Kickstarter and TamiyaClub

[Toykid]

I wanted to post here to get everyone's thoughts.

As many of you know I have been busy working on Knight Customs and created the Beach Buggy conversion kit for the Tamiya SRB chassis. It is available as a 3D printed set of parts on Shapeways.com - plug plug , but I realize that this really limits the possibility of many being able to afford or justify the cost. That said a big thank you to those that did dig deep and have purchased one so far.

Steve aka SRB Bloke, gave me the idea of maybe trying to do a kickstarter on it. It would help me raise the funds to do a full blown injection molded version of the kit for a price less that $100 USD. It would have to be clearly differentiated from the original 3D printed version so as to protect the value of those that have purchased my kit so far. For example it could have a lexan main body with all the detail parts in hard plastic (getting the price down even further).

I won't get into the financials or the number of pledges I would need to get the project funded, but I would like to hear what sort of interest there would be if I could get the kit down to that sort of price. Any opinions as to lexan Vs. plastic etc etc.

Have at it gentlemen

Best,

James.

[mr crispy]

For me the real beauty of your beach buggy was the detail, so giving it a lexan body would put me off big time. Saying that if you offered it as an alternative it could be a seller. A proper injection moulded kit would be great. I would suggest that you attempt to fit all the engine parts onto one sprue so you could sell that in its own right, there's plenty of people looking for that kind of detail to add to all manner of RC cars. Same with the driver figure.

Id envision it as selling it as three options. The full beach buggy kit with driver and engine included, then two smaller kits of the engine and the driver. I think that would sell very well if the price was reasonable and reach other customers that aren't necessarily interested in the beach buggy itself. I'd also suggest a lexan one piece mould of the engine, or maybe with a few injection parts for detail.

[ChrisRx718]

How are those Range Rover hard bodies being produced from Spain? They have incredible detail and whilst being expensive (circa £180) they have a better finish to paint on than 3D printed stuff by the looks of it.

[SRB Bloke]

Well James,

You know I'm up for these kits being more affordable.... so I'd be up for a kickstarter option..

I have to say I'm only in for a complete hard plastic kit, bodyshell, detail parts and the engine of course... Not sure if I'd want you include the driver, but maybe as an option...

Everyone said they'ed love one as you've updating us throughout the design process... so if we all put our hands up then a kit for $100 would be awesome.

[SRB Bloke]

Forgot to mention,

Mr Crispy's idea for a parts tree of the engine and driver on there own... is a superb idea.. those engines would fly out of your building....

[Zac_F83]

I want a motor for sure for my Scorcher, a polycarbonate kit should be well under $100USD.. and I would be interested in one for sure!

[Madmat]

I think Mr.Crispy is right on the money.

As for financials, I would be up for seeing something like this become reality and would help fund it (As much as I can afford that is)

I'll be watching this thread.

Matt

[Toykid]

Great thoughts guys, so hypothetically, if you could get the complete (hard plastic) bodyset, engine and driver for around $70 USD, who would be in?

Same question if the engines were available for about $30 USD?

James.

[Champ85]

If said engine fits on a Sand Scorcher chassis and body (not just the Beach Buggy body), I'm interested.

[Zac_F83]

Great thoughts guys, so hypothetically, if you could get the complete (hard plastic) bodyset, engine and driver for around $70 USD, who would be in?

Same question if the engines were available for about $30 USD?

James.

Count me in for a separate motor and a polycarbonate bodied kit (only if you make it that way)

[Percymon]

Great thoughts guys, so hypothetically, if you could get the complete (hard plastic) bodyset, engine and driver for around $70 USD, who would be in?

Same question if the engines were available for about $30 USD?

James.

At those prices I'd be in for at least two body sets and engines

I'd also be happy with a lexan body - maybe not as detailed as a hard body but easy to get a high gloss paint finish and will take few knocks on a runner.

[SRB Bloke]

Great thoughts guys, so hypothetically, if you could get the complete (hard plastic) bodyset, engine and driver for around $70 USD, who would be in?

Same question if the engines were available for about $30 USD?

James.

I'd immediately buy one full set and a couple of engines...

But no polycarbonate for me....

But you do know we all want the kit in one of those nice boxes you designed...

[mr crispy]

I'd be interested in the engine at $30.

[ChrisRx718]

There is a big market for scale engines of any type in my opinion, with people like me that don't have the time or modelling skills to make something from scratch. So yes, I would be very interested in a driver / engine parts tree too!

As for the body, a $70 target price sounds spot-on to me for something custom, especially if you could offer the roof / rollbar options for $15-20 on top.

[Madmat]

They seem like pretty realistic prices to me and are worth it too.

[beefmuffin]

sounds like a great idea to me. that lets you size up demand before getting too far along to make/market them.

not to mention you could embed links from kickstarter to TC and from TC to your kickstarter and create an SEO boost and get more attention for the product/idea.

heck - make a kickstarter and issue a press release to PR Newswire for $100 and there will be more attention than you can handle.

[Leckster]

Great idea, I'am very interested.

I would sacrifice a little detail to keep the price right, Hard body preferred but whatever you come up with I am sure it will be magic!

Watching with interest....

P.S. Any news on you other projects? Funco buggy etc...

[30YrsL8r]

I'd be interested in the engine at $30.

+1

[redzone]

I'd buy the complete kit and at least one engine kit at those prices!

[JennyMo]

Separate (complete) engine and driver injection-moulded sprues sound like an excellent idea to me - I love the buggy chassis/body too, but am not in a [financial] position to buy the SRB suspension components to complete a whole car just yet... mind you, if they were available I would probably find a way!

Jx

[BadWagon]

I'd love an engine bud! I'm curious to see what you come up with.

[Toykid]

Thanks for all the comments guys.

Please stay tuned for updates in 2014. I think I have a long way to go before I can make true mass produced stuff but i am still chipping away at it.

In the meantime I have some cool projects in the works to help bring the cost down for people who want to add some scale to their projects.

Best,

James.