Friends,
I started TMD because I had gotten caught up in the AMS craze. I wanted everything I built so accurate, it looked like Marvin the Martian had used his shrink ray on the real thing. So, when I started TMD, I tried to make ‘perfect’ products. I cannot tell you how much pain and anguish that misguided notion has caused me over the years — or how many otherwise acceptable products you have missed out on as a result. Well, whether you want to call it surrender or wisdom, I have had a change of heart which is going to lead to a change of business practice.
I still have AMS, and I — like most of you — still want to make my models as accurate as possible. However, I want to actually build them more than worry about how ‘accurate’; they may be. Therefore, starting today, I will have new priorities when it comes to making masters. IN order of importance — most to least important — my new focus will be on:
1 — Does it make your model more appealing?
2 — Does it make your model easier to build?
3 — Does it make your model more ‘accurate?’
That’s it: those are the three things — in order — that I will concern myself when making new masters. It may not seem like much of a change to some, but it is. I used to worry about accuracy, appeal, build — in that order. Well, the new focus will (or should?) have the following effect on TMD products:
1 — Make the finished model stand out against OOB builds of the same kit.
2 — Be easier to use with the base kit.
3 — Correct issues of scale accuracy in the base kit.
If I pull this off, there should be an added bonus: fewer, less complicated piece, which equates to lower prices! That is the thinking, anyway. We’ll have to see if it holds up in the real world.
Anyway, that is where my mind is now. So, the next masters I produce will reflect this new order of priorities. If you have any specific questions or concerns, feel free to post them in the comment section below, or email them to:
info@tigermodeldesigns.com
I’ll be sure to read and respond.
Thank you.
Black 3 Actual, OUT!
I have a love hate relationship with AMS and what it brings to the overall hobby for me.
I love the possibilities, I love the planning, andt acquisition. The hate creeps in – the preparation – cutting off resin blocks, deciding which PE parts to use – I have yet to use a complete set of PE (speaking to Voyager/Eduard type sets)…..then the execution – if something goes awry for me – it will be PE, each and everytime! At this point I swear up and down I am done with PE, never touching it again! Time to paint – this falls inbetween love and neutral, painting complete – moving into neutral territory – the deecals or deckles lol….
Then once the build is complete, markings are done re-enter the love – time for the painting and weathering…. It is a vicious cycle that keeps me going in the hobby – now just waiting on Joe and those next masters!! Did I hear something about the new Gecko kit??
The Gecko Ram Kangaroo and flame thrower. Karl made some ‘fixes’ for them. 🙂
Great idea Joe, good luck with your plans
yea Right.. 😉