Modelhaus Not taking New Orders Once Again

[High octane]

If nobody buys the Modelhaus business and keeps it going, a lot of modelers are going to face a rude awakening.

[oldcarfan]

That would be nice if someone could get in touch w/ Bob. I need every resin part for a '65 Fairlaine... a '68 Torino GT grille.. and a couple other bits.

That is funny! I have a '65 Fairlane that I am restoring. All the chrome is worn off of the parts. I needed to order those and I've waited too long. I'll have to be quick and order when they catch up.

[sfhess]

That is funny! I have a '65 Fairlane that I am restoring. All the chrome is worn off of the parts. I needed to order those and I've waited too long. I'll have to be quick and order when they catch up.

Chrome in my 65 Fairlane kit (2nd issue) is perfect......

[High octane]

That is funny! I have a '65 Fairlane that I am restoring. All the chrome is worn off of the parts. I needed to order those and I've waited too long. I'll have to be quick and order when they catch up.

Can't you just strip all of the chrome and either Alclad/Spaz-Stix it, or send it to Chrome Tech USA to have it re-plated?

[oldcarfan]

I probably can, but they are pitted and all the stuff that comes with 50 years. I was going to order the replacement pieces and keep the originals. Plus those little fender ornaments were broken too now that I think of it.

[Tom Geiger]

I will start by saying I have no inside track, this is pure speculation on my part...

I can understand if they do not sell the business.  Modelhaus has been the standard that all aftermarket companies have been measured against. It was a hard earned reputation that took years of diligent work. It would be difficult for a new owner to learn the skills to produce such a high level of product, and want to put in the time and efforts to continue to earn that reputation. 

I know of several aftermarket companies that were purchased by well intentioned new owners that fizzled and died. The new owners saw cash potential, but didn't understand the talent, time and hard work that went into running that type of business.

The difficult part of resin casting is that there is no mass production. Each and every piece is hand poured, inspected and cleaned up. It's more work for parts that are prepped for chroming, put onto racks and sent for chroming.  There is a reject rate for both casting and chroming, especially when you really care about the quality.  And that's for every part down to that $3 1/25 scale chrome hood ornament.   You cannot hire and pay people to do this work. This isn't a get rich quick scheme.

The quandary of the aftermarket is that it's easy to come up with and sell product.  Every company starts out by producing a few parts for themselves. Friends ask for parts and it grows from there. Most don't understand how to price the product, or the commitment of time and resources. Before they know it they are buried deep in orders that they can never fill and they aren't making money.  That's when most collapse under the weight of complaints and pressure.

So I wouldn't blame Don and Carol if the plan is simply to turn off the lights and lock the workshop on their last day of business. It will be good to go out on top, with a reputation that is second to none, than to sell the business and have someone else tarnish that memory. Wish them well and respect whatever they choose to do.

[junkyardjeff]

I built models for many years before hearing about Modelhaus and probably can live without them but their parts have spoiled me,I do not know how long they have been doing it but I first started ordering parts off them about 4 years ago and was hoping it would go on for many more years. If it was still in the less then 2 dollars for a kit days I would have no problem buying new kits for parts but now that its over 20 dollars I can not do it so the Modelhaus was a big help.

[carrucha]

I too have been guilty of procrastinating in ordering parts.  When they do open up again it will probably be my last order.

[aurfalien]

All in all, I think it was pretty nice of them to announce there closure well in advance rather then do it all the sudden.

I imagine them being up early and late to bed, neglecting proper diet, exercise and rest.

To me, there actions do show a sort of duty to this hobby.

Man, I do feel for them.

[1930fordpickup]

If they do sell whomever buys will not be as busy  they are now. I think many people have been stocking up for a couple years worth. 

[Tom Geiger]

If they do sell whomever buys will not be as busy  they are now. I think many people have been stocking up for a couple years worth. 

I bought a collection of a dozen early annuals, all rebuilders that had been stripped already.   I was surprised to win it on eBay since I didn't bid all that high. I was even more surprised when it came and every one of them had a complete set of Modelhaus chrome, more money than I spent for the entire lot.

[modelercarl]

I agree with all of the posts lauding Carol and Don for their high standards and their service to us modelers.  Although I have not bought that much from them, what I did buy filled a niche that no other resin caster could and the quality was excellent.

I wonder if Dave from MCW might be a good candidate to buy all or some of their product line.  He recently sold off his paint line to focus on the resin portion of his business.  I have purchased 3 of his resin kits and found the quality to be very good and I think his experience with resin casting and selling would be beneficial.

[Merkur XR4Ti]

Who did Dave at MCW sell his paint line to? I still see that I could order paints from MCW off their website.

[john sharisky]

Who did Dave at MCW sell his paint line to? I still see that I could order paints from MCW off their website.

Mike at:

http://wingswheelswaves.com/

John

 

 

 

 

[High octane]

 

Mike at:

http://wingswheelswaves.com/

John

I've ordered from them already with good results.

 

 

 

[lizardlust]

GREAT - JUST got my internet running again this afternoon!! Thanks SO much, Centurylink.....

 

[Dave Ambrose]

I feel like a noobie, but how do you order things from Modelhaus? Do they have a catalog?

[Greg Wann]

http://www.rocketfin.com/model_car_links.html

 

They have a website.  There is a link in this list of other sites for modeling.  There site is shut down though.

 

[mikemodeler]

I feel like a noobie, but how do you order things from Modelhaus? Do they have a catalog?

They do have a catalog Dave, but it is faster and easier to order online. They do not have items pictured on their website, but rest assured the parts are as good as ones from  a kit! There have been some posts here with pictures of some of their stuff.

I think they have shut down the website instead of disabling the order feature, which is good and bad. I do have their 2013 printed catalog, PM me if there is something you are looking for specifically and I can check to see if it listed.

