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Post by lance on Dec 15, 2014 22:29:36 GMT -5
I will be shipping the Lotus with the original tires the kit was produced with, I will not be offering any new firestones.
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Post by pje on Dec 15, 2014 23:53:03 GMT -5
I will be shipping the Lotus with the original tires the kit was produced with, I will not be offering any new firestones. That's fine. I just hadn't heard back from you since our conversation about the tires or seen on your website that you were ready to take orders for the Lotus. If you are still taking orders for sure I would like to get my order in. Paul Erlendson
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pbh51
Front Runner
Writer
Posts: 183
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Post by pbh51 on Dec 16, 2014 1:18:05 GMT -5
I have 400.00 dallars to my name and that is it. That is flat out terrifying. I have a cousin who has been living month to month and I have helped him from time to time, but this is very upsetting. For someone who is so very creative to have such difficulty . . . I don't know what to say. Except, yes, thank you for all the work you have done in the past And please do not hesitate to write to me if there is anything I can do to help. pbh
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Post by alterrenner on Dec 16, 2014 6:08:32 GMT -5
Damn, Lance, I'm both sorry to hear the news, but grateful that we had you. Kind of like a death in the community. Best of luck to you.
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Post by macsparty on Dec 16, 2014 8:44:58 GMT -5
The $400 is the part that caught my attention, too. It's very frustrating to see talented, hard working people struggle while so many, well, I'll be nice and simply call them "less talented" folks rolling in it. But all we can do is keep plugging away.
I've been there... no job, eating mostly pasta because meat is too much of a luxury item. I hope it gets better soon, and don't be afraid to ask for help.
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Post by indy on Dec 16, 2014 10:14:29 GMT -5
I would like to offer my sincere appreciation, Lance, for all you have done for the hobby. We will definitely miss having you and your awesome products as a vendor. I was looking forward to multiple cars you had in various states of creation, it is sad those may never see the light of day. That said, even if you do not continue as a vendor, your builds are excellent so we hope to continue seeing you here for many years to come. Your knowledge, passion, and craftsmanship are an asset to IndyCar modeling.
Can we still mail/Paypal you money for the Lotus 38? I will take two, if so.
Jordan
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Post by lance on Dec 16, 2014 12:18:37 GMT -5
I am not taking any more Lotus or McLaren orders, filling the orders I have will be a challenging enough.
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Post by raceparke on Dec 16, 2014 14:42:30 GMT -5
So sorry to hear this news. Thanks so much Lance, for the beautiful work over the years. I will miss the kits but hope we hear from you from time to time on this forum.
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Post by scalecentral on Dec 16, 2014 15:39:53 GMT -5
Sorry it has come down to this but I do understand the decision. You've got to do what you need to do to make ends meet. I wish there was an easier way to get your kits out but since there is an abundant use of metal, it is difficult without money and larger volume sales. I do hope that eventually you can get some more kits out even if it is on eBay.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 18:46:38 GMT -5
Wow, a sad day.
Lance is the finest model builder I have ever known. His passion for the form is so intense that He developed tons of skills. They don't make a true to scale '69 Eagle, no problem. He figured out how to do it. I have seen him do it, at my very own kitchen table. I watched him build a 1977 Eagle tub out of sheet styrene and card stock. This was after calling the actual cars designer and getting tons of info and photos. Novi, Scorpions, Geraldine, Kuzma, Watson, Kurtis Kraft, Penske's and Eagles of every flavor. There were tons of offerings. When this all started, there were no issues in selling 70 or more kits. The Split, the cheap instant gratification of diecast and the competition have all driven the total sales into virtual obscurity.
Everyone clamoring for kits, in this very thread. "Cummins Re-Issue"
You don't have to go very far until there are request's for a Mongoose, a McLaren.............. He offered to do the Cummins Diesel. You don't walk into your Chevy dealer and ask to see a Challenger. What the fook is wrong with you guys?
There is no comparison in the kits. From an engineering standpoint to the quality of the castings. Lance don't ship junk. His kits can be built. His kits are as accurate as he can possibly make them. He spends hours doing research. He is a regular at the Speedway Photo Shop. He has traveled with tape measure and scale to actually measure the machine he is interested in creating in scale. It's way more than a phone call. It's way more than flipping through a Yearbook.
