Lately, I wrote a review about Signifer's excellent 1/48 Grumman JRF Goose multimedia kit. The review can still be found here.
I'm not a big review writter, but when I do one, I send an e-mail to the manufacturer once the article is "online". I do that because I think it's polite, but also to receive feedback from them and to make some publicity for Armorama.
I was a little be surprised as I received a letter from Signifer to thank me for the review I did! Three hand written pages! No computer generated, pre-formated, pre-printed letter or e-mail! Real writting from a real person!
Monsieur Meissonnier (owner of Signifer and model builder) also wanted me to share the content of the letter with the Armorama communauty. That's what I do now.
Mr Jean-Luc Formery,
Thanks for sending this article about the "Goose". We have appreciate your comments about the price, the quality of the details as well as the quality of the plastic and resin parts. [...]
You can see on our site the "Goose" isn't our first kit. It is simply the first to bring together resin and injected plastic parts...
More than 2 years were necessary to design this product (with artisanal methods). We are happy to hear feedback about our production "wich goes out of the pathed ways of mainstream manufacturers". We will try to go on in that way...
We have some more projects: France 1935-1940, Japan 1944-1945 and British 1933 (civil).
We will get you informed a soon as they will be released. You can also read the letter Grumman's Historical Centre (Bethpage N.Y.) sended us. One can't get better compliment.
As you are part of the Armorama communauty, we feel free to give some explanations and informations about all the work and various steps necessary to produce a new model and to get it on the market. This is very informative and you can share it with all the members:
A market survey is needed to see if the model is not already available and in what scale. The choice for an aircraft that saw a minimum of production.
The most detailed plans and references must be found for the subject (B&W and color photos if possible...)
Based on the plans, the best way to build the master (and the best way to produce the molds). Because the masters are different considering the various production methods:
- RTV silicone molds for resin parts.
- Steel or Zamac molds for injected plastic.
- There are various types of resin and one has to know their technological limit of use (flexibility, fluidity, steadiness in time, printing quality, price etc...)
- The choice of decals, their number, their quality and the manufacturer to produce them.
- The drawing of the instructions sheets (the most comprehensive and informative possible... in various languages)
- The best packaging and the Artist for the box art...
- Not to forget: all the security and caution warnings on the packaging's sides and the security standards to follow and to pay for...
- To finish, concerning the masters, I'll add that every part, from the biggest to the smallest one, was designed with the maximum of detail and quality in regard of the scale.
- All the masters must be preserved because the molds are getting damaged and they need to be replaced by new ones. Sometimes parts are badly molded and they are trashed.
You found a lot of parts in your kit (plastic sprues, resin parts, decal sheets, instructions on paper, metal rods etc...). All these parts were stocked and, after a rigorous controle of their quality and numbers, where put in plastic bags to compose the model kit.
For the "Goose", 180 operations are necessary, for a total time of 25 minutes, to get all the parts in the box and the model ready for sale... when everything works smoothly...
We have to fight, in Europe and specially in France, against the big manufacturers of the Asian zone. We should help with our choices, the Industrial and French short run manufacturers, for all kind of production. They would do even better if they would have the credit they deserves. [...]
We stay at your disposition for further informations.
Jérome Meissonnier
As I said in other posts, support the short run manufacturers! Don't always be focused on the "Clash of the Titans" and look what is happening at their feets! Sometimes you walk across goldmines without taking notice!
Jean-Luc
P.S. I translated the text the best I could. There may be some errors but the "esprit" of the original is always preserved!
