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Lots of stuff not completely ready to show yet that are in the works. Right now we're working out production and cost factors and which ones come out first and when. That sort of stuff.

I've said this before several times. PMB! is not a company in business to make batmobile parts. It is a community of serious (but funloving) batmobile modelers/customizers who help each other out and offer resources and input that goes well beyond what the casual collector or perhaps typical viewers of THIS site would want to immerse themselves in.

To keep the lights on, give us some pocket change and help us afford all the R&D and similar efforts a company LIKE Hot Wheels would have to do to get these parts right, we also happen to have an online products component. The blog and board will exist long after the product page is gone.

I can understand everyone's frustration. Some of my friends and designers also seem to be ready to rip off my head. I understand that too. Doug, in particular has been recently working overtime on some of these items and we're all hoping for a payday sooner than later. I will assume you couldn't possibly know what my specific situation is so I'll give a brief background. I'm not looking for pity - I'm just answering the question "where are the parts?"

I left my full time job in November to work on several new start-up companies. A couple of them are my own, a couple are other people who sought me out to partner with. I have not had income since December. In this economy - I don't have to tell you what that means. Again - not looking for sympathy - just understanding.

So how does that impact PMB? Simple - it cripples it a bit. I am working 16 hour days (not exaggerating) 5 days a week on other projects and trying to juggle the PMB stuff as much as I can. I have a few great helping hands as far as designers and creators go: Doug, Tim, Kevin, Andy, Alex, Leonard have all been fantastic. But this stuff takes time and effort. Lots of coordination and hand holding. Not to mention the huge output of dollars to fund every single project. I have also been extremely sick for what amounts to all of January and most of February.

I welcome Hot Wheels to beat us to any punch they like. If anyone wants to bank on that and bypass our parts because they're "overpriced" or "average" please feel free. When these parts are gone - they're gone. We are making exclusive, high-end items for a discerning market. Actually, yes many people can afford to spend twice what the car cost (or more) detailing it up to make it right and are eager to do so. I get emails every day to that effect. I apologize to anyone who this seems harsh to, but your hobby is your hobby. By all means, your family shouldn't go hungry because you're feeding your hobby. If you can't afford it - please don't buy it. That's how the economy got wrecked in the first place. Sit it out. Wait until you get a job. Sell some of your other toys. Whatever. I really envy and admire the guys with full-size Batmobiles, but you never seem to see people who can't afford them going on their threads and complaining that they are too broke to play in that world. It's just the nature of the game. I don't go to the Porsche forum and lament how there are no $25K Porsches. I simply can't afford that price of entry. Sometimes that's the hard truth. The last thing in the world I am interested in is making cheap affordable parts so people can make their $30 car more screen accurate. Sorry - let someone else step up to that plate.

Now if you want some hard dates (unlike Hot Wheels gives) I'll go on record to say that we are rolling out a large update with many new items and some interesting takes on some older and other items AS WELL AS yes, cheaper "average" figures AS WELL AS an opportunity for someone to get a Super Elite AND the whole 1:50 set (including the boat) for $5.00 (yep) and we're rolling this all out the week of March 15th. There. You know the when. In two weeks you'll know the what. The first people that will hear about it all will be people on the mailing list.. They will get a full 2 days jumpstart on all of this. You know who you are (and what to do if you're not) :)

That's the poop. Hope it suffices.

-Scot