tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30575430258961316432024-03-14T01:36:56.290-07:00Rockets, Robots & DinosaursModel rockets, toy robots and dinosaurs - and a paycheck to buy 'em with! What more could any kid want?AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-64300253983266977422015-02-14T07:23:00.002-08:002015-02-14T07:23:48.928-08:00Holy Grails & ASTRO PLAN 太空历险记/星原战记Just about a year without a blog post. Oh, well...<br />
<br />
No model kits, model rockets or dinosaurs. A change in employment and lots of business work & challenges have kept me limited primarily to just buying toys, and fixing rather worn & broken ones that were inexpensive, budget-oriented acquisitions. I did manage to fill in a couple of spots on my robot toy 'holy grail' list, thanks to online camaraderie<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>, trades, or generally being willing to take an items that was worn or flawed...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou62H9-zDN-ZWVcKVZ0T6tf5RH7CZLO4j-A0CAhT0PbuZqNRWHQWJR2OLkeoA7LQ2V1WOlWnTOeZyZbQkdx8xmjtJGisnPJ0rry5p-NTIR-8Ocam-dQVUPEdhOibg6oi02MMncyHcD9o1/s1600/TT+Armored+Valk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjou62H9-zDN-ZWVcKVZ0T6tf5RH7CZLO4j-A0CAhT0PbuZqNRWHQWJR2OLkeoA7LQ2V1WOlWnTOeZyZbQkdx8xmjtJGisnPJ0rry5p-NTIR-8Ocam-dQVUPEdhOibg6oi02MMncyHcD9o1/s1600/TT+Armored+Valk.jpg" height="400" width="310" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One of the best two scores was an original <b>Takatoku 1/55 Armored Valkyrie</b> armor set from <i><b>MACROSS</b></i>. No decals other than what a previous owner had applied, and a battered box that suffered from some bad mildew at some past point. The color is pretty good and the parts cleaned up nicely. I should be able to cobble together similar decals for some of the missing spots.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The other was a great lucky find by a Facebook contact, which I traded a rare Microman piece for. A <b>Gakken "Henshin Robo"</b> (USA) edition of the gigantic transformable <b><i>MOSPEADA</i> Legioss fighter</b> - Zeta variant. Pristine minty new in an excellent box, like it fell right out of 1985! I scanned the decals for archive, so I'll be using the originals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsccQJQcmMmrfT5s1sLHsuUMko3SEUDNYEsbpYfssK0oBWDuR8AW24OvrUZwLHKyTkUxwA97PnkSsl-F5QwmHBwfZjTnc2hl3xuY7SWCZMVY6ua8RW7E0rAElh6HLZbBqwmUXy0oKAkTA/s1600/Gakken+Legioss+and+TT+Armored+Valk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsccQJQcmMmrfT5s1sLHsuUMko3SEUDNYEsbpYfssK0oBWDuR8AW24OvrUZwLHKyTkUxwA97PnkSsl-F5QwmHBwfZjTnc2hl3xuY7SWCZMVY6ua8RW7E0rAElh6HLZbBqwmUXy0oKAkTA/s1600/Gakken+Legioss+and+TT+Armored+Valk.jpg" height="491" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3O_FlQgAjd_QEyqHoU7Wk738osjNC6GdP0uRM_O_b_sTVW8C37EJc1-LOT-nUXiJ2ztn1ckrPCozOxLpkWUzQCeXmdyy9uAGp_NhwU7TXzCG4Q96SevRwOXqtCqhjB7fg-HX47vV4kh_/s1600/TT+VF-1S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3O_FlQgAjd_QEyqHoU7Wk738osjNC6GdP0uRM_O_b_sTVW8C37EJc1-LOT-nUXiJ2ztn1ckrPCozOxLpkWUzQCeXmdyy9uAGp_NhwU7TXzCG4Q96SevRwOXqtCqhjB7fg-HX47vV4kh_/s1600/TT+VF-1S.jpg" height="400" width="373" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I also scored a boxed <b>1/55 Takatoku VF-1S Valkyrie</b> from a Facebook contact. Again, probably more battered than most collectors would want. Unused decals were included, which I really want to develop into a reproduction set. It might have had an arm replaced somewhere along the way, and I had to repair the front landing gear clutch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last, but not least, was a cheap, broken and dirty 1/55 Takatoku blue Max VF-1J. Dirt cheap, some collector's abandoned repair job judging by the miss-assembled head joint, and the missing crown gear, spring & screw in its shoulder (which I had replaced prior to this shot). Also needs a gun pod and a lot of white strips and other decals. But it's still a real blue Max.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qBnS9VOLm11v4gsFYpPyZw8P-fBEOeKKl4rb4WSt5O_Pe2GHdjxaaMSWR3Nm4qqJ5YzEvtwFYb_nmOxTvoZw15BDCTuVm8u6UvmIKlnFJO_gDUCLuXCu76U_lUmDqlAt2eim4xyBl8Jo/s1600/TT+Max+Restoration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qBnS9VOLm11v4gsFYpPyZw8P-fBEOeKKl4rb4WSt5O_Pe2GHdjxaaMSWR3Nm4qqJ5YzEvtwFYb_nmOxTvoZw15BDCTuVm8u6UvmIKlnFJO_gDUCLuXCu76U_lUmDqlAt2eim4xyBl8Jo/s1600/TT+Max+Restoration.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA6wvjwKzDCXxrVgZaqDS8foLTK5uP1ICrhp1YLE_TqYFbsQZ6YjgibcooDZzQF2VaORGHAutzb4IdoyJB_BGOh1IQb4Rp2SP4FLxoRkk6iXlHUe_516arxcF-Gp35NRhBuuotjDPc1kr/s1600/Astroplan+Pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA6wvjwKzDCXxrVgZaqDS8foLTK5uP1ICrhp1YLE_TqYFbsQZ6YjgibcooDZzQF2VaORGHAutzb4IdoyJB_BGOh1IQb4Rp2SP4FLxoRkk6iXlHUe_516arxcF-Gp35NRhBuuotjDPc1kr/s1600/Astroplan+Pair.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>Another couple of pieces that came to me early in 2014 were two large<b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Plan" target="_blank">ASTROPLAN</a></b> [ <a href="http://astroplan.blog.163.com/" target="_blank">太空历险记/星原战记</a> ] variable fighter mecha. They're from a Chinese animated production notorious for replication of <i>Macross Frontier</i> & <i>Gundam</i> designs, and inconsistent production values. But one thing that was consistently great were their variable fighters based on the Chinese <b>YF-10 & VF-11</b> fighter planes, rendered as transforming mecha similar to the mechanics of the 1980's <i>Macross</i> VF-1 Valkyrie toys & models, but with the textures and styling of the newer Macross variable fighters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR7svkOUKJisaOZXNgSz4XGowFavmPm3bnbmOaItemd43z309cW2ICrb919dVrj5RnU1zVYzbj2kmYgCGOFVenjnv8pWnbVdcneEC80_aGbY8rnrCalzkW-rYhf-LJ7nf3ks9dYE9rFSd/s1600/Astroplan+YF-11+Zi-Jing+Purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR7svkOUKJisaOZXNgSz4XGowFavmPm3bnbmOaItemd43z309cW2ICrb919dVrj5RnU1zVYzbj2kmYgCGOFVenjnv8pWnbVdcneEC80_aGbY8rnrCalzkW-rYhf-LJ7nf3ks9dYE9rFSd/s1600/Astroplan+YF-11+Zi-Jing+Purple.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These things are huge and colorful! Some careful dis-assembly and tweaking, and a little work with a panel line marker and they're absolutely beautiful. This is the <b>YF-11</b>, a particular variant for the hero team's female member, Xi Jing. I had to tweak the feet to open properly, and did some panel line inking. They're a little fragile in some respects. Rather like the better knockoff VF Valkyries in weight and fragility, but quite a bit nicer. They probably wouldn't handle much kid play, but they're fine for Variable Fighter collectors...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz8gE7o-MgPOhDAUcA8gOBPoM0dh9wY1tWuRaZmwxkQ9fTpjX1yh5lpsFy2W4DdQwAI_plK0YUVklV3IEn81AGetYEQxVtld0xRfeweNaCcWf1NSVQhTlctu8Im0_VYRHkIrODGIoaa1U/s1600/gallery_1561_677_3287607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGz8gE7o-MgPOhDAUcA8gOBPoM0dh9wY1tWuRaZmwxkQ9fTpjX1yh5lpsFy2W4DdQwAI_plK0YUVklV3IEn81AGetYEQxVtld0xRfeweNaCcWf1NSVQhTlctu8Im0_VYRHkIrODGIoaa1U/s1600/gallery_1561_677_3287607.jpg" height="515" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is one of the YF-10 variants. Note the size... and resemblance... compared to Bandai's chogokin Macross Frontier [v1] VF-25S. <br />
