Collector Model

Mark McGovern says:

This is an easy one!

SUPERMAN: I was brought up during the Curt Swan era; his drawings were clean and easy to read, yet still realistic. At that time, our image of a live-action Superman was George Reeves. While Mr. Swan denied that he based his drawings on the TV Superman, their two interpretations meshed well; both portrayed a slightly older, more adult hero. Much as I enjoyed Christopher Reeve’s performances, he always seemed a bit too young in the role to me.

STAR TREK: The franchise was fine up until the ENTERPRISE series, when the producers seemed to lose their grip on the Star Trek continuity. The ship and crew’s uniforms looked as though they belonged closer to Picard’s era than Kirk’s. And the last two films seem to have parted company with everything that had gone before. I find it hard to understand why Star Trek had to be “rebooted”, when there were so many story possibilities left after ST:VOYAGER had run its course. And TOS has been remastered with excellent computer-generated images that are faithful to the original effects shots, proving that the designs of yore can be made to work with modern movie technology.

Fortunately, we do have Polar Lights and AMT models of superheroes and Star Trek ships, which allow us to mold our fantasy worlds into the shapes WE want them.

ModelMan says:

Models of objects over figures. I’d rather see a fortress of solitude or batcave than the resident homeowner. Marvel over DC. Star wars over trek, but you don’t have the license even though you have the old MPC tools. Those MPC SW tools could be turned into something good. Some few key minor and semi-major mods on some kits here and there and you’d have a whole new line for the 21st century.

How about the Godzilla license and refining the TRU edition as all the seams flatten the natural ridges horribly, a major disappointment, add clear back scales for lighting and clear breath cone, also for lighting. He’s a bit big for companions, but a Ghidorah to-scale would be like a 350 Excelsior to me. Or a smaller Minra at his side or Jet Jaguar. Larval Mothra is not a money maker, imo. The old PL G line is not good. Those long box kits don’t need to come back. How is the King Kong license going and can that tie in with G? (Not that that was a high point of the G franchise to emulate, mind you.)

Marvel, fill out the ‘standard’ XMen line with Night crawler w/optional clear “bamf” smoke that replaces a limb or portion of his body, one Storm or another, Colossus, a Jean Grey Phoenix would be hot (NPI!), phase-changing Kitty Pride with optional bisecting wall or ceiling piece, Cyclops, Xavier and so on, not to discount any given enemy such as the Brood would make a sweet model that visually ties into Alien. Aliens Ripley power loader or 1/12 Marines diorama?

With Wolverine’s juggernaught head as the starting point, how about intersecting base plates for each character, though they’d have their own tableau, just that the base plates are configurable for custom modeler arrangements. Do you guys have an SR-71 in the stable and how tough to configure for Xmen? Any other Marvel vehicles come to mind? (Wonder Woman’s invisible jet!)

As to objects over figures and star trek less than star wars; as you don’t have SW how about Trek sets? The famous ‘Matt Jeffries Lost Set’ is what I want and it would have to be mounted on a wall it would be so big.

Each section of the ship as laid out on the Desilu shooting stage, all done at the current AMT Bridge scale to fit with a partial/mock hangar bay to house the remastered Galileo. Each section of the ship is its own model kit, (or grouped i.e. Transporter, Rec Room and some hallway while Engineering and all fo Sickbay might be their own releases) released every year once production is cranking, rather than one massively big single kit of an undertaking for modeler and producer, amortized over time.

As there is so much to do, I think the hobbyists could give a wink and a nod to not being millimeter accurate. As accurate as the current new bridge is would be the baseline. These would need a relatively fast, non-agonizing-decision-making releases to be effective. Get some solid measurements and cut the tool. The Galileo is an exception to this notion and one we are all very glad you are taking the time to do right! (Not to forget other Bridges at the AMT scale as well.) Is that all of the ‘classic’ 70’s AMT Trek re-released as of now? Still hoping you will finish off the tin box editions.

A consistent, mid-scale starship line. The 1/537, 650 and 420 lines should be reconciled to one. For the heft and that so much was done with Reliant, it’s 537. The AMT 650 kits are not modern enough quality to base off of. 1/537 doesn’t need ‘all’ the ships, leading with a few choice pieces such as an Excelsior (as we are unlikely to get a 350), Grissom, a ‘new smoothie’, the TOS 1701 would be a good sale (and scale!) compromise for builders who can’t justify the size and/or expense of the 350, the D7 and RomBoP to complete the “AMT 3” at that scale. After that, as it goes. I expect some would want Voyager if it can be done at the various scales. I’ll just say “Equinnox”. While at it, a K-7 at 1/1000 or 2500 as well as a Regula 1 which double for another station in TMP. Speaking of TMP, how tough would the repetitious Drydock design be at 350, 537 and 1000 to do? It is an invaluable piece to add for Refit fans, most especially if it can be hollowed for lighting!

If the 1/350 Trek line continues, I’m torn between Reliant and KTinga as viable options. The Excelsior is always on the back burner. But more than those, if there is only one ‘big kit’ budget every other year or so, then it must be a 22″ Eagle Transporter with all options. A 44″ Eagle would be golden (NPI), but not likely as big a seller for the size and volume of it (and likely the cost.)

Brass or aluminum tubing throughout (don’t forget premium spun aluminum engines), you guys engineer the modular cage fittings, encasements and hull in plastic. An injected plastic cage would be inferior for the effort, precut aluminum or brass tube segments all the way. I’ll warn that the cockpit could be as big or bigger a compromise headache as the Galileo. The set was built completely different from the model, or vice versa.

That’s off the top of my head. I’ll think about it some more and let you know. 😀

PS. With the TopGun tomcat and a possible XMen Blackbird, don’t forget that a Harrier was in True Lies and like the movie car line, there is room for aircraft/movie licensing as well as military (Oddball’s tank from Kelly’s Heroes, ex.)

Doug says:

Love that Polar Lights has reissued the classic Comics Scenes model kits for Spider-Man and Captain America. I would snatch up reissues of the classic Aurora Batman, Superman, Lone Ranger, and Tonto complete with the comic book background. You do great work.