As we get ready to welcome in 2017, many are looking back on the past year. I suppose that is important and some reflection time might make us appreciate what we have.
We had highs and lows.
New releases and new molds were on the low side. Some brands are no longer with us. Some will be missed, others perhaps not. I look back on brands like NINCO and SCX and just shake my head. Both were once leaders in our hobby and today both are all but gone.
We also lost some very dear friends that made sites like ours a better place to share our hobby. Their presence will be missed.
This next year will bring focus on those that are left, and THAT is where I will personally focus.
Because regardless of our losses, new enthusiasts keep coming. Fresh eyes and enthusiasm for their new found hobby is with them. For old farts like myself, it's always great to see.
They say necessity is the mother of invention. With fewer and fewer new cars that many of us on this side of the pond find appealing, we have been quietly creating what we want.
Not so quiet any longer. I feel the people here do more to help scratchbuilding than anywhere else. From full on resin building to the art and science of brass chassis design. We have it on the good side because we have other grass roots companies making all the little parts we need to gear up our dreams.
All of this is why site like HRW is here and I assure you it will stay that way. As appealing as Facebook and other social networking sites are, they cannot hold a candle to a real site dedicated to a certain genre of interest.
The main HRW site was rebuilt from the ground up in November and it has allowed myself and other would-be contributors a better place to share our hobby. Easily connected to the social network juggernaughts and this has shared our very existence by leaps and bounds. Some have asked about certain changes and I did the best I could to answer them. Not to make lame excuses, but I am just one person. It takes time to build and create sites like these and there are only so many hours in the day :) But, it is done and I'll do my best to keep improving.
Our forum will be the same. A place to share our new cars, tracks, custom builds and tech tips. Any forum or site is only as good as the content inside. I rely on many of you to help achieve that content. From a simple answer to a question, to full out photo review or build.
I cannot thank those of you who take this time enough. Your selflessness is how we strengthen this hobby from within.
So I look forward to 2017 in many ways. Not only in the new toys but to our new members. It's the great PEOPLE that make this hobby the fun that it is.
:text-welcomeconfetti:
:text-happynewyear:
