Sci-Fi suggestions for major firms (plus a rant)

When I was young and HBO was new, they played the movie 'Battle Beyond the Stars' and I watched it numerous times. I wouldn't mind seeing kits based on the ships from that movie, especially Nelly(sp), Richard Thomas' ship. It's the one that looks like the head of Momow Nadon (Hammerhead) from the Star Wars cantina scene. I've gotta soft spot for her.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 13b20 I agree memeau, "Space Above and Beyond". But what about "Wing Commander"? I think from the game more than the movie. How about more "W. C." movies?

If we're considering "game" kits, how about something from Halo? I have seriously considered scratchbuilding an M808B Scorpion Main Battle Tank.

-Mark

I love sci-fi movies and books, and would love to do some models. But unless I'm interested in doing Star Trek or Star Wars models, theres noting available in north Queensland. And every time I see something on ebay it goes for prices I could never dream of matching!
I really want to make a Sulaco and Nostromo. The Aliens apc would be nice. Even the mercenary ship from Aliens resurection would be cool! (what was that called?)
I love Macross, and plane to buy up big on these when I go to japan. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up some Cowboy Bebop and Evangelion kits while I'm there. Kaneda's bike from Akira would be cool too.
There are so many movie ships and vehicles I could name (like the Event Horizon), but it is likely I'll never see a kit of any.
I'll have to start scratch building!! Anybody know any good links where I can get line drawings, schematics, or templates for sci-fi stuff?? Please.
See ya'll, Wade

Wacky,

I think the ship from Alien Resurrection was called the "Betty", and I agree with you totally on the futility of looking for kits of the rarer subjects. They are always WAY too expensive.

For information on all things sci-fi I suggest the Starship Modeler web page for starters:
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/

Hope it helps!

Mark

QUOTE: Originally posted by Wacky I love Macross, and plane to buy up big on these when I go to japan. Hopefully I'll be able to pick up some Cowboy Bebop and Evangelion kits while I'm there. Kaneda's bike from Akira would be cool too.

Don't hold your breath too much on the kits you listed. Most of the shelfs over here are also pretty bare, those kits get re-issued maybe once every year or two and than they good kits are sold out within a few weeks. Not ALL the models get reissued only some wanta Glaug ususally plenty, looking for a Regult in ANY scale stop looking.

BTW, still waiting for anyone to make kit of Kanedas Bike.

FYI, most of the kits that are released are gone within 6 months and the majority are never to be seen again. Plastics do get reissued at times, Resin & Vinyl kits(Garage-kits) usually not a chance of a re-issue and at times the kits are sold out so fast that they might have never been produced.

Forgot to mention on average the plastic offerings on SF and Anime kits over here is not that high in quality, most of the molds are ancient.
The really good stuff is done in Resin, but there availability and price prevents most from getting them.
Example:
Cowboy Bepop, Bandai released 2 kits from the series.
Thee were 2 ranges of Resin Kits out, one scaled similar to the Bandai Kits sold at $190 PER Kit, the other was a smaller 1/144 snap-fit, pre-painted offering.

Resin Kits(and some plastic) go OOP usually 3~6 months after the kit was released, now given that most shows you are listing showed YEARS ago over here ....

That bike would be pretty cool sitting on a shelf. One of the clowns on it's bike would be cool too. Akira was a nifty little piece of anime. A kit of the big walking tank from the end of "Ghost in the Shell" would be neat as well.

QUOTE: Originally posted by maddafinga That bike would be pretty cool sitting on a shelf. One of the clowns on it's bike would be cool too. Akira was a nifty little piece of anime. A kit of the big walking tank from the end of "Ghost in the Shell" would be neat as well.

Thinking of maybe taking one of those Toy Bikes and maybe turning it into a resin kit for myself, naturally only after i have moved as I will need space to make molds and do the casting.

Some parts I reckon I could get from my Motorbike spares box, others I might have to scratchbuild or sculpt, getting pretty tired of bought kits and want to start some scratch projects.

I'd like some vinyl for LOTR. or something other than the wargame minis.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill I'd like some vinyl for LOTR. or something other than the wargame minis.

Isn't there are a German company that makes a few kits cased on the movies??

Can't remember if they were vinyl or Resin though.

