I don't intend this to be too "brown nosey"
I was looking at the kits that the guys at Moebius have released.

It's amazing. we love 'em(modelers/sci-fi/ builders) But they also have to sell in the real world. All of the legal, design and manufacturing hurdles to have to jump through.
And can you imagine having to run the gauntlet of "experts" some real, some real silly, that are going to, and do critique the potential product and the existing kits?
They are very nice kits, but they aren't for everbody, I figure they figured their main customer was a hobbyist. Someone with the skills needed to take the kit to whatever level is desired by the builder. (Bandi built some cool starships, just open the box and snap'em together.) Moebius gave US the subject and it's up to us...to add, or just do a fun simple build.

The ME 262 went through over 22,000 engineering/design changes AFTER they had a flying prototype. I bet the boys at Moebius sometimes feel a kinship...lol

There is a trend in the hobby industry to release "limited edtions"
Meaning short production runs, in everything from GI joes to slot cars and British jets. That means if you don't get one the very day it's released...your'e out of luck.It guarantees sold out shelves, happy hobby shops, and .....dissapointed customers.
Moebius dosen't work that way. They keep making kits so that everyone who wants one can have one..even a year later....amazing.

Anyway, I'll go back and lay down by my dish, but I really want to say thanks for all the cool models and the thought that the guys at Moebius have put into them.

Steve

It's an interesting issue. With real world items, like tanks or aircraft, you can go and actually measure the thing, take photos, get into every little detail (if an example still exists of course), and even if you can't, there's manufacturing blueprints that will be exact and precise, because if you're building an airplane it has to WORK, right? Not that subtle variations didn't creep up over time, due to material shortages, field repairs, field modifications, all that. But in the end, you have a real product that you make a copy of, and the only limitations on the model are the realities of the injection molding process, the need to actually assemble the kit, and such like.

All of which is a REAL problem when dealing with fantasy models. Models get lost, broken, restored, lost again. Blueprints are often more suggestions than anything precise. Even in highly documented models like the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Enterprise there's STILL arguments and discussions on "what did that REALLY look like" and the like. Compound THAT with the Irwin Allen 'eh, nobody will notice, next scene!" attitude, or something like WHICH Frankenstein do you sculpt because each and ever iteration has its fans, and it's as like as put a gun to your head trying to please everyone.

Here's what I like. The folks at Moebius Do care. And they DO communicate, and listen, and react. That's pretty damn rare.

And sometimes, it seems the skin gets a little thin, and sometimes there's yelling and growling back and forth, because it's the nature of the PASSION of a fandom to get under the skin from time to time. I'm pretty happy to see that there's a generally cool head with all that nonsense that goes on.

I wish for their continued success. I hope for some interesting, surprising models in the future.

Well thought out Steve and Steve. I think most of us feel that way. Nice of you to put it on record!!

let me add another thing that moebius has to contend with that "real machine" designers dont have to worry about: somewhere there will be an executive (of varying level, depending on the company) that you will have to please twice (design and sculpt). this person could be a die hard fan and expert of the subject matter, or completely indifferent to it. its that persons individual tastes and aesthetic sensibilities that they have to satisfy.

complicating this is that there is occasionally a complete change of personnel between design and prototype, and suddenly the licensee is dealing with a completely new set of aesthetic values and tastes.

t'aint easy folks. which is why frank and co. deserve all the kudos they get and more!

We should be thankful that Frank and Dave have such an open policy in regards to letting us in on their production plans,and curtious in how we respond to their "babies" of which we become the benifiuaries.

We should be thankful that Frank and Dave have such an open policy in regards to letting us in on their production plans,and curtious in how we respond to their "babies" of which we become the benifiuaries.

Well said...:thumbsup:I have absolutely no complaints when it comes to anything 'Moebius'...Their Kits are superb...how do I know?... because hell, I've got 'em all!...and My Wish List is simple...I Wish that you never stop doing what you're doing:thumbsup::wave::thumbsup:
Mcdee

Agreed!! We're getting kits we'd never thought we'd ever have!!

Chris.:)

Well Said, Well Said. It's so amazing that a company today that brings out what fans seem to want, thank gosh that they have a bunch of us who they can sell them too and also being able to submit feedback and to hear back from them is all utterly amazing!

I'll note that one of the things I appreciate most about Moebius kits is the detailed description of the model that comes with each one. Building the Seaview, for example, was an education in 60s pop culture, Irwin Allen, VTBOTS, and film-making. Ditto for the Flying Sub. Working on The Mummy is a nice trip back to the days of classic horror films.