It seems that my organizational skills have taken a serious turn for the worse – Well, maybe not completely, as it seems that I have done a better job organizing things that I didn’t have organized (before the move), but the things that I did have organized, have gone into disarray! Also, I thought that I had caught up on all my “lost” email messages, but I keep finding more, I’m hoping to be caught up 100% by the end of the week…

I am hoping that with the arrival of spring that things will start to fall back into shape, as I will again be able to resume work on the construction/organization of our workshop. Once I have this sorted out, we will be able to better streamline the production process. As for back office organization,- we are in-between about three different systems. Alison is still working on our database system, and in the meantime we are switching over to my new order entry/tracking system. The problem with my system is that it is split into two or three systems that are not neatly tied together (better than things were, but not quite right). With a bit more code, I should be able to tie the systems together – nothing like a little duct tape and baling wire to keep things running!

There has been some nice progress in the area of new releases – The Russo-Japanese War range is ready to release the Japanese figures (molds done and stock is in the stock bins). We also have several Scruby re-releases that are almost ready to go. First up, we have at least 5 SYW/AWI figures in 30mm waiting in the wings. These are backed up by the first of the 40mm SYW figures (Prussian, Standing Firing). Jumping to Medieval, we have two “lost” 30mm figures which have been “”found” and are nearly ready to release (Man at Arms, with Sword and Man at Arms with Axe). From here we slip into the Fantasy realm – The entire range is now in NEW molds, Additionally, we have added a second Goblin figure – Goblin, in Morion, with spear – 20mm tall as well as an additional Dwarf figure – Dwarf, with Sword – 25mm tall. In the works are some new Dwarves (more dwarf-like) – these (new Dwarf figures) are on the workbench now and should be completed by the end of the month. They will be cast without shields, and will be supplied with separate shields. The mounted Elf, mentioned last time is coming along – the base figure is nearly complete, and the modified ebob horse is progressing nicely (slowly, but nicely).

As soon as the new shipment of mold blanks arrives (any day now) We will begin the process of remaking the molds for the 28mm Spanish (American Revolution era). We will also resume work on the molds for the RJW – Russians and the WWI Bloodaxe figures. In April we will prepare the first of the new Bloodaxe Science Fiction figures (watch for more news as we get closer to production).

As a closing note, I’m looking for a few Scruby castings to aid in the “fixing” of masters or to use as a guide for the creation of missing parts. So, if anyone has a 25mm “maxim gun” we would like to borrow one for a week or two, so that the master can be properly repaired and so we can “get” this back into production. Another part that I’m looking for is the Musket for the 40mm SYW figures. The mold is in bad shape, and all of the muskets I have have already been attached to figures – I’d like to locate an unattached musket. Once I have one of these, I’ll be able to complete work on a few ore of the 40mm SYW figures (Id anyone happens to have any unassembled 40mm SYW figures, let me know – I’d like to borrow or purchase some of these, so I can be sure that I’m doing these correctly.

Time to draw this mid-month news update to a close – I’ll be attending the SYWA Convention on the 24th and 25th of the month, I’ll have some samples with me, so be sure to look me up and checkout some of the re-released Scruby figures.