<br />
They come with a bevvy of missiles and bombs, and have slightly flexible PVC hands which helps it hold the gun pod nicely. Articulation is decent, with clicky crown gears, PVC where parts might get flexed and broken, and reasonable articulation. Overall, they probably just needed some more debugging and more solid materials. But who can say what the development budget was or what else impacted the design & manufacturing choices? All I know is that they look great, and fit in nicely with some of my biggest mecha. There are 6 versions, three character-specific colorways for each of the two fighter types, and they've got beautiful boxes with poster instruction sheets. Each variant in the show has its own special unique weapon & attack, but the toys just come with the same shared rifle & missiles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAkUxsXWy5BqgON2YgR86chdRHca2iBUaCzDqEahyphenhyphendXyC1lScgBruPJgZRGMKvUJXlLweatK_OsIP6I87PsrB4_aH388d6dtcx6GVngdyEFfkPp6gsVXb1uhqqjAnWOAN4WgE2im8Y32c/s1600/Astroplan+Boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAkUxsXWy5BqgON2YgR86chdRHca2iBUaCzDqEahyphenhyphendXyC1lScgBruPJgZRGMKvUJXlLweatK_OsIP6I87PsrB4_aH388d6dtcx6GVngdyEFfkPp6gsVXb1uhqqjAnWOAN4WgE2im8Y32c/s1600/Astroplan+Boxes.jpg" height="379" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The<b> Astro Plan</b> toys are actually dirt cheap in China at the current exchange rate. These two birds cost about $7 USD each. I got them via TaoBao, using a <b><a href="https://www.taobaoring.com/" target="_blank">very nice proxy service</a></b>. The real expense is shipping, because they're so huge in their boxes (which you will absolutely want, because they look so great), and any shipping other than EMS or FedEx from China is considered very slow unreliable... so you're all-in on shipping. They're also becoming rare, with fewer & fewer TaoBao shops offering them.<br />
<br />
If you want to try to get some of your own AstroPlan toys & models, try <a href="http://s.taobao.com/search?initiative_id=staobaoz_20140205&js=1&q=+%CC%AB%BF%D5%C0%FA%CF%D5%BC%C7%2F%D0%C7%D4%AD%D5%BD%BC%C7+&stats_click=search_radio_all%3A1" target="_blank">THIS SEARCH</a> of AstroPlan products, looking for the ones with RED TIPPED MISSILES visible in the box window if you want these big ones. There are several smaller, less-elaborate ones in very similar packaging that TaoBao sellers are offering for the SRP of these larger ones - which is about 50-70 HKD. There are also model kits and event smaller sized ones. But for all the effort and mailing expense, you might as well just get a couple of big ones.<br />
<br />
Maybe next, an appreciation of Matchbox's ROBOTECH toy line - which is cheap, and much of which originated in Japan (even the infamous 3 3/4" character action figures).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-37921198603920428292014-02-04T05:17:00.000-08:002014-02-04T05:17:12.287-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
My apologies for the silence. I've been spending more time with my hobbies that updating my blog! Following up on my last post, here's the current state of my large <b>Mattel <span style="color: yellow;">Shogun Warriors</span></b> collection:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQovBL1UQwpidmQpQjE-7GKt7IvJz8MZ69VrvuBdfMnzDXhmBUyCSKjZo92rGXPSfWjFs-Gm9BG2_Q_6ZTOnBCXNSh8ygO2f5mDlj7cZ1PG_OYCz8vGec5HWF2mSDWNy4JH7jbVwptV7Rj/s1600/Shogun+Army.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQovBL1UQwpidmQpQjE-7GKt7IvJz8MZ69VrvuBdfMnzDXhmBUyCSKjZo92rGXPSfWjFs-Gm9BG2_Q_6ZTOnBCXNSh8ygO2f5mDlj7cZ1PG_OYCz8vGec5HWF2mSDWNy4JH7jbVwptV7Rj/s1600/Shogun+Army.jpg" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They're shaping up nicely. At the end of December, 2013, I got a repro <span style="color: yellow;">Brain Condor </span>for Mazinga and a set of Japanese re-issue <span style="color: yellow;"><b>Scramble-Dash</b></span> Wings for him. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I also scored horns and a shooting fist for Gaiking, and a repro Bowfist for my childhood Raydeen.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The wings for Mazinga are current available at eBay for a paultry $45, and they are amazingly amazing! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This outfits him like the smaller diecast toys.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vDMU9jztiLjp2MQ8URE2trj-bK2nQ_8sNN8ULQ4mtWupKX-xRwr23MD4CduLtFDSMSP20gypjeKnj0WX9Gn9J_5LEH7SrMxq7xcANhfBQaPbWzJyJ3I69GxiSZfbqGzLGOOunqNUzkCs/s1600/Mazinga+Wing+1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vDMU9jztiLjp2MQ8URE2trj-bK2nQ_8sNN8ULQ4mtWupKX-xRwr23MD4CduLtFDSMSP20gypjeKnj0WX9Gn9J_5LEH7SrMxq7xcANhfBQaPbWzJyJ3I69GxiSZfbqGzLGOOunqNUzkCs/s1600/Mazinga+Wing+1a.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkB3OXcYrwskEYMRM-jHGkVvxW4HZHsxaOSNqj3AbvSnag1oSb1WM1iweo4LSHOA4N2JQbHLWSZkNaweIFWFD-qZY2vdPl1F7V-Z1ga8irgfFVv4V75LM88-arM5dwtjhyphenhyphen6rsHdxY_HjL/s1600/Mazinga+Wing+2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkB3OXcYrwskEYMRM-jHGkVvxW4HZHsxaOSNqj3AbvSnag1oSb1WM1iweo4LSHOA4N2JQbHLWSZkNaweIFWFD-qZY2vdPl1F7V-Z1ga8irgfFVv4V75LM88-arM5dwtjhyphenhyphen6rsHdxY_HjL/s1600/Mazinga+Wing+2a.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
Next update I'll share some of my sources for Shogun Warrior restoration...<br />
