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[John W E]

hi all

my twopenneth worth about the WOW  FACTOR as everyone is calling it 

Could it be, do you think, when we don't get the Wow Factor with something, that means we haven't done enough research into the product we are going to purchase.   I know we all must be guilty of it sometime in our life.   We have all bought something, whether it be a model boat, to even a motor car - where some part of it has let us down.    So, for anyone considering, buying kits/semi kits, obviously they have to do a lot of ground research to try and prevent the loss of the WOW FACTOR cos we must be sick of having the WOE FACTOR.

To pick up one or two comments about this on the thread about kit manufacturers, and semi kit manufacturers to say that they may only spend £300 to produce a mould is just the tip of an iceberg, depending on the company and obviously the kit.  The actual research costs can be 3-4 times the cost of the mould.

When you take into account the buying of the plans, photographs, costing of research time - so sometimes......the customer may think he is spending a lot of cash on a hull, and for the amount of money he has spent on the hull doesn't seem to justify it, but what he doesn't see are all the hidden costs as mentioned above.

The other thing that springs to mind is building your own hull and what you have to bear in mind is not everyone likes building their own hull - they prefer to build from a pre-made one.  Not everyone has the time/skill/knowledge to spend building the hull and this again is where a manufactured hull steps straight in.   

In my opinion nobody should say building your own hull is the best option.

aye
john e
bluebird

[Colin Bishop]

In my opinion nobody should say building your own hull is the best option.

Quite right John, it's just AN option but a worthwhile one for many. But at the end of the day it's whatever floats your boat and I agree that not everyone wants to build their own hull for various valid reasons.

[Bryan Young]

In my opinion nobody should say building your own hull is the best option.

Quite right John, it's just AN option but a worthwhile one for many. But at the end of the day it's whatever floats your boat and I agree that not everyone wants to build their own hull for various valid reasons.

OK, I will go along with Bluebird, but even so I would resent spending a lot of money on a product that is basically "not up to the mark".
This problem seems to be getting worse. I don't know why. "Bluebird" is very good at what he does, but even he must accept that there are some "out there" who are not, and these are the predators that I am targetting. The excitement, anticipation and hope that must have been dashed by those selling off second rate "stuff" must be legion.....and that my friends is what kills off a hobby. How are the disillusioned going to trust anyone again? All tarred with the same brush I'm afraid, and the good ones will suffer eventually. I am in no way connected to the "trade", but I do know of a couple of "good ones", and to see their products put many of the higher priced offerings to shame. If this is an "industry" then perhaps a regulatory body should be put in place. Pleasure and satisfaction to the customer should come before the "quick buck".

[OMK]

There is something magical about the way a hull looks and feels as it's gradually comes together. Personally I don't get that same feeling when working on store-bought hulls. Now't wrong with store-bought stuff, of course. One of my 'good' builds was created from a pre-made job. But if I needs a "WoW!" fix, then, for me at least, it only works with hulls made from scratch.
The other times when the wow factor hits is when I'm peering inside the finished model. The lighting, the servos, the power plant, the radio, rudder, the wood, metalwork, the gizmos...

Ever disappointed? Yep... especially the time when that swan sank my cruiser. Took me AGES to get that hull just perfect, an' all.

[PSSHIPS]

As a builder of both semi kits and scratch before I took over Sirmar. I have had problems with some stuff from here and there, but, I just got on with it. The main reason for taking on Sirmar was for me to carry on doing what I do and keeping the product available for others, if there is anyone out there that has any Sirmar PSSHIPS products of late that are not as it says on the tin,I would like to know, I would be very dissapointed in myself in both our lack of quality controll and also letting somebody down, but, if this is the case, let us know without bunging posts up first without asking the manufacturer. This is me Paul speaking for myself whatching this thread and I thought it was time to say something before all the moaners kill the manufacturers off by this sort of thing.
 For those who can't build a hull, but, want a boat, I ask what do they do then?

 There are not that many people who have got the required skills or time, but, I have just whatched somebody build one of our type 42 destroyers to a good standard within 6 weeks, hell, it takes me 6 months to build one to my satisfaction, never mind the customer who has never built a semi kit before.

 So lay off, each to his own.
 Paul...

[tigertiger]

There is also the problem of some vendors taking the p155.

Selling Chinese toys like-  MTB for 99 quid and Challenger aircraft carrier for 125 quid.  These would be extremely dissapointing for the money.
I think they are worth about 30quid, which is what you will pay on ebay.

Then they sell a really nice model the Mary J Ward, by Victor Models for 450 quid. They cost less than 300 US dollars 150 quid).

They kit is definately worth 150 quid, but not 450.

Small traders do struggle to make a living, and overheads are higher per unit share, but the outfit I am complaining about is a big player.

[chromedome]

 
  I was just wondering what the Forum ethics are (or guidelines), with regards to mentioning the name of a trader who has sold a bad hull. I get the feeling that its not the done thing?

   chromedome

[Bunkerbarge]

I don't think there is a legal issue of naming anyone unless you are trying to affect thier business. 

As long as you are stating verifiable fact and not being deliberately defamatory I think it is reasonable to name and shame any trader who gives poor service or products.  Forums are one of the most effective tools that customers have nowadays to warn and protect buyers about such traders which has to be in the best interests of all concerned with the hobby, both the reputable sellers and the buying public.

I have no problem sharing both positive and negative experiences and I have done so on numerous occasions in the past.  The rogue traders deserve to be named and we all should be prepared to stand up and be counted when it comes to such things.

Interestingly enough I once purchased a wooden tool box that proved to be faulty a few months later as a result of poor workmanship and improperly seasoned wood.  When I complained I was given a load of bull and told to go away.  I wrote the whole story down and sent it to Model Boats Magazine and also to a model engineering magazine.  Model Boats published my letter and named the trader so they obviously didn't see any problem with it.

The model engineering magazine didn't as, surprisingly enough, the trader advertised in thier publication!!

As a result the trader eventually gave in and gave me a full refund.

I would name them every time.

[tigertiger]

Further to Bunkerbarge's comments.

If your problem was with one hull, stick to that.

The other offerings from this trader may be fair.

[chromedome]

Also.....I know a chap who loves his Lada car....poor build quality but.....

   Chromedome

[cwmitch]

I wish I never bothered with this post, All I did was ask a general
question and it seems it has been taken the wrong way, As I said
earlier I'm not after a name and shame.


I for one don't have the time to build a hull from scratch, My hull
suppliers are either WW11 Fleetscale or Modern Sirmar I've found
both very good, I've spoken at length To both Paul at Sirmar and
Peter at Fleetscale and the one thing they both have in common
is a passion for what they do!!!!

Colin......