SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Revell Moon Ship on Ebay...

1199 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 5:53 PM
Paul sent me a CD with a lot of pics of his very nice unbuilt kit. The pics were well layed out with a ruler as reference. He also included box art, instructions, decal scan, and recreated UK markings that could be made into decals! If I decide to scratchbuild one of my own it should be be very do-able. Thanks Paul, you are a gentleman and an all around good egg!Big Smile [:D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    July 2003
Posted by schulerwb24 on Friday, March 18, 2005 4:09 PM
Ah, the old collector vs builder debate. Well sir, I was both a builder and collector at one time. Had a bunch of kits I knew I was not going to build but sell someday. Well, after my last move, I told myself to make a decision- are you a builder or collector? Choose one or the other, you can't be both. I realized building is my passion, collecting a sideline. So, I sold all my collector models and kept the ones I really plan to build. I now call myself a builder. Enough about me.

Paulbrad: great idea on photoing the parts before you remove them. I have photoed the boxes, but not the parts themselves. Good idea.

Also, I record every paint used, maker, part number, FS number; and where used, color mixes, techniques, etc. on each model. That way, if I want to recreate it pr fix a problem, I have a record.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, March 10, 2005 2:39 AM
Thanks for the suggestion Woody. I've considered this idea but want to re-live the thrill of my childhood (sad, isnt it?) by building the model itself. I'm not rushing in, though. I've waited many years to find this kit, so I'll give it plenty of thought first. The idea of documenting its construction is to provide as much info as I can for interested scratchbuilders who would like to recreate it themselves.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 5:17 PM
You could use the original parts as reference to scratch build one. You could also just save the box as a keepsake.

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 12:30 PM
The collector vs, builder debate is very interesting. I'm from the UK and have just bought a pristine Moon Ship on ebay for $152. The UK version (with different decals) was one of the first kits I ever built as a child in the early 60s and it triggered a lifelong love of SF modelling. Over the years, of course, it was lost (along with half an Airfix Stingray and Fireball Junior) as my family moved home. Yes, I fully intend to build it and even to try to reproduce the simpler UK decals (anyone got any info on them out there?). But as I sit here studying the parts, I'm also acutely aware of the "history" that will be lost when I do. So, what should I do about preserving what I can? I've already taken photos of all the parts before I remove them from the runners and I intend to document each step of construction. Any other ideas (other than screams of horror)?
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Friday, February 18, 2005 6:00 PM
I must say you have had a completely different experience with collectors than I have. I have never personally met a greedy "true" collector. In fact I have had many rare kits given to me by collectors. I have never really understood the animosity felt toward collectors and it always catches me off guard. Here is a nugget to think about. If the collector hadn't conserved the kit in the first place the builder wouldn't have an object to covet or in other words it wouldn't be available for any price. Also remember the high prices aren't the fault of the collector but of demand. We collectors wish that the kits were cheap as well.

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 18, 2005 4:35 AM
Not a bad point to disagree on, I believe that I come off a bit too strongly for some folks, however. No offense meant in my posts, and none taken from yours! I can be a bit "passionate" in how I word things, when in reality I miscommunicate just how "passionate" I really am about the subject.

It's true we all collect something, in some shape or form. I tend to collect dust when planning builds! I just sit there and ponder... and ponder... All joking aside, I do collect some things, but few stay MIB. Let me ask though, would you let an Enzo Ferrari sit around and not drive it? Big Smile [:D] Sorry I came off wrong, there's exceptions to everything (some kits shouldn't be built), I just don't like seeing things get taken off the market due to other people's greed in the name of "collecting", yeah, that's actually what I meant...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 18, 2005 4:22 AM
(Continuing off-topic)

Well, Aftermarket, you make a very good point about building vs. collecting. It's a long-suffering topic among modelers, believe me. I'm conflcited and admit it. I've been back in this hobby since very early 1987 and I love to build kits. I have a couple hundred on shelves upstairs in my hobby room. Some will be built. But I also love to collect them too (along with other non-model stuff), so I see both sides of this often-discussed issue.