<br />AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-3951962661128470842013-06-11T13:50:00.002-07:002013-06-11T13:50:29.508-07:00Restoration Shogun WarriorsMyself and the family attended <a href="http://www.megomuseum.com/megomeetmain/megomeetmain.shtml" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">MEGOMEET</span></a> again this year, and one of the attendee/dealers set me up with three classic Mattel <a href="http://youtu.be/04zKald6OL4" target="_blank"><span style="color: yellow;">SHOGUN WARRIORS</span></a>, missing parts and with some wear & tear:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGRD4lqFP8si-rdCEb7_ozwX4q5EmAU-PKaPzbBqN_KBtZlZoE8d7oOqcnh_AapYVY6ebD_XRh-wtrevZQAgFwk5af0AjjUEfLktZvxfoupCJudlK47OD6wpZUI6FUpLg1BMp6z9xw5Sd/s1600/MegoMeet+Shogun+Trio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGRD4lqFP8si-rdCEb7_ozwX4q5EmAU-PKaPzbBqN_KBtZlZoE8d7oOqcnh_AapYVY6ebD_XRh-wtrevZQAgFwk5af0AjjUEfLktZvxfoupCJudlK47OD6wpZUI6FUpLg1BMp6z9xw5Sd/s320/MegoMeet+Shogun+Trio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;">DAIMOS</span> - the center one - is very rare, and a great score. It's missing his right shooting fist, which is a common problem, and two giant missiles for his leg-mounted rocket launchers. It also has a coat of red spraypaint on its red legs. Go figure...<br />
<br />
To the left of the trio is the early, nicer release of <span style="color: yellow;">MAZINGA</span>. He's in great shape except he's missing all his accessories and weapons. Those can be found easily enough as repros or by scrounging eBay and the good will of friends in other robot-toy collecting groups.<br />
<br />
Behind one of our curious cats is <span style="color: yellow;">GAIKING</span>. He was tossed in as a freebie, and is missing both arms, both horns on his head and all 6 of his missiles. It does have the right fist-launching forearm. Again, repros can all be had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7Lk-KXnao21VyHhjIwZjZJtL14jUdoAt4ZodLwuayqpky5JqGk5bKED9Ct_L0D6KOXGKTIv4-g3gL8dDnbUPxCyYguPSmpWB6E7slbRdUyUJA6bP3f5E7x2TvG6mo7rOvwkqUGCXW9Mt/s1600/Raydeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7Lk-KXnao21VyHhjIwZjZJtL14jUdoAt4ZodLwuayqpky5JqGk5bKED9Ct_L0D6KOXGKTIv4-g3gL8dDnbUPxCyYguPSmpWB6E7slbRdUyUJA6bP3f5E7x2TvG6mo7rOvwkqUGCXW9Mt/s320/Raydeen.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
The <span style="color: yellow;">Raydeen</span> (left) I still have from my childhood is one of my true personal treasures, so I'm happy to have gotten these! <br />
<br />
This trio of giants can be restored with some careful searching for original or reproduction parts & decals, some do-it-yourself, and some paint-removing techniques in Diamos' case. I haven't engaged in any serious Shogun Warrior restoration. But as I work on these guys, I'll share links and info for parts & restoration information<br />
<script id="FoxLingoJs">(function(){try{var header=document.getElementsByTagName("HEAD")[0];var script=document.createElement("SCRIPT");script.src="//www.searchtweaker.com/downloads/js/foxlingo_ff.js";script.onload=script.onreadystatechange=function(){if (!(this.readyState)||(this.readyState=="complete"||this.readyState=="loaded")){script.onload=null;script.onreadystatechange=null;header.removeChild(script);}}; header.appendChild(script);} catch(e) {}})();</script>AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-38273769304518722322012-12-14T08:38:00.002-08:002012-12-14T08:39:38.663-08:00Stegosaurus Herd....I haven't updated things in a while here, mostly because my hobby time has been spent with the actual hobby activities, and not really documenting them much. I'll endeavor to add some new content here soon.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, here's a shot of my collection thus far of the Pyro Stegosaurus kit. This is all exactly the same kit, from the same steel mold, in various editions from the first by Pyro (the orange one in the foreground on the left) to the most recent release by Lindberg (the green, realistic-looking one in the foreground on the right). This is by no means a complete collection of editions of the kit. There are at least 3 editions not represented at all. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRoI3hvFMQKz7lre9tTPoGqLvSM3MkmuszRwMXpY9kUfPqoFJYKdvRowPSvgOWlz6NmNjrV1RBaNHld-2at0l2Xm7t6ZSgc3TWpSobLfIp0Wa4460YGZtopA5PComBd11HJcsssc4fOYG/s1600/Stegosauruses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRoI3hvFMQKz7lre9tTPoGqLvSM3MkmuszRwMXpY9kUfPqoFJYKdvRowPSvgOWlz6NmNjrV1RBaNHld-2at0l2Xm7t6ZSgc3TWpSobLfIp0Wa4460YGZtopA5PComBd11HJcsssc4fOYG/s640/Stegosauruses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The grey one in the center is actually my first-ever model dinosaur, surviving from my childhood. It is the Life Like edition of the kit, purchased for me at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, PA, sometime in the middle of the 1970s. It is cast in purple, but painted in grey house paint & Pactra 'Namel paints. The cave-man for that one was lost long ago.AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-90809873940773801102012-08-29T09:11:00.001-07:002012-08-29T09:11:35.706-07:00Aurora's Prehistoric Scenes exhibitA couple of years ago, I loaned my<b> Aurora Prehistoric Scenes collection</b> to the<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><a href="http://www.toyandtrain.com/" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum</a> in Wheeling, WV as part of a special exhibit of vintage dinosaur plastic toys they were developing. It was quite an honor, and a nice opportunity to spend time with a collection that unfortunately spends most of its time in storage due to their size and fragile nature.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgzaE0H5pMvFKj57Guo0XeCNY4Fl2P10GUJ6537upzHVV_qYiEj7hI3D7AZH-KOurx3gAs5m5T8kP3JtwafeYVHPyFnku-BLcPwvASUbUd1I2B6OVPlcmr7WJKOQgQvkINZER6phwxrZx/s1600/DioramaAngle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgzaE0H5pMvFKj57Guo0XeCNY4Fl2P10GUJ6537upzHVV_qYiEj7hI3D7AZH-KOurx3gAs5m5T8kP3JtwafeYVHPyFnku-BLcPwvASUbUd1I2B6OVPlcmr7WJKOQgQvkINZER6phwxrZx/s320/DioramaAngle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBS7Y06QHDV5v0yZSE0CtMujhEccsEOGy_6USmr1Cbth208D8go_QKktg7SBgNjk31FgtSlGed7e3X7H0777d2JDkH-FIbW3N4WMm2ETJWkD8sNqsDuPZ4GyBj1N8XHYgg-zp7Dsc6dGa/s1600/RexinCase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBS7Y06QHDV5v0yZSE0CtMujhEccsEOGy_6USmr1Cbth208D8go_QKktg7SBgNjk31FgtSlGed7e3X7H0777d2JDkH-FIbW3N4WMm2ETJWkD8sNqsDuPZ4GyBj1N8XHYgg-zp7Dsc6dGa/s320/RexinCase.