Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Martin (Admin) on July 19, 2017, 06:21:34 pm
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Has something happened to Traplet?
(https://preview.ibb.co/nK1u25/Traplet.jpg)
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Someone just posted on Facebook that they have folded.....
He was told this by a contributor to the magazine
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Yeah, that's what I saw.
... eye sore?! %)
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They went into administration yesterday, shop and magazines including MMI.
Colin
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That's a shame if it's true,I'm going to miss my monthly read
Baloo
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Does that include Sarek Vacform? I guess it does...........
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Bit odd to take on the MyHobbyStore plans service so close to going under.
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i hope there someone with enough cash to rescue at least the plans and hopefully MMI. {:-{
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The plans are still owned by MyTimeMedia so should be safe although there will inevitably be a delay in supply while new retail arrangements are worked out. It's early days yet.
The MMI staff have been made redundant and there doesn't seem much likelihood of the title being revived given that it has been outsold by Model Boats by a considerable margin for some time now. The market doesn't appear to be sufficient to sustain two specialist model boating magazines.
We shall just have to wait and see what the outcome of the administration process is.
Colin
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Hi if mmi as gone under what will happen to the people take out a subscriptions .
Davew
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Colin - Do you know the position regarding Sarek?
Sorry to ask, but I have masters at their premises and am concerned about getting them back if necessary. I cannot raise and answer from anywhere else.
Cheers
Carl
Linkspan Models
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Doesn't MMI sponsor Warwick?
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Carl,
Sorry I can't help with that as I only have limited information. I don't know who the administrator is but obviously that's who you need to get hold of. As it only happened yesterday there is bound to be some initial confusion. Hopefully things will become clearer as the week goes on. If I do hear anything further I will let you know. I am given to understand that there are various discussions going on concerning the future of the business.
Colin
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Carl,
Sorry I can't help with that as I only have limited information. I don't know who the administrator is but obviously that's who you need to get hold of. As it only happened yesterday there is bound to be some initial confusion. Hopefully things will become clearer as the week goes on. If I do hear anything further I will let you know. I am given to understand that there are various discussions going on concerning the future of the business.
Colin
Many thanks Colin - really appreciated.
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hope all those with a yearly subscription get their money back.
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Hope those who have been laid off get sorted... :((
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hope all those with a yearly subscription get there money back.
Sorry, Dave, but unsecured creditors are always at the end of the queue. Familiarize yourself with the word "zilch" and move on.
DM
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Would this depend on how they paid, I.e if they paid by credit card ?
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Might do but I think you have to spend more than £100 to get a credit card refund. Dave is probably right but it does depend on to what action the administrator can take in saving parts of the business. It will take a while before this becomes clear.
Staff should get at least statutory redundancy.
Colin
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Barrie will have more time on his hands now to get into more mischief!!!!
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hope all those with a yearly subscription get there money back.
Sorry, Dave, but unsecured creditors are always at the end of the queue. Familiarize yourself with the word "zilch" and move on.
DM
Many many years ago I saved for nearly two years as a teenager to buy a friends BSA Rocket Gold Star[ a genuine one might I add with RRT2 box] and to pay for my insurance for it. 1968 was a dark year for me. I paid £46.00p for my insurance on top of the £120.00p for the bike............rode it happily for about 3 weeks, when one morning I received a letter through the door from an administrator saying that my insurance was no longer valid as the company, Vehicle and General had gone into administration, but in due time after all creditors had received their cut of the left over spoils I and other insurers would receive our refunds.
Seven years later [ yes 7 years] I received my bounteous cheque from the administrators....... £0.18p........still have the cheque somewhere as a keepsake...........took me another 3 months to save for new insurance, whilst the bike sat idle in the back garden.
never trust an insurance company, and never build your hopes up for a decent refund. As DM says, put it down to experience and move on.
Jim.
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This is quite a surprise as they had a stand at the LMA Cosford show last weekend. They were trading normally selling magazines both old and new and with a large selection of plans for sale.
Jim
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Barrie will have more time on his hands now to get into more mischief!!!!
maybe barry may think of bringing the weymouth model show back to town! :-)) :-)) :-))
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Doesn't MMI sponsor Warwick?
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That is a good question. What events did Traplet support?
I am not totally surprised by Traplets problems. I used to subscribe to their electric flight magazine but it became so picture dominated and the remaining text so spaced out that I stopped subscribing & then they stopped publication. I would level exactly the same comment about their other titles that I am aware of, including Marine Modelling. More pictures, less text & very large empty spaces. I stopped buying them all & I guess others did as well. This has, however, left some holes in UK magazine hobby coverage where alternative titles are scarce.
