NNL East 2006 - A record-breaking turnout!

[Zoom Zoom]

ACME was well-represented at the NNL East, we handed out lots of flyers and wore our new khaki-colored ACME shirts and had an absolute blast of a time :)

Henry, Wayne and myself flew up on Friday afternoon, and Al Roberts (Boxstock) met up with us in the hospitality room with his friend from upstate NY who came down for our NNL.

The show had somewhere around 1,800 models :eek: It was mindblowing to say the least, it's grown a lot since my last visit w/Scott AcmeAdmin and Tinman about 10-12 years ago. I met up with a bunch of online friends from the various boards I visit, and had a great time catching up w/many I already have met. I was lucky enough to have my BRAT, my 612 Scaglietti, and my 914-6 photographed for either Model Cars Magazine or Scale Auto. Gregg from MCM is planning to be at our show this year. We also seem to be attracting a lot more aftermarket vendors, the interest is very high and our show has a lot of people commenting that they've heard about it and are planning to attend. Arrowhead Aluminum promised they'll be in attendance.

Anyway, I only took a few pics on Fri. night from a builder by the name of Rob Mepham from outside of Toronto. His models were amazing, we buttered him up good so hopefully he'll come down to our show. Much scratchbuilding, if GTMike or Bill Cunningham or Pico had seen these models in person they'd have been amazed as well, I surely was blown away w/the models. Here is the link to those pics, sorry for the quality-I wanted macro shots w/o my flash for best appearance, I had to use an empty Coke can as my tripod :D

http://public.fotki.com/grdeyed/model_car_shows/nnl_east_fri_night/

As for the rest of the show, the host club photos every car, and there were many guys taking pics of the models and the albums are already appearing, so I didn't have to worry over taking the time to take pics. Shmoozing and having a good time looking at and talking about the models w/the other builders was the name of the game.


Here is a list of links I've found so far for the show.

http://public.fotki.com/gkulchock/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/mamaprez/model_car_shows_/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/Keith__Shannan/keiths_model_car/model_car_shows/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/ClubVic312/nnl_east_20/
http://public.fotki.com/TNMCC/modelcarshows/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/ghogg1633/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/BobD/nnl-east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/jsharisky/model_car_shows/nnl_east_06/

This one will have all the cars, it's from the guys who run the NNL East. It will have pics sometime today.
http://public.fotki.com/tssmcc/nnl_east_20/

I'll reply w/further additions as necessary. It was a great show. Who wants ACME to charter a coach to go to the show next year? I vote YES!

[GTmike400]

Who wants ACME to charter a coach to go to the show next year? I vote YES!

Hell yeah! I would have gone, but thats $150 more for the street rod (which is being quickly spent).

I really wish I could have attended this year. I hope to see Gregg here at our show!

[Zoom Zoom]

Official results: 1853 models on display, 1310 people attended. We're not worthy ;)

More albums:

http://public.fotki.com/JCole/model_car_shows/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/Tomk/model_shows_and_contests/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/donaldanthonybanes/nnl_east_march_25_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/ElCaminoBilly/model_car_shows/nnl_east_2006/
http://public.fotki.com/mjcole/model_shows__contests/2006/nnl_east/

[GTmike400]

Official results: 1853 models on display, 1310 people attended. We're not worthy ;)

2004's spoof was close. Hopefully we'll get there sometime. But NNL East has a much more central location.

We do have the southern hospitality they will never have!

[Dino Scuderia]

Trying to absorb all these pics is nothing compared to being there I'm sure.

Lot's of very unique pieces there, wonderful show.

[BRE350Z]

This was my second trip to the NL East and I have a few observations as well as a personal comment.

The number of people and cars is almost mind numbing but the popoulation density of the area needs to be taken into consideraton as well.

The people in the club are great, friendly people and do a wonderful job of running the show.

The vendor area was packed and crowded, sometimes to the point of making it impossible to look much less buy anything.

Based on conversations Bob, Henry, and I had with people, our club amd show are well recoginized and many people we met are going to try to attend as are several new vendors. Even if only 10% of those who said they are planning to come do so, it will be good.

I always look for ideas we can use to improve our show and the one item I do like is the rafle to help the model car museum and depending on the line waiitng to get in, potentially collecting admission charges while people are in line.


From a perosnal note, when I first saw many of the models at the show I was down on my own skills for awhile and once I quit the "poor me" thoughts I started seeing ideas on how to improve my own techniques, etc. whether it was a basic skill, a new idea on how to display a model at a show, etc. and finally came away with a basic idea which while floating in my brain for years is now plante dfirmly and taking root. Build for myself, build for fun. If every time Istart a model my intent is to win a trophy or have a picture of it in a magazine I will probably be disappointed. If I do win a trophy or have a picture end up in a magazinr, well that's just a little something extra.