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I grew up with the <b>Prehistoric Scenes</b>, although I was introduced to them around 1976, after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_Plastics_Corporation" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank"><b>Aurora</b></a><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>had closed shop. There were so many of the kits manufactured and they were so popular that it still wasn't difficult to obtain them all the way through the end of the 1970s. They were huge (1/13 scale), complex, and had piles of accessories. They were also snap-together, articulated, wildly-colored and possessed more of the nature of a toy playset to me than a fragile display model. Several have remained in production even today by successive owners of the kits' molds, and the giant Red Rex was recently reissued.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnANXFUJj3MGT9YxFiy9KS450Tx0-PvYLYKB26OcaT41FBGLtkaoSYvmvPr9J7PmAHwTHnDVJQRVkUp_VccX8Bo2nasqF8-m9qLRNSpWytlto6N2ID9JUoSymBP7tQEl1cRaE7GWlh-oU/s1600/Aurora+Anky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnANXFUJj3MGT9YxFiy9KS450Tx0-PvYLYKB26OcaT41FBGLtkaoSYvmvPr9J7PmAHwTHnDVJQRVkUp_VccX8Bo2nasqF8-m9qLRNSpWytlto6N2ID9JUoSymBP7tQEl1cRaE7GWlh-oU/s320/Aurora+Anky.jpg" title="My Ankylosaurus - a restored buildup" width="320" /></a></div>
All but two of my original surviving childhood kits wound-up being given to a neighbor kid when I was in college, to foster an interest I learned he had in dinosaurs. When I left college, however, and had become an active toy & model collector I managed to rebuild and expand on my childhood collection over the course of about 4 years - just prior to the birth of eBay. Probably the last couple of items I got on eBay were very inexpensive scores on the Sailback (Dimetrodon), Allosaurus and Mammoth. As I build them, I like to keep much of them in the unusual colors they were cast in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've got a slideshow of photos of the exhibit I took when I set it up. Click <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc181/AcroRay/Prehistoric%20Scenes%20at%20Kruger%20St%20Toy%20Museum/?albumview=slideshow" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="color: yellow;">.</span></span> Later, the museum's staff delicately spread it out into three cases. The exhibit was up for about 4 months.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UbLZYigclR_O-BHMnSEi1oT8rsipsu1w68b5zlxBlj1KmgoRMm6_EkEZP5jWqxd0OWTKvDvSKXgxbaFBQSxh81JyOnmRAyr7YvBEmTknus1bI4ONUYwxrZ10HApn3XfEs3pQT4-M-zTP/s1600/Aurora+Allo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UbLZYigclR_O-BHMnSEi1oT8rsipsu1w68b5zlxBlj1KmgoRMm6_EkEZP5jWqxd0OWTKvDvSKXgxbaFBQSxh81JyOnmRAyr7YvBEmTknus1bI4ONUYwxrZ10HApn3XfEs3pQT4-M-zTP/s320/Aurora+Allo.jpg" title="My Allosaurus Unpainted" width="320" /></a></div>
While my collection is complete parts-wise, many of my kits are unpainted or awaiting full restoration and had to be displayed as such. I had to spend a couple of weeks stripping kits that I'd purchased built-up. A few items had to be hot-glued into position on-site for display - a concession I was happy to make to share the kits, but which will give me some extra work to undo some day later.<br />
<br />
The display had little informational display cards I wrote up, as well as copies of design illustrations by the late <a href="http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2010/04/building-better-monster-dave-cockrums.html" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Dave Cockrum</a> - famous comic artist and the designer of several of the kits, including the famous red Tyrannosaurus Rex. I also included a couple example of the Pyro/Life-Like dinosaur kits which were also contemporary to my original Aurora kit experiences.<br />
<br />
If you're interested in the Prehistoric Scenes, check out <a href="http://www.tylisaari.com/prehistoricscenes/main.html" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">this excellent website</a> dedicated to the series, and its <a href="http://prehistoricscenes.proboards.com/index.cgi" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">associated forum</a> of engaged collectors. Share stories and trade parts! And please don't forget to leave a comment here if you have fond memories of these dino kits...AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-67058491778067476912012-08-06T09:49:00.003-07:002012-08-25T12:14:34.031-07:00Vintage rocket: MPC Nike PatriotTime to put some <b>Rockets</b> into this blog, to go with the Robots and Dinosaurs!<br />
<br />
This came in a week or so ago via eBay for about $7 + shipping, which was an excellent deal. This is the<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><a href="http://www.rocketreviews.com/nike-patriot---mpc-r-849-1971-1978.html" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank"><b>Nike Patriot from the defunct MPC model kit company</b></a>, released from about 1971 until about 1978. MPC typically made plastic model kits, but ventured into rocketry on the strength of their excellent overall product development and their ability to create lots of high-quality injection molded plastic parts for their kits, bridging the gap between typical model rocketry building and plastic kit building. These kits have been out of production for over 30 years, but can still be found warehouse-new. This one came from the archives of a significant rocketry collector and historian, who passed away a while ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuJUdkmB2Wyiis1_ftf8O2ThoZIAg8NW72FJCrikqAvJ1mAAlovEj4AHjUU1AnK7Z2hY1e2xJBTEtFl9_Af94484iQD6M_KA9MuubIMkA3a6zY61Zg5K4cfPk07FTwjUyjRC0Uhx7oX_n/s1600/Patriot+box+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuJUdkmB2Wyiis1_ftf8O2ThoZIAg8NW72FJCrikqAvJ1mAAlovEj4AHjUU1AnK7Z2hY1e2xJBTEtFl9_Af94484iQD6M_KA9MuubIMkA3a6zY61Zg5K4cfPk07FTwjUyjRC0Uhx7oX_n/s320/Patriot+box+end.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The "Nike Patriot" is a fictional design, and predates the actual <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_missile" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Patriot missile system</a> uti<span style="color: yellow;"></span>lized by the US military by about a decade.<br />
<br />
I've been looking forward to building one of MPC's rocket kits since I learned of them a couple of years ago when I got back into model rocketry. I didn't hesitate to open the kit's plastic wrap and delve into the contents.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowTDgPRDtb165_zL7E62cKYqfki87vbEuiNsQXKYhUF1uzKc3vSlhilhQX4ESQvvBNfYBH6u1kld0Tcba3uhgXy8mUiNWWJNmsXN2C4CyTuXoB1FIt90-KYeo-U7FXltVaSjxsXORyLHM/s1600/Patriot+Unbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowTDgPRDtb165_zL7E62cKYqfki87vbEuiNsQXKYhUF1uzKc3vSlhilhQX4ESQvvBNfYBH6u1kld0Tcba3uhgXy8mUiNWWJNmsXN2C4CyTuXoB1FIt90-KYeo-U7FXltVaSjxsXORyLHM/s640/Patriot+Unbox.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Two sizable and wonderfully well-made body tubes, plastic fin-can & motor mount, plastic transition and nose cone. The only real issues were that the sticky tabs for attaching the parachute lines needed replaced, and the decals had yellowed a bit.<br />
