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Seemingly OBVIOUS models that have NEVER been modeled, who decides?

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Seemingly OBVIOUS models that have NEVER been modeled, who decides?
Posted by BashMonkey on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 6:30 PM

I have always been curious just how it is decided how certain model kits get produced and why others don’t, I’m not necessarily talking about mainstream model companies like Revell or Monogram but smaller niche companies like Mobiuos or Polar Lights. Even the small garage makers seam to have let alot of things slip by.

 

Both these companies have produced some outstanding kits yet even though they also seam to be focused on a narrow band of sci-fi kits from the golden era of movies and TV, even they (and others) have left out a few of what I would think are obvious candidates for model kits, in particular:

 

The Albatross from Master of the World, as far as I can tell NO ONE has EVER produced a kit of this is any format other than a paper kit of the novel’s version of the airship. For all the Verne themed stuff out there (no less than three Nautilus’ currently available) I would have thought someone would have done this one long ago.

 

The Valley Forge from Silent Running, aside from a small resin garage kit from a few years ago and the massive $3K 2 yard long master kit that came out recently, this is also another no go for model makers. Its complicated yes, but no less than a lot of other kits out there, the 2001 Discovery for example.

Buck Rogers serial of 1939, had 3 ultra cool rocketships that are just screaming to be done by someone, Herb Deeks did all 3 Flash Gordon ships, and the Commando Cody rocketships and some really obscure serial vehicles, but somehow this has been left off the plate.

 

I’m sure there are lots of others that have been neglected. So how do what’s out there do they decide what gets to see the light of day?

 What other seemingly OBVIOUS model kits has NEVER been modeled in ANY form?

 ALL OF YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!

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  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 8:13 PM

Star Wars- Rebel Blockade Runner, Super Star Destroyer, Mon Calamari Cruiser, TIE Bomber...

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

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Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, August 1, 2013 1:25 AM

The Red Dwarf.

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Posted by CapnMac82 on Thursday, August 1, 2013 2:23 AM

Starbug to go with Red Dwarf.

Seems like Britans did some die-cast from Gerry Andersen's UFO, but nothing much else came out of that long-running series.

The lack of 1:1 ST TOS items always has nagged at me, especially given how obviously large  the target demographic is.  Given the rise of multi-media (and the availability of rare-earth magnets) this continuing gap is also puzzling.

Oh <ding!> there's almost no B5 stuff, despite there being 5 seasons of that show.

Of course, what would be cool would be stuff from the Association of Sentient Species Vorpal Blade series--but we might need a lot more Baen Books readers.

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Posted by Phil_H on Thursday, August 1, 2013 6:09 AM

CapnMac82
Seems like Britans did some die-cast from Gerry Andersen's UFO, but nothing much else came out of that long-running series.

There were Japanese kits of the UFO Interceptor (Bandai and Imai), SHADO Mobiles, Sky-1(Imai?) and SID (Bandai?)

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  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, August 1, 2013 9:19 AM

I do wonder sometimes..... For example you see kits of some off the wall stuff but the Klingon Bird of Prey pops up in I think every original series movie from TSFS onward and mostly every STTNG episode with Klingons and it takes what 10-15 years for an injection molded kit!

CapnMac82: Actually there was quite a bit of B5 stuff, though almost all resin and most is out of production now. I was lucky to pick up most of the kits though I'm still lacking the Thunderbolt Starfury and the Narn cruiser kits.

I've always found the lack of Doctor Who kits kinda puzzling. I mean 50 zillion different dalek toys and only one or two kits from the original series, and I think all but one of those are off the market now. Comet Miniatures I think did a couple of 1/6th scale figures of the 1st though 6th Doctors but again they've been out of production for years.