[Zoom Zoom]

Wayne, your models were photoed by a bunch of guys, and Henry's are in several albums as well. In fact I saw many models I never even noticed at the show, including the ultimate "honor" to be flattered by a copycat that I didn't see in person...someone else had a black Carrera GT coupe racer almost identical to Henry's that he showed there last year under a different livery. I'm disappointed that the official NNL East photo album is missing a bunch of models, especially from closed wheel competition. They say they try to take pics of everything, but that category was packed w/models, many were outstanding, and they're nowhere to be found in their albums. Someone also noted that they may have forgotten to post Street Rods as well. Maybe they'll add more later.

[Glacier modeler]

Wayne, that is an excellent attitude to have, and one that I constantly struggle with myself. It's sometime intimidating to me seeing the excellent models at our (and others) model car show and even the high caliber work of fellow ACME members.

[dragfan]

Bob:
Thanks for posting the photo links-they are really great to look at.

Wayne;
Your modeling attitude is one that certainly more of us can embrace; I am going to turn 50 next year, so I know that I would like to finish many more models before they slam the lid on me. I, too am going to build with more of a self-satisfying attitude than a competitive one and will try whenever possible to encourage & mentor those that are new to our hobby. Thanks again.

[Zoom Zoom]

If there is any interest I can do a writeup of various ideas/techniques that will help get your models noticed and hopefully photographed for a magazine. From concept to execution to presentation, it takes a bit of all three to stand out in a crowd. While it's always the best to build for yourself, it's always nice to get some recognition :)

[Eric Cole]

I've been thinking about the last few posts here and I've typed in a response three or four times today and never sent it. I don't want my opinion to be taken wrong, so I usually keep it to my self. Now, on probably the fifth time I'm going to actually hit the submit button :) I also realize we're hi-jacking Bob's NNL thread here.... sorry Bob:o

I agree with Wayne and everyone else, that's the attitude we should all have but like everyone else I catch myself comparing my modeling to others and then feeling disappointed over my flaws. I think if you are passionate about what you do and want to get better at it then it's only natural to compare your work to the work of others and to want some recognition for your efforts. The feeling doesn't really change for any (or most) of us because no matter who you are or how good you are..... there is always someone better - or - someone that does something better and it can be intimidating at times.

I try to approach it this way.... when I feel intimidated I know it's because I'm looking at something someone did and it's better than what I did or what I can do. When I feel that way I try to convert it to something positive by challenging myself to learn how to do what they did on my next model. Not in the name of competition but because I want to get better, for me. A "good job" recognition from someone I respect is way more important than any trophy to me.

One more thing to keep in mind and this is the thing I have to tell myself. If you're going to compare (or judge yourself, as I find myself doing all the time because when I compare it's usually to find out what I did wrong) make sure you compare apples to apples so to speak. I often find myself saying "I wish my model looked like that" when comparing my out of the box build with someones elses super detailed build. Talk about setting yourself up for dejection.... :( remember, there's a difference between what we CAN do and what we WILL do and I'm very, very guilty of this and I really let it get me down at times.

In the end, when you build a model, before you ever sit it next to anyone elses model, you know whether you're happy with it or not. If you're not happy with it, you know the reason why (I know when I'm unhappy with one of my models and I know why - every time) and it's those things we have to challenge oursleves on to get better and to be happy with our own work.

I know my only real goal is to be happy with my model when I place it on my shelf, because when the shows and the meetings are over.... it's still going to sit on my shelf......... hopefully for a long time.

[Eric Cole]

By the way.... is there a trophy for the longest post? hahaha

[GTmike400]

I've been thinking about the last few posts here and I've typed in a response three or four times today and never sent it. I don't want my opinion to be taken wrong, so I usually keep it to my self. Now, on probably the fifth time I'm going to actually hit the submit button :) I also realize we're hi-jacking Bob's NNL thread here.... sorry Bob:o

I agree with Wayne and everyone else, that's the attitude we should all have but like everyone else I catch myself comparing my modeling to others and then feeling disappointed over my flaws. I think if you are passionate about what you do and want to get better at it then it's only natural to compare your work to the work of others and to want some recognition for your efforts. The feeling doesn't really change for any (or most) of us because no matter who you are or how good you are..... there is always someone better - or - someone that does something better and it can be intimidating at times.

I try to approach it this way.... when I feel intimidated I know it's because I'm looking at something someone did and it's better than what I did or what I can do. When I feel that way I try to convert it to something positive by challenging myself to learn how to do what they did on my next model. Not in the name of competition but because I want to get better, for me. A "good job" recognition from someone I respect is way more important than any trophy to me.