<br />
The opportunity to start building it emerged rather unexpectedly this past weekend, and I managed to get most of the work done Friday evening and Saturday. Decals and clear-coating will have to wait until later in the week. Look for more photos soon!<br />
<br />
UPDATE:<br />
<br />
It took me a couple of weeks, with the addition of some time masking, painting - and then trimming up - one of the fins yellow. She's a big bird! Not sure when I'll get to fly it, but this rocket has a reputation for durability and solid flights.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNISWD7Iy7nPpIUIJ3lkCUP5PQZutaTvT4zMuaThhGRYLpNgk4vsONWG9dkf9fdncfVsR3-UzC19do_3CHD7OSjuORjBjp6jLUQ2HdQYLzykbhLaZIKuzUJaE0qOnyYmGYff7n4H49CglA/s1600/Shot+on+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNISWD7Iy7nPpIUIJ3lkCUP5PQZutaTvT4zMuaThhGRYLpNgk4vsONWG9dkf9fdncfVsR3-UzC19do_3CHD7OSjuORjBjp6jLUQ2HdQYLzykbhLaZIKuzUJaE0qOnyYmGYff7n4H49CglA/s640/Shot+on+steps.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Even has a great parachute with the MPC logo on it:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpR_u0OAi0ndvRYztEFAypKoTRauvVWdh9PM9TiFovEbO1JIPwSNEb6Nx_xwyeYpPvox_QVYvEIr5AZswsJvil5gNvQHKz-6uY__Bf2pOanh6tnTQh2mC-HH3QfBdLArW_93kV9TlqU09/s1600/Chute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpR_u0OAi0ndvRYztEFAypKoTRauvVWdh9PM9TiFovEbO1JIPwSNEb6Nx_xwyeYpPvox_QVYvEIr5AZswsJvil5gNvQHKz-6uY__Bf2pOanh6tnTQh2mC-HH3QfBdLArW_93kV9TlqU09/s400/Chute.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you're interested in seeing more of my rocketry stuff, please check my <a href="http://www.rocketreviews.com/ray-acroray-miller-page.html" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">profile page</a> at <a href="http://rocketreviews.com/" style="color: yellow;">RocketReviews.com</a> !AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-35497381878952013982012-07-18T10:26:00.000-07:002012-07-20T09:15:22.075-07:00Burian's art and Pyro's dinosOne of the most influential artists in the realm of dinosaur art is the late Czech artist by the name of <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zden%C4%9Bk_Burian" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">Zdeněk Burian</a>.</b> Burian's realistic dinosaur art was a huge influence on scientists, merchants and artists involved with dinosaurs. His work often influenced other artists, or was outright copied into other people's products. The classic Pyro dinosaur kit line directly benefited from Burian's artistry.<br />
<br />
This is a Burian illustration of <b>Corythosaurus</b> from 1955:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbEnnkM9V7DRKwcOT-3NC2cIpTq0d2afApvEZPcGrFbHggWKx2QKleKd4Ttmh20eVJJRNqqG2JzH8D1fKcks9wRYpuyIkee_GBLOByVBxI-X4eR_O_GzHkO7pJrzjGqFQaMRGN2u60awM/s1600/Burian+Cory+55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbEnnkM9V7DRKwcOT-3NC2cIpTq0d2afApvEZPcGrFbHggWKx2QKleKd4Ttmh20eVJJRNqqG2JzH8D1fKcks9wRYpuyIkee_GBLOByVBxI-X4eR_O_GzHkO7pJrzjGqFQaMRGN2u60awM/s400/Burian+Cory+55.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b></b><br />
This is <b>Pyro's Corythosaurus</b> kit from approximately 1968 [specifically the <b>Life Like</b> edition, which differs from the Pyro edition in the packaging's brand-name only]:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65DnSdN8jIuqwcag-KnuRhQ8F0wKTCgjuVe2_68j6iWWE0WEdXTfdeDv0lZHNt_MKNTQigc3_7IARI7JUysPgLBBjxAyP6AIF5Sh2DH65WKgX5QX7qWthWZ12oeJdWePu1rEwuAOflnHm/s1600/Cory+Box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65DnSdN8jIuqwcag-KnuRhQ8F0wKTCgjuVe2_68j6iWWE0WEdXTfdeDv0lZHNt_MKNTQigc3_7IARI7JUysPgLBBjxAyP6AIF5Sh2DH65WKgX5QX7qWthWZ12oeJdWePu1rEwuAOflnHm/s400/Cory+Box.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
The kit itself is nearly identical to the artwork, including the detailed patterns in the texture on the dinosaur's hide. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLQ3NfSoygnKZxY4rpqh9rZ82VEa3xaiCOchLFEPiFBfHCONOoAfzDASnU8yRp0tD0nieHMmlbBlia9D7jYUGcWDKVNw71C_9sfrxhu8we0s54iML7fnunKf6yK4jNgUNjruwRXY6pI7N/s1600/Lindberg+HadroCory+Press+Buildup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLQ3NfSoygnKZxY4rpqh9rZ82VEa3xaiCOchLFEPiFBfHCONOoAfzDASnU8yRp0tD0nieHMmlbBlia9D7jYUGcWDKVNw71C_9sfrxhu8we0s54iML7fnunKf6yK4jNgUNjruwRXY6pI7N/s400/Lindberg+HadroCory+Press+Buildup.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindberg's press photo for their most recent edition of the kit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Burian isn't credited on the box art, and I doubt he ever saw any
compensation from the continued production of the model before his death
in 1981.<br />
<br />
A Burian illustration of <b>Protoceratops</b> also certainly provided the model for both the packaging art and the kit design for <b>Pyro's Protoceratops</b>.<br />
<br />
Burian's Protoceratops from about 1955:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5Csw5PxjVhGnH9tF9Z-a9uFYvTxTeoXGdeNQB6MmRFk7YyEO0TCH_7OjU7hohOqqDvq3kO8GrU45UqmZhcF28q-HzjIIRuaZiqoe-IqCmtJbj7LUXRdoVRsUNHo0dEHP8KKtIJkCFQoc/s1600/Burian+Protoceratops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5Csw5PxjVhGnH9tF9Z-a9uFYvTxTeoXGdeNQB6MmRFk7YyEO0TCH_7OjU7hohOqqDvq3kO8GrU45UqmZhcF28q-HzjIIRuaZiqoe-IqCmtJbj7LUXRdoVRsUNHo0dEHP8KKtIJkCFQoc/s400/Burian+Protoceratops.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
The package illustration from the 1968 kit's box (again, the comparable <b>Life Like</b> edition):<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1WiFzOcB90C9RVxUuqn68AnIY-NGkBDtHFblkeN2WNs9fdPnWT5VxRDUCYjlT6osUvpOWyVN9DBWAl73Dtbl8ZOK0VcH3pLNB6ik3xyb8b3vRvlgAwl9DJIO3FcYCG2iKT_lHSZUSBPw/s1600/Protoceratops+box+art.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1WiFzOcB90C9RVxUuqn68AnIY-NGkBDtHFblkeN2WNs9fdPnWT5VxRDUCYjlT6osUvpOWyVN9DBWAl73Dtbl8ZOK0VcH3pLNB6ik3xyb8b3vRvlgAwl9DJIO3FcYCG2iKT_lHSZUSBPw/s400/Protoceratops+box+art.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If you happen to be a fan of Burian's work, it might be worth your while to add either of these kits to your collection, as they are both reasonably true to his original illustration and are probably the finest of the Pyro dinosaur series. <b>Lindberg Hobbies</b>' most recent edition of the Corythosaurus kit is very common, as is their Jurassic Park release as "Hadrosaurus". Protoceratops is a bit less common, but can still be found on line with little difficulty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61jwzaqJP84QPxaCuKlhsOFZoVIncgJyi6jXvILO0lfYhMThWaG9LVA5U-uBu5otVFQlLEWTYGqT66DuyCCOXl2hDErRwQA8t0e_rR_Sq0Kooih53rw67d33oy175msiNnSUjbtYtM6_a/s1600/Corys+Smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61jwzaqJP84QPxaCuKlhsOFZoVIncgJyi6jXvILO0lfYhMThWaG9LVA5U-uBu5otVFQlLEWTYGqT66DuyCCOXl2hDErRwQA8t0e_rR_Sq0Kooih53rw67d33oy175msiNnSUjbtYtM6_a/s400/Corys+Smaller.jpg" width="327" /></a></div>
