Thursday, February 23, 2006, 07:04 AM
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, February 23, 2006, 01:07 PM
It's getting more common to get requests for catalogues. At the moment we don't have one though the web mistress did put together a compilation of images from the web page that could serv as such. then again, any one could print out our webpage.
We will put somthing together. We'll just have to see how much it will cost to print and mail. I'll get back to you on this.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, February 21, 2006, 10:54 AM
Really... no kidding, I'm ok with it....really.
TM
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, February 21, 2006, 10:53 AM
I'm still not over missing the Mad town train show. Not just not being able to get tabel space because they were sold out but not even getting to visit it as a consumer and hobbiest.It does illustrate the need to keep things in perspective though. The responsibilities that kept me in Chicago were in no way unpleasant or unrewarding. For one I got to spend some extra time with my kid. Thats always worth making time for. I did get some extra time to work on new products which is as much as anything a part of my hobby and i got to get together with some of my best friends. SO....
I didn't get to see all the cool trains, I didn't get to meet and greet, I didn't get to make new contacts and Clever models visibility may have suffered a bit (though based on the 500 web hits in the last couple of days, you'd never know). But It was the right thing to do and I'm ok with that.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, February 17, 2006, 05:46 PM
Mad town is this weekend. Thats the huge train show in Madison Wisconsin. Its only 3 hours away but we could not get space to display because it was sold out. We have been on a waiting list for the last three months but no luck. I still wnt to try and get to the show but my schedule is getting complex. Still I'm going to try and get there on Sunday if I can. thats one of the difficulties of running a business part time. We can't hit all the shows we should. Then your haunted by wondering what you might have seen and who you might have met that will put your products in the spot light.
Oh well, we try, we try.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, February 14, 2006, 10:55 AM
Things jut keep getting more real all the time. Finally after a long string of buracratic red tape we can actually cash checks made out to Clever Models. This may be a suprise but untill now we had to hold checks uncashed. It was a growing problem as more and more people mailed in orders. We never thought we would get orders by mail. Who knew?
To those of you who were wondering why the checks hadn't cleared, thanks for your patience.
A couple of times a month we will get an envelope in the mail with a request for a catalogue. Unfortunatly we don't have a catalogue and there just isn't time to create one right now. I will do my best to put somthing together but be aware, It woun't be anything fancy. We have over 60 products and a real comprehensive catalogue would be a lot of work. Sorry, I'd rather design new kits. BUT I promiss, I will try. Once again Thanks for your patience.
getting ready for the spring O scale show. We really enjoy this event and we are planning on having a running switching layout on display. We might be located in one of the hallways at the convention center so come visit and run some trains.
My brother is madly trying to ballance the rest of what life throws at him and also get me the modules in time to landscape them.One cool thing is as i see a place on the module, I think of what I need to create to fill those spaces. I figure if we need somthing for a 3" X 3" so do you. It's bit crazey to try and do this but what the heck.
Hope to see you at the show.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, February 10, 2006, 11:10 AM
Deadlines are my friend. Finally I am forced to spend some time on the products that actually started it all. Studio Ronin, which I am a partner in is a publisher of fantasy art books, comic books and games. We have 3 big shows comming up this year and it's about time I showed some product. Theres a gaming phanomina (sp) called Hero Clicks. I'm not going into an explination here. You either know all about them or wouldent care. But their huge in gaming. I've been trying to develope game boards and paper buildings for this stuff since the begining and I have a lot of half finished products. You railroad guys have been keeping me on my toes. So now I have to hustle to get the products finished and prototyped. So what are they? Fantasy environments and texture papers for creating game environments. They will be low coast and much lower resolution, scaled somewhere around S but non specific just like the game pieces. We'll use a lot of artistic distortion and compresses scale. In general their very fun. I'm working on a missel silo right now though I might shift gears to make a city street scene so SpiderMan has a place to do battel with Doc Oc oe the red skull.
Back to it
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, February 9, 2006, 11:23 PM
It's been a long time comming but the footprints you've been asking for are finally here thanks to my brotheres diligance.
doing instructions for these kits takes longer then designing them. we'll be uploading new ones every day till there all here. Just go to the models page and click on the picture of the kit you want more info on. Exploded views and footprints will be displayed. You can download the images by right clicking and choosing save as.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Sunday, February 5, 2006, 04:18 PM
It might seem like I just drive aimlessly but I don't.The Chicago area is a great place to look for ideas (as I'm sure most citys can be) Theres a spider web of rail lines that cut the city up like a pie. Along each is an industrial corador with small and medium industries and every one has unique design elements. I might not build even a small number of these as prototypes but pieces of them will find there way into everything I do. Today I saw a very interesting facade that will probably find its way into a kit. It was the she-----berg concrete construction company. What I liked was that it was a nice curved brick entryway on a triangle warehouse building. I think with a little creative reproportioning it could be real special.
Love my aimless drives.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, February 1, 2006, 12:36 PM
Work is starting on our new display module. last years module was cool and a great way to display but this year we're building a working switching layout from scratch. we only have about 6 weeks to get it done before the midwest o scale show. This is a great way to mix business with pleasure. Building a layout thats also a write off.Now if we can just figure a way to enjoy the pressure.
Hope you all get a chance to see this as we take it around to shows.
Guess I'd better get started building kits to populate it. I've been printing so many kits lately that there hasen't been time for much else.
I'll keep a running dialogue about the progress. As of last night we finalized the track plan. It's based on a switching compitition my brother used to run at shows. A few modifications to allow for the best display of kits. It's size means we wount be printing kits at shows anymore but that was a bottle neck anyway. Feel free to bring your trains and try it out.
Thom
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Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 07:03 AM
Jan W
Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 12:59 PM
Thom:
Your whimsical reference to Egyptian paper models caused me to imagine some ancient Egyptian modeller struggling to get the aging right on a Paleolithic hut....or maybe they just modelled camels and stuff.
Saw some of your models on sale at the Big E show in Springfield last weekend - your dealer in Des Plains was there and brought some, along with an assembled building. Hope you sold a few...
Cheers.
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, January 30, 2006, 12:48 PM
It's not my way to criticise a competitor but this just struck me as funny. I noticed a change in the add copy of one of our competitors ads. It now reads "The original craftsman card model" The effort of making this statement seems silly to me. What value is there in this case to being the "original"? My fellow developer didn't invent the concept of paper models. I'm pretty sure the Egyptians get that distinction right after inventing paper. Even limiting the field to developers in the last fifty years, he can't seriously make that claim. There are the wonderful "superquick" series from brittan that I think have been around for several decades.
All our fellow publishers make very nice and very different kits. This particular company makes 4 four kits that I'm familiar with. I had not seen them at all before we began developing our line. when I became aware of them, I thought about buying one to check out but thought they were too expensive (im cheap). I did get a chance to see one at a hobby show and I have to say that it was a beautiful product. The original? no. before us, yes. But if he insists, let me say. On the sholders of giants, We make the BEST craftsman card models in the world. Guess I'll have to add that to our add copy.
Thom
PS guess I should thank him for giving us the "craftsman card model" designation
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, January 27, 2006, 11:39 AM
Announcing the first retail store to officially carry our kits and textures.
Des Plaines hobbies. If your anywhere in Chicago area or even Illinois, this is a shop to visit. They have so many different kits and parts, you can look around for an hour easily. Thanks to Ron for showing faith in us. Hopefully with many more stores to follow.
It has come to our attention that the "Jefferson ice co" which is only about a 1/4 mile from Des Plaines hobies. that is the real prototype that our kit is based on, is slated to be torn down. Already I can see that the windows have been broken out. I'm so happy that we got to document and preservr this if not historic, classic and iconic building.
