"Red Eagle Print, other CAD kit news" Topic

Previously I've previewed JBR's design of Red Banner/Eagle/Lightning tank, and I've just got it printed!

Here's an image of the print to give you an idea of what the actual pieces will look like.

picture

In other news concerning CAD designs, here's some status (all 15mm scale unless otherwise indicated):

Prints cleaned, off to the caster tomorrow:

1) Cheetah ALSV (advanced light strike vehicle)
2) Atlas armoured prime mover
3) Atlas armoured personnel trailer
4) Sci fi modular building plus furniture pieces
5) Battle Class Federal Heavy Cruiser (1/1500 scale)

Prints received, ready to clean:

6) Federal Cormorant Gunship/Dropship
7) Garn Merchant Warship (1/1500 scale)
8) Grav plates for Siler MEP

Prints completed, being shipped:

9) Nova Respublik Red Banner/Eagle/Lightning Tank
10) Pelagic Dominate "Benthic" class battlecruiser (1/1500 scale)
11) Federal and Garn Missiles, Pelagic space torpedo, Pelagic Man of War strike craft, Pelagic Sea Wasp space fighter (1/1500 scale)

Designed and to be printed next:

12) Atlas Mobile Cannon System
13) Maggoton World-harvester (hoo boy!)

Being designed:

14) Altas supply trailer with optional canvas cover and supply crates
15) Altas Mobile Anti-Aircraft System

Stay tuned!

It all sounds great. I'm particularly interested in number 4 & 8.

Jon,

That model looks really nice. JBR did a great job compartmentalizing the options. The model looks like it will be versatile but simple and not fiddly at all.

-Eli

Awesome.

Sci fi modular building plus furniture pieces

Even more awesome, especially furniture options for interiors.

4) Sci fi modular building plus furniture pieces

Huzzah!

EDIT: Oh, and has there been any pics of the Federal Cormorant Gunship/Dropship yet?

Sorry about the delay in the modular building parts, it was very, very time consuming to clean the truck and I was holding the building until I could ship them together. But they are on their way!

I'd complain about the lack of Mekanoid releases anywhere in the near future, but as I can't afford them anyway, there's no point.

By the way, the Cnidarians are wonderfully menacing looking. I just got a pack and I had had no idea how big and fierce-looking they are.

Glad you like them. I think the paint job may not do them justice. My fault as it was my choice of colours.

If you like them I think you'll like the Maggotons too.

On the Mekanoids, there's a molding issue and that's being rectified. I may do a partial release with just the vehicles, then do the troopers later.

wow!!

"Red Banner/Eagle/Lightning tank" is a work of beauty! Well done. I shall need about a company worth of those. I love the extra bits (mg, reactive armor, etc…).

Looking forward to the following as well:
Cheetah ALSV (advanced light strike vehicle)
Sci fi modular building plus furniture pieces
Federal Cormorant Gunship/Dropship
Atlas Mobile Cannon System
Altas Mobile Anti-Aircraft System

Whats this?
"Federal and Garn Missiles"

Thats fricking awesome, When I saw your first pics I did not know John had made all the parts as add-ons.
Lots of possibilities there…

Nice!

What is the status on the mutants?

Yes lots of extras left over if you build a basic tank and that is a good thing.

There is a second hatch somewhere? I love the model though. I can see several platoons worth of those tanks.

You would not produce two of the same part because everything that gets printed costs you extra. So you get one hatch and then the caster makes two of them to go into the production mold.

I understand now. Any idea of when the rest of the Federals get released? I am trying to plan my Christmas shopping.

It all depends on when I get the restock of the federal infantry. I already have quite a few backordered. When the second batch of federals get released it will result in a lot more orders for the infantry squad.

Jon,

If I understood correctly from the original post, the basic tank comes without all the other parts right?

-Eli

I think I may just end up releasing the whole thing as one master kit and people can build them up as they like.

Outstanding news.

Jon, what are the "Federal and Garn Missiles" you have listed under upcoming releases?

They are for space combat, at 1/1500 scale they would be too small for anything else!

So what's the Pelagic cruiser look like anyway? Never got a picture of that one, did we?

BWS, it looks like the Leakin' Lena from Beanie and Cecil, except it has a laser cannon mounted on the bowsprit.

Bah,

Sorry to hear that. I really do not like spending a lot of money on parts I won't end up using.

If I want only the basic design, then I am setting aside enough unused parts to equal half a second tank –

2x optional turret extensions
2x front applique armor pieces
Several small pieces and strips of reactive armor
1 x optional gun barrel

I would much rather pay more per tank and have full vehicles to use than a bin full of unused parts.

Your original proposal was much more appealing.

-Eli

How do you know there will be any price difference? I haven't quoted prices.

Really?

I'll take the bait.

Come on Jon, you have made it quite clear throughout numerous comments on many posts and in many discussions that cost, price and other economic concerns are very much a concern of yours.

I find it highly unlikely that you would not charge for the inclusion of all the bits. You have to pay to produce them, right?

As I said in the editted post (sorry looks like I was editing while you were responding), I'd rather pay for whole models then be forced to have a ton of excess. Whatever you charge for it, I would be spending money on things I will not be using.

-Eli

You're not taking all of the costs of production into account.

If I charged the same for the basic tank as I did for the tank with all the bits, would you buy just the basic tank?

