It takes a lot to run a blog or forum. Especially when it isn't profitable. You take a lot of abuse from people you don't even know, then other people attack your forum or blog, with virus's . All this time, you start to wonder why you even do this. i used to make a sh*tload of models, but running a forum took the time and passion out of it. I enjoy helping and seeing other people's work, but after a while, especially when somebody makes a demand or just can't enjoy the forum the way it is, gets tiring. I've been smeared by people I don't even know and have been sent hateful letters that I can only say, if I ever ran into those people in real life, they would sweat bullets because I am not one who suffers fools, and project that. I am always well armed, and my martial arts training takes care of the times when I don't have to resort to external armament. My how brave some people are behind the veil of the internet. My hands are registered as lethal weapons where I live, after an incident where I was attacked and maybe could have responded a bit less violently, but in my defense, it was a complete stranger, and I was not charged, he was a wanted felon and is presently serving a 10 year sentence. So I must take care with people, and suffer their slings and arrows, and hope to God they hit me first, or at least try, or, best of all, just leave me alone.
Living with this state of mind because of a paper model forum makes me wonder why I bother with this at all. I can understand where Mauther is coming from. I don't think he is gone, and may pop up in some different format. I have extended all possible help this forum can offer. So no one need contact him about that.
This forum has a fantastic group of members, it's the only reason I stay. A lot have not posted lately, but I hope they do return, life does goes on, and priorities change.
Mauther offered some really unique and highly artistic models. Once could easily make a town or village out of his models, and have a display to be proud of.