NEW BLMA Detail - ACI Plates!

[Craig Martyn]

Hi Everyone,

I'm pleased to announce a new detail part that we've needed for years - ready-to-mount ACI Plates.  Our ACI Plates are pre-printed on etched-brass plates and easy-to-mount with glue. 



See more information here:
http://www.blmamodels.com/blog

Thanks for the support!

[TiVoPrince]

Death 
by a thousand cuts again for Mr. Wallet.  Please release something that I don't need/want fo once...

[JSL]

Thanks Craig for all you do for N!

[Dave V]

Me gusta!!!

[wm3798]

Really?  Only 5 sets to a pack for $7.95?  I'll keep buying the Micro Scale decals and rolling my own, thanks.  That's a lot of bones for a hair more than a 1/2 square inch of total detail. 

These things are so ubiquitous, and needed in such volume, (and let's face it, not brain science to produce) there's no reason why they couldn't be offered in a 20 pair pack for the same money and still be profitable for manufacturer, distributor and retailer.

Lee

[Dave Schneider]

+1 to Lee's comments. I had he exact same thoughts, but didn't want to be first. 
Now if you offered something for the Milwaukee Road, we might be able to do some business.
Love your stuff, just not this item for this price.

Best wishes, Dave

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Now I only need an app to read them.

[Craig Martyn]

Understood Lee.  Note that these are etched in brass, then pad printed in multiple colors (multiple hits), packaged, etc.  The size of the part vs. price is irrelevant - what matters is the process and complexity of production, among other things.

Prices are increasing and I'll do everything possible to keep things as low as possible.   I can assure you the prices are not inflated, but simply reflect real world costs of doing business.   

Really?  Only 5 sets to a pack for $7.95?  I'll keep buying the Micro Scale decals and rolling my own, thanks.  That's a lot of bones for a hair more than a 1/2 square inch of total detail. 

These things are so ubiquitous, and needed in such volume, (and let's face it, not brain science to produce) there's no reason why they couldn't be offered in a 20 pair pack for the same money and still be profitable for manufacturer, distributor and retailer.

Lee

[Hyperion]

Definitely on the higher end of things, for sure.  In the outside much larger scale modeling world of 1/35 models, you can get pad-printed brass/stainless on a whole sheet for the same money from the likes of Eduard; and be self-adhesive to boot.  And that'd be enough real estate for about 200 of these.  But I'd probably still be in for a few anyways.  But then I'd only be doing a handful of old-but-still-around cars, not an entire fleet.

[wm3798]

How big is the pad printer?  How many N scale ACI plates fit on a plate?  How many can be printed with a single slap of the pad?

I've gotten quotes to have larger quantities of my cab fronts done, granted, not pad printed, but still, using a stateside etching service for a much larger piece with a much narrower market...  You're spending more money on the ziploc bag and the label than you are on the product.   I've got a fleet of over 400 cars, so 5 pair at a time would be an outrageous undertaking financially.

I try to be open minded about products that help push the envelope, especially those that provide a little labor savings.   But I'm not seeing a good value here.  You're not asking for a whole lot less than Other Craig is asking for wheel sets per car, (MSRP is $3.03 for 4 axles based on the 100 pack) and that's a lot more complex and critical part.  I humbly suggest offering a bulk pack of 10 or more pair at a more reasonable per car price (maybe $.50-.80 as opposed to $1.59).  If nothing else, you'll save a ton on packaging, and move more product faster, which will get you to break even a tad sooner, I would suspect.

You may be dangerously close to breaching the line between "See how much we can accomplish" and "See how much we can get away with!"

Lee

[Craig Martyn]

Lee:  Note these ACI Plates are on rectangular pieces of brass for mounting on flat cars, rib-sided cars, tank cars, locomotive stanchions and more - regular ACI labels stick directly onto a car side.  The alternative is to purchase Microscale decals, cut a piece of styrene to fit, paint it black, adhere the decal and mount the placard.  If you can do all that, including your time, and you deem the price as more reasonable, you have the option.  In this case, we're providing a pre-made, quality product for a price that fits our costs.  Plain and simple.

There are so many other factors that affect price the market simply can't understand for lack of information.  We do our best to provide quality products at prices based on our costs.  Those who see the value will purchase the product, others can use alternative measures. 

Feel free to contact me directly if you have any further suggestions/comments.

[MichaelWinicki]

Craig,

Maybe you would consider a "bulk pack"... Maybe 25.

[Bob Bufkin]

A bulk back is a good idea but make it an ever number.

[wazzou]

Or even simpler yet, model an era where they are not yet needed.   

[ljudice]

What no working reader?????????????

This actually a neat product for flatcars and potentially some equipment that doesn't have a decal-able surface.