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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…[6]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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):
@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.
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.