One more thing to keep in mind and this is the thing I have to tell myself. If you're going to compare (or judge yourself, as I find myself doing all the time because when I compare it's usually to find out what I did wrong) make sure you compare apples to apples so to speak. I often find myself saying "I wish my model looked like that" when comparing my out of the box build with someones elses super detailed build. Talk about setting yourself up for dejection.... :( remember, there's a difference between what we CAN do and what we WILL do and I'm very, very guilty of this and I really let it get me down at times.

In the end, when you build a model, before you ever sit it next to anyone elses model, you know whether you're happy with it or not. If you're not happy with it, you know the reason why (I know when I'm unhappy with one of my models and I know why - every time) and it's those things we have to challenge oursleves on to get better and to be happy with our own work.

I know my only real goal is to be happy with my model when I place it on my shelf, because when the shows and the meetings are over.... it's still going to sit on my shelf......... hopefully for a long time.

...Amen...

[Zoom Zoom]

Very good points. It's human nature to want to compare our work w/that of others, and to want positive recognition for it. The fact is that when you are intimidated you might feel down for a short time, but as Wayne pointed out it usually results in some sort of action/reaction so that the next time maybe you don't feel that intimidation, you learn for yourself what it takes to get ahead, even if on a personal level. I hope this isn't taken the wrong way or sound too conceited. I'll be honest and can say that I am rarely if ever intimidated anymore when it comes to comparing my models to others, I will say I'm frequently humbled by the outstanding work going on around me, both at shows and w/in our club and w/my own circle of friends. You're frequently building models that are better than mine, and that's pushing me to work harder than ever. I can't slack off at all, because you guys are gonna leave me in the dust ;) Somehow I think there's a lot of that sentiment going around, that we're all pushing each other. And that's a good thing. There is a quantifiable improvement in quality amongst all ACME members, we have all seen that phenomenon in the past couple of years especially. While it is so easy to focus irrationally over some flaws-every one of my models has plenty, it's become easier for me over the years to get past them, live with them, and move on. I'll attempt to avoid those flaws on the next build.

I realized years ago that I wasn't going to build one of those incredibly detailed best-in-show technical builds that we all drool over. I love looking at them, studying their every detail but I'm also humble enough to know that I don't have the desire and quite possibly the determination or focus to see a project like that through to completion. I know my limitations and work within them. Yet I get so much out of seeing those builds and understanding what went into them, as I can use some of that knowledge on my builds. I try to exploit what I do best, to satisfy myself first but I'd be a lying fool if I said I didn't enjoy the recognition.

I remember like it was yesterday when my ego was handed to me on a platter at the first contest I entered as an adult. I was blind to why my highly modified model wasn't a winner. I felt dejected and mad. I had to open my eyes and pay attention and up my game at every level, and it's taken me many years to get comfortable with a style that I enjoy building and gets me some recognition. Models that won awards 10-20 years ago and that I was proud of wouldn't even be contenders today, but I still enjoy looking at them along with all the ones that I built that didn't win anything or get into a magazine. My favorite models in my collection are the ones that I've personalized somehow, some way so that the design is uniquely mine. While I can and do take long breaks away from them and almost mindlessly crank out OOB curbside kits, I'll always be scheming up something a bit out of the ordinary because that's what seems to scratch my modeling itch in the most effective way.

[Boxstock]

Being new to model building…to say the number of cars at NNL East overwhelmed me would be an understatement. A friend I grew up with drove down from upstate New York (he attended our show last year) and he was equally impressed. So many cars and so little time….the photos of the show which are on line is great to reference.

As Wayne indicated it was shoulder to shoulder in the car exhibit area as well with the vendors between 11AM to 2PM. Before and after this time it was much easier to move around. I was pleased with the Vendors in that I found everything I was looking for including the Penske Corvette of which I only saw one for sale.

I was very pleased with the cars exhibited in that the models seemed to lean to our side of the club room…classics from the 40’s, 50, 60’s…...ha ha. The cars that Henry, Wayne and Bob brought were well received as indicated in the links in the NNL posts.

I can relate to what Wayne indicated regarding the quality of the models in that I have built few models if I exclude the “glue bombs” we set on fire when I was a kid. But it is about building for yourself and if you live in the Atlanta area developing friendships along the way. :D :D :D

[dragfan]

Thanks for the offer, Bob; I have had the pleasure of seeing your work both up close & in the magazines; I believe that your idea of a write-up would be more than well-received. Thanks for the offer.

John

[Glacier modeler]

I am definitely interested in seeing a post on this topic.

[Pauley Sty Reen]

I, too, would like to hear about some ideas for presenting models. It could make any model more interesting.

[Matt Wadlinger]

Wow, that was one heck of a show. I've only looked at about 1/2 of the gallerys, and there is some impressive stuff.

