Things have changed .

[pickelhaube]

Well Guys ,

Things have changed for me. As of today I would count myself as semi retired. Sort of.

I am not sure of the economy but as of yet my real work is almost back to where it was before Katrina.

I have had helper problems since I have been in business. Well my current helper put his notice in and rather than replace him I am going to sub EVERYTHING out to an up and coming company.

They are going to measure cut and install my jobs for me. I will now just be standing around answering questions.

What would take 3 days for me to do hands on will now take 1 and I will not have to lift a finger.

What does this mean ?

Well for one I can spend a lot more time on my customs and maybe start working on new projects.

Of course after the Jagdtiger.

So in the NEAR future I may just have another poll on the next project that you all want me to do or finish.

I am also excited Of POSSIBLY starting a line of WW 1 figures .

Here is a list of projects that have been started or researched ( items acquired to do the mod ) in no particular order

Jumbo Sherman
Sdkfz 251 backdate
Composite hull Sherman
Jagdpanther
DAP Blackhawk
Huey ( stretch ) D
Su-85
Viet era Cobra
Tropical Spitfire
Spitfire with floats
Jagdpanzer
A7V
WW1 figures
105 howitzer
Aunt Jemima Sherman mine roller
Up armored HUMVEE turret

Again this is a list of things I have either started , have the reference models or plans .

Hopefully I can get product out with my new found time and maybe get back to things like they were with fresh and new items !!!

[slogan]

Good news, thanks for being a light in the darkness of 1/18 scale vehicles.

[rschaap]

Sounds like a "Win Win" for all of us 1/18 collectors. I hope all goes well for you in this change Matt.

[CanberraPaul]

This great news Matthew!!! I am going to get some from you on that list.

[normandy]

Well Matthew Congratulations!!! I'm very happy for you and the rest of the folks who've survived Katrina.
Hope things continue to improve for your part of the country.

I'd be in for a few of those SdKfz 251 backdate kits and how about a Stug IV kit. I talked to the Hun / Woofer several
years back (June 2011) and he was going to produce some more of his.......but that never happened.

Just glad things are looking up for you and I might add .............. 1:18.

[maritime96]

Great to hear. Always look forward to getting new stuff from you. I saw your posts about the ww1 guys over on fighting 118th. I was very sad to see their reaction unfortunately. I did like the picture of the ww1 German tank you were working on.

[skypirate]

Just glad things are looking up for you and I might add .............. 1:18.

Yes, pickelhaube, speaking of 1/18, did the responses to your recent What is in the future of our Beloved 1/8th Scale thread factor into this decision?

Great news.

[Jnewboy]

The sky has opened and doves are flying out!!!

This is great!! I have been hoping you would get to some of those projects!!

I have much more faith in you than I do Merit!

Maybe you should add a Fw-190a conversion kit to your list since it seems to much to ask from the "big boys"

Can't wait for that 251 backdate!! and a Jagdpanther! Which Jagdpanzer were you thinking of doing?

[greendevil41]

Matthew,
Yes. Jnewboy is right. Please add that FW 190A conversion kit back on the list. I scored a old Skyworks nose and rudder set but still need the spinner, blades and other parts you were going to make before the empty promises from the big boys started again.

[pickelhaube]

The sky has opened and doves are flying out!!!

This is great!! I have been hoping you would get to some of those projects!!

I have much more faith in you than I do Merit!

Maybe you should add a Fw-190a conversion kit to your list since it seems to much to ask from the "big boys"

Can't wait for that 251 backdate!! and a Jagdpanther! Which Jagdpanzer were you thinking of doing?

The Mk-IV jagpanzer or possibly the L7 is that right ? I need to look at it.

The memory is not what it used to be.

As far as the Fw-190 I am not sure on that one it seems to me that it will be done by Merit but when is the question.

I could make the correct spinner for Skyjerks 190 kit but it may be a one of and a little pricey.

I made it already quite a few years ago but it has been destroyed through the raveges of time.

Sky Pirate,

I kinda had to see if there was interest . A lot of collectors were jumping ship .

2 years ago my real business was horrible so I had to really on my customs . I was doing the Horten at the time.

For a year I was $1,000-$2,000 short every month on my bills wiping out my savings to make ends meet.

But since then I have paid off my house , my son has graduted from collage and in a couple of months both cars will be paid off .

So I hope that I can make this work .

It seems that there is interest in the projects I make but there is a lot to be said about making full kits.

They sure take up a lot of time. So for now I will be sticking with mods only .

But rest assured I do have a few choice full builds THAT I WILL DO IN THE FUTURE .

Here is the list but again this is in the FUTURE in no piticulor order..

