Category Archives: Kit Bashing

Business/Economics, Idaho, Kit Bashing

“Get your stuff it’s time to leave.”: U.S. industrial/mining/logistics layoffs, July 2018

Incomplete list of U.S. Mining/Industrial/Logistics job loss/shutdown announcements made in July 2018.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

The Washington Post: Millions of educated, experienced workers have been tossed aside

ALABAMA: Hyundai plant could be first shut down under tariff plan

ALASKA: Oil giant reports 2018 profit, compared to big 2017 loss

ConocoPhillips Swaps Assets With BP, Expands Alaska Base

CALIFORNIA: No more Barbie or Hot Wheels? El Segundo based Mattel announced plans to eliminate at least 2-thousand-2-hundred toy jobs around the world, due to massive crashing sales possibly due to the death of retailer Toys R Us! Already Mattel laid off 140 people at its El Segundo HQ! Furniture company Minson Corporation issued a shutdown WARN for its Montebello ops, 113 jobs gone by September!  Freight Handlers Incorporated (FHI) issued a shutdown WARN for its Riverside ops, 115 jobs gone by September! Recycler Aqua Metals issued a shutdown WARN for its Alameda location, 12 jobs gone in September.  Golden State Overnight Delivery Service issued layoff WARNs for its Gardena and Santa Ana ops, 138 jobs gone mid-September!  ITW Bay Area Label issued a shutdown WARN for its San Jose ops, 54 jobs gone by October.  MV Transportation eliminating 135 jobs in Visalia, by the end of September!

COLORADO: Drillers Fuel Record Oil Output in Rush to Finish Wells

FLORIDA: C&S Wholesale Services eliminating 319 jobs in Orlando by October!

IDAHO:  Bankrupt and suddenly dead Indiana based Koontz-Wagner Custom Controls suddenly laid off 51 people at its now dead Caldwell ops.

ILLINOIS: Iconic cosmetics maker/seller Avon (now known as New Avon) just sold-off its last U.S. factory, in Morton Grove-Chicago, to a French company, 3-hundred to 4-hundred jobs affected!  The French company will make products for British empire United Kingdom owned Walgreens-Boots Alliance.  One of the last U.S. plastic model kit and RC toy manufacturers/distributors, Hobbico, officially chapter 7 bankrupt dead, resulting in iconic Revell kits being 100% German owned.  In Chicago, MW Industries issued a shutdown WARN, 49 jobs gone by Xmas.  In Aurora, Jacobson Warehouse issued a shutdown WARN, 134 jobs gone due to consolidation operations!  Stack-On Products issued shutdown WARNs for its operations in Wauconda and McHenry, 153 jobs gone in October!

INDIANA:  In Bristol, Diversified Machine warning 5-hundred employees of layoffs due to losing a contract with Ford!   Chapter 7 bankrupt and suddenly dead Koontz-Wagner Custom Controls suddenly laid off 104 people (according to official WARN) at its now dead South Bend factory and HQ, one employee told local news media there was no warning: “No one knew about it to 9 o’ clock this morning when we had a meeting and they told us ‘We are shutting the doors. Get your stuff it’s time to leave.'”-Ron Randolph, employee for 16 years

Japan based Wire-Maker TOKUSEN Says it Will Idle Clark County Operation

IOWA: Construction industry tool maker Black Cat Wear Parts laid off ten people, blaming it on the tariff war with British empire Canada.  Winnebago Industries eliminating 31 jobs by the end of August.

KENTUCKY: Greeting card maker American Greetings shutting down its factory in Bardstown, more than 250 jobs lost between September 2018 and February 2019!

MASSACHUSETTS: Partly taxpayer funded uniform maker Pepperell Mills now chapter 11 bankrupt busted and liquidating.  Technetics Group shutting down ops in Oxford due to “the current industrial gas turbine market”, 97 jobs lost.

MINNESOTA: United Sports Brands eliminating 20 jobs in Minnetonka, by November.

MISSOURI: Lawnmower engine maker Briggs and Stratton cutting production and warning of mass layoffs at its factory in Popular Bluff, in “coming weeks”, due to lack of sales.  Also in Popular Bluff, Mid Continent Nail Corporation cut production by half and laid off 60 people, blaming lack of sales on new tariff wars.

NEW YORK:  Fischer Price laid off 50 people at its HQ, as part of parent company Mattel’s plan to eliminate thousand of jobs globally!  Advanced Motors and Drives issued a layoff WARN for its East Syracuse location, 51 jobs gone between August 2018 and March 2019.  Verrino Construction Services now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to lack of cash caused by lack of sales. Hebeler Process Solutions issued layoff WARNs, at least 60 jobs gone in September due to a sudden loss of sales from a major customer.

NORTH CAROLINA: American Tire Distributors suddenly laid off 1-hundred people because “…the industry is going through its largest change in decades”.  Home furnishings maker Heritage Home Group (Broyhill, Lane, Thomasville, and Drexel Heritage) now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.  Mattress maker Serta Simmons shutting down its factory in Whitsett, 112 jobs gone by September!

OHIO: Chinese owned (Hong Kong) vacuum cleaner maker TTI Floor Care (Oreck) issued a shutdown WARN for its Glenwillow ops, at least 75 jobs gone starting in September due “to changing business circumstances” forcing the company to consolidate operations.  Germany based Siemens issued a shutdown WARN for its Aero-Derivative Gas Turbine ops, 134 jobs gone “due to conditions within the global energy market”.

