Koolshade alternative?

[Droidr4i9]

Those of you want to be in contact with this company directly I can forward you their email to me which has the prices for each roll with photos of each roll. I already bought my roll and they have over 20 left.

 

[Droidr4i9]

Ok, just got an email and Randy gave permission to post this info

For the vintage koolshade contact
Please be respectful as they dont have to sell you squat, These people are nearing retirement and are selling off left over new and old stock of Koolshade some of which is still brand new some of which is reclaimed from being removed from buildings but still usable for your needs.
By me posting this info I'm trying to help and assist others in building their models like ILM did, but if you are planning to buy up a hoard of this and to resell it here on this board at inflated prices just to make a greedy buck I will call you out on it and make it my mission to ruin your reputation on this board! All I need to do is ask Randy who he sold to and if your name comes up and is the one price gouging other modelers you will feel the wrath of me calling you out.

If you do contact them, be serious and not a window shopper, Randy will answer your questions and he knows what he has, so don't try to play it down on him...it won't work. If your serious about vintage Koolshade then contact:

Randy or Terry Genteman at

R & T Specialty Construction , LLC
11712 Sheriac St
Wichita, Kansas 67209

Phone (Ask for Randy) 316-644-5455
email regenteman@msn.com

They don't have a credit card machine or paypal so no need to ask, you will have to mail them a money order or check the old fashion way, like I said these people are a mom/pop shop sorta and nearing retirement if not retired already. So don't ask them to sign up with paypal to suit your needs , just mail payment. I did and they were really quick to send it out and Terry (his wife) will email you tracking

Tell him DROIDR4I9 sent you! then he will know and offer good prices

 

[johnpolacchi]

Those of you still trying to hunt down the original Koolshade and not the newer stuff offered by smartlouver let me know, there is company that still has a lot in stock. Pricey but it's the real koolshade ILM used or I can post the companies info here...but I will ask the owner first prior to doing so.
Huge rolls between $300-$900
I've personally talked to the owner on the phone who has installed Koolshade on buildings, renovated buildings with it and had a contract with Boeing to install this on several of their buildings, he said the reason it went from 23 louvers per inch to 17 per inch was the fact that this was a decision by Boeing , their number one buyer through this installer, on second floors or higher in these office buildings every time it would rain the water would get trapped in between the slats and office people would complain they couldn't see outside so Boeing had them remove this from the buildings and require new style of koolshade to still help with the sunlight but yet still able to see through the windows on a rainy day so this was solved by making the slats 17 per inch. THIS IS THE REAL REASON. So speculation about why they went from 23 down to 17 has been solved, this contractor I spoke with has been doing this since the 70's and I tend to believe him which makes sense.

Rolls of it? Do you have to buy the rolls or can you buy it by the foot/meter? I found a place in the states, but it is not in rolls. They are used(most) screens. Some with minor wear/damage, but largely usable 90-95% in excellent shape.I may be interested in a small roll if such a thing exists? I don't need 100 feet or yards of it. Enough for S.S Tie Fighter wings if I can get my hands on a Tie Fighter kit and enough for a couple personal projects.PM me for additional information.

 

[Droidr4i9]

If you talk to Randy on the phone he will go into great detail about the Koolshade as well as why it went from 23 to 17 slats per inch.
He's great guy and old timer type so be cool! You will like what you get!

 

[johnpolacchi]

I have contacted Randy a couple weeks ago. It isn't on rolls unfortunately. They are used screens but largely in excellent shape. Some have minor damage, but 90-95% pristine. There may be a couple swaths that came off a roll but they are defective pieces. Minor imperfections. I'm planning on buying two pieces.

 

[Droidr4i9]

He will sell you what ever size you request. when i say rolls he has rolls that are small and large
example from his email

LETTERS ARE ROLLS BELOW

Examples:
A - 54"X64"
B 54"X60"
C - SOLD - BOUGHT THAT ONE
D 48"X24"
E 46"X60"
And so on, he will email you the sizes of each roll and pictures of each roll and price of each all in a file.

 

[johnpolacchi]

If you talk to Randy on the phone he will go into great detail about the Koolshade as well as why it went from 23 to 17 slats per inch.
He's great guy and old timer type so be cool! You will like what you get!

