Die Cast Lighted 1/350th TOS Enterprise (TOMY crowd funded)

xlowes said:
Actually it wasn't your photos. This was a monthly update from Tomy.
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That could well be possible, it's just that the timing is a bit suspect.

So, after a while of literally freezing everyone out and not responding to customers emails brought about from their last update, they finally put out that last email. But pretty much only until after our unboxing photos were posted across the internet. And I checked, and it had appeared that my photos had proliferated beyond the 3 forums I was posting to, but to other Facebook group/s too, and possibly elsewhere too. And we all know that many here and probably elsewhere were emailing Tomy again after finally getting the confirmation about their fears upon seeing mine and Pebble's photos.

Again, the monthly update was expected, but.......
 
JiminSTLouis said:
That sounds like the right way to do it but you have to think about how the parts are manufactured. The periphery of the saucer has a closed angle. If the top of the saucer was one piece with the opening at the bottom, it would be locked into the mold. That’s why the lid is at the top.
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This is true.Well what about how Diamond Select did their saucer? No seam on the side of the saucer but along the top ridge. But I suppose them it would ruin the top surface ....

Phoenixblazes said:
That could well be possible, it's just that the timing is a bit suspect.

So, after a while of literally freezing everyone out and not responding to customers emails brought about from their last update, they finally put out that last email. But pretty much only until after our unboxing photos were posted across the internet. And I checked, and it had appeared that my photos had proliferated beyond the 3 forums I was posting to, but to other Facebook group/s too, and possibly elsewhere too. And we all know that many here and probably elsewhere were emailing Tomy again after finally getting the confirmation about their fears upon seeing mine and Pebble's photos.

Again, the monthly update was expected, but.......
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I saw your photos on a YouTube video. So they are definitely getting out there....you are famous...... :D ...
 
Ant1988 said:
This is true.Well what about how Diamond Select did their saucer? No seam on the side of the saucer but along the top ridge. But I suppose them it would ruin the top surface ....
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That would have been an option for TOMY. One I think I would have preferred.

IMG_2857.jpeg
 
Pebble said:
Like Phoenix said, these weren't bought from someone in China directly, or via some shady reseller, but a well established business with stores all across the country that wouldn't look to engage in that sort of thing just to make a few extra dollars.
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Okay.. so lets say everything is above board. The Tomy packaging and instructions in the photos sure look legit. So the question remains - How did this reseller get items that all had to have American ship addresses, weeks before the shipping of product began? Someone at Tomy shipped them early and probably direct to Australia with Tomy's permission. And probably not by container either. A container ship takes about the same time to get to Austrailia as it does California (depending on weather ) 2-4 weeks. Australia probably runs a solid week ahead at most times. But probably not 4 weeks. And then there is customs. The units received must have shipped from china some time ago. I suspect the Oct 9 date is when Tomy expects the containers to arrive in California and pass customs, but some obviously went via a different and far more direct route. Others here asked Tomy about these shipments and Tomy denied anything had shipped. Maybe this reseller simply has enough orders that they argued with Tomy to provide direct shipping. Maybe some deal was cut with these resellers to liquidate the product that had already been returned. But I would be very surprised if there was not a "do not ship or sell until" date in that contract. I am totally glad the Aussies got thiers and can give us a look, but I am wondering if this signals an intent by Tomy to liquidate the unwanted product in a market other than the U.S.
 
For those who cancelled by email how long did it take TOMY to respond? I emailed yesterday and haven't gotten a reply yet to my cancel/refund request.
 
I think I might pair this with my old qMX 1/6 figures of Kirk and Spock, or I just might order the 1/3 scale Kirk from Darkside that currently goes for $1,200 USD.
 
weisshaupt said:
Okay.. so lets say everything is above board. The Tomy packaging and instructions in the photos sure look legit. So the question remains - How did this reseller get items that all had to have American ship addresses, weeks before the shipping of product began? Someone at Tomy shipped them early and probably direct to Australia with Tomy's permission. And probably not by container either. A container ship takes about the same time to get to Austrailia as it does California (depending on weather ) 2-4 weeks. Australia probably runs a solid week ahead at most times. But probably not 4 weeks. And then there is customs. The units received must have shipped from china some time ago. I suspect the Oct 9 date is when Tomy expects the containers to arrive in California and pass customs, but some obviously went via a different and far more direct route. Others here asked Tomy about these shipments and Tomy denied anything had shipped. Maybe this reseller simply has enough orders that they argued with Tomy to provide direct shipping. Maybe some deal was cut with these resellers to liquidate the product that had already been returned. But I would be very surprised if there was not a "do not ship or sell until" date in that contract. I am totally glad the Aussies got thiers and can give us a look, but I am wondering if this signals an intent by Tomy to liquidate the unwanted product in a market other than the U.S.
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They probably just beamed it to Australia from Tomy headquarters Japan!
 
