Retro Rockets #77 3/25/2012
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A NEW RETRO ROCKETS
Remember CultTVman’s Retro Rockets? The last numbered Retro Rockets was #76 back in Oct. 2010. I’ve put out a couple brief announcements since then, with every intention of sending out an update. That hasn’t quite happened. But tonight you get a newsletter. I don’t think there’s anything new here that you haven’t already read on the CultTVman website, but at least you have something to read on Sunday morning.
THE CULTTVMAN WEBSITE
I upgraded the theme at the Cult site earlier this year and I hope you like it. As always, I try to feature models submitted by my visitors. I have been trying to keep a steady pace of posting new material and reposting some of pre-2008 material that has been off the site a while. I hope you visit the site regularly at http://culttvman.com
WONDERFEST AND SCI-FI UNIVERSITY
Wonderfest is coming up fast. The show runs May 26-27 at the Crown Plaza in Louisville Kentucky. As anyone that has attended the show can tell you, it is the biggest and best model show in the US devoted to fantastic modeling subjects including science fiction and monsters and more.
So far, the announced guests are actress Joanna Cassidy know to many of us for her roles in Bladerunner and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, along with artist/designer Eric Chu who has worked on Battlestar Galactica and much more.
CultTVman will be sponsoring a guest this year, and I am just waiting for the news to be posted on the Wonderfest website before we announce it. This year I am bringing in a noted modeler, hobby author, and SFX designer. Stay tuned for details.
Visit the Wonderfest website at http://wonderfest.com
Sci-Fi University continues this year. SFU is an all day workshop hosted by CultTVman and Federation Models. This year, the plan is to build a model over the course of the day. We’ll cover basic model building, some advanced techniques, and painting. We’re still working out all the details so more news will follow.
Registration is limited and there is a $30 fee. You can sign up on the Federation Models website at http://federationmodels.com/whats_new
We hope you will join us!
MOEBIUS MODELS NEWS
Moebius continues to release new and exciting model kits and 2012 has continued this trend. So far, this year, we’ve seen Iron Man Mk VI, the Dark Knight Bat Pod, the prepainted Lost In Space Space Pod and the Battlestar Galactica Cylon Raider. While it is not a spaceship or monster, the long awaited Chrysler 300 automotive kit will be out in a week or two. The Seaview Movie Edition kit will be out in mid to late April. Other summer releases include the Skipjack submarine, Bride of Frankenstein, Iron Man War Machine, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Deluxe Dracula, the reposed Iron Man Mk III, the Cylon Centurian, the Munsters House, the Jupiter 2 light kit, and the 1:25 Dark Knight figures. This summer will also see at least one, and possibly two surprise kits that no one knows about. Given that there are a lot of kits in the pipeline right now, expect some releases to slip til fall.
Noticeably absent from the summer kits is the Dark Knight Tumbler, and the Lost in Space 1:35 Space Pod and Chariot. At this time, those are still in development, so don’t expect them before late summer or fall. The Battlestar Galactica Pegasus is also slated for this fall.
There will be an CultTVman exclusive version of the Munsters House. This will molded in transparent green like the hand in the Green Lantern kit. We’re calling it the Ghostly Green edition. You will only be able to get this from CultTVman in US.
Expect new kit announcements from Moebius at Wonderfest in May. You may also hear some news from Moebius at Monsterpalooza in April.
Links:
- http://moebiusmodels.com/
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21498
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21492
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21437
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21071
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=19993
- http://www.culttvmanshop.com/Moebius-Models_bymfg_1-4-1.html
PEGASUS HOBBIES NEWS
The first new kits of 2012 from Pegasus Hobbies should be coming in April. Look for the Dragonslayer Vermithrax and a preassembled Relic Kothoga soon. The Dragonslayer kit is a beauty. I’ve also been told that work on their Nautilus kit is progressing well, though we don’t have a release date on that.
Links:
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21118
- http://pegasushobbies.com
- http://www.culttvmanshop.com/Pegasus-Hobbies_bymfg_51-4-1.html
GRAVEYARD SCENES AND CREEPY CASTLE KITS
The Vampire Hunter is a new 1:13 scale figure model coming from the Graveyard Scenes line of kits and bases from CultTVman and Night Owl Models. The Vampire Hunter was sculpted by Chris Elizardo and comes with several different arms so he can be build holding a mallet and stake, or cross and lantern or a crossbow. It will be available as a figure only, or a deluxe kit with a Graveyard Scenes base.