OKLAHOMA: Aircraft parts maker NORDAM Group now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to problems with Pratt & Whitney Canada, local news media say NORDAM is the second biggest employer in the state.

U.S. oil production hits 11 million barrels a day

PENNSYLVANIA: ArcelorMittal Plate issued a layoff WARN, 125 people in Conshohocken jobless by September!  Jacobson Warehouse issued a shutdown WARN for its Lancaster ops, 62 jobs gone in September.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Tariffs Imperil BMW in South Carolina

SOUTH DAKOTA: Hultgren Construction now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to lawsuits over a deadly building collapse.

TENNESSEE: TEC Industrial Maintenance & Construction laid off 238 people due to a lost contract!

TEXAS: Bankrupt and suddenly dead Indiana based Koontz-Wagner Custom Controls suddenly laid off 52 people at its now dead Houston ops.

WASHINGTON: Germany based logistics company Arvato issued a shutdown WARN for its Yakima ops, 168 jobs gone by the end of September!

WEST VIRGINIA: MRC Global shutting down its Nitro distribution center, 38 jobs lost to consolidation ops.

Diversified Gas & Oil buys EQT assets

Pinnacle Mine to lay off roughly 90 miners

WISCONSIN: Mayline-Safeco laying off 127 furniture makers in September, as part of plans to shutdown operations at several locations by November! Cooper Power Systems eliminating 52 mechanic jobs by September.  In Waukesha, General Electric (GE) laying off 236 people by shutting down its Distributed Power Facility!

U.S. INDUSTRIAL/MINING/LOGISTICS SHUTDOWNS, JUNE 2018: “GLOBAL RACE TO THE BOTTOM.”

Business/Economics, Kit Bashing

Deutschland Über Alles!: Revell USA is dead, long live Revell Germany!

12MAY2018 /21:37 UTC-07 Tango 06  (23 Ordibehesht 1397/27 Sha’ban 1439/28 Ding-Si 4716)

“It is a sad time for the model building community… I have not seen anything ‘official’ from Revell, but It has been confirmed to me by a reliable source that Revell USA has in fact closed their doors.”-UP Scale Hobbies facebook post

Another victim of the so called recovered economy, the end of a long model building era in the United States, Revell USA (Revell-Monogram) is dead!

Starting out in California in 1943, as a subcontractor for plastics manufacturers, its first job reportedly being parts for washing machines, followed by anything relating to HO (1:87) scale train sets.   It was known as Precision Specialties.

When the company decided to focus on toys the name was changed to Revell (Wikipedia says it’s from the French word reveille, however Revell is a English/French family name that goes back to medieval times).  In the 1950s the focus was originally on model cars, but shifted to U.S. Navy ships, the most infamous being the constantly re-issued and horribly inaccurate USS Missouri.  This is humorous because supposedly the USN kits were considered so accurate that the Soviet Union bought Revell kits to learn about U.S. warship development (maybe that’s why the U.S.S.R. was constantly behind in the naval arms race).

Purportedly this crappy kit is what got the ball rollin' for Revell

Purportedly this crappy kit is what got the ball rollin’ for Revell

The success of Revell’s ship kits led to the company producing kits of almost anything you can think of.  However, this didn’t stop Revell from succumbing to the same economic forces as other industries, as I’ve previously explained in 1:72 SHOCK & AWE LOCKHEED F-104 STARFIGHTER, OR, WHY YOU CAN’T TRUST SCALE DRAWINGS! PLUS MASSIVE HISTORICAL CONFUSION ABOUT REVELL-MONOGRAM!

Monogram's classic 1974 issue Do 335, Monogram was Revell's biggest competitor at that time

Monogram’s classic 1974 issue Do 335, Monogram was Revell’s biggest U.S. competitor at that time

By 2012, longtime model kit builders thought economic bad times were over for Revell when an employee owned, Illinois based company, called Hobbico bought and merged Revell USA and Revell Germany (GmbH).  Wrong again!  In January 2018, Hobbico went bankrupt busted and began liquidating its divisions.  Immediately, Revell Germany issued a statement saying they were not impacted (“Hobbico’s bankruptcy filing was made in the United States and is strictly limited to the company’s U.S. operations, Revell-Germany is unaffected.”).

For decades (since 1970s) Revell Germany has reissued British Frog kits

For decades (since 1970s) Revell Germany has reissued British Frog kits

Revell USA production was halted in April, even shipments of already packaged kits were stopped. A group of investors called Quantum Capital Partners aus München (for some odd reason many U.S. and British sources are calling the group Blitz GmbH, my source is Revell Germany itself) which bought both Revell Germany and Revell USA.

The month before Revell was sold-off, Revell USA announced the much longed for reissue of the coveted Deal’s Wheels Baja Humbug

According to bankruptcy court documents, on 13APR2018 Quantum Capital Partners of Munich won the rights to Revell with a bid of about $3.9-million USD.  Revell USA ceased to exist, Revell Germany will continue as if nothing had happened.  I should point out that the $3.9-million was the high bid, apparently there was only one other bidder, it’s just more proof the model kit industry is in decline.  Hobbico was hoping for $10-million.

