News TOMY Star Trek Diecast Ship Replicas

[scotthm]

The campaign seems to have slowed significantly since it reached a little over a 1/3 ($800,000) of its goal.

Maybe that's why the campaign runs for 30 days.

The refit did reach it's target on the first day. That is the problem they are going to have, the only other ship I foresee reaching the refit numbers is the D, however that will also be more complex for them to build with the lighting kit and all.

I think the D will be at least as popular as the Refit, but I expect it to be more expensive and a good bit larger, so we'll see. If it's a similar length, it will be quite wide, and too wide to fit in most displays or on most shelves. And, if people don't like saucer supports on the TOS E and the Refit, I don't know what they'll think about the display stand for a large diecast D.
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[mindx2]

Maybe that's why the campaign runs for 30 days.

I understand that but with most crowdfunding projects succeed if funding goals reach around 50% in the first 24-36 hours. I'm being generous with that 36 hour number as it really is closer to 24. Don't get me wrong, I want it to succeed! I love my TOMY TOS-E and can't wait for my Refit-E. I want as many as TOMY can make but I'm also a realist when it comes to these types of endeavors.

 

[Grayswandir]

I got the TOS Enteprise and waiting on my refit. I was very surprised (but happy) that the D7 was what won the survey, it's what I chose. I backed the D7 but really think that Tomy made some poor decisions this time.

First, they set the project for 3000 ships. That's about 500 more than the final number for the TOS-E. I can't see someone getting a D7 who doesn't already have that Enterprise. Second, the tooling looks very simple, but the shipped U.S. price is $750. That's going to turn off a lot of people who might have purchased it on a whim (I think $500 would be max for this sort of thing). Third, they irked me a bit in the interview where they talked about the remote control sound effect. They know this is a niche project for people who are highly attentive to details. The remote sound effect is that of the Federation communicator. Why would the Klingons use that? There's a Klingon communicator sound in canon - from Star Trek 3. When asked about this they said yeah, we considered that but decided to go with the Federation sound. It's a simple .wav file for product that isn't yet built. Why not go with what's right? But yet they felt that they needed to make up a Klingon shuttle/bay when none was ever seen. It's stuff like this, and the horrible plastic stand for the TOS-E (base stand not the saucer stand) which make me think they don't know, or care much, for their audience.

 

[David cgc]

I gotta say, I am really surprised that their market research was split down the middle between the D7, Reliant, and Enterprise-D. I mean, maybe if people were imagining the K'tinga, or even the DS9 version, but it just doesn't seem that exciting as an object d'art like the TMP Enterprise, or to have the sentimental value of the TOS one (which is also much more straightforward to build a passible version of at the same size using the model kit).

 

[drt]

The refit did reach it's target on the first day.

Sorry, I meant crowdfunding campaigns in general. I don't actually recall how the refit campaign went since it did reach the target early, but I'd expect there was another surge at the end.

I think the D will be at least as popular as the Refit, but I expect it to be more expensive and a good bit larger, so we'll see. If it's a similar length, it will be quite wide, and too wide to fit in most displays or on most shelves.

Yeah, the 1701-D's width is 75% of it's length. I guess they could make it the same dimensions as the 2-foot studio model, which is 1:900ish scale. Price would probably still be north of $1k if they want $700 for the D7.

Second, the tooling looks very simple, but the shipped U.S. price is $750. That's going to turn off a lot of people who might have purchased it on a whim (I think $500 would be max for this sort of thing).

I mentioned upthread that I didn't see demand for the D7 exceeding the TOS 1701, and that a K'tinga seemed like a better choice (more people would have the refit to go with it, plus it's more visually interesting) . $500 seemed like the sweet spot, it's also about 2/3 the size so that number feels right.

Also agreed with the goofy communicator sound decision and other odd choices like the hangar bay/shuttles, I'd also add in the light up nacelles.