Quick Update

I know, I know...three weeks without an update is an eternity for me.  So, here are some things that are going on here in the shop (the spare room upstairs):

1.  The Madcat Mk. II has stalled.  I think I have builders block or something.  I did create some kicking toes for this thing.  It was originally going to be a one-off but there has been a lot of interest in this as a kit so I am having to go back and re-engineer some parts to make it casting friendly.  I hate re-doing work...hate it I say.

2.  The Vulture MK. II has been well received.  Here is a link to one lads build over at MWO: 

3.  I cannot post at MWO anymore.  I don't have a system that will adequately push the game and unless you are an active player, you can't post in the forums.  Fine...f*ck you, too.

4.  JPG is working furiously on the Flea.  He said the first 20 kits should be shipping out in the next couple weeks. 

5.  I am still debating on the next kit.  The Nova Cat is a favorite, but that would take a lot of re-engineering to make it castable.  Maybe the Thor?  The Annihilator? The Masakari?  Maybe get the Madcat MK II finished?

6.  I am staring a new commission.  The customer that commissioned the Daishi scored a Mad Cat on eBay and wants it built.  This should be fun.

More later....

Update: Flea et al

The Flea pre-order has had no real movement for a while, so that is closed.  Unless you have made arrangements with me, all Flea sales will be at the normal retail price.

The Daishi commission is done.  If you are interested in commissioning a mech, now is your chance.  I only like to do one at a time these days...with family and work that is about all I can make time for.

I got a Raven and Commando from Simon over in England.   The detail is extraordinary!  If 3d printing were not so damn expensive, I might look into having detail pieces printed then cast.  My only complaint is scale.  He used the PGI MWO scales...and using their scale the Commando is...tiny.  Detailed and well cast, but just small. 

Any-who...since I am between commissions, I hope to make some serious progress on the Madcat Mk II.  The torso is roughed out, the leg master has been made and molded/cast.  I should have it to a point where I am comfortable posting some pics.

Until then...

Update

I did something and have aggravated a nerve that runs from the neck through the shoulder and down my arm.  It hurts like hell and has limited my functionality. When I try to lift my arm or turn my head, I get a shooting pain from neck to shoulder to elbow to finger. Kinda sucks...

The Flea pre-order is still open.  I am hoping to get a few more before closing it out.  The master has gone to the caster.

All the Vulture kits are out the door.  The international orders went out today.  There is a page link to the right that takes you to a quick build of the Vulture and addresses a few issues I discovered when I built mine. As always, there are subtle shifts that occur between molding and casting. It may have taken 4 months, but I think it is worth the wait. I hope you do too.

If anyone out there has pics of their builds of my kits, I would appreciate seeing them and posting them on the blog.  As always, thanks for all your support.

Flea Pre-Order: Redux

Trying it again.  The Flea Pre-order is up and running for 1 week and one week only. If you're ready, come and get it. Pre-order pricing: 

Cost: $55 plus shipping

Domestic Shipping:  $10

International Shipping:  $20

I will no longer combine shipping, hold kits, etc.  It is getting confusing for little old me and I know I am eventually going to oversell because a hold kit wasn't marked as such.  So, when your kit comes in from the caster it is going straight out to you. In the short run, this is going to cost me a wee bit but it will simplify things in the future.

Contact Link

Quick Update

Hi All!  Just got this e-mail from JPG regarding the Vulture MK II:

I'm getting ready to pack up your stuff! 

Huzzah!  Huzzah!  Huzzah!

For the Deimos customers...there were a few issues with the main guns and MMD was not happy with they way they turned out.  They have been remolded and recast and are on their way to the States.

Finally, I think I am going to re-open the Flea pre-order.  I may have found a way to fund this with only 10 pre-orders.

The Women We Love

In all my years of producing Battletech kits, I have only had 2 female customers and one was buying for her husband. For some reason, the ladies in our lives often have a hard time understanding our love for big, stompy "robots" (they have no idea what a mech is) and blowing stuff up.

Well, here is the answer....

Just an Update

Hi Everyone....finally caught the virus that my son then my wife had.  I sat down to work on models yesterday and pretty much stared at the kits for a few hours and drooled on myself.  Bleh!

Site note:  I am going to try to create more pages (links to right) to make it easier to find things on the site.

Like Scott, I need to take more pics to document my builds.  The Calliope is coming along nicely although I think it may be too big to effectively cast/sell.  I am also working on the Madcat MK. II which is progressing nicely. That rounded nose is a pain, but it's worth the work.  As always, I like to make little mods along the way.

I am also modding a Victor to make it look more burly and aggressive. I have modded the top of the torso so that rather than being flat it is arched to the same contour as the shoulders so the head looks a bit recessed (i.e. the MWO Victor).  I am also reworking the legs to give it a more dynamic pose...and I think I will make the Gauss rifle bigger.

I am still dealing with fall out from the last caster.  When they send the kits, they come in a bag with all the pieces for one kit.  I just assumed they were all correct.  However, many who bought the Cougar ended up with either two left legs or two right legs.  That line is closed, and as customers find these issues, I am having to "rebuild" legs for them.  What a pain in my ass....but that's what I get for not checking.

What else....oh, I took on a commission build.  A customer wants a factory fresh Smoke Jaguar Daishi.  The Smoke Jag paint job should be a challenge.  I did get work done on that yesterday...sanding down pour stubs, cleaning, first layer of putty. That reminds me....time for a "what the hell" type of poll.

Oh, and the next kit will be the Flea.  No doubt there.  As soon as the Vulture is done, I will get a pre-order started.

Now, I need to go blow my nose....