Plastic Toy Space Ships?

[Heldrak]

Is anyone aware of a reasonably-priced plastic toy spaceship on the market that might make a good terrain piece for Flash Gordon/Buck Rogers-style 28mm VSF games?

Ideally, something like a Revell model or a licensed plastic toy (I'd hate to use the crashed shuttle from the GW Macragge boxed set, just on principle...).

I have to say, I'm not crazy about the paper model shown elsewhere on the forum (too flimsy and not nearly ornate enough for my taste...).

[twrchtrwyth]

You could use the paper model as a template to make one out of plastic card or some other material.

[Westfalia Chris]

You might want to look out for "Glencoe Models", a US firm which used to offer re-issues of "classic" spaceship models. I still have an unfinished Mars Liner (CLICK for a nicely-built piece, not by me! lying about which I want to convert sometime for the exact same topic, but they also had a quarter-scale flying saucer (originally by Aurora, IIRC) and several other nice kits.

However, it´s been the 1990s when I last bought stuff from them, although I´ve seen it occasionally in modelling stores, so if GERMAN model stores are able to stock Glencoe stuff, the firm shouldn´t be totally AWOL (explanation: Teutonic Efficiency™ does, apparently, no longer apply to the majority of German model shops, they seem to focus on the easy-to-sell stuff, like Panthers and Tigers and... more Tigers, oh my!).

[Svennn]

not ideal but how about a re-painted Corgi Supercar?
They are doing the rounds quite cheap at the mo, especially the monotone one which I think is supposed to represent how we all saw it in b&W

[marianas_gamer]

Or you can go over to Denny's and get one of their rocket ship kids cups for a couple of bucks, and a few hours of painting later, WALLAH!!  

[Operator5]

You may want to look for some of the actual model rockets (the ones where you put the engine in and launch them). There was some discussion on these on the Fantastic Worlds Yahoo group and there are some good retro style designs and some that can easily be converted to cool pulp sci fi pieces.

I'll try and dig up the links at some point.

[Mo]

Here is the Estes rocket in question for sale on Ebay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Estes-1839-MOONDOG-Ready-to-Fly-Model-Rocket-NIB_W0QQitemZ330202132162QQcmdZViewItem

And here is a link showing how to convert it for tabletop use...

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dunes/8426/retro/model.html

Looks like a great option to me. I may grab one.

Marc

[Grif]

Here's another conversion of the same model:

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/was/ls_rocket.htm

Grif

[Heldrak]

Thanks-

The Estes Moondog looks like it might be serviceable. I was browsing through some of the older posts on the forum and it looks like the Dennys "Rocket Cup" was an excellent piece too.

I confess I'm still hoping for something more ornate and curlicued...

Supercar isn't bad either (although it looks like a cramped single-seater).

[Gunbird]

I keep finding those big green Thunderbirds ships on swapmeets, those might be usefull as well (with a repaint?)

Mind you, I have 2 of them for that reason alone......all I need now is time.

Johan

[Heldrak]

I keep finding those big green Thunderbirds ships on swapmeets, those might be usefull as well (with a repaint?)

Mind you, I have 2 of them for that reason alone......all I need now is time.

Johan

Can you post a picture?

[fastolfrus]

There used to be a range of 1950s retro style toys which included a rocket - "Spaceship X-100" moulded in silver plastic.
Probably rare now, but they may still be around.
They were marketed in the UK by a company called "Great Gizmos"
I found a link that shows the range as it came out in 2000

http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/storefront.pl?ref=americandimestore&pg=29177

[Gunbird]

Heldrak, it's this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/frinky/531456906/ or look here http://picasaweb.google.com/H.B.Schreuder/Internet2007/photo#5141202289396028754

I have one with the engines, one without (both broken off)

The one with the engines is an "original", with slide out container, sound effects etc. Matchbox 1992

The one without engines is a Chinese rip off, no seperate cargo module, no wings, no fancy electronics...basically a gutted hulk, good for a crashed item besides a space port or something.

Size is 16 inches length, 12 inches width and about 7 inches tall.

Advantage/disadvantage is that it is very recognisable...so its easier to find but people recognise it as well/ But with a new paintjob, someday, who knows.

Johan

[Heldrak]

Advantage/disadvantage is that it is very recognisable...so its easier to find but people recognise it as well/ But with a new paintjob, someday, who knows.

Thanks for the pictures- I agree, it's far too recognizable as a Thunderbirds piece.

(Thunderbirds- brrrrrr :x) They always creeped me out as a child and nothing has changed...

[pnweerar]

This thread has cost me valuable sleep!

Here are some excellent ships:

http://www.swapsale.com/models12.htm

The Herb Deek models, check out Ming's and Flash's ships.

Information on their sizes and such:

http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/DR%20ZARKOV'S%20ROCKETSHIP%20PAGE.htm