This board is bordering on Facebook. Not a lot of builders. Granted, it has a lot of members, but not many builders. There are some awful nice guys on here, and some that are just delusional. With all the problems this hobby has had, the kits never being shipped, money never being returned, guys disappearing, kits being of such poor quality that they are virtually un-buildable. Kits that are basically a glob or resin, not being true to the actual machine. Then there is Lance. Need a part, drop him a line, screw something up, he will cast you another. Having trouble figuring out how something goes together, give him a call. The guy just loves this hobby, and for most of us, whether We realize it or not, he is the hobby. If not for his efforts, we would either be waiting on the mailman forever or building AMT Eagles and McLarens (forever)
The timing of this release could have been better. I don't care, I don't have kids. I have income for this hobby. If Lance or Kevin want to devote all the time in producing the kits, then sign me up, tell when and where to send the money. But I don't ask him to do something that his is not offering. My parents did a better job than that. Think about it, We went from an offering to a Mongoose to a McLaren. How does this work? The Lord of the Flies mentality? I guess the PM option is lost on some.... I kind of doubt that the apprentice ever got much input on the David. Or the Catholic Church for that matter. They were smart enough to take what was being offered.
Happy Holidays
Kevin Huber, Speedway Indiana
Hang in there Lance.
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Post by Calvin on Dec 16, 2014 19:10:09 GMT -5
Lance, just do what makes you happy.
All of your kits are wonderful and I wish you luck in whatever you do next.....
But we'd love to see you stick around on the forum at least and build some stuff with us and do some personal building for yourself without the stress of being a resin manufacturer.
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Post by hurtubise56 on Dec 16, 2014 19:14:15 GMT -5
Wow, I guess we've been put in our place! Lance, sorry to hear of your troubles. I want to thank you for all the great kits that you have provided over the years and wish you the best of good fortune in the future. As far as asking for other kits, I am guilty of that, but it was not meant to be perceived as nagging or badgering, just the thought of a kit I had missed out on being available again would get me excited about the possibility of others I had missed becoming available as well. I guess I thought if the re-issues Lance DID offer sold well enough, then he might consider doing the others, I meant my mentioning other kits as a vote for what I would like to see done in the future. I'm sure none of the others that mentioned their "wants" to Lance meant any disrespect, either. Hubie, if you have unlimited funds to buy whatever you want and unlimited time to build them all, good for you. Those of us who are still making ends meet but love models will always buy more than we can build. Hopefully, eyesight and trembling hands permitting, I will build many of my kits in my "retirement", if I ever get there.
Brian
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Post by kip on Dec 16, 2014 20:05:06 GMT -5
I too was guilty of asking for the Mongoose to be reissued. I did so only after ordering and paying for the Cummins on the first day it was announced. I supported Lance by ordering every pre-1965 offering that I was aware of. I only asked for the Mongoose because it was a kit I would have bought, even if it was rear engine.
It was my way of trying to communicate to Lance that I would purchase a certain kit if It was reissued. And when he did issue one that I requested, I dam well did buy it.
