The Final Frontier 8

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Text File | 1994-08-26 | 8.0 KB | 190 lines

TF01 3,Modelling Star Trek 4,by Sven Harvey AMT/Ertl -------- As many of you will have noticed AMT have, so far this year, released the model kits of Deep Space Nine and suprisingly, for them, a vinyl kit of Captain Kirk. We, Infinite Frontiers, are now in contact with Ertl UK, so from issue 9 (The Klingon Special) we WILL be bringing you news and reviews of their range in better detail than ever before. As for the rest of this year we will be seeing the fibre optic version of NCC 1701-D (Galaxy class), but this may be delayed as the packaging may be ST:TNG OR ST: Generations (STVII). Officially the new Galaxy class kit is still due out in September. The other three ship kits that were due this year are in some doubt however. Due to coincide with the seventh Star Trek movie the three kits were going to be a NCC 1701-A (Constitution Mk2 class), a NCC 1701-B/NCC 2000/NX-2000 (Excelsior class) and another NCC 1701-D. However events in the movie mean that a NCC 1701-A would be irrelevant and the NCC 1701-D kit is rumoured to just be referred to as a Galaxy class kit and include markings for the following vessels; USS Galaxy, USS Yamato (which one? "Where Silence Has Lease" or "Contagion"?), USS Odyssey (from the ST:DS9 season 2 finale) as well as the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D. The result of all this for AMT/Ertls 1995/6 range may be catastrophic. There are some new kits in development and some improved old ones for the 30th Anniversary in 1996. One interesting rumour as I mentioned last issue was the Enterprise legacy kit featuring ALL the Starship Enterprises. However if the Enterprise E is just a normal Galaxy class (which will be the biggest member of the family) having two Galaxy classes would seem stupid, its bad enough to have two Constituion Mk2s. Mind you there are some VERY silly rumours going around the model industry about AMT doing a FULL Enterprise legacy kit. What? I hear you say, what do you mean FULL? I mean sailing ships, aircraft carriers, OV 101 (the space shuttle) etc. Now that would be nice, but very, very far fetched. Just think of the scale it would have to be in to stop the sailing ship being smaller that a postage stamp! Playmates --------- As some of you know the set of figures consisting of Hugh, Geordi as Tachannen III alien, Riker as Malcorian, Worf in rescue outfit, Picard as a Romulan, Data as a Romulan, Troi in blue (THOUGH, It is GREEN) uniform and Barclay are generally available with SkyCaps in the USA but they have also been joined by a new set. The new figure set includes the set above BUT none of this set have cards OR SkyCaps. The new figures are as follows; Gowron in ceremonial outfit Data in dress uniform Data as in "Redemption" (Major cockup there as he is wearing a red uniform as in "Chains Of Command" and he didn't in "Redemption"!) Lieutenant Thomas W Riker Ensign Wesley Crusher Picard in duty uniform Also expected before Christmas in the USA are a range of Star Trek: Generations toys ranging from a full set of ships (all as the current Enterprise, Romulan and Klingon ships) to figures of the cast in their new clothing and uniforms including Scotty, Kirk etc. and the 1701-D crew in their seemingly DS9 like uniforms. Also out soon will be an Engineering playset, Mk 1 phaser, Borg ship, DS9, Runabout, new DS9 figures (such as different hair Kira and Q in DS9 uniform), and another new range of ST: TNG figures including Ro and some of the more minor crew characters, such as Ensign Lefler and the some of the crew as in "Parallels" plus the figures of Picard, Guinan, Data and Dr. Crusher from the cancelled Dixon Hill playset. Plus of course the talking 8 inch versions of Data, Troi and Picard. Keep your eye on this section in issues 9 and 10 as Playmates are already planning their toys for late 1995 and more importantly 1996 - the Star Trek 30th Anniversary. Rumours so far... Sickbay playset anyone? Or how about a 1/2 metre long Enterprise-D with more lights so that the warp nacelles stay lighted and flash brightly when the Warp sound needs it and extra sound effects? Action Man size dolls of ALL major cast members, not just those in command? Chest expanding Riker? Play by the pool Troi? Sun hair colour change Barb... erm Beverly? We'll see... The Classic crew will also get unleashed onto their own individual cards. And will be accompanied by their movie versions, NCC 1701, NCC 1701-A, a classic Mk 1 & 2 phaser pistol and a communicator. Again expect some news on new toys next issue. Bandai UK --------- As you may know Bandai market and distribute the Playmates toys here in the UK and Europe. They seem to have finally woken up to the fact that Trekkers in the UK want the toys as the Americans get them. the following figures have been spotted in the Birmingham Toys R Us and Beatties (again in Birmingham) in American packaging (with white Bandai stickers on the back) WITH THE SKYCAPS!!!!!!! AT the really expensive (NOT) price of £4.87/£4.99! These first few HAVE TOTALLY NEW CARDS with better artwork of the Enterprise (which will be used from now on) and a gold 7th season sticker; Hugh Borg Geordi as Tachannen III Alien Picard as a Romulan Data as a Romulan Deanna Troi as in the Seventh Season of ST:TNG (blue uniform but its actually green) The figures of Riker as a Malcorian, Barclay and Worf in Rescue Gear seem to have been caught up in EC red tape. Also available WITH SKYCAPS as above but on the older cards and no gold sticker; Riker as in season 2 ST:TNG Guinan Q Sela K'eyler Dathon of the Children of Tamar Ambassador Spock Lore Beverly Crusher Wesley Crusher These may not be available in other cities or towns basically because as far as toy etc. sales at Woolworths/Beatties/Toys R Us are concerned Birmingham is the sci-fi capital of England. Mind that may be due to the fact that most of the Infinite Frontiers team live here in Birmingham and the surrounding area... Comet Miniatures/Warp models ---------------------------- As usual Comet are pushing their own range of kits including an Enterprise-C and Stargazer. I must stress that these are NOT licensed merchandise and are most definitely NOT FOR THE BEGINNER. I have not seen a kit yet from Comet that wasn't badly warped (sorry) because the kit had been removed from the mould too early. They require a hell of a lot of work to do and in the long run it may actually be easier to scratch build your own model. However next issue I will be bringing you a full run down of the Comet, AMT and all other Star Trek kits and brief (or maybe even long if possible) descriptions/reviews. Galoob ------ There is a review of the new(ish) MicroMachines collector set elsewhere in this issue along with some info about a new exclusive Argos pack. There has been no firm news of new sets, though rumours of a Starbase spacedock are rife. Franklin Mint ------------- I have been leaned on heavily by Simon to include the Franklin Mint models (probably because he has most of them). So here is their own section. Oh dear the only new things are a lovely cast of the 1701-D Commissioning plaque and a pewter DS9... Don't worry. Next issue I promise a run-down of all their stuff. Oh I seem to be doing a run-down of everything but the playmates stuff for the next issue... So let's chuck in all the Playmates stuff. Oh and the Galoob toys, and the Palitoy toys... and oh damn there is a lot of them I had better start now... Don't forget our new mag, Visions, Issue 1 due out early 1995 which I will be writing on, mainly on the RoboCop, Terminator, Batman and Transformers fields but I hope to be covering toys and models for Aliens and Star Wars, oh no I'm gonna have to do a list of all the Star Wars kits, toys and models... HELP!!! Tim, Simon, Colin anybody? Help... Continued in TFF Issue 9 (and 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15...) and Visions Issue 1, coming to an Amiga near you soon.