According to a press release by Revell Germany, Deutschland is the new home base for all Revell operations, including ops in North America: “Revell is pleased to partner with Quantum Capital Partners who supports the company in its further international growth.  At this point, I would also like to thank all trading and business partners for the Thank you for your confidence during the transition period in recent weeks.”-Stefan Krings, president of Revell Germany

“Revell is a renowned and well-established company and has been an impressive and internationally established successful toy brand. We will build on this strength and the brand with its unique positioning as a model maker….”-Steffen Görig, Quantum Capital Partners

Since its founding in 2008, Quantum Capital Partners (QCP) has taken over several dozens of companies including BASF, Bosch, Deutsche Bahn and even Airbus (even joining with the Islamic Investment Bank to make sure Airbus aircraft are Shariah compliant)!

Classic Hasegawa Voodoo, one of the first jet kits I built in the 1970s

Classic Hasegawa Voodoo, one of the first jet kits I built in the 1970s

By the way, Hobbico’s demise also affected Japan’s Hasegawa and Italy’s Italeri as Hobbico had become the distributor of those brands in the United States.

Italeri's old M47 (from late 1970s) is so good that recently Korea's Academy issued it

Italeri’s old M47 (first released around late 1970s early 80s) is so good that recently Korea’s Academy issued it

FALLING DOWN: U.S. MODEL KIT/RAILROAD HOBBY DEMISE, 2016-17

BLACKLIGHT REVELL DEAL’S WHEELS

Kit Bashing

Idaho shows A-10C Pride with City Nose Art

Image

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport A-10C pride ceremony, 23SEP2015.

During uncertain times when the Obama regime was wanting to kill all A-10C Thunderbolt-2s, the Idaho Air National Guard dedicated A-10s to the cities of Kuna, Lewiston and Eagle.

Pride of Eagle unveiling, 29JAN2016. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 29JAN2016.

29JAN2016, unveiling of the Pride of Kuna. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 29JAN2016.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras, 29JAN2016.

Unveiling of Lewiston A-10C. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, 23SEP2015.

Dedication at Lewiston-Nez Perce Regional Airport. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, 23SEP2015.

Even the Lewiston police had to get involved. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, 23SEP2015.

Even the firefighters love A-10Cs? Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, 23SEP2015.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, 23SEP2015.

The city nose art is on the right/starboard side, only.

Idaho Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant John Winn, 23SEP2015.

NATO TURKEY LOCKS-DOWN U.S. LED NATO BASE! HALTS IDAHO A-10C AIRSTRIKES AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE!

PROOF THE A-10 THUNDERBOLT WAS TO REMAIN A USAF MAINSTAY UNTIL 2040: TAXPAYERS SPENT MORE THAN $2-BILLION ON UPGRADES!

Martial Law 2014: OBAMA REGIME TO STEAL WHAT IS LEFT OF IDAHO AIR NATIONAL GUARD’S AIR ASSETS!

2012 POCATELLO AIRPORT: IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD A-10C THUNDERBOLT 2

Kit Bashing

Nebraska KC-135 Teenaged Nose Art

Video

Nebraska Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mary Thach, 08AUG2015.

“I consider myself an artist. I’ve been taking art ever since elementary school and into high school. I’ve been doing a lot of shows, school conferences, art districts and open theater.”-Mariah Harm

In 2015, then Stapleton (population just over 300) High School senior Mariah Harm designed artwork for the Nebraska Air National Guard’s Community Nose Art Program, which ended up on a KC-135R Stratotanker of the 155th Air Refueling Wing.

“That is to represent how business and agriculture come together. In Stapleton, that’s a big deal. Agriculture and business are a big part of our little town. I chose the silhouette of the horses in the background because we do a lot of horse work and cattle work. One of the main parts of my design was a handshake, because the symbolism of a handshake is equality, trust, it’s a fair deal. It shows everybody that you’re working to do (some) good.”

Of course it doesn’t hurt that Mariah’s father started the Nebraska Community Nose Art Program, 11 years prior.

Nebraska Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Mary Thach, 08AUG2015.

Nebraska Air National Guard video, from 2011, explaining the Community Nose Art Program:

Nose Art: TENNESSEE KC-135 NOSE ART

Kit Bashing, Technology

Snoopy RC-135S Cobra Ball Nose Art

Image

“The ball represents the Earth, the purple part with the star is the missile coming up from the earth and the snake, which represents the aircraft, is protecting the Earth.”-Rick Brown, retired U.S. Air Force

Jerrica Skipper, from Mississippi, designed The Ball. U.S. Air Force photo by Delanie Stafford, 23JAN2018.

RC-135S Cobra Ball, invasion of Iraq, April 2003. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Stan Parker.

C-17 NOSE ART

USAF WINS FEMALE RECRUITS WITH BABY C-17

Kit Bashing, U.S.

USAF wins female recruits with Baby C-17, Kawaii!

Image

U.S. Air Force photo by Michael Dukes, 20MAR2018.

On 20MAR2018, the 11th Annual Joint Base Charleston Women in Aviation Career Day appealed to the mothering instincts of female recruits by tempting them with a baby C-17 Globemaster-3.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Shane Ellis, 02JUL2016.

Size comparison between real C-17 and ‘baby’ C-17, on Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, England, July 2016.  It was the first time Baby C-17 had been outside the United States.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Stephen D. Schester, 16APR2016.

Here’s the baby C-17 at March Air Reserve Base, California, in April 2016.

