1.21.2024 JOE’S CORNER: My Plan for TMD in 2024

Friends,

I have struggled greatly with the whole process of getting TMD re-started.  For the most part, I think my problem is with my attitude.  I still like modeling, but I’m not sure I still want to run TMD — at least, not the way I have run it up to now.  If I am going to keep this company going, I have to make some changes.  The idea is to change things so that I want to keep going.  This way, I’m not setting myself up to fail.  So, for those of you who are interested, here is what I have decided (NOTE: this will be lengthy, so…).

First things first, I have to return to building for Joe. I started TMD to share my work with others, but mostly so I could improve my own modeling.  Well, my modeling ended on July 1, 2001 — when I started this company.  I have not finished a tank model since that time.  In fact, the only model I have finished since that time was a commission job for a friend.  Well, I am tired of not building.  Karl and I (as well as some very notable others, namely Mike Sills) have produced some solid work and I very much want to enjoy using our products in my own builds.  Therefore, starting today, I give myself permission to build for Joe — guilt free.

The next thing I need to put behind me is the competition from new technology.  3D is going to be the future of this hobby (and, in my opinion, the end of the hobby, as well).  I could — if I wanted — do my own CAD work.  I was trained in the old style of drafting; using a table, slide edge and French curves.  Learning to do the same thing on a computer wouldn’t be that difficult.  However, I refuse to do this!  Anyone can do that!  Sorry, but it is true.***  I have always seen what Karl and I do as an art, and computers take the art out of it.  So, if I have to become a machine to compete with the 3D companies out there, I would rather just fade away — and I am fully prepared to do just that.  Besides, as this time, the materials I use are far superior to that of the 3D companies, which makes many of my products usable where theirs are not.  Therefore, TMD will not be moving into 3D printing (at least, not for production — I was the first to use it to make masters, and I will do so again when it suits my purposes).

The next point of order is all the unfinished work I have connected to the years of running TMD.  I have been trying to work on myself, and I am sick of the unfinished work and lingering promises I have acquired.  I want the promises fulfilled and the work completed — period!  Therefore, starting Monday, January 22, 2024, I will start on fulfilling these promises.  Once they are fulfilled, I will set about finishing the unfinished work.  This unfinished work includes:

1 — A massive update to our web store.  I have never been happy with any web store I’ve ever had, and I want that nagging feeling resolved.  It makes little difference how good my products are if you can’t see the quality in my pictures or find the products in our 700+ listings.  I also want to improve our product descriptions and offer cross-links to other products that you might want to use with the items you are considering.  I also need to fix the instruction sheets to the listing pages.  All of this needs to be fixed.  The whole idea is to make my web store serve you as well as I try to serve you.

2 — Updating and re-working a great many of our masters.  Our quality can and — in my opinion — does hold up to that of 3D work and, in many cases, it is superior. Still, a number of our masters are showing their age, and we can easily update them to reflect the increased skill level Karl and I have obtained since they were first produced.  I can also make items that were originally designed to work for a specific kit or kits so that they are more generic in their application.  As soon as I get my promises fulfilled, this re-working of the product line is exactly what I intend to start doing.

3 — A little ‘hedge’ against the 3D guys would still be useful.  Therefore, as I update the web store and our product line, I am going to do something you might not have expected.  I am going to drop my prices!  Yes, you heard me.  I will never again have dealers, and I will not be using fancy packaging, so I can keep my costs down.  I plan to set my prices at something closer to what the wholesale prices would be on the current market.  The idea is, if my product competitive with the 3D guys, then my prices (and service?) will hopefully help you decide in favor of TMD.  I’ve always thought of TMD as a partnership, so, our part will be to order when you need something TMD makes.  That way, we keep TMD going together!

4 — Finally, I will be taking a different approach to mastering.  Karl will still do Karl (for as long as he wants and his health allows).  But I am going to do my very best to stay focused on a subject until I have completed everything I want to make for it.  Then, I want to build and paint a completed kit using everything I just made.  I want to build again!  And this is one way I hope to get back to it: by actually building along side the mastering process.  So, as I make the new TMD product, I can include them in my personal build.  It should also help me with improving my instruction sheets as I can see what needs to be done to build the new product and take pictures along the way.  Heck, I might even post my progress on the blog page for anyone interested in following along.

There will be other changes along the way, but they will mostly be in how I run the daily operations of the shop.  For the most part, they will not affect you.  You probably won’t even notice, but they will help me be more efficient and continue to improve on my customer service.  But, for now, this is what I have decided I am going to do this year.  If it does not work, then it doesn’t work.  So be it.  At least I will be happy with what I am doing and proud of the way TMD fades away: still trying to serve you by providing you with the highest quality and best service Karl and I know how to provide, and to do so from start to finish.

Now, time to start planning a spring offensive.

Joe (Black 3 Actual), Out!

*** I am well aware that this comment will cause CAD designers more than a bit of heartache.  All I am going to say is that I do not mean any insult.  It is my opinion and I stand by it.  As someone who not only took drafting classes but also taught others how to draft, I am of the opinion that anyone who can use the tools and has the will can and will be able to learn how to draft.  With computers, this is even easier.  True, some will have more of a natural aptitude for the work, so they will be better or faster — or both.  But that is not what I said; I said anyone can learn to do CAD work.  And, even if someone can’t learn CAD, that does not make CAD work an ‘art’ by any sense of the definition I understand.  Since modeling, and what I do at TMD, have always been an art for min my mind,…  So, once again, I am not trying to insult or start any fights, but, at the same time, I stand by my statement.