Have troubles with the company, not the kits. The very company i’ve been praising is now giving me a hassle by not answering their emails. The TBM-3D Avenger kit I’m building was supposed to come with painting masks for the canopies. This was stated in the Squadron ad and also the masks are mentioned in the directions. But I didn’t get any masks! I can’t really yell at Squadron. It was a new sealed kit. So I emailed Accurate Miniatures convinced that I would hear from them and my problems would be over. But, not a word! Possibly I’m being too impatient. Maybe the have other ways of making a living and don’t read their mail all that often. I would assume the masks are Eduard’s, but I haven’t been able to find them at other dealers. I think Squadron has every one but the Avenger. Oh wo is me[:(]
abutt2,
You may want to try contacting Squadron to see if that turns up anything. I’d keep trying with Accurate, but try Squadron too to cover all bases.
DJ
I had a problem a while back with a missing part in my Avenger kit.
I emailed them and it took about 4 weeks before they replied, with an apology and a free part.
Seems they were having a problem with thier email server and it got really backed up on them.
maybe thier still playing catch-up.
My experiance is they arn’t really that big of a company and are just now retooling up.
But even tho a little slow I found them friendly and apologetic.
you don’t mention how long you’ve waited but if its less than 4 weeks you might want to give them just a little more time to get to you.
I’ve heard from Accurate Miniatures and they are mailing me the missing masks with no apologies for the missing stuff. They are a small company and have a retired marine corp major as their general.manager. Amazing how a small group can produce such a wonderful product. I am going to offer my services on improving thier instructions…both graphically and copy… for free. I designed and produced the manuals for three of the B-52 series and the B-58. I guess that would qualify me.
Glad to hear the AM folks came through for you. They are a very small company (I’d guess you can count the full-time staff on one hand) and have been working hard to get the product line going and growing.
I have nothing but appriciation for AM.
You have to respect a company that small that can produce such fine products in the quantities you can find.
I live in a small city, to find an AM product all I have to do is drive 15 min and I’ll find what I’m looking for.
Thats pretty amazing.
I too had a slow response time from AM on a decal issue, eight weeks or more, I forget now. They were very helpful in the end and that’s what counts for me. I believe they have had multiple problems with their email if I remember correctly.
As far as their directions go, there’s nothing wrong with them. I think they just take a bit of getting used too. After a kit or two you don’t even notice it anymore. You can’t make the instructions like an Airforce tech manual, they would be 300 pages long and written so that someone with a sixth grade education can understand them…[:p] just kidding of course!
Darren
You guys are fun. I certainly apprciate the problems a small company can have in this economy. When you come across a company that has a product so far and above most in our hobby you really want to help. I cited my experience only to provide the credentials required to help them in an area the would benefit them. Their instructions only suffer a bit in what I call “communications”…i.e. Something stated and somethnig received. They are suffering slightly in the "receive " end. Some “tweeking” there would only improve their product. In the meantime I’ll finish the Advenger…and go for a B-25.
Allan
Hey Guys,
Haven’t you notice at your “work” there are people who carry the load and others that just show up! Not eveyone is as “efficient” as model builders. My company has some “deadwood” and it pains me, but that’s life! I was missing all the clear glass from the B-25B kit. I called them and got the parts in about a week.
I spilled thinner on my B-25 gunship decals (my own fault; plastic addiction, modeled too long = poor judgement) and they sent a new set for free in about a week. Couldn’t have asked for better support!