<br />
Personally, I could still use a more recent edition of Protoceratops, to build as a more modern companion to the one I still have from my childhood. If you've got one that needs a good home, please<b> <a href="mailto:acroray@gmail.com" target="_blank">contact me</a>!</b><br />
<b></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvW-Q5fZdN-skupnRiZ4hqjq069IpIEGRURQ_0q5Y-su0vl3bYjHL1lWRV0PJtFc2s2VbZnYHyiOUqk5RiLqv_Zc9um9f9AqETuwncG0RuibGhVq1sjZgU-bBh-QXZjv1Ha6ISfPZE5qL/s1600/Protoceratops+from+Childhood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvW-Q5fZdN-skupnRiZ4hqjq069IpIEGRURQ_0q5Y-su0vl3bYjHL1lWRV0PJtFc2s2VbZnYHyiOUqk5RiLqv_Zc9um9f9AqETuwncG0RuibGhVq1sjZgU-bBh-QXZjv1Ha6ISfPZE5qL/s400/Protoceratops+from+Childhood.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My childhood Life Like edition, still in my collection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-17674970330574716052012-07-03T09:20:00.003-07:002012-07-03T09:24:02.182-07:00My Pyro/Lindberg Stegosaurus buildup won the May/June modelling contest at the Tholian Web model building forum!<br />
<br />
<div style="color: yellow;">
<a href="http://thetholianweb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=1654#p14938" target="_blank">Tholian Web 2012 Wall of Honor May/June</a></div>
<br />
This is the Stegosaurus in the blog mast-head, which is the classic Pyro kit, but with some hide textures that Lindberg worked into the tooling for the kit's releases from Jurassic Park (1992) onward.<br />
<br />
Here it is, after priming and puttying. The Mr. Surfacer is a huge help with the awful seams on these kits.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cQ0jKUF4FMTyeAiy0HUmQyKpeQEYP3qch3Pbu1lVaEK-KdEvnq3V8fkRWhZGCuWZXkOK3C1iH7mnHGTFMitGx32grf0irSguIWi1yVrd14k7y7WkeGG8Wc6ACwDtzt1KKHFAWXO6LBK-/s1600/LindbergStegoPuttyNPrimedSm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cQ0jKUF4FMTyeAiy0HUmQyKpeQEYP3qch3Pbu1lVaEK-KdEvnq3V8fkRWhZGCuWZXkOK3C1iH7mnHGTFMitGx32grf0irSguIWi1yVrd14k7y7WkeGG8Wc6ACwDtzt1KKHFAWXO6LBK-/s400/LindbergStegoPuttyNPrimedSm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-7003277537241672572012-06-26T14:22:00.000-07:002012-06-26T14:22:30.611-07:00MACROSS Factory: a grail returns!A lot of model builders around the globe - including myself - were stunned to learn that at the recent <b>Shizuoka Hobby Show</b> in Japan Bandai announced they would re-issue the classic Imai <b>MACROSS ARMORED FACTORY kit</b>, from their recently-discovered cache of 1980s Imai tooling. Bandai acquired extensive model kit product assets of Imai after the smaller company foundered in the tail end of the 1980's anime boom, including a large catalog of Macross kits. They'd apparently lost track of a large number of them in the decades since, until veteran Imai staffers now on Bandai's payroll helped locate them in the hobby behemoth's long-term storage. Anyway... anime and model kit fans will likely recall this massive, 2 & a half foot long 1/100 mecha diorama kit:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xujoHnrYnSCfcosJc8dqnD8RBmF9THC4SfifonILoTP3okoBdpNuz8Uq-qgQVadEAF8q2dFRKihvMYqaCzkhNoeEeSsAiyxqjsi6J-iE0q1vL-hsm3g1cNustP-L17x0BugBaM-nXviS/s1600/mf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xujoHnrYnSCfcosJc8dqnD8RBmF9THC4SfifonILoTP3okoBdpNuz8Uq-qgQVadEAF8q2dFRKihvMYqaCzkhNoeEeSsAiyxqjsi6J-iE0q1vL-hsm3g1cNustP-L17x0BugBaM-nXviS/s640/mf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This kit was released back in the 1980s in the US by Revell as part of their ROBOTECH line, dubbed the "Robotech Factory". Apart from and new box and some futzing with the painting and decal placement guidelines for the kit, Revell's kit was essentially identical. (Photo thanks to Google.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS949F8QB3guqflGWwbOoaYob6W0Iyd499RxfxYjjWbWn2lQUWDy5WkyVoz1MaIt4dqyt9VtLD1C4KflqoDXfA8MPsKpk_B5_hmPYBpxcRpojLO-iAtF0MRtfQrNeWVNTURdIUwYXyi7-J/s1600/rt_factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS949F8QB3guqflGWwbOoaYob6W0Iyd499RxfxYjjWbWn2lQUWDy5WkyVoz1MaIt4dqyt9VtLD1C4KflqoDXfA8MPsKpk_B5_hmPYBpxcRpojLO-iAtF0MRtfQrNeWVNTURdIUwYXyi7-J/s640/rt_factory.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I built one back in high school, but later sold it away after college. In recent years I expended some effort cobbling together a replacement one on a small budget that I could rebuild. Vintage ones unassembled easily fetched around $200 or more, and complete built ones were next to impossible to find. This is a dryfit of the results I managed:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wUT7cY4GVO6clrZh2qYrVUdXBo5D1StkfljGQlOm7GYOtT8CZ1GwDA3N07d-d53MdKONKkurkT8qNFTxomLBYY-kui72Uw5TQ_hj9YVRYR9I6GKPsvLWpt2SicR6XPa1hrfJaeLEJPh7/s1600/Factory+dryfit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wUT7cY4GVO6clrZh2qYrVUdXBo5D1StkfljGQlOm7GYOtT8CZ1GwDA3N07d-d53MdKONKkurkT8qNFTxomLBYY-kui72Uw5TQ_hj9YVRYR9I6GKPsvLWpt2SicR6XPa1hrfJaeLEJPh7/s640/Factory+dryfit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This treasure, however, is going to go up for sale, as will a partially-complete and somewhat glue-bombed one since I've decided to just bite the bullet and get the Bandai re-issue. Of course, I'm not letting go of this until I've got the shiny new one in-hand in what I expect will be very late July or early August, at a cost of nearly $100 after a significant preorder discount and a half-off shipping special to cover the killer postage moving this giant plastic beast from the warehouse of my main source for new Japanese hobby items - <a href="http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10188548" target="_blank">Hobby Search</a>.<br />
<br />
