SfanGoch

That's not the only rebox.The Limited Edition A-4E/F Skyhawk Vietnam Scooter 1/48 is another which comes to mind. It's a repackaged $35 Hasegawa kit with a decal sheet, one PE fret and a resin ejection seat being sold for ninety bucks. Nice kit but the extra tchotchke thrown in don't merit the cost. There are other such examples; but, this conversation is digressing from the OT. Sub-par was too strong a critique. What I was getting at is some companies do repackage other manufacturers' products, throw in a few extra bits and pieces, then expect a potential customer to fork over a premium price for what amounts to nothing. I liked what Accurate Miniatures did with their kits, especially the Corvette GS. No resin; but, they did provide two pretty decent PE frets which were made by, heh, Eduard. If the major players in the model auto manufacturing arena would add some PE to dress up the kits in the same way armor kit makers do, it wouldn't be a bad thing. It'd raise the price some; but, it would still be a good deal. Besides, if one shops around, you can always find some online shop selling car kits anywhere from 10-30% below MSRP.

No deal like that at the Brooklyn store. The Camaro is available for 22 bucks.

Eduard has reboxed a few kits from others, but the bulk of their models are original to Eduard and they tend to be very high quality, particularly those from the past decade. I've not seen anyone refer to an Eduard kit as "sub par". You must've missed Eduard's Profi PACK straight re-box of the Academy Kingtiger Last Production. The Academy kit qualifies as sub-par when compared with the Dragon KTs. Check out the armor modelling forums for reviews and comments on this one. Eduard doesn't even provide additional PE or resin parts and the "Octopus" camo ring decal sheet from the original Academy 13229 is not included. This re-box costs $75, 20-35 bucks more than the original offering. More Profit than Profi.

Something similar: B&G 1/8 car model kit Shelby Cobra 427 1965 (red) 3500 D-Mark. That's more than ten times what I paid for my 1972 Plymouth Valiant. At least this one comes with an engine. The Slant 6 in the Valiant dropped out on the Northern State Parkway.

No idea, as I've never seen that kit, but hard to imagine it could be much nicer than this one--that's how good it is. It really makes the old MPC Jeep (which I HAVE built) look like a toy. Excellent and clean build, Snake. No overdone weathering and the OD paint job is perfect. I just started working on the Hasegawa MB. Jim Banner, owner of Large Scale Armory, sent the Hasegawa MB and four of his 1/24 AM sets to build up and review. BTW, the accessories can be used on the Italeri kit as well. Both the Italeri and Hasegawa kits build up nicely. The problem with both are the wheels, especially the sink marks around the mounting bolt details on the Italeri kit. The Hasegawa kit has separate rims; but, the detail is a bit soft.

Skill Levels indicate the ease of construction/complexity of a particular kit. That said, that also would mean a corresponding increase in parts count as the Skill Level increases. Some manufacturers, like Dragon, don't use Skill Levels as a barometer of difficulty. The amount of parts mentioned on the box lid is a good clue to what the expected frustration factor will be. One thing for sure, you won't see a 1/25 1965 Pontiac GTO with a 957 part count anytime soon. It'd be nice, though.

You know what P.T. Barnum said.........

The Eduard sets are re-boxed kits from other manufacturers like Academy with, as you pointed out, a few resin parts and usually PE thrown in. For this, you pay what I would consider too much money for what are essentially sub par models to begin with. I primarily build military subjects. A Voyager TUSK II conversion set for the Dragon 3536 M1A2 Abrams SEP set me back 128 bucks. Toss in a set of Bronco T158 Bigfoot tracks to replace the gawdawful DS Tracks included with the kit and you're already looking at way over two bills including the kit itself. To be honest, It'd be nice if car kits were available with the works included and I'd pay the extra cash for that.

Have you checked out the prices for 3D printed parts? You won't be cutting costs that way. The cost per part goes up if you choose a better finish quality and type of material.

Flat Neutral Gray paint simulates gray zinc phosphate, while the MM Gunmetal Metalizer is more to the black version. If a very small amount of Metalizer non-buffing Steel is added to the neutral gray, it'll impart a slightly metallic sheen found on fresh, unoiled gray parkerized surfaces. I just compared that mixture to an extra M1911 barrel I reparkerized a couple of years ago.

The obvious choice is MM Metalizer Gunmetal. It's supposed to replicate a zinc phosphate finish as found on firearms such as M16/M4, etc.

