Warbird Information Exchange

A2C, Matt, Thank you for the information and help, I appreicate it.

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David
1953 M38A1 jeep owner
& Student Pilot soloed 09/09/06
USAF 1984-1986

Hello,
Want to talk to a publisher? You can see a link to my publishing company below.

Drop me a PM. Initial advice is free and non specific.

Cheers,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

One word of advice.....don't go into hock to finance whatever you do. Do it strictly with cash. We busted our humps getting out of debt and saving all we could to launch one of our businesses. The bank was cool with everything until the last minuet and then suddenly wanted us to come up with another 20-30K$ via our credit cards. At that point we stopped everything and stopped the process because if we had know they would try that, we could have done our financial plannig a bit different and paid cash for the equipment we needed. We are hoping to get things together and restart the process within a couple of years, but this time we will do it strictly on a cash basis. If you can start with no debt, you are going to be miles ahead and won't worry as much about having to make it profitable from the opening point.

Nope. I have always liked drag racing and hot rodding but never felt I was knowledgeable enough to correctly replicate the pieces. I followed the Nascar scene from the early sixties up until a few years ago and used to spend a good bit of time in race shops in the Carolinas. Doing Winston Cup and BGN stuff led to vintage stock car replicas and a run-in with a current manufacturer over casting Hudson parts. That was reason enough to shut down the casting shop. I'll do some little casting projects for warbird models, but I won't hang out a shingle again.

My advice, if your're going to start a business ! It has to be something you like and are good at. I've been doing taxidermy for 30yrs. Right now it's a hobby that pays for itself. With retirement on the horizon, it's time to get serious and start bringing in some extra income Overhead is minimal. No big shop for me, basement and garage= tax deductions..........John

I have a day job as a graphic designer in Chicago, but my second "job" is as part owner of a hot rod shop. And we are swamped, economic downturn or not. And we are quite thankful for that. http://www.hotrodchassisandcycle.com

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Sure, Charles Lindbergh flew the plane... but Tom Rutledge built the engine!

Visit Django Studios online or Facebook!

Two lessons I have learned;

Do what you love. I know everyone says it but seriously you had better love it. When the hours get long and things are scarey you had better love it, even after your businees is no longer shiney and new. In my case I do love it, and it was still hard.

Choose your partners wisely! I care deeply for my partners. For me this is where things failed. There needs to be a balance between feelings and the business. Most people will warn you to align yourself with people you trust. This is true but you MUST also be able to say no. Easy to criticize harder to do effectively.

Our company deals in heavy equipment. It was founded in 1963 and is very much a player in our industry. Despite our economic strength this year I found it necessary to resign as President. Life is good and I am now employed by a well known equipment manufacturer.

YEah man, I could use some help!!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager