talk to the Canyonside Center Director I found out something interesting, charitable and public service organizations are eligible for a discounted room rental rate. She told me the rules the City uses in determining which groups would qualify for that rate and I told her I think we meet the standard.

In the early 90's, with the help of the club, I started the Lower Left Coast contest and for 10 years the proceeds from that event went to the local Boy Scouts. I was able to get model kits from the manufacturers to donate at the Scout Fair to the winners of the Pinewood Derby and for a few years the club set up a table to display built models and talk to any interested person about model building. After the contest was cancelled not much happened for a couple years.

We made a few small contributions to the Marines Toys for Tots drive and supported the Model Car Museum in Salt Lake City. Then came 9/11 and all it's horrors. The club raised and donated money to the Firefighter's and Policemen's Victims Fund to help out the families of fallen civil servants that died on that day. That was followed by the U.S. going into Afghanistan and eventually Iraq to fight the terrorists on their own ground. After that Skip came up with the idea and led the club's efforts to provide model kits and supplies to the troops. Since most of the members have contributed to this project by donating kits and money I can honestly say, "what goes around comes around".

Because of our current public service venture we qualified to stay at Canyonside Recreation Center. We will have to make some small adjustments to out meeting schedule since the Center will be closing an hour earlier in 2007, but we still have out meeting room at a rate we can afford, proving once again being a "giver" works. It makes me feel good that the things my grandmother raised me to believe still work.

Goodguys, Del Mar 2007

Ok guys, it's time for me to start lining up volunteers for the Goodguys Model table at Del Mar from March 30 to April 1. There will be a Make and Take on Saturday, March 31 and on that day I will need 5 or 6 volunteers. The rest of the days 2 or 3 will be sufficient. Also if there is anyone that can assist me on March 29th setting up the booth it would be greatly appreciated.

Well, that's all I have to say this month. It's time to get back to work, that Gregg is a real slave driver. Before I go remember it's a great day for modeling, so enjoy it. PICTURES FROM THE DECEMBER

MEETING By Skip Samples

If our November meeting had a light turnout, (and it DID) our December meeting was positively DISMAL!) I guess the holidays really took up a lot of our normal modeling time. I know they certainly took up a lot of my time!. In any case, the Theme was Customs and lo & behold, there was only one model there that met the criteria, and that was from Bob Sontag. Here’s a shot of that car, along with a few others that were brought in!

The custom up above and the tricycle to the left were built by Bob Sontag. The Pontiac shown below was built by Brian Kelly

FLOCK U.

By David Allin

Flocking can be an immensely pleasurable and satisfying experience, and while it is a simple act, there are always tips and tricks that can improve the results. If you want to get carpet laid in your model's interior, flocking is the easiest method and almost always comes out well. First, mask off anything you don't want flocked, such as the gas pedal, seats, and console. Then get everything you need ready to go, because it needs to be done in a smooth, continuous process without interruption. You will need an application device for the flocking; I use an old spice bottl e with a removable cap that has holes about 1/8 inch in diameter. An old wheel from the parts box was dropped in to act as an agitator, and then the flocking is poured in. An old-fashioned flour sifter may work, but for me it was too slow and messy. Put a clean sheet of printer paper down to work on. It will collect the excess flocking so it can be recycled, and flocking is always better on clean sheets. Many modelers recommend using thinned white glue as the adhesive medium, but in my experience this results in uneven surfaces and clumping. I prefer to use flat enamel, preferably an old bottle of paint that has started to get thick. It's applied with a brush, because sprayed paint tends to dry too quickly, before you can lay the flocking. Do a small section at a time, to make sure the paint stays wet enough for the flocking to adhere. As soon as a section has been painted, shake on a thick layer of the flocking, lightly jiggling the part to allow the material to settle into an even coat. Gently press the flocking into the paint with your finger tip or a cotton swab. Then tip the part upside down and flick it to shake the excess off onto the paper. Turning away from the paper, blow the remaining loose fibers off the part, then proceed to do the next section. Use natural dividers like the transmission tunnel and seat mounts to separate the paint sections, so that any clumping that might occur at the overlap will be less noticeable. Once the entire piece is well and truly flocked, set it aside and clean your paint brush. Any remaining flocking in the applicator can be added to the excess on the paper, and the applicator cleaned. Carefully lift up the paper and crease one edge while curving the rest, to create an open funnel. The flocking can then be poured right back into its original container and used again on another project. Before the paint on the floorboard has dried complete ly, use a stiff paintbrush to gently blend and smooth any uneven surfaces. And that's all there is to it. In just a few minutes, you have completed some serious flocking and achieved a result that will have everyone envious of your skills. Afterward you can take a nap.

The San Diego Model Car Club meets on the third Thursday of each month at the Canyonside Recreation Center located on Black Mountain Road between Mira Mesa Blvd. and Rancho Penasquitos Pkwy. From I-15, take the Mercy Road exit, go West to Black Mountain Road. Turn right and then left at the first stop light, about 1/3rd mile. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and the dues are $20.00 per year.

2352 Manion Street El Cajon, CA 92020 Dan King