March 23, 2006
Sorry About the Magazine
I have loved and cherished every issue I had of Modeler's Resource.
I lost my back issues in a move recently, and now that I am back
to work full-time as a comercial artist, I wanted to get a new
subscription.
I was heart-broken to see you've stopped. I understand your reasons
and all, but I must say I was never a "modeler," but
a painter and sculptor, and I have never seen a painting magazine
with better step-by-step instructions on skin tones and effects,
and there are NO sculpture magazines that will give any step-by-step
tips or tricks.
Your magazine has been amazingly important to me and I will kick
myself for years for losing those back issues. Your magazine helped
me hone my art skills that now pay my bills. THANK YOU!
Fisher Lee
Mr. Fish Custom Graphics
February 16, 2006
Modeling Basics 101
Fred,
Hope you are doing fine. I have been in the hospital for the last
year or so and I just heard about you stopping the mag. I want
you to know that your mag actually got me into the resin and vinyl
figure modeling with a friend of mine who was tragically killed
in the fighting overseas. We couldn't wait to get the next copy
to find the information about new tech and kits out there! I just
wanted you to know that you are "aces" in my book and
when everything is said and done, you will be remembered as one
of the pioneers of this industry and hobby. I also wanted to know
if you will be attending WonderFest this year? Do you still have
any stock of your early books before issue #21?
Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
F.E. WASSON, JR.
MGSGT. MARINE CORPS RETIRED
Thanks for writing, though I'm very sorry to hear
about your friend's death. War is never pleasant and often it
seems so unnecessary. Thanks for your kind thoughts about the
magazine.
Unfortunately, no we won't be attending WonderFest
this year, but we certainly would like to in the future.
The only early copies of the magazine that are still
available are in our recently released ebook. We may do more,
but we have a lot on our plate right now. Thanks for your continued
interest.
January
28, 2006
Modeling Basics 101
Dear Fred,
Initially this was to be a simple note of "thank you"--and
I suppose it still is. It's belated, but, thank you Fred, for
publishing my letter in issue #59--my first ever to a publication
(and yes, I got a copy for Mom!). Now I can proudly add "published
writer" to my resume of life accomplishments!
And a second thank you--a heartfelt thank you--for your magazine.
When I bought the latest issue, I quickly looked (as per usual)
to see how long I would have to wait for the next issue--but something
was different about the back pages. Sensing something amiss, I
flipped forward to your editorial comments to discover the grim
reality.
I'm sure you've heard similar comments, so I'll try to keep it
brief. Your magazine has been a continuing inspiration in helping
me resurrect my modeling "career." I've always been
a bit of a perfectionist, so I've moved rather tentatively along
in my modeling "studies"--geesh, I never did a wash
or a dry brushing on my original Aurora models--strictly Testor
gloss enamels! Mark McGovern and Phil Sera's articles in particular
have helped to give me the knowledge and subsequent confidence
to go ahead and take that next step along the learning curve,
even though the result may not always be absolutely perfect. Overall,
I'm really happy to have the artist in me back at work.
I'm going to miss scanning the magazine racks at Border's for
the next issue. Will you be actively maintaining the magazine's
website? Will articles ever be featured by previous contributors?
Here's hoping you enjoy your well-deserved "break",
with the hope that one day you'll decide to make a triumphant
return to the publishing world--maybe by then, I even might be
ready to contribute an article(isn't that a wildly scary dream)!
I suppose in the meantime I should grab all the back issues I
can, as the magazines are really a wonderful "resource"
library that can be referred to again and again.
Enough for now--again, a sincere thank you, Fred, for work well
done. I will truly miss Modeler's Resource.
Michael Zielski
November 7, 2005
Magazine
Hello,
I really miss you. I want your magazine back! Please publish it
again.
Michel
CANADA
November 7, 2005
Hiatus
Dear Fred, Silvia, and family,
Sorry to hear about the hiatus kids. Sorry for myself and my
loss of the finest publication it has been my honor to read in
my fifty-three years. But working two jobs, as well as trying
to run Sarge's Footlocker and still have some sort of family AND
modeling life, I can fully understand the tough decision you guys
had to make. And I applaud the hard, hard decision you made. Anyone
who says anything different will have to deal with me, and you
kids may feel free to tell them that.
Guys, if there is anything I can do, please feel free to let me
know and count it as done. Difficult as it is to give up something
you love for something you love more, I feel that if it has boiled
down to this the right choice has been made.
Thank you again for twelve years of the best. Do not be strangers.
Try to keep in touch with us once in a while as time and circumstance
allow, and let us know how you and the family are doing.
Your friend always and all ways,
Darwin Todd
Stillwater, Oklahoma
October 26, 2005
Thanks
Dear Mr. DeRuvo,
I would like to thank you for the reply on my mail, although I
was a little bit shocked to hear that Modeler's Resource will
no longer exist. It's sad to see such a great mag disappear.
I build models ranging from planes to cars and motorcycles to
figures and even RC-boats. So I read a lot of different magazines,
but your magazine has something which the others don't. I can't
really put a finger to it, but it's different. I'm really goning
to miss it, that's for sure.
