"studio scale desanto viper"

[REL]

Awesome work on the Viper. I know having to remake parts is frustrating but like Mycroft said it'll go easier the second time, and if you have a pull sitting around that's even better.

I'm glad to see things are getting back to normal now, I would hate to see the RPF go down the road of some of the other forums. This place has some of the most talented people out there in one spot, that is what makes this place rock.

Now everyone put on the theme to CHiP's and be happy.

 

[BlueSquad2001]

<div class='quotetop'>(REL @ Jul 16 2006, 02:57 PM) [snapback]1281927[/snapback]</div>

Awesome work on the Viper. I know having to remake parts is frustrating but like Mycroft said it'll go easier the second time, and if you have a pull sitting around that's even better.

I'm glad to see things are getting back to normal now, I would hate to see the RPF go down the road of some of the other forums. This place has some of the most talented people out there in one spot, that is what makes this place rock.

Now everyone put on the theme to CHiP's and be happy.
[/b]

LOL.... Theme to CHiP's... Yeah, I'm playing it right now.
Thank you for your compliments. When these Vipers ship, you'll love them. I'm going to make sure that they get back to normal, too much B.S. for me. And hey, this place definately has the MOST TALENTED ARTISTS in one place. This is the one stop shop for all collectors.
Hope to hear from you again.


<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jul 16 2006, 02:53 PM) [snapback]1281925[/snapback]</div>

Mark,.. with every seriousness meant,.. that is some of the most brilliant and sound advice I have read on this board. I hope it ventures past this thread alone as it would do many good to read and put into action. It is obvious that you know your market and the advice is well noted...

Very respectable. Thank you.

I must admit that I am still wanting the kits though..lol. I am very much looking forward to receiving them soon.

As I stated before,.. my hopes are high.
[/b]

Very respectable indeed. I'm blown away by the professional calibre of those words. Very impacting. Now....who can I call "SCHMECKY" ? :lol

<div class='quotetop'>(Kuhn Global @ Jul 16 2006, 02:53 PM) [snapback]1281925[/snapback]</div>

Mark,.. with every seriousness meant,.. that is some of the most brilliant and sound advice I have read on this board. I hope it ventures past this thread alone as it would do many good to read and put into action. It is obvious that you know your market and the advice is well noted...

Very respectable. Thank you.

I must admit that I am still wanting the kits though..lol. I am very much looking forward to receiving them soon.

As I stated before,.. my hopes are high.
[/b]

I think Kurt will be "Schmecky" for the day. He feels like a "Schmecky". :love


To all you Lil' kitters and collectors out there....Here's what. If the F*&^%in' postal service has not been able to locate the mysteriously missing package, I've got some pulls for missing parts, thank god. I'll put them to use on Tues and get these fighters to you all. The wait is almost over. And I'll be glad when I can get one myself.
Thanks again Kurt. I mean "schmecky".

 

[Dobber]

HeHe....schmecky. :lol .

Good advice all around.. Mike, look on the bright side....at least it was just the cannons and the canopy frame that went missing. I know they where the more difficult parts for you to complete....but at least they where smaller...not that I know or understand anything about the process that all of you model CREATORS (consider myself a model maker because I make the models that you guys....yup you guessed it, create.) have to go through. At least it wasn't the Fuselage, wings, and cockpit.

Chris

 

[EchoLeader]

[/quote]Chris...you are great. I appreciate you and the lightheartedness. I needed that. All is well as I have some extra pulls to clean up, and have not because the postal service has told me that the package would arrive, and they are looking for it. So, I have been stuck with a problem of, more money and more time to get the extra moldings in readiness, only to have the package show up, and I've wasted money? That would suck. And I may have to do that. If the package problem is not cleared up by Tues. I'll go forward with the new molds and get these kits outta here and to you all. You bet.
[/quote]

Mike, you don't know me but I have a few kits produced under my belt also and would like to offer some friendly advice if you'd accept.

Your original moulds can be a definate set back if indeed they are never found and were lost but here is something I suggest you always do when mailing anything no matter which delivery company you use. Insure and track everything you mail out. This way if anything is lost, you can always recoop any money that was invested in time and materials.

If I were you I wouldn't wait to see if the package is recovered. I'd go ahead and start a new set of moulds for two reasons.

1.) Time is a factor and your customers deserve their product in a timely fashion.

2.) If your subject matter is as popular as I think it will be, you will eventually need a new set of moulds for castings and if by chance your original moulds do show up, all the better as then you will be ahead of the game with two sets of moulds.