And speaking of Baen, after looking over some of the blueprints in the later novels I've thought about trying to scratchbuild some of the Manticore Navy vessels from David Weber's Honor Harrington series. Probably never get around to it though.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

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Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, August 1, 2013 11:01 AM

Revell-Monogram did the B5 and the Starfury in two different boxings, probably the two kits that appealed to younger Americans. I think the ST:Voyager line killed the notion of an expanded line; the Voyager sold well, but the Maquis ship, Kazon ship and Kazon torpedo all died on the vine.

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Posted by thunder1 on Thursday, August 1, 2013 11:29 AM

How about an AFFORDABLE Nautilus (Disney) as an injection molded kit?? Sure, there are all sorts of speciality resin/fiberglass/white metal replicas of this submarine but they are: 1- hard to find, 2- you really don't know what your getting (quality wise). The BIG version is mainly for R/C builders and is quite expensive. The Disney version of Vernes sub is the most pleasing appearence and I can not figure out why no one has approached them from a PLASTIC manufacturing company. It can't be about licensing, how do the cottage industries get around them? The movie (and sub) have been around since 1955 perhaps one of the plastic tycoons will get on the ball. After all we've got the Seaview and that thing from the Seaquest TV series.

Master of the World model, put me down for one!

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  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, August 1, 2013 11:54 AM

Yeah, I consider myself lucky to have picked up the B5 station kit and have over the years grabbed two of the original Starfury kits and three of the corrected second release kits.

Yes I am hording them...Devil

The Kazon torpedo, when I first saw it in the hobby shop my first thought was - 'Huh? I bet this sells well.' Did it ever appear on more than one episode?!?!  


Also I would have loved to seen more 'Farscape' stuff but I don't think the show was ever that popular. I have found and stashed the resin 'Moya' kit, the 1/6th Chiana figure and a life-sized DRD. 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

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  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, August 1, 2013 1:00 PM

The last Nautilus kit in plastic was the Revell-Monogram kit issued in 1998 and based on the Crayola Kids TV series' rendition of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Strange that a kids' TV show (entire cast is of kids) gets a model kit, but not the iconic Disney version.

www.imdb.com/.../tt0233493

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  • From: Boston
Posted by mach71 on Friday, August 2, 2013 9:37 AM

2001 space pod

2001 Aries 1b

Planet of the Apes Liberty 1

In real space, sort of:

X-20

Soviet lunar lander

MOL

  • Member since
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  • From: Jefferson City, MO
Posted by iraqiwildman on Friday, August 2, 2013 3:50 PM

The TARDIS from "Doctor Who".

Any "Space:1999" ships.

Anything from "Falling Skies".

The Jetson's hover cars.

U-505, the German sub captured on June 4, 1944.

Tim Wilding

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  • From: Cave City, KY
Posted by Watchmann on Friday, August 2, 2013 4:26 PM

Wildman!

Airfix did a Tardis, and Mobius did the Jetson's car.  Both were released just a few years ago.

 

I'd like Spaceman Spiff and his Saucer.

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  • From: England
Posted by P mitch on Friday, August 2, 2013 5:38 PM

Iraqiwinldman

You can get pretty much all the Space 1999 kits from Warp, but they are not cheap (I have all of the Warp ones now). Some of the rarer ones are available too such as the Swift but that is way expensive at £200 (say $300) and if you want I know people who can get you full studio scale 44' Eagles but they will cost thousands.

Capnmark82

You can get more B5 stuff but again its hard to find and goes for a premium, I have two of the Starfury's. I've seen Warp kits for the Earth Force destroyers and will set you back $100 approx and the Shadow ship for about $80. I have a Narn fighter and Thunderbolt in the stash and I've seen a Vorlon ship on Ebay. I also have a UFO interceptor in resin which I hear is pretty rare these days.

I'd like to see the Liberator from Blake's 7, I know there is a kit out there but I've heard it not very good.

A nice sized Huey, Dewy and Louie from Silent Running would be nice too.

Phil

"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls." R J Mitchell


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Posted by BashMonkey on Friday, August 2, 2013 7:03 PM
I hate to say this but just about everyone of the things mentioned can actually be found in some format, mostly in resin. Of course that doesn't make them affordable.