It's a difficult genre the monsters/cartoon's and sci-fi, especially
here in Belgium and a lot of Europe. If one says he builds sci-fi
and monsters than people automatically presume Star Wars, Star
Trek, Predator, Batman and wargames?????? This is probably the
reasen why it is so hard to find other kits on the mainland Europe,
let alone have a magazine that writes about and builds other kits
too.
So besides the great articles and tips, this was also a reason
for me to take a subscription of your magazine. I hope that someday
the magazine will be revived to its glory of today.
I would like to thank everybody over there who wrote and worked
for Modeler's Resource for the great reading they gave me.
Yours truly,
Dimitri Vansteene
October
19, 2005
Fantastic Job
Hi Fred,
I understand about having to have more time for family needs.
We've moved a few times in the last couple of years, so modeling
has been relegated to just reading Modeler's Resource when time
permits.
I can't imagine having the time to put out a magazine, due my
regular job, and have quality family time too. You've all done
a fantastic job in the years that I've subscribed to Modeler's
Resource.
Thanks alot...
Mike Haston
October
13, 2005
You Got Me Back Into The Hobby...
Because of you I have won:
Texas State Fair Best of Show in the Creative Arts Contests for
two years in a row (my dioramas beat out EVERY art entry i.e.,
photos, oil paintings, ceramics, quilts, you name it!) My dioramas
were (last year) Elvis (Jimmy Flintbone) serving up meals to KISS
(Polar Lights) in the Love Me Tender Diner called "Kiss The
King." My second win (this year) is my diorama of Elvis serving
drinks to The Beatles (the old Revell kits) in a replica of the
Cheers bar called, "Cheers to Elvis and The Beatles."
Your articles helped me to think outside the box.
I have numerous first place and best of shows at IPMS contests
in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Louisiana, Arkansas and Kansas.
If it hadn't been for you I would be sitting in front of a TV
wasting my life instead of expressing my creativity and making
people smile.
And my two children, Kimberly (age 10) and Matthew (age 7) have
picked up the hobby and won more than their Dad. They are both
honor students at school (they learned how to read and follow
instructions - from modeling). Kimberly won two second place wins
at National IPMS and both have won a room full of trophies - something
that builds their self-esteem and self-confidence.
And it's all because of Modeler's Resource. I'm not being overly
dramatic!
Four summers ago I picked up my first issue of Modeler's Resource
at my best friend's hobby store. When I saw the contents of your
magazine I thought, "Now THIS is what I want to do in the
model hobby!" Prior to reading your magazine I was only reading
Fine Scale and was very frustrated to read the same thing over
and over again (and I'm not interested in building planes and
tanks - unless Godzilla is destroying them!)
I was very sad to read your announcement to go on hiatus. Your
magazine is THE best for modelers - the nuts and bolts of how
to do it. No one can compare - and I don't know what I will do
to fill the void left by your absence.
I very much support your decision to take a break (maybe even
indefinitely) and I'm sure your decision is a good one but I must
tell you it's got me feeling very melancholy and sad.
I am going to miss you and that wonderful magazine of yours.
Thanks for giving me a fun hobby and a wonderful way to spend
my afternoons with my kids. You really made a difference in my
family.
All the best,
James Robinson
October 11, 2005
Please Stay in Touch!
Dear Modeler's Resource:
I am only a recent subscriber, but receiving your magazine was,
for me,
entering into a different world. A world of joy, creativity, and
blossoming
imaginations. I work as an attorney during the day, but break-out
Modeler's
Resource when I had to find my sanity. I even love the smell of
the ink.
Please don't go for long, and make sure you keep in touch. When
you start
back up in a couple of years, I know you'll miss us, then I want
to be
there.
Thank you for your work and contribution to our creative outlets.
Sincerely,
Todd Hunter
Modeler Resource Reader
October 6, 2005
Sorry to Hear!
Very sorry to hear that you are ceasing publication of your great
magazine, it will be greatly missed.
I have been a reader since issue #51 when my subscription began
with issue 52! I have enjoyed each and every issue since and wish
I had discovered your fine magazine earlier.
Since I think I am paid up until issue #68 (this current issue
is #62) it would be great to get some back issues instead of the
refund you mentioned in “From there to here…”
. I would be especially interested in issues #42, 43, 32, 29,
21, 18 if any or all are available. I enjoy working with Star
Trek, Star Wars, 20,000 Leagues/Nautilus, SciFi topics in general.
Again sorry to see you go, I await “Modeler’s Resource
– The Return” in the nearest future.
All the very best to you and Silvia, may your ink never dry up,
your pain and glue never harden in the bottle.
Joseph A. Vespe
October 1, 2005
Sub Plus
I was going to email you guys with an address change since my
old house no longer exsists thanks to Katrina. I am very sad to
learn of your decision to shut down MR but I understand fully.
Please keep any leftover part of my subscription to thank you
for the enormous effort and wonderful magazine you have produced
over the years. This has been a very sad year all around and best
of luck to you and to all of us in the future.
Michael Wohl
Editor's Note: While we appreciate Mr. Wohl's offer
to keep the remaining portion of his subscription, we have respectfully
declined and sent back a refund check for the remaining amount.
We hope to have all the refunds on their way by early next week
(week of October 16th).