Large parts of the magazine & newspaper industry are facing falling sales. Let us hope that this increases sales of Model Boats & thus protects that title from a similar fate.
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Expect The ''Other Mag'' will up its price now :} as for refund for subscribers no chance I had just insured with Vehicle&General when they went used to get a cheque every now and again for a couple of shilling
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Gentlemen ...... without wishing to say too much, other publishers are aware of the plight of Traplet. However the future of MMI is very dependent on the viability of the title and negotiations with the Administrators. The August magazine was at the printers so it is now the decision of the Administrators regarding if this issue gets mailed or appears in the shops. The primary role of the Administrators is to maximise the amount of money raised. It is not a pleasant business.
As someone raised the point ...... this situation will NOT have any effect on the International Model Boat Show.
For now it is a situation of 'watch this space'. I have spoken with Barrie and all things considered he seemed in good spirits and was on his way to deepest Cornwall on holiday.
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Does that include Sarek Vacform? I guess it does...........
Their Ebay shop still appears to be functioning, for what that is worth.
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Not worth taking out any subscription as they all could go bust it's the same as buying gift cards for someone if the firm goes bust you lost out
Dave W
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Bad news................Heard yesterday that Traplet have been placed in administration. On their website the shop is closed. Their magazines will be sorely missed by many so I hope that some other company will pick up the reigns if that's possible.
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Being talked about here:
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,58598.msg611917/topicseen.html#msg611917 (http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,58598.msg611917/topicseen.html#msg611917)
:-))
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Thanks.
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Its very sad to say the least
We can only hope that something suitable can take its place
Mick F
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I wonder if this months issue will come out has it more than likely has been printed.
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I understand it has gone to the printers..... But will the printer get paid to print it?
Down to the Administrator.....
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Expect The ''Other Mag'' will up its price now :} as for refund for subscribers no chance I had just insured with Vehicle&General when they went used to get a cheque every now and again for a couple of shilling
WHAT!!!!......... you got more than one cheque...............I got just one..........who do I complain to, {:-{ {:-{ {-) {-) {-)
Jim.
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Does Traplet still survive? Or is it one magazine failed.
regards Roy
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I understand that it is Traplet Publications that has gone under, not just the magazine we know.
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Bit of a discussion going on on a model aircraft site:
http://www.modelflying.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=128833&p=1
The aircraft hobby seems to be different from ours in that it's big enough for there to be lots of ready to fly aircraft which is killing the modelling aspect of the hobby and with it magazines.
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This months issue downloaded on iPad today :-))
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I picked up a copy of Model Boats on Saturday from W H Smiths and there were copies of MMI there.
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That will be the current edition. The next one is due on 27th July. It will be interesting to see if that is distributed , as it must have already been printed when Traplet went into liquidation.
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Speculation over. The August edition of MMi has made it to the newsstands. Picked mine up in W.H.Smith this morning
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Just to make sure no one gets a rap on the knuckles using the wrong words ....... currently Traplet are in the hands of an Administrator.
The effect of Administration is to provide protection to the Company and prevent any creditor taking action against it.
I won't bore you all with a legal lecture on this subject ...... suffice it to say this saga has a way to run yet.
Remember this is a public forum and others can read what you say. I'm not trying to be a smart pants ...... I just don't want any 'friends' in the model boating world to be on the receiving end of a legal letter.
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OK, if MMI is out on the shelves can I expect my copy through the post or are postage costs a step too far for the administrator?
:((
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OK, if MMI is out on the shelves can I expect my copy through the post or are postage costs a step too far for the administrator?
:((
I am not an expert in this, but given the subscription mags are delivered just prior to them hitting the shelves in the shops and you don't have it then perhaps not........
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>:-o
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Being cynical if you are sent a subscription copy it costs them money whereas if they sell one to a newsagent they receive money.
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Interestingly, as a writer for MMI, we normally get a copy in the post as part of the Subscriber mailing. However, I don't know of anyone who's had a copy in the post. Question ...... has anyone received a copy?
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Barrie Stevens didn't get his Editor copies.
Colin
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Is there any connection between them taking over/buying Model boats 'Hobby store' etc and now this.
Or is that just coincidental and that other parts of the group caused the fall?????
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No, I don't think so. Hearsay suggests it was the failure of the magazines which precipitated the situation. MMI has been considerably outsold by Model Boats for some time now. Hobby magazines are all on tight budgets these days and need careful financial management to keep them profitable which Model Boats is.