Cult’s Creepy Castle kits has expanded to include High Voltage, which are electrical machinery and The Autopsy Table. These are great additions to your 1:12 and 1:13 scale monster dioramas. We’ve added an Expansion set to go with our Creepy Castle Starter Set so you can build a great castle, laboratory, dungeon or catacomb diorama for your figures.
We have several more products in the works for the Graveyard Scenes and Creepy Castle Kits. We should have more news before Wonderfest.
Links
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21270
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=21129
- https://culttvman.com/main/?p=20888
- http://www.culttvmanshop.com/Graveyard-Scenes_c_86.html
- http://www.culttvmanshop.com/Creepy-Castle-Kits_c_143.html
ROUND 2 NEWS
Round 2 continues their steady stream of kit reissues from the Polar Lights, AMT, and MPC product lines. The Aurora Green Hornet Black Beauty was recently reissued. Look for the Adversary Set (Klingon Bird of Prey and Ferengi Marauder) and Romulan Warbird kits soon. MPC’s Strange Change Time Machine and Incredible Hulk are slated for April. Other recent release include the two Dark Shadows figure kits, the Klingon Battlecruiser, and prepainted versions of the Beatles and KISS kits.
Unfortunately, Round 2 has not released any information about the 1:350 Classic Enterprise. I assume it is progressing. It is currently scheduled for October. I have no news on any other related kits or Star Trek models. Round 2 has hinted that there will be other new kits released this year and they say there will be announcements at Wonderfest.
Links
REVELL NEWS
Revell in the US released the newest Star Wars kits from Revell Germany this year. Luke Skywalkers Landspeeder and the Classic TIE Fighter are available everywhere. The 1:48 scale Mercury and Gemini Space Capsule set should be available early this year. Revell Germany has reissued the 1:24 scale Gemini capsule. The 1:48 Apollo Spacecraft kit with the LM and CSM is out. This had not been available in the US in many years.
Links
DRAGON MODELS
Dragon has expanded their lines of space exploration miniatures this year. The highlight of the series is the new 1:72 scale Apollo Saturn V. This is a huge prepainted miniature and carries a hefty price tag. Dragon has also launched a line of plastic model kits, based on their miniatures. New models include the 1:72 Mercury Redstone rocket and 1:48 scale Lunar Module.
It looks like Dragon may have some model kits from the Avengers coming, at least according to their website.
Links
FUJIMI NEWS
Fujimi, a model company in Japan released their Spinner model late last year and it proved to be very popular. They are following up with two new kits this summer. Look for Deckard’s Sedan and the Police Car No. 27 later this year
Links
AFTERMARKET PARTS NEWS
Paragrafix continues to produce great detail sets for various kits. They will have a detail set for the Movie Seaview in April. They have just released photo etch detail sets for the AMT Reliant, Fujimi Spinner and Revell Germany Enterprise. They have also expanded their line of EasyLED light sets.
Links
VoodooFX now has light kits for the Viper Mk VII and Cylon Raider, and the Pegasus War of the Worlds Tripod. Look for more great light kits from them soon
Links
Kustom Kit Krafters has put out a nice detail set for the Moebius Dracula kit which includes a replacement vest, top hat and bat. They also have a new Nuclear Dinosaur kit.
Links
Evans Lighting is a new lighting company, producing a variety of lighting kits for various sci-fi models. They will have a Spinner light kit available soon. Other recent products include light sets for the Enterprise C and Galileo kits.
Links
Aztek Dummy has new paint mask sets coming for Iron Man MK VI and the Cylon Raider. Look for them in time for Wonderfest
Links
Don’s Light and Magic has expanded on the Ultimate Bridge set and is releasing two additional detail sets for the AMT Bridge kit. One set will provide for the missing stations. The other set will replace the existing work stations with more panels designed for lighting and that have accurate upper viewscreens.
Links
- http://dlmparts.com/
FINE PRINT:
CultTVman’s Retro Rockets is a news and information newsletter which supports the CultTVman Fantastic Modeling website. All material is © 2012 Steve Iverson. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CultTVman, CultTVman’s Retro Rockets and CultTVman’s SF Modeling Guild are trademarks owned by Stephen J. Iverson.
