FlisKits: FarScape going OUT OF PRODUCTION!

[Gus]

Jim,

Really, the name change is an OK thing.

A number of my friends from down south were confused as to why you'd name a rocket after those ladder thingies on the outside of apartment buildings anyway.

 

[mike_bar]

I got my FarScape today and I will get the sister ship soon.

I'll have the whole fleet... woah...

 

[sandman]

A number of my friends from down south were confused as to why you'd name a rocket after those ladder thingies on the outside of apartment buildings anyway.

ROTFLMAO!

 

[flying_silverad]

Originally posted by jflis
No, the only change is in the name and in the decal sheet.

that is, unless you have a really spiffy design change that I could consider before going into production on the Night Whisper...

jim

Please remember this is strictly my opinion and a stretch at best, but the only change I think that I would make are...

1- The small tube on the secondary fin platform should have an intake curve cut into it that matches the same curve on the main tubes where they connect. I love that curve!

2- The engine tube I would either make some sort of tappered shroud or even better, finish with balsa to give it a finned exhaust look. (Six small triangular pieces tappering from the BT50 to the end of the BT20)

Other that that, I wouldn't change a thing!

 

[BobCox]

Originally posted by jflis
MAN! Rocketeers jumped on *this* special like ugly on a lobster! LOL

Well, I just jumped on one.

Grabbed a Deuce's Wild kit for the Deuce Bash contest as well. I have the design worked out, but I need to find time to build and fly it before the deadline. Would be even cooler to have it built in time for NARCON so I can show it to Jim in person.

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by Gus
Jim,

Really, the name change is an OK thing.

A number of my friends from down south were confused as to why you'd name a rocket after those ladder thingies on the outside of apartment buildings anyway.

I chewed on this comment for the longest time until i said "Farscape" outloud and d*mn near dropped my coffee... LOL

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by flying_silverad
Please remember this is strictly my opinion and a stretch at best, but the only change I think that I would make are...

1- The small tube on the secondary fin platform should have an intake curve cut into it that matches the same curve on the main tubes where they connect. I love that curve!

2- The engine tube I would either make some sort of tappered shroud or even better, finish with balsa to give it a finned exhaust look. (Six small triangular pieces tappering from the BT50 to the end of the BT20)

Other that that, I wouldn't change a thing!

ok, now *these* are interesting ideas... I should really consider this (as well as the idea to go with a fish-line type of material for the guns and such)

it's a thinker

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by BobCox
Well, I just jumped on one.

Grabbed a Deuce's Wild kit for the Deuce Bash contest as well. I have the design worked out, but I need to find time to build and fly it before the deadline. Would be even cooler to have it built in time for NARCON so I can show it to Jim in person.

This is good news as we only have TWO entries in the Deuce Bash so far... I am hoping for well over a dozen before it closes at the end of March..

 

[Ed Wagoner]

I didnt really get it at first either. "FARSCAPE". Now thats pretty good.

Thats why I bought the FARSCAPE because I was counting on the sister ship being different.

 

[rebar_rocketry]

Originally posted by Gus
Jim,

Really, the name change is an OK thing.

A number of my friends from down south were confused as to why you'd name a rocket after those ladder thingies on the outside of apartment buildings anyway. [/B]

Originally posted by jflis
I chewed on this comment for the longest time until i said "Farscape" outloud and d*mn near dropped my coffee... LOL

I know what you mean, Jim. What Gus said sounded like something Larry The Cable Guy would have said if he was a member of TRF.

 

[n3tjm]

This is stupid. Farscape is a word. not a common one, but it is a word.

What happened to the days of common sense? the farscape looks like nothing from Farscape, not associated with the show (has to do with space?).

I know, can't risk them sueing... and the scary thing is, they may win... and even if they don't ... $$$$

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by n3tjm
This is stupid. Farscape is a word. not a common one, but it is a word.

What happened to the days of common sense? the farscape looks like nothing from Farscape, not associated with the show (has to do with space?).

I know, can't risk them sueing... and the scary thing is, they may win... and even if they don't ... $$$$

yep, that's the crux of the whole thing. The bigger pockets win the bulk of the time...

 

[hokkyokusei]

Originally posted by n3tjm
This is stupid. Farscape is a word. not a common one, but it is a word.

What happened to the days of common sense? the farscape looks like nothing from Farscape, not associated with the show (has to do with space?).

I know, can't risk them sueing... and the scary thing is, they may win... and even if they don't ... $$$$

You violate a trademark at your peril. I know, I've inadvertently done it!

 

[jflis]

Yes, but what is not typically known is that it is very difficult (impossible if you read the laws literally) to trademark a "word".

Domino's sugar found that out when they went after Domino's pizza...

What you can trademark (basically) are a "look and feel", logo, image representing your company or product.

The only time the courts will really uphold a *word* as being part of the trade dress is if it would cause confusion with the customer. For example, if I were to start a new brand of sweetener and called the company "Domino's", the sugar company would have a case, however the courts ruled that no customer is going to confuse an extra-large, with anchovies with a 5 pound bag of sugar...

 

[jflis]

Important update

Orders have been coming in a lot faster than expected. As a result, our inventory of kitted kits were depleted very quickly.

HOWEVER we have much in the way of inventoried materials (cover art, instuctions, decals, etc) and we will be building another round of kits to satisfy all orders coming in through Sunday.

Please Note: All orders received as of noon, 9-Feb-2005 will be shipped sometime after the first of the March. I should have a firm date of shipments later this weekend and will post that when I can. A notice to this effect has been place on our web site.

Please feel free to order, just understand the limits and conditions regarding when you can expect to receive your order.

The "OverDue" promotion does not apply to orders containing the FarScape model rocket kit.

