Chat Part 1....
[19:03] <jflis> Welcome to the FlisKits fireside chat.
[19:03] <jflis> for those of you new to FLisKits, we started in Sept of 2002
[19:03] <jflis> we began with a few kits and after 7 years have grown to 60 kits, dozens of accessories,
[19:03] <jflis> hundreds of parts and a solid reputation for cust service, imagination and quality
[19:04] <jflis> I strongly encourage participation in this chat as much of what we do at FlisKits is based on feedback from our customers
[19:04] <jflis> Currently happening at FlisKits (this is a short list):
[19:04] <jflis> Upcoming release of the 1:282 scale Saturn 1B
[19:04] <jflis> Attending LDRS
[19:04] <jflis> Plans to revitalize the Tour de Deuce (TdD)
[19:05] <jflis> 2-3 new releases slated for NARAM and NERRF in August (including the NERRF commemorative kit)
[19:05] <jflis> Our 7th anniversary for Sept
[19:05] <jflis> Planning for the ucpoming NARCON 2010 slated for New England (location TBD)
[19:05] <jflis> Lookning into possible releases for late 2009 and early 2010
[19:06] <jflis> With that, we'll be here for a couple of hours, so sit back relax and let the fun begin!
[19:06] <Chrisn> When will TdD go international?
[19:06] <jflis> Ok, what we're going to do. I will ping a person, one at a time, starting at the top of the list, unless your name has
[19:06] <jflis> something in it to indicate a pass
[19:07] <jflis> when we get down to the bottom, i will go back up.
[19:07] <jflis> we will continue untill I got through the list 2 or so times wtih no new questions.
[19:07] <jflis> If you are going to be typing your question, please let us know wiht a "hang on" or something so that we don't just go past you
[19:07] <jflis> with that...
[19:07] <jflis> Troj, you're up!
[19:08] [troj] Saturn 1b - any updates on release date? I know you said it won't ship until after LDRS, but I was curious if you had an update, yet?
[19:08] <jflis> Right now we're still looking at June 29 (Monday).
[19:08] <jflis> If we do announce them it will be with the understanding that it wouldn't ship till after LDRS and that the OverDue promotion does not apply
[19:09] <jflis> This will only happen if I get ship confirmation on the custom parts taht I am waiting for.
[19:09] <jflis> You can expect to see the announcement on our site some time on Monday, so keep watch
[19:09] <jflis> Andy, you're next!
[19:09] <andy> grrr - you just answered my 1st Q
[19:09] <andy> but i'll ask it anyway...
[19:10] <jflis>
tops in efficiency too!
[19:10] <jflis> Do you have another question, perhaps?
[19:10] <andy> can you summarise the best interesting kits in the pipeline?
[19:10] <jflis> oh, that's a toughie... Some of the kits we're looking at through the end of 09....
[19:11] <jflis> Micromaxx versons of the HERC, ACME Spitfire, Corona and a couple of originals
[19:11] <jflis> Saturn V 1:282, upscale (24mm) Triskelion, EMU (egg lofter), NERRF - commemorative kit, Thumper (will be renamed...)
[19:12] <jflis> That's not a complete list, but some of the more certain ones. The Saturn V may not come out till early next year, but I hope to hav
[19:12] <jflis> have the proto at NARAM
[19:12] <jflis> Chrisn, you're up!
[19:12] <Chrisn> When will TdD go international?
[19:12] <jflis> Oh man, let us finish the USA first... LOL
[19:13] <Chrisn> Ok I thought it had, but you were redoing it
[19:13] <jflis> Can't say... Maybe we can look into that once we have a handle on finishing the current national tour.
[19:13] <jflis> I would ask a favor of YOU. Once you see the Tour get back on line, email me a reminder of an international version and let's start talking
[19:13] <jflis> Elapid, you're next
[19:13] <pass> absent
[19:14] <jflis> elapid is absent?
[19:14] [troj] Correct
[19:14] <jflis> k
[19:14] <pass> or shagging, whatever
[19:14] <pass>
[19:14] <jflis> macer, you're next
[19:14] <macer> any mid or high power kits coming
[19:14] <jflis> Not in the very near future, but I think a mid power and a hpr bird is inevitable. I have a nice design as an entry level
[19:15] <jflis> HPR (level 1) bird that I hope to get into production in 2010.
[19:15] <Khyber_Pass> nice
[19:15] <jflis> We are also getting many requests for a 38mm Deuce, so that is also being looked at. However...
[19:15] <Chrisn> Chrisn_pass
[19:15] <jflis> FlisKits will always be primarily a LPR company. We have no plans for a LINE of MPR or HPR birds at this time.
[19:15] <jflis> Mike, you're next
[19:16] <mike> your web page mentions 'scale' any going to be 18/24 mm?
