Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Coming Soon!

Sorry for the lack of updates to the blog.  I have been using...ugh...Facebook a lot more of late.  It is just easier to snap pictures with the tablet and upload them to FB whereas to use Blogger I have to download stuff to the desktop PC, deal with blogger....yadda, yadda, yadda.

Anyway in the next few months I have a lot in the pipeline.  First off is a commission piece that I have been given permission to cast.  The Classic Battletech Firestarter mech.  The patron allowed me to play with the design a bit, but he really wanted me to retain as much of the TRO look as possible...and that skirt was no possible, lol.    Look for that to be available to pre-order in a few weeks. 



After almost 6 years, the Annihilator is being kitted.  Here is a picture of the test cast from the torso mold...probably the hardest part to make.  Not too shabby if I do say so myself.



Another client has commissioned the ill-fated Fafnir.  In case you don't remember, years ago I was having a hard time getting good casters to do my kits.  I tried a company called CelticWorks and it was a disaster. It looked like rather than de-gassing the rubber, he decided to pressure mold the parts.  Well, all my parts are hollow and cannot handle 65 PSI.  All the parts were crushed...the patterns destroyed. The client that initially commissioned the piece has asked to have another go at it so look for it this summer.



And finally, I have acquired the rights to produce the Stormcrow.  Many moons ago, a Canadian artist was commissioned by Armorcast to make the Stormcrow to go with their other kits.  Well, things did not work out with Armorcast and the kit never saw production.  The artist sold a few to some of us die-hards but that was about it.  Ravenstar Studios tried re-casting them last year but we got that shut down.  The artist has sold me his masters as well as a few updated 3D printed parts so look for that kit this summer.  

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Resuming Operations

I have received some of the molds from the caster that couldn't cast anymore.  One set I received was the new Wasp/Stinger kit.  Please visit the Marketplace to see what is now available.  Again, these are cast on demand so please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.




Thursday, January 10, 2019

Raven Option Parts

I have some 3D printed option parts for the Raven.  All you have to do is sand off existing detail and glue these on.  The 3 parts for the weapons pods can be used on the left or right side...just flip them.  If you want a set with your kit, let me know. These are prints done on a Formlabs 2 resin printer and are awesome quality.  They are $15 extra.


Tuesday, January 8, 2019

The Raven!

Several of you donated to support Battlemech Models and here is the result...the Raven!  This is the first kit produced 100% in-house...and my first attempt at casting and it turned out very, very well.  There are 10 pressure cast resin parts to this kit and several of the joints have been designed with posability in mind.  As with all my mechs it is 1/60 in scale and is a blend of the TRO design and the newer MWO design.  Full disclosure...some parts were 3D printed using a Formlabs 2 system. 

Here is a review a customer did of one of the first out of the molds!  Link! 

The cost of the kit is $120 plus shipping.  If you are interested in a copy, these are cast-on-demand and it will take about 4 weeks post-payment to get them out the door.  Please, e-mail me for an invoice.  E-mail....




Monday, January 7, 2019

The state of things....

Hi All. Sorry for the long delay in posts.  It has been a few months of drama for Battlemech Models. I have had all kinds of issues with the caster George Takacs and his company TimeSlip Creations.  Parts I ordered in July have never been delivered, restocks ordered in September have only been partially filled, and new kits were being delivered in unsellable condition.  Regarding the restocks I was told on multiple occasions they were "shipping the next day" or things to that effect. It took 4 months to get 2 kits.  One of the kits I asked for restocks on he had to "see if he could find the molds." Bear in mind, this kit was molded/cast this spring.  How you lose molds like that is unclear and unacceptable.  Then, he started blaming his partner (whom I had never heard of) even though he has always insisted he runs his own shop with a staff.  

TimeSlip Creations inability to fill my orders was effectively killing off Battlemech Models as he had the molds and masters for my kits effectively keeping me from being able to stock any kits.  

For all intents and purposes, I have had to terminate my business dealings with TimeSlip Creations. The runarounds, the half-truths, insisting things were shipped but refusing to provide tracking, and the inability to fulfill orders has just become untenable. 

Where does that leave Battlemech Models?  Well, I tried my hand at casting the Raven and the reviews of the kit have been pretty good.  I am currently molding a TRO Commando for a client.  

As for all my older stuff...the Orion, the Dragon, the Madcat, the Shadow Cat, the Archer, the Wasp, and the Loki...I am now going to have to engage in battle to get those masters and molds returned to me.  If I can get those, I can resume production.  From my lips to God's ear...

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Thank YOU!

Mark
Scott 
Stephen
and 
Thomas

Monday, November 5, 2018

Please help support the Growth of FCY Battlemech Moldes

Currently, FCY/Battlemech Models is branching out to do limited casting. There is, however, a learning curve. Resin, rubber, equipment, supplies and time all add up to a lot of money. That being said, I am asking the Large Scale Mech community for support.

"Why should I donate my hard earned money?"

While there are no immediate, tangible gains there WILL be in the near future. The large scale, detailed kits will still go to the professional casters but this gives me the option to start offering smaller, limited runs of kits as well as detail/option parts and off the wall stuff like armor and turrets for terrain. It will also reduce costs of the smaller run kits significantly.

So, if you can help out it would be greatly appreciated. Soon I will start posting pics of my molding/casting ventures.

The "Support" link is to the right.

Thank you in advance!