Re: assemblying FT minis

> From: 	 "mrjohn" <mrjohn@micron.net>
> To:		 <gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>
> Subject:	 Re: assemblying FT minis
> Date: 	 Tue, 16 Feb 1999 12:14:03 -0700
> Reply-to:	 gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU

> Will this also speed up the ability to get the minitures?   I live in
Boise,
> Id. and have 2 choice of local stores to go to and order FT minis.   I
have
> placed orders at both of them.  1 store claims that they can't get the
minis
> through their distributors.

I have no control over the distributors, but I keep them apprised of 
all new releases, attend their open house shows and try to get them 
to stock a reasonable amount, but it hasn't been easy.

   Store number 2 (at this point I'm trying to
> avoid using names) claims that they order directly from Geo-Hex but
that the
> Minis are out of stock all the time.	I'm not trying to collect
anything
> that I think would be to rare (Its an NSL fleet), but with the last 2
orders
> its taken over 3 months to get the minis. 

We have had out of stock situations over the past year and that is a 
MAJOR reason we are now going to mold our own.	However, I can't 
remember having specific problems with the NSL (they and the FSE are
some of 
our hottest sellers so temporary out of stocks are to be expected).  
All I can say at this point is that we are working hard to correct 
this situation, that we have only had these problems in the last 
year, and that they will be eliminated.

KR, Geo-Hex

 Aggravating to say the least.
> Another local gamer is having the same problem but then we don't have
a lot
> of other options.
> 
> Michael Johnson
> Micron Internet Services
> www.webpak.net/~mrjohn/mine
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Geo-Hex <geohex@mail.teleport.com>
> To: gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU <gzg-l@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>
> Date: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 11:49 AM
> Subject: Re: assemblying FT minis
> 
> 
> We have JUST taken over production of the lines here at Geo-Hex, but
> have yet to produce any figures (waiting for metal to arrive!!).
> Since the inception of the license all of the FT ships have been made
> under contract by a third party molder.  Unlike the Stargrunt figures
> and the DSM line, the molds were NOT made by Brian Hitsman of
> Majestic, but by the third party molder.  We relied on their stated
> expertise in doing microscale minis, and to be quite frank they did a
> more than adequate job in the beginning and helped us get the line
> out to stores and hobbyists quickly.	But QC concerns became a major
> point after awhile, and were never ironed out (one reason we switched
> to using a professional mold maker for later lines).
> 
> Now that we have the lines in-house, we hope to address those
> concerns and make some changes to packaging and quantity per pack.
> It has been decided to remold and rework each item as the molds
> require replacing.  To that end we are going to inspect all
> production masters in inventory as soon as possible.	I suspect that
> many of the problems stem from poor production masters and not from
> poor molding.  We will not remake another mold from masters we feel
> are inadequate.  Having said that I must state that the overwhelming
> majority of the pieces cast properly and give a very nice model in my
> opinion - and I've personally made them all!!
> 
> The second change will be to go to plastic base stands for the smaller
> models in the lines, both to reduce costs and to allow the extra
> model in the packs.  This way we hope to put two of every cruiser in
> a pack and perhaps four scouts and frigates.	The new base is a flat
> hexagon slotta base with a unique "T-Bar" post that is much stronger
> than the flight stands currently on the market.  We will for the near
> future keep the heavy pewter flight stand for the larger ships,
> although we plan to replace it eventually.
> 
> You should see the new models in new packaging in stores and through
> mail order beginning in March.  Since QC remains an issue we welcome
> your feedback so we can fine tune the line to produce the best ships
> we can.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> KR, Geo-Hex
> 
> 
>