The use of boldface fonts, italics and quotes is meant to emphasize my point and make sure you get it. The cyber equivalent of gesticulating, if you will. I'm from Brooklyn. We're used to talking with our hands here. You're absolutely correct in one respect, though. I don't get to decide what the definition of "reasonable time" is. Uncle Sugar saved me the trouble by way of the Uniform Commercial Code: "Under federal law, you must receive merchandise you ordered from a catalog within a reasonable time after placing your order. If the seller cannot ship on time, you have the right to cancel. If the seller advertises a six-week wait, that is a reasonable time. Generally, if the seller does not state a delivery time, 30 days is considered reasonable." Pretty "reasonable" definition, eh? That definition of "reasonable time" is recognized in every state, with the exception of Louisiana. They have their own problems. I won't blame any reseller for this. He places an order with the expectation that it will be filled within, and here's that term again, a "reasonable time" so that he can take care of customers at his level. Since HRM, who is also by definition a seller, doesn't provide a specific date for delivery of goods, the 30 day window is what is recognized as "reasonable" under the law. Because HRM can't deliver ordered goods to a reseller/shop (or a mail order customer) in a reasonable and timely manner, this makes the reseller look bad and brings unwarranted and negative comments about the level of service he provides due to circumstances beyond his control. This not only gives the reseller a reputation as being undependable , it does the same to that of the manufacturer/seller. All three of the major HRM resellers (Strada Sports, Island Collectibles and RedFrog Hobbies) I'm aware of are perpetually out of stock. How does that square with the statement that Mr. Bradford is trying to supply them? Staying with that thought, one comment, made by Rex, which I found puzzling was that he purchased HRM items at one of the NNL shows where Mr. Bradford brings "excess inventory" to sell. You and J.C. seem like intelligent guys. Care to explain how you can have "excess inventory" to sell at shows yet can't fill orders from resellers and snail mail customers within that annoyingly repetitive, yet relevant, "reasonable time"? As to your comment about buying from a company with a one week turnaround, I do. The stuff is 1/35 (armor items) and is unmatched for detail and casting quality. This is from a one man operation working from a 500 sq.ft. garage and has over 200 products (kits and accessories) available. This guy treats his operation as a business, not as a diversionary hobby. So does Miloslav Hraban, the proprietor of Real Model, in the Czech Republic. He also has an extensive product line, from full resin kits to accessories and conversions. Everything is top quality. He is a one man band and manages to get orders out with a short turnaround time, casting the items as the order(s) are received if his inventory is depleted. Let me just say that I'm not trying to get into a p*ssing contest with you, or anyone else about this. A few of you are personal friends of Mr. Bradford and it's understandable that you'll stand up for him. I'm not one to accept an endless litany of excuses or the reality of lost build time waiting indefinitely for something that may never arrive. I'm a very patient guy. But, there is a limit to that patience; and, I'd say eight months' wait for three relatively minor, albeit necessary, backorder items and reading that he sells "excess inventory" at shows while not filling existing orders, is that limit. I'm not going to blame any reseller because they're in the same boat.

I believe Ron Burgundy said something to that effect.

As long as I am a paying customer, I will either praise or complain about the product/service as the situation dictates. In my particular circumstance, eight months of excuses is seven months too many. The decision to cancel any outstanding order was already made by HRM in not being able to fill it in anything remotely resembling a timely manner. Mr. Bradford's products are good, just not good enough to wait this long. That goes for anything for sale by anyone. I got by in the past without HRM products, I'll do the same now. If, as you pointed out, he has too much on his plate, deciding what his business priorities are would be beneficial to him and his customers in the long term.

Why should it hurt you? There is nothing personal about complaining about a company's practices. It's strictly business. That's part of what happens when you operate an entity dealing with the general public. I have no qualms about pointing out what I see as an ineffective and outdated business model. That is my right as a potential/longtime customer. Anyone who spends his money on any product or service is entitled to the reasonable expectation of a reasonable delivery date and the right to voice his displeasure about what is seen as less than acceptable service rendered by a company. In the cases where someone is sitting on his thumbs waiting for upwards of a year or more, this is by no stretch "reasonable". Quality of a product doesn't validate or excuse the extremely long interval between order and delivery. "Reasonable" delays, as in a few weeks, are understandable; anything more and the company's dedication to good service are suspect and called into question. "It's worth the wait" really doesn't cut it. As far as any complaints, that should be a wakeup call to anyone running a business of any type. Too many of those will make potential customers to think twice about conducting any business with any proprietor who can't deliver.

So far, so good. Which company makes this kit? I built a Mamoli 1/93 scale U.S.S. Constitution years ago and the rigging was a headache and a half.

How about Harry Archer (William Hudson) from "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" or maybe Harry "Happy" Maione, an old pal of the mug in my avatar

IPS Weld-On #4. It's the same as Ambroid, Tenax-7 and Plastruct Bondene. It doesn't promote "blushing" on clear parts. Any halfway decent hardware store, a plastics/foam rubber fabricator or Grainger's carries it. A 4 oz. can, which will last for years, will set you back around 8-9 bucks.