USAF photo by Michael Dukes, 20MAR2018.

The U.S. Air Force also tempted females with presentations by female Airmen who used Cabbage Patch dolls (for some reason).

Kit Bashing:

MODEL KIT EC-130J GETS SPECIAL HANDLING BY NATIONAL GUARD!

USAF photo by Airman First Class Thomas Charlton.

WORLD’S LARGEST C-141B STARLIFTER MODEL?

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, Kit Bashing

“unprecedented brick and mortar retail disruption”: U.S. retail/banking/service sector collapse, February 2018

Incomplete list of U.S. retail/banking/service sector job loss WARNings and store shutdowns made or announced in February 2018:

British empire United Kingdom based luxury clothier Charlotte Olympia now chapter 11 bankrupt busted in the United States, blaming an “unprecedented brick and mortar retail disruption” affecting its stores in California, Nevada and New York.  But don’t blame online sales because there is an Official Charlotte Olympia Online Store.

Germany based Deutsche Bank suddenly began eliminating hundreds of jobs globally, including jobs in the United States, as part of a plan to impose ‘cost discipline’ due to crashing revenues.

Arizona: In Phoenix, antique store/vendor rental space Zinnias shutdown.

 California: In Modesto, after 23 years Buy Right shutdown for its second and possibly final time, and for the second time it’s because a greedy landlord kicked them out, this time the owners of the popular thrift store did not say they were looking for a new location. Local Modesto news media reported a sudden increase in landlords jacking up rent.  Prudential-Jackson National Life Insurance laid off 161 people in El Segundo, admitting the layoff was planned back in August 2017!  Los Angeles based retailer of those dumb-ass looking wide leg jeans, JNCO Jeans, shutting down all nationwide ops when the inventory is gone (the company actually died several years ago, but some idiot tried rebooting it in 2017). In San Diego, after 125 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) iconic Jessop Jewelers shutdown.  In San Francisco, after 28 years Costumes on Haight shutting down in March, the new manager blames increased operating costs.  Calexico JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.  WP Payroll Management issued a shutdown WARN for its Los Angeles location, 113 jobs gone by May!  The Ritz-Carlton issued a temporary shutdown WARN for its Truckee location, 236 jobs gone mid-April!  In Anaheim, Gateway One Lending and Finance eliminating 24 jobs by April.  In the City of Industry, Artistree laying off 104 people by April!  What automotive industry recovery? Car dealer Infiniti of Riverside issued a shutdown WARN, 25 jobs gone by the end of March.   What housing market recovery?  Apartment manager Irvine Company suddenly laid off 63 employees, and reclassified 17 positions according to news reports (their official WARN says 80 jobs gone), as part of its plan to refine “long-term apartment communities”.

Colorado:  Prudential-Jackson National Life Insurance shutting down its 20 years old tech center in Denver, 370 jobs gone! 

Florida:  In Tampa, Prudential-Jackson National Life Insurance eliminating 41 jobs mid-March.  In Saint Petersburg, Transamerica Life Insurance eliminating 465 jobs by mid-April!

Georgia: In Macon, after 40 years Chi-chester’s Gifts shutdown due to crashing sales.

Idaho: After 40 years the owners of the two Porter’s Crafts & Frames stores (in Rexburg and Idaho Falls) forced to retire due to health problems, they’re trying to get a friend from New Jersey to buy the Rexburg property, the stores are shutting down when the inventory is gone.

Illinois: Lord & Taylor shutdown its clothing store in the Oakbrook Center, and is shutting down its store in Westfield Old Orchard Mall in April.  Sandburg Mall JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.  In Geneva, after ten years Antiques on State shutting down in April, due to crashing sales.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down six of its Carson’s stores and one Bergner’s, in total 4-hundred jobs gone by May!  In Normal, after 47 years Guitar World shutdown, the owner saying even music lessons have been affected by the internet: “We went from over 105 lessons when we came here nine years ago, to 30 or less. So I mean, the market is changing, the people who are doing this have changed. So it’s what you have to do with all online, God bless the internet.”-Jim Bland

Indiana: Walmart issued a shutdown WARN for its store in Rushville, 95 jobs gone by mid-April.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down five of its Carson’s stores, in total 306 jobs gone by the end of April!

Iowa: Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down two of its Younkers stores.  Too Big to Jail Goldman Sachs issued a shutdown WARN for its Cedar Rapids office, 39 jobs gone by May.  Also in Cedar Rapids, Transamerica Life Insurance eliminating 863 jobs by mid-April!   What housing market recovery?  In Des Moines, Nationwide-Mortgage eliminating 54 jobs by April.

Kentucky: Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down the Elder Beerman store in Paducah.  Also in Paducah, New York & Company Outlet shutdown.

Maryland:  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its store in Hagerstown.  In Baltimore, Transamerica Life Insurance eliminating 55 jobs by mid-April.

Massachusetts: Clothier Artwear shutting down in March, the owner stated “Retailers have been hit hard this year. I can’t predict what 2018 will bring and so I have decided that I cannot keep the store open any longer.”

Michigan:Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down the Elder Beerman store in Adrian, a Younkers in Marquette and a Carson’s in Benton Harbor (Bon-Ton did not indicate how many jobs lost in its official WARN).

