A Rant

[nkp_174]

Having gotten into the craftsman kit business...although not yet selling product...I'll add my 2 cents.

I am in the process of launching a resin kit business. I do not know how much of a market exists for my parts, and I'm certain to have issues with parts since they are craftsman kits...how many manufacturers have gotten out of the kit business primarily because of the labor and hassle caused by sending out a single $1 part?

My first kit is a 23' 1872 flatcar (3' gauge...On30 or On3). It will come with a one piece deck, three brake levers, a brake chain roller, int sills inserts, and a frame. The modeler will need to choose trucks, couplers, a brake wheel, and decals. They must wash all of the parts and then clean them up prior to assembly. The process is the same with my passenger car kits, except there are many more parts.

Step 1, I had to choose a prototype
Step 2, I had to verify the accuracy of the car's drawings
Step 2a, get permission to use Grandt Line NBW's in the masters
Step 3, determine the car bolster height needed for use with either On30 or On3 trucks
Step 4, built the masters
Step 5, QAQC the masters
Step 6, Develop a strategy for producing the molds (part lines and such) and order the necessary materials (It's taken me 5 silicone rubbers and 3 resins to have sufficiently consistent quality)
Step 7, create the molds
Step 8, make any QAQC changes needed for the molds
Step 9, learn how to cast the parts (this varies with every mold)
Step 10, assemble and paint pre-production versions for QAQC purposes
Step 11, write instructions
Step 12, order boxes
Step 13, order any parts or materials from other suppliers needed to complete the kits
Step 14, produce a stockpile of parts, verifying that they are coming out with an acceptably low number of flaws.
Step 15, determine what it cost me to produce each kit and then add cushion for replacement parts and profit (a big deal considering the time I lose from my own modeling pursuits)
Step 16, market the kits
Step 17, sell the kits...not knowing if I can expect to sell a couple dozen or a couple hundred.
Step 18, prepare for calls/letters for modelers regarding parts, assembly instructions, paint not sticking because they didn't follow my instructions, and such
Step 19, if I sell out, decide if there is sufficient demand to justify the time and money required to produce new molds.

My flat car requires 3 molds. My Oahu Railway coach requires around 15-20 molds.

Additionally, since I'm doing everything in house, I don't have to coordinate with pattern makers and casters as many cottage industry suppliers do.

I'm under the impression that replacing locomotives is usually cheaper than fixing them...for the costs in labor to stock all of the parts and be able to swap them out is usually higher than replacing the entire engine. Certain parts do seem to be acceptably easy to replace (such as trucks or locomotive drivers) and so they are sometimes available (I've purchased drivers from both BLI and B-man in the past 3 years)

For large shippers, I fully understand why they charge more for shipping than UPS. It takes only slightly less labor to pack a pair of Kadee couplers as it takes to pack a hundred packs of Kadee couplers. The additional effort (cost) to determine the exact postage (and packaging and labor) is best avoided by setting a flat rate.