joemagiera
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Interest check: I, Robot CP's (accurate reproduction)
I am in discussions with a plastic molding company to have accurately reproduced I, Robot control panels. These would match the original in shape, size, contour, texture, color, color tone, holes cut, etc. The one difference would actually be better. The original was Kydex (or some similar material from that time). The repro would be ABS plastic. I'm told that ABS is much stronger and more durable. If they are the same in color, texture, etc., and ABS is stronger (and cheaper!) than Kydex, why in the world would anyone want to have it repro'ed in Kydex? FYI: CP decals are not being included in this effort.
The difficult part is cost. Vacuum formed parts involve having a mold made. Right off the bat, many thousands of dollars. Then the material, labor, etc. Our rough estimate right now is $275, plus shipping. And honestly, that's not making anything on this. It's totally for the game and getting my own cabinet to have a nice, uncracked, original looking CP. Based on the mold cost and material and labor, I'd need to be able to sell 50 of these just to break even.
I really hate "interest check" and "pre-order" threads. I do understand completely though why they are done. It's a hobby for most of us, and we're not (at least I'm not) out to lose thousands of dollars on something. So as much as I don't like it, I am doing an interest check thread here. Please respond here if you'd buy one at this price point.
FYI, this is an expensive endeavor for both making them and I realize the price is high and expensive to buy one too. But if there is enough interest, I'd have to do a pre-order too. It's one thing to say "yeah, sure, I'd buy one". It's another thing to actually pony up the money for it.
An early timetable is, if 50 pre-orders are made, is 5 months after the minimum pre-order payments is complete.
If the interest check is good, I'll do a pre-order.
I am in discussions with a plastic molding company to have accurately reproduced I, Robot control panels. These would match the original in shape, size, contour, texture, color, color tone, holes cut, etc. The one difference would actually be better. The original was Kydex (or some similar material from that time). The repro would be ABS plastic. I'm told that ABS is much stronger and more durable. If they are the same in color, texture, etc., and ABS is stronger (and cheaper!) than Kydex, why in the world would anyone want to have it repro'ed in Kydex? FYI: CP decals are not being included in this effort.
The difficult part is cost. Vacuum formed parts involve having a mold made. Right off the bat, many thousands of dollars. Then the material, labor, etc. Our rough estimate right now is $275, plus shipping. And honestly, that's not making anything on this. It's totally for the game and getting my own cabinet to have a nice, uncracked, original looking CP. Based on the mold cost and material and labor, I'd need to be able to sell 50 of these just to break even.
I really hate "interest check" and "pre-order" threads. I do understand completely though why they are done. It's a hobby for most of us, and we're not (at least I'm not) out to lose thousands of dollars on something. So as much as I don't like it, I am doing an interest check thread here. Please respond here if you'd buy one at this price point.
FYI, this is an expensive endeavor for both making them and I realize the price is high and expensive to buy one too. But if there is enough interest, I'd have to do a pre-order too. It's one thing to say "yeah, sure, I'd buy one". It's another thing to actually pony up the money for it.
An early timetable is, if 50 pre-orders are made, is 5 months after the minimum pre-order payments is complete.
If the interest check is good, I'll do a pre-order.