Several of the buildings that I have used as sources for textures have disapeared in the last year. Now when I find an nteresting structure, It's in the back of my mind that I'd better get it soon because you never know how long you have.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, January 26, 2006, 11:27 AM
PS. Jan, your always thinkin. Good idea. when we get to doing backgrounds, you'll see peel and stick buildings.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, January 26, 2006, 11:24 AM
Just read yet another article decrying the inevitable death of model railroading. Another collumnist saying how we can't attract young people but our scale (your scale here) will outlive those other scales because ours is just so damn great. I just don't buy any of it. Model railroading is cyclical. It has always attracted older players. You didn't buy that first train that got you hooked. Your dad or mom did because they were atracted to it. And so it goes. The new dad buys the train they always wanted once they have a new son or daughter as an excuse. As a designer manufacturer, I'm not concerned by the aging naysayers (sp). This is a great hobby. As long as kids get to see great layouts to fire there imagination, weather in hobby shop windows or at hobby shows, there will always be a new crop of eager proto railroaders comming up. Lets change the focus away from predicting the passing of model railroading to getting pro active about building the hobby. Take a kid to a train show. share the hands on fun even if they screw up a boxcar you bought 10 years ago. You enjoy it, give somthing back.
Soap box off.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 11:38 PM
Somthing NEW...
A fortunate accident wile printing textures. A couple of sets of textures were printed on cardstock instead of self adhesive paper. I was thinking about offering this option anyway. Now I can see that it was a good idea.
Antone who would prefer thier textures on card stock can request it bu adding a notation to paypal orders. Some interesting possibilities for "Board on board" scratchbuilding.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 01:54 AM
2:03 am...printing and packedging like a crazy person
Thom
Jan W
Tuesday, January 24, 2006, 08:08 PM
OK, here's a post that contains a suggestion that is not only much more reasonable, but do-able as well.
Still on back-drops. Everyone's backdrop is a different height. Just a fact of life, there is no standard. Painting sky and clouds is no big deal (after a seminar or two...). So most of us carefully cut the buildings away from the sky when working with commercial backdrops.
Today's idea is....(drum roll here)...how about peel and stick buildings for applying to backdrops?
Cheers!
Jan
Jan W
Monday, January 23, 2006, 09:52 PM
Hi Guys:
It's been a while since I logged in here with commentary, so here goes....
Trivia first: your blog is turning up in much bigger type. It sucks. My apologies if this is due to my own system. (Substance follows).
Regarding backdrops - this is a natural for your stuff. I believe this is absolutely the situation in which you should go to custom production. I've said this before, here, but sometimes repetition lends credibility...
How about a website on which folks build their own backdrop, using buildings/images from your library. Maybe import the customer's jpeg files. They could change tone and colors on-line. You print it and charge an outrageous profit margin.
This needs some software. Hire a college / high school kid to set it up, pay him/her beer money. Maybe it's his masters thesis. Not a big deal.
Hey, let's do some really exciting stuff....
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, January 23, 2006, 11:17 AM
Swamped again. I guess thats a good thing but it keeps me away from designing new stuff. When I get focussed on a design I have trouble thinking about anything else. Not much for multitasking. BUT hay, As we move into selling wholesale we'll start to see our models in a much wider scope. We have already printed as many kits this year as we did all of last year and it's only mid January. We are looking at possibly having a world wide distribution channel which would be great because postage to some parts of the world is offen more that the cost of a kit.
Model railroading is my hobby but it's become designing paper models and may yet expand to include expanding this company. Now there's a hobby for ya.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, January 20, 2006, 08:38 AM
Flat Land,
It seems there is a lot of interest in background Flats. We have given this a lot of thought and I've been doing research, trying to find enough source material. It's winter here and not a great time for photography. Never wanting to make JUST flat flats I've been looking at creating "Forced perspective" images. This wouldbe a kit that is only 2" thick but would represent a scene a couple of hundred feet deep. It's somthing that springs from my film experience though cramming that much depth into 2" is the extreme. It will work though. BUT it seems that what people really want are FLAT flats. OK! I'll make one and see what happens. I have a reservation though. That much paper and ink is going to be expensive. We run a bulk ink system and can print rool paper stock but it's not fast. At best I think I could print 2 or 3 a day. and what size do I make them? We do have a modular warehouse or at least the parts for one. We just haven't decided how to sell it. Page at a time "alacart style"?
But you folks asked for it, SO we're gona make it. Check back.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, January 19, 2006, 03:10 PM
Take it out of the oven! "The steel utility shed" is done, complete, Fini. Pix going up. That means that both steel sheds are ready and as soon as we get nice weather and can snap a pix. they will be available for purchase.
N scale nooz. No one, has taken the challenge so far.
What challenge you say. The we send a free kit you build it, photograph it, send pix and we send a new kit challenge.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, January 18, 2006, 05:13 PM
It's the little pleasures.
Got some pix from the ownwr of the Gypsy trolly. He'd taken one of our kits and really got some milage out of it. Originally he had intended to use only the froty wall of the "jefferson Ice co." as a flat but that left him with 3 perfectly good brick walls. he turned them into one long wall and got ann extra background flat out of it.
I love it when that stuff happens. Full marks Mr. Kosma.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Sunday, January 15, 2006, 11:03 PM
PS. I did get the grain elevator built in the computer. Actually two of them. It will probably go through a couple of variations. I'm trying for the quintisential ubiquitis grain elevator (if im going to use big words i really should learn to spell)
TM
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Sunday, January 15, 2006, 10:58 PM
Getting ready for this years show season, bro Dave is redesigning some modules. the idea is to have a running switching layout with all of our kits represented. This isn't just for the fun of building a couple of modules though that's part of the reason I confess. we learn a lot about how our kits will fit in the real world where space is usually hard to find. I'm purposfully designing some structures to address tight fits and we should see a couple of kits modified as backdrop pieces. We learned a lot with last years module.I'm hoping this years additions will be just as successful and educational.
As always we want to hear your ideas and needs. i know we alrady have a backlog of good ideas but thats a plus and you never know when an idea will fire our imagination and move to the head of the line.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Saturday, January 14, 2006, 09:22 AM
ATTENTION:
While prepairing exploded view drawings of the "Plant#2" kit my bro exposed a small error. This is nothing that would keep you from building a kit but we are fixing it and will send out replacement parts in the next couple of days.
The error and fix are as followes:
Concerning the cornice or cap at the narrow end of the kit. The area to the right of the peak is too long. It would be best to fix this as you build. It will require two cuts but the scoring stays the same.
Cut away the small triangular piece leaving 1 quarter inch of the cornice from where the peak joins the horizontal. To the imediate right of this will be two folds .25" appart. Trim off access. These two folded faces will become the small bit of cornice for the back wall and it's end cap.
I'll post pix of the fix in the "drawing board area in a day or so.
If you can wait a few, you will be recieving a fix in the mail.
Thom
thom clever bro (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, January 13, 2006, 06:33 PM
Got a chance to work on the steel utility building. This is the kind of structure you see in every rail yard. Its also the one that i prototyped as part of the s scale kitbash where i joined it to a qounset hut and thwe one that will apear in our next ad. when i prototype i can grab parts from all over the place a door from one kit and a shed from another. At some point i have to make it into an actual kit and lay out the parts, customize things and in general try to stomp out the bugs. This is a real simple kit but one of my favorites because it combvines so well with the others. I'm also planning on this being a "build it your way" kind of kit. I'm not determining where the doors go. theres a shed that can be attached on any side. There's a few different air conditioning ducts, a rool up door and a sliding door. Use em or don't. There aren't any windows in this kit but i may throw a couple in if theres room on a sheet (there is a sister kit that is the same footprint and ALL windows. It's ready for sale but i don't have a pix to post yet)The upshot of this is that there will be 2 new kits joining the gate tower in the next week.
the warehouse...well, I'm procrastinating. Sorry
The scale house, Did i mention the scale house? I don't remember. Well It'd done as well. I just cant decide if I will give it an interior. The interior is done but I don't have a scale mechanisim to go inside and I think I should have one even if its nothing fancy.