[edit]
Check below:
http://www.collecttolkien.com/SMDbFigsGerman.htm

Earthbound studios I has/had a resin Gollum on offer.
http://www.monstersdirect.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=GOLUKIT&type=store
[/edit]

Ghost in the Shell!!! How could I forget that masterpiece. I've seen some pretty cool anime resin figure kits on the net. I got the impression these, at least, were readily available. Granted the kits I saw were all hong kong or american garage kits.

Macross was my all time favorite show when I was growing up, that and Astroboy. There has to be some well priced kits available when I get to japan, I won't accept anything less!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by MadModelFactory QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill I'd like some vinyl for LOTR. or something other than the wargame minis. Isn't there are a German company that makes a few kits cased on the movies?? Can't remember if they were vinyl or Resin though. [edit] Check below: http://www.collecttolkien.com/SMDbFigsGerman.htm Earthbound studios I has/had a resin Gollum on offer. http://www.monstersdirect.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=GOLUKIT&type=store [/edit]

Thanks for the heads up MMF!! I like vinyl in that size. That big a resin worries me about structural integraty. Now to get my hands of them. I may have to get creative.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Wacky Ghost in the Shell!!! How could I forget that masterpiece. I've seen some pretty cool anime resin figure kits on the net. I got the impression these, at least, were readily available. Granted the kits I saw were all hong kong or american garage kits.

Ghost in the Shell is another series where you might be out of luck, you will need to look for more current series. Most of the Kits from the series were Event Only.

The American and Hong Kong recasts/pirated kits pretty much killed the Resin kit industry over here. There are still kits coming out but a small fraction of what they were a few years ago. Many Hobby Shops now even are stopping to stock Resin Kits, which leaves the shows as the main purchasing place for Kits.
Examples:
Kaiyodo stopped producing Resin Kits, Volks only releases now A-Brand and X-Brand (original design Kits), Fewture pulled out of Resin Kits, Max Factory mostly does pre-assembled and pre-painted stuff like most of the other companies now.

Yes, there are still plenty of kits on the shelfs(mostly game based), but very little that would inerest the Anime fans from overseas as like I said the series are too old and the Japanese consumers have moved on.
Most of the good kit shops are now insider shops where you NEED to know where they are and how to get there.

QUOTE: Macross was my all time favorite show when I was growing up, that and Astroboy. There has to be some well priced kits available when I get to japan, I won't accept anything less!!!

Come over and see, but you have been warned.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill Thanks for the heads up MMF!! I like vinyl in that size. That big a resin worries me about structural integraty. Now to get my hands of them. I may have to get creative.

1.) I think you need to be simply a Member of the Ring in order to get the Kits. FWIW, I always fill my VInyl kits with REsin to give them strength and stability.

2.) Resin Kits don't have structural integrity problems as long as your "pinning" is appropriate, I have assembled many Figure Resin Kits from 1/15 ~ 1/4 scale and never had any problems. Also forget about CA for holding Resin Kits together.

I tend to be clumsy and I've constantly having to rescult something I've broken off the resin figs. I don't do well with epoxy. I never seem to mix it so it'll dry.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill I tend to be clumsy and I've constantly having to rescult something I've broken off the resin figs. I don't do well with epoxy. I never seem to mix it so it'll dry.

Don't worry I also add my own damages to kits which I need to fix afterwards.

As for putty there are 3 types I use:
1.) 2 -part Tamiya or similar, I prefer to use the slow curing one.
2.) Pre-thinned Putty, good for smallre gap filling.
3.) Tube/Tin(1kg) Epoxy Putty, here you simply add a hardening agent the more you add the faster it will set.. My prefered Brands here are Mori Mori for Plastic and Sube Sube for Resin.

If you need any help with Resin kits or how to fix problems feel free to e-mail me or ask me here on the forum. Might have a few suggestions for you.

I can also alwasy scan in instruction photos from my library on "how to do" resin figs.

FWIW, I prefer Resin over Vinyl. Got a few Vinyl figs that are now hard get hold of.

Hey, I know there's mixed feelings about this movie (I for one enjoyed it), but wouldn't the FTL travelmachine from Contact make a nice model? Sort of like a sci-fi /real space model.


On the subject of manga models. I found some macoss models on an auction site. At least I now know not to wait till I get to Japan. Thanks for the info Madmodelfactory!

