I'm Producing Laser Cut Structures (and kits!)
I purchased a laser cutter and now I'm going to be producing structure kits for model railroads! What started as a passing interest turned into an experiment and now is quickly heading towards a passion! Please see the FAQ I pre-compiled below before posting any questions.
Model Kit FAQ
Q) What scales are you going to produce kits for?
A) Only HO Scale at this point in time. I'm not sure if/when I'll branch out to other scales.
Q) What era are your kits appropriate for?
A) Modern era from the 1970's up until today.
Q) What types of kits are you going to make?
A) To start I'm going to produce commercial structures that are suitable for small businesses. I'm also a small business owner, and I believe in highlighting that aspect in what I'm going to produce.
Q) Are these going to be Craftsman kits?
A) No, these are going to be Joey kits! :)
Q) What materials are your kits going to be made from?
A) Wood-based materials like MDF, basswood, micro plywoods and laserboard for the structural elements and main details, and laser-safe plastics for window glazing and additional details where applicable.
Q) What skill level are these kits geared towards?
A) Beginner to intermediate skill levels to start with. Eventually I'll work my way into more advanced kits, but I'd like to focus on kits that are quick and easy to put together to get them onto a layout in a timely manner.
Q) Are you going to accept custom orders?
A) No, for several reasons. My time is extremely limited as it is, so I'm going to be focused on creating kits that I personally would like to either a) use on my own layouts, or b) would like to see brought to market.
Q) But... will you ever accept custom orders?
A) If I do, it won't be anytime soon.
Q) Can I send you suggestions?
A) You could, but again, my time is extremely limited, so I'll be focusing only on the kits I'd like to see created for now.
Q) How much will your kits cost?
A) TBD - I'm still working this out at this point in time. I still need to figure out the best sources for materials, packaging, and other considerations that go into figure out pricing. I don't aim for them to break the bank, but I still need to earn a living and put food in my kids' mouths, so I need to find that balance.
Q) Do you have a website for these kits yet?
A) Not yet. I still need to create my initial line-up of kits, and also need to determine the best platform to start with for my situation. For those that already know I work in software development for a fulltime career: I've already decided not to create the website from scratch myself. I know what goes into creating/maintaining sites, and it takes up a lot of time, and that's time I'd like to dedicate to creating my kits instead.
Q) Where will these kits be sold?
A) Online only at first, but eventually I'd like to make some rounds at various train shows. I have no idea at this point if my kits will be available through other model railroad retailers. I'm just starting out, so we'll see where this journey takes me!
Q) Who are you going to be competing with?
A) I'm not going to be competing with anyone. I'm simply offering another option to model railroaders (and anyone else!) who are looking for the things I'm going to produce. I personally will continue to support other kit manufacturers out there that are creating things that I would find useful for my layouts.