My struggles continue. In fact, it’s been going on so long now, I’m starting to think of them as the norm rather than the exception. Still, I have no intentions of giving up — at least, not for a long time.
As I said in the update, I encountered some set-backs with my 7TP masters. This is a very nice kit, but the turret riveting really could use some help. I am also working on the Gundlach periscopes and exterior mounts. There are also some smaller details I hope to add to the interior, and then, maybe make a thinner set of fenders. I just need to wait for a care package I have coming. It should be here Monday.
Another problem I have, and which I do not know how to combat, is trying to tackle too many things at the same time. I have the German armored car interior to finish, the M10 fighting compartment and turret and the M26 Pershing suspension set all on my bench. I would love to have had all of them ready for release today but, because I tried to work on all of them at the same time, the little bit of master time I managed to scrape out got so diluted that nothing much got finished. I simply have to stop this. I need to pick one project and stay focused on it until it is totally finished before I pick up the next project, and that’s all there is to it.
On a personal note, I continue to get pulled away to help with family, friends and neighbors. It’s been difficult, and I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining — honest! I count being able to help others as a blessing and, if I had to choose between people and TMD, I’d choose the people — every time! It’s just that there have been so many who have needed BB and I to help them this summer, I have not had enough time to get any real master work finished and it is starting to show on TMD’s bottom line. Needless to say, this just adds to the pressure to make new product.
Luckily, this time (for a change), I am remembering the lessons of the past mistakes I’ve made. Unless and until I have completed a new master to the best of my abilities, and I am totally, 100% happy with it, I am not going to release it — period! I’ll just have to work as hard as I can and trust God to handle the sales. This has been working for me since the COVID stupidity started, so I have no intention of trying to start doing things my way — certainly not now.
I just want to thank all of you who still come to me to buy details for your models. There have been several masters that have been updated this summer, I just haven’t posted the new versions. Thanks to you, I have also discovered that many older products have somehow fallen off the shopping cart. This includes everything for the TAKOM T-29/30/34 kits. I really do have the best, most loyal customers a guy could have, and I am thankful for and grateful to every one of you.
OH! And to end on a happy note, I was able to recover an old modeling friendship this past month. His name will not be mentioned, but most of you know him. For some reason, there was a misunderstanding several years ago that lead me to believe I had done something to make him upset at me. For the past few years, this has pained me in my heart. But I had a chance to talk to him on line and discovered I had been wrong and that he didn’t even realize I thought he was upset with me. The end result is, I feel like our friendship has been restored and I’ve got an old modeling buddy back in my world again. I cannot tell you how happy this made me. I hate losing friends, especially when its over stupid stuff.
OK, that’s all I have for you for now. I’ll get back to you if and when I have something new, or August 27 rolls around — whichever comes first. Until then, stay safe!
Joe