Syren Ship Model Company News, Updates and Info.....(part 2)

[Chuck]

If Chris somehow decides not to produce those as a kit, I will absolutely do so.   This way folks can laser cut their own parts or cut them out the old fashioned way.   I would have to remake the carvings for 3D printing for the Barge though.   

 

I hand carved those and had them cast the old fashioned way.

 

Chuck

[RossR]

I know you put the production of your ropewalk on hold due to tariff issues, any plans to reprice it and start production again.   I might be interested in paying a few dollars more to get one.   

[Chuck]

Its not a matter of repricing....Its a matter of sourcing the parts.  I still havent solved that one yet.   Sorry.

 

Chuck

[Chuck]

Just a heads up on the restocking effort.   

 

I finished making enough Blocks and now tan rope to reopen.   I am about 85% finished with Dark Brown rope.  I basically only have .018 and .012 Brown rope left to make.   I figure 25 - 30 packages of each....but I am running out of steam, LOL.   Thats about half of the amount I am usually at when fully stocked.  So maybe a couple days before I reopen.   After a full 8 days just making rope from sun up to sun down its getting really hard to stay focused.  But I am almost there....If I sell out in one day again then I just quit, LOL.   

 

Chuck

[glbarlow]

Seriously how about a limit per purchase. This hoarding is a detriment to us all.

[Chuck]

Because as I have found out...it really doesnt work.   I have had folks just ask their wives or neighbors and friends to order and they brag to me about how they "beat me".   So only the honorable folks actually get burned in the end by complying with a reasonable request like that.  The guys who dont care are obsessed about getting what they want no matter what.  Working retail can be stressful sometimes.  I am just going to try and keep up and make more until it hopefully settles down.   But let me tell you, it aint fun making rope every day for 8 to ten hours.   

 

Sadly there is only one method that truly works....I hate to do it but folks have been telling me for a decade that my prices are too low.   I took a long hard look at what other companies charge for this stuff and its crazy.   I think my stuff is the best by comparison (I am biased) and I was still 30 to 40% and sometimes 50% cheaper based on the lengths of rope and blocks I offer.   So yes when I reopen,  my prices will be 50 cents to 75 cents per package more expensive than when I shut down to restock.  Not a huge amount but maybe enough of a deterrent against buying 12 packages at a time of everything.   Sorry guys...between my costs going up and the hoarding...I have no choice.  I am tired.

 

Its either this or I just shut it all down and find a part time job where I am not churning out rope and blocks at a very low margin.... working 70 hours a week, 7 days a week.  The admiral might have a point except for the fact that I do love doing my small part in making the hobby more enjoyable for folks.   But like me, its getting old fast.

 

Chuck

[KennyH78]

Chuck, I for one cannot blame you for raising your prices and I will continue to buy your products even if you raised your prices by 25%. You have the best looking ropes and blocks on the market. 

[Chuck]

Thank you.....but dont buy too much...LOL

 

For rope specifically....it isnt Rocket science to make nice rope.   Ben makes fantastic rope at ropes of scale as an example.   I really wish more of you would try making it yourself.  You really dont have to pay someone else for rope as it is so easy to make.  It still surprises me how much of it I sell.   

 

I sold 30 foot long packages or 9 meters for  $5.50

Ben sells the same length of rope for $9.50 US

 

So in order to get more on par with that and others...I now charge $6.75   

 

Still a pretty good discount.

 

For 3D printed blocks,  I was charging just $4.50 - $5 for a package of 25.   To bring that price in line with others who basically sell the same thing....These will now cost $6.   So we shall see how this goes.   They other guys are up around $7.50 to $8.75 

 

Maybe at closer to real market pricing the hoarding will ease up a bit.   Once I actually did the comparison I realized how low my prices actually were and how it probably contributed to that phenom.  Because I really dont want to stop just yet if I dont have to.   I think I have a few years left in me churning out rope, blocks and fittings.

 

Chuck

 

 

[Coyote_6]

That money is well earned.  There is nothing wrong with charging a fair price - the quality speaks for itself. 

 

I would hate to no longer get Syren products when I am halfway through my project!  😭

 

Keep up the good work Chuck!  Looking forward to the reopening - shrouds and stays take more line than I would've thought!

[glbarlow]

I believe we have to absorb the tariff for Ben’s rope but I may be wrong. 
 

Every time you mention retirement the hoarders come out. 😞🫣

[Chuck]

On 11/3/2025 at 3:24 PM, glbarlow said:

Every time you mention retirement the hoarders come out. 😞

LOL....I can see me at the ripe old age of 85 making 75-100 packages of rope a day!!!  7 days a week.   It has to end at some point.   Ben makes a great rope too!!!   Or as I have mentioned.   Its so easy to make your own and it will cost you pennies.   No waiting on the postman either.  Give it a try.   Its funny actually.  I have sold a rope walk to a lot of people (probably 6-700 or more) and I still see those same guys buying my rope instead.   I have to scratch my head.