The comments about shows, and general modelling attitude have been interesting.

I used to get really bummed out after a big show. Just seeing the super-detailed builds and flawless finishes made me feel like I shouldn't bother. I've come to change that attitude, and build to the best of my ability, and not let an award or photo in a magazine be the motivation to build a car. Magazines are biased, and awards as we know can be biased depending on the show.

My favorite thing to see now, is a photo of one of my cars in someones Fotki album after the show. It feels much better knowing that someone liked it enough to take the time to snap a pic and share it. To see my work appreciated by a fellow modeller means more to me than what a magazine photographer or panel of biased judges think.

That being said, I think that ACME has made me a much better builder than I ever hoped to be. The support and guidance within the group has been invaluable. 'THANK YOU' to everyone that has given me a tip or trick, or not held their tongue to let me know I'm doing something wrong. Or telling me how to do something better. Any success I've had is without a doubt due to you guys.

[slammd454SS]

i couldnt agree more bob, i can say ive been down & out for pretty much as long as i can remember building, so winning third place in Comp. Drag at the W.O.W.'s show in Chattanooga in 2003 completely caught me offguard, its my one & only award and i cherish it even though i gave the model to a friend to have. I guess ill have to build another plum crazy purple ford F1 with a ferrari F1 engine in it again just to prove a point, that once you've built something your proud of, it can never be forgotten.

[slammd454SS]

i too would love to see a write-up on ideas on presenting models, ill say that most of my builds are so cut up that even i dont know what it once started as, but once its finished (if ever) i can sit & stare at it on the shelve & just think to myself that * i did that....i did that??? wow...i did that, awesome*.

If it doesnt have some kind of custom touch to it, i can personally say i didnt build it, i completely suck of its an OOB kit and i have no idea...ive never been able to put a stock kit together (unless its a NASCAR kit).

[BRE350Z]

All I can say after reading the posts and talking with Bob and Matt is that we are one lucky group of people to associated with each other.

Bob, your idea about a thread or an ACME article around the subject of displaying models at shows, etc. is great and would be most welcome.

Eric's comment about wanting to and be able to do certain things is right on target.

Developing a skill takes several things:

1. Desire
2. Patience
3. Knowledge - which is definitely shared by the members of ACME
4. Daring to fail
5. Practice - Practice - Practice.

Based on that I think I should change my forum name to "Wax-on Wax-off":eek:

Wayne

[GTmike400]

Based on that I think I should change my forum name to "Wax-on Wax-off":eek:


Or "Paint-on Paint-off" from your prior painting experiences. :)

Wayne, I think you have had a great influence on everybody here!

[Zoom Zoom]

As I recover a bit of energy from the dreaded airplane disease I picked up over the weekend (sick as a dog w/fever and cough Mon/Tue, today I'm alive but still a bit wiped out), I'll work on my draft for "how to get your models noticed".

[GTmike400]

As I recover a bit of energy from the dreaded airplane disease I picked up over the weekend (sick as a dog w/fever and cough Mon/Tue, today I'm alive but still a bit wiped out), I'll work on my draft for "how to get your models noticed".

Pff...I'll save you the trouble. Just put a big neon "NUDE GIRLS" sign over your models.

Problem solved.

[dragfan]

Bob;

Hope you feel better soon-thanks for taking the time to write that for us.

John

[crispy]

Although I am not a member, I do appreciate being able to come to ACME's board and learn some things.
I really look forward to reading this board as it differs from the others in terms of camaraderie.
I said it before and I say it again. I wish I could be a member and attend the meetings. However I'll take what I can get and this board does suit me just fine.
Bob, I look forward to your write up. Do I sense another Kalmbach book in the making??? LOL
Thanks for letting me be a part of your community ACME.
Chris

[Boxstock]

I was reviewing the photos of the show taken by Model Cars Magazine (Web Site)and it was good to see Acme members outisde waiting to enter. It looks like they screened the photo of Henry waving at him...haha. Good photos...great show

[Zoom Zoom]

Hey, those are pretty good pics they have on their site.

[GTmike400]

Gregg got some awesome pics! Cant wait until NNL East. Now Im inspired to go build something.

[Matt Wadlinger]

Those are some awesome pics at Model Cars Mag

Here's their pics:
http://www.modelcarsmag.com/NNLEast/

[Scott]

Some of those shots are exactly what I'm looking for for the new site graphics. do you think he would have any problems sung some of our member's cars shots?

[Zoom Zoom]

Some of those shots are exactly what I'm looking for for the new site graphics. do you think he would have any problems sung some of our member's cars shots?

You should email him to find out.

[Zoom Zoom]

We can't use any of those photos for our website until that issue of MCM has been printed.