This month we sit down at the virtual workbench with Mike Quarterman.
1. Why did you start Motor Racing Replica News, now known as Motor Racing Models?
It just seemed to Jeff and I that there was a need to fill the gap on racing car models. It does fill a very small niche market, but perhaps it is a bit too esoteric, as you can see by our numbers.
2. What was the first UMI decal sheet produced?
The first was for my own line of kits, the 917-30. This was hand drawn, no computers yet! Once the computer power necessary was affordable, I was able to do art for other companies at a reasonable price. AMS (Kurachi) was the first of these new clients, with Fisher and Studio 27 following closely. Umi had it’s own line of decals at this time also, starting with the sponsor series.
3.How long, in general, does it take for a decal sheet to go from impetus to completion?
About two months, depending on the load at the printers.
4.Does UMI do the printing of all its products, both foreign and domestic, in house?
No, they are printed at specialized decal houses. The environmental controls for this type of operation is too much for a small company, so they are outsourced to a few different sources.
5.Will UMI ever bring to market its own series of decal sheets?
We did have, but the extra time it took for retail sales was too much, so the line was sold to Ricambi. With their demise, we may consider it again, but not soon.
6.How do you explain the continued popularity of MRM even after its notoriously lax publish dates and recent competition from overseas?
Harsh! But, a valid point. We are unique, to say the least, and even the competition from overseas does not offer what we have. We wish we had their success, though. Takes buckets of money to what they have done.
7.Can you give us an estimation of how many subscribers MRM has?
It has hovered around 2,000 since the second year. This includes ALL copies, including dealers.
8.Besides Studio 27 and Scale Designs, can you name any other companies that UMI does decal work for?
I do all the work for Scale Designs, plus Fisher Model and Pattern, Two Guys Racing, and a couple others I am bound to not mention. For Studio 27, I do about 90% of their work, AMS/Kurachi, some for Modelers and Revell. I also do the art for the Tampo printing on the Exoto diecast line. There have been several one off deals, also.
9.Where do you see MRM in 10 years?
Depending on the model market, we will be going on much as we are now.
10.What was the last model you completed?
This can best be answered with – look in the latest issue. All my building now is for the magazine, and unless noted otherwise, I am the builder of all the models in the issue. As you can see, this is as many as ten models every two or three months. When it is an especially tough conversion or build, the mag gets behind.