Gents, I've had a bad year this year.
Both knees worn out from many klicks
jogging. My marriage has come to a
sudden end last month. 2010 has been
hell on wheels.

I've consolidated some things that I've
made in the past, including the BDU and
armor line.

I've clear the orders on BDUs but still
have un-built fully built armor kits to
deliver. I plan to address that next.

Due to all of these life impacts forcing
change of my priorities in that I would
have to engage in some other business
activity that is bigger scale rather than
this home cottage industry I've dealt
with since 2003, I would like to announce
that I am retiring from making items related
to our hobby as of end of February 2011.

For all those BDUs would be owner who
have been inquiring, our 3pat cloth
is about 1/2 way done and we would
have enough for another 100 sets or
so. If you are interested in a set, I would
recommend that you get your order in
by January if now was not a better choice.

For those interested in fiberglass armor kits
only (we will be building no more complete sets),
we still have the molds and can take orders which
take 3~4 weeks to deliver.

Thanks for your support over the years, but
all things good or bad must come to an end.

In advance, I've made good friends and had
fun making stuff for collectors. I hope to
join you guys later as just a enthusiasts once
I get those more important issues than hobby-related
addressed.

Meanwhile, I'm still around and kicking until Feb, 2011.

Thanks, guys~!

@mods -- sorry didn't know where this thread belong,
so if you need to move it please go ahead.

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Sorry to hear about the early retirement MAA, but your real life must come first.

Thanks for the great stuff you have produced.

Best of luck

Dan

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Cpl Dan Callaghan

"On an express elevator to hell...going down!"

Just call me Admiral....

Hi Steve

Sorry to hear that this year has been so unkind. It will be a great loss in my opinion for our hobby.
I'm especially sorry to hear about your marriage, I know how difficult that is and I hope you bear up and that next year brings you some happiness.

It's always been a pleasure to do business with you.

I may well try and get a set of BDU's and maybe even an armour set but that probably won't be possible for me to order until the end of January.

Hope to still see you on here mate.

Take care

Darren

Aw no Steve

I'm so sorry to hear this, mate. This must be one hell of a blow to deal with.
I expect this was a hard decision to come to as well.

However things go, just remember we're always here if you need us.


Hey, could you sell the BDU business on to someone, maybe a group of us here, to continue the MAA line? The Men-At-Arms name is very well known and it's always THE port of call for people seeking top notch products.
It ain't much in the face of these things, but it might at least give you a nice financial kick-start in your new direction.

Guess I'd better get off my arse and order my Veep holster soon then - All the best, thanks for the gear.

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Sgt. Jake Tucker - 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters.

Sorry to hear Steve but life must come first.......I will for sure get an order in for BDU's this month.

Thanks for all you've done for the hobby and I hope someone can continue them.
As Woody said, you're it for SA BDU's right now.

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Thanks for your services! Good luck in 2010:)

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No, they are not going to see this coming...

Sorry to hear that Steve, hope all will work out well for you and that things get better. MAA gone, an important part in the hobby is lost. You've done some impressive things for folks like us. Thanks for that.

Best wishes.

Best of Luck to you Steve. I know you've been working very hard on your marriage. So sorry to see it end bro.

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Steve, hope things get better for you. Best of luck.

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General all around pain in the ass and master of the overshare.
"...a geeky kinda dorky kinda nerdy kinda gurl...and I like it!"

UKCM FOREIGN LEGION:
"DEVIANT DRAGOONS"

Hi Steve, I am so sorry to hear all your misfortune !
I hope the new year brings better results for you, if you need anything and I can help , please contact me.
Marcel

Sorry to hear this Steve but best of luck for your future.

I agree with Ttaskmaster in that you should think about passing the BDU business on to someone else so they can carry on supplying our boys in the field.

Harry

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http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Sorry to hear this Steve.. We all know you got to do what you got to do. I will have to PM you about some armor parts. I only hope I can come up with some extra cash to get another set of BDUs. The FS & VP holster are great too.

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A12/TQ1.0.22137E1
PVT. Schmaus, Christopher J.
2nd Batt 6th Regt
USS Tahoma

So sorry to hear things have been so rough for you Steve. It's a shame you've decided to pull the plug on your prop business. Everything I've gotten from you in the past has been beyond my expectations and your services will most definitely be missed by many.

I'm still looking forward to receiving the armor set you've been building for me along with the other items, and if possible I will try to order another set of 3-PAT BDUs before February rolls around. (I'll be contacting you soon through the SFM board about this).

I sincerely hope you get past the hard times as quickly and easily as possible, and that the new year brings you nothing but good fortune. Best wishes to you, bro.

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GySgt Gustafson, Dru R.
Callsign: Mud Shark
A06/TQ0.0.32122E1

Shark -- you're a good man with heart in the right place. I'll be in touch off board shortly. Everyone else thanks so much for your concern. It is heart warming.

