Another general update

Well, some good news on the Large Scale Battletech front...the Templar has been officially commissioned (official meaning a down payment has been made) and the buyer has agreed to let me kit it. Jumped into that last weekend. I cut more plastic in one day then I have in months, I do believe. Additionally, the Mad Cat I started and put away has been picked up as a commission. Apparently, one of you lads REALLY wanted to see that become a kit as well. I am thinking the MWO arms would look good on it....maybe. That or arms similar to the Vulture MK II.

On the Fafnir front, the caster is making GOOD progress. He has been sending me pics but I am hesitant to share them. Every caster has his/her own way of doing things and I have NEVER seen a caster use a process like this guy is using. Based on the pics and his explanations, I think this may actually be one of the most bubble-free kits to date. He said I should have a prototype in hand in a week or so. When I get it, pics will be posted.

General Update

The Fafnir.  It is at the caster and has been for about 3 weeks.  He still has not started it.  Sigh....

Atlas restock is supposed to be done this week...but it was supposed to be done last week.  Sigh...

I have to be honest, I am in a really bad place when it comes to making these models.  Sales have not been that great for the last year.  I have issue after issue with casters...granted, it is often stuff beyond their control but it still causes me stress.  People are quick to commit to buying but when I set up a pre-order it is usually only the same 15 or so people who actually order (and to you guys I am grateful beyond words).  Currently, I have about 15 Owens kits on the shelf, 10 Loki kits, 5 Mad Cat MK II kits, a couple Bushwackers and a couple of Hellspawns. I am advertising them as much as I dare as I do not want CGL to come down on me...and I am fighting the new MWO stuff.  People are printing those cheaper than I can do mine. Again, there is that core of you who appreciate the quality I turn out but there are way more people who would rather pay $100 for a poorly printed MWO (fill in the mech here) than $135 for one of my resin beasties. Oh, and before the hate comes my way...when I say poorly printed, I am simply referring to level of 3D printing tech right now...not the skill of they people doing it.

Then there are the people who commission mechs. We work out the details and pricing, send pics/revisions back and forth...then when it comes time to put down a deposit..POOF!  Gone.  Three times this year alone. That is just time wasted...

So...this weekend (when I was off half my meds) I packed up the Sagittaire, the Mad Cat, the Mauler, the Shadow Cat, and the Templar and put them in the closet.

I am working with my printer (AKA the Magician) to get an SLA print of the Centurion and that is going to be the last mech for the foreseeable future...mainly because I really want a Centurion. It is my "grail" kit. I think once I add some of my touches to the MWO design, it will be fantastic. Oh, and it will be in MY 1/60 scale...not PGI 1/60 scale.

I guess what it boils down to is that I feel what I am putting into it and what I am getting out of it are way out of balance.

Preemptive answers to the inevitable questions:

1.  No...not closing the doors or going out of business.  Just slowing down.
2.  No...the blog is not going anywhere.  I will still post updates as well as pics of mechs you guys send in.
3. No....there will not be a clearance sale.
4. No...the Facebook page is not going anywhere.

The gist....don't expect tons of updates or new kits until I get my mojo back.

MWO Atlas

The first run of the Atlas has sold out.  There has been enough interest for me to do a second run. If I get 5 paid pre-orders I will do another run ASAP.  The reason for paid pre-order (for the new folk) is that this is a hobby not a full fledged business.  I need guaranteed commitments...not hundreds of dollars worth of resin sitting around because people say they want it but do not buy. All pre-orders are done through PayPal to protect the customers.  Contact me here if you want an Invoice.  $185 plus shipping.

And here is a customers unboxing video. 

Update

The Atlas is FINALLY in.  The domestic orders have shipped out.  International orders will follow soon.  Build notes for the Atlas and the Loki are now posted. Links are to the right.  

Work is progressing on the Sagittaire build.  I should be able to get it to the caster in the next few weeks.  

Loki Pre-order Closed

The Loki pre-order is closed. If you have not paid your invoice it will be cancelled.  The kit will be available in the Marketplace in the coming weeks.

Loki Pre-order

The Loki pre-order has been a bit lethargic.  Quite a few of the people who expressed interest have gone silent. 

For those that do pre-order, here is the plaque you will receive with the kit. 

Loki Pre-Order

The Loki is now at the caster.  As JPG Productions is currently MONTHS behind on the Atlas and has the Owens and Fafnir to do, I have moved production to Timeslip Creations...they did the Bushy and the Thor. 

Now...as the regular caster is behind (WAY behind) my business model has taken a bit of a hit.  This means I won't be able to offer a pre-order discount on the Loki.  What I will do is offer a plaque (like with Vulture IV, Atlas, & upcoming Owens) for paid pre-orders.  This pre-order will be limited to 20 units total. The price will be $135 plus shipping. If you are interested, please let me know HERE. Make sure to let me know if this will be shipped to an addy in the lower 48 or outside/international.  

Note, the toes will be different on the production version

The new toe design is circled