IS there any demand for a kit of a prehistoric whale?

modelnut

Member since
September 2010

IS there any demand for a kit of a prehistoric whale?

Posted by modelnut on Thursday, October 21, 2004 10:19 AM

Recently I was contacted by a paleontologist and prehistoric whale expert about my scratchbuilt Basilosaurus http://www.starshipmodeler.org/gallery6/ll_basil.htm .

He praised my accuracy Big Smile [:D]

and wants to put pictures of it in his museum of which he is the curator.

On the Starshipmodeler BBS, I have been encouraged to give the model to the museum. http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-bin/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=278123#278123

But I made it because I want one for myself.

So I am exploring the option of kitting the beast. Initial estimates put the up-front outlay at $150 to $200
( I would send the model to a professional since I know how to build and sculpt but not how to mold and cast. Clown [:o)]

)
Who knows what the final costs will be for me or what I should charge a buyer ? - this is all new to me!

So what I need to know is, IS there any demand for a kit of a prehistoric whale?

FYI the finished sculpt is about 22 inches long at 35th scale.

PLEASE RESPOND.
-Leelan

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 21, 2004 12:37 PM

My guess would be, "no." But why don't you contact the folks at Triceratops Hills Ranch and ask them? They are the leading sales organization for prehistoric model sales on the net. They are also known as Link and Pin Hobbies.

http://www.linkandpinhobbies.com

I'm not saying that they will carry your model (they already carry one of Basilosaurus, by Max Salas), but they could at least give you some idea of how it might sell. Good luck!

Nice model, by the way. Folks might remember this critter from "Walking with Prehistiric Beasts," the episode called "Whale Killer."

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelnut

Recently I was contacted by a paleontologist and prehistoric whale expert about my scratchbuilt Basilosaurus http://www.starshipmodeler.org/gallery6/ll_basil.htm .

He praised my accuracy and wants to put pictures of it in his museum of which he is the curator.

On the Starshipmodeler BBS, I have been encouraged to give the model to the museum. http://www.starshipmodeler.net/cgi-bin/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=278123#278123

But I made it because I want one for myself.

So I am exploring the option of kitting the beast. Initial estimates put the up-front outlay at $150 to $200
( I would send the model to a professional since I know how to build and sculpt but not how to mold and cast. )
Who knows what the final costs will be for me or what I should charge a buyer ? - this is all new to me!

So what I need to know is, IS there any demand for a kit of a prehistoric whale?

FYI the finished sculpt is about 22 inches long at 35th scale.

PLEASE RESPOND.
-Leelan

Reply
Edit

modelnut

Member since
September 2010

Posted by modelnut on Thursday, October 21, 2004 12:57 PM

Thanks Larry!

I might drop them an email. I have just received an email from a premiere dino-caster who says that aquatic prehistoric life actually sells well. I am just now putting out feelers to get a quick idea before spending any cash.

As you might guess from my original post, I didn't set out to make a model in order to kit it and get rich Clown [:o)]

. I made it for the same reason we all do this kind of stuff - strictly for fun!

But since it is about the same thing to cast one as it is to cast fifty, I thought I would ask.

-Leelan

Reply

modelnut

Member since
September 2010

Posted by modelnut on Thursday, October 21, 2004 1:12 PM

OOPS!

Forgot to say, "You got it in one!"

I made this model because I saw the Basilosaurus on Walking With Prehistoric Beasts and had to have one!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/beasts/factfiles/factfiles/basilosaurus.shtml

A search did not turn up Max Salas's kit and I know I went to that site. Guess it wasn't available at the time.

So I built my own!
-Leelan

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 5:06 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelnut
I have just received an email from a premiere dino-caster who says that aquatic prehistoric life actually sells well.

Mike Evans, possibly? I hope the rumors of his place burning down are false.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 6:47 PM

Contact the guys over on www.gremlins.com, the mailing list consists of builders.sculptors and kit producers for Horror, Movie figures and other exotic kits like yours.

I am sure that they will be more than willing to assist you.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 28, 2004 11:40 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Model Museum

Contact the guys over on www.gremlins.com, the mailing list consists of builders.sculptors and kit producers for Horror, Movie figures and other exotic kits like yours.

I am sure that they will be more than willing to assist you.

I was on that mailing list when it was alive. As far as I know, it is as dead as fried chicken.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 28, 2004 7:33 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn
I was on that mailing list when it was alive. As far as I know, it is as dead as fried chicken.

It still shows signs of life now and than, still a few regular posters on there.
But agree a far cry compared to prior the exodus.

Do you know of any other list that is similar to gremlins??

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modelnut

Member since
September 2010

Posted by modelnut on Friday, October 29, 2004 11:15 AM

QUOTE: Mike Evans, possibly? I hope the rumors of his place burning down are false.

Yes! He is the one. I have seen his product on display at Wonderfest many years running and have purchased my share. His casting is first rate! I have not seen anyone do it better. Wink [;)]

I have gotten a few quotes now and his is the highest by an easy $100.
But I can understand what expertise that extra C-note would buy!

May do it. May not. It all depends on the finances from now to Christmas... Disapprove [V]

-Leelan

Reply

modelnut

Member since
September 2010

Posted by modelnut on Friday, October 29, 2004 11:17 AM

Oh yeah. The fire. There was a fire and it did halt production. BUT Mike told me last week that work should have begun to get back in swing by THIS week.

-Leelan

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 13, 2004 11:43 AM

By the way, Salas definitely did a Basilosaurus in 1/35th scale. It's on the Link and Pin site. Go to dinosaur models, then do a word search for basilosaurus. The Link and Pin site is very crudely organized, so sometimes it's hard to find things.

Here's a link to the photo:
http://www.linkandpinhobbies.com/graphics/Ms_basil.jpg

Evans' castng is good, but not as good as the price would seem to justify. I've got lots of kits cast by him. They still have seams and the like that require lots of clean-up. His high prices drive the cost of the kit way, way up.

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