I totally agree with the affordable plastic Nautilus, the only injection plastic version I can remember was many years ago by either Airfix or Comet.

Agreed about the Voyager kits what a waste. Hopefully that is changing given the biggazz Enterprise kits out now. Also Polar Lights wil have a couple interesting kits out later this year according to the Monsters in Motion website.

 ALL OF YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!

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Posted by harbinpr on Friday, August 2, 2013 7:44 PM

Where did you find the Polar Lights releases on the M-in-M website?  I don't keep up with it regularly, and I haven't been able to track down the release list.

  • Member since
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Posted by SchattenSpartan on Friday, August 2, 2013 8:45 PM

I know the Halo universe is not a real classic, but I think it has some really cool stuff in it (my favorite Sci-Fi universe). Not to mention that it exists for 12 years already with 8 games produced and a 9th announced, as well as a bunch of well-written books expanding the universe even more...

My favorites are:

UNSC "Pillar Of Autumn" (Halo CE - the first game):

UNSC "Forward Unto Dawn" (Halo 3):

UNSC "Infinity" (Halo 4):

I'd also love some figures of Halo characters (especially the Master Chief):

 

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  • From: Wilmington, DE USA
Posted by p51mustang on Friday, August 2, 2013 9:25 PM

any spacecraft from the Buck Rogers T.V. series from the late 1970's

Happiness is a belt fed weapon!!Big Smile

 

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Posted by BashMonkey on Saturday, August 3, 2013 12:04 AM
@Harbinpr, do search for NX01 Enterprise Refit. They are taking preorders for Oct release for what I take to be a smaller scale kit of the fandom kit of the NX01 with the fantasy refit adding a secondary hull to make it more classic Enterprise looking. To be released at the same time is a small scale TOS Enterprise with the Botany Bay. Beats a Kazon whatever anyday.

 ALL OF YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!

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  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Saturday, August 3, 2013 1:23 AM

I'm afraid to ask what a resin Moya goes for; let alone a B5 station.

Same way I've never looked to see if there was a K-9 from Dr Who, which ought to be an obvious styrene kit of some size, but is probably a dinky resin kit in costly short-run form.  C'est la vie as out amies français say.

Now, there are some ought-to-be made kits.  Bun-Bun comes to mind.  Posleen saucer and O'neal's fighting suit would be cool (if bank account draining).

A complete set of Bolo tanks would be a task, especially for the sizes needed.

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  • From: Washington, DC
Posted by TomZ2 on Saturday, August 3, 2013 1:34 AM

OLD spaceships:

“Destiny”, a ship “built millions of years ago by the Ancients”, in Stargate Universe

“Master Cruiser 12-12-12” from Across Time by David Grinnell. (762,891+ years)

A thousand-year-old spaceship from “The Thing” (John Carpenter).

AND

CapnMac82

A complete set of Bolo tanks would be a task, especially for the sizes needed.

I WANT A BOLO! By preference, I want a Bolo Stupendous, Mark XXV, namely BBI “Bobby” from “A Relic of War”.

And I’d LOVE to do a diorama based on Bobby’s line: “Unit Nine five four of the Line, reporting contact with hostile force. Enemy destroyed.” If I had a Stupendous, I’d be home free for a diorama because the unnamed enemy is described as a smoking ruin!!!



Tags: Bolo

Occasional factual, grammatical, or spelling variations are inherent to this thesis and should not be considered as defects, as they enhance the individuality and character of this document.

  • Member since
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  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Saturday, August 3, 2013 6:15 AM

p51mustang
any spacecraft from the Buck Rogers T.V. series from the late 1970's

The Buck Rogers Starfighter and Draconian Marauder from this series was kitted by Monogram back in the day. If I recall correctly, the Starfighter was reboxed (and re-released?) by Tsukuda in Japan.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, August 3, 2013 11:49 AM

Phil_H

p51mustang
any spacecraft from the Buck Rogers T.V. series from the late 1970's

The Buck Rogers Starfighter and Draconian Marauder from this series was kitted by Monogram back in the day. If I recall correctly, the Starfighter was reboxed (and re-released?) by Tsukuda in Japan.

