Market Survey- Laser Cut Wish List

[NYC Irish]

In the name of All thats card models could you please do Railings for ships, especially ones that we could dictate sizes and scales. Ive given up on a few projects as I couldnt find 3 or 2 bar stanchions at 1/144 scale and no other laser cutter was willing to design them...really appreciated if you would try

John John

[bclemens]

To answer Keith and David H:

Yes you can control the power of the laser in order to control the depth of cut. Therefore one can texture or engrave surfaces as well as cut.

As far as how thick can you cut, That depends on the laser power (= $). From what I've seen the less expensive desktop models I am looking at can easily cut through any card stock that would be used in paper modeling.

[logicman]

I don't see why any kit designer would have a problem with a third-party creating enhancements that might cause someone to be more likely to buy his model.

As e.g. canopies for paper planes, glow-plug engines for balsa ones, true-scale wheels for rtr rolling stock, windows for buildings, etc., etc.

If that was a legal issue, there'd be more lawyers than modellers.


Wait a minute - there are more lawyers than modellers.

[dansls1]

Hmm, laser frames for Gremir kits. Depending on price, I would quite possibly purchase those at some point - starting with the P61 that's near the top of my build list...

[cdavenport]

Perhaps Kooklik will work with you to produce bulkheads, etc for Thaipaperwork models! That would be killer. I would get right to work on the U-Boat if I didn't have to cut out all those bulkheads. There are just so many companies that would benefit from this. In fact, I wager a good number of modelers would pay the extra cost if pre-cut formers were included in the price of a kit.

I know the plastics guys are doing this. For companies that sell digital downloads, customers could have the option of also purchasing your laser-cut product, shipped directly from you!

It just takes some communication and coordination. I, for one, would love this option!

Gremir models has stepped up to the plate already. I have a few of their kits waiting to be built. I just need those laser-cut formers to start!!

[cdavenport]

Sorry to over post, but there has been an issue posted recently that concerns the 1mm cardboard we normally use for bulkheads and formers. Specifically, some have tried to find alternatives because the cardboard warps easily.

The solution is Letramax 2000 mechanical board. It is just a tad thicker than 1mm, easily handled by even a tabletop laser. It has none of the drawbacks we associate with 1mm cardboard. It is more difficult to cut because of its density, but that is the reason why it never warps. Even if you cannot afford the laser cut product, if you switch to the mechanical board, your building efforts will be greatly facilitated!

[bclemens]

cdavenport, I took note of your posting about Letramax 2000 earlier. If this goes through I think that material would provide the quality level I would insist on. It may command a little higher price, but I think most people would appreciate the advantage.

[cdcoyle]

What I personally find exasperating about accessories is not being able to get all the accessories for a particular model from one source, or else only having certain accessories available but not others (e.g., frames for a ship, but no railings or barrels ). I would love it if someone packaged frames, railings, details, and barrels as complete sets. And there are plenty of great models out there for which no accessories are available.

[bclemens]

Well, the biggest hurdle is over- I convinced Cat that investing in this thing is a good thing to do and financing applications are in...hopefully it'll be a short time and I can start cranking out some card

I'll keep you all updated as things develop!
Cheers,
Bruce

[Billy Leliveld]

Thomas Pleiner, he's one of the founders from Kartonmodell,Kartonmodell-Forum | Portal a german forum, and a member here too, has been making laser-cut parts, on a commercial base, mainly for ships, and even here in Rotterdam I could buy German ship models with his detail-kits as an extra, seem the way to do it. Here is an old thread; his site seems to be moved; http://www.forum.zealot.com/showthread.php?p=472207
Cheers, Billy

[bclemens]

Hi, Billy,
Thank you for the information- unfortunately all the links that are in Thomas's thread no longer work. I would like to do what Thomas has done on this side of the Atlantic

I hope that Cat and I can produce items that are needed and wanted by North American modelers- there will be no issues with currency conversion and the postage will be much less.

I have just received word that the financing is approved, so we are ready to move forward on this.

Cheers!
Bruce

[logicman]

I hope that Cat and I can produce items that are needed and wanted by North American modelers- there will be no issues with currency conversion and the postage will be much less.

Those transatlantic shipping costs are a real killer. Still, things may improve when the carriers move into this new-fangled lower-cost steam-power.

I have just received word that the financing is approved, so we are ready to move forward on this.

Great stuff. More power to your elbow!

I wish you every success.

[Billy Leliveld]

You could even PM Thomas Pleiner, he's a member here, and seems a very nice guy..
cheers, billy

[bclemens]

Quick update-
The financing has come through- the wife is happy, and production of the laser cutter has begun (new model, old company). With any luck, I'll have it ready to go by the end of July.
I hope to be able to supply many of the suggestions made here in this thread as well as other items of interest to card modelers, at lower prices than the material coming from Europe.
Best,
Bruce