Thunder Valley F1

[eastmanace]

Hello all......OK, upon getting my feet wet in Formula 1 modeling I have come to a realization that must be common knowlege to the old hands : Finding certian detail sets is like looking for the Holy Grail. I guess the hunt is all part of the build. I've pretty much given up on ever finding the Perfect Parts set for my 1/12 MP 4/6 ( at least for a somewhat sane price), but I'm wondering if Thunder Valley F1 is still in business. I have left multiple messages via email/phone these last couple of weeks with no reply. Anyone know if Paul's Formula Perfect set and Brake set are still available or have they gone the way of the Dodo? Thanks.....Cliff

[leafs004]

Paul is still around and desperately trying to catch up on back orders. There's several threads on F1m.com. His stuff is excellent, but right now, you'll have to be patient because he's been having some serious issues with production, capital, and delivery. I have the Ferrari set and brakes on order since about December 2009. I believe I will receive them, but probably not before the end of the year.

[eastmanace]

Thanks for the update leafs.....helped me to pull the trigger on a Perfect Parts set with brakes. And thanks to Steve too.....Cliff

[hecep]

Thunder Valley F1. Yes. I, for one, definitely have had some experience with them. Let's see. In late 2009, I enquired into the status of two orders...

(one) Lotus 99T Detail Set ($45.35 PayPal paid on 6/15/2007)
(one) 1/12 Ferrari Wheel Nut/Spindle Set ($40.30 PayPal paid on 5/13/2008)

... all yet to be received to date. As in 2009, he last week (after I enquired again) gave me the old mea maxima culpa as only that old smoothy Paul Raterink can dole out; he's got it down pat by now. "My! How did this happen! Maybe it got lost in delivery! I'll make this right!" Sound familiar? And the only thing it takes for the customer-apologists to come to his rescue is that they actually received their orders. The chosen few who claim to speak for the many. Does that sound cruel? Perhaps so, but is that any more cruel than TVF1 stating that everything goes back into the business (with this supposedly offering proof that all efforts are being made to get orders out) and yet, now, PR is buying himself a new Ducati. Google that, and check it out for yourself.

[icon_modeler]

Originally Posted by hecep

Thunder Valley F1. Yes. I, for one, definitely have had some experience with them. Let's see. In late 2009, I enquired into the status of two orders...

(one) Lotus 99T Detail Set ($45.35 PayPal paid on 6/15/2007)
(one) 1/12 Ferrari Wheel Nut/Spindle Set ($40.30 PayPal paid on 5/13/2008)

... all yet to be received to date. As in 2009, he last week (after I enquired again) gave me the old mea maxima culpa as only that old smoothy Paul Raterink can dole out; he's got it down pat by now. "My! How did this happen! Maybe it got lost in delivery! I'll make this right!" Sound familiar? And the only thing it takes for the customer-apologists to come to his rescue is that they actually received their orders. The chosen few who claim to speak for the many. Does that sound cruel? Perhaps so, but is that any more cruel than TVF1 stating that everything goes back into the business (with this supposedly offering proof that all efforts are being made to get orders out) and yet, now, PR is buying himself a new Ducati. Google that, and check it out for yourself.

Some People just have no ethics,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://www.diavel-forum.com/index.ph...and-rapids-mi/

[lumpulus]

This is SO NOT COOL. The fecal matter will now strike the rotary air movement device.

[Paul Raterink]

Alright, Everyone calm down until you know the FACTS.

Thank you to a forum member who brought this to my attention.

I have always been up fornt and honest with everyone and this situation will be no different.

Yes, there is a Ducati on hold for me at a dealership.

However, it is NOT my money that is down on it, it is one of my very best buddies who put the deposit on it.

Will it be purchased by me. Hopefully but that is something I really don't know yet.

As many of you know, the last of my parents, my mother, passed away in January of this year. We (all of my siblings and I) are waiting for everything to get settled with her estate, which means I will FINALLY be getting a LITTLE bit of money. First and foremost, some of this money will be used to make whole everyone I owe product to. Please read that sentenace again because it is of the utmost importance. If there is money left my wife and I will be putting some money away and IF there is anything left after that then i will be buy a Ducati. But as of this writing, nothing has happened and I am no where near to owning it yet.