The big steel industrial building is also mostly done' (you can see that in the drawing board pages) I just have to lay it out and test build it. It has a lot of windows that I'm not looking forward to cutting out.If I don't want to do it, I have to ask if anyone else will. Thus it moves down the list even though it'd mostly done.
I know i'm supposed to be working on the grain elevator too but there's this little house that got my attention and as the lead designer and pot washer, I reserve the right to build what ever I want to. so there.
later Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, January 11, 2006, 11:31 PM
10,010. i'd love to know who it was.
Thom
Dave (dave<at>clevermodels.com)(dave<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, January 11, 2006, 05:53 PM
I just noticed that the web hits are at 9999. Who is going to be #10,000? Make sure you get on the blog and leave your addy. Might be somthing in it for you.
Dave
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, January 10, 2006, 10:58 AM
The sales for HO is really up. This supprises me because we haven't advertised in the HO or multy scale markets. Certainly not complaining but I'd like to know How and Why. Any HO customers want to share how you found out about us? We are just now starting to get our marketing push for HO together and It would be great to know what your seeing. ALSO please do send pix of completed models. We will reward your efforts. You folks are all great. All our customers who have embraced paper as a modeling material are interesting, creative thinkers and some of the most gifted artisans I've met. We are looking forward to this next year and we pledge to keep the coolness comming. Can't wait to hit a show so we can get some more face time.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, January 9, 2006, 01:00 PM
Every now and then even I get a slow weekend. I opened a couple of models in the works. puttered a bit, printed an order or two, hung out with some old buddies and took my daughter shopping. All good stuff that has nothing to do with building kits.
Felt good. At first this morning I was feeling guilty. No big news for the blog. Hay, no big news. Thats cool. So everybody take a day off on me.
Dave (clevermodels.com)(clevermodels.com)
Thursday, January 5, 2006, 12:35 PM
And I just got done telling someone the we don't do N Scale. I guess I'd better shut up or we'll be trying Z. OK Thom, I got my extra strong magnifiers on and a new rezor blade, BRING IT ON.
Dave
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, January 5, 2006, 11:20 AM
N SCALERS!!! N SCALERS!!! N SCALERS!!!
A challeng, A contest, AND PRIZES.
OK here's the dealio. You send me an address via EMAIL and I will send you Our absolutely brand spankin NEW "2nd and Cmmerce Gate tower" specially engineered in glorious N scale. Absolutely FREE. Not even postage. YOU have one month to build it and send us a photo. The best 5 models will recieve another free structure reengineered for N scale and so on and so on untill threr aint no mo models to re work.
Now you N scalers can't ask for a better deal then that.
The Challenge. Be aware that in N scale the gate tower will be just over 1 inch tall. This will be a tweeser and magnifying glass undertaking.
But if your up to it you get kool models and the undeniable bragging rights when you show the kit to friends and watch them gasp when you tell them IT'S PAPER!
I guarentee that this kit can be built. I will be publishing my own pix at the end of the challenge.
(or mabey I can get Dave to build it)
Thom
send model requests to thom@clevermodels.com
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, January 4, 2006, 08:53 AM
Had a good couple of hours of building last night. All thats left on the warehouse (now named "City wide storage") are the corner pilasters and the coping.
The steel industrial building is also ready for a build. It's a good easy project and should only take 2 or 3 evenings at best. The weather here has been awful. I'm hoping for a break so I can shoot some more referance. Spotted this funky little insulbrick house I want to get.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, January 3, 2006, 01:48 PM
Yahooo! It feels good to get out from under. Every order is on its way. I have about 2days of build left on the warehouse then I can take detailed pix and finally release it for sale. I've beeg juggling 4 different prototypes that are so close to done, I can taste it. The strangest things hold up deelopment. Here's one. I accidently on purpose tried a two tone wall on one of the steel sheds. Dark green on the bottom course of sheetmetal and gray above that. It looks great. BUT does that mean I need to offer other colors? Red and yellow look good too. The original all gray looks good. Do I make a streight gray shed thats very flexable or do I make a kit that looks great but locks you into a color. Wile I decide a kit thats mostly done sits on the development table. The "steel factory building" that has the same basic proportions as the "furniture factory" is also 99% done but hay! what if I printed it on the bigger stock and made it longer and should I offer an alternate door so you can allow freight cars inside?
Our kits are leaps and bounds more detailed then almost all other manufacturers of card model kits. Most of our competitors offer flat and uninteresting kits that look like they were afterthoughts. Our kits have personality and a real modeling challenge that gives ultra realistic appearance. Our kits get shown off with comments like "look at this! It's paper"
I guess what I want to say is, Our kits are the best of class and if it takes a little longer to get them out. So be it.
Back to work. I got kits to build.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, January 2, 2006, 04:11 PM
Happy New Year.
Well, swamped though I am, I was able to get up a pix of the "2nd and Commerce gate tenders house" I couldent be happier with this kit. I'm doubly happy that It turned out to be inexpencive as well. As usual we charge more by the number of pages than an arbitrary value. In O scale its only 3 pages. Now Iv'e promissed a couple of rather large kits and I'm going to fulfill that promiss. Future structures however should tend to smaller items. I have a couple of sweet little houses on the drawing board.
I sincerely apologize for the delays in delivering the kits ordered durring this holiday season. between running around and closed post offices, I'm running behind. All the kits will be going out tomorrow as soon as the post office doors open.
Thom
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Wednesday, November 30, 2005, 11:17 PM
Thom (Thom<at>clevermodels.com)(Thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, December 1, 2005, 05:14 PM
The guestbook seems to have turned into spam central. If I cant get control of it, It's going to have to go away. perhaps that button with become the instructions and footprint button.
Hmmmmmmm
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, November 28, 2005, 04:15 PM
Opps I forgot. I went out to shoot reference for the "Pullman row house. This is going to be a cool model but wow, there's a lot more involved than i had anticipated. Theres a lot of variation. I may have to model a whole block to do it justice. You woun't be seeing this one for a wile but when you do...lookout.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, November 28, 2005, 04:10 PM
The "Steel factory building" is finished. This is the kit previewed in the Drawing board section. It is the same footprint as the Furniture factory but done in rusty corrigated steel. The photos show the result of combining two kits. By building those i was able to add some refinements such as an optional rolling door to allow for railcar entry. This is included in the kit but must be cut into the existing wall. Also I've added a long roof vent typical of many heavy manufacturing/ steel making/fume gushing rust belt industry.
One more thing, I've set this one up as a test for lazer cutting. We are always concerned about cost so what the plan is now is that you will be able to order the kit mit an midout cut parts. I don't know the final price yet but the basic kit will be around $33. We may issue a double length kit in future just because two look so cool.
I've also recieved some castings from westport model works. Wile we have some issues with the finish of small castings We recomend you look there for dress up details like vents and such.
The cast doorways and stairs are quite nice and we will be adjusting some of our kits to make using them easier.
Sorry for the delays between posts. I'll try to put up some news each week at least.
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, November 23, 2005, 12:43 PM
As the holiday season starts to roll the Clever bros want you to know how thankful we are for the support and friendship we have experienced since oening this web site. We learn stuff about our kits every day and we apply what we learn.
