Just got this via email:
After much soul searching starting two months ago and in spite of my efforts to do some positive things like establish a website and the “donwinter” list, I have decided I need to close the business.
The reasons are actually a long laundry list of items that include my vision problems, my low energy problems, some safety concerns about the continued use of the machinery and one strange intangible reason that has a small tiebreaker effect.
However, there are some reasons that have zero effect on my decision. One is economics. Another is family or bird matters, Neither of these is an issue.
Basically it is health. I just can’t do it anymore. One other characteristic, in discussing the climate of the 1:20.3 market with others, I find my experience to be the opposite others’ current expereince. Many are complaining the sales are NOT there. I have somewhat the opposite problem. I can sell everything I can produce rather rapidly, I just can’t produce fast enough or at all. Not everything sells in large quantites but large enough to satisfy me.
My liquidation plan is somewhat simple. I am going to keep the website just for fun, cancel the “donwinter” group, complete the Crested Butte project since it is basically done except for running the laser and packing it up and create what I call “X” number of “Care Packages” containing parts and unfinished projects which may or may not have everything one might expect to build the items I had planned to issue. I had a tendency to make the most difficult parts first on a project and I may as well pass these on to those
who do not mind running around for the stock parts and lumber and figuring out how to build something up.
I do not plan to sell the business or the machines themselves and am just going to keep them as expensive toys, I have a lot of CAD drawings completed and tested for some rather complex useful parts and will probably run them and include them in the care packages. And I should have some
box lots of defective/missing parts kits. It will be a few weeks or a month or so before I can get to this.
I realize my eyesight will improve, but it will never be what I feel I need to function properly. I have done the research, talked to the MD’s and surfed the net and no one is immortal. This was totally unexpected and started when I just wanted new glasses as my old pair had a lot of scratches. I was poised to make even more kits but this just can’t happen.
At best I may post from time to time an interesting part I might make for myself personally but no more kits, no reissues. I may try some personal modelling, I might not depending on how things progress over the next few months.
I appreciate all the kind words, the support and will continue online with the group but this time lets not clog up the list with questions that drive the others nutzo! I’ll reply to anything in private but online probably not.
Thanks for listening!
Don Winter