Finescale Modeler Forum FSM Group Build

[Masao]

Some guys at Finescale Modeler Forum are doing a group build of ships from the Starfleet Museum. Pics of only two WIP ships have been posted for far. http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=33960

[skyhawk223]

Looks cool. Are they using sheet styrene?

[Masao]

Mostly styrene, I suppose. I've never scratchbuilt anything, but it doesn't look so hard.

[Thomas P]

Those guys are doing great work. I'd liked to have seen some WIPs of the Moskva tug being built.

[scaramanga]

k that's amazing :D

[Masao]

I'm trying to encourage some of those guys to make kits of those models. Simply commisioning a scratchbuilt model is too expensive. The Finescale Modeler store now handles quite a few resin kits like that.

[skyhawk223]

I might be interested in kits, depending on the price.

[Masao]

Alfred Wong has mastered my USS Avenger for the Starship Modeler Store. I don't know who commissioned it, and I just found about it today. Curious. http://www.alfredsmind.ca/commissions/samples6a.html

[Thomas P]

Hmmmm....... Can anyone say 'Royalties'?

[skyhawk223]

What's with those huge ugly nacelles? ONLY the alternates should be used. Anything else spoils the lines of the ship. Have you contacted Alfred about his little Avenger project?

[Masao]

So far, I've only contacted Starship Modeler about this, since his page says the kit is being made for their store. I haven't heard back from SSM yet. I think I should drop Mr. Wong an email and ask him who commissioned it. Pirate attack!

The gigantic Connie nacelles are so it can be marketed as a conversion, I guess.

[Masao]

Update: Alfred Wong tells me that the person who originally commissioned the model pulled out of the deal. Alfred then offered the master to Starship Modeler, who agreed to pay for the commission with the intention of releasing a kit. Alfred says he didn't know the origin of the design, so perhaps SSM also does not know. Anyway, I've contacted John P at SSM about it and hope to hear from him soon.

[Thomas P]

Thats a questionable position, in my opinion. But, the SSM site has been pretty well managed so I'm sure they will do the right thing.

[skyhawk223]

Yeah. John P is seems to be a nice guy who runs a great site. Hopefully this gets straightened out so that everyone is happy.

[skyhawk223]

And on the bright side, if you want anyone to master it, it's Alfred.

[Masao]

Alfred seems to have taken a few liberties with the design, which happens when the designer isn't consulted!

[skyhawk223]

Has anything new come of this? Have you had any discussions with Alfred regarding the changes he has made?

[Masao]

I've worked everything out with John Lester. I'm going to donate my royalties to help support Starship Modeler, but I will get two complimentary kits. The master probably won't be modified further, but a more accurate version is being done for possible sale by another modeler. I don't know when it Alfred's kit will be sold, but it sounds like it's to at least to the mold-making stage.

[Thomas P]

Very nice of you ole man! SSM is a great site and I'd love to see some real 3D models out there of your ships.

[skyhawk223]

That's great, Masao. Despite what everyone says about you... :)

[Masao]

Don't believe what everyone says. I've had to step on a lot of people to get to my current lofty position and have made a lot of enemies! They're all losers! Bwaahaahaahaa!

[skyhawk223]

Wow, I never knew your true nature. I guess all those bad rumors I've been spreading about you are true :)