It's a good letter to the fans complaining about it being pushed back.http://www.collectormodel.com/round2-models/284-all-good-things…/
Why the Round2 NCC-1701 was pushed back.
- Thread starter miraclefan
- Start date
Personally, I think that the 1/350 scale TOS Enterprise is a cursed configuration.
I can think of a number of people and companies who have attempted this model with varying degrees of success, all attempting to cash in on people's desire for it. And there does seem to be some desire as people have spent thousands on getting an Enterprise at this scale with some getting nothing for their money and others getting something worse than nothing (like this Unobtainium).
My main question is why do it at 1/350 scale?
I've seen other companies attempt to link their versions to the original 33 inch model (which, by the way, was at about 1/333 scale) attempting to capture interest by claiming the buyer would get the same model that Kirk (and Spock) were photographed holding in publicity photos. And at least Round 2 hasn't made such disingenuous claims.
But the claims of previous companies make me wonder if people think that the 1/350 scale Enterprise will be just like what was seen in those pictures. For example, this article says:
For those of us who follow model building to some degree, it is hard not to note two different garage kits of the Enterprise offered at this scale. One offered by AW Studios was stillborn (a roughly assembled version of the kit at it's demise can be seen here). And another version (also by AW Studios) with parts made by REL was promised (and started, with many of the parts already printed), but was put on hold when Round 2 announced their kit.
I've personally stayed away from modeling the 11 foot model because I've heard this kit was coming (from someone) for quite some time. But my only reason for wanting a model that large is to have a replica of the original model that was about that large (the original 33 inch model). The 11 foot model was never that large (it was always 11 feet in length
), so I would be fine with an accurate version at a smaller scale (just not 1/1000 small).
Personally, my 1/500 scale version of the original 33 inch model has gone a long ways towards fulfilling my dream of having a replica of that model. And at this point I'm just looking forward to finishing the revisions/correction to my plans of that model in the near future.
I realized a long time ago while building models of the Enterprise that no matter how accurate they were to the 11 foot model, they wouldn't have the table presence of the original 33 inch model.
So does the scale really matter as much as it seems to people? What is it about 1/350 that makes it so important?
From what I can tell, I could have a 1/537 scale Enterprise (based on the 22 inch kit, parts from Don's Lighting and Magic and a few hand made elements) that would match the 11 foot model quite nicely. And I could do the same with a 1/650 scale (starting with the 18" kit).
So I'm interested in other people's thoughts (while we are waiting) as to why the 1/350 scale is so important to them (if it is important to them).
I can think of a number of people and companies who have attempted this model with varying degrees of success, all attempting to cash in on people's desire for it. And there does seem to be some desire as people have spent thousands on getting an Enterprise at this scale with some getting nothing for their money and others getting something worse than nothing (like this Unobtainium).
My main question is why do it at 1/350 scale?
I've seen other companies attempt to link their versions to the original 33 inch model (which, by the way, was at about 1/333 scale) attempting to capture interest by claiming the buyer would get the same model that Kirk (and Spock) were photographed holding in publicity photos. And at least Round 2 hasn't made such disingenuous claims.
But the claims of previous companies make me wonder if people think that the 1/350 scale Enterprise will be just like what was seen in those pictures. For example, this article says:
“Studio Scale” might sound like an odd term for a 33” reproduction of an 11-foot miniature, but MR cites the 33” miniature of the ship used to shoot some scenes in “The Cage,” “Mirror, Mirror” and “Requiem for Methuselah” among others as the starting point for this reproduction. The 33” Enterprise miniature had no internal lighting, however, and this and many other details on the Master Replicas model are specifically designed to duplicate the look of the 11-foot miniature.
And on the price sheet for the Unobtainium model we see this rather bold assertion:WORLD'S FIRST FULL-SIZE REPLICA OF 33" FILMING MODEL
I find it interesting that either of these companies would make any reference to a model which both companies fully ignored in the building of their models. Other than size (which is off by about 5%), these models bare almost no resemblance to the 33 inch model aside from those shared between the 33 inch model and the 11 foot model.For those of us who follow model building to some degree, it is hard not to note two different garage kits of the Enterprise offered at this scale. One offered by AW Studios was stillborn (a roughly assembled version of the kit at it's demise can be seen here). And another version (also by AW Studios) with parts made by REL was promised (and started, with many of the parts already printed), but was put on hold when Round 2 announced their kit.
I've personally stayed away from modeling the 11 foot model because I've heard this kit was coming (from someone) for quite some time. But my only reason for wanting a model that large is to have a replica of the original model that was about that large (the original 33 inch model). The 11 foot model was never that large (it was always 11 feet in length
), so I would be fine with an accurate version at a smaller scale (just not 1/1000 small).Personally, my 1/500 scale version of the original 33 inch model has gone a long ways towards fulfilling my dream of having a replica of that model. And at this point I'm just looking forward to finishing the revisions/correction to my plans of that model in the near future.
I realized a long time ago while building models of the Enterprise that no matter how accurate they were to the 11 foot model, they wouldn't have the table presence of the original 33 inch model.
So does the scale really matter as much as it seems to people? What is it about 1/350 that makes it so important?
