Friends,
I am currently serving a 7 day sentence in Face Book jail for posting an accurate summary of Hitler’s position on ‘the big lie.’ I asked for a review and they told me I am not allowed to quote Hitler. So, hopefully, Dave will be able to post this on our FB page, because I can’t.
MY WEEK IN REVIEW
I did the radio show last Friday, and it pretty much took Thursday and Friday away from me. The good news is, that was my last show. So, it shouldn’t be a problem for TMD operations anymore.
M10/ACHILLES PRE-ORDERS
I managed to get all the parts treed and the master molds poured before I left for the radio show. I am going to be making production molds this week. I have every expectation of releasing the driver’s compartments this Friday. I could probably start shipping by Wednesday, but I am not going to do so until I am finished with the build-up. I want to make absolutely sure we have this one 100% complete before I start shipping. I’ll try to get Dave to post update pictures as the test build progresses on the TMD FB page.
SHIPPING DELAYS
Shipping is still very slow — even inside the U.S.. I have no control over this. I try to make sure all of you get an email from Stamps.com with shipping confirmation and tracking information. Please look for those emails. Check your SPAM filter and change your settings if necessary. It doesn’t do any good to keep asking me where your order is because I can’t tell you any more than that tracking number can, and it is starting to REALLY slow things down having to keep telling people this. I know it’s rude of me to say it this way, but this is the world in which we now live. My advice to all of you is to get used to slow mail. The way things were before COVID-19 is a thing of the past. I do not expect them to come back. In fact, I expect things to get worse. Let’s just hope I’m wrong. Until then, just plan for slow shipping, and realize it is not Joe causing the delay.
OUTSTANDING ORDERS
I now have quite a few open orders, and not all of them have an M10 or Achilles driver’s compartment on them. Please be patient. I will be working orders for 3-4 hours every morning this week. If all goes well, this should allow me to catch up by the end of the week.
NEW RELEASES
I still have new items to put out, but I am going to hold them until the M10/Achilles driver’s compartments are shipping.
ON THE BENCH
I am still going to stay on the German armored cars, but I am going to take a break from them for a couple weeks. I promised Karl I would do the fighting compartment and turrets for the M10/Achilles after he finished the driver’s compartment, so it is time for me to get on those. I have a lot of it already started. If I can just catch a small break, we should wrap the M1 family by the end of July.
KARL VAN SWEDEN
I have not spoken to Karl since last week, so I don’t know what he’s doing. However, I do know he has the new RFM M4A3 Sherman kits, so you can imagine what has his attention right now 😉
THE SHOP
The shop is a wreck again, so don’t ask.
THE OFFICE
Office? What’s an office?
THAT IS ALL
OK, that’s all I have for now. So, until next time, please stay safe and take care of your loved ones. If you can, try to build something (preferably something using TMD resin).
Joe