Keystone Details is officially closed until further notice

[Lemosteam]

I am truly, truly saddened to make this announcement, and I appreciate all of the business this forum has provided me, both from a design, and a product perspective.

Sadly nearly all of my designs would need to be re-mastered in CAD to print on any other type of printer, and some of my details are impossible to print using SLA at this point. The redesign workload is simply not manageable in my life.

So reluctantly, I am choosing to take ALL of my product off the market and remove all of my files from Shapeways while I still can, to protect my IP.

I will still entertain design for sale 3D models. This will be managed by PM here, the Keystone Details Facebook page, or by emailing me at keystonedetails@gmail.com

I may consider selling my designs, as they exist, to those who might want to try to print them on their own, with IP protection of course- the 3D model will not be supported by me. This will be managed by PM here, the Keystone Details Facebook page, or by emailing me at keystonedetails@gmail.com

I have looked at the 3Dtrains page and they do not seem capable to print my designs as they only have SLA and FDM style printers and may still require full redesign of my designs.

The Keystone Details website will also be decommissioned soon as there is no need for further costs associated with its hosted existence. I may convert all of my offerings there to an excel based pricing file, but this will take time.

Shapeways was a huge blessing to me as are all of you whom supported my endeavor, so sincerest thanks to anyone who ever bought my products.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Truly heart breaking news.

[Dave V]

John, even though I'm not in the N scale Pennsy world anymore, I bought stuff from you back in the day, and I can really appreciate the research and care that went into your entire product line. It was truly a labor of love. The entire N scale PRR modeling community owes you a debt of gratitude for making it possible to model Pennsy with the same level of fidelity the other scales take for granted.

But yeah, with the death of Shapeways, it makes sense. Your stuff was optimized for the Shapeways production methodology, and them handling shipping is a very different business model than putting that expensive and time-consuming burden on you.

Sorry man.

[Lemosteam]

Thanks Dave!

There are some other avenues, but they would turn KD into a cottage biz- something I am not in a position to spend money or time on.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm holding out hope that something will rise up to take its place.
I wouldn't kill off the domain yet.

[thbguy]

Oh no! I am very sorry to hear that, but totally understand your position on it.
Another example of don’t wait to buy the unique things that you want to have.

Kind regards,
Michael

[Chris333]

I still haven't responded to a 2 week old e-mail asking me where my Shapeways items will be sold at. But in my case I just don't care. I'm sure somewhere will step in sooner or later.

[Chris333]

Also the 3DP place. I know people who have been happy with them. But they had a setup at a show I went to and all of their display items had marks or broken bits where the supports were. I think you'd have problems with that more than the rest of the print.

[JMaurer1]

Also not a PRR modeler, you still made stuff that others could use...I've bought your passenger steps and roof vents (its been awhile since I stopped buying from SW when they really started raising the prices and shipping costs). I REALLY DO how that a different option comes along since N scale detail parts are becoming extremely rare. Between people who tried to start companies to sell their 3D prints (and have since closed up because its VERY HARD to do) and the loss of SW, there's a huge void being created. Say it's not so...you did sell a great product(s) and will be missed...

[thomasjmdavis]

John,
Sad news....but I'm afraid you are just one of the first of many who will face the same decision.  Much of what I purchased on SW had been on sale there for a decade- in some cases from designers who hadn't posted anything new for years- and I suspect many of those products are now gone forever.

I was never a big customer of Keystone Details- mostly just some vents and whatnot here or there. And I think you sold me some brass baggage car parts.  But, on my one major purchase, I will always be thankful you made those Stillwell coach kits.  I still haven't finished mine- every year or so, I take them out and work on them, always finding one more thing I want to do before final assembly.  But, someday soon, those will trail along behind a C&WI RS-1 on my someday layout.  Those would have been completely impossible without your design skill and efforts. And, as I recall, those efforts were extensive- SW at the time not having the precision to turn out multiple bodies that would fit multiple roofs within the required tolerances.

So, thank you for supporting the hobby in general, and my own enjoyment of the hobby in particular.  I hope that there is a Keystone Details in the future.

[towl1996]

Thanks John! @Lemosteam!

[Mark5]

John, I tried to post this the other day, but got hit with the 90 second rule , and had to run (I'm still way too busy)

Very sorry to hear about this, but I totally understand.

Keep up the great modeling!

Mark

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Hi John,

That is very sad to hear but understandable.... !
I wonder if you got your files removed from Shapeways....... I (www.atsfnscalemodels.com ) could not remove them from MYSHOP and even then they probably would still be in their backup files..... I am trying to see what the Trustee has to say or what future plans there are....
I changed to 3D printing my own models on a Uniformation GK2 and am quite happy with the results....
Thanks for all the work you have done and all the best anyway!

Regards, Dirk

[Lemosteam]

dirk, thanks.

Since I have all of my designs and files backed up locally on my workstation, I do not need the files that are there.  I think I have already successfully deleted some files but that may not remove them from their backups, and I am really concerned about my IP.

I have not received any notification like some other shop owners as yet, and this concerns me as well.  I was able to pull the CSV files and update all of my products the Not For Sale, to prevent anyone from inadvertently ordering one, and added a closure notification on my shop.

What a sad mess.

[CNR5529]

@Lemosteam, I also deleted all my files, but am equally concerned about what they have backed up and how anyone in the future might use it. While not as prolific as your shop, I did have some replacement audio turntable parts printed in metal that became quite a hit in that community, and am looking for a new venue to carry that piece on.

I did recieve the bankruptcy notice yesterday that others have recieved and I live north of the border. (It scared the crap out of my wife, seeing a US bankruptcy notice with my name on it, not knowing it was about shapeways LOL). I'm sure your notice will show up soon.