The Armored Factory is an incredible kit. Full of vehicles, two great Macross mechs, equipment, and about 30 1-inch tall crewpeople. I wonder if the model-building skills I've acquired in my 43 years are up to the challenge my 16-year old eyesight grappled with so long ago? Max & Hikaru - the only remainders of my original 1986 Robotech Factory kit buildup - are probably the only ones would could say right now...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu3EopDSgBtiG1DB-nMSJ4QsdI_pc3r5jjHzL5AIdn6iQuI72792v94Y0h-v7pNRcVc4MHbIbaO204BUziVFDHRd2mbfZ99Z9lemA7nwlK1iUhb91Sgas1nwVIPw7RDgl-TsfjxlZvwt5/s1600/Factory+1_100+Max+n+Hikaru.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu3EopDSgBtiG1DB-nMSJ4QsdI_pc3r5jjHzL5AIdn6iQuI72792v94Y0h-v7pNRcVc4MHbIbaO204BUziVFDHRd2mbfZ99Z9lemA7nwlK1iUhb91Sgas1nwVIPw7RDgl-TsfjxlZvwt5/s640/Factory+1_100+Max+n+Hikaru.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Wanna chat about the 80s Robotech kits? Wanna buy my dryfit after I get the new one? Just leave a comment or drop me an <a href="mailto:acroray@gmail.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a>!AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-54270312328948578892012-06-23T18:34:00.004-07:002012-06-23T18:56:07.853-07:00Triceratops RebornWhen I was little, in the middle part of the 1970s, I received a number of dinosaur kits from the <b>Life Like</b> hobby company. The first couple came from the gift shop of the<b> Carnegie Museum</b> in Pittsburgh, PA. Others came from <b>K-Mart</b>'s then-overflowing hobby department. Some were very realistic. Others more cartoon-like. They all came to me just before Aurora's incredible <b>Prehistoric Scenes</b> kits.<br />
<br />
<b>Triceratops</b> was one of the very first. He was molded in black, and looked like he was on a wild rampage. Lots of fun! I built him myself, and poorly added some paint like the instructions suggested. My childhood Triceratops is still with me, but missing a leg.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-yda6AeZ2221jVsAIfVUo8FnqRPAWLvw6GyB1vNbrV_MpGGmQm1XqQZMLSp36gmhVvZvzHBtbC9q8EqWLU8n4o9SEh3Jhs_UWihMpdQdj9YMlTKKm1UMG7GJCJQ0u_2STmT_yttMqa96/s1600/Ray+childhood+Triceratops+on+rock+2+smaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-yda6AeZ2221jVsAIfVUo8FnqRPAWLvw6GyB1vNbrV_MpGGmQm1XqQZMLSp36gmhVvZvzHBtbC9q8EqWLU8n4o9SEh3Jhs_UWihMpdQdj9YMlTKKm1UMG7GJCJQ0u_2STmT_yttMqa96/s640/Ray+childhood+Triceratops+on+rock+2+smaller.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I didn't know it at the time, but the kit was actually from 1963 or so, and was one of the first plastic dinosaur kits ever made, created by a company called <b>Pyro Plastics</b>. They made <b>eight dinosaurs </b>in total up until a year or so before I was born, and after Pyro's extensive inventory of model kit molds went to a company called <b>Life Like</b> they were re-released in the 1970s. That's when I got the kits and built them, in flat white boxes calling the dinosaurs "<b>Prehistoric Monsters</b>". My dad cut the faces off of the boxes and framed them for me to hang in my childhood bedroom. Those have since disappeared, but I bought an unassembled specimen a couple of years ago. I haven't built him.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUejFCkO6U2BlJqQI935M7u56rAxNhFFrrqRZKfopvY5BZN0ZU0TPAQ2RTgon-AUuExJilFHkXVtkz7XbTuXnSOZJOZ2eqR_pC8ohn8Eg4l7TQw8BWwsknPqLfRwdPPdbkIULUHe99R0ER/s1600/Tri+Box+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUejFCkO6U2BlJqQI935M7u56rAxNhFFrrqRZKfopvY5BZN0ZU0TPAQ2RTgon-AUuExJilFHkXVtkz7XbTuXnSOZJOZ2eqR_pC8ohn8Eg4l7TQw8BWwsknPqLfRwdPPdbkIULUHe99R0ER/s400/Tri+Box+s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This one was molded in purple. Many of these kits were in purple, gunmetal silver, brownish red. I haven't seen one in the black my childhood one was made in. Interestingly, the name "Pyro" was never removed from the kits, even though it is typical that the old company name is struck from and replaced on molds that move from one company to another.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2JR7nxDppNv52oXZHI1EnomPlr0Vjr8VjlQxo6MhroVTcuqYyxBjoa4fNJ16EMq_bstw5LX4dpeGII5heCB0NWMYP39vuCaKl6cDCkzf-0Ul4elDV0cVngG2j-A4jG_l54uJ4EeiZpux/s1600/Tri+Parts+s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2JR7nxDppNv52oXZHI1EnomPlr0Vjr8VjlQxo6MhroVTcuqYyxBjoa4fNJ16EMq_bstw5LX4dpeGII5heCB0NWMYP39vuCaKl6cDCkzf-0Ul4elDV0cVngG2j-A4jG_l54uJ4EeiZpux/s400/Tri+Parts+s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The molds of all of these dinosaurs made in the 1960s still exist. In the 1980s, they moved from Life Like to <b>Lindberg Hobbies</b>. Lindberg has re-released pieces from the dinosaur collection occasionally in the decades since. Recently, I picked up one of Lindberg's latest re-issues at a discount store. Here it is with the version I built as a child.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V3eVa10Scne7g-xsaoC9_kzC4RNY_bNk1RwcyvuGuKJVia9aMIIVuNn2BFhDjwGyvbh54vTlELJtpEqVlQnHq5yamMtrsGK9ypMriofbAjHjQbR0m4ZQZgjSmmmeJ-sH-XLamjVNfZyE/s1600/Trikes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V3eVa10Scne7g-xsaoC9_kzC4RNY_bNk1RwcyvuGuKJVia9aMIIVuNn2BFhDjwGyvbh54vTlELJtpEqVlQnHq5yamMtrsGK9ypMriofbAjHjQbR0m4ZQZgjSmmmeJ-sH-XLamjVNfZyE/s400/Trikes.JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
It's from 2006, almost <b>50 years</b> after the model was originally made by Pyro. He's molded in grey this time, rather than black or purple. All the dinosaurs in this Lindberg release are grey. Other than that, though, everything is the same as my childhood one, even the sprues holding the parts. I think a couple of part numbers might be a little different, and the Pyro name is no longer present.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKgUZj7TjI67Gj_t4bn4k4ynC7hrE1hlRrubTe73ZtqMuDdhCMyA04-D_jcpSwO0KnJ_nmeyAfa9-15RUagPjH5WAJlJVm_S7569vpX3wWSRV43gzhyTCR820ImE8AQ35yEw4XmvFL0zZ/s1600/Lindberg+06+Trike+parts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKgUZj7TjI67Gj_t4bn4k4ynC7hrE1hlRrubTe73ZtqMuDdhCMyA04-D_jcpSwO0KnJ_nmeyAfa9-15RUagPjH5WAJlJVm_S7569vpX3wWSRV43gzhyTCR820ImE8AQ35yEw4XmvFL0zZ/s400/Lindberg+06+Trike+parts.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I think it's worth mentioning that - according to what's on the package - that these are still "Made In the USA"... that the molds for these classic hobby kits haven't migrated away from the north American plastic industry like so many classic toy & hobby assets. I have nothing against plastic kits from overseas. I just think that it is interesting and positive that these bits of "Classic Americana" still reside states-side.