==============================================
On a personal note:

Folks, your support with regard to this situation has been incredible. You may see it as getting your hands on a collectable and/or a really cool rocket at a good price. We at FlisKits see it as an overwhelming show of support for our company and it is appreciated.

For every kit we sell, there is one less set of documentation that has to be discarded at a cost. 3 days ago, this financial burden was daunting. Today it is a frustration and we hope by this weekend it will be an inconvenience.

Thank you.
Jim

 

[sandman]

Folks, your support with regard to this situation has been incredible. You may see it as getting your hands on a collectable and/or a really cool rocket at a good price. We at FlisKits see it as an overwhelming show of support for our company and it is appreciated.

Jim,

We love you and we love Fliskits....but honestly.....


It's the "first" one.

 

[brianc]

Originally posted by n3tjm
This is stupid. Farscape is a word. not a common one, but it is a word.

The trademark application (follow the search link from earlier in the thread)
specifically mentions 'spaceships' in conjunction with the term.

Jim is doing the prudent thing here. We're lucky the lawyers didn't insist upon
immediate seizure and destruction of the inventory.


Jim- glad to hear this is turning out better than you originally feared! Now, get to
producing the sister ship!

 

[hokkyokusei]

Originally posted by jflis
Yes, but what is not typically known is that it is very difficult (impossible if you read the laws literally) to trademark a "word".

This is true, though, but if you have a representation within a particular class then you have to defend any infringement within that class, or risk losing your trademark.

I'm not having ago at Fliskits Jim, you have my sympathy, believe me.

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by hokkyokusei
This is true, though, but if you have a representation within a particular class then you have to defend any infringement within that class, or risk losing your trademark.

I'm not having ago at Fliskits Jim, you have my sympathy, believe me.

Oh, I certainly do understand. After having studied the results of Xerox and Zipper loosing their marks because they didn't agressively protec them, the importance of that is crystal clear.

The folks at Kleenex and Lego know this, having successfully protected their marks over the years.

 

[OARJeepr]

I've seen this stuff a lot in the Jeep world. Daimler aggressively goes after anyone using the Jeep. There is a belief out there that if they don't chase down every infringment then the company will lose the right to chase down the ones that really do hurt their business. Jeep knows that most of the people out there are using Jeep in positive way but they can't take the chance of not being able to shut down the next porn site using the Jeep name. So everyone gets a letter.

 

[jflis]

Well, it is done.

Thank you all for your support. As soon as I have any firm information about the release of the Night Whisper, I will post it. Expect a release date sometime in April

jim

 

[jflis]

UPDATE!

We have returned from NARCON and have received the parts needed to perform the final FarScape build (to satisfy orders that were received after inventory was depleted). These kits have been kitted and shipping of these last orders began yesterday and will continue today and tomorrow. We hope to have them all shipped by tomorrow afternoon.

All those who have ordered this kit should receive notification of your order shipping by Friday evening (may be late as I have a scout talk tomorrow night). If you do not receive such notification, please contact our sales office at [email protected]

As for the Night Whisper, I am still awaiting a ruling from the law department of the offended party. We are seeking permission to continue to use the current decal set until such time as we deplete our current inventory. If given, this will greatly expidite the release of the Night Whisper.

More news when it is available.

jim

 

[cydermaster]

I hope they do let you continue using the remainders of the decals. Its an awfuly waste of resources to just 'throw them away'. I doubt if they can be recycled. If they're used for a purpose, ie. decorating a model, then the use of resources is justifiable; but to just bin them is a shame.

(/me gets down off hippy-soapbox)

 

[lalligood]

Or if this offended party wants you to cease using your existing supply before being depleted, they could offer to essentially buy them from you (to reimburse you for your costs of making them). That would be mighty nice of them to do that!

On a completely unrelated note, I went to high school with a guy who opened a record shop called "Secret Service Records". He was open for about 1 year when 2 men in black suits & sunglasses entered the store one day. They were Secret Service agents that confiscated over $1000 of t-shirts, letterhead, business cards, etc. and made him remove his sign with a razor blade (it was painted on glass). Only then did he find out that it is in fact illegal to have a business with "Secret Service" in the name. Because he complied so nicely, no charges were filed...but he did have to eat the cost of the confiscated inventory. The story of the events made the local news & area businesses donated supplies to replace what was lost (all for a mention in the local news again). Finally, to show that he had a sense of humor about the whole thing, he changed his business name to "Criminal Records". With the original name he had NEVER ONCE gotten a call from someone needing to reach the (real) Secret Service...but within a week of the name change started getting phone calls from people asking for individual's criminal records. True story.

 

[Bowhunter]

Its a shame but its one of them things, What can ya do?

 

[Mrs.Bowhunter]

Sorry to hear about this one going out of production but excited to see what the sister ship will look like.

 

[jflis]

Well, the sister ship will look identical (with the possible exception of decals). I hope to know within the coming week when we plan to announce.

In the mean time, the good news is that **ALL** of the FarScape orders have been satisfied/shipped. whew!

Thank you all again for your support.

jim

 

[sandman]

Jim,

You may be currently...or close to it...out of stock on the Farscape.

But!

I know from my recent trip there that Commonwealth display has a ***load of 'em.

Are there any other verdors out there with them?

By the way "Jerry" the "***" is mine. Nobody censored me but me.

 

[UncMikesRktShk]

Originally posted by sandman
Jim,

You may be currently...or close to it...out of stock on the Farscape.

But!

I know from my recent trip there that Commonwealth display has a ***load of 'em.

Are there any other verdors out there with them?

Sandman I have a few left also

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by sandman
Jim,

You may be currently...or close to it...out of stock on the Farscape.

Yep, I am out of stock (except for the 2 that I made for myself )

Not to mention the last one kitted, which I signed and labeled in the production number area "Last One"