As far as the retail operation is concerned, Paul Freshney, Editor of Model Boats has posted on the Model Boats Forum to the effect that the online shop and plans service are expected to reopen under new ownership in the near future.
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129029&p=1
Colin
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I sent MMI a write up on the Doncaster Model Engineering Exhibition which was back in May and Barrie Stevens sent me a proof write up to me to examine before going into print for the August issue which he sent the week before they went into administration, which should have been in the post this week but still hasn't arrived as yet? Again it's not just the model boating world that has lost a monthly magazine to read as Traplet also published quite a few other magazines for all different subjects/hobbies.
Regards
Kevin
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No, I don't think so. Hearsay suggests it was the failure of the magazines which precipitated the situation. MMI has been considerably outsold by Model Boats for some time now. Hobby magazines are all on tight budgets these days and need careful financial management to keep them profitable which Model Boats is.
As far as the retail operation is concerned, Paul Freshney, Editor of Model Boats has posted on the Model Boats Forum to the effect that the online shop and plans service are expected to reopen under new ownership in the near future.
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129029&p=1 (http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129029&p=1)
Colin
Now THAT is good news, the plans service would have been a great loss to the modelling community. People are unlikely to retire on the profits from plans, but they are an invaluable record and it is good news that they have not been lost forever.
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Hi ,as far as I understand it all, Myhobby store used the in house printing facility that Traplet has, the copyright of the plans is still theirs. I hope that we shall have access to the large number of plans that Traplet has. But also MHS bought some magazine titles from Traplet before the administrators moved in.
regards Roy
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No, I don't think so. Hearsay suggests it was the failure of the magazines which precipitated the situation. MMI has been considerably outsold by Model Boats for some time now. Hobby magazines are all on tight budgets these days and need careful financial management to keep them profitable which Model Boats is.
As far as the retail operation is concerned, Paul Freshney, Editor of Model Boats has posted on the Model Boats Forum to the effect that the online shop and plans service are expected to reopen under new ownership in the near future.
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129029&p=1
Colin
Thank you Paul's comment clarifies the situation. So not lost forever :-)) :-))
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Bought the August issue of MMI from my local newsagent this morning, Issue No. 365. I can remember when it started up, (1987-ish?), and I think it was initially bi-monthly. Sad to see it, (and Traplet), go, but I don't think that there was enough room in the market for 2 model boating mags. I will enjoy reading the last ever issue, and keep it for posterity. Hope that the plans service will survive.
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Paul Freshney has posted a statement from Sarik Hobbies on the Model Boats Website to the effect that they will be taking over certain of the former Traplet products and services (but not the magazines).
See here:
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129165&p=1
Colin
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Paul Freshney has posted a statement from Sarik Hobbies on the Model Boats Website to the effect that they will be taking over certain of the former Traplet products and services (but not the magazines).
See here:
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129165&p=1
Colin
The offer of a Varmint plan in pdf in the above posting works well. Already received mine.
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Ordered a copy of MMI online today as local Smiths never stock it Sucks cos I already subscribe to it as I do to the other one
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Arrived just now under 24 hours pretty good
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New update from Sarik as of 8 August 2017:
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129165&p=2
Colin
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It's also worth cancelling your Standing Orders [SO] or Direct Debits [DD] at your bank for your Subscription payments [whether they be quarterly or annually], otherwise these could continue to pay money into the Traplet bank account. Mine has been cancelled - and I have a large package sent to me from The Administrator as a Creditor of Traplet Publications - and I have met a lot of folk that have not done this yet.
That said, it appears that although the Canterbury WHSmith branch did not have any MMI magazines [and they normally have copious numbers], they are in at Ramsgate and Dover [from a good source - 17-09].
Kim Belcher
[Canterbury Coxswain]
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I hope you got paid for your article on the Dortmund show Kim!
Incidentally I sent you a PM re the article
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I managed to get a copy of the last publication, I presume, August 2017, along with the same for Model Boats, and I was surprised with the difference in quality of content, and the page for page number per edition.
it is sad, as in their heyday they were comparable in quantity and quality, but no more. I wonder if all the publications in the stable were the same, and if so, it is no wonder that the decline of the company was inevitable.
Jim.
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The offer of a Varmint plan in pdf in the above posting works well. Already received mine.
Got the Varmint plan printed this morning at the local branch of Office Outlet. Superb AO size print, exactly to size, for the princely sum of £4 as opposed to the Traplet price of £12.50 + P&P.
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Hi all. I bought a 2 sheet Model Boats magazine plan from Traplet a few months ago, It was £12.50 + p&p + a handling charge! I refused to pay the handling charge and it was removed.
regards Roy
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Hi spearfish99
Our local print shop has the same service and also I can resize the plan to my requirements.
