Getting to know us
It's been said perfect is
the enemy of good. While only God is perfect, we shoot for
perfection by relentlessly focusing on the details – no matter how
nuanced. Our goal is simple. Every single product should be
pick-of-the-litter compared to our competition.
Things you see, things you don't, and what to look for
We
don't operate with a 'cost be damned' attitude but anyone with
an eye for detail can instantly tell our products from the
competition. For example, we assemble our servos with 10 Allen-head
machine screws despite the fact using 4 Phillips-head screws (like
everyone else) would cost 1/4th as much. We also
CNC-machine our aluminum case component while competitors use extrusions costing 70% less. And we use genuine Nobel potentiometers when the
other guys use cheapo oriental-clones.
While other are satisfied with plain plastic pockets, we fit Swiss-machined bronze inserts to serve as hard points for the steel gear shafts. This is how we keep the gear-train from
developing slop. If you're the type that notices details you're gonna love our stuff. And there are other examples, like how we use a conformal-coating on the PCB (printed circuit board) for protecting against vibration. The other guys do nothing or make do with a piece of foam and call it good. We also we use ABEC-9 bearings versus ordinary (and less precise) ABEC-5. Sure, 90% of folks couldn't tell the difference in a million years, but we know. We
could go on, but if you're a perfectionist then you should know this . . . we share the same obsession for detail.
When engineers make decision instead of the
accountants
Bottom line? We won't say the accountants
control our competitors, but if cheap and good enough were in our
vocabulary we wouldn't be known for bespoke products. Finally, if you
know of any product that matches up to one of ours – and wins –
let us know because we won't sleep until ours is better again.
Regarding John Beech - General Manager (and janitor)
An
engineering graduate of the University of Alabama, and based in
central-FL, I've been an RC modeler since 1972. Following a crash of
my favorite model due to switch failure, I added a 2nd lead to a battery
pack because two switches in parallel provided redundancy.
My
flying buddies immediately grasped the benefit. Some asked me to build
2-lead packs for them. Word got around and before long I was getting
orders from all over the state! This led me to form ProModeler in 1983
and just like that, I was in business!
In 1993 I got a video camera and
editing equipment and formed Panache Productions with a focus on how-to
and event videos. One day the phone rang and it was Great Planes
interested in becoming our distributor. In 1998 I started ModelSport
video magazine, and in 2004, I founded Audacity Models for my model
helicopter.
The natural progression saw us expanding the ProModeler range of
products to include mufflers, blades, gyroscopes, plus servos (in
addition to our batteries). This basically served to vertically integrate
the helicopter product (e.g. one box, all the goodies required to go
fly). However, with professional UAS-interest in our servos, these eventually became the
tail that wagged our business-dog.
Today,
we continue offering 2-lead packs (because good ideas don't go out of
style), plus our helicopter (Pantera P6), and ModelSport DVDs, but our
focus is on servos. Ranging from a tiny 105oz-in sub-micro to a
standard-size servo outputting a whopping 630oz-in, we have 19 different
models in our lineup. Due to our primary customer, our servos meet
three MIL-STDS (vibration, shock, and water intrusion) but we're pleased
to offer them to hobbyists as well.
On
the personal front, the long suffering Lynn continues to
put up with me - warts and all - and in addition to flying my models,
I'm also into old cars. Add to is, I fly a
full-scale Beechcraft Bonanza, which I use to visit modeling friends and
customers in an around the southeast (yes, packing a model to fly).