Dyna Soar, MOL, Buran, Hyper-X...

Apr 18, 2004 15 Replies
S

I'm restarting the old resin model kit business I used to run years ago, Part Time Models. There are a vast assortment of spacecraft models I'm interested in modeling, but I want to do some things that'll sell (last time I just made models of whatever I felt like...). To that end, I've got a little market survey going:

formatting link
What I'm basically looking for is feedback on which of these ~200 models you *would* actually buy if they were made available. I need as much response as I can get in order to do this right, so please take a moment and check it out. There is an Excel spreadshet and a text listing; the spreadsheet option is easiest for me, but all honest feedback is useful.



Thanks.


Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
J

Thunderbirds but with a 1.23" + through hole for rocket motors (or display stands).

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

Thunderbirds? You mean "Thunderbirds are go" crappy Brit puppet show Thunderbirds? Nah. I'd probably get my butt sued off.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
E

crappy? nonesense. his team built some nice models. and had some great inventions like his special effects rocket motors. high 60's art.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
J

You asked for suggestions!

Sorry!

Jerry

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

Thunderbirds crappy? Man and here I was thinking that Derek Meddings and crew were model making geniuses.

Max Bryant

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

AHEM: What I actually said was:

Note what is being called "crappy" here. It was the *show* not the

*models.*
Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

YES!!

Now I have to dive into the storage unit and find my back issues of Aerospace Projects Review to cross-reference the images to all those designations!

APR is my all-time favorite publication! Put me on the list if you ever do a compilation.

Mike Jerauld

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
J

We got it.

I thought as a business person you might actually CONSIDER the suggestion of a prospective customer.

Oh well, I know how to do cast molding, maybe I will contact the rights owners for permissions myself.

Jerry

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

Oh, I'm not rejecting it, it's just that Tbiords are a just a little outside the range of the models I'm largely looking at.

Besides... your initial post simply said "Thinderbirds," without further explanation. Could have been from the TV show; could have neen the Thunderbird sounding rocket, could have been the Tbird USAF display squad, could have been something else entirely.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
E

watch it buster, yer stomping on teenage memories! (g) besides, he should get a medal for the james bond parodies.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
D

Here are my suggestions:

1/400 - I'll have to find more info on the subjexts to say, but it is an odd scale. 1/200 - R-7/Vostok/Soyuz, Energiya-Buran &CZ-2F would be nice to complete the Man in Space set. Shuttle-C, MOL, X-20, Titans & Deltas after that. 1/144 - Unless yours will be far superior, avoid repeating subjects from RealSpace Models & NewWare at first. That would leave CZ-2F, X-33, X-34, Ariane V, DC-X. Actually, as there is no available Hubble, that could be a good start (include shuttle bay mounts if possible, old & new solar panel). 1/72 - Same as above for repetition. Shenzou is coming soon from Dragon, so not a good bet (maybe a detail/correction set after release). X-20, Pegasus (with or without X-43), DC-X, MOL would be better. LOK/LK also if RealSpace doesn't re-release the Rho Models ones.

Dom

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

It is. However, there's already a very nice 1/400 Saturn V on the market, and the rockets lsited at 1/400 are all pretty damn big. 75 feet in diameter and nearly 600 feet long = big.

Agreed.

The market for these models is too small to go head-to-head with competitors on most of these.

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
T

formatting link
Crappy? I think not!

F.A.B. Bill Sullivan

"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art tasty and good with cocktail sauce!"

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
D

Wow! Cool! Quite a movie trailer!

It sounds as if most of the old characters will be killed off, unfortunately.

Dwayne

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required