I'd like to see a re-release of some Battlestar Galactica stuff , try getting anything on e-Bay and prepare to spend upto and over at times $100.00
I don't know about the rest of you but I work hard for the money I get and while I'm not a cheap scape I don't feel like shelling out that kind of cash , I'd rather buy 3 or 4 kits before doing that .

Thanks MMF. I use the two part epoxy in a tube and the only time it properly cured was when it leaked in my tool box!! I use a lot of super glue. If i use metal pins I could probably use CA on large scale resin. I've been looking at the 120mm Special Op soldier on a horse for my mom. She buys a lot of my kits for me and sneaks in mounted figs and a 1/16 concord Stage coach on my to do list. I'll get there.

QUOTE: Originally posted by SewerRat I'd like to see a re-release of some Battlestar Galactica stuff , try getting anything on e-Bay and prepare to spend upto and over at times $100.00 I don't know about the rest of you but I work hard for the money I get and while I'm not a cheap scape I don't feel like shelling out that kind of cash , I'd rather buy 3 or 4 kits before doing that .

Last year our local cheap 'n' chearful supermarket had a job lot of Monogram Battlestar Galactica stuff, I got most of them for about £6.00 GBP each

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill Thanks MMF. I use the two part epoxy in a tube and the only time it properly cured was when it leaked in my tool box!!

I know that feeling.
Biggest mistake I ever did for a Figure was making a Dio out of Balsafoam and using a 2 minute curing Resin to cover it. That is 2 minutes from the time you pour the liquids together. [:0][:0]

If you want any 2nd opinion or similar feel free to contact me I got a huge libraryr with reference materials for Figure building, both from japanese and overseas sources:
Replicant (Japanese mook)
Model Mania Video Series (Still waiting for Number 5)
VOLKS Video Series
etc.

QUOTE: Originally posted by memeau If we're considering "game" kits, how about something from Halo? I have seriously considered scratchbuilding an M808B Scorpion Main Battle Tank. -Mark

AMEN TO THAT BROTHER!!
I'd LOVE a 1/144 scale pelican! And maybe a 1/700 scale Pillar of Autumn?

I've got a vinyl DR. McCoy I want to do up right at some point. I'm seriously considering going after the LOTR kits or maybe trying a little sculpting. I've got some things to finish 'fore I get into something new.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill I've got a vinyl DR. McCoy I want to do up right at some point. I'm seriously considering going after the LOTR kits or maybe trying a little sculpting. I've got some things to finish 'fore I get into something new.

The Vinyl McCoy is a very basic Kit, mine had a bit of fit problems between upper body and legs.

I would say go for the LOTR kits while they are still available.

I though it was a good likeness plus if was a gift. With a little work I could be very happy with it. I noticed to off fit at the waist when I did a little dry fitting. Not a problem. I'm starting to look into the LOTR kits.

The McCoy isn't a bad kit and will build up quit nice.

By basic I mean pose(boring), some detail not sharp enough, etc.

A very good introduction kit for newcomers to the Hobby, IMHO.

Did you know that comet miniatures, lavender hill, London did a Negh`var in scale with Enterprise-D(or at least used to) ?

Well I was hoping to round up the Original 7 and poses them on the transporter pad. I'm definatly tinkering with it a bit. Which "D" ibuick? The Negh'var is a battle cruisr, one of the new ones right?

Well, I hadn't replied to this topic, but I'd really want to see more models from the Gundam Sentinel novel. The issue here (as far as I know, I may be wrong) is that the copyright of the models is held by ModelGraphix and Bandai doesn't like paying to those guys... my wishlist...

A MG Xeku Eins (maybe with the options of either of the 3 configurations seen on the novel?)
A HGUC Plan 303E Deep Striker - Hey, Bandai makes the Dendrobium in the same scale, it is possible
A decent looking MG Exs Gundam (the one Bandai released is just HIDIOUS).

Some of this models were released my ModelGraphix's own resin casting company, but they are very hard to find and very expensive..

I recommend you buy the Gundam Sentinel book, the stuff there is just amazing.

ive pretty much gave up hope on the sci-fi arena. Just armor and aircraft for me now. Seems manufacturers try to bully you into buying by claiming everything to be limited run. Take for instance THE ENTERPRISE A VERSION<< SOMEONE TELL ME ITS NOT IN DEMAND