kip
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Post by scalecentral on Dec 16, 2014 20:37:59 GMT -5
Wow, a sad day. Lance is the finest model builder I have ever known. His passion for the form is so intense that He developed tons of skills. They don't make a true to scale '69 Eagle, no problem. He figured out how to do it. I have seen him do it, at my very own kitchen table. I watched him build a 1977 Eagle tub out of sheet styrene and card stock. This was after calling the actual cars designer and getting tons of info and photos. Novi, Scorpions, Geraldine, Kuzma, Watson, Kurtis Kraft, Penske's and Eagles of every flavor. There were tons of offerings. When this all started, there were no issues in selling 70 or more kits. The Split, the cheap instant gratification of diecast and the competition have all driven the total sales into virtual obscurity. Everyone clamoring for kits, in this very thread. "Cummins Re-Issue" You don't have to go very far until there are request's for a Mongoose, a McLaren.............. He offered to do the Cummins Diesel. You don't walk into your Chevy dealer and ask to see a Challenger. What the fook is wrong with you guys? There is no comparison in the kits. From an engineering standpoint to the quality of the castings. Lance don't ship junk. His kits can be built. His kits are as accurate as he can possibly make them. He spends hours doing research. He is a regular at the Speedway Photo Shop. He has traveled with tape measure and scale to actually measure the machine he is interested in creating in scale. It's way more than a phone call. It's way more than flipping through a Yearbook. This board is bordering on Facebook. Not a lot of builders. Granted, it has a lot of members, but not many builders. There are some awful nice guys on here, and some that are just delusional. With all the problems this hobby has had, the kits never being shipped, money never being returned, guys disappearing, kits being of such poor quality that they are virtually un-buildable. Kits that are basically a glob or resin, not being true to the actual machine. Then there is Lance. Need a part, drop him a line, screw something up, he will cast you another. Having trouble figuring out how something goes together, give him a call. The guy just loves this hobby, and for most of us, whether We realize it or not, he is the hobby. If not for his efforts, we would either be waiting on the mailman forever or building AMT Eagles and McLarens (forever) The timing of this release could have been better. I don't care, I don't have kids. I have income for this hobby. If Lance or Kevin want to devote all the time in producing the kits, then sign me up, tell when and where to send the money. But I don't ask him to do something that his is not offering. My parents did a better job than that. Think about it, We went from an offering to a Mongoose to a McLaren. How does this work? The Lord of the Flies mentality? I guess the PM option is lost on some.... I kind of doubt that the apprentice ever got much input on the David. Or the Catholic Church for that matter. They were smart enough to take what was being offered. Happy Holidays Kevin Huber, Speedway Indiana Hang in there Lance. I don't think you followed the thread like it was intended. Someone was joking that whatever chaparral2k built last, Lance seemed to reissue soon afterwards. I forget who said it, but whomever offered the Mongoose was just offering a suggestion. It hasn't been reissued in a long time. Lance even made a comment advising that it wouldn't be possible. I said something about the McLarens as they were only issued once and would be a nice follow up for those that want another or missed the first time with the M15 that Lance is working on. The Cummins isn't everyone's cup of tea. No one can buy everything. Should someone buy every kit so they will keep producing? I would hate to see how much it would be for someone to follow MFH like that. Now I know there seems to be more interest in Sports Racing than Indy so that hurts people like Lance even more. The hobby overall is and will continue to be in a slump for quite a while. I have bought as much stuff as I could from Lance over the years as I have with others. It got to the point where I had way more than I could ever build. I cut back, but I still continue to support what I can. The holidays are harsh, times overall are hard for a lot of people. Don't blame someone for wanting to see a kit they would like to get. Now is not the time to point fingers at anyone and not everyone who builds post pics of their builds.
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pbh51
Front Runner
Writer
Posts: 183
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Post by pbh51 on Dec 17, 2014 0:48:55 GMT -5
What the fook is wrong with you guys? I'm still pretty emotional about this myself, so I understand how hard this is to accept. Obviously, whatever Lance decides to do with his work I will always support. I was one of those who recommended at least two years ago that he consider reissuing some of the kits I missed the first time around. The really good news is that, after thinking about it, he reissued everything that he could, including the '69 Eagle, the '71 Kuzma, the '57 Sumar and many others. On top of which he's issued some really remarkable new models in that same period, the '63 Mickey Thompson, the '63 Kurtis Novi and the '81 Penske. He really has been remarkably productive, so much so that I've been straining my budget just to keep up. I have no idea what it takes to run a cottage business, the level of dedication and self sacrifice. I am very surprised to learn that Lance has been working with such a very tight margin. My impression is that this decision has been building for quite a while. I don't doubt that love for the hobby has kept him going well beyond anything practical. He has been more than generous to our small club. I think that if he has finally reached a point of exhaustion then he should take a well earned rest. After which, I hope he'll be back. Lance, thanks for everything. pbh
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Post by clm1545 on Dec 17, 2014 21:47:12 GMT -5
Tough news, Lance, but you have to what is best for you. I hope you will continue sharing your builds with us, and that your masters will be passed on, so we can enjoy them in the future. Seems like a short time ago when Indy car builders had very little to choose from. Now with Tom and Ed, Gary, Calvin, Kevin, and Rick we can't keep up, and I'm sure the many available kits currently available has had an effect on your business.
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