do you think kit makers add flaws on purpose? It adds to the challenge?

[astroboy]

I've been thinking of this a lot lately. It seems to me, that aftermarket parts and customization have become a real art form when it comes to accurizing a kit from a major company. It also seems like it's easier and easier for companies to get quality resources for perfect models.

Looking at the moebius galactica is a perfect example. They obviously had access to the zoic renderings...but when the final product came out, there were glaring differences. Simple things that they could have easily corrected. Do you think they left them there for the kit builder's sake? To separate the men from the boys?

The fine molds falcon is probably the best example. From my understanding, fine molds HAD the SS falcon there to take measurements from. Yet here we are with parallel mandibles....


thoughts?

 

[division 6]

Some of it stems from the information available, much of it is from the process or way items are manufactured since styrene has to drop out of the mold it can't have all the detail a resin piece can and with resin the silicon molds wear out after 20 to 40 pieces.
In many cases they have to make inaccuracies do to the wishes of the companies they are licensing the rights from, LFL is notorious for that.

Many of the big name companies now have kits that include PE and resin parts, some of the ships even have laser cut wood decks.

All the extra detail means more parts to manufacture which requires more money which in turn means more money you have to pay at the counter.

Also some people wish to just build a simple out of the box representation where others want super detail.
The "rivet counters" will go the extra mile to modify, scratch build and get aftermarket parts.
As it is in most cases no 2 vehicles are the same and many (military especially) change over time so you have to pick a specific date that you wish to depict it as.

I just picked up a couple models that give to the option of opening hatches but there is no interiors for them not even if after marked parts so I'm having to scratch build them.

For the BSG Vipers I have I'm modifying them giving at least one of them an accurate ejection seat and other details from the Full sized set piece since the model as you mentioned used the ZOIC files which make it accurate to the CG models but not the set piece.

 

[falcondesigns]

......

 

[falcondesigns]

No...they dont.They cant simply correct anything,without effecting cost,time and profit.Think about what it takes to make corrections to a 1000 lbs steel tool ,and you'll get the picture.

 

[KUROK]

They have to get the product to market fast. Mistakes get through.

 

[astroboy]

No...they dont.They cant simply correct anything,without effecting cost,time and profit.Think about what it takes to make corrections to a 1000 lbs steel tool ,and you'll get the picture.

That's what I'm getting at.

The references they have to work from are better than they ever were. They often have the computer files straight from the design team. It takes just as much CAD work to make something incorrectly as it does correctly.

So...why are the mandibles on the FM MF off so badly? Or the radar dish size? The thing is a masterpiece. It looks like a choice that someone made rather than an oversight...

 

[PHArchivist]

So...why are the mandibles on the FM MF off so badly? Or the radar dish size? The thing is a masterpiece. It looks like a choice that someone made rather than an oversight...

Or the cockpit porportions, or the lack of taper on the turret walls, or the overall flatness of the hull...? The list goes on....

 

[terryr]

If they have the original, and using computer scanning, then it should be be perfect.

But it has to be molded too, as others have said. And the people who saw the model may not have been the ones who made the mold. Some middle aged man, maybe overseas, couldn't really care if this toy is an exact copy of the movie toy. He's done hundreds of molds, or thousands, and close enough is good enough.

 

[tek2graphics]

Well as far as die casts goes, unfortunately I think some manufacturers just worry about expense and profit rather than doing ALL the homework/research accurate 'til the end. For example, the 1:24, 1:18 AND 1:15 Back the the Future DeLoreans are manufactured with cables going around the back wheel wells. Which is totally wrong.:angry I've only seen the small Hot Wheels & 1:42 scale get them right. :cry

 

[Colin Droidmilk]

Or the cockpit porportions, or the lack of taper on the turret walls, or the overall flatness of the hull...? The list goes on....

Or the vastly over-sized jawbox front, or the too tall engine pots, or the incorrect angle of the entire cockpit corridor... the list goes on....

 

[Jm419]

Well, I'm working a few tells into my AER9 kit to see if I get recast - but I'm not a major company. That said, it could be that some companies are doing something along the same lines - ensuring that their competitors don't just remold their stuff.