Thanks for your patience with us through our growing pains. It was just about a year ago (at Thanksgiving dinner) that I showed brother Dave the first prototype I had built for my own narrow guage layout. At that time, selling kits was just a passing thought. Well, a lot has changed a lot faster then we could ever have imagined.Right now we face the decision to go with the flow or slow down a little to catch up with the details. But the flow is raging and too much fun so it's full speed ahead. I'm sure there are rapids and bumps ahead of us but thats part of the fun.If the year befor us is anything like the one past, the kits we sell by this time next year will be leaps ahead. We are out to make some of the best looking and fun kits anywhere. You are all helping us get there. we are thankful.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, November 21, 2005, 11:47 PM
ALLERT
Just found out that a couple of HO scale garages were sent out with S scale interior supports. Not a ghuge deal but if you got one or any other wierd parts let us know so we can send out the right one.
Sorry bout that.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, November 17, 2005, 11:47 PM
Interesting idea Jan. I'll have to take a look at the Barmills stuff.
Thom
Jan W
Thursday, November 17, 2005, 06:52 PM
A thought about instructions...
I just saw for the first time the videos Art Fahey has on his Bar Mills Models website. They are a bit amateurish, but extremely useful and informative. What a great tool, both for helping modellers and for selling!
Jan
Jan W
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, 05:11 PM
How are you guys doing?
I sent an order by e-mail, and a follow-up e-mail, and heard nothing...
If you're backed up filling orders, that's a good thing. If e-mails are not getting through, that's a bad thing.
Give us a sign, oh Lord of structures...
Cheers!
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, November 14, 2005, 09:20 PM
Clark, We know people want the foot prints and I'm going to move it to the front burner. In general none of our kits is larger then 8.5 X 11 in O scale.
The furniture factory is the largest at 10X10.
Steel sheds and Quonset huts are 7X8.75.
the 3 garages are 5X6.
Plant#2 is triangular and fits inside a 9X11 box
Glad to here that you like the kits.
We are trying to play catch up with the details but keep checkin back and askin us the questions
Thom
Clark Musgrove (rrmusgrove<at>att.net)(rrmusgrove<at>att.net)
Monday, November 14, 2005, 05:02 PM
Guys,
I just discovered your website. Actually, I was told about it. I love the models--and I will be ordering a couple next weekend (11/11/05).
One thing I think--IMHO--would help on the website is to add the footprint--even in full size dimensions--we can all apply our own scale ratio--to the description. I'm a modular model railroader so am always cramped for space and looking for something to fit a particular spot on a module.
I saw someone mention custom work, or ideas from a picture. Do you do that sort of thing?
Keep up the good work.
ClarkM
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, November 14, 2005, 10:49 AM
TRAINFEST thoughts.
Just about the most beautiful model railroad I've ever scene (in a room full of great models) is the
"Gypsy trolly line" Unfortunatly I don't have all of the info in front of me. Like the builders name. Doooh and also unfortunatly there is no web site to share. This was art. This model ozzed a sence of place. A very simple modular dogbone of track about 12 ft long so absolutely packed with scenes. The best proof I've seen that you dont need a lot of space. The basic modules were no more that 10 inches wide. Just enough room for two track main line and a siding. The 2 ends of the dogbone couldent be more than 2 ft square. I coulden't believe that this layout didnt win for best module but then it won last year.
OK, heres tha pay off. I DO have some pix. not much but a few and I'll post them some time this week for you all to enjoy.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Sunday, November 13, 2005, 10:01 PM
Wow, Just back from train fest in milwaukee. What a great show. Even though we didn't have a tabel, I was able to make several good contacts that will help our models be more available and better overall.
After I have some time to assimilate what i saw, I'll pass on my thoughts.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, November 11, 2005, 04:39 PM
Going up to Milwaukee tomorrow for what billed as the largest model rail show in the midwest. We woun't be displaying because I've only just found out about it. If you see my walking around on Sunday with my Clever models uniform on, feel free to say hi. I should have a few things with me to show. If the show is as good as I hear, I assure you we'll have a couple of tables for next year.
Don't forget to sign our guest book.
See you in Milwaukee
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, November 8, 2005, 04:33 PM
I think this blog is becomming self aware. I just posted somthing totally negative about one of my printers and it woulden't upload.
Good news is, you must like the new fence model. They just went op and we sold a half dozen of them.
Just a reminder. Jan 1st 2006 we will be raising prices 20%. get your orders in and save .
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, November 3, 2005, 11:05 AM
I'm always looking for ways to improve our kits. To that end I've baught a bunch of castings from "Westport model works". If I can work out some kind of deal there, we will start designing kits to use those castings and include them in our kits. If not, I still recomend you take a look. He's got great details at excelent prices. Some of his building paterns would be fantastic with our textures. Take a look here.
http://www.westportmodelworks.com/
Some might think Im promoting a competitor but I like to think that we all just want to make great models. It's a part of our job to turn you on to great resources.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, November 2, 2005, 11:09 AM
Wish I was going to the S scale meet in Inde this weekend. I can't make it but my brother Dave will be there. Not displaying, We don't have a table cause we missed the deadline but he will be donating acouple of kits as door prizes. He'll be making the rounds in his Clever models shirt so feel free to bug him with questions. We also might have a couple of kits on display on a layout. I know I just finishd a kitbash of a steel shed and a quonset hut, co-joined as it were and I know he built somthing as well. If you get to the show, let us know what you thought.
Thom
PS. The Clarendon and Garfield RR is having an open house this weekend. (in Chigago at the Claendon park field house)Stop over if you get a chance
[ 3 comments ] ( 861 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ]
Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 01:14 AM
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, October 31, 2005, 11:03 AM
HAPPY HOLLOWEEN
Filled a ton of orders this weekend. Now if I can just get to the post office.
We got the computer models finished for the "news stands" Should be a fun model. I hope to finish it up this week. There has been a greate responce from the S community, to our ad in "S gaugian". Thanks so much.
We will be posting some detailed construction tips and instructions in the next few days as well. We know they have been a long time comming for those who are not experienced modelers but as our users expand I'm feeling it's the right time to do it.
I want to float the idea of a kit bashing contest. I'm having such a good time combining kits. I just recently built a new display piece for an upcomming s scale show and I used left over parts from 3 kits. I also made parts out of leftover scrap paper. There's a tip for you. Remember that you can use all the extras and the waste paper as interior supports and even new parts.
DON'T EAT TOO MUCH CANDY...
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Sunday, October 30, 2005, 08:20 PM
Stream of conciousness.
The new "drawing board section is starting to have a few pix (at the bottom of the models page)
This is where we are going to show models that are in the works. Really raw, first builds, kit bashes, stuff that may never see the light of day. Don't expect ant fancy photography. I just want to let people know that we're always thinking.
Hay, the guest book is working now. How about signing in to let us know youve been here.
We want your comments. Possitive, negitive, good recipies. What ever.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, October 24, 2005, 11:57 PM
N scale. I gotta get a life. I had another request today, actually more of an accusation. Why don't we offer N scale. Is I said before, if somone wants to buy N scale I'll make N scale. so far no one in that community has stepped up.
Well, like i have nothing better to do. I built an N scale ice house. I didn't go crazy with the details, just the basic shape, one pilaster, the loading dock and the internal support to hold it all in shape.
The virdict.....
It's completely possible. Damn thing looked pretty good. Now i know in the world of card modeling there are a whole lot of people who make things as small as possible. It's a challenge to them. They would find this a piece of cake after they just completed building a 1/170th mig fighter but I'm not convinced that the model railroad community would embrace this.
prove me wrong.
Damn, It looks good
Thom
Thom Clever Bro (thom<at>clevermodels)(thom<at>clevermodels)
Sunday, October 23, 2005, 09:11 AM
Did a bit of S scale kit bashing yesterday. I thought I'd share the results. A rusty quonset hut and our new corigated steel sided building, butted together at a 90* angle. Together they make an awsome little industry. I think adding a large steel building or two (the new one with the same footpring as the furniture factory)would make a great large industry.