Always think positive as their are solutions to most any problems. Sometimes setbacks are what is needed to go forward and progress.

There are a lot of great and talented people on this board that are willing to lend a hand but you have to do your part in accepting that hand even though sometimes it my be a little slap to yours. I understand as an artist we sometimes take critique kind of hard but think of it as it will only make you a better artist in the long run. The same thing goes for business practices. There have been some great business advice given here that will help you in the long run if you take it.

Good luck,

Rolando

 

[BlueSquad2001]

<div class='quotetop'>(Dobber @ Jul 16 2006, 03:28 PM) [snapback]1281947[/snapback]</div>

HeHe....schmecky. :lol .

Good advice all around.. Mike, look on the bright side....at least it was just the cannons and the canopy frame that went missing. I know they where the more difficult parts for you to complete....but at least they where smaller...not that I know or understand anything about the process that all of you model CREATORS (consider myself a model maker because I make the models that you guys....yup you guessed it, create.) have to go through. At least it wasn't the Fuselage, wings, and cockpit.

Chris
[/b]

Yeah. And tomorrow you'll be "Schmecky."

Chris...you are great. I appreciate you and the lightheartedness. I needed that. All is well as I have some extra pulls to clean up, and have not because the postal service has told me that the package would arrive, and they are looking for it. So, I have been stuck with a problem of, more money and more time to get the extra moldings in readiness, only to have the package show up, and I've wasted money? That would suck. And I may have to do that. If the package problem is not cleared up by Tues. I'll go forward with the new molds and get these kits outta here and to you all. You bet.
[/quote]

Mike, you don't know me but I have a few kits produced under my belt also and would like to offer some friendly advice if you'd accept.

Your original moulds can be a definate set back if indeed they are never found and were lost but here is something I suggest you always do when mailing anything no matter which delivery company you use. Insure and track everything you mail out. This way if anything is lost, you can always recoop any money that was invested in time and materials.

If I were you I wouldn't wait to see if the package is recovered. I'd go ahead and start a new set of moulds for two reasons.

1.) Time is a factor and your customers deserve their product in a timely fashion.

2.) If your subject matter is as popular as I think it will be, you will eventually need a new set of moulds for castings and if by chance your original moulds do show up, all the better as then you will be ahead of the game with two sets of moulds.

Always think positive as their are solutions to most any problems. Sometimes setbacks are what is needed to go forward and progress.

There are a lot of great and talented people on this board that are willing to lend a hand but you have to do your part in accepting that hand even though sometimes it my be a little slap to yours. I understand as an artist we sometimes take critique kind of hard but think of it as it will only make you a better artist in the long run. The same thing goes for business practices. There have been some great business advice given here that will help you in the long run if you take it.

Good luck,

Rolando
[/quote]
This kind of advice needs to be taken. Unfortunately what happened was, Spcglider, did not insure or get tracking, I don't know why, but that is the way it happened. I always insure every package I ship, and have for years when shipping my artwork all over the place. It's just a rule in my business.
I appreciate all of your words and hope to hear from you again.
Take Care.

I don't know why all of my replies keep running together, but it is begining to get confusing and annoying to me, can anyone of you tell me why this is? :eek

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

Rolando
[/quote]
This kind of advice needs to be taken. Unfortunately what happened was, Spcglider, did not insure or get tracking, I don't know why, but that is the way it happened. I always insure every package I ship, and have for years when shipping my artwork all over the place. It's just a rule in my business.
I appreciate all of your words and hope to hear from you again.
Take Care.
[/quote]


The answer is very simple: I have NEVER run into this problem before. In the many years I have been shipping stuff via USPS I have never had a single package lost. Not a single one out of HUNDREDS of packages.


Now, if you'd like an exact run-down of the time-stream that led to the loss of the package, here it is:


Michael asked me to mold his laser cannons.
I said no.
Michael asked me to mold his laser cannons.
I said no.
Michael SENT me his laser canons to mold.
I said no. But did it anyway. Thus breaking one of my few persdonal rules.
I decided to just cast the canons and get the job done as quickly as possible so that Michael could ship kits. (including mine)
Then Michael told me that I was also going to mold and cast the canopies.
I said no. But that was only inside my head. The rule had been broken. Time to pay for it.
Michael sent me the canopy original. I told him to send the mold he had made as well.
I modified his original mold to work.
I cast the canons and the canopies.
I boxed them up in seperate small boxes and then packed the small boxes into a larger box with plenty of padding.
Then I started looking for Michael's address.
I found it on his last mail wrapper.
It was written in "Colonial Script" otherwise known as a typeface called "STOP".
I mis-interpreted the "6" in his zip code as a "0". The typeface is confusing.
The package was sent via priority mail. (once again, NEVER a whit of trouble from USPS. If the post-code had been correct, this wouldn't even be an issue.)
The package was mis-placed.
The package was sought.
The package has not yet been found.
Both Michael and I have been working dilligently to recover it. From all possible angles.