Minnesota: Eagan based Sun Country Airlines suddenly eliminated 350 ground crew jobs by outsourcing them to a cheapo contractor, Sun Country workers had one week to beg the contractor to hire them (at less pay and probably no benefits, for the same work)!  Viking Plaza JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down the Herberger’s Clearance Center store in Maplewood, 20 jobs gone in April.  In West Duluth, after 35 years Video Vision shutdown.  Toys R Us issued a shutdown WARN for its store in Roseville, 30 jobs gone in April.

Missouri: Hampton Village Plaza JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.

Montana: In Billings, Big Bear Sports Center is now officially dead.  It’s been shutdown since November because a man drove his SUV into the store, then began trading gunshots with police.  Police used tear-gas, and water and gas lines in the store were damaged, the suspect was killed.  The store owners were hoping to repair the store but apparently it’s not going to happen.

New Hampshire: Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its store in Concord.

New Jersey: Hotel operator Wyndham Worldwide Operations eliminating 134 jobs in Parsippany, mid-April! Walmart shutting down its Route 22 Readington (Branchburg) store, 149 jobs gone by mid-April, due to “financial performance”!  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its store in Phillipsburg.  Garden State Plaza JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.  After more than 30 years the family owned gun shop known for supporting local charities, Sportsman’s Rendezvous, shutdown, the family is moving to Florida.   After 27 years, and three location changes, The Big Little Railroad Shop shutdown due to the sudden collapse of the sale of the store: “I had been working with someone for at least a year-and-a-half who was going to purchase the store. I’d work two days, he’d work three and vice versa, and all of the sudden on Memorial Day, he just walked out of here.”-Jen Lush, co-owner

New Mexico: Gertrude Zachary shutdown its antique store In Albuquerque, but the owners claim a new type of store will take its place.

New York: NYC based Barnes & Noble eliminating an undisclosed number of cashiers and digital product associates, due to crashing sales.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its stores in Massena, Watertown and Queensbury.  In Brooklyn, Horseman Antiques shutting down due to the building being sold-off for $18-million USD.  Toys R Us-Babies R Us issued shutdown WARNs for six stores, at least 285 jobs gone between mid-March and mid-April!  Sterling National Bank issued mass-layoff WARN for multiple locations, at least 140 jobs lost between April and Xmas!  California based GAP shutting down its Banana Republic corporate operations in NYC,  112 jobs lost due to consolidation ops back to California!

North Carolina: Charlotte based Japanese Toyota NASCAR driving BK Racing now chapter 11 bankrupt busted due to $8-million USD of debt. Charlotte based retailer Belk suddenly laid off 58 managers across the U.S.  In Durham, sexist female boutique Liberation Threads shutdown after a year, the owners saying “…as we move into 2018, there’s a sea change happening.” 

Ohio: Non-profit tenant advocate Cleveland Tenants Organization shutdown due to lack of funding.   In Greenville, after 25 years Club 7 Sports up for sale, the owners want to retire.  Knox Village Square JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.  In Columbus, after more than 40 years Romanoff’s Classic Tuxedos shutting down.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its Elder Beerman store in Defiance, 41 jobs gone.  In Cleveland Heights, after 27 years toy and joke store Big Fun shutting down when the inventory is gone, the owner bemoaned “I call Amazon our kryptonite…. they need to shop local.”

Oklahoma:  Washington Park Mall JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.

Oregon: Nordstrom shutting down its 37 years old store in the Salem Center Mall, 130 jobs gone by April!

Pennsylvania: In Narberth, after 105 years (surviving The Great Depression and several recessions) Ricklin’s Hardware shutdown so the owners can retire.   Janitorial service company Compass Group eliminating six jobs in April.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down eight of its stores!  Macy’s issued a shutdown WARN for its Homestead store, 94 jobs gone by mid-April.  Limerick Furniture and Mattress shutting down its store in the Fairgrounds Square Mall, due to increased competition and increased operating costs.  After 40 years, Dave Phillips Music & Sound shutdown its Allentown location blaming internet shopping.  In Exton, Transamerica Life Insurance outsourcing 192 jobs by mid-April!  Administrators claim in-house employees were offered jobs with the contractor at the same pay, having personally experienced outsourcing of some of my past jobs I find that hard to believe.

South Carolina: What housing market recovery?  Created out of the 2008 financial meltdown Movement Mortgage suddenly laid off 75 people, administrators blamed the sudden layoffs on ‘improvements’ to their lending process.

Texas: In Houston, after 16 years music venue Walter’s Downtown suddenly shutdown.

Utah: Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its Herberger’s store in Logan.

Vermont: Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its store in South Burlington.

Virginia: Clothier PacSun shutting down its store in the River Ridge Mall, in May.  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down its Elder Beerman store in Vienna.

Washington:Cascade Mall JCPenney shutting down by mid-May.

West Virginia: Shoe seller Finish Line shutting down its store in the Charleston Town Center.   Speaking of Charleston Town Center, it is now under control of a real estate group after the original owners defaulted on a $100-million USD loan.

Wisconsin: Prudential-Jackson National Life Insurance laid off an additional 23 employees in Appleton.   In Manitowoc, after 67 years LLoyd’s Photo & Digital shutdown, the owner lamenting “…our bread and butter was prints.”  Chapter 11 bankrupt Bon-Ton shutting down six of its Younkers stores, two Boston Stores and an Elder Beerman! In Mequon, after 27 years Xenia Gallery shutting down in March.