I know I
m getting ahead of you with out postin pix. I promis to get them into the drawing board section this week.
Had a request for some news stands. Thought it was a great idea so pending research, I'm going to knock those out next week.
Thom
Jan W
Thursday, October 20, 2005, 09:52 PM
Re: What is reality?
Thom's comments reminded me of conversations I had long ago with my dad in the early days of High Fidelity sound. He was a classical musician, and he always felt that 78 rpm acoustic recordings were more 'realistic' than electrical high fidelity 33 1/3 recordings. He clearly was hearing things differently than was I; his mind filtered out the clicks and pops in order to focus on tone and expression.
Each of us sees a scene differently, filtering things and adding missing detail to our own unique formula.
In many ways the mind is eager to participate in scenic deception; I believe our role as modellers is to create situations in which observers' minds are comfortable in helping build illusions. Ways to help the mind include maintaining uniformity of tone and style, and stuff like consistency in scale, perspective and details. Our minds are really good at finding inconsistencies.
Another big thing is developing a story line for a scene. Get the mind playing with the story. Signs, people, details all help. Just like the Magicians do. Misdirection works wonders.
OK, so if the realism of individual buildings is important, but the consistency of an overall scene is paramount, what does that suggest for photo-realistic building models? Scenes get designed IMO in two ways: If I design from scratch, I develop a program (story line, era, season, etc) and search for kits to match. Or, I start with a concept, see kits I like, and synthesize the two to develop a program. In either case the problem comes back to blending a photo-realistic building with everything around it.
This is a long path to the obvious, but it's about the light, guys. Winter vs Summer. Cloudy vs Clear. Shouldn't kits be offered in a variety of lighting situations?
Ah well. This evening I spent a very pleasant 40 minutes switching cars in the English Village of the Midlands section of the layout. A Maine Central loco dropped off two boxcars - NH and MEC. It looked real to me.
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, October 20, 2005, 11:24 AM
I've been meaning to write about this. A couple of weeks ago I had an opportunity to drive to Kentucky. It's always fun to be driving along the road and see different prototypes of the buildings we sell. lots of Quonset huts, Steel side sheds etc. But the variation that hit me was when I saw our furniture factory, or at least a building that looked exactly like it. The proportions were just about exact, right down to the unusually low roofed side wings. The big surprise was that there were dozens of them and they were all painted black.
"Tobaco drying sheds" is what they were. I was completely unaware of this type of structure. I'll have to consider making a conversion kit. Black is a problematic color but I'll have to try a dark gray.
Another thing I saw that has me thinking was an old leaning shed. Now I have a test model of such a shed and I've been wondering how to txture it. This might be the answer. It was sided with old licence plates. kewl.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, October 18, 2005, 11:27 AM
What is reality?
Working in the film biz, I have a certain attitude about what looks real. It's a decidedly different view then the modeling community at large. generally, I believe that when you see a model you should not know or at least not be sure that your looking at a model. The scene rules not the model it self.
With that said, I had a coligue stick thier head into my cube the other day. He picked up a copy of "O scale trains" and flipped through it. His coments were interesting. He was very inpressed by photos of a large laser kit. His impression supprised me. he thought it looked completely real. Not to take anything away from the model or modeler (or my coworker) but this was obviously a model. Impressive and detailed to be sure but obviously a model. In no way would this construct pass muster in the movie biz. Just a couple of pages over was a much more convincing photo in Carl Cornishes article about "Timeless structures". His models sag and lean. Their never square. The awareness of scene rather then building struck me. So whats all this about?
It brings to bare the question as far as the hobby goes. What is real? Thats a question that I as a designer needto keep in my concious mind. For now I'll leave the impressive detailed laser kits to be what they are, inpressive models. I'm much more interested in the illusion of reality.
Thom
Jan W
Sunday, October 16, 2005, 08:55 PM
Just back from York!
Returned from the York TCA meet this weekend, and am still digesting the stimulus overload... While this is primarily a three-rail extravaganza, it is so big (30,000+ attendees) that all appetites are addressed.
I recently finished the John McAphee two part coal rainroading article in the New Yorker, and lo and behold Alan Graziano was displaying a custom built 1/48 model of the Black Thunder mine loading facility McPhee described in his article. The model might have been 20 feet long! The punch line: Alan was unaware of the McPhee article!
So, as always, I return from a great show with head buzzing with ideas, and with renewed energy to pursue my own projects. This is why I go to these shows - a chance to reconnect with friends in the hobby, and to stoke the fires under my own passions.
What a great hobby!
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Saturday, October 15, 2005, 07:56 AM
Hopefully the guest book will be working as it should soon. We got hit with a spam bot a week ago and I think that was what made it screwey.
I must be working, I see we have a new spam from somone selling handbags.
Go figure
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 01:22 PM
100 posts, woohoo. Hope I get a prize.
The Guest book seems to be bustimicated. We are fixin it. please, If you wanted to leave a message try again in a few days.
The web page has gotten so big that its impossible for us to chech every link on a regular basis. If it looks like somthing isn't working right, let us know and we'll get the web mistress to make it better.
Thanks
Dave Bro (dane<at>clevermodels.com)(dane<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, October 11, 2005, 12:54 PM
Hi everyone,
And I know you are out there. Even though no one wants to comment the number of you reading this blog keeps going up. Wait till you all see what Brother Thom is bashing. He sent me some pix the other day and all I can say is WOW! Don't know if it will ever become a kit, but the way he is combining things is awesome, truely awesome.
Dave
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, October 10, 2005, 08:50 AM
IMPORTANT NOTICE, PLEASE READ.
If you experience any problems with the fit of any parts, please contact us imediatly.There was a manufacturing glitch which caused some pages to be printed with slight scale differences. This only effects kits sold at the Inde show and possibly by internet this last month.
We have a confirmed problem with the rusty qaunsit hut. The clean hut seems to be ok. We are currently checking all the kits in inventory and will post our finding here.
To recap: If you baught your kit before the inde show, there will be no problems. Kits purchased after this posting will have no problems. This only effects kits sold in the last month.
WE WILL REPLACE ANY PROBLEM KITS FREE OF CHARGE.
A quick check is to measure the Clever logos at the top of each page. If you find any that are not exactly the same size, contact us and we will fix the problem.
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, October 7, 2005, 05:39 PM
Two in one day:
I'm sitting at my dest reflecting about modeling in general. I needed a break and pulled out one of the kits in progress, a small silver house trailer. You know the kind that gets parked in a pumpkin lot or thats surrounded by cut Xmass trees so that it looks just like a little hut in the forest. Well, anyway I was thinking about all the amaizing modeles I've seen recently. truly breathtaking stuff with every bolt and weld crisply molded. So whats the attraction to paper. Certainly there is a limit to the dimensional detail possible so whats the point? Here's where the reflecting comes in. Somewhere in my far, deep memory I remember seeing and being insplred by models made from scratch. pieces of coffe tins, cardboard, pins and wire. These models were not very accurate or detailed and yet in many ways more beautiful than any contemporary injection molded thing. I recently visited a layout while we were in Inde. Tucked along a siding was one of the most beautiful buildings I'd seen in a long time. It just looked "right". I was told that it was about 40 years old. On closer inspection you could see that the window mullions were crudely painted on and there were gutters made from straws and bits of corrigated paper. This beautiful work was an expressionist painting made manifest.
It's nice to get inspired once in a wile. To be reminded that you don't know as much as you think.
I really like paper models. their some how closer to home. closer to "Right".
