Friulmodel closing

[Guest]

From their web site:

[ATTACH]486335[/ATTACH]

As the colour choices are not great for readability, here is what it says:

Dear Customers,
the Webshop is TEMPORARILY suspending the distribution of products. (due to health problems).
Please come back later or If you need the product urgently, please write email.
The FRIULMODEL company intends to close the business. If you are interested in taking over the company, including machinery, 600 molds and 200 prototypes, please contact me by e-mail friulmodel.kft@gmail.com.
We will be present:
September 9 in Zagreb – October 7 in Budapest – October 14/15 in Veldhoven – November in Bratislava.

[Allen Dewire]

It was only a matter of time Jakko...I really didn't want to post the above message. I am surprised that they will be in Veldhoven in October as the company is not listed in the latest vendor list published by the SMC website...

Prost
Allen

[Jim R]

If the problem is a health issue and the business is sound then maybe it will find a buyer. If, like many businesses it is struggling at this difficult time, it will just disappear and their products will command silly prices on eBay.

[Jack L]

If the problem is a health issue and the business is sound then maybe it will find a buyer. If, like many businesses it is struggling at this difficult time, it will just disappear and their products will command silly prices on eBay.

I'm not even sure, I think they are probably behind the likes of Masterclub these days, and with the likes of 3D printed tracks....

[Guest]

If I’m honest, I find it a bit sad that another company will disappear, but it won’t affect me as such — I’ve bought two Friul sets in my life, used one of them so far, and was not impressed enough to want more in a world where I can get plastic workable tracks for most models I have in mind to build.

[scottie3158]

As has been said it will be a shame if they go out of business they were my go to aftermarket track.

[adt70hk]

Heard about this earlier this week. Shame.

[rtfoe]

Dang it...and I haven't bought a set yet. Have been wanting to but the drilling has been putting me off and my tracks are usually caked in mud. The Panther sag will be missed.

Cheers,
Wabble

[The Smythe Meister]

Rach bought me a set about 10 years ago for my Maultier Rocket Launcher,(the price put me off getting them myself,I think they cost nearly £40 at the time?!)......I drilled out,filed and assembled about half a dozen links.... then lost the will to live:flushed:....
......they still live in their box in my cabinet!
It's always very sad to see anyone go out of business,but I have to say...
... "Not for me"

[JR]

My go to track, so this is sad news. Although I knew from Dude 1 that things weren't good health wise for the owner.

Hope they find a buyer and keep going . Though with resin tracks appearing things look bleak.

Surprised that some of you found the links awkward and tiring to do .
For me it was great, a set of tracks that I could do with out a struggle .
Master tracks with their resin pins have gone down in quality over the recent years , my last lot were poor, Steve Jones found the same .Oh he sends his regards to all !

[David Lovell]

This is sad news no one likes to see a company connected with our hobby closing down ,but for the chaps own health he's doing the right thing if its strong and viable im sure someone will step in and take over.
I'm quite surprised at the bovril /marmite response to the tracks , I to am a disliker after only using them once to replace rubber band types wich at that time they did lift up the end product of your modelling endeavours, but with the introduction of magic tracks ,link and length, and the recent individual links ,now moving on to 3d printed and some excellent resin products I feel their a old product needing a re vamp/upgrade to bring them into the modern world. The set I built needed every link cleaning up and drilling out there was only enough wire for the pins on one side but as I said a replacement for the then standard rubber band types.
Also in todays climate why pay more than the model cost for a set of tracks when you've got decent tracks now included in the box ,I know the cry will go up about how people struggle to build the kit links but there not as bad as people make them out to be you just need to find your own little way /system/rythem of building them the end product looks the same as fruils ,plus you've got the money for your next kit.
Dave

[Scratchbuilder]

From their web site:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n[/ATTACH]

As the colour choices are not great for readability, here is what it says:

I did read on the Tommy's War handout that they will be ceasing production in December '23.
Seems the time has come to get in a few supplies.

[Scratchbuilder]

Dang it...and I haven't bought a set yet. Have been wanting to but the drilling has been putting me off and my tracks are usually caked in mud. The Panther sag will be missed.

Cheers,
Wabble

The 'drilling' is not so bad, all you are doing is cleaning out the holes really so that the brass 'rod' can fit.

[outrunner]

I have only once bought a set of Friul tracks, more out of curiosity than need and I found them a bit of a pain to be honest. The tracks I got were not the pinned type but had 2 piece track chains to which you fitted the track pad, not really easy to work with. I don't really see the need for flexible tracks now as with link and length and separate link type if you want to include sag, or showing a track going over a rock or log then that can be built in when assembling the model. Having said all that I will now go and hide in a corner. :smiling:

Andy.

[JR]

This is sad news no one likes to see a company connected with our hobby closing down ,but for the chaps own health he's doing the right thing if its strong and viable im sure someone will step in and take over.
I'm quite surprised at the bovril /marmite response to the tracks , I to am a disliker after only using them once to replace rubber band types wich at that time they did lift up the end product of your modelling endeavours, but with the introduction of magic tracks ,link and length, and the recent individual links ,now moving on to 3d printed and some excellent resin products I feel their a old product needing a re vamp/upgrade to bring them into the modern world. The set I built needed every link cleaning up and drilling out there was only enough wire for the pins on one side but as I said a replacement for the then standard rubber band types.
Also in todays climate why pay more than the model cost for a set of tracks when you've got decent tracks now included in the box ,I know the cry will go up about how people struggle to build the kit links but there not as bad as people make them out to be you just need to find your own little way /system/rythem of building them the end product looks the same as fruils ,plus you've got the money for your next kit.
Dave

Agree about the cost Dave, very prohibitive when you consider most will cost more than the kit itself. Some of the boxes had more wire than required so always kept it in readiness from running out .
You know my struggles with plastic tracks , may be these new types will make me change my opinion .