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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 26, 2005 15:24:55 GMT
I recently spoke with Comet Miniatures Models who have informed me that there is a current delay in the model kits of the Fighting Machine & Handling Machine based around the multi million selling album The War Of The Worlds by Jeff Wayne.
The models were originally due for release this coming March, but have been put on hold for a short period. . . As soon as I receive any new news about there release date I will of course post it up.
H_C
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Post by EvilNerfherder on Feb 26, 2005 18:34:43 GMT
Do you think its looking like a release coinciding with the album re-release, Horsell?
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 26, 2005 19:17:09 GMT
Nah, probably legal issues. These models (apart from looking similar to Jeff Wayne's version) are not associated with Jeff's album relaunch.
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Post by FALLINGSTAR on Feb 26, 2005 20:47:23 GMT
I can't say I'm that disappointed there. From what I've heard they're very hard to build and I don't like resin and white metal anyway. I think their models [ I've tried to build 1 or 2 other things of theirs ] are over complicated, badly tooled and usually fall apart sooner or later. I'm gonna wait for some firm to [ hopefully ] make injection plastic kits or diecast pre-assembled models.
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syrtismajor
Full Member
Heat rays are for wimps, all hail the egg whisk!
Posts: 87
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Post by syrtismajor on Feb 26, 2005 20:54:08 GMT
I can't say I'm that disappointed there. From what I've heard they're very hard to build and I don't like resin and white metal anyway. I think their models [ I've tried to build 1 or 2 other things of theirs ] are over complicated, badly tooled and usually fall apart sooner or later. I'm gonna wait for some firm to [ hopefully ] make injection plastic kits or diecast pre-assembled models. Or make your own like I'm planning on doing,, ironically out of Glass fibre. I just can't be botherd to make the wooden masters yet. Motivation is a wonderful thing when you have it
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Post by Gnorn on Feb 26, 2005 21:05:00 GMT
I hope there will be Lego models. Like what they did with Star Wars, Spiderman and Harry Potter.
Lego I can assemble.
-Gnorn
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Post by FALLINGSTAR on Feb 26, 2005 21:09:23 GMT
Or make your own like I'm planning on doing,, ironically out of Glass fibre. I just can't be botherd to make the wooden masters yet. Motivation is a wonderful thing when you have it I'm a bit lazy there. I'd rather have one which is either pre made or relatively easy to assemble. A life size fibreglass one would be fantastic, but I think it might take up a bit too much space [ like my entire house and garden ]. Or maybe the street even!
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 26, 2005 21:16:25 GMT
I don't think for one moment you will get a vaccum mould WOTW kit based on Jeffs, so the only options we have at present are the Comet Miniatures which are not bad models if your are a sessioned modeller (little akward if your a novice) and the ready assembled model that JW has coming out on his own label.
The CM models faults are the legs. The newer version has a hollow hood so the weight has gone. But with white metal legs the problem lies with the bottoms of the legs where they meet the feet due to the material thinning out. Like the joints of the legs, this can be sorted out by drilling right through the entire length of the leg and inserting a steel rod - which I have done on previous models and has worked very well, but remember that the feet need to be fixed down to a base or the legs will slide.
The hood with it's slight faults can easily be cured in time, well kits are really not supposed to be built in a day if you require them to look the buisness and with a true likeness.
H_C
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Post by FALLINGSTAR on Feb 26, 2005 21:30:19 GMT
I don't think for one moment you will get a vaccum mould WOTW kit based on Jeffs, so the only options we have at present are the Comet Miniatures which are not bad models if your are a sessioned modeller (little akward if your a novice) and the ready assembled model that JW has coming out on his own label. The CM models faults are the legs. The newer version has a hollow hood so the weight has gone. But with white metal legs the problem lies with the bottoms of the legs where they meet the feet due to the material thinning out. Like the joints of the legs, this can be sorted out by drilling right through the entire length of the leg and inserting a steel rod - which I have done on previous models and has worked very well, but remember that the feet need to be fixed down to a base or the legs will slide. The hood with it's slight faults can easily be cured in time, well kits are really not supposed to be built in a day if you require them to look the buisness and with a true likeness. H_C True, and you're right it's the only one available at the moment but I have to admit I'm pretty biased against most of these resin garage type models. The only materials I like for things like this are injection plastic or diecast but obviously the tooling costs for these are pretty horrendous. Not too mention licensing fees - which from what I've heard are the main problems associated with bringing out injection sci fi kits. I've heard this has been a consistent problem with things like STAR TREK kits etc.