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, October 7, 2005, 12:04 PM
I started kit bashing the as yet unreleased "steel building" (I need a better name) kit. This structure has the same footprint and dimensions as our Furniture factory but is sided with rusty corrigated. For those of you familiar with that kit, I'll discribe what I'm doing. First of all, I'm using two of the same kit. I've always thought that a double length furniture factory would be cool and work well with that shape. I have to say that after combining the two sets of walls the length is impressive. About 80 scale feet. I was a little concerned about the texture patern repeating but after putting this together I think its a minor point. (more on this later). My plan is to add another 40 feet to the length by taking the "wings" from the right and left side and combining them into a low long building that will then be joined to the larger taller building either directly to one end or by overlapping (underlapping?) so there is a half wing on one side that extends as its own structure past the back wall. It may be hard to visulize but it will make for an interesting roof line. This leaves me with one extra wing from the kit. I;m not sure what to do with it yet but at worst it can become a half relief building for a backdrop. I could also use it as it is originally intended, extending off one side of the building. The cool thing is. I don't need to make that decision at this point. The flexibility of combining kits surprises even me.
Don't tell my brother. Once he starts doing this, I'll never get another "streight" building out of him. (hard enough to do now)
Happy kit bashing,
Thom
Jan W
Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 07:04 PM
Thom, you're on!
I'll send an e-mail with signs and my next order. Just waiting for a piccie of the warehouse...
I just used some left-overs, and your textures sample pack, to spice up an old Berkshire Valley corrugated steel building. This is neat stuff! The ugly duckling is not quite a swan, but it was good fun and the building looks a lot better!
BTW, hope you're not baseball fans...
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, October 5, 2005, 04:47 PM
When you get involved with running an involved web site like this one, you don't think about how a technical glitch can effect your daily existance, I can imagine having a temporary outage and casual nvisiters getting the impression that " opps, guess they didn't make it, their gone" I know I've thought this on occasion when a favorite spot has misteriously gone missing.
So far we haven't had a problem that severe but It could happen. We have had some strange things happen. Buttons going to the wrong places, the wrong pix comming up, etc. Guess its just a new fact of life if you live on the web. As you may have noticed, our site has grown and become more sophisticated. Lots more layers of pix and info. It's not going to stop there. We will be adding downloadable stuff. low res test kits, instructions, probably some new gaming products. As we reach wider markets we will keep growing this site to be usefull on a dayly basis. Though we still have a few pix to go up we now have more then 12 model kits. I enjoy designing these and ther are certainly many more to come. personally though, I want to take a bit of a break from designing new kits so that I can max out what we already have. Not everyone has realized the power of kit bashing combined kits so the next two or three projects will feature exactly that. I'll be taking two and three kits and put them together in different configurations. My only difficulty is to decide where to start. there are so many possible combinations. I'll try to document the process and post them in the "drawing board" section of the models page. When I'm satisfied that I've proved my point (or get tired of it) I'll get back to finishing the grain elevator and othetr projects. Till then, enjoy the dozen or so great kits we have and do send us pix. we'll post them.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, October 4, 2005, 05:18 PM
NOT our fault
Sorry about the blog being down.
It wasn't us.
Thom
[ 4 comments ] ( 87 views ) | [ 0 trackbacks ]
Saturday, October 1, 2005, 04:12 AM
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, September 30, 2005, 09:06 PM
Hay Jan, Just tell me what signes you want. I'll make them and send them to you.
Thom
Jan W
Thursday, September 29, 2005, 04:54 PM
Hey Guys:
The new website format is excellent. I really like the selection of detail photos with each kit.
IMO, a dimensioned footprint of each building would be really helpful. Very useful to those of us with maturing layouts, in that space planning is a constant game.
Last week I built the foundry. Good fun, and unusual for me, in that building construction usually is a Winter activity! Your kits are a joy, perfect for listening to baseball on radio (or even TV). I'm planning to combine the foundry with the new plant, and the warehouse, to make a gear works. I'll build connecting structures using left over bits and some textures.
I asked earlier about signage...my thought was the following. The sign on the furniture factory doesn't appeal to me. It should be easy for you guys to make a custom sign to fit the space, same tone and colors, so it can be glued over the existing sign. This could easily be an add-on option to your kits, and would be worth a few bucks to anyone interested. A sheet or two of generic signs would be easy and pretty cool, but offering tailored verbiage would be special!
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, September 26, 2005, 11:17 AM
The show was a blast. Once again people loved the kits. The warehouse especially opened a lot of eyes and It wasn't even finished. We were able to show most of the kits, however two of the prototypes didn't make it.
If your a fan of thr furniture factory, there is a corrigated steel version now available. Pix will be up in the nexy few days. With a few dimension changes and the addition of a dormer/loading hatch, It's the same footprint as the furniture factory. We did show one of the two new steel buildings. There are two variations. Standing seam all around with large industrial windows and corrigated sheets with sliding doors and an option to add windows.
We also showed the production version of "plant #2". Supprisingly, for such a challenging kit, it sold well to first time card modelers.
The Card modeling crusade continues with a lot of the old guys fondly remembering when card models were all there was and the new folks who had never seen anything like them.
Once again we get the same questions and responces. Whats inside? Thats not all paper. The hands reaching out to touch. etc. etc.
Generally we were told that attendance was down. probably the result of the gas price mess. Many vendors didn't sell a thing. Our sales weren't great but certainly enough to make the trip worth wile. Even if it wasn't, Getting to meet our customers and new friends was priceless. (HI Barb! You rock girl)
This may sound crass but if your on the fence about trying a kit. You might want to make up your mind soon. Because of gas prices,Ink prices and all the other screwy things in our economy. When our current stock is gone we are going to have to (kicking and screaming)raise prices. We are working with suppliers to do our best but it seems inevitable. We'll hold off as long as we can. Don't fret too much. You will still be able to get six of ours for the price of one of thiers.
Best always,
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Sunday, September 25, 2005, 10:27 PM
Well, that was fun. Back from Inde and I'll have a lot to say over the next couple of days but for now I just want to get some rest. Talk to you tomorrow.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, September 23, 2005, 06:42 AM
Todays the day. The new website with lots of pix is live. Go to the structures page and take a look.Klicking n a pix will take you to a larger version, klick again and go to a gallery of that building.
there are still a couple of holes to be filled but the new format wil make it easier to upload new pix as they become available. As soon as we get back from Inde, we will be posting pix from there. Our next big project..... instructions. Though we still don't think thier needed.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, September 21, 2005, 10:08 AM
Almost packed for Inde. Still stuffing polly bags with product, Still trying to get the last prototypes built so We can show them. Twenty kits left to package and I think I'm done.
Brother Dave keeps building stuff. It's a good thing we don't do too many instructions. He keeps building these things in ways I'd never guess. It shows the 'kitbashing" approach that we want to incourage. He moves doors around, opens windows, creates operatimg garage doors. Basically he builds them any way he darn well pleases, never mind how I intended it to go and they always look amaizing. I hope that many of you will get a chance to see the models up close at the show.
We're going to expand our support of "The Train show" on rfd satalite tv. If you havent seen it Rich Einhorn does a great and entertaining show. If you don't have satalite TV you can download and watch the show on your computer.
www.thetrainshow.com
is the place to be.
Later
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 11:43 PM
Jan, Depends on the sign. One of the things that hasen't been shown are the billboards and roof top signes we're working on. (they fit the warehouse)
If the sign were interesting and at least somewhat general. we would make it free of charge as long as we could offer it for sale or as part of a kit. Let us know your ideas and if we can make it we will.
Thom
Jan W
Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 06:25 PM
OK, another question...
How easy would it be for you guys to offer customized signage in your kits?
Jan
Jan W
Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 06:23 PM
Hey, a great idea!
Testing new designs for reactions before release is one of those great ideas that make you shake your head that it's not been done before. I guess this is made easier by your ability to change product so quickly...
