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Conference vmszoo::rc

Title:Welcome To The Radio Control Conference
Notice:dir's in 11, who's who in 4, sales in 6, auctions 19
Moderator:VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS
Created:Tue Jan 13 1987
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1706
Total number of notes:27193

188.0. "builders of kits for others" by MJOVAX::BENSON () Mon Jun 08 1987 12:28

    I saw a note recently that mentioned an older gentleman who builds
    kits "for hire"; I can't find the note-
    
    Does anyone who I'm talking about??
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
188.1Call Bob FischerANKER::ANKERAnker Berg-SonneMon Jun 08 1987 12:366
        Re:< Note 188.0 by MJOVAX::BENSON >

                Call Bob  Fischer  at Fischer RC in Framingham.  He's the
        one who contracts with the guy.
        
        Anker
188.2Want to build for a living????????SNAX::SMITHI FEEL THE NEEDFri Jan 20 1995 07:3373
         <<< VMSZOO::DISK$NOTES:[NOTES$LIBRARY]REC_MODELS_RC.NOTE;1 >>>
                           -< rec.models.rc shadow >-
================================================================================
Note 2910.0                    WACO Needs Wingmen!                    No replies
::AERODESIGN "[email protected] (AERODESIGN)"       67 lines  19-JAN-1995 17:34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WACO needs wingmen!    WACO is examining a different approach to doing
business.  We want you to build models for us.  This may be an entirely
new concept!

Here's the background.  Ever since WACO went into the full time model
business in 1989, we have been running with a backlog of orders, sometimes
as much as four months.  We have never been able to build as much as we
can sell, yet we have never advertised in a magazine.  The main stumbling
block to increasing our production has been our inability to find, train
and keep qualified people.  We have decided to try to solve that problem
by farming the work out to people who are already dedicated modelers, and
who can work in their own shop at their own pace.

It will work this way.  We will train you in our shop (or yours if you
want to pay our airfare and per diem).  We will teach you all of the WACO
construction techniques and secrets.  We will provide you with all WACO
design information, even software if you have the computer to run it.  We
will help you set up your shop, and sell you tools and materials at
wholesale if you need them.  You will be an authorized WACO franchise.

You will then agree to build models and components exclusively for WACO
and to our exact specs.  We will  provide you orders and buy from you.  We
will buy everything you make that meets our written quality standards. You
will also be authorized to build WACO designs and sell them yourself as
long as WACO gets a royalty on each model.  By our rough calculations, a
diligent worker (by himself) could make almost 40K a year just building
parts for us, the average builder putting in two or three hours a day
could make about 15K.

To qualify, you must have the shop space, tools and equipment to do proper
work.  You must show evidence of  significant experience in model
building.  You must come up with a $1000 deposit to cover the time we will
spend training you.  This deposit will be refunded after the first year of
 production.  If you don't qualify to build after our training session,
you can kiss your $1000 goodby.  Training will require about one week (if
it takes more, you don't qualify), and you must arrange to come to Arnold,
MD or else pay expenses for us to come to your location.  During training,
you will build all the plugs, templates and special tools required for
WACO construction.  These items will be yours to use in your shop

We will be only four or five franchises in the U.S.  We are establishing
overseas franchises, but the details are a little more complicated.  If
you are serious, if you have the ability, the time, and the equipment and
space,  FAX, E-mail, write, or call.  If you are just curious, please
don't waste our time or yours. 

FAX (410) 757-8580    Phone (410) 974-0968        WACO  944 Placid Ct. 
Arnold, MD  21012
  





++++++++++++++++++++++ The full NEWS header follows +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
News Article 29024
Path: jac.zko.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!lll-winken.llnl.gov!overload.lbl.gov!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!swiss.ans.net!newstf01.news.aol.com!not-for-mail
From: [email protected] (AERODESIGN)
Newsgroups: rec.models.rc
Subject: WACO Needs Wingmen!
Date: 19 Jan 1995 11:32:33 -0500
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Lines: 52
Sender: [email protected]
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected] (AERODESIGN)

188.3RANGER::REITHFri Jan 20 1995 08:178
> The main stumbling
> block to increasing our production has been our inability to find, train
> and keep qualified people.

My understanding is that they were using people out of retirement homes. I
suppose they were dying off.