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Post by lanceradvanced on Feb 27, 2005 2:19:45 GMT
If you check out StarshipModeler.com, a month or two back, someone had some inprogress shots of an exceptional JeffWayne type Fighting machine.
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Post by almonkey on Feb 27, 2005 12:45:24 GMT
hi guys i have one of the comet mins kits and i intend to scratch build legs, cos the kit ones are nothing like the album artwork,i am a serious modeller and i'll maybe cast the leg sections in resin p.s. i recently built a dalek from comet, it was inaccurate in places and awkward to build in others (especially the skirt section) these sort of kits are definatly not for beginners
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 27, 2005 12:47:36 GMT
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 27, 2005 13:07:32 GMT
hi guys i have one of the comet mins kits and i intend to scratch build legs, cos the kit ones are nothing like the album artwork,i am a serious modeller and i'll maybe cast the leg sections in resin p.s. i recently built a dalek from comet, it was inaccurate in places and awkward to build in others (especially the skirt section) these sort of kits are definatly not for beginners This is one of the main problems with this kit. The more recent improved version has the legs with the 3 tubed look, correct to the Michael Trim design of 1977 (however, Jeff has changed this for his forth coming movie from 3 tubed to just 2 tubed). The legs to the kit are over scaled, too chunky so a seriuos modeller can if they so wish too make scratch built legs. H_C
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Post by almonkey on Feb 27, 2005 13:25:49 GMT
just had a look at that newer version, its legs are certainly better than the one i have, also i got mine assembled and standing when a draught blew it over and broke the legs off the body and into bits i simply put it back in the box and it went into the loft where its been for about 9-10 years, i could make it look quite smart, but if theres a better version there may not be much point.......hang on.......yes thats it!....a diorama of a crashed machine.......oh no here i go again!
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Post by Gnorn on Feb 27, 2005 13:28:39 GMT
just had a look at that newer version, its legs are certainly better than the one i have, also i got mine assembled and standing when a draught blew it over and broke the legs off the body and into bits >:( i simply put it back in the box and it went into the loft where its been for about 9-10 years, i could make it look quite smart, but if theres a better version there may not be much point.......hang on.......yes thats it!....a diorama of a crashed machine.......oh no here i go again! If you do make that diorama, you have to put up a pic so we can see it! -Gnorn
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 27, 2005 13:51:38 GMT
Sounds like a first generation model you have that was released in 1993. That had a sigle tubed leg structure made from plasyic and white metal. The original instruction booklet that came with model says to have the models feet mounted onto a solid base (fixed down) to prevent slipping. Sadly the instructions now (on a A4 sheet) don't say that no more. I have heard many who have built this model and not fixed it to a base comment on the legs snapping at the joints or bending towards the feet where the metal is thinner, easily remourded - fix the feet down.
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Post by HTT on Feb 28, 2005 11:44:58 GMT
I bought the re-tooled FM about three years ago from Coment in London. All I can say is that it is a NIGHTMARE to assemble! The main problem is attaching the legs, as you have to support the weight of the main body. I found that I got one leg attached, then it's fall off when attaching another. More annoying was when I got two attached, then they both fell off when doing the third!! I ended up supporting it on a tower of books while I got the legs on, and it still wasn't stable until the support struts are in place. Oh, top tip - PAINT IT FIRST, coz if you paint it later, you run the risk of knocking out a leg and starting all over again, coz once one leg goes, the rest are sure to follow..
Still if you have the patience, and can survive the stress - it looks bl**dy good! It's worth the time & effort in the end! All I need now it the matching HM, which does appear on ebay, but ends up too expensive for me!
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Post by lanceradvanced on Feb 28, 2005 17:24:53 GMT
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Post by jeffwaynefan on Feb 28, 2005 17:42:45 GMT
Cheers for that.
It looks OK, but the legs are incorrect, mainly the joint which is far to big and the detailing on the hood top is also incorrect.
I may have a bash myself at a complete scratchbuild model.
H_C
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Post by Refugee on Mar 1, 2005 21:36:01 GMT
Well that model looks very well and good but what about those of us who have difficulty with paper aeroplanes? The Wayne press release talks about "products," Im seeing micro machine play sets, artilleryman action figures and ickle tripods that make smoke. I wont get my hopes up though, knowing my luck it will turn out to be a series of mugs and stationary.
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