Jan
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 02:39 PM
Very soon Jan. Very soon. I just saw the latest test of the web page which will have not only new pix of everything but a "drawing board" where we will post work in progress.
The venerable web mistress sweares it will be live by the end of this week.
Thom
Jan W
Monday, September 19, 2005, 07:33 PM
I know you're busy,...but
How about a sneak pic of the new models?
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, September 19, 2005, 10:55 AM
INK and Paper,
Just when you think you got it all figured out. I should know better. I've been an artist a long time.We have gotten so many nice comments about our kits and the quality of the printing and the images and such. We really hit a sweet spot and have a great looking product but I can't leave well enough alone. I keep trying new combinations of ink and paper, sometimes to disasterous and wasteful results. Some times not so disasterous. A buddy of mine works for XEROX and I was able to try out one of thier high end (half million dollar) printing machines. Thier aiming at the big print market now not just the corner copy shop. To make a long story just a little shorter, the quality was jaw dropping and the speed insane.
Why can't I leave well enough alone. Our high end printers do a great job. Beautiful stuff but know I know what could be.
There's always a ballence of cost and quality.
Dad Clever, who was in the printing business his whole career always said you can have it fast, cheep and good. Pick two. Right now we have good and cheep but I want to go for better and faster. Can we find a way to maintain cheep?
We'll keep ya posted.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, September 16, 2005, 11:03 AM
Always a mad rush getting ready for these shows. getting plenty of kits ready, all the little details. It's kind of fun.
So I'm nuts.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, September 15, 2005, 11:49 AM
Jan, In responce, Yeah those windows are a bit of work but we find that after you've done a couple it gets easier. An alternate way ofbuilding them is to ignore the tabs and glue in the folded inset from the back , butting the edges. Not as secure a method but it does ive a nice finish and can be easier to fit.
On the window question. I take your point but our goal is to give kits as much charecter as possible. There are enough extra windows in the kit I suppose adding a bit of extra clapboard in the kit would be possible.
Some of the new kits (the steel buildings are being made with out windows printed on the walls but will have window templates and window parts so the modeler can choose where, how many etc. I'me doing this because durring the research phase I found that this type of structure, though found in every railyard, had no windows about half the time. I thought it an easy way to extend the variety in the kit. we'll see what people think.
We're still rushing to get kits prototyped and printed for the show next week. It's a race. If anyone is waiting for an order thats why it's late. Patience please. It will be worth the wait. By the way, I did modify the loading ramp to include two more cross beams.
the metal building that uses standing seams is going to come with sheets of thinner material to make the folding of the seams easier. the question is do we just make it full sheets of material or do we preshape the pieces. The modeler will have the choice to build with thw flat printed texture or add the standing seam material over the top of the printed walls. Hope thats clear. hmmmm. I'm rushing a bit. The kim might have to evolve a bit after is's released this week.
Thom
Thom
Jan W
Wednesday, September 14, 2005, 08:31 PM
OK, More unsolicited comments...
First, thanks Dave foe the tip re Krylon low odor matte finish. I'd never heard of it, found it at Brennan's MRR supply.
I'm currently constructing a forge building. Executing the inset windows easily ranks as my least favorite task in a long time, although the effect is really neat. Two lessons so far - first, never mind the guidelines, cut each window to fit once the wall openings are cut and bent. Fitting these things is a bear.... Second, remember to darken the exposed edges of the window cuts before assembling. Much easier that way.
Finally, an observation regarding the furniture factory. The kit as printed includes a boarded up window. My point applies to the degree of decay of a building. Many kit producers delight in modelling decrepid buildings, which is cool in it's own way. Some modellers prefer to model buildings as ongoing businesses, with ongoing maintenance.
My point is this: If you print the building with all normal windows, and include a boarding-up overlay (as you do now), then you give the modeller the option of deciding whether to board the window. As-is, as far as I can see, there's no way to un-board the window.
Cheers!
Jan
Thom Clever Bro (Thom<at>clevermodels.com)(Thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Monday, September 12, 2005, 10:16 AM
It would be great if we had more opportunities to attend hobby shows. I enjoy showing our work because we're proud of it. I like meeting other hobbiests and manufacturers. I really like seeing all the creative ideas which always fire off more ideas for us.
We are a small, new company. As such we have to pick and choose carefully which shows to attend. All we can really get out of a show is to cover the cost of going and spreading the word about ourselves and card modeling. This 3/4 of a year have been great for us.
We face a daunting period of choices. Stay small and build over time is our chosen path however some things cant be avoided. New exuiptment, advertising, marketing, all things that aren't imediatly apparent when you think about selling simple kits of paper.
These are the thinges we have to choose to do (and pay for).
This year we are doing two shows (canwe sneak in one more?) But next year we have to get out there in a bigger way. I want to hit at least one show in each scale we represent. AND I need to get to the big national hobby show (not just trains) The list should look like this.
O scale show here in Illinoise
an S scale show (to be found)
the NMRA show and the big hobby association show.
Got any ideas of shows we should attend. let us know.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Saturday, September 10, 2005, 10:36 AM
I'm spending the day catching up on orders. I have so many kits to put together befor the upcomming show. I'll have two printers going constantly.
I still need to finish two prototypes befor then as well. I may have to cut of deliveries for the week so I can get ahead.
People like our kits, guess I shouldent complain.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, September 9, 2005, 11:32 AM
Since switching over to the new printer, I've had to spend a lot of time paper and ink getting the color where I want it. You would think that a far more sophisticated device would give great results out of the box. Not so. So after a week of pulling hair we wre back in production. We've also changed our paper. I didn't think it possible but I found an even brighter white card with a beautiful smooth surface. I love it any time I can make the kits better.
Jan thanks for the pix. I'll send you a couple of new ramp kits to replace the one that got damaged when I send out your order.
Thom
Dave (dave<at>clevermodels.com)(dave<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, September 9, 2005, 12:02 AM
Jan
Sorry to hear about the trouble. In the process of teaching my self about the ins and outs of card modeling, I've had my own share of disasters, but only one like your talking about. Some pointers. I've tried a bunch of different clears with various results. None worked really well until I ran into Krylon "Low Odor Clear Finish" Comes Matte, Satin and Glossy. The matte part number is 7120. Says right on the can that it is compatible with paper. I could not find it in a store anywhere, had to order it special from an art supply house I found on line. THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER is to just barely dust on a first coat, then a second and a third. After that, if you want more you can do heaver, but still light coats. Also be sure that the can is new. After a couple of months, if there is anthing left in the can, I throw it away. Also, don't let the can get cold and always shake it up really well. At least a minute. One possible fix that I've heard of but haven't tried myself if to re-spray the clouded model with some new coating. Sometimes the new re-disolves the old and gives it a chance to re-dry clear. This is what I've heard. At this point it sounds like you have nothing to loose. If you try it, let me know what happens. I will do the same. Good Luck.
Dave
Jan W
Wednesday, September 7, 2005, 06:56 PM
All is not lost... The quonset hut kit includes so many miscellaneous bits that replacement of doors, windows and vents will be easy.
So, are you guys planning to be at the train show in York, Pa in October? It's a three-rail show, but the sheer size of it suggests a market for you. If so, see you there!
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Wednesday, September 7, 2005, 01:10 PM
OUCH!!
Jan There may be a way to save the models. Talk with an art store about this. We do use matt spray but I can also say that throughout my career I have had bad experiences with it. Nothing like working on a large marker rendering for a client only to have the matt spray go miky.
I wish I could recall the fix for this but I do remember that there is one.
I always test spray on some scrap paper, especially if the can of fix is old or has been sitting for a wile.
Really sorry. I'll see what I can find out and post it here.