My 1920's Gentleman's Runabout I had resize from 750 to 850mm.
PDF file of both sizes as well !!!
The only thing I had to play around with is the frame cut outs for the stringers and keel.
Canabus
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Hi roycv
You pay full price which should have handling in within.
That to me is company's value adding to make more money.
Greed !!!!!!!!!!!!
I would not paid 12.50 for a plan, because living in Australia it equals to about $20AU plus p&p about the same price again.
$40 plus for a plan is too pricey.
I only paid $200 for a 46" Vosper Crash Tender with no radio and running gear with plans and frame drawings.
Canabus
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See Paul Freshney's comments re cost on Model Boats website. People don't always appreciate the reasoning behind the pricing structure.
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129165&p=2
But of course if you think it is too expensive then don't buy it! Also remember that every other month in Model Boats a plan is included with the magazine.
Colin
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Hello Canabus, Colin. The plan I bought was for the G.G. design for Union Castle cargo liner. It was advertised in the magazine at £12.50 + p&p, there was no mention of a handling charge.
I buy and keep all my plans, I have the first plan I bought which was for Bustler by Vic Smeed at 3/- (three shillings, 15p). Incidently p&p was 10 % of plan cost. That was back in the mid 50s, I enjoy looking at plans and building in my head, if it stays in my head for a week or so I think about building.
So I am happy to pay for the plan and appreciate the time it takes for the designer to put it all on paper and happily pay him his royalty.
To follow on from Paul's offer of the Varmint plan, as there are so many print shops around maybe there could be an option of being able to download a plan for a small amount and then the buyer gets the printing done?
This would eliminate the human input and one off situation at the end of a telephone, albeit that I can also order on line, but the handling charge was the last item to appear on the screen, hence the phone call.
Now if I had the plan mentioned above on a file I would have got it printed a little smaller, my choice, and I read Glynn's reasons for his choice of scale. But it would have been built!
As in a previous thread I am now looking at MV Arran (cost 5/-) and now I also have the Jim Pottinger plan for Bute to hand, thanks for the info Colin.
I would still like to have the free full size plans in Model Boats though.
regards Roy
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See Paul Freshney's comments re cost on Model Boats website. People don't always appreciate the reasoning behind the pricing structure.
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129165&p=2
But of course if you think it is too expensive then don't buy it! Also remember that every other month in Model Boats a plan is included with the magazine.
Colin
After reading Paul's statement that break even point for plans is 30+ , perhaps roycv's suggestion of paying a licence fee to download a copy of the plan has a lot of merit. If ,as Canabus points out, foreign (ie not UK) readers get hammered by postage so much that they are put off purchasing plans for models that stir an interest, an internet based approach may be the answer and more plans might actually get sold. Presumably most of the postage goes to the relevant postal service and will be of little benefit directly to Sarik/ Model Boats.
I also have to say that , given how long a large number of the plans have been available, I wouldn't think that the sellers would still be paying out to long departed designers !
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I think it is fair to say that there could be scope for changing the business model re plans. Bear in mind that there are not just boats but aircraft and engineering drawings and plans as well as published in the other magazines.
I suspect the problem may simply be that whichever way you do it, the plans do not make much money and the company may simply not feel that overhauling and updating the system is commercially worthwhile. When you look at the posts on Mayhem, you do get a distinct impression that the people building hits, purchasing RTR or ARTR or buying pre loved models on Ebay considerably exceeds the number of people who are building from plans.
If there was a golden moneymaking opportunity here then you can be sure somebody would be making the most of it but it appear that in reality there is not.
Colin
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Hi Colin, maybe there is a halfway house here with current plans which I suspect may already be digitised being available in this way?
The old ones must have a very slow uptake, so not worth digitising, I just hope the originals last and that there are no accidents.
I believe some old ones from the Deason era are missing. I responded to an enquiry some years ago as I have one of the 'lost' sailing boat plans.
regards Roy
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Roy,
Yes, I believe plans in recent years have been digitised and it is also true to say that many of the old simplified ones are probably only of nostalgic value but there were a lot of older scale plans of very good quality and which should continue to form part of any long term archive.
As I think I have said before, Ideally the best bet would be for the plans to be held by a not for profit organisation which could tap into enthusiasts time at little or no expense to build a comprehensive digital database. This has already been suggested on the model flying forum. But even if not for profit with donated free time I think it would still be problematical to get the sums right. Whoever was running the show would certainly need to go digital with internet based distribution to have any hope of making it work.