Wyoming: in Cheyenne, after 49 years City News and Pipe Shop shutdown, the owners say the crash in magazine and newspaper sales is a final sign that it’s time to retire.  In Casper, Seconds on First Street shutdown after 16 years of consignments.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

OBAMA LEGACY: U.S. APPAREL INDUSTRY DEATH-SPIRAL

U.S. RETAIL/BANKING/SERVICE SECTOR COLLAPSE, January 2018: “THERE’S A FEELING OF LOSS…MAYBE I’LL GO GET A REAL JOB.”

SEARS KMART DEATH SPIRAL, February 2018: “MONOTONOUS”

U.S. INDUSTRIAL/MINING/LOGISTICS LAYOFFS, February 2018: “NO REASONABLE OPTION BUT….DEACTIVATION”

Dumbing Down the U.S.A., February 2018:“PORCH MONKEY”

U.S. HI-TECH/COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN, February 2018: “I DIDN’T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY….”

U.S. government shenanigans, February 2018: “I NEED TO PAY HIGHER TAXES.”

U.S. food crisis, February 2018: “I’M NOT SURE WE CAN SUPPORT ALL THESE STORES. OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN’T.”

ObamaCare ACA death spiral, February 2018: “WE ARE IN VERY CHALLENGING TIMES.”

DRUGS, THE AMERICAN WAY, FEBRUARY 2018: “TEACHING KIDS ABOUT THE HARM OF DRUGS…DOESN’T REALLY WORK.” 

Kit Bashing, Reviews

1/600 USS Iowa Class Kits: Aurora, Monogram, Otaki, Revell. An appeal to Airfix!

Image

I am disappointed with Ship Craft 17 Iowa Class Battleships, while it is still a good overview for somebody just getting into building the iconic battleships it doesn’t pack the information that the excellent Ship Craft 16 Hipper Class Ships does, and in the same number of pages.

Ship Craft 17

Ship Craft 17 (copyright 2012 Seaforth Publishing) fails in, among other areas, the kit review section, primarily in the 1:500 through 1:600 range. It also fails to mention the 1:350 scale Revell kit so I’ll mention it here; stay away from that kit as it is a revised version of the inaccurate Otaki-Life Like Hobbies kit first issued as a World War-2 Missouri in 1971 (revised in 1983 to look like a modernized ship, before being sold to Revell who’s been revising-reissuing it ever since, it was even issued under the Monogram label in the 1990s).  Recently Revell-Germany re-issued it with a mass of aftermarket parts to make it look better, but the result is that you have to spend a crap-load of money and end up doing even more work on a kit to make it resemble a ‘modern’ Iowa Class ship.

1:665 to 1:535 Iowa Class Kits

I’m a fan of 1:600 scale battleships because they’re small enough you can display a lot of them on a single bookshelf and are still big enough that your guests don’t go blind looking at your handy-work.  Plus, they were basically the only battleship kits I could get my hands on as a kid in the 1970s.  Because the highly praised Ship Craft series failed to discuss these kits, and because I’m amazed at the high prices kit sellers on the internet are demanding for them, I feel compelled to do my own review of these now ancient, and unfortunately crappy kits.

Iowa Class=Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, Wisconsin

The first offender is Revell’s 1:535 offering.  First released in 1953, terrible, inaccurate, does not come with water-screws (propellers) but has one rudder (the real ship has two rudders).  Hull bow incorrectly angled, aft end of hull shaped like a step-pyramid. Wood planks on deck represented by continuous raised lines. Anti-aircraft .50 cal guns represented by molded-on crucifixes. Molded on life boats in the upside down position.  Blocky looking Seahawk float-planes. The decals for the ship’s hull number are the large ‘shadowed’ post World War-2 type, yet the kit is supposed to be the World War-2 version.  Amazingly Revell repeatedly re-issues the crappy kit, and for some odd reason people are willing to pay high prices for it.  To make things more confusing, in the mid-1990s Revell began using the original artwork for Monogram’s 1:665 (16 inch) Missouri for its 1:535 Missouri.

Aurora’s 1:600 offering was first released in 1957 (Ship Craft 17 says “in the early 1960’s”), it looks like a scaled down version of Revell’s 1:535 kit. The hull bow has the same angle and the stern has the same stepped pyramid shape, except Aurora gives you four propellers.  The propellers are incorrect as they have three blades per screw, the real ship has four bladed screws outboard and five bladed screws inboard.  You get one big ugly rudder.  The deck detailing is similar to Revell’s except for recessed wood plank lines (which are also continuous/unbroken) and molded on solid railing.  The life boats are molded separate, the Seahawks look better than Revell’s.  The main gun turrets look like scaled down Revell turrets. Interestingly the Aurora kits are the only ones in this review that provide boarding ladders, but there is no mention of them in the instructions.

Vietnam New Jersey

From the mid-1960s to mid-1970s Aurora used some excellent artwork on their boxes.  For the Iowa Class ships the artist actually did a better job representing the ships than the kit itself.  The Missouri is painted in its post World War-2/Korean War guise, still bristling with anti-aircraft guns but minus its Seahawk float-planes.  The Iowa also looks to be depicted as post World War-2/Korea, and the New Jersey (the best artwork of the bunch in my opinion) is in its Vietnam War livery with the big rectangular ECM box on its forward tower, and a helicopter pad on its aft deck (unfortunately the artist failed to mount the big antenna on the bow).   Regardless of the box artwork each kit is the same World War-2 version, yet the decals for the ship’s hull numbers are the large ‘shadowed’ post World War-2 type (World War-2 hull numbers were small with no ‘shadowing’).

