Art Asylum ships

[cynical dreamer]

Not sure if this is the right forum but it seemed the most appropriate.

Wanted to ask a couple of things:

Firstly, has anyone else been collecting the ships that Art Asylum has been putting out? So far I have the non-variants of the TOS Enterprise, the TWOK refit Enterprise, and the Enterprise E. So far I've been happy with them but to my eyes there's a little too much beige and off-blue coloration on the refit and the 'E'. I realize this is probably how the filming models look like up close but on screen they tend to look more white/grey which is what i was hoping for. Other than that they look great especially at the $30 price point i paid for them. Anyone else have any comments/nitpicks about the models so far?

Another question I have is about the upcoming Enterprise D. Seems this one keeps getting delayed (by my count at least 4 times so far). Is it a problem with the model or are they trying to time it to the new film's release date? Any news would be appreciated.

The last question revolves around which models are coming next. It's been asked on the Art Asylum website whether a model of Voyager is to come and the answer was "probably not". That's a shame as I don't yet have a Voyager in my collection and I'm not big on the model building thing. My wishlist for future AA releases looks something like: Voyager, Excelsior, Reliant, Defiant, and the new movie Enterprise. Has there been any news on any of these being "in the pipeline" for down the road? *fingers crossed*

 

[nx1701g]

My wishlist for future AA releases looks something like: Voyager, Excelsior, Reliant, Defiant, and the new movie Enterprise. Has there been any news on any of these being "in the pipeline" for down the road? *fingers crossed*

There hasn't been anything said but the new Enterprise is not possible at present. Playmates toys has the exclusive rights produce toys from the new film.

 

[BorgMan]

Yep, no AA for the new movie, which is a shame actually. The NX-01 is a pretty good model, the pylons can take a heavy beating. I, too, would like to see a Voyager model, but I'd be more interested in one of the other ships, like the Prometheus or the Nova, although I'm not sure they'll make much more Star Trek models...

 

[MadMan1701A]

I have the same ships you mentioned. I like them all, enought that they all 3 sit on my desk right here next to me.

I want a USS Federation Dreadnought, and a Klingon D7...

-=MadMan=-

 

[FalTorPan]

I want a USS Federation Dreadnought, and a Klingon D7...

I'd like a Feddy, too.

 

[nx1701g]

I'm not sure they'll make much more Star Trek models...

I'm sorry to say that I think you're right.

 

[ThomasModels]

....So far I've been happy with them but to my eyes there's a little too much beige and off-blue coloration on the refit and the 'E'. I realize this is probably how the filming models look like up close but on screen they tend to look more white/grey which is what i was hoping for....

During the design and development of those models it was belived that the collector would desire them to be painted the way the studio models were painted. Optical processing, screen grabs and the varying depth, contrast, and hue of monitors and screens that the movies are viewed on make the ships appear different shade of grays. Nailing down the perceived colors and matching what collectors perceive the colors should be would be difficult. So it was decided the product's colors should be that of the various studio models.

Another question I have is about the upcoming Enterprise D. Seems this one keeps getting delayed (by my count at least 4 times so far). Is it a problem with the model or are they trying to time it to the new film's release date? Any news would be appreciated.

That model was just in the early design stages when announced. Typically it can take upwards of 6-12 months from concept to product on the shelves. The 1701-D was essentually four models, a saucer and secondary hull for each of the 1701-D and AGT versions. It has taken 15 months of design alone on this one. All tooling and litho printing design work is done and the product and exclusive are in production now.

The initial paint tests were done using studio colors and when the product manager saw it, he was taken back. It was too blue-green for him. He wanted to see it that way it appeared on screen so another set of colors were created that would reflect just that. The 1701-D will be painted the way they appear on screen using the studio model's painted colors as a base reference.

My wishlist for future AA releases looks something like: Voyager, Excelsior, Reliant, Defiant, and the new movie Enterprise. Has there been any news on any of these being "in the pipeline" for down the road? *fingers crossed*

Your wishes may come true! There are five products 'in the pipline' right now plus one more which is complete and should be hitting store shelves soon.

 

[cynical dreamer]

ThomasModels:

Thank you very much for your reply. That answers alot of the questions I had. Other than minor quibbles with coloring I've realy enjoyed the AA models so far and look forward to the future. Thank you again for the detailed and thoughtful reply!

 

[Broccoli]

I've been a fan of these for a while. Personally, I own the NX-01, E-A, and the TOS-E. I think the NX-01 is the best. I was disappointed with the E-A and the TOS-E was good, but it had the strangest odd-ball marks (such as the "fill holes" where the screws went in the engineering section). I never got the E-E as I heard the paint job on the bottom was very subpar and the engines were lit poorly (a comment personally confirmed when I saw the ship displayed a few years back). I a luke-warm on the E-D, especially with the hefty price tag attached to it ($40, I believe). I also never bothered with the Ent-Refit as I have the E-A, which is the same damn thing.

Your wishes may come true! There are five products 'in the pipline' right now plus one more which is complete and should be hitting store shelves soon.

What are these future projects?

 

[GothTrek]

That is truly sad to hear about the 1701D, I was hoping for that exact blue green of the studio model. Now I guess we'll get some kind of metallic gray looking model, as it appeared on screen. I have seen the 4 foot studio model when it was on display at the Science Fiction Museum here in Seattle, and that's what I was hoping for. AA did a fantastic job with the WOK refit Enterprise.

 

[BorgMan]

A new Star Trek ship entering the shelves soon? I can't shake off the feeling that this MUST be the 1701JJ, but that couldn't be...

Anyway, as said I'd be highly interested in a Prometheus. Has there been talk about that one at all?