Composite Warehouse leaving the hobby?

[r1dermon]

You just don't get it.
Why work to design, produce and market something you don't make right now? You act like he has unlimited time. He's allowed to eat, sleep, race his cars and do whatever else he wants vice spending 24 hours a day on rocketry.
Marketing alone doesn't predict success. The first step is to have something everyone wants (not just a few people). Then maybe you'll have something marketing can do something with. You'd never be able to sell ice at the south pole, regardless of the marketing.

You're best bet is to learn how to make one yourself. At least this way your energies would go to the goal and not to tilting at windmills

The market met my needs. That's the way this works...

 

[cbrarick]

The market met my needs. That's the way this works...

Or, probably not. Hope springs eternal, though!

 

[mrwalsh85]

It can get quite pricey. Last Black Friday I spent over $600 for a model I've been wanting a while now. And of course late December they announced a newer one that outperforms the one I got!

Coincidence? I think maybe not. Black Friday promotes the cash flow needed for new product launches, after the R&D drains the swamp... lol

 

[r1dermon]

Or, probably not. Hope springs eternal, though!

I certainly know where to look, and where not to.

 

[AlexBruccoleri]

The whole reason we are chatting about Curtis and CW is the products were amazing. If they were mediocre, everyone would have just filed their paypal, credit card claims and never looked back. He is a very talented composites engineer who sold amazing quality over an impressively wide variety. I hope he comes back and partners with a business person who can right ship. Fortunately for us there are other vendors like Wildman, Mach 1 etc who also have a great product and hopefully can expand their inventory.

 

[Rschub]

I hope he comes back and partners with a business person who can right ship

This has been tried, hasn't it?

 

[Banzai88]

This has been tried, hasn't it?

Yes, when he sold out to Mike at MadCow to avoid the pending law suit (amongst other reasons) he was supposed to be the sole source supplier.

MadCow, who in the last year or so ago went to Tim at Wildman for fiberglass when Curtis continued his trend of screwing folks over (I've been told by someone extremely close to the parties involved that when MadCow refused to continue to sell Composite Warehouse designs back to Curtis, he suspended all deliveries and refused further orders from them and went positively apoplectic when Tim gladly inked the deal with Mad Cow. Make of that what you will).

 

[troj]

This has been tried, hasn't it?

This is the third time the same individual has "gone out of business" on hobby rocketry stuff. There's a pattern and a history.

 

[cbrarick]

it's time for good riddance and not see you again!

 

[David Schwantz]

And we are speaking of whom?

 

[cbrarick]

Curtis. AKA he who's name shall not be spoken

 

[Hobie1dog]

I finally reached my limit and have to hit the ignore button now

 

[user 30299]

I finally reached my limit and have to hit the ignore button now

Hobie1dog !

Is that a "pinky finger promise" ?

 

[ZEDL1]

For any of us wanting to buy high quality carbon fiber and fiberglass airframes, does anyone know of reliable and trustworthy vendor options?

 

[David Schwantz]

Wildman

 

[Banzai88]

For any of us wanting to buy high quality carbon fiber and fiberglass airframes, does anyone know of reliable and trustworthy vendor options?

Wildmans fiberglass is as good as it gets

 

[tim cubbedge]

@REK used to be pretty active making custom tubes, both FG and CF.

 

[sharkbait]

For any of us wanting to buy high quality carbon fiber and fiberglass airframes, does anyone know of reliable and trustworthy vendor options?

Giant Leap has quality tube, limited size selection though, I believe Alan is still selling tube at Hawk Mountain, his stuff was equal to CW quality, Mach one has nice tube but limited to smaller sizes.

 

[Rocket86]

I've bought a few fiberglass parts from Kosmo/buyrocketmotors and it's been very good quality and shipped immediately.

 

[crossfire]

Giant Leap has quality tube, limited size selection though, I believe Alan is still selling tube at Hawk Mountain, his stuff was equal to CW quality, Mach one has nice tube but limited to smaller sizes.

Did Alan get his tubes from CW?

 

[sharkbait]

Did Alan get his tubes from CW?

No

 

[ZEDL1]

Thank you to everyone who helped me with your advice/opinions.
I very much appreciate it.
Jim

 

[Tractionengines]

Watch the Rocket Vlog live YouTube show from tonight with Tim from Wildman @ about 45 minutes into it...

( Short version, Tim is buying all tube mandrels, and "most" nosecone mandrels [not molded nosecones, or parts]. )

 

[Rschub]

 

[Neutronium95]

( Short version, Tim is buying all tube mandrels, and "most" nosecone mandrels [not molded nosecones, or parts]. )

I'm really glad to hear that. Tim's existing stock is alright, but Composite Warehouse had a ton more options for nosecone shape, tube wall thickness, and tube size.

 

[r1dermon]

Well well well, hope certainly does spring eternal. Looking forward to wildmans new offerings.

 

[David Schwantz]

That sounds great, but I thought Tim sourced his glass elsewhere. So if he does spin his own that will be even better

 

[Rschub]

That sounds great, but I thought Tim sourced his glass elsewhere. So if he does spin his own that will be even better

He mentioned supply chain issues with his tube supplier as a major factor in bringing production in house.

 

[Banzai88]

He mentioned supply chain issues with his tube supplier as a major factor in bringing production in house.

Issues as in that was what was preventing bringing it in house, or issues that were going to be solved by bringing it in house?

 

[Rschub]

2nd one