Monogram (not mentioned in Ship Craft 17) entered the Iowa Class race in 1976 with issues of Missouri, New Jersey and Wisconsin (in that order).  THEY ARE NOT RE-ISSUES OF AURORA KITS, OR REVELL KITS!  Also, I’ve seen them listed as 1:600 scale, they are a smaller 1:665 scale.  The odd scale is the result of Monogram deciding to issue battleship kits based on a standard 16-inch (40cm) hull (as stated on the box), rather than a ‘constant scale’.  The hull has the best looking bow of the bunch, even has the three ‘eyes’ for anchors and cables, however, there are mysterious vertical lines along the hull sides (the real ships have noticeable horizontal lines down the length of the hull), and the stern is still incorrectly shaped.  You get four propellers but they’re all four bladed.  The most accurate looking parts of this kit are the two rudders and the excellent looking secondary gun turrets-guns (which are the same size as 1:600 scale Aurora/Otaki).  Amazingly for a late 1970s issued kit the deck looks like it came right outta the 1950s (which might explain why some people think its a revised issue of the Revell or Aurora kits), it even has the raised wood deck lines and crucifix .50 caliber machine guns similar to Revell’s.  There are two Kingfisher float-planes and the hull number decals are the small WW-2 type, yet the main mast looks like the type fitted after WW-2.

In 1984 Japan’s Otaki issued a 1:600 scale motorized version of a modern Iowa Class ship (not mentioned in Ship Craft 17).  In the mid-1980s Otaki became Arii and it was issued under that label.  It has been ripped-off and issued by Korea’s Kangnam and China’s Lee (aka C.C. Lee, aka Shanghai C.C.Lee Model Company).  It is currently issued by Japan’s MicroAce (the new Arii). From here on out I’ll refer to this kit as The Asian Kit.  The kit is totally lacking in detail, and even though the hull and deck size is similar to Aurora’s 1:600 hull/deck the main gun turrets are as big as the bigger Revell kit’s turrets.  The helicopters are crappy, the Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers are a bad joke, the secondary gun turrets are chunks with stubs for guns, the Phalanx gatling gun systems are fat and missing the barrels.  The life boats are huge. The stern of the hull is close to being accurate, but the propellers are all four bladed, you get two rudders.  The kit is not worth the full U.S. MSRP (Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price) that the majority of internet sellers demand.

Here’s more depressing news;  Main Gun Turrets-Guns: Aurora’s turrets are the smallest yet resemble Revell’s, also the guns are as big as The Asian Kit’s.  The Asian Kit’s turrets are almost as big in diameter as Revell’s, they are devoid of detailing, except for recessed ladders. Revell’s main gun tubes will not fit into Revell’s turrets.  Monogram’s turrets are slightly bigger than Aurora’s, the guns look the most accurate, are the same diameter as the 1:600 scale kits, but shorter in length, the anti-aircraft gun enclosures on the top of the turrets are the wrong shape.

Superstructure: All kits lack detailing. The Asian Kit is the worst offender completely devoid of details, it is molded separately and look like that ancient underwater ‘structure’ known as Yonaguni Submarine Ruins.

Here’s some pictorial evidence to back up accusations against the offenders (click each pic to view more in the full-sized image):

There’s no excuse for Revell’s continuous re-issuing of their crappy kit (in fact they’ve just re-issued it again). You’d think with the merging of Revell and Monogram, in the 1990s, they’d issue the better Monogram kit. It should be noted that Monogram’s 16 inch Iowa kits were rarely issued (for some unknown reason), along with Monogram’s 16 inch Bismarck/Tirpitz (which works out to about 1:615/17 scale, a 1:600 scale Bismarck hull is approximately 16 & 3/8th inches long). I remember reading an article, many years ago, that was talking about a train derailment and fire that destroyed many of the Aurora molds that had just been purchased by Monogram.  I believe it happened in 1979, the Monogram 16 inch battleship kits were originally issued between 1976 and 1978.  It would make sense that they were never issued again if their molds were also destroyed in that train fire, and it would explain why both the Monogram and Aurora kits command high prices on the internet, however, I’ve seen issues of the Monogram 1:665 (16 inch) Iowa kits in 1990s style boxes, and even the original late 1970s boxes but with 1990s style Skill Level 2 stickers on the shrink-wrap (you can’t trust the copyright date on boxes as being indicative of when that particular kit was issued).

Regarding Ship Craft 17, it’s still a great starting point for learning about the ship and has enough information in the text that you’d realize there isn’t, as yet, a model kit in any scale of the Iowa Class that doesn’t have some discrepancy (which is amazing considering the historical importance of the world’s last and best battleships).

It would take a lot of work to correct the old American kits.  The Asian Kit’s near total lack of detail has an advantage; it makes it easier to detail-up with aftermarket parts and scratch building, you could even back date it to Vietnam, Korea or WW-2.  There are plenty of aftermarket photo etched sets for 1:600 Fast U.S. Battleships, and a company called Model Monkey is producing 1:600 scale 3D printed ‘correction’ parts, including an early WW2 rounded bridge for the New Jersey.