Dave, you should print this out for Lincoln
188.4WMOIS::WEIERKeep those wings spinning!Fri Jan 20 1995 08:332
    
    I,m holding out until Jim offers me $40K a year to build Gremlins! :)
188.5I think I WILL sic Lincoln on him!NETCAD::WALTERFri Jan 20 1995 09:194
    Only Frank Weston would have the cojones to charge someone a grand
    to make wings for him! Gak, the arrogance of this guy never ceases
    to amaze me. 
    
188.6RANGER::REITHFri Jan 20 1995 09:423
Hey Dan, how MANY can you make? 8^)

10 over three years isn't much of a resume 8^P
188.7Interesting offerNCMAIL::BLUMJFri Jan 20 1995 10:1314
    Frank *is* very arrogant.  However, I respect what he is trying to do -
    make a living selling R/C sailplanes!
    
    Consider the $1000 to be a refundable franchise fee and it doesn't seem
    so outrageous.
    
    I own a Weston airplane and have always been divided over whether it is
    a piece of junk or a high-tech work of art.  I have not seen enough
    other vacuum bagged products from other manufacturers to judge.
    
    If Frank can truly sell every sailplane he makes, he is in an enviable
    position. 
    
    I might be tempted but my vacuum bagging experience is nil.
188.8You first! :)WMOIS::WEIERKeep those wings spinning!Fri Jan 20 1995 11:2811
    
    RE .6
    
       JIM,
    
           Cough up the 40K, and then I will think about increasing my
      Gremlin production! :) ( I won't hold my breath! :)
    
         BTW, There aren't THAT many builders who have built over 10
    Gremlins, so you don't have a long list to chose from! :)
                                                         
188.9RANGER::REITHFri Jan 20 1995 13:095
I'll bet Dan Snow has 8^)

Lets see, at $10/Gremlin...

How about build three and get a kit free? 8^)
188.10I think I would starve!WMOIS::WEIERKeep those wings spinning!Fri Jan 20 1995 13:357
    
    Les see... @ $10/per, I would only have to build 4000
    Gremlins/year..... Hmmmm, I guess I better clear off another work
    bench!
    
      On the other hand, maybe I should just finish the current Gremlin I
    have been building for 3 month! :)
188.11RANGER::REITHFri Jan 20 1995 13:587
Re:  I think I would starve!

New sign by the highway:

"Will build Gremlins for food"

8^)
188.12RANGER::REITHFri Jan 20 1995 14:264
Hey Dan, I'll only take $500 deposit for Gremlins 8^)

I really can relate to what Weston is going through. I have had to start
refusing presheeted wing orders due to a lack of time.
188.13WMOIS::WEIERKeep those wings spinning!Fri Jan 20 1995 15:144
    
    JUST TELL ME WHERE TO MAIL THE CHECK! :)
    
    ( ONLY I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND CASHING IT! :)
188.14lead timesNCMAIL::BLUMJFri Jan 20 1995 15:363
    FWIW - the high quality German Cottage industry sailplane manufacturers
    (Roke,Alro,etc) typically have a 6 month lead time for a glider.
    
188.15Oink.NETCAD::WALTERFri Jan 20 1995 17:197
    It's not just the franchise fee that gets me about Weston's "offer".
    It's his blatant attitude that if you don't meet his exacting
    standards, you can take a hike minus your $1000. It reminds me of
    the "pearls before swine" comment he made in one of his sales
    brochures, refering to people who DON'T buy his products. It's like
    he's insulting the very people he wants to attract!
    
188.16NCMAIL::BLUMJMon Jan 23 1995 09:2514
    Dave,
    
        I am not defending Weston, but he is probably using the $1000 fee to 
    weed out the curious, the dreamers, and those who just want to learn
    vacuum bagging techniques.
    
    The $1000 deposit inures that you are serious and feel that you have
    the capability to learn the techniques.
    
    It will be interesting to see if he gets any takers.  There are only a
    handful of commercially available vacuum bagged products(CR,Lavoe come
    to mind).  From what I hear quality can vary quite a bit with vacuum
    bagging.
    
188.17Dave Walter's - Boogers R UsGAAS::FISHERBXB2-2/G08 DTN 293-5695Mon Jan 23 1995 12:1813
Actually Frank was limiting it to only 4 Franchises.
That is why Dave is snowing us with the bad remarks.
Secretly he has already put a $1,000 check in the mail
and wants to be cut our spot in line to Maryland.

Good luck building all those Boogers!

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
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