About Flightline Engineering

PHILOSOPHY

Our aftermarket kits are designed in the latest 3D-CAD software, printed on the latest high-resolution 3D printers. Every kit is crafted to be both accurate to the original (within reason to both scale and manufacturing requirements) and easy to assemble for the intermediate to advanced modeler. We wish to provide the scale hobbyist the highest level of value per dollar spent, and our products' quality vs. price reflect this.

WHAT WE DO

Each of our products begins with thorough research. We then translate all available dimensions and drawings to a 3D-CAD file on a high-powered computer workstation. These digital files are then printed on a high-resolution 3D printer. The printed parts are then ready to use in your scale modeling project, and can be painted, sanded, or drilled, like any other resin aftermarket part. 

WHAT WE DON'T DO

As of late, we have seen a proliferation of garage resin casters stealing well-known manufacturers' model kit parts, making minor modifications, then selling copies while calling it their own work. Make no mistake, this is piracy, and theft of someone else's intellectual property. We at Flightline Engineering have a deep respect for other manufacturers' intellectual property. Consequently, we never re-cast another manufacturers' plastic or resin parts, or utilize their parts (whether in whole or in part) in any of our patterns. Every one of our patterns are built from the ground up as an original work.

We also won't sell junk. Nope. Never. No misprints. No poor castings, no bubble-laden, pitted, dirty, unusable blobs of resin. Other garage resin guys may be satisfied with selling sub-standard castings. We're not. Every part we sell is quality control checked before it is sent out. If we feel that any part is unusable for the average modeler, it goes straight into the trash.

MY MODELING BACKGROUND

Although I have been building scale models as a hobby since 2002, I was also employed for five years building and engineering industrial-grade, studio scale (3 to 6+ ft. long) models and multimedia model kits. These projects have included Hollywood motion picture filming miniature reproductions, destined for discriminating private collectors. These high dollar projects are typically a six to nine month long endeavor, and require extensive planning, 3D-CAD design, engineering, hand fabrication, and sophisticated electronics. The end result is nothing short of stunning. I have worn many hats at this job, including builder, fabricator, painter, machinist, resin caster, mold maker, pattern maker, and CAD designer.

How to Contact Us

Please contact us via the e-mail address shown below. Most inquiries are responded to within 24 hours (slightly longer during weekends and holidays).

All items are manufactured in, and ship from, Southern California, USA.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I see you're out of an item that I want to order. When will it become available again?

A: Restocking of items is largely dependent on demand, so if an item is "out of stock", it's probably because demand has dropped off considerably. I typically restock an item when I receive a sufficient number of new requests for the item. Your best bet in this case is to submit an inquiry and request to be placed on the "notify" list, and I will contact you as soon as the item is once again available for purchase.

Q: What is the difference between cast resin accessories, and your 3D printed resin accessories?

A. Cast resin accessories involve many steps, including producing master patterns, mold making, then labor-intensive resin casting. In contrast, 3D printed resin parts can be printed one-at-a-time, on an "on demand" basis, and require no added expense of mold making, etc.. This translates to lower cost to the modeler. It also means I can bring less popular, or more unique, subjects to the market. Recent technology has produced 3D printers which can print parts that rival any high-quality cast resin part. When working with 3D printed parts for your modeling project, the procedures and assembly glues are the same as any cast resin parts. Occasionally, some parts with large, smooth surfaces may require a light wet sanding to remove all traces of print resolution lines.

Q: I tried to contact you but you didn't respond. What happened?

A: There are generally only two reasons I'm not responding. Either I'm dead, or your contact e-mail address is bad. If you haven't heard back from me in a while, please re-send your e-mail, but include your alternate e-mail address in the correspondence. A possible third reason is that you misspelled our e-mail address in the “send to” field in your e-mail program.