There have been lots of rumors going around about RC2, Polar Lights and Star Trek models. I've been checking up with all my sources and here's what I can tell you...

RC2 is still selling Star Trek kits including the 1:350 Refit, the 1:1000 Classic Enterprise, the 1:1000 Klingon D-7, the Scorpian, the three different 3 Ship Sets and the Klingon Bird of Prey. The 1:350 NX-01 and the 1:1000 NX-01 are no longer available from RC2. (But don't you have these yet?)

There has been no official announcement regarding Star Trek models from RC2. RC2 reps are saying the company is still in negotiations over the license. This has been the situation for some time. Until there is a license deal, don't expect any reissued or new kits.

The Polar Lights brand is apparently being phased out by RC2. No big surprise there as RC2 has not developed any new Polar Lights kits since purchasing Playing Mantis. The little NX-01 came out in summer of 2005 and was the last Sci-Fi release in the PL line.

It's important to note that RC2 has not discontinued or canceled the Star Trek line. Based on what I've been told, they don't want to discontinue the line.

And for what it's worth, it doesn't sound like Polar Lights is dead either. Stay tuned.

11/30/06

Lindberg (recently bought by Hawk) is promising a whole bunch of reissued kits for late 2007. Of particular interested are the following:

Mars Probe - Its not clear exactly what kit this is. Lindberg relased two different kits over the years under the name Mars Probe.


Dinosaurs - Seven different dinosaur kits are being reissued by Lindberg.


Alien - your basic extraterrestrial.
Visible Alien and Visible T-Rex. Two kits that appear to be variations on the standard Alien and T-Rex.


Roswell UFO - supposedly the ship that crashed 1953


Those into Planet of the Apes might take interest in the Statue of Liberty kit
There is also a line of pirate themed kits including a Pirate Skull, Blackbeards Pirate Ship, Henry Morgan's Pirate Ship, and a few others.

Keep an eye on the Lindberg website.

12/5/06

The latest issue of the IPMS USA Journal (Nov-Dec 2006) features a great article by Dave Lentell on building the Babylon 5 Starfury.   The comprehensive article covers all aspects of building and painting the kit and includes a mention of the Cult site.   Highly recomended.

To join the IPMS and subscribe to the Journal, visit the IPMS website.

12/21/06

New Ware Releases Salyut 1-The World’s First Space Station

Thirty years prior to the International Space Station, the world’s first space station, Salyut 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1971. Modeler’s have eagerly been awaiting the release of a model of this important spacecraft, but the flight of Salyut 1 was cloaked in secrecy and tragedy.

New Ware’s release of the first model kit of Salyut 1 was based on exhaustive research and intimate knowledge of the Russian space program. The 1/144th scale kit depicts Salyut 1 as it is docked with the Soyuz 11 and is approximately  6.2 inches long (15.7 cm.). The kit contains 33 resin parts, 22 photoetched parts and 28 decals. The kit retails for $40.

The kit faithfully duplicates the four cylindrical components of Salyut 1 and is complete with molded on thermal blankets. The Soyuz spacecraft is exquisitely crafted due to the abundance of photoetched parts and contains details only seen in kits many times larger. The master was researched and crafted by Andi Wuestner, who has been responsible for the New Ware series of Russian spacecraft in 1/48th scale. The instructions are among the more detailed ones to be included in any model kit and include complete painting instructions.

Salyut 1 is available directly through New Ware on its web site at mek.kosmo.cz/newware/.   The Soyuz model and the entire New Ware line also are available through its American distributor, Victory Models, located in Florida,  whose web site is  www.victorymodels.com.

11/10/06

Revell announced several kit reissues at the Chicago Hobby Expo. 

The big news centers around the Battlestar Galactica reissues.   As rumored, the old Viper, Cylon Raider, and Cylon Basestar are being reissued with some new detail parts.    In Sept 2007, look for the Viper with a clear canopy, cockpit interior, pilot, new decals and other improved detail.   In Oct 2007, the Cylon Basestar is releaed with "newly detailed parts."  The Cylon Raider arrives in Nov 2007 with new detail parts including improved engines.    Only the Cylon Basestar was on display at the show.   No word on the original Galactica, but rumors indicated an all new kit could be in the works along with new kits from the current series.   If Revell is going to wait to see how succesful the reissues are, it will be 2008 before we see the new kits.

Lets hope the series doesn't jump the shark before then.

Revell is also going to reissue several of the Aurora Prehistoric Scenes under the banner "Dawn of Time."    The first kits are scheduled for December: "Ankylosaurus Tank," "Dimetrodon Sail Back," "Allosaurus Fang," and "Pteranodon Klaw."   Expect the rest of the kits in April:  "Triceratops Trike," "Giant Woolly Mammoth Tusk," and "Styracosaurus Spike".   There is no indication if these kits will include their original base parts.  The notable absence is the T-Rex.   It is not known if any of the other Prehistoric Scene molds survive as only these kits have been reissued over the years.

Revell will also be reissuing the two popular Apollo kits.  Expect the 1/48 First Lunar Landing in April and the 1/32 Apollo Spacecraft Control Center Module in June.   These are billed as "Limited Editions."

10/23/06 - updated 11/2/06

I was looking over the Master Replicas website tonight, looking for anything new on the big Enterprise and they've posted a little bit of credit information for the folks that worked on the miniature. We all knew that John Eaves was working on the ship, as he brought a prototype to Wonderfest this year. But it was wonderful to see credit to some of our good friends including Gary Kerr, Petri Blomquist, and Jeff Waclawsky. Nice work guys!

Master Replicas Blog

11/7/06

The folks at Fantastic Plastic passed along this new kit announcement a few days ago.

Just a quick note to announce the long-anticipated release of the 1:350 Colonial One Presidential Transport by Fantastic Plastic Models.

The pattern is by Alfred Wong, casting by Controlled Energy Designs and decals by Microscale. The kit features 21 pressure-cast pieces and builds up into a model 10" long.

If you're a new Battlestar Galactica fan, I think you'll like this one!

Colonial One at Fantastic Plastic

11/7/06

Jon Rogers will be releasing a special edition of his Spaceship Handbook artwork this winter.   He is also currently working on a new companion book, The Saucer Fleet, which will come out later and will have a big section on the Jupiter 2.

The Spaceship Handbook examined the evolution of the Spaceship from fantasy to commodity. For Science Fiction Fans, Space and Rocket enthusiasts as well as  precision model makers it was a treasure trove of information on the most significant spaceships of the 20th Century and the people who created them.
 
One of it's hallmarks was the detailed, scaled drawings of each of the Spaceships covered. Painstakenly researched and accurately drawn to capture the original design as it truely was, they allowed the recreation of all these classic spaceships. By themselves they alone were worth the price of the book.
 
The Spaceship Handbook, printed in limited edition was so popular it sold rapidly and is now out of print. Today it brings over three times it's cover price--IF you can find a copy. Many enthusiasts have regretted not owning a copy of the book or any of the fine engineering drawings it contains.
 
Well, Opportunity knocks.  Jon Rogers, Co-author and illustrator of the Spaceship Handbook has decided to reprint a special edition of  the data drawings he created for the Spaceship Handbook for Christmas 2006. As in the book, they will be sharply detailed, color accented and accurately scaled. But, unlike those in the book they will also be: 

• Printed on heavy Photographic quality paper suitable for framing.
• and In some cases more finely featured, Upreved editions,
• available by Christmas 2006 (and for an unknown, limited time thereafter)

Jon Rogers website

11/10/06