Thom
Jan W
Tuesday, September 6, 2005, 04:26 PM
And a lesson learned...the hard way.
Sprayed the kits this morning with Krylon Matte Sealer. It was like misting them with white paint!
I know that excess sealer turns stuff milky, but these were really sensitive. Is there a safe level, or is matte sealer to be avoided?
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Tuesday, September 6, 2005, 12:16 PM
jan, Once again usefull info we can really use. I'll have to check about the 2 diaganol posts on the ramp kit. We are going to probably offer it as a free download in future. We are going to try to always have and rotate a simple one page kit for free download.
You really "get it" as far as what we're trying to do. We want people to use our kits as a jumping off point. Take them as far as you want/can. Customize them, cut them up, combine them. You can always build them just as they come. No extras needed. but I'm looking forward to seeing pix of what people are doing with them.
As far as folding little bits. There are actually folks in the paper model community who delight in reducing the scale to maddening leveles just to se how small a model they can build. Now thats perverse. Hmmmm. perhapps they would buy N scale kits?
General note to all readers. we are getting question and comments on the "purchase" page of our site. Please keep the info flowing but post to
"generalinfo@clevermodels" or here in the blog.
Thanks for your understanding.
Thom
Jan W
Monday, September 5, 2005, 09:24 PM
Hi Guys:
Enough theory – I’ve completed two of your kits and am brimming with comments.
I’ve built the Quonset hut and the freight loading dock, and I’m totally satisfied with the hut, and am absolutely delighted with the loading dock.
Your coaching in terms of going slowly, and letting each step set before proceeding, is spot on. So obvious, yet so hard to do. Please understand that the builds that follow are very much in context with my satisfaction, this is just stuff to perhaps make things better…
The Quonset Hut:
This went together very easily. I used 3/16 foam core board as a foundation. It’s hard to imagine building this without the foam core.
Your internal bracing template measures out to about 1/8 inch less than the wall of the ends of the unit. OK if using just card stock.
I preferred a different approach. I sent photos separately.
I built internal supports of foamboard to the profile of the end walls. In my opinion the most difficult aspect of building the hut is to get the correct profile of the arc of the roof. I fashioned three profiles, one for each end wall and one for the middle of the building
By building supports flush with the walls, glueing and fashioning the roof is very easy.
The Loading Platform
This was a delightful kit. In my opinion more difficult than the hut.
I believe, by the way, that the kit lacks two diagonal braces. I could have lost the braces in question, but my current position is that there is no way I lost them, the kit is defective!
OK, reactions to the kit…
Fabulous little kit! I love it. Perverse, but I enjoyed folding little bits, knowing that the same could be achieved with one good plaster casting.
Several thoughts occur.
The kit goes together well when one includes Bainbridge board as a core for the brick base and the wood deck. The instructions might tell folks what thickness to use…
The support beams go together better if a core of board or balsa/basswood is used. Why not suggest the sizes to use?
By the way, I may be slow, but it took me a moment to realize that the support beams in the structure go outside the sheathing.
Terrific – keep it up. Clearly instructions are needed, but do it on the net!
Cheers…
Jan
Dave (dave<at>clevermocels.com)(dave<at>clevermocels.com)
Saturday, September 3, 2005, 06:16 PM
Jan
Thanks for your insight. I think you know us better than I do. But, you are very correct on all points. We see the same advantages and pitfalls you do. I guess that means were doing something right. Well maybe not right but at least obvious. Thanks for your comments.
Dave
Jan W
Saturday, September 3, 2005, 04:34 PM
Hi guys. You raised some excellent business questions a while ago; sorry for the delay in responding…
Regarding catalogs, I consider the Westport Model Works catalog to be one of the best. He makes color drawings on heavy paper, for use much as yours are used. While not photographic, the quality of his stuff is extremely good. Les sells his catalog for $7.50; the book is necessary, in that his stuff is very much modular – somewhere between your textures and your structures. If you aren’t familiar with his work, he’s at www.westportmodelworks.com
In thinking about the various ‘opportunities’ you guys mentioned, my thoughts drifted over business plans in general, and the various clients I’ve worked with as a business consultant. I was reminded that one of the uses of a business plan is to help businesses decide what not to do, and which opportunities not to pursue. Every emerging business seems to face way more things to do than is possible with the resources at hand…
From what I’ve read, I’ve deduced several things about your business plan – could be way wrong, this is just my guess!
· Using technology heavily in designing and producing kits
· Initial channel to market is via website and direct sales
· Intent on maintaining low cost of product
· Seeking to maintain flexibility in developing new products / buildings
· Targeting both experienced builders (textures) and novices (building kits)
· Seeking to achieve a volume threshold – not clear whether this is units, or revenue, or both
So, on to your issues, ie:
· Should you publish a catalog
· Should you print instructions with each kit
· Should you distribute through dealers
It seems to me that a lot depends on how many real customers (as opposed to tire-kickers) are not on the internet. I suspect this is a constantly diminishing minority, but I have no data. It’s true that many of us modelers are tactile people, like to hold printed catalogs, but younger people may not agree…
I really like the route you’ve taken of putting catalog and instructions on the net, as a way both to control costs, and to maintain flexibility in updating documents. If you go to a printed catalog, you need to do it well, a la Westport, and that involves significant time and cost. A good catalog certainly will boost sales of both textures and buildings, but an on-line version done equally well might achieve almost the same boost. It would take a lot more than a bunch of SASEs to push me into an elaborate catalog project.
I would also resist printing instructions with each kit. Many suppliers seem to be moving towards generic instructions and hints, as you have done.
Distribution through dealers is a seductive channel, but I think I would approach this carefully. You’ve identified the key variables – you can’t underprice your dealers, and to maintain low cost you probably would give away your profit to dealers for their margin. If your internet direct sales model is going to work, you should focus your efforts on doing that as well as possible. Your first goal is to build your high margin direct business; if required, dealer sales are strictly marginal business, useful only to build unit volume. As marginal volume, I would wish to be certain that I could produce the extra units only for the direct costs of paper, ink, etc, and that I required no additional labor or equipment to serve the low profit business volume. I would also seek a low risk channel to selected dealers: rapid payment, no returns, no bad debts, no selling and advertising cost, and minimal administrative overhead (billing, receivables, inquiries, etc) associated with the dealer business. The risk of course is that the dealer sales might gradually build up demand on your resources, and that you would find yourself building volume in the low margin portion of your business.
One strategy might be to offer only certain items through dealers; either a separate line, or kits on the market over a certain time, etc.
One final thought – most start-up businesses that succeed financially end up doing it with products or services quite different from what they started with. Entrepreneurs tend to be motivated by financial success, not allegiance to a given product or artistic goal. This thought may not be at all helpful…
At any rate, keep up the good work!
Jan
Thom Clever Bro (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Friday, September 2, 2005, 10:52 AM
Finished the big warehouse last night and can't wait to build it. Of course I'll have to let my brother do it cause I got more kits to finish in the next week to be ready for the show. It feels good though to know that we will be showing it in a ready to sell form. Now I need to finish the three steel buildings I started.
The safari of yesterday was not successful. the bounder got away, tucked behind inaccessable gates.
Still, like the fabeled Yetti, I got a good look at it even If I didn't get clear pictures.
Win some, lose some.
Thom
thom (thom<at>clevermodels.com)(thom<at>clevermodels.com)
Thursday, September 1, 2005, 11:20 AM
On Saffari....Out of the corner of my eye I ofen spy some wonderful jem of a structure. So today I set off to capture yet another elusive Quonset hut. Now we already have 2 and they sell pretty well. This beauty I spotted grazing along rand road tucked in the back of a landscapers supply yard is resplendent in peeling green paint and gobs of tar.
I MUST HAVE IT.
Thom
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