And there you have it.

-G

 

[EchoLeader]

A wrong zip code wouldn't nessesarily make a parcel lost for the USPS, I should know, I've worked for the service for 21 yrs. It would however delay a parcel or other piece of mail. If all attempts to deliver to the correct address fails then the parcel will be "returned to sender". That of course is if the return address is correct. The delay usually happens because now the piece of mail has to be handled by hand and unfortunately due to automation the man power to handle pieces by hand take longer now because their are fewer clerks to process mail this way. Hang in there, I have a feeling the parcel will be returned to sender.

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

<div class='quotetop'>(EchoLeader @ Jul 17 2006, 05:10 PM) [snapback]1282463[/snapback]</div>

A wrong zip code wouldn't nessesarily make a parcel lost for the USPS, I should know, I've worked for the service for 21 yrs. It would however delay a parcel or other piece of mail. If all attempts to deliver to the correct address fails then the parcel will be "returned to sender". That of course is if the return address is correct. The delay usually happens because now the piece of mail has to be handled by hand and unfortunately due to automation the man power to handle pieces by hand take longer now because their are fewer clerks to process mail this way. Hang in there, I have a feeling the parcel will be returned to sender.
[/b]

That's exactly the thing I figured would happen eventually, thanks for the first-hand assurance.

Both Michael and I have filled out 1510 forms to let the appropriate folks know we want this thing tracked down.

It has been several days now and I have gotten no response (not even by mail).

Its just a little frustrating is all.

I've told Michael, that if it comes back to me, I'll be re-packing it and sending it out via FED EX to him overnight just to make sure the stake is driven through this vampire once and for all.


-Gordon

 

[Dobber]

Echo, would you hazard a guess as to how long this may take? I forget when the package was sent, but I don't think it was too long ago.

Chris

 

[EchoLeader]

Too many factors involved for me to even speculate a guess. Depends where it was originally missent to then there's the effort to reroute the parcel to it's correct destination, then after that fails it will be returned to sender marked address "unknown". Mail volume must also be taken into effect.

From what has been said in this thread, the proper steps have been taken to try and track the parcel. Now it's just a waiting game unfortunately.

I had a parcel returned to me, though it was from overseas, 4 months after I had sent it because it was refused at the other end. What surprised me was that it even got back to me especially when different mail services where involved plus the customs authority from two different countries.

Keep the faith.

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

<div class='quotetop'>(EchoLeader @ Jul 17 2006, 09:49 PM) [snapback]1282675[/snapback]</div>

Too many factors involved for me to even speculate a guess. Depends where it was originally missent to then there's the effort to reroute the parcel to it's correct destination, then after that fails it will be returned to sender marked address "unknown". Mail volume must also be taken into effect.

From what has been said in this thread, the proper steps have been taken to try and track the parcel. Now it's just a waiting game unfortunately.

I had a parcel returned to me, though it was from overseas, 4 months after I had sent it because it was refused at the other end. What surprised me was that it even got back to me especially when different mail services where involved plus the customs authority from two different countries.

Keep the faith.
[/b]

June 9th. That was when it shipped. So 9 days over one month ago.

The odd thing is that the WRONG zip code (with a zero at the end instead of a six) is for MORRILTON, AR as opposed to NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR. So you'd figure that they'd look at the package, see that it has the address of NORTH LITTLE ROCK, notice the very close similarity between the two zip codes and send it over to NORTH LITTLE ROCK for delivery. How long could THAT take in a town who's population is under 6,800? Jeez... I went to high school with more people than that.

Anyway, that's the sitch. Of course, there won't be anything happening with this for the next week or so since I'm going to be out of town (in San Diego) until next week. Then I hit the Chicago Wizard World Convention as well two weeks later.

-Gordon

 

[JP05]

I had the post office deliver a correctly label package to Martin Place instead of my old address of Martin Road. I never got it. Had tracking info and all. They failed to get the package back. I even went to the house and left a note. Nothing.

So if you are going to be out of town for three weeks....I hope someone will be checking in on it. Phone calls can be made and such. I would hate too see us lose 3 weeks on this. Being so close to the end of the project.

