Clever Models Blog2009-11-21T18:40:15ZThe Clever Bros.Copyright 2009, The Clever Bros.SPHPBLOGMoving againNow to the good stuff.
I have been working on rolling stock a lot lately. Brother Dave has been building stuff before i even finish the designs.
The HOn30 boxcars that have been around for a wile are looking even better. A caboose is looking very promising. A tank car is not quite ready for prime time. a flat car and hopper are looking real good. The coolest thing though is I got to see our box cab running under its own power last week and it is sweeeeet.
Construction of our new touring HOn30 layout is going well. One of the things i enjoy is that I need to fill practical gaps in the layout which means better and more usable structures. Already the kits for Volume II are coming together.
We do have a little back order thing going on but it's not too bad and will be cleaned up next week. Later in June I will be leaving the Chicago area to teach in Philly for 6 weeks. We will do our best to keep on top of orders during this time and I am hoping to hit some local rail shows wile I'm there. Let me know if you have any recommendations.
I'm building a lot of prototypes right now. I have a real nice narrow gage single stall engine house up next. The fun never ends.
happy modeling
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090527-1452402009-05-27T00:00:00Z2009-05-27T00:00:00ZGood News "a first award" and CongratulationsCongratulations Jim. ]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090513-0814142009-05-13T00:00:00Z2009-05-13T00:00:00ZThe next 4 disksSo It's onto fresh territory. I expect (hope) to release a new collection every quarter. the fifth disk, "brick and Mortar Vol2" is already coming together with the completion of the "Cream city tool Co." as it's center piece. this is the most flexible set of 50's light brick (cream city brick) industrial buildings I've ever scene. originally designed by master modeler John Kosma, we have reworked it and are test building it right now.
happy modeling
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090423-1131352009-04-23T00:00:00Z2009-04-23T00:00:00ZInaccurate information pisses me off I lurk/cruse the forums to get ideas and to get and offer feedback about our projects. Usually I am surprised and pleased with the unsolicited comments I read. I don't expect them to be all positive and on occasion they are not. thats the point, to get honest comments and use the info to make improvements.Truth is we get possitives at least 97% 0f the time and the 2% is usually small stuff that I can do somthing about.I get involved with the lists and start dialogs with the people to let them know they have been heard and we are on it.
www.kitforums.com is great by the way.
BUT The Atlas list is pissing me off. I have tried several times to become a list member and they are just completely dropping the ball. this PO's me because there is one particular poster over there that is spreading in accurate information and i can't respond.
What this know it all is saying is that one of our competitors who shall go nameless (paper creek) has better quality printing then we do and that our printing doesn't cut it. Well, I'm sure all of you know this is just false.The resolution of our printing is at least twice the competitors. We recently saw a large selection of this competitors
product at a train show and I tell you I was shocked by how poor it looked. Im not saying that PC doesen't make a fine product. they do. They were an early inspiration to me though not THE inspiration. They were decidedly a bar to beat and we have.
There using a lithographic process. there are very noticeable dot patterns in the images. We ink jet and laser print and there are NO dots. SO, I want to know what the hell this guy is ranting about. Did he get a bootleg kit or somthing.
Since Atlas won't facilitate my rebuttal you have it here. And as soon as i can get a sample of our competitors product I will post pictures of our proof. microscopic proof.
Ahhhh, I feel better now.
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090411-1049092009-04-11T00:00:00Z2009-04-11T00:00:00ZAre we crazy????OK, so heres the crazy part.
Bro Dave and I sat down to decide what to put on the next two disks. originally we had planned 4 disks. well, its going to be a lot more then that. response to the first two has been fantastic with the engine house and water tower combo almost sold out. I think there are 7 left as of this morning. I digress....
What goes on the next disks?
The wood frame building disk Vol 1:
1. Furniture factory, revised with a new add on wing and a new out building.
2. The mercantile
3. The timber dock with an extension
4. The cannery, a brand new kit
5. McElder cycles, a brand new kit. a western style false front. 2 complete different versions, one with an loading dock and raised stone foundation for track side use.
6. The frame garage
PLUS 6 textures:
yellow clapboard
distressed red clapboard
tan clapboard
tar paper
gray asphalt shingle
AND the dark wood fence and the white wood fence
ALL for $39.95
I look at this list and I think, Are we nuts?