From what I can tell, I could have a 1/537 scale Enterprise (based on the 22 inch kit, parts from Don's Lighting and Magic and a few hand made elements) that would match the 11 foot model quite nicely. And I could do the same with a 1/650 scale (starting with the 18" kit).
So I'm interested in other people's thoughts (while we are waiting) as to why the 1/350 scale is so important to them (if it is important to them).
Good Morning Shaw
I like the 1/350 scale Enterprise kits (and the prospect of TOS version) because it matches kits of contemporary ships in the same scale. It's kind of neat to see the 1/350 Enterprise next to an aircraft carrier of the same scale. It puts it into perspective about how big these ships are!
Plus you can get little models of people in that scale! It's fun!
I like the 1/350 scale Enterprise kits (and the prospect of TOS version) because it matches kits of contemporary ships in the same scale. It's kind of neat to see the 1/350 Enterprise next to an aircraft carrier of the same scale. It puts it into perspective about how big these ships are!
Plus you can get little models of people in that scale! It's fun!
I couldn't say how popular it is, but the detail is awesome simply because of the size. The downside is that the price reflects the scale. But how cool is it to take a 1/350 f-18 and park it in the Enterprise's shuttle bay- and the reverse, having a shuttle land on an aircraft carrier?!
That is if you don't mind being mocked by your family.
That is if you don't mind being mocked by your family.
Are talking in average or TREK? because the only 1/350 trek kit I know of is the I701-A.
I found the letter to be somewhat funny, but answered the big "why?". Time and money; just like every business out there, times are tough. I'd hate to think what the cost of the prototype developement, the tooling developement and then the final tooling would be. Probably a small fortune; anyone want to guess? Million dollars? More? I just hope I'm employed when this finally reaches market so I can buy a couple of them. Been waiting a long time for this; not ready to give up just yet.
Q2UnME
Q2UnME
And the NX-01. And a few resin kits like REL's Botany Bay.
But I meant Ship models. Boats. Naval wessels. 1/350 is a very popular scale and there are tons of ship models and accessories in that scale.
Go check out www.squadron.com and do a search for 1/350 ships. You get 122 results.
There are more than a few aircraft carrier models in 1/350.
Is the NX-01 still available? That ship has been growing on me recently and I'd love to add the kit to my stock of unbuilt Trek models.
And annoyingly enough, trumpeter seems to make one of every major WWII carrier except the Enterprise! I have the Tamiya CVN-65, but I'd sure like a CV-6 to go with it.
Us Trekkies should be used to that by now
Oh and p.s., if you're tired of waiting for Round2, you could always roll your own 1/350 scale Enterprise using the world's largest 3D printer.
Forbin, where in gods name do you put a room full of 1/350 vessels? And how about some pics?
Moriarty, I actually got mad at my uncle for saying I looked like a wookie in a Starfleet uniform... I surprised both of us I think.
I'm not a huge fan of the NX-O1, but it's a good sized model, and I think with some modifications, it might be a decent kit. But the price is silly considering it's not that big a kit.
Moriarty, I actually got mad at my uncle for saying I looked like a wookie in a Starfleet uniform... I surprised both of us I think.
I'm not a huge fan of the NX-O1, but it's a good sized model, and I think with some modifications, it might be a decent kit. But the price is silly considering it's not that big a kit.
My big NX-01 got wrecked in the eviction (missing one half of a nacelle strut, amongst other issues), so I'm planning yanking out the lighting kit and converting the wreckage into a big ass diorama of that scene in one of the SOTL calendars showing the wreck of the NX-02 Columbia.
Yeah, the misfit is growing on me as well. And if you add a few grains of salt, it's not unreasonable that the design could've come pre-TOS (go back and take another look at those shots from "In A Mirror, Darkly..." with the smooth-hulled Defiant and that greeble-hulled NX class ship together, and you tell me which one looks more advanced).
Yeah, the misfit is growing on me as well. And if you add a few grains of salt, it's not unreasonable that the design could've come pre-TOS (go back and take another look at those shots from "In A Mirror, Darkly..." with the smooth-hulled Defiant and that greeble-hulled NX class ship together, and you tell me which one looks more advanced).
I recall making most of the same arguments just a few days earlier, namely that they want to make sure they get this sucker RIGHT! No higher compliment could be paid to the thing than that it needs no aftermarket accurizing kits to get it perfect.
Besides, it'll be a while before I'll be able to afford something of that scale, so the delay is no skin off my butt.
I (and others I'm sure) would like to see that model when you're done. That was a neat picture...
A little off thread topic, but I know what you mean about the NX next to the Constitution Class... The detail should be there when you get up close to the ship. With real life ships, you can't see any hull plating from a distance, so why so why would it be so rediculously pronounced in futuristic looking space ships (other then for the sake of making it "look" detailed)? The super clean lines and paint job (that I assumed was fused into the hull material) made her look so much more advanced next to the NX class...
The greebled out NX class has that certain convoluted look that makes it fit, though it still wasn't my first choice as what the starships should have looked like prior to TOS.
sorry to necro-post, but i'm new, and just stumbled across this.That makes a lot of sense... I wasn't aware of just how popular the 1/350 scale was for other types of models.
Thanks.
it is more or less irrelevant now due to everything being CG, but it goes back to the days of physical models used for shooting.
"build em around 3 feet, any smaller and it just looks small, any larger and it just costs too much"
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