15,000 Pieces

Hey Everyone!  I do not post nearly enough production blog updates, normally because I go home and I'm tired.  That's no excuse for not keeping you guys in the loop.  Here is a quick status update.

 

First of all, I now have OVER 15,000 PIECES!!! organized in sandwich bags.  I am approaching 20,000 pieces.

I am finished all painted pieces (not boards) at this point:

~1,800 painted Farm demand tokens

~1,800 painted Mine demand tokens

~1,800 painted Lumber demand tokens

~1,800 painted Ranch demand tokens

~600 painted farm tiles

~600 painted mine tiles

~600 painted lumber tiles

~600 painted ranch tiles

~1,300 blue player stock tokens

~1,300 green player stock tokens

~1,300 salmon (it was supposed to be crimson) player stock tokens

~1,300 violet player stock tokens

~1,300 silver player stock tokens

~1,300 gold player stock tokens

100 each of 8 of the 16 Railroad company starter tiles are raster engraved and finished (The original copies companies).

600 currently unpainted game board pieces (That is about 30 copies worth of game boards)

Where is all this stuff?  Sandwich bags all over my house and my TechShop locker. LOL.

So let's talk about whats not done yet:

Stock certificates aren't printed (I actually special ordered bond paper today)

No game boards are painted (I just made templates to start assembling water pieces onto land pieces)

There are still more game boards to be cut out (I'm having the Kerr family cut those)

There are still 100 each of 8 of the 16 company starter tiles left to engrave (I'm working on this)

There are still track pieces and city demand tiles (passenger demand) to be cut out (The Kerr family will be cutting these)

The cloth demand bags need to be made (My friend Matt Cassidy is making these for me)

The game boxes need to be made (Will have the Kerr family do these)

Dear December backers:

I know you don't hear from me often, but I am still trying to ship these in December.  I apologize that I don't update you enough but I am usually too exhausted to post to social media (I'm also just not that big on social media).  Please please please feel free to message me on KickStarter, I try to respond within a few days.

Much love, and thanks for your patience,

Brian

For Anthony

Sorry I haven't posted any updates lately, gearing up for a lot of cutting next week after a lot of painting this week.  Yellow is my arch-nemesis although these pictures make the yellow look so vibrant.

Prepping new wood for being converted into yellow tiles (farms) and yellow demand. 

Prepping new wood for being converted into yellow tiles (farms) and yellow demand. 

Kevin paints your farm tiles.  Trying to apply a rich yellow, they don't look as vibrant once dry

Kevin paints your farm tiles.  Trying to apply a rich yellow, they don't look as vibrant once dry

You are looking at around 100 copies worth of farm tiles and demand tokens right there.  They have a really rich color while wet.

You are looking at around 100 copies worth of farm tiles and demand tokens right there.  They have a really rich color while wet.

27 copies worth of game boards (land and water portion) are cut, but not painted and assembled yet.  

It's been unusually warm this week, which is really nice for riding to TechShop.  The work keeps chugging along, it is quite daunting.  All other projects have stopped to keep moving forward for the December backers.  Anthony Perez can be thanked for this update, as I usually just go home at the end of the TechShop work and don't blog.  Tonight was not interesting as I was just cutting down scrap wood for conversion into city tiles from the wood that was used to make the boards.

Another late night at TechShop

I was supposed to have a big announcement yesterday, but my delivery got pushed back to this coming Thursday.  After my work trip to LA for the Rare Cancer Research Foundation, it is nice to be back at TechShop. Another enjoyable late night with my favorite manufacturers

I have a really sophisticated method of organizing pieces, called "sandwich bags".  Patent pending.

I have a really sophisticated method of organizing pieces, called "sandwich bags".  Patent pending.

Rare Cancer Research Foundation at Stand Up To Cancer Telecast

Rare Cancer Research Foundation at Stand Up To Cancer Telecast

Wood color, paper, and company tiles

When my software randomly switched the graphics color format from RGB to CMYK, it undid my monocolor formatting on Jersey Central, turning it into "Jersey Centra" and blunting the Statue of Liberty's crown, so I need to remake those:

Where's the L!

Where's the L!

Also, working on a new scheme to speed up uniform, flat matte color application.  Results inconclusive:

Good flat soy-based color.  But will it reactivate when exposed to water.  Test strips are in my tech shop locker.

Good flat soy-based color.  But will it reactivate when exposed to water.  Test strips are in my tech shop locker.

Was thinking about my production process last night, and this stray cat wandered onto my car

Cat Car.jpg


Cut down the wood

Cut down the 320 sq ft of wood.  It was a TON of work, so I'm feeling pretty good about myself.  I have a great new workout idea I should pitch, it's called the "Become a Blue Collar Worker" exercise plan.  Who needs a gym membership when you make wooden board games :P  Also got a half inch splinter.  Wasn't wearing my work gloves, will never do that again.  I got permission for a really useful color application method for the resource tiles, demad tokens, and stock tokens.

Also working on the box design, but had to get more wood first.

Wood, boxes, shipping, and paper

Hi Everyone,

So I bought 320 sq feet of wood today.  Still don't have the money from the kickstarter, but I got Social Hour a credit card so I could get moving.  I've been redesigning the box to fit the flat rate shipping package I've decided on.  Also adjusting the height on the dividers to lock the maps against the lid so they won't move around in shipping.

Have been trying to improve the paper components, but the information on the internet is all over the place.  I was trying to build a printing press, but it's harder then it sounds to get a good registration for letterpress effects.  I'm hoping to try a new angle soon.

I'll keep you posted.

Image by Paul Frankenstein

Image by Paul Frankenstein

Plans and Lasers

Hi everyone, I have decided to switch from the static "Production Tracker" to this production blog, because I felt this would better capture what I am working on.  I still haven't received money from Amazon (It takes 2 weeks for Amazon to grant access, and then 5 business days to transfer it to a bank account).  I also have a meeting to discuss opening a laser workshop with another maker.  Either way, I need to optimize my cutting files while I have the down time.  I need to make around 50,000 pieces, and optimizing the files will make a big difference on speed.  Stay tuned.