Proposal to Vendors for Injection Molding Group Buy

[FreqEsKinz]

I have had this idea for quite some time now, as I know other vendors have had as well, so I would like to put it out to all the Vendors here to see if some sort of deal can be "struck".

The Concept

We all want scale accessories for our rigs. Hilift jacks, Jerry cans, Shovels, etc. The simplest way to get a mass quantity is to injection mold them out of styrene (Like plastic model kit parts)

The Problem

Injection molding is EXPENSIVE. To get anything like this done here in the US would cost in the neighborhood of $5K for the first run. The cost to get it done in China is still going to approach half of that. Too big an investment for any one company to justify.

The Solution

Group buy. Combined efforts. Pre-order purchases. Whatever you want to call it, this may be the only way to achieve getting this long needed accessory made.

Proposed Mold

A simple model kit style sprue or sprue pair with some or all of the following items.

1. Scale appearing TLT/Axial/WK axle cases in Dana style
2. Hilift Jacks
3. Jerry Cans
4. Shovels
5. Axes
6. Light Buckets (Square & Round)
7. Bumper bars
8. Interior sets
9. Interior accessories (CB radios, Steering wheels, etc)
10. Wheel nut covers (Lockout style hubs)

As you can see, the list could get big quickly.

I estimate a target street price of 8-12 bucks a sprue retail.

The Offer

If we can show actual buyers to RCP, TCS, RC4WD, RPP and some of the other vendors, maybe they could do something that has never happened in RC history: The top manufacturers collaborating on a single product that is desperately needed.

Now, I am not putting this solely in the lap of the "big guys" in our hobby. I am willing to pony up for this stuff as well.

I have a connection through work (we have tons of stuff molded in China right now) to get molds made and the molding done.

There are several SolidWorks gurus here that could easily design the molds.

I'll assist in any way I can and I am SURE there are at least 100 regulars on here who would put up cash to be in on this.

So, chime in, place a pre-order, offer to help, whatever. Lets see the power of this board and this great community come together to solve this issue. Its quite simple really, its just cash. We're not inventing the next R2D or anything.

Thanks for listening,

Freq

[BrockGrimes]

Sounds like a plan.
Investors needed.
I'd help but have no cache.

But I'd be first in line to buy the parts once made.

[run2jeepn]

I'd be up for it.. I've been kicking the idea around already...

[FreqEsKinz]

Originally Posted by run2jeepn

I'd be up for it.. I've been kicking the idea around already...

I figured you would be..... knowing your love of all things scale

Hopefully some of the other vendors will see this, or maybe you could move it over into the vendors forum or vendors private area to get the ball rolling?

Thanks J

[run2jeepn]

Originally Posted by Freq E Tag

I figured you would be..... knowing your love of all things scale

I love anything Rc Crawler related...I'm still collecting parts for my CJ-8 Scale Rig....

[Mad4Rnr]

No capital here but I have been designing plastic injection molded parts for the last 4 years. I am also experienced with turned machine parts. I have a full seat of AutoCAD Inventor 10 Professional and would be happy to contract out my services. Check the first build thread in my sig for some basic examples of my CAD work. LMK

[rockwerks]

Actually the costs are not as high as you might think. Im working on some stuff now.......we will see

[chaman]

Good idea!! If a group buy helps push this forward, Im in!

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by rockwerks

Actually the costs are not as high as you might think. Im working on some stuff now.......we will see

Ya you're right rockwerks, there is a prototype mold shop called "Protomold", they make inexpensive aluminum molds some as cheap as $1500. The problem with these guys is they can't hold very tight tolerances and you end up doing alot of second operations to the parts to make them look right (degating and deflashing mostly). How they make it so inexpensive is they CNC rather than EDM the mold cavities so some geometries are not possible. If the molded parts don't need to fit together than that is a good solution. I would suggest staying away from China since every design that goes over there ends up being reproduced for cheaper than you can make it for.

[sudo]

it's actually not that complicated to injection mold bits. If the person has a CNC mill the molds can be cut from aluminum easily, then injection molded with a molder machine. I'm good friends with a guy who molds lots of prototype parts for Adidas's, and does it all with his mill and a molding machine, and the mold are good for man shots.

[rockwerks]

Originally Posted by sudo

it's actually not that complicated to injection mold bits. If the person has a CNC mill the molds can be cut from aluminum easily, then injection molded with a molder machine. I'm good friends with a guy who molds lots of prototype parts for Adidas's, and does it all with his mill and a molding machine, and the mold are good for man shots.

Im amazed to see that only quality parts can be made by CNC work, the arts are lost in technology, ]

Elvan a friend of mine has been reading this and laughing his azz off, he did prototype work for aurora back in the day and molds where cast by hand. all those little HO slot car parts where made with molds made by hand.

[RPP Hobby]

I would be down for sure, I agree with you this would be good joint effort, maybe a good idea to see if Jason Would like to get it on it and get his help in promoting it through the site here with some ads or something?

[BlueMonster]

I think this is a fantastic idea. I am trying to buy a house or I'd be in...

I wonder if Revell or Monogram would be interested at all.

[Mnster]

Anyone try out sourcing? To check prices?
http://www2.quickparts.com/english_Q...ge=/index.aspx

[aggressivellc]

Id be up for it. What ever is needed Im willing to help.

[perfictsib]

im not a vender but if everybody on this website donated $1 that should cover the cost or go towards it and they could get $1 knocked off the retail price when they purchase anything, everybody can afford $1

[FreqEsKinz]

Good ideas everyone. Keep them coming.

The company I work for is owned by a gentleman that has been in the injection molding business for over 40 years. So I would listen to anything he says about tooling and outsourcing. He has made some of the most critical tolerance parts in the industry (parts for airplane navigational equipment/ high precision machine tools and Vegas Casino chips) His step son is my immediate boss and is the one currently dealing with China to get our molding done (we sell several different types of products made from different materials) As our business started small, we have done our homework on where to get the best quality work at the most affordable prices. In fact, he as actually traveled to China to see first hand some of the factories (something anyone should do). Someone mentioned the wide varying quality/material/security issues and they are correct.

However, all this aside, this CAN be done. All we have to do is put the people with the cash together, pre order to help, and this can happen.

Hopefully we'll see a comment from RCP and the Crawler store. Surely they're watching this...

Come on guys, lets get this ball rolling.

[hawnmt]

I'm not sure how to help in this but I would most certainly be in for some type of preorder or something similar.

Also if I could suggest something to make, how about fender flares. Some generic ones in a couple of different sizes so we can cut wheelwells at will and cover up our rough edges with something nice.

[Double J]

I'd be down for something like that.

The process can get very expensive. when I was looking into getting my speaker grills done it would have ran me $20K a mold in china for 1 size and 1 design.

[sudo]

what i was trying to say with my post was that one guy with some time and a mill can produce the mold for the price of the blank aluminum, and after that getting the piece injected isn't too expensive. What if someone here with a CNC mill made the mold, then sent it off to get it shot? It would cheapen the process quite a bit. And I would be in for a few bucks.