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That certainly is a possibility. I still am in the region and could sell of my inventory of cloths, both twill cotton and ripstop, over 13,000 screen accurate buttons, several hundred matched YKK zippers, correct color velcro, 400 sets of patches, name tapes by yards, accurate webbing 1.5" and 2", all 250 VP holsters remaining, all 400+ 8 pointer hats, remaining which we can convert to a adjustable band which people have called for, dozens of 3pat boonies. My moulds for fiberglass are still operational and could pass them on and help place orders until someone is up to speed to handle the international aspects. Some WIP related to armor which became aborted due to financial strain were: Re-moulding entire armor parts PLUS the regular SA armor Dietrich stunt cuirase with cut-away neck resulpted by Steve Laboyteaux to yield the proper cuirase in addition to our larger custome pull of TE cuirase belonging to Lance Adam-Crost. Another was a aluminum resin mixed parts where sanding would yield aluminum look. Third relating to armor was an accurate repro of the grid matting material accurate in thickness, color, and pattern. Regarding USCM camouflage cloth, anytime cloth runs out I could coordinate the re-ordering and shipping to interested parties home country.



That's a great idea! That way MAA can live on and USCM can live on. That would be a great transition, so I welcome you guys to make suggestions .. remember, I will be retiring from doing this business becuz it is just too small a concern to feed my family (some of that caused the break down of my marriage though that wasn't the main factor), so I don't have time for this. But heck yeah, I'll help Marines get their gear if I could.

I'll always be with you guys in spirit. U-rah!

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How much would the moulds go for, do you think, and can they do materials other than fibreglass?

I have an acquaintance who's seen our different armours and was asking the other night how get a set made up in some sort of material that resembled Kevlar body armour.

I think there should be first no consideration to ship the moulds as that would be a big undertaking to get physical moulds crated then shipped internationally, if the cost isn't an issue then perhaps something could be worked out where the moulds are shipped off. Be reminded that means you will be pulling the parts with your home labor. Any interest in fiberglass mould should go along the lines that the current factory in south China pulls them to supply collectors, as the cost of doing so might still be considerably lower than in your home country.

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Steve.................I know what you mean about a difficult year. I thought that might have been the case with the delay of my order........and now...its almost too wierd....well...read my post

I wish nothing but satisfaction and contentment for you in the future Steve...
I've been to almost all the "places" that life has taken you recently....feel free to drop me a line anytime...for any reason...or just to shoot the breeze:

vmad3@yahoo.com

your friend.........Vito

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"Doc" Vito
Sgt.V. D'Aiuto
A07/TQ0.042140E1

"I say we grease this RAT-F*CK Son of B*TCH RIGHT NOW!"

Hi, I've been getting questions about BDU making. I'm still here for February, so I'll be here to answer any BDU needs for the next month. I have sold my real-estate holding in China which is in escrow now and it looks good to go through. Thereafter, I will be taking trips there just for the purpose of getting the proceeds out which is rather tricky. Any BDU concerns could be tacked onto those infrequent trips. I'm currently negotiating with the local tailor team to take over the business of making BDUs but haven't solidified any arrangements at this writing. IF I could pass the business onto the tailors, I will help to set up an ordering systems for collectors. But in the mean time, my plan to withdraw from China totally is in progress and I expect to be withdrawn before summer, when my child finishes her school year, at the end of which I will be moving across the Taiwan straights to Taipei (thus making my personal involvement with BDUs not possible after that point in time). So for those who have contacted me in regards to BDUs please make use of February, my last active month for this concern. All beyond February is still up in the air at this time and will need wait-and-see's to tell what will happen with future arrangements for BDUs. If you have any going concerns, please contact me. Tnx much!

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Steve, do you have any USCM helmet covers in stock?

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"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

Russ - I have all stuff at this time.

I'm actually having a gastric surgery preformed begining on 8th Feb which will knock out 3 days. Besides that the rest of Frebruaru is a good time to catch me to discuss your BDUs needs. A few guys out there haven been discussing it; this months is the last regular month for regular turnaround for this stuff. After February through July you'd have to check when I'll be headed back in. The normal 3~4 weeks turnaround will be extended after February, with July pretty much going to be a deadening month for everything. Please take note. Tnx!

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Steve,

Just wanted to wish you all the best in any and all future endeavours.


Kevin

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I think more than a few of us are having "one of those years".
Would love to still get the Boonie and patches, if you haven't shipped already. You were more than honorable in our transaction.
Thanks for everything.

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No, they are not going to see this coming...

FYI -- my web site and email went down while I was overseas for surgery. I'm back now and will restore at least the mail server. Meanwhile if you have issues you can contact me here. Tnx~!

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