Notifications
Clear all
The Lounge
13
Posts
12
Users
27
Reactions
579
Views
Topic starter
12/09/2024 8:14 am
Hello guys,
It sure is a treat and honor to be back. I have had a rough and painful battle with cancer over the past 18 years that has at times turned my life inside out and upside down. It has returned on me 3 times in those 18 years. This amazing scale automotive has played an unbelievable roll in helping pull me through some seriously dark, depressing, confusing, painful, angry, and scary times. Being laid up for long periods at a time, I discovered so many ways of enjoying this hobby than just collecting. Restoring, customizing, building lay outs and dioramas, and photographing. Each venture lead me into other ventures like making RTV silicone molds to cast whatever I made or found for the diorama pieces and customizing parts from resin and to paint and detail them. Over the years I have tried to share anything and everything I learned with as many fellow collectors I could over the internet on many different sites, including my own site I had called "Diecast 4 Fun" I will try to show some of what I have learned here as I am climbing back to my feet, once again being cancer free.
My toy room and collection:
I ended up having to sell my "dream home" I had built back in 2014 and buy a much smaller house. I had no room for my huge collection, so I built a 24 ft. X 16 ft. room on the side of the garage for my toys and collection.
Diorama and customizing stuff I molded and made from resin, painted and detailed:
A few customs I have created:
Photographing:
I couldn't get outside or out and about for long periods at a time, so I built these little photo sets and photo booths to photograph my cars. You can use post cards or your own pics for backdrops.
There is sooooo much more I want to share here so all my fellow collectors can enjoy this hobby as I have for over 60 years. I still have all of my original Lesney/Matchbox collection I will be sharing on this site as I learn to navigate my way around. I call it my "Ultimate Collection", and it is what started my diecast addiction back in 1960.
At some point I will tell you all how this collection was lost for 20 years and rediscovered.
I am a serious "DIECAST NUT!!!
You may copy and paste these links in your URL to learn a little more about me...
Collector of the month:
https://diecastsociety.com/gallery-view/steve-stangfreak-mason-june-2019/
My collection on TV:
https://youtu.be/RmdWFGAm84E
My collection 2024 update
https://youtu.be/OUn1v-vksos
12/09/2024 8:35 am
As well as having an absorbing interest to shut the door on the fight, when you are able, it must also help being a fighter.
12/09/2024 8:40 am
As a cancer patient (Adrenocortical carcinoma) since 2005, I can only offer: Stay the course - never give up, never give in!
Welcome back Steve!
Steve Jacobs and Jack Dodds reacted
12/09/2024 9:53 pm
Steve your fight and win against Cancer is an amazing story. Your collection and diorama parts making, and photo work is fantastic.
12/09/2024 10:15 pm
Welcome back and continued success with both your health and your hobby ! Having fun and having a purpose makes a wonderful and meaningful target to aim for in life.
12/09/2024 11:37 pm
So Steve....you have your extensive model collection and related creations to make, then when you feel the need to vent you can thrash your drum kit!
Tony Perrone and Steve Jacobs reacted
14/09/2024 3:11 am
great post Steve. Appreciate you sharing both your health experience and model collecting experiences with us. I too am one of a few us here on the forums with cancer experience, including volunteering at our local world renowned Melbourne cancer hospital. Your post reminds me of a patient I met recently who has been a patient at the hospital for 30 years and has experienced 4 cancers. Extraordinary person, so much courage and an amazing demeanor. Meeting her was one of the most inspirational experiences of my life. People often thank me for volunteering, while I appreciate their thoughts I reply "no its a privilege". My experience meeting other patients like I've described is why.
This post was modified 2 years ago by Geoff Jowett
Tony Perrone reacted
14/09/2024 7:11 am
Adjectives completely avoid my mind with both your health journey and your collection. At the heart of it all I hear and see your drive to beat the health issues, while your collection is the medicine. I am astounded and impressed with both! You are a shining bright light of hope and proof that there is always a reason to continue to make each day, every day, THE BEST DAY! I offer my prayers a many for you. THANK YOU for an uplifting story.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
14/09/2024 7:51 am
I might also add that having put together a number of "photo essays" for the forums I know how much time and thought and concentration it can take, and you really have put an impressive amount of work into all this. Oh, and the resin castings are amazing.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
Tony Perrone reacted
14/09/2024 8:37 am
A remarkable collection and of course a remarkable battle with the dreaded cancer disease. Like a few here, I'm also a cancer survivor. Welcome back.
John Bono
North Jersey
Tony Perrone reacted
14/09/2024 11:19 am
Steve thanks for sharing your story with us. This hobby is what a hobby should be in that it helped you get through some very difficult times and the motivation to beat the odds. May God watch over you for many more years of being cancer free. Love your hobby room.
Topic starter
14/09/2024 11:43 am
A warm and sincere "THANK YOU" to all here for the welcomes and kind words. Deeply appreciated.
I really hope to share some cool stuff here with ya all and hope ya all enjoy my posts, although some may be a little pic heavy...
Thanks so much once again...
You may copy and paste these links in your URL to learn a little more about me...
Collector of the month:
https://diecastsociety.com/gallery-view/steve-stangfreak-mason-june-2019/
My collection on TV:
https://youtu.be/RmdWFGAm84E
My collection 2024 update
https://youtu.be/OUn1v-vksos
14/09/2024 3:57 pm
Love your toy room! I just have a corner bedroom for all my diecast stuff.
David Vandermeer
Corinth, Texas