1. A-10-- this has been in the works for some time but the guys who are involved have had timming issues.

2. Viet Cobra-- this has been a long time pet project

3. A7V--This is my favorite tank of all time and it has to be done.

4. Mi-24 Hind-- The coolest helo of all time !!!

5. Spitfire mods-- Because of the prices of Spitfires , mods may not work moving this to full kit status.

Sorry guys my spell check is not working.

[normandy]

Hey Pickel, as long as we're talking Jagdpanzer IV how about a Sturmgeschütz IV.....

Found an old pic of The Hun's Stug IV...



and the Jagdpanzer....

[maritime96]

The woofer always did great work, I miss being able to get stuff from him. That ANNE stug and one if those jagpanzers are both sitting on my shelf. I am very happy that the pickleworks will be continuing to make great new stuff for us. Thank you Matthew for feeding our addiction

[normandy]

You got one of those Stug IV's? By the time I talked to Everett, He'd sold most of 'em. Said he'd be selling more
kits....that was three years ago.
Maybe someone else will make one.

[maritime96]

Normandy, I actually have 2 different versions of his STUG. That one and another with side skirts. I also have a bunch of his other stuff as well. I was constantly trying to buy stuff from him. When I heard he was done with customs because of a bunch of bad breaks I was really sad to hear it. He is the one who first told me about Small Scale HQ. I always wonder what he did with all the stuff from his workshop, if he threw it out I think a road trip to the dump is in order.

[normandy]

I've been wanting to build a Stug IV in 1:18 for some time now.
I have the one I built as a kid, it was the Monogram 1:32 kit.



I still remember the Shep Paine Diorama, man I thought that was cool......





....What do you think of that dio in 1:18?

[maritime96]

I think that would be an awesome diorama in 1/18 scale

[DocTodd]

Hey Matthew, congrats on getting things in order. Any chance of resurrecting the Horten? I have $ now.
Thanks

[gliderdwm]

Hello Matthew,
Any chance of doing a GMC 6X6 truck. One of my all time favorite vehicles and look at the prices on Ebay the WC51 and the WC63 are going for. Would think it would be a seller. Here is custom one done in 1/6. Man that is nice!

[pickelhaube]

The deuce and a half has always been on the to-do list .

[maritime96]

If we are stuffing the suggestion box, why not an M7 Priest mod for the Sherman Tank Chassis.

[pickelhaube]

If we are stuffing the suggestion box, why not an M7 Priest mod for the Sherman Tank Chassis.

I was actually making the 105 that goes on the Priest , It goes on the half track as well..

But after making the M-3 Tank Destroyer I wanted to back of the opened top AFV s ( Armor Fighting Vehicles ) for a while.

But that to is on the never ending list of things to - do.

The 105 got bumped for another project but it has been so long I forgot what bumped it .

I was able to pull it up.

The T-34 project bumped the 105 Howitzer . That was a long time ago.

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... 5+howitzer

[exether_mega]

I know I may be boring with it but what about a M32 recovery ?



And as we talk about GMC, why not thoses ?

[pickelhaube]

Phil,

I have not forgotten you.

As a matter of fact I purchased a 1/35 scale model of the recovery tank just to do the mod. But alas it is on the NEVER ENDING " to-do " list .

Was it your Dad or Grandpa ' s house that the M-32 tank stopped in front of ?

I would like to hear the story again if you do not mind.

[exether_mega]

Phil,

Was it your Dad or Grandpa ' s house that the M-32 tank stopped in front of ?

I would like to hear the story again if you do not mind.

It's my dad. he was 9 years old at this time. I talked with him this afternoon and here is the full story.
It was a sunny day. In the morning, he was sitting in front of his house and saw german trucks and vehicles of all kind. Even horses towing wooden trailers. At this time he tought german were stupid as all their stuff were covered with tree branches. As he said, trying to look like buxhes in a middle of the street was totally sily.
Then no more traffic around noon. It was 2pm when rumour said the americans were en route and maybe an hour later, they were passing. Soil vibrated as tanks were rolling and Rolling and covered everything with dust.
My das was realy impressed as it was like a snake with no end. Hours were passing and it never stopped.

Some days later( probably three he think), a tank with mechanical problems stopped in front of his home. It had no gun, was full of stuff and was equiped with a kind of mast. He learned later that it was a recovery tank. It stayed about four days before being repared. And one of his souvenir is an american soldier putting his helmet on his head and offered him chocolate. Belgium was liberated and most of all, he had no school during september this year !

[maritime96]

That is a great story. I love hearing first hand accounts like that. Thank you for sharing that with us.