Just checked Aoshimas Web-stie for upcoming Kits and what to I see:
Space 1999- Eagle Transporter in 1/72 scale(30cm long)
Price will be hefty with nearly 10.000Yen, it is a repackaged Enterprice Co. Kit
Should be released sometime from now to the end of the month.
Don’t be stingy, Mad, what’s the website?
yeah fess up please. by the way any other space 1999 products out there?
Sorry, Guys.
Thread slipped my notice.
The URL is below:
http://www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/scripts/shouhin/aoshima.aspx?year=2004&month=1
Be warned the site is in Japanese. Kit will 30cm lon so better clear some shelf space.
Nothing much else out there, but more might be coming.
I believe license changed hands a while ago, so it will take some time for new kits to be produced.
1/72 vs the old IMAI kit in 1/110.
This Eagle is NOT a model kit but a die-cast collectible (fully completed and painted) model. It is made by an English company : “Product Enterprise” specialized in Gerry Anderson’s collectors (UFO, Space 1999, Dr Who, Stingray, Fireball XL-5, Thunderbirds, etc…). Aoshima has just the rights for the Japan market but is not the manufacturer at all. This very cool item is planned for late january and is limited to 6000 units worldwide.
HobbyLink is selling the baby for $92.30 (pre-sold out).
If you want to save some money, you can order it directly at ProductEnterprise (UK - price is £39.99 pounds - it makes $73.40) :
http://www.productenterprise.com/ (Gerry Anderson section). Pictures shows a prototype.
Pictures of final product at CometMiniatures in UK : http://www.comet-miniatures.com/zone.php?zone=1& (for £39.50. Pictures on the top of the page - click “more info”).
If you’re in US, Monsters In Motion will have a few units for sale but at a higher price…
[:)]
That is a very cool item! Definitely gonna pick one up.
Thanks for the link, sicqnus.
By the way, I don’t think anyone made any insinuations at all that the model was MADE by Aoshima. In his original post, MMF clearly stated that it was a repackaged Enterprise product.
Yup, definitely not a kit, though.
But cooooool!!
Pretty expensive TOY! [xx(]
Does anyone have an old IMAI kit? Were they any good? IMO 7" is kinda short for amodel of an Eagle Transport.
You can find them still on E-Bay, but I would buy one quickly while they still can be had.
IMAI went the way of the Dodo about 2yrs ago.
IMO, it is not really worth as it will need a lot of work to make it look good, but than I don’t know of ANY kit of the eagle that is without major flaws.
Isn’t that the kit that had or has wheels under it?
Not that bad, but the side thrusters are decals and NOT molded parts.
Nice head’s up MMF. Where are u at in the Land of the Rising Sun? ( NAF Atsugi here) -Calvin
Hi Calvin.
I am in the western part of Tokyo.
You guys are practically neighbors!
I lived in Kanto for about two years; in Fujisawa (very close to Atsugi) and Shinjuku.
MMF, I think I’ve seen the Imai Eagles on the shelves recently. Is that just some leftover stock finally hitting the shelves, or am I seeing a different kit? Pretty sure it’s the Imai kit.
J-Hulk.
I think those IMAI kit are deadstock. All the Licenses for Kits that IMAI had were sold to a variety of Companies.
Tamiya → Harley Davidson (methinks)
Aoshima → Thunderbirds, Space 1999, etc.
etc.
I think we will see more re-issues of old IMAI kits, but doubt that many will be retooled.
I’ve seen advertising picking up lately concerning TB toys, due to the upcoming film release. Hopefully this will mean good things for fans of all things Gerry! That is, more than just re-issues of old stuff.
Since IMAI went under, quiet a few of the new licence holder been using those to release a multitude of toys and collectible figures as well as a few kits.
UFO Moonbase was reissued in kit form, etc.
To be honest I wouldn’t hold my breath to see too many kits being reissued or hoping for great improvements.
True.
But wouldn’t it be great if Fine Molds did some Gerry?
Well, a guy can dream, can’t he?
Well, I couldn’t resist.
Super Kid’s Land had 'em on sale for 7,900 yen (about $75 USD), so I picked one up. (MMF, you could probably find 'em even cheaper up in Tokyo.)
I must say I’m very impressed. Sharp detail, an excellent paint job (mildly weathered), and, from what I know about Eagles, seemingly pretty accurate. About the only things I can see that would improve it as a scale model would be to drill out the maneuvering thrusters and remove the few seams and mold parting lines that exist.
As is, it beats any existing kits sold to date that I know of, except perhaps the few expensive multi-media kits that are available.
It was an expensive “toy,” but for a Gerry fan like me, well worth it!