I had both of those kits. Wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better than the Cylon Raider and Colonial Viper kits of a couple years before.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: England
Posted by P mitch on Saturday, August 3, 2013 1:41 PM

Moebius are redoing the original Viper and Cylon Raider and the CAD drawings look good so far

Phil

"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls." R J Mitchell


  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 3, 2013 2:55 PM

yah, but the viper is way over due.  moebius keeps pushing the release date back. at this point I think that they are fibbing about weather or not it will come out at all.  with some of the problems I have had with them,  I think  that they are not to be trusted.

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Posted by BashMonkey on Saturday, August 3, 2013 5:04 PM
@ CapnMac82 K9 has been available in figure collectables and toy versions for a while now. My favorite being a half size RC version complete with voice responses. "Affirmative !"

 ALL OF YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!

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Posted by patton45 on Saturday, August 3, 2013 7:13 PM

1/32 or 1/24  Lunar Lander.  Only in 1/48 and 1/72 which is too small for something as cool as this.

Mercury, Gemini and Apollo have all been issued in large scales except for the LEM.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, August 3, 2013 10:43 PM

stikpusher

Phil_H

p51mustang
any spacecraft from the Buck Rogers T.V. series from the late 1970's

The Buck Rogers Starfighter and Draconian Marauder from this series was kitted by Monogram back in the day. If I recall correctly, the Starfighter was reboxed (and re-released?) by Tsukuda in Japan.

I had both of those kits. Wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better than the Cylon Raider and Colonial Viper kits of a couple years before.

I still have my Draconian Marauder I built many, many years ago. My 8 yr old got a hold of it and a few parts have separated, but it is still complete. I've always wanted to obtain another kit to build it better (and paint it too!). Bonus points if you can identify other kits in this shot.

  

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  • From: Illinois: Hive of Scum and Villany
Posted by Sprue-ce Goose on Saturday, August 3, 2013 11:30 PM

Rob Gronovius

stikpusher

Phil_H

p51mustang
any spacecraft from the Buck Rogers T.V. series from the late 1970's

The Buck Rogers Starfighter and Draconian Marauder from this series was kitted by Monogram back in the day. If I recall correctly, the Starfighter was reboxed (and re-released?) by Tsukuda in Japan.

I had both of those kits. Wayyyyyyyyyyyyy better than the Cylon Raider and Colonial Viper kits of a couple years before.

I still have my Draconian Marauder I built many, many years ago. My 8 yr old got a hold of it and a few parts have separated, but it is still complete. I've always wanted to obtain another kit to build it better (and paint it too!). Bonus points if you can identify other kits in this shot.

  

I recognize a number of 1970s era models including Maximilian the  Disney Robot from "The Black Hole" movie , an Estes rocket ( Tie Fighter) at least one of the Maschinen Kruger series kits, a UFO re-issue...perhaps the alien head was molded in green plastic like the kit I had.Big Smile.
Don't recognize the 4 legged or white / red bipedal model.
Is that a snow speeder partially hidden behind the quadruped model ? 
  • Member since
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  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Saturday, August 3, 2013 11:46 PM

Smile

Sprue-ce Goose
Don't recognize the 4 legged or white / red bipedal model.

The red and white fella behind Maximillian is an Orgroid (from Orguss, a series which was contemporary to Macross) kitted by either Imai or Arii. There's a Macross gun pod lower left, between the front feet of the walker, which is (originally) a Tequila Gunner from Dougram (later reboxed by Revell in their "Robotech" kit line).

If I recall correctly, the Revell Robotech line preceded the TV series by a short time.

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