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, I built him! There were a lot of bad seams that needed to be filled and some of the parts are difficult to align well with the existing guidepins - exactly like its older sibling from my childhood collection. Other than that, it's a pretty simple kit with only 14 parts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkv-LmVaOHFIorDL-QGHZc7uCadMaeuCFJTuKNLYqmmrY7yX9xkeciSmJd3jsJnZZf3AWX0JUzgDvB8pCpUtvCTGhpFNetreM8OdWloOWMMnvEAkEFPTuf4h3rxEPFKApYUce7eLgVEstO/s1600/Recent+Trike+on+Workbench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkv-LmVaOHFIorDL-QGHZc7uCadMaeuCFJTuKNLYqmmrY7yX9xkeciSmJd3jsJnZZf3AWX0JUzgDvB8pCpUtvCTGhpFNetreM8OdWloOWMMnvEAkEFPTuf4h3rxEPFKApYUce7eLgVEstO/s400/Recent+Trike+on+Workbench.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The head has a challenging chasm seam between the horns that needed extra attention to fill. This is the head filled, primed and ready for a base coat. (It gets put on the body after the mouth interiors and teeth are painted.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPjij2GNniynf3oeWtJwRaf-glE3UaRUem9UY2-PG7GFfuI1SvFaj25x0kMwCFpDikpGVxl6P7nM-br1oSM36DWjZ7e-Z9jnbcee550wuEA8bvyyZTqKglBfM1LttVyMYv2ASvPGLQx6l/s1600/Recent+Trike+head+primed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPjij2GNniynf3oeWtJwRaf-glE3UaRUem9UY2-PG7GFfuI1SvFaj25x0kMwCFpDikpGVxl6P7nM-br1oSM36DWjZ7e-Z9jnbcee550wuEA8bvyyZTqKglBfM1LttVyMYv2ASvPGLQx6l/s400/Recent+Trike+head+primed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I decided that I wanted him to be black, like the one from my childhood, especially since I'm building these in part as companion pieces to my childhood survivors. It only took a couple of hours after a base coat of 98-cent WalMart rattlecan black. I'm pretty happy with it! This build - and my memories of my childhood original - are influenced by my memories of the Triceratops seen in the classic Japanese monster film <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B619J7VeYAY" target="_blank">The Last Dinosaur</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9BKzQmoBbiwO5F2ptmCF_eBN4dS21-CV_ZPbDKIl51n8hH7S2FYVveyr5mqOkPkbYMJFINnvsgue8I0yKsppOmKcjqwUKuCUsgJlTCCCmjMTk-RXJTG4BjHZy1AqNOUoId3pLepZpCDX/s1600/Trike+Finished+SM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9BKzQmoBbiwO5F2ptmCF_eBN4dS21-CV_ZPbDKIl51n8hH7S2FYVveyr5mqOkPkbYMJFINnvsgue8I0yKsppOmKcjqwUKuCUsgJlTCCCmjMTk-RXJTG4BjHZy1AqNOUoId3pLepZpCDX/s640/Trike+Finished+SM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Do you have any similar memories or experiences with these "American Classic" models? Have any old junked ones or parts you'd like to pass along to an appreciative home? Please leave a comment or<b> <a href="mailto:acroray@gmail.com" target="_blank">e-mail me</a></b>!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-41651865028163234722012-06-20T13:38:00.004-07:002012-06-30T08:19:01.842-07:00The first StegosaurusCurrently, I've been focusing on organizing a collection of the 8 <b>Pyro dinosaur kits</b> that were released during the 1960s, and were later carried by<b> Life-Like</b> through the 70s, and finally <a href="http://www.lindberg-models.com/" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank"><b>Lindberg</b></a><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>from the 80s to today. Many of them are currently available, and I picked up a couple of recent Lindberg editions at a<span style="color: yellow;"> </span><a href="http://www.olliesbargainoutlet.com/" style="color: yellow;" target="_blank">local discounter</a><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>over the last few months.<br />
<br />
My dad was kind enough to get me this buildup (restored a bit by myself) from eBay: the first edition of the Stegosaurus, probably from 1963 or earlier, with it's original orange plastic on display.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Uq4ubC26ca7R9wWM5rSmCQE3ItIKpFSeGKbTPMceYyeXbrGNpnD4iihofS4KFP0_4WOj-16ZSFsdn5h779sH11NFchSFyjVfk5SMDIC2MV5znEkfRz65Zg3ZtodbSL3H-IhmLLAnZdm/s1600/Original+Stego+Restoration+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2Uq4ubC26ca7R9wWM5rSmCQE3ItIKpFSeGKbTPMceYyeXbrGNpnD4iihofS4KFP0_4WOj-16ZSFsdn5h779sH11NFchSFyjVfk5SMDIC2MV5znEkfRz65Zg3ZtodbSL3H-IhmLLAnZdm/s640/Original+Stego+Restoration+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The cave man is an artifact of the times, when then-popular film and media happily populated the prehistoric world with saurians, Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons all at the same time. He stuck with the kit until Lindberg plugged-off his part of the molds when the kit's tooling was modified a bit to include more realistic hide textures for a 1992 Jurassic Park release. (An example of the post-Jurassic Park retooling is currently the masthead image for this blog.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbVYuGRYzd4EtVrkk5xx-DOcHxGvjLN5VGZ0D-7mIEbQyisb5VjMFjJxsQ6jVDEYBpmnct103FgkZpEw_XDwYKLf1LzcG-LkoTEQWlObvmeomrebq3bS-m4NWfWqXgKvTKncfUCJxmEa0/s1600/Original+Stego+Restoration+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbVYuGRYzd4EtVrkk5xx-DOcHxGvjLN5VGZ0D-7mIEbQyisb5VjMFjJxsQ6jVDEYBpmnct103FgkZpEw_XDwYKLf1LzcG-LkoTEQWlObvmeomrebq3bS-m4NWfWqXgKvTKncfUCJxmEa0/s320/Original+Stego+Restoration+2.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I like the wild colors of old plastic kits like these and Aurora's dinosaurs. The original kit builder did a pretty nice job following the suggestions on the instructions, but the old flat acrylics were coming off, there was some messy paint & flash, and the cave man was painted in glossy colors. So I trimmed it up, removed & re-positioned the cave man, matched & retouched the paint, and flat-coated it all.</div>AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3057543025896131643.post-57478164411372619242012-06-15T09:03:00.001-07:002012-06-15T09:05:32.478-07:00My new blog for other interests!I'm opening another blog, in addition to my <a href="http://acroray.blogspot.com/" style="color: cyan;" target="_blank">Micronauts-related</a> blog. My other hobbies include toy and model robots from anime & sci-fi shows, model rocketry, and also model and toy dinosaurs and monsters. I share a lot of my activities, research and acquisitions in these hobbies at my Facebook page and various newsgroups and message boards. However, this will give me a space to present and organize some of it to share more openly.AcroRayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08949450347665210583noreply@blogger.com0