There is still the problem of upfront costs in digitising the hard copy plans you would want to retain in the collection, and of course in acquiring the copyright from the publishers.
Nothing is impossible but there are difficulties....
Colin
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Greed !!!!!!!!!!!!
I would not paid 12.50 for a plan, because living in Australia it equals to about $20AU plus p&p about the same price again.
$40 plus for a plan is too pricey.
Canabus
you have obviously never enquired to our great British institution, the Greenwich Maritime Museum regarding Ship plans.
I shall not frighten you, but for a full set of plans for an intricate model of such as a warship, it would be cheaper to by a second hand family car, lol.
Jim.
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A plans sharing service for mainly aircraft but including boats seems to be one answer. www.aerofred.com I have no experience of them except getting their newsletter on a regular basis via email. A question about their boat list might be worth following up. They can also print plans or send pdf, based in Portugal it is all English language. Been going for ten years or so. Anybody fancy a boat model plan query to them ?
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For what it is worth, do not forget that there are numerous free plans available on the web.
Because MB will now have no competition what is the guarantee that they, MB, will continue to provide the odd "free" plan.
As for the "plan" the subject is generally restrictive in appeal. This uses MB's own yardstick namely worlds best seller so the "plan has world wide appeal?????
In the case of the Pottinger plans, they lack construction detail as stated on the drawings so in effect they can be classed as sketches to build from.
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Hi All
The digitising of plans is the way to go, as a few have said they have old plans that people thought were lost.
I would pay a fair price for a plan( also remembering it still requires printing out) as I have a very good local printers close and handy.
Removing the p&p and handling would save money.
A number of my club member resize the plans from around 24" to 36" models.
I have seen on EBAY a place in Canada that sells some of the old plans, but, I have not bought any a this point.
This is a site I found interesting on old boats
http://www.rcgroups.com/vintage-and-old-timer-boats-849/
Canabus
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Hi all, I was reluctant to mention AeroFred, I have their email updates and the content of model boats is quite good. But there are a number of MM plans on there which I would guess if they printed them would infringe copywrite laws.
The Aircraft content is predominent but there are some nice and unusual boat plans. I costed one of them at 6 euros including p&p. A nice touch is that you can specify the scale or size of the plan.
But downloading is free, there is a note on the web site saying they are not there for modellers to take free plans but to pool and share plans. Read into that what you will.
There are sellers on ebay who offer discs full of plans, I have not seen the contents but the plans have to come from somewhere, so someone is being cut out of a return for work done.
Further thoughts on Model Boat magazine plans might be that overseas subscriptions could have the pdf service available. Costing might be made for the purchase of the plan less the printing and postage costs, leaving all the production cost and profit intact. So the magazine does not lose out.
regards Roy
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Considering the OP was The magazine and probably only a handful of people buy plans as opposed to the magazine whats Plans got to do with it
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There is a new statement from Sarik Hobbies concerning the setting up of their new retail operation to replace the Traplet shop posted by Paul Freshney on the Model Boats website:
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=129165&p=2
Colin
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Can't wait to have a look at the new website and see what's on offer.
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Same stuff as before I think you will find.
Colin
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Got my memorial copy Saturday, from W H Smiths, got the first, got the last and many, many in-between.
Having trouble with this magazine.... seems I have to teach my armchair to read first! ;)
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I know that you can digitise a printed copy of a plan but the problem with a pdf, as has been suggested, is that effectively you have sold unlimited copies to an unlimited number of people for the price of the single download.
Having said that I would love to be able to print 2 copies. One to cut up & mess up and one to keep.
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What happens to those who pay for the magazine by direct debit?
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Contact your bank and cancel the direct debit.
LB
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I know that you can digitise a printed copy of a plan but the problem with a pdf, as has been suggested, is that effectively you have sold unlimited copies to an unlimited number of people for the price of the single download.
Having said that I would love to be able to print 2 copies. One to cut up & mess up and one to keep.
Yep, that's why I'm scanning the drawings that I'm going to build from. I could then just print from the pdf's and adjust the scale accordingly but I'm tracing the pdf's using a drawing program and making some modifications.
Good thing about using drawing software is that you can resize as much as you want and the quality remains high. Alter the pdf's too much and the quality suffers especially if the original isn't too clever.
You are right about pdf downloads though. Nothing to stop anyone giving a copy to as many of their friends as they want.
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Same stuff as before I think you will find.
Colin
Oh right. I thought from the information given that they'd be providing even more plans than before from different sources and offering kits etc.
Chris
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BMFA tells me that a new owner for Traplet will be up and running shortly. Vic Thomas