 

It is so easy with a little practice.  Its not rope rocket science.  And it will be just as good if not better.  I think I have to teach more folks to fish.  Maybe I will release my rope walk plans/files so folks can make their own or go get them laser cut somewhere...more people should try and make their own. 

 

Chuck

 

 

 

[dvm27]

I can indeed confirm that Ropes of Scale is adding the tariff to their prices. But it's not Ben's fault and he has no choice but to pass on the tariff to customers.

As for Chucks products I believe, like most artists, he is amazingly talented but a crappy businessman. I think we all know the value we are getting with his products. I bet things would change if his wife ran the business!

[Chuck]

1 hour ago, dvm27 said:

I think we all know the value we are getting with his products. I bet things would change if his wife ran the business!

Yes that is so true.   I never charged enough and I give too much away for free. And I work way too much. Life is too short.   I hear that from her every day lately.   LOL...

 

I guess this is a good post to give an update on the capstan project.   Another brilliant business decision.  I have completed the build log and added all of the files for download.   I just have to write a few topics of instruction for the materials I am using and the techniques I used...all of my secrets and methods.   Then folks will be able to join this project area and download those files and make their own kit.

 

If you dont have a laser cutter or 3D printer,   thats OK too.   J.J. (scrubbyjoe) has agreed to produce these kits for sale so folks can buy one and join the group to start a build log alongside the others.  That is free and you could a tually start a topic in that area right now if tou wanted to.  
 

I dont suspect we will have a lot of people who will be laser cutting their own stuff or 3D printing their own stuff yet.   But I do think that this number will increase in the future.  And yes I am giving this project away for free and J.J. has my permission to produce these and sell them.   If anyone else wants to,  they must get my permission first or you can just use the material for your own personal use.  This is all new territory and we are testing out a new way to bring projects to our members.

 

Having said this,  We will be charging a small fee to join this club area for the downloads only.  Not so MSW can make a killing off it, but so we can keep track of those with access and manage the release of the files out to the world.  The cost to gain access and be invited to download these files is  just $5.

 

Just five bucks, LOL.

 

So yes,  please dont tell my wife that I am giving away something else, LOL

 

I will never make the Forbes 500, LOL

 

But everyone have fun.

 

 

Chuck

[Chuck]

People are sending me requests to join the group.  Dont do this.  This is just a quirk of the software.  
 

This is the way it will work.  Once I finish setting up the tutorial topics.  I will announce it is ready for folks to join.  
 

The NRG will add a store item to its online shop.  You will have to go there and buy your access to the group for five bucks.  We are still setting that up.  
 

Mary will contact me with your information and I will send you an invitation.  You will see your the invation and will be able to click a link to accept it and join.  
 

Basically its the same way it works for the Winchelsea group build.  Thats when you will gain access to download the files.
 

 If you are not 3d printing or laser cutting your parts,  its free to join as you will be able to buy a kit and start a build log without paying $5.

 

You only have to pay the five bucks  for access to the files if you are making the parts yourself.
 

Chuck

[RossR]

3 hours ago, Chuck said:

I have sold a rope walk to a lot of people (probably 6-700 or more) and I still see those same guys buying my rope instead. 

If anyone has one they want to sell, send me a private message.  

[GGibson]

9 hours ago, Chuck said:

Ben makes fantastic rope at ropes of scale as an example.   I really wish more of you would try making it yourself.

 

Truth be told, Ben is my rope guy at Ropes of Scale.  But you, Chuck, are my blocks & deadeyes guy.  Always have been, always will be.

 

As much as you guys who do make your own make it look easy, it's much less frustrating for me to simply get my credit card out.

 

9 hours ago, Chuck said:

For 3D printed blocks,  I was charging just $4.50 - $5 for a package of 25.   To bring that price in line with others who basically sell the same thing....These will now cost $6.   So we shall see how this goes.

 

Fair enough!  I'm a long ways out from needing them, though, so I'll bide my time.  Get some rest, Chuck!!

[Chuck]

Thank God!!!  I am on my last size of rope for restocking...

 

Shouldnt be long now.

 

[knightyo]

I know that the folks who purchase rope won't like this, but I think life is too short to be making rope if it's not bringing in a lot of cash.   It's far more satisfying for you to design ship kits, right?  If it were me, I'd stop selling rope, and exclusively start designing kits/practicums.  

 

Alan

[Chuck]

That is an option but for now I am good.   I will just do my best and if folks have to wait a little bit for me to restock once in a while then hopefully it will be worth the wait.  I used to have help with rope making but my son in law has moved on to other things.   Ropewalks may be back in stock soon as well so hopefully more folks will try and make their own.  They really should try it.  Making rope for just one project you are working on, at the moment when you need it is just too easy...it takes less time than waiting for the mailman to deliver the stuff you buy from me or anyone else.  