But I am glad you have had a change of heart about the basic tank -- you criticised it in my initial announcement.

The model itself looks nice and is well thought out. I am still critical of the syle of the design and feel that it is too retro even for a low-tech scifi tank.

John Bear Ross designed this handy Neo-Soviet vehicle, which will be available as the basic Red Banner variant, with add-on packs separately available to build the Banner-U, Red Eagle, and Red Lightning. Meant to be more the size of tanks of today or the near future, the hull is about 75mm long, a bit longer than the hull of a T-72.

What happened to this idea?

I would not buy the tank with all the bits regardless. No matter how you price it, I am still spending money to end up casting parts aside.

I realize there are additional costs associated with separate production lines and such, but I am still spending money on parts I will not neccesarily use.

-Eli

If you realize that there are additional costs involved in making multiple different variants separately available, why do you think you'll be spending more? If I can offer the kit with all variants at the same price as the kit with just one option because of the money I save on moulds, what's the issue?

Also still confused why you want the basic tank available at a lesser price if you aren't going to buy it, which I get the sense you are saying.

First of all, I'll state my issues plainly –

I do not want to spend money on something I will not use.

This is something that has kept me from buying a few of your models, even though they are nicely doen and I like the overall design.

In this specific case, I will not use the giant barrel and the power generator turret extension.

Also, I fail to see how whther or not I am going to buy the basic tank has anythign to do with the discussion about my perceived value of your proposed change in your rlease approach.

Ultimately, you will do what you want and what you feel is best, however it doesn't change the fact that your proposed packaging change means gamers having to buy parts that they may not have interest in or use.

Sure, you may be able to do it for the same price, but I would be much happier paying a slightly higher price per model than end up spending money on stuff I'll never use.

I am sure from your side it seems like a win and from a production/numbers standpoint it certainly must look that way.

Value-wise, as a consumer, a deal on somethign I am not going to get full use of, is not much of a deal.

-Eli

Of course you are entitled to see this any way you want. But it sounds like you're telling me that if I sell the basic red banner tank at $10, or the full set of tank plus all options at $10, you would buy the red banner. I think you are in the minority there. I think most people would want the options, either to try them on for size, or have them for future conversions or similar. I know as a consumer it would seem silly to me to buy the bare bones vehicle when I can get the vehicle with extra options at the exact same price.

Sure, you may be able to do it for the same price, but I would be much happier paying a slightly higher price per model than end up spending money on stuff I'll never use.

Sorry, you lost me there.  You're willing to pay more in order not to pay more?

If the two kits are priced the same how are you "spending money" to get the options?

Also, I fail to see how whther or not I am going to buy the basic tank has anythign to do with the discussion about my perceived value of your proposed change in your rlease approach

Ok, so you are not criticising my business model due to any actual interest in buying the product being discussed.   Understood.

I dont mind having the extra bits around. I plan on making all the different versions. I will probably do what the Brits did in WWII with the Firefly and have one upgunned Red Lightning in each platoon of Red Eagles for my front line units. Then I will have a bunch of Red Banners for my reserves or second line units. Also I can use them as used tanks sold off to 3rd world powers.

I like my units to have a story behind them. Also I like playing with the guys no one wants, regular line or home guard units. Already have a back story for the Silers on their equipment and why they were formed. Now I need to do one for the new tanks.

That sounds great Doug!

First pictures keept me cold but real model i really like.

I don't mind it being too retro, IMHO its even to modern for what is today T34/T55 in some countries.

One thing i would like is grav field refit similar to Siler tanks youve made.

Jon,

I think I have let this go a bit too far and get to me a bit too much.

I tend to consider things on principal. To me, this is the same reason I will pay more for a burger and a Coke when I can get a burger, fries, and Coke for less. I don't want fries. In the case of your model, the Red Lightning barrel and turret back are the fries in this combo.

I never said, I wasn't going to buy them. I had planned to build mine as the middle of the range someplace between your Banner-U and the Red Eagle anyway.

I let the arguement get my goat and I do apologize for that and to the board for taking up so much space with my wierd sense of principals.

-Eli

My goodness, how upset we get about our toys!

If you'd like Eli I'd be happy to keep the pieces you don't want and send them as a charitable contribution to the Old Kitbashers Home.

LOL,

I'm sure there are plenty of folks who think I'm crazy for thinking the way I do. I also don't have an overflowing bits box.

I am sure I can find somethign to do with them.

-Eli

Stop bickering you two and let him get on making them available please!

Sorry Pilgrin :)

We've moved on from bickering to playful jibes, now.

-Eli

Red Eagle/Lightening/whatever kit is looking great indeed. However you package it I'll be grabbing some!

-Will

Extra bits are always welcomed!

PS. Wminsing said "package"….hee hee.

Alright…I have to poke fun at myself for a moment here.

So, after all my uproar I looked at the parts to the tank and it struck me that I could use the leftover parts for the Red Lightning to make moisture vaporators (the guns) and power stations (the turret addons).

Figures that my imagination would invalidate my own arguement.

You may all commence poo flinging!

-Eli

In this specific case, I will not use the giant barrel and the power generator turret extension.

power transmitters and/or comms antennas, building HVAC systems, and about a bajillion other uses for parts like those.

Consider poo flung.

I am officially poo-a-fied!

PS. Wminsing said "package"….hee hee.

Is that a 160mm gun barrel or are you just happy to see me?

-Will