Steve

 

[JP05]

Any word? no gnus is good gnus?

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

Sorry, Gary Gnu....

There is no new gnus to report at this time. I will go to my post office tomorrow over lunch if possible and keep asking and bugging.

-Gordon

 

[Hand Solo]

Outsider chiming in for what it's worth...

Considering the timeframe and elapsed time, my suggestion would be to strongly consider making replacement parts.

...For what it's worth.

 

[spcglider@aol.com]

<div class='quotetop'>(Hand Solo @ Jul 26 2006, 07:07 PM) [snapback]1288349[/snapback]</div>

Outsider chiming in for what it's worth...

Considering the timeframe and elapsed time, my suggestion would be to strongly consider making replacement parts.

...For what it's worth.
[/b]

As I mentioned earlier... I will do everything BUT. I will personally badger the post office, I will fill out whatever forms, I will slip the postman a $50, and I will wait for several more months just to avoid making more molds and casting more copies.

Sorry, but that's the final truth. But I hate doing it THAT much. It will be THE LAST and FINAL resort.

If there is anyone else out there who'd like to take a crack at molding and pressure casting these things, I would not be injured in any way by their involvement. I'm still waiting on MY kit too.

-Gordon

 

[Hand Solo]

^ Oh I perfectly understand.

Thru no fault of your own, a kit's delivery is being delayed beyond a quote/unquote "reasonable timeframe".

This is the one thing that keeps me from purchasing much of anything of this nature. I simply cannot afford to have money floating out there in purgatory till god knows when. I suspect many other folks can't as well.

And...although the talent exists for someone else to pick up and remaster and recast the 'lost' parts, I suspect that it would be difficult for that to happen without the rest of the spacecraft physically in hand for measurements.

Hopefully you won't have to keep bugging the USPS too long, but be prepared for the fact that these parts may be sitting in LA-LA for the rest of all our natural frickin' lives.

It's easy for me to say this and you can rap me in the beard if you like, but if it were me and I knew lots of folks had significant financial resources tied up in this...I'd bite the bullet and do even what I hated in order to get these parts made...again....for what THAT'S worth.

It's also easy for me to say because I lack at the moment:

1. Mold-making abilities and supplies.

2. Pressure casting equipment.

But since you have these things and you broke your own rule and committed, my perhaps very unqualified opinion is this:

Don't wait for the USPS. You're also making all these folks who've ordered wait. This is NOT a reflection on you, but rather an observation of the situation and the more likely and easier and TIMELY corrective action which can and should be taken.

No one likes to do anything twice. It sucks... but think of yourself and the other customers who have been waiting and understand the bureaucratic nightmare you're dealing with.

 

[cobywan]

<div class='quotetop'>(Hand Solo @ Jul 26 2006, 11:50 PM) [snapback]1288464[/snapback]</div>

It's also easy for me to say because I lack at the moment:

1. Mold-making abilities and supplies.

2. Pressure casting equipment.
[/b]

I have both. (And spare time for a change.)

But I doubt I would be allowed to help.

 

[Dobber]

This is not being said in anger, but I got to agree. I'm patient enough to wait, but, for how long? I mean is this project now on hold indefinately until these parts show up? Sorry to say but it dosen't look like they will, and if they do, well mores the better and at least there will be extra molds then available, as someone else stated earlier.

Chris

 

[BlueSquad2001]

<div class='quotetop'>(cobywan @ Jul 26 2006, 11:29 PM) [snapback]1288608[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>(Hand Solo @ Jul 26 2006, 11:50 PM) [snapback]1288464[/snapback]

It's also easy for me to say because I lack at the moment:

1. Mold-making abilities and supplies.

2. Pressure casting equipment.
[/b]

I have both. (And spare time for a change.)

But I doubt I would be allowed to help.
[/b][/quote]I really can appreciate you saying that, and with your abilities that I have seen, it would be a sure bet. You can contact me through p.m. and we'll discuss it, and see where Gordon stands at this point.
Thanks :thumbsup


Everybody, I feel like sharing a pic or two with you all, because we just got back from Comic-Con and I have been bombarded with requests to show pics. So for all that wanted to see this one in particular, here is a really great friend of mine, and the creator of this Viper design and upcoming Raider model, Mr. Tom DeSanto and I at the Con. He treated me like a long lost brother and hugged me everytime we met up. He inspired me to come back and with fresh air, try his approach to succeeding. I think I'll give it a shot, after seeing him in action, it's alot better than my old grumpy way. Here's to you Kurt.