No way to get Trumpeter parts

Blue Ridge Models available from Free-Time Hobbies.com makes a splendid 3D printed resin 20mm single and twin 1:350 gun which includes integral splinter shield, shoulder rests, ammo magazine and handwheel. The barrels are delicate and scale. They come 24 to a substrate for a tad over $20, but they really save your sanity (at least it saved mine). They're very delicate and care must be taken in separating the part from the base on which they're grown.

Here's a comparison between the kit 20s with PE and the Blue Ridge product. Putting the PE on these small things is very annoying for me.

The kit 20s look like a 5" canon. And each of those assemblies took 15 or more minutes and the Essex had 50 of them.

"The other dealer, Stevens International, ignored me after saying they would 'see what they could do.'"

Back in 2016 I ordered two hull halves of the Trumpeter 1/350 USS New York BB-34 kit #05339. (I was going to attempt to do something I'd seen on YouTube but thought I might ruin the hull parts so I ordered two more just in case).

I emailed Stevens International and received a reply from Laura Carney. She asked me to supply her with information that would prove that I ordered the kit from one of their customers and I did so. I then received the parts - no problem.

I'm just adding this information so that they get a fair shake.

Here's the original email to them:

 -----Original Message-----

From: Michael Stolting [mailto:.....................................]

Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 6:50 PM

To: info@stevenshobby.com

Subject: Trumpeter 1/350 USS New York BB-34 kit #05339

 Dear Sir/Madam,

How much $ and how long would it take to get the hull halves of the above referenced kit? They are parts #1 and #2 on sprue "A".

Thanks in advance for your prompt attention to this question.

Sincerely yours,

Michael de Mare Stolting

Hi;

 Well , I am glad you worked that out . Now as an R.C operator I have to ask .What in the world are you doing this to a 1/200 plastic model for ? I do it to plastic models , true , But the smallest is 1/72 and the largest is 1/96 .

 Yes , most are scratch-built using Evergreen and Plastruct styrene materials . I mean , let's face it  , they don't make the " Conti Belgica " container - ship in anything but the one that was made by Wilhemshaven in paper at 1/250 .

 At 1/96 the " Conti " is nine and a half feet long ! All small parts such as you mention are cast in resin or scratch - built with presence and not detail , in mind .  T.B.

This is who I contacted:

joanna@trumpeter-china.com

That may come in handy at some point. I tried to get a decal sheet for them at one time, no dice. What is their email for future purposes?

A bit of an update to this.  After doing some searching, I found a Trumpeter email address for someone in customer service there, and contacted them about parts.  Through them, I was able to specify a couple of parts trees and a few photoetch groups and have them shipped from China.  The shipping was fairly reasonable, and the individual part trees/pe weren't bad on price.

Here is a picture: https://ibb.co/nkZ7ho. With the right person to contact, you can get spare parts in the end.  Also, my second idea (if this didn't work) was to try and message them through Facebook (:/), so perhaps that might work as well?

BTW: That picture is after I unwrapped everything.  It was all very well packed and protected.

I have experience with Hornby (for Airfix) and Tamiya customer service departments.  Both were great.  I think the PRC companies will figure it out when it starts hitting them in the wallet especially as their kits become expensive. I think it is a natural process in a company‘s growth if they want to become globally dominant and challenge the likes of Tamiya, Hasegawa, and Eduard.

Tracy White

 

 

vipe155

why is it so hard to get parts from a manufacturer like Trumpeter?

 

 

I'll take "they are a Chinese company who does not care about the customer after they have their money" for $200 Alex!

 

Exactly. Trumpeter/Hobbyboss has ZERO customer service. 

vipe155

why is it so hard to get parts from a manufacturer like Trumpeter?

I'll take "they are a Chinese company who does not care about the customer after they have their money" for $200 Alex!

I don't have a problem doing that, but obviously these parts are small.  I tried getting some thermoplastic and making a mold of a good 20mm AA single mount, but the ersult wasn't good enough to make a part out of.

3D printing would be great, but what is available on Shapeways is more detailed and intricate than I want.  I'm fine with the less detailed stock parts.

I get what you're saying about pulling a good kit apart, but I'm talking about a damaged return, or something that fell off the truck.  I wouldn't expect Squadron to rip apart a good kit for me.  Trumpeter can make as many copies of parts as they want, and I would pay for them.

Why don’t you make your own replacements? Assuming they aredetail parts, not major structural ones.

You are correct- rc stuff needs to be robust. Aircraft flyers have a motto, “if you fly it you will crash it”.

Boat models a little different, but there’s a lot of handling involved.

Hmmm. 

 I have never tried Trumpeter's customer service . Although I have had Outstanding results from Eduard . Keep trying , but , remember what you are asking is somewhat unusual for a company to respond to .

 They would have to ask someone in packaging/inspection to take thos parts off sprues and send them to you .

 Their view . Okay we do that . What the %6&& do we do with the rest of the kit ,it won't be complete now ?