Here's one for the history books.
There was a financial loss in the late seventies. It never made the news either. A start-up company was going to enter the Model scene. first venture was to be a ship. Well, the Molds Made by Tool and Die-Makers in Indiana Arrived safely at their destination. Unbeknownst to all is they had been dropped in transfer from one conveyance to another. This Damaged the guide pins enough that there was flash and mis-alignment issues, such that the molds could not be used.
Now Tool and Die-Makers were a well respected level of industry back in the day. Measure SIX times then Cut once. Remember their work had to be perfect(Or as perfect as a human or group of them) can make it. We're not talking wood here. We are talking about almost precious metals in the plastics industry! Molds weren't cheap. They were being done by NON - Computer operated facilities and was the norm. My Foster -Father was one of those Tool and Die-Makers I speak of. His Salary at the company he worked for allowed him to own his first Cadillac Before his retirement in the late seventies! That was a substantial amount back then!
The cosy of the machines the molds fit on were bad enough, To not be able to use molds that were six months in the creation stage was a real financial hit. Something like $475,000.00, for the three units. Two halves to each unit! Well, the ship never saw the light of day, that company went Bankrupt and it took twelve years to settle all the debt. Jobs Lost, Property lost and six months of Fine work and Dedication by the Tool and Die-Makers in Indiana for naught!
Have you ever really looked at an old model that was what we call awesome and wondered at the perfection in it. That's the translation of drawings into three dimensional carvings, In Metal ! In reverse! That's what Tool and Die-Makers did! My Foster assured me it didn't come easy to most folks and it was hard on the brain and the eyes! He Sat me down and showed me. One wheel half on a model car(The outside) took six and a half days. Cut, grind, Check under a magnifier, grind some more(Never taking off more than needed) until a nice shiny wheel face resided in that mold cavity!
So the next time you look at an old kit that's well molded, think of the (Men and Women) that made it possible. They were one of the trades that lost a lot to computerization. But my hat is off to those who were young enough to make the Change-Over to Computer guided machines. All those jobe now done by a machine that replaced two people at least, In some places more. The result of course is more detail in many more molded ways This too is an awesome change. But, Without Tool and Die-Makers many things would NOT Have seen the light of day. Celebrate the Pioneers always and forever!