I don’t think I’ve ever owed a collectable which was received so badly.


I’m just imagining a similar cartoon image as the one they did for those millions of dollars of Pops! that were sent to the dump.
 
Phoenixblazes said:
I don’t think I’ve ever owed a collectable which was received so badly.


I’m just imagining a similar cartoon image as the one they did for those millions of dollars of Pops! that were sent to the dump.
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I think most people understand the difficulty of undertaking. But this final result was "phoned" in. If they had simply switched sides so that the filming side was pristine and built the stand as they did.. I think a lot of people would still be unhappy, but would decide to live with it rather than cancel. Its the fact you don't have a clean side to display , and that a very simple mirroring of the casting would provide that that leaves everyone so frustrated. I think everyone expected a bit more clever design work and just plain common sense to be employed to either hide or minimize the screw locations , but if that design and filling isn't possible for technical reasons, then you at least choose to screw up (pun intended) only one side.. They compounded this by using one screw to hold up the saucer - which makes no sense. As someone else pointed out, you could have had this "slide in" under a tab in the neck to provide additional leverage and then secure that with the screw.. If you are worried about the presentation while separated you provide a plastic cap to cover the latching mechanism so it looks like turbolifts etc. Just as they provided a way to close the hangar bay. With a stand that didn't require saucer support and clean filming side - both of which should have been achievable with very small modifications ( even doing more of the saucer in plastic would have better than that stand IMO) I think a lot of people would shrug and take it , knowing that $600 was a low price point to hit for a "perfect" model . Heck Tomy could have gone flow blown "oh - its a complete recreation of the studio model in the Smithsonian - warts and all and had cables running up the port side and no finishing on it and many people would have found that good enough.
 
I still can't decide if I want to keep any for resale, or keep 1. No telling how these will do on the resale market.
 
Three main things were the problem for me: that crazy stand and that support pole, the plugs on the side they chose, and the saucer separation was not really needed and led to a lot of design needs. I still totally get this was A LOT to attempt. One thought I had was what if they had made the primary hull not diecast? Might have helped a lot. I also have heard all the seams and screws were partially to allow people to go in and take it apart if needed to fix it. I think if that is true it was a mistake.
 
weisshaupt said:
I think most people understand the difficulty of undertaking. But this final result was "phoned" in. If they had simply switched sides so that the filming side was pristine and built the stand as they did.. I think a lot of people would still be unhappy, but would decide to live with it rather than cancel. Its the fact you don't have a clean side to display , and that a very simple mirroring of the casting would provide that that leaves everyone so frustrated. I think everyone expected a bit more clever design work and just plain common sense to be employed to either hide or minimize the screw locations , but if that design and filling isn't possible for technical reasons, then you at least choose to screw up (pun intended) only one side.. They compounded this by using one screw to hold up the saucer - which makes no sense. As someone else pointed out, you could have had this "slide in" under a tab in the neck to provide additional leverage and then secure that with the screw.. If you are worried about the presentation while separated you provide a plastic cap to cover the latching mechanism so it looks like turbolifts etc. Just as they provided a way to close the hangar bay. With a stand that didn't require saucer support and clean filming side - both of which should have been achievable with very small modifications ( even doing more of the saucer in plastic would have better than that stand IMO) I think a lot of people would shrug and take it , knowing that $600 was a low price point to hit for a "perfect" model . Heck Tomy could have gone flow blown "oh - its a complete recreation of the studio model in the Smithsonian - warts and all and had cables running up the port side and no finishing on it and many people would have found that good enough.
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Excellent. Sums up my thoughts exactly!
 
Lots to love about this model but also lots to be disappointed about. I ended up ordering 2 of these like others...one to keep and one to resell. I'll definitely keep one but now I'm struggling to decide if I should cancel the 2nd one...ugh!

It will be interesting to see what "fixes" and/or additional things the community will come up with for it after it's finally in our hands.
 
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