Monthly Issues

[Charles NicholasParticipant @charlesnicholas30689]

Sometime ago I took out a subscription with HACHETTE PARTWORK LTD for the supply of approximate 4 issues per monthly of BUILD THE BISMARCK. I have so far recahed up to issue 35 with further 4 issues on the way, I am finding that this is far too slow and it is going to take me some months to finish the the whole project. However, can someone tell me if I am able to obtain future issues, say possibly 10 issues at a time, from some other Company/s without incurring extra cost.

I have already approached Hachette Partworks Ltd about this problem and all they are able to tell me that it does not fall in with their present system.

Thank you

Charles Nicholas

[Archibald MainstreamParticipant @archibaldmainstream22940]

I think you will find the people on subscription from newsagents are only a couple of issues ahead. Hachette are the only people doing this partwork as they publish it.

Daryl

[Pete ThompsonParticipant @petethompson59257]

You can only buy this series from Hachette as it is not a commercially available kit.

It’s the nature of all partworks that you collect on the basis that the series is set out, this series runs to 140 issues so in theory if you get the mag on a weekly basis it will be 140 weeks before you get to complete the model,  in old money is just short of 3yrs!

The only twist of the knife to this is that those who get the mag from a newsagent are slightly in front of the subscribers as the current isssue is 42, so it appears as a loyal subscriber you are penalised which dont make sense!

So, it looks like your in for the long haul and on there terms if you want to complete this model!

Its a hell of a long time to be waiting to complete a model, hope its worth it!

[ManxmanParticipant @manxman]

Hi Charles,

My partner at work is also subscribing to this kit.  His method is, as each batch of 4 issues arrive, has a quick check of the parts and then "files" them – he’s not intending to start the build until he has all the issues.  When you think about it, its a great idea, as any problems or part changes would have been sorted out,  also you have other problems solved on forums by other builders.  (1 problem was how to seal the inside of the hull on Martins build (Mayhem).  While he’s collecting the issues, he’s working on another model.

Do you read German ? – if so you could order your issues from there, as they are well ahead of us (current issue 67).

The kit builds into what looks like a well worth the wait model.  for a look into the future have a look at one of the German sites.

http://www.subifa.de/heftvorschau/die_bismarck_aktuell.htm

Cheers – Ken

[Pete ThompsonParticipant @petethompson59257]

If you bought any other retail item that was later discovered to have problems then surely you would march it straight back??

Looking around the model forums it seems that most of these collect a bit each week series are frought with questionable problems that surface in one form or another be it in supply, design, component manufacture or build instructions!

Whats worse is that with Xmas looming I suspect there will be a flood of them on TV over the festive period as thats the time these things seem to prey on our hard earned disposable income, one thing they are not is value for money!

[ManxmanParticipant @manxman]

I agree with you Peter, they are not good value for money, costing £687.12 for the kit and I’m not sure if this includes the radio and running gear (I seem to remember this was an extra option which had to be decided upon early in the build).

But not everyone has the option to lay out £700 for a kit in one go – buying it in instalments will allow many modellers to build and own a large model and learn a lot along the way.  As for the long build time, many modellers take in excess of 2 years or more to complete theirs, you only have to read the forums to confirm this.

Problems ! – they are to some builders, to others they are the enjoyable part of the build, trying to solve them. We would be lost without something to moan about.

Christmas time – again your right here, they are aimed at the Christmas shopper.  But we are to blame here. We read the blurp, watch the adverts and believing its all so simple without realising how limited our building skills are – they are not for beginners – but the ads make it seem all so easy.

Cheers – Ken

[Archibald MainstreamParticipant @archibaldmainstream22940]

Yes the R/C gear is extra at about £115. this partwork is certainly not for novices, a troll around the web will bring up lots of greif for anyone new to this.

 Hachette would make a nice tidy sum if they had a premium rate hotline for modellers who run up against problems, providing the person on the other end new what they were talking about. As for Jacklins whom the subscriber is supposed to ring, their expertise is somewhat lacking to put it midley.

[Pete ThompsonParticipant @petethompson59257]

Being able to spread the cost is not a bad idea as it no doubt suits many and its also likely to be one of the very reasons why they put these things on TV around Xmas.

I have to admit there clever marketing & hype seems to work well as I know my own newsagent appears shift loads of these weekly mags, but my thoughts on these mags has not swayed one iota, all you ever seem to read or hear about are problems or complaints.

They way I understand it is that these mags are supposed to make the build simple for the novice or idiot proof for want of another expression, and for £700+ there should be no problems with parts as the cost puts it into the high end league of retail model boat kits.

No doubt you can put right anything wrong yourself and like you say some see problems as a challenge, but many novices may give up the build and be put off future kit building if they find it hard going so hardly a good intro experience into kit building.

[Charles NicholasParticipant @charlesnicholas30689]

Many thanks Peter, yes I agree, and that was the reason why I took it up because am able to pay monthly.

The fault I can find is that they ship using second class mail and from the price we pay they ought to send everything first class mail.

The other problem is that am not able to talk to someone with authority, that is, not until I create hell, then some will talk to me.

Lastly, what iritate me is when I get transferred to their South Africa Office who are never able to answer any questions and always "will get someone to ring you back" – sometime.

Charles Nicholas

[Pete ThompsonParticipant @petethompson59257]

Is it really worth all the hassle??

[Charles NicholasParticipant @charlesnicholas30689]

Yes, I agree that it is not worth all the hasstle, but am afraid that I am stuck with it now. However, one thing is sure that I will not use this Company again

[Charles NicholasParticipant @charlesnicholas30689]

Build the Bismarck

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