[High octane]

Modelhaus has great kits and parts, however it is getting more and more "iffy" if a person will be able to order anything from them in the near or distant future as I heard that the Holthaus's are "swamped" and they might not want anymore orders after they catch up with what orders they already have. People seem to forget that the Holthaus's want to RETIRE.

[Greg Wann]

Acquiring Modelhaus.  I do have a genuine interest in that dream.  I did contact them.  Carol replied that Don and I could certainly talk about it.  I asked her about the rumor of a group of investors buying the business.  She replied that no such person or persons has shown any kind of interest in the business, just me.  It has been sometime now that I inquired.  I don't really have any money though.  I certainly would not be able to do it alone.  I would need a lot of help as I am uncertain how good of a business owner I could be.  Doing what I do now is not easy with a full time job.  I am 58 and would like to retire from the crazy job of being a plumber at Arizona State University.  I work four, ten hour days and have Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday off.  At least on Saturday and Sunday I don't have a bunch of bosses crawling up my butt to get stuff done.  Friday is my Monday and we call it FALL APART FRIDAY.  Pretty much on Friday at 1 PM the campus starts falling apart with plumbing related items either blowing apart or stopping up.  There is only about ten guys for approximately two hundred buildings on and around campus that we do maintenance work in.  By the time I get home I am pretty much too butt whipped to do any resin casting.  I did get some done today but most of the day was spent running errands.  All in all I get two good days of resin casting done out of seven.  That is not really a very good turnout of product.  I do make some money, but it is still in a hobby mode.  I really would like for it to be much more.  Bill Coulter told me that the Model Haus business is nearly a 24 - 7 operation and creates a six figure income.  If you are sick that is just too darn bad.  They may well have not had a vacation in years either.   Bill lives in Ohio and occasionally visits Don and Carol.

I have not rallied this idea to the forty one Moonlight Model car club and Cactus Car Model club members about being able to run such a business.  Make it make money and remain in the black. I would like it if we had our own vacuum metalizing shop to chrome plate plastic parts.  There are some plating businesses in the valley but I can't find one that does plastic parts.  I personally think that is just weird since this part of the country is full of street rods and classic cars that have plastic parts that need chrome plated.  There are plenty of really talented people in the two model clubs who could do the work too.  We are mostly older folks who are retired or are getting ready to retire.  There might be some members that are retired but don't have much of an income to really enjoy the model hobby.  It could create something good for club members and the model hobby.  There is a hand full of guys with a background in graphic arts and 3 D printing.  I would need a shop doing laser cutting and 3 D printers that can make stainless steel parts.  I would like a shop making photo etch parts too.  It has been pointed out, what is Model Haus worth?  Moving it would be a daunting task as well.  Having it all under one roof might become some expensive overhead as well.  But there are business expenses to right off too.  The concept does interest me for certain.

Edited February 24, 2016 by Greg Wann

[Dave Ambrose]

http://www.rocketfin.com/model_car_links.html

 

They have a website.  There is a link in this list of other sites for modeling.  There site is shut down though.

 

Thanks for the pointer. Web site is more or less offline. But, there's some good stuff buried in that list too!

[gtx6970]

Buying Modelhaus in one lump sum  is not going to be easy ,,and i have a feeling NOT  cheap. . Especially if the buyer needs to relocate everything any kind of  distance ( and I am sure there is a LOT to move)

IMO, doing so may take a while to see any kind of return on investment within a short time period .Which brings up another issue,,,,, There own retiremant schedule ,,,I think any buyer has to think about there own age or retiremant will be an issue again ,,,sooner than later.  You also have to think about the man power to operate it as a business and not just a couple days of the week hobby.

IMO it would require its own dedicated facility . That way when the day is over turn out the lights and close the door and go home and not think about it.

Its a business , treat it as such with normal hours to allow the owners(s) to have a life outside of the operation.

Also, IMO, a potential buyer needs to already have an establised presence in the aftermkt world to assure customers the quatily will be comparable to what Holthaus has estabilished . Otherwise it will be an uphill battle that the new owner(s)  may , (or may not) not have the finances to endure for any kind of sustained time frame .

 

Again all this is MY 2cents only.

[Travis T]

I bought a built 63 Ford pickup that needs some of their help, I sure am going to have to keep an eye out for when they reopen, I would like to save this truck. I guess I assumed they would always be around.

[Greg Wann]

Buying Modelhaus in one lump sum  is not going to be easy ,,and i have a feeling NOT  cheap. . Especially if the buyer needs to relocate everything any kind of  distance ( and I am sure there is a LOT to move)

IMO, doing so may take a while to see any kind of return on investment within a short time period .Which brings up another issue,,,,, There own retiremant schedule ,,,I think any buyer has to think about there own age or retiremant will be an issue again ,,,sooner than later.  You also have to think about the man power to operate it as a business and not just a couple days of the week hobby.

IMO it would require its own dedicated facility . That way when the day is over turn out the lights and close the door and go home and not think about it.

Its a business , treat it as such with normal hours to allow the owners(s) to have a life outside of the operation.

Also, IMO, a potential buyer needs to already have an establised presence in the aftermkt world to assure customers the quatily will be comparable to what Holthaus has estabilished . Otherwise it will be an uphill battle that the new owner(s)  may , (or may not) not have the finances to endure for any kind of sustained time frame .

 

Again all this is MY 2cents only.

Yes, I do realize all these points.  There certainly is a lot to consider.   Don and carol have kept the business as a 1/25 scale automotive business only.  We could branch into other modeling subjects and scales of size too.  I don't think Don and Carol really know how much to ask.  If I suddenly won the lottery it would not even be a problem for me.