(Climbing up on my philosphical podium now) For me, I see a kit's historical and cultural value, as artifacts of both our hobby and of our culture. (But I draw the line at never opening a kit just to keep it pristine--MIB value be damned!) So I consider the preservation of certain rare kits a Good Thing. Being able to look at a vintage unbuilt kit, one of thousands once produced that has somehow survived all this time, while still showing its potential, gives me a thrill.

Over the years, I've seen some modelers at local model club meetings (and even at the big conventions) get all bent-out-of-shape over this subject. It does seem to polarize folks at times. But truth be told--every long-term modeler I've ever known has a good-sized collection of kits that they admit (when pressed) they'll never get around to building. But they still love having them anyway. Same is true with me. That's the crux of the situation. So were all collectors. It doesn't make sense but there you are. Everybody it seems is cursed with collecting something. By most other hobby standards, (like expensive sports memorbilia) collecting in our hobby is a relatively benign and by comparison) a cheap avocation.

So I guess on this one point, we'll have to agree to disagree--while still being passionate about our love of this hobby.

--Ken

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 18, 2005 3:10 AM
SolarWind,

Thanks for the information, as I think what I and others have done were evaluated the kit just on a "building-value" only, not considering the collectibility of the kit.

Off topic:
I don't like it when people acquire things just to put up and look at (saw some pics of a few Enzo Ferraris just sitting in a display in someone's house, that disgusts me!) most things should be used for their intended purpose. Models should be built, cars should be driven, etc. etc. etc. ;)
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 18, 2005 12:17 AM
Yes, it's much too expensive for a "building" copy, which is why that kit is best suited as a collector's kit, one to proudly show off to your modeling friends, unbuilt. All those early Revell type "S" space, rocket, and missle kits are very, very pricey, especially in such great condition. They are rare and hugely collectible and have been so for more than a decade and a half now--which explains the seller's $99.00 reserve. These kits just don't come around that often. I should know, I've been collecting them (all brands) for 20 years now and still have many holes in my "want list." (I'm cursed with being both a builder and a collector.)

Even missing just one part, that Moon Ship is a steal at that price, assuming the bids don't "take off" (yuck, yuck) during the last moments of the auction. The Sixth Edition (1994), which I just checked, of the Collector's Value Guide for Scale Model Plastic Kits (commonly referred to as The Burns Kit Guide) has it listed as "$150 and up." That's eleven years ago! By now, I'm certain the current edition would have it at double that now. I've only seen one other copy of this Moon Ship in the same condition from vendor at the IPMS National con in Albuquerque, 10 years ago.

BTW, kits from that era, especially those from Aurora, were frequently missing parts because of the sometimes careless, assembly line manhandling they received at the factory. Parts commonly fell off the sprues. As a kid in the late 50s, I discovered this the hard way. So I always checked the parts list on the instruction sheet before leaving the hobby shop, just to make certain a kit was complete. Sometimes they werent, and it was back to the hobby shelf for another copy.

--Ken
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 17, 2005 10:17 PM
Quite a bit too rich for my own, as well. I think that would be a great kit to build, but not for $100+! Maybe if I hit up a bunch of garage sales... Evil [}:)]
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Thursday, February 17, 2005 9:46 PM
I wish it was my kit! If it were it wouldn't be on ebay. LOL I was going to bid on it but he didn't list his shipping and handling policy. I shot him an inquiry and he replied with the S/H amount + $2.20 for insurance because the reserve was $99. That is a little too rich for my blood at this time.Big Smile [:D]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 17, 2005 9:40 PM
How'd you find that out Woody? Did you email the seller or... *GASP*! ARE the seller??? Wink [;)]

EDIT: I just don't think this kit is going to sell for over $99, especially when it's missing parts. Nuts.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Thursday, February 17, 2005 9:35 PM
The reserve is $99

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: USA
Revell Moon Ship on Ebay...
Posted by widepaul on Thursday, February 17, 2005 12:40 PM
For those interested - here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1193&item=5957576421&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.