The New TMD is a company specializing in resin kits and A/M for armor models. I just used the company to illustrate how a "cottage industry" manufacturer can stay small and be successful at what he does. If you're interested, here's the link for TMD. Joe makes beaucoup neat stuff for the treadhead fraternity.

Which brings us back to customer goodwill and setting priorities. What good does attending trade shows, and showcasing your products, do for your business if you can't maintain a decent product output to satisfy customer demand? If attending these shows prevents Harold, or any other small manufacturer, from catching up in production, it's obvious what would be the most logical thing to do. Expecting one's order to be cast immediately upon placing it is unreasonable. So are protracted waiting times based on "It'll be ready soon." In my case, the owner of the shop emailed me that he contacted HRM and was told that he would receive his orders (including my stuff) in a couple of weeks. That was three months ago. I received another email this past week indicating that the shop was expecting a shipment on Friday. He doesn't know what's being shipped, let alone if my backordered items are included. Gee, would it be too much to ask of HRM to fax over an invoice to let a retailer know what to expect? "He's a one man operation" isn't a good reason for being backlogged to such an extent. There are plenty of one man operations which are able to meet the demands of customers with a minimum of delay. Joe Bakanovic's The New TMD comes to mind. Here's what he has to say: "I have learned that this is a business and, as such, I have to run it as a business – not as a ‘for profit’ hobby. This means I have to be cost efficient in how I run things and, over the years, I have found the most efficient way for me to run things by myself is to make everything as you order it. I simply do not have the time for the full scale production necessary to keep shelves full of ready inventory. This also means I can no longer sell to dealers. Instead, I will market and sell directly to you, my valued customer and cherished friend. Unfortunately, this also means I need to work harder to spread the word about The New TMD’s product line. Part of my marketing plan is to make products you’re so crazy about that you can’t help telling your friends about them (or, if that doesn’t work, to make products your friends are so jealous of they steal yours so you have to come buy more from me). Operating as a one-man shop also means I have to rely on the internet to conduct all my business. This is actually a double-edged sword. While I might miss out on a large portion of my potential market who either do not visit English-only modeling DG’s or who do not use computers all together, it also means I can offer you more competitive prices by taking advantage of modern technology. Just one example of how this works can be found in the cost savings I can pass on by posting the instruction sheets for my products on line. Instead of including expensive printed instructions in every product, I am able to post pdf files on my web site that you can download onto your computer. Not only does this allow you to magnify the instructions for better clarity, it also means I can include more pictures and more detailed instruction to help you assemble your New TMD product. On the up-side, this means that I can offer my products at a very competitive price. It also means I will be the one who personally casts and inspects every piece that leaves this shop. If I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing, this will say everything that needs to be said about the quality of the products you buy from The New TMD." The key is using the internet to your advantage. HRM doesn't, which is not too business savvy. Joe does and is successful at it. He manufactures products of superb quality, they are in high demand and he is able to satisfy that demand with minimal delay. Joe knows how to foster goodwill with clients. He takes the time to inform customers about any problems regarding production and/or deliveries either through his site or by email directly to the customer. He also makes a lot of sound observations as to how a "cottage industry" business should be operated. More "one man operations" should follow his lead. I ain't holding my breath that will be the standard throughout the "cottage industry, though. Old habits die hard.

I just happened to have the site up looking at the Mack B-61 cab when I saw the thread.

Ain't getting there with that url. This one works: http://www.aitruckmodels.com/

What a revoltin' development this is! If it's not one thing, it's something else. Now, you'll have to worry about blending the PE vents with the surrounding plastic. It's a vicious circle, I tell ya.

I dunno what part of Ohio you reside in; but, if you happen to live near either Cleveland or Columbus, you can go to Blick/Utrecht Art Supplies and get the Z-7 for $4.99. I checked out one of the Amazon listings and the shipping is almost as much as the cost of the debonder.

Get a hold of some Zap Z-7 CA Debonder Gel. It won't craze the styrene like some of the liquid debonders. Cover the lenses with some, let it sit for a few minutes and gently pry them off the bezels. When the CA is ready to be removed, the gel turns from a bright red to a light pink color. You can remove the CA by using the tip of a hobby blade. Once that's done, you can re-polish the lenses until they're transparent. You can dip them in some Pledge Acrylic Floor Finish to ensure any minute scratches are filled in and they stay clear. Instead of CA, use a small amount of Elmer's White Glue to reattach the lenses. The Elmer's dries clear and will hold the lenses in place quite nicely. You can also use Microscale Krystal Klear or Testors Clear Parts Cement; but, they're basically the same thing as Elmer's and a hell of a lot more expensive. I tend to go for the cheap alternative for stuff like that.