Randy is cool. I've traded a few e-mails with him. I did get a good price for a 47"x72" piece. I could be mistaken, but I think I got part C, but there is another really nice piece.

 

[Droidr4i9]

He does have these rolled up and will ship them in a hard cardboard tube rolled up so yes he has rolls. I bought a roll which was 84" long undamaged, new old stock and it was a heavy roll.

 

[Droidr4i9]

Thanks for helping me vouch for Randy!

 

[johnpolacchi]

He does have these rolled up and will ship them in a hard cardboard tube rolled up so yes he has rolls. I bought a roll which was 84" long undamaged, new old stock and it was a heavy roll.

I didn't know about that piece. He sent me pictures of all the available pieces.

 

[Droidr4i9]

The lower priced one are used screens reclaimed from Boeing buildings but he does have a lot of koolshade that is unused and new some over 70 years old he told me!

 

[Droidr4i9]

Johnpolacchi, the piece he sold me was when I contacted him back in December so it wouldnt be on any list

 

[Droidr4i9]

I bought the C , which was the second roll. $305 54x65 and before he labeled them with letters I bought another roll which was $600 new and unused 56x84

 

[johnpolacchi]

I bought the C , which was the second roll. $305 54x65 and before he labeled them with letters I bought another roll which was $600 new and unused 56x84

He didn't tell me about those. I thought he had reserved piece C for me.

 

[JSchneider]

Ok, just got an email and Randy gave permission to post this info

For the vintage koolshade contact…

Thanks so very much for posting this info Droidr4i9!!! I greatly appreciate it! I’m currently building a SS 4’ Falcon (err… 5 footer…) and will have a ton of kit parts left over. I would love to have two TIE’s to go along with it. I thought I was doomed on the Koolshade front, and having a couple TIE’s were a pipe dream! Haha! So thank you, from me!

Happy Building!

Jason

 

[johnpolacchi]

Thanks so very much for posting this info Droidr4i9!!! I greatly appreciate it! I’m currently building a SS 4’ Falcon (err… 5 footer…) and will have a ton of kit parts left over. I would love to have two TIE’s to go along with it. I thought I was doomed on the Koolshade front, and having a couple TIE’s were a pipe dream! Haha! So thank you, from me!

Happy Building!

Jason

Who's making the S.S Tie Fighter? I'm not sure Steve(Nice'n Models) is still operating?

 

[JSchneider]

Who's making the S.S Tie Fighter? I'm not sure Steve(Nice'n Models) is still operating?

I ordered one from Mr. Neisen, a year ago last November-December. Was told it would be a few weeks, and have been told that a couple times. Haven’t heard a word about it since last summer… ( I even gave an extra hundred (For the “Resin Fund”) as a goodwill gesture thinking one hand washes the other. Not to bad mouth anyone, but just sharing my experience. Maybe something happened with him?

Unfortunately, I gave up on it already as a loss. Maybe I’ll get it eventually. The first and only time I haven’t gotten what I paid for. I know “The Star Wars game” and that we have to wait for everything and I’m okay with that. This time seems different though.

If you want a TIE, apparently you need to build it yourself is all I’m sayin’. Hence the need for more Koolshade! ! I only have enough for the Falcon I am “slowly” working on. Haha!

 

[johnpolacchi]

I ordered one from Mr. Neisen, a year ago last November-December. Was told it would be a few weeks, and have been told that a couple times. Haven’t heard a word about it since last summer… ( I even gave an extra hundred (For the “Resin Fund”) as a goodwill gesture thinking one hand washes the other. Not to bad mouth anyone, but just sharing my experience. Maybe something happened with him?

Unfortunately, I gave up on it already as a loss. Maybe I’ll get it eventually. The first and only time I haven’t gotten what I paid for. I know “The Star Wars game” and that we have to wait for everything and I’m okay with that. This time seems different though.

If you want a TIE, apparently you need to build it yourself is all I’m sayin’. Hence the need for more Koolshade! ! I only have enough for the Falcon I am “slowly” working on. Haha!

I got a text/message from Steve about... 2-3 weeks ago. I messaged his website twice, but I haven't heard from him since?I'm wondering if he got slapped with a C&D order by Disney?

 

[3DImpact]

I’ve emailed Randy, with no reply…

Dan

 

[johnpolacchi]

I’ve emailed Randy, with no reply…

Dan

He'll get back to you.