I end this review by appealing to Hornby-Airfix to produce a new line of 1:600 scale Iowa Class ships, including options for World War-2, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm.

ITALERI 1:720 DEUTSCHLAND, LUTZOW, SCHEER & GRAF SPEE

Kit Bashing

Falling Down: U.S. model kit/railroad hobby demise, 2016-17

Incomplete list of U.S. model kit/hobby shop, retail/wholesale industry shutdowns from 2016 through 2017:

“The local hobby shop was closed up….No big deal, I thought….I can always go to another. Wrong. When I looked, every hobby shop within 50 miles of my house had been closed.”

California: After 45 years brick-n-mortar chain store, as well as mail order and online retailer, Hobby People (formerly Hobby Shack) suddenly shutdown, possibly in connection to the founder’s death although many fans say quality of service had been in decline, and the company ‘lost’ some of its in-house brands.  In Palm Desert, the owner of popular Uncle Don’s Hobbies was found laying on the side of a road, dead.  His hobby shop had been robbed of merchandise, including RC (drone) electronics, months earlier.  In Goleta (Santa Barbara), California Hobbies was robbed of RC (drone) monster trucks, it was caught on video.   News reports out of Long Beach report that local hobby shops are being repeatedly robbed, the burglars are targeting RC (drone) electronics.

Colorado:  In Denver, Guinness Book certified as the world’s largest model train store in 2014, Caboose Hobbies shutdown after 65 years because the owner wants to retire.  At one time the model train store employed 60 people!

Idaho:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, November 2014.

After first going up for sale at the end of 2014, then making one last attempt to stay alive in 2015 (by moving to a much smaller location), Southeast Idaho’s once iconic Dapco Hobbies finally died, and nobody noticed.  More details in Model-Land Deaths; 2013-15.

Illinois:    In Bloomington, after 63 years Hobbyland shutdown after a failed attempt to sell the store.

Indiana:  Granger Hobby Stop shutdown after 18 years, the owner says he never recovered from the 2008 recession.

Massachusetts:  In Brocktown, after six years Hogie’s Hobbies shutdown, but continues to run its model railroad museum.  The owner blames customers for his hobby shop shutdown saying for the month of December he had a measly $5-hundred USD in sales: “There’s a lot of people downtown, but they don’t spend their money downtown. The whole atmosphere for people actually shopping here is not here.”-Bill Hogan

Michigan: In Detroit, after 70 years iconic Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop shutdown, the owners admitting that even though they beat-out the ‘big-box’ competition they just couldn’t “adapt” to online competition.  In Bridgeport,  after 23 years hobby shop Junction Valley Railroad announced on Facebook “Due to declining sales, we are being forced to close the Hobby Shop Doors! 
Our final day open will be October 31, 2017!”

Montana: In Great Falls, after more than 25 years Hobby Land shutdown, the owner said she was ready to retire.

New Hampshire: In West Lebanon, Hobbies ’N’ Stuff/Valley Art Suppliers evicted by the the Grafton County Sheriff at the request of the landlord. The owner of the hobby shop told customers he had to shutdown due to health problems, but the landlord’s civil complaint said the owner hadn’t paid the rent for months (more than $10-thousand USD worth).

New Jersey: After 48 years Jackson Hobby Shop put up for sale due to the owner’s health problems.  If it doesn’t sell it’ll be shutdown.  Shadow Hobbies was robbed of thousands of dollars worth of stuff, including RC (drone) electronics, it was caught on video. 

New York: After 31 years Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart shutdown due to crashing sales: “We can’t compete on price with the national chains or an internet-only site. But you can’t stand inside the internet and ask to open a package or put a locomotive on a test track and see it run.”-John S. Kavulich

North Carolina: In business since 1968 the owners of the two story The Antique Barn and Hobby Shop blame declining sales caused by internet competition, plus Mother Earth’s climate change, for their demise: “We were making money, but it’s going down. Ten years ago it was thriving and 18 years ago we were a victim of Floyd and we had 7 feet of water in here for a couple of weeks. So we started from scratch again and of course, we had two more 500-year floods this past year, Matthew and in April this one that didn’t even have a name…”

Ohio: After 40 years John’s Hobby Shop shutdown so the owner could retire.

Oklahoma: Christian Evangelical Hobby Lobby caught illegally importing more than 5-thousand artifacts from The Middle East.  The top illegal artifact dealer in The Middle East is Islamic State (DAIISH).  Hobby Lobby admits most of those illegally acquired artifacts were meant to be displayed in their massive Biblical Museum in Washington DC.

Pennsylvania:   After 33 years J&C Hobbies shutdown so the owners could take a “proper vacation”.

Rhode Island: AA Hobby Shop was hit by burglars who apparently didn’t steal anything, it was caught on video. 

Texas: A San Antonio Hobby Town was robbed by a man armed with brass knuckles.  Police say the man seemed obsessed with RC vehicles (drones).

Utah: Police captured burglars when they tried to sell the stolen goods, including RC (drone) kits burgaled from a hobby shop in Sandy, on the OfferUp app.

In Canada: R.I.P. Niagara Central Hobbies

MODEL-LAND ‘DEATHS’, 2013-15!

Car and Driver: Where Have All the Hobby Stores Gone?

MARTIAL LAW U.S.A.: RC MODEL PLANES NOW CONSIDERED ‘DRONES’ MUST BE REGISTERED WITH OBAMA REGIME!