Posted by Loren Perry on May 31, 1999 at 17:45:27 in 199.217.72.154:
In Reply to: OK Dave. Loren and everyone else, please read... posted by Mark Darrah on May 29, 1999 at 00:24:48:
Making the triangular coaling booms, funnel grates
and center anchor grates would be easy. I may do
this in the near future (if I can get some good
photos or drawings of the funnel grates.)
I have other thoughts on the brass window
inserts, though. These would clearly not be for the
average modelbuilder. They would be restricted to
highly experienced modelers only. This limits the
marketability of the item, and I still have to
earn a profit to stay in business. One way to
compensate is to raise the price, but this raises
the expectations of the buyer.
Another way is to make complete brass replacements
for all the visible bulkheads complete with 3-D
raised-relief etched window frames and doors. The
doors could even be made separate, allowing the
modeler to position some of them open if desired.
Installing these would be easier because it
would eliminate the need to putty and hide seams
between brass and plastic parts. But it would
require thin plastic shims in some spots where decks
fit between bulkheads because the brass versions
would be thinner than their plastic counterparts.
And this type would also cost more because they
would take up much more space on an etched sheet
than the smaller window inserts previously described.
Probably on the order of $50 or more for a complete
set. An instruction sheet would be necessary of
course.
I'd need to able to sell about 100 of these to
make it profitable. If I receive 100 written
requests (not e-mailed), then I'll know that if
there are modelers out there serious enough to want
to write via snail-mail requesting these items, then
they're more likely to want to buy a set of bulkheads.
And if I get 100 snail-mail committments to buy at
$50 to $60 per set, I'll proceed with the design.
(Because writing via snail-mail takes a bit more
effort than e-mail, plus a stamp, this will indicate
to be the seriousness of the modeler's intent.)