My buddies are all riders and they want me to ride with them, so we have all been searching for a bike that would fit me (I'm small, at 5' 5") so there are almost no bikes that fit me but the Ducati does. So my buddy offered to put money down on it so the dealship would hold it so I could possibly buy it after my mother's estate is settled.

This buddy is the same one who has been giving me money at times to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads.

Yes, things are terrible here and they will continue that way until the estate is settled. I know full well that I owe a lot of good folks a lot of product and I WILL make everyone whole and then some. Presently I am working on all the machined parts for the kits so when I get my hands on the money I can quickly order the PE and other components and as quickly as possible get orders shipped out of here.

I have always used my real name on forums because I have nothing to hid whatsoever.

My family and I have been struggling for over three years now and my buddy put some money down on the bike so I would have something to look forward to because what we have been going thorugh is very depressing.

Some of you may not believe these words and that's fine. What I have written will come to pass and everyone will be get everything they ordered plus extra.

It is Summer and being a stay-at-home father means once again my boys are with me all the time and this is making it difficutl to answer all the emails and keep work going but I am doing the best I can.

I know human nature (in some) is to assume the worst and jump to conclusions without asking the accused the facts which is completely understandable, so please just ask me and I'll answer.

Is it so bad or have I done something so terrible as to have a buddy help give me a bright spot to dream about to help me amke it through this hell I have been living through?

Sincerely,

Paul

[CADguy]

Maybe your buddy should invest in your "business", and help you deliver the product people have paid for years in advance, and not in your toys.

[Paul Raterink]

Originally Posted by CADguy

Maybe your buddy should invest in your "business", and help you deliver the product people have paid for years in advance, and not in your toys.

I see your point, but there is a big difference between a couple of hundred dollar and several thousand needed to correct this situation.

I posted some additional comments on www.f1m.com

Here is the link:

http://www.f1m.com/forum/viewtopic.p...152961#p152961

I also have nothing to hid nor do I really have anything to apologize for.

I have never hid from anyone and I have never lied or tried to hide anything.

Here are all my contact info:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

616-365-0583

Paul

[Paul Raterink]

Hi Hector C.,

You are 100 percent correct that I owe you the items stated. I have so much to correct that your order fell off my radar. I will correct this as soon as I can. I hope in a few months but I can't promise since I don't know when things will get settled. You certainly deserve better. I'm sorry I have had so many problems and they have impacted you so terribly.

Stay Well Hector & Kind Regards,

Paul

[hecep]

Mr. Raterink -

You think this only has to do with customers not receiving their paid-for items? That's just the secondary side-drama. Any latent disgust and enmity that dealings with you seems to generate has much more to do with you playing the suffering saint and your "talent" for stringing your paying customers along and buying more time for yourself. I'm sorry if your personal life is tragic, but you run a business which is the primary basis for any interaction that you have with your customers; it is a business arrangement. A serious business man does not flog his customers with weepy tales. How dare you! You are not my charity. You are a vendor. Act like one.

[Paul Raterink]

Hector,

I'm sorry you feel that way. I am not stringing anyone along, I am just trying to correct the situation and it's going to take time and money. So, no more promises or expected, planned delivery dates. When I get it done I'll ship it. I simply can not offer anything more than that because the rest of it is out of my hands.

Stay Well hector,

Paul

[Paul Raterink]

???

[daniel_k]

ohboy....I really can't stand that bullXXXX anymore.
Everytime someone want's money from TVF1 there comes the stories again....

I really can't stand why US modellers don't sue the crap out of him. Hey otherwise you will never ever see your money again.

You need a bike...great go and buy the most expensive available..why not get a used Japanese bike for small money?!? I also thought you still had two Porsche..a 914 and 911. SELL them to pay people their money back

EVERYTHING else is not an option.

that is so unbelievable

daniel
-no I never did buy anything from him but those people make me sick-

[aitala]

Note that the F1M Forums are currently offline while I deal with the mess there. Which may include removing the entire Forums. I'm tired of the whole mess.

Thanks folks...

Eric