 

This 30 foot length of rope literally took me 7 minutes to make and its perfect.   Its only when you have to make 2500 feet of rope per day...every day... that it makes you want to stick a fork in your eye.

 

 

Chuck

[glbarlow]

I really hope the hoarders hold off. Are these people reselling it on eBay or through local clubs. Very frustrating for one boat at a time modelers. 
 

 

[Chuck]

Glenn, I dont think so.  In this particular case, I think there was just an unfounded rumor floating around that I was retiring and shutting down the shop.   That is far from the truth.   I will repeat that I am going to be around for a whole bunch more years.   Only two things will make me shut down earlier ,  I drop dead, or I hit the numbers.   So there is no need for hoarding and I think folks will realize that when they see things stay the same once I reopen. 

 

But I will revamp my effort to teach and encourage folks  to make rope on their own.   I will make more video tutorials and even maybe a workshop or group project of some sort.   I might possibly release my plans and files for my ropewalk and we could have a group build.  You could make it without a laser cutter.   I could work up a material list and the sources to buy the stuff needed.  Would you guys be interested in that?

 

Glenn I am curious...have you ever tried making your own?   You would be good at it. You get to pick your own material and the color and even the infinite number of sizes you would be able to make.  More than any store could sell.  And make rope on demand the moment you need it.

 

Chuck

[Ronald-V]

Don't you need quite a large room/table for using the ropewalk? That would be a problem for me...not yet at the point of needing the rope for the Sphinx, but something that i'm considering.

[glbarlow]

12 minutes ago, Chuck said:

have you ever tried making your own?

No, I haven’t. I may get to that point. I’ve read some past tutorials but yours is so good it’s just easier to buy it😁. I’ll keep an eye out for your rope walk. 

[Chuck]

Not at all.  You dont have to make 30 foot lengths.   You could easily make a 12 foot length on demand when you need it in about 10 minutes or less.   Is it a luxury to have more space to make longer lengths....absolutely.   But the beauty of some rope walks is the ability to make ropes of any length or thickness on demand.   When I was making rope for just myself,  I made 12 foot lengths.  When  I opened the store I started making 20 ft lengths and then increased that again to 30 ft for the same price to give folks more product for the same $$.   So it was very economical for people to buy way more than they actually needed.   

 

But making it on your own, your costs will only be for the ropewalk and for the materials.   The material cost is ridiculously low.   Its the labor costs you guys are paying for.   You can buy one spool of Guttermann Mara thread for $4.50   From that one spool of thread you can make 15 packages of .025 tan rope 30 feet long.    Its all just the labor costs.  So it is well worth giving it a try and even making shorter lengths.

 

Chuck

[Chuck]

8 minutes ago, glbarlow said:

I’ve read some past tutorials but yours is so good it’s just easier to buy it😁

Yours would be just as good really.   Its kind of hard to make bad rope actually once you get the feel for it.   I think I mentioned this once before,  we had a blackout a few years back and I was still able to make rope in complete darkness by feel.   Once you learn it is absolutely like riding a bike.  I think it took me slightly longer, LOL....maybe 8 minutes per package rather than 7, LOL.

[glbarlow]

I’ll hold on to the new tutorials and watch for the rope walk. It would be a nice change from shrouds and ratlines I’m doing now. 

[KennyH78]

I have your rope walk, Chuck, and was waiting to try my hand at rope making until I actually needed some.  But I may just go ahead and give it shot this week/weekend to see if I can get a feel for it.

[Gregory]

1 hour ago, Ronald-V said:

Don't you need quite a large room/table for using the ropewalk? That would be a problem for me...not yet at the point of needing the rope for the Sphinx, but something that i'm considering.

Ronald,

I make rope in 36-48 inch lengths.  Any one line on a 1:48 is never  longer than that.  I don't have the Rope Rocket, but use a home made gadget that uses the principles of full size ropemaking.

 

This is my first machine I made when I built my first model in 1994.  I have refined it a bit, but don't have any current photos.

Here is some of my rope.  If you are interested in how it works, I can post some info over in the Rope Making section.

[RossR]

2 hours ago, Chuck said:

   I could work up a material list and the sources to buy the stuff needed.  Would you guys be interested in that?

I would definitely e interested in that.   
 

[Ronald-V]

36 minutes ago, Gregory said:

 

Here is some of my rope.  If you are interested in how it works, I can post some info over in the Rope Making section.

Info is always welcome ofcourse, if it's not too much trouble. Also handy for other forum members.  

Your homemade rope looks great! And 48inch sounds a bit more like a realistic length for me haha, in Europe the houses are for a lot of people a bit smaller then

the American ones