[19:16] <jflis> Mike, yes but I have no details at this time. I have a 3 X 24mm cluster Long Tom that I have been wanting to get out for a while.
[19:16] <mike> OOOOH
[19:17] <jflis> That's an Australian sounding rocket. Also, the 1:282 Saturn V may wind up being 18mm
[19:17] <mike> I'd like that.
[19:17] <jflis> I also have 2-3 other scale birds that I am looking at. If there is interest I may put up a list and see which ones are attracting the most attention...
[19:17] <jflis> randy, you're next!
[19:17] <RandyT0001> pass for now sorry
[19:17] <jflis> k
[19:17] <jflis> si_h1, you're next
[19:18] <sj_h1> What are the other scale birds you are doing
[19:18] <jflis> hhmmm, wish I had my list in front of me. hang on for about 20 seconds and I will pull up one of my lists...
[19:19] <jflis> ok, this is just a quick list of models that I have been working on, on and off, since opening...
[19:21] <jflis> Journeyman, A4/A9, Astrobee-500, Dauphin, Russian Frog, Long Tom, Nike-Hercules,
[19:21] <sj_h1> Nike-Hercules gets my vote
[19:21] <jflis> There is also the manned ships, mercury redstone, gemini titan, saturn V apollo, saturn V skylab
[19:22] <jflis> Not to mention all of the NON-scale kits.... Man, I'm out to about 2015 here... LOL
[19:22] <jflis> Ok, Vanel, you're up!
[19:22] <Vanel> What does Fliskits plan in the way of TARC 2010 support, especially given the major change in this year's challenge?
[19:22] <jflis> I haven't given it a lot of thought other than the knowlege that we want to get deeper into that event. We will be looking
[19:23] <jflis> into parts, materials and bigger discounts that can be provided. Also,
[19:23] <jflis> It's a given that I will help mentor our local team and also provide assistance to any other local (New England) teams that may need it
[19:23] <jflis> I would as TARC teams and mentors to contact me directly to help me understand what you need and how we can help.
[19:24] <jflis> As soon as I find the time to really understand (ie: actually build a model myself that meets the criteria) I will have a better idea of how i can help in that respect...
[19:24] <jflis> Ok, we've gone through the list once and that was great!
We will continue like this till we all just poop out... so...
[19:25] <jflis> Troj, your're next!
[19:25] [troj] Back to the Saturn 1b (are you noticing a trend here?
)
[19:25] <jflis> no problem
[19:25] [troj] You mentioned custom parts... Can you tell us what those are? Also, based on your posts, it sounds like the escape tower is a "project" in and of itself, from styrene rod?
[19:26] <jflis> wow, talke about a loaded (deep) question...
[19:26] <jflis> Ok, here's the poop
[19:26] <jflis> Custom parts on this saturn include:
[19:27] <jflis> All of the body tubes are custom sized just for this scale, this kit (big undertaking), nose cone with pre-drilled hole for nose weight, custom cone for the launch escape tower, custom ring for tower, custom centering ring for BT-48, custom decals (silkscreen waterslide), custom pastruct parts for tower.
[19:27] <jflis> As for the tower, there will be 3 ways to build it:
[19:28] <jflis> Skill Level 3 (Advanced): Cut out a printed wrap that LOOKS like a tower, fold and glue to launch tower cone and glue to nose cone
[19:28] <jflis> Skill Level 4 (expert): Assemble a tower using the provided 0.020" and 0.010" plastruct parts (you have to cut them to size). Total number of parts about 40 for the tower
[19:29] <jflis> Skill Level 5 (master), same as the plastic assembly but using nickle plated wire (not supplied). (this is how Jay Marsh built his)
[19:29] <jflis> This saturn 1B has greater detail and greater accuracy in scale than most larger 1B kits that have been offered over the years, both flying and static models...
[19:30] <jflis> whew!
[19:30] <jflis> Andy, you're next
[19:30] <andy> I assume that the MicroMaxx range is doing well and the motors will be available for some time still?
[19:30] <jflis> Yes, and yes.
[19:30] <andy>
[19:31] <jflis> Quest Aerospace recently (mid-2008) started to run out of thier stockpile of motors and placed a new order, repleshing the stock
[19:31] * Khyber_Pass hopes they'll be available uk-side eventually
[19:31] <jflis> This included the new Q2 undipped igniter and the new NE motor.
[19:31] <jflis> Assuming that we (all of us) can keep the growth of micromaxx going, there will always be motors.
[19:32] <jflis> As for the FlisKits line, it is growing and getting stronger every month. Sales are strong. Of course having the Nanite and (now) the Tiddlywink setting records only helps establish FlisKits as the best place for micro to the maxx model kits and parts
[19:33] <jflis> As for overseas and Canada, that will depend entirely on Quest as FlisKits has no way to get motors out of the US...