Disk 2 Brick buildings Vol 1
1. The small forge, Revised and even cooler if you make it twice as big (which you can now that you are printing the parts)
2. The warehouse, Same thing make a whole warehouse district.
3.Woolworth's warehouse flat (not so flat, about 2" deep) Brand new with lots of signs and ducts.
4.Plant#2 a classic (no there is no plant #1)
5. The Turbine house
6. Akron tools, Brand new. A big, long gothic brick building with rail access.
Plus a bunch of texture.
You get my point... This is crazy, we have more buildings left over. maybe we should break this into two disks. Give us your opinion. I could add two more brick buildings including the brand new "Cream city tool works" a huge kit, and break this into two $29 collections or leave it as it is for $39
Next up steel buildings, Don't get me started.
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090409-0812102009-04-09T00:00:00Z2009-04-09T00:00:00Zamaizing, wish i had a better picture N scale Turbine housebeautiful work.
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090406-1759002009-04-07T00:00:00Z2009-04-07T00:00:00ZAlmost goneNext up we will be releasing a collection of HO wood frame buildings (as soon as we decide which buildings) Everyone has seen the mercantile and the furniture factory but we also have a new cannery, a section house, A gas station and a false front business called McElder's cycles.
Also we will be releasing either large brick factories which will include the the small forge, turbine house, plant #2 and two brand new kits the Akron mfg (it's big) and the Cream city tool works (also big and very flexible). That's a lot of kit on one disk. Well over $100 bucks separately. we will be selling that collection for $39.95 and we will take advance orders. delivery in about 5 weeks from now.OR all of our steel buildings which will include several never before seen kits.
So that our stimulus package.
Happy modeling
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090403-1255242009-04-03T00:00:00Z2009-04-03T00:00:00ZThe water tower finished
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090325-0603032009-03-25T00:00:00Z2009-03-25T00:00:00Zpost mortem on March meet Sunday sadly was very slow with many vendors packing up by noon regardless of the rules that we had to stay open. We always do stay till theres no one left to buy anything. At the end every one is touching base to see what shows are going to next and a hearty see you there. we unfortunately haven't been traveling much. We are making an effort though and will definitely be hitting the road more.
To make a long story short, we had a great show and the disks are a huge hit. My only regret was that I realized I had developed so much for HO scale that I only had a couple of new items in O. I'll have to address that this year.
So many people came by specifically to thank us for our product, saying that we were doing something good for the hobby. that meant a lot to me.
The success of the first two disks means that it's full speed ahead or releasing the others. the next two will be the "Neighborhoods" collection with all of our house variations, all of our garages and several low relief flats plus fences and signage. The second disk will be industrial buildings which will likely be broken up into several disks Brick buildings, steel buildings and frame buildings. We have enough new, never seen kits to do at least three disks.
I just finished the test build of the John Kosma designed "Cream city tool"which is going in a few places on my layout. this design is so flexable with three seperat component buildings that it can fill a small space or really chew up the landscape. we will be packadging this with our brand new "Acron tool" the redesigned small forge plus more low relief and such.
We will be relaunching the web site to focus on the disks. I sincerely hope to have it up in the next two weeks.
Also you have to check out the model railroad forums
www.kitforums.com a great font of knowledge and a great community.
As always let us know what you think.
Thom]]>http://tanimate.site.aplus.net/pblog/index.php?entry=entry090323-0931422009-03-23T00:00:00Z2009-03-23T00:00:00ZFirst day of March meetThe texture disk sold like crazy. I think it's a no brainer and i guess people agree cause it was the easiest sell. I think a lot of modelers are going to be real happy with them. The engine house is another matter. With the impressive model on display and kind of the hero of our table, everyone was oooing and awwwing. It's an intimidating model to be sure.
I only had a small number O scale disks made and we sold at least a quarter of them. I realy would not have been too surprised if we hadn't sold any. In short we had the best show we ever had.
Sunday is usually over too soon with too many venders packing tables by 3pm. we always stay till the end. I enjoy going to these events.
I'm sure today won't be as active as yesterday, well, actually I'm not sure. people like these disks.
Every one have a fine day and doo what you love doing.
