MR TOS Enterprise - new pics

[JLinNY]

Here's my take on the Enterprise.

I think this is the best Enterprise replica that we are ever going to see, so regardless of the quality issues it's a keeper for me. This is a stunning replica, from 2-3 feet away. The devil is in the details as they say, and this is where the E is truly a disappointment. I HATE to nitpick, but there are just too many noticable quality issues to ignore with this replica.

MY gripes are as follows:

* Shaky primary hull. One of the first thing I noticed taking it out of the box was how flimsey the primary hull to dorsal connection is. Lightly tapping on the hull my finger makes it shake.

* Poor masking on the nacelle end caps. As you can see from my pic below, this is an eyesore. I see this everytime I look at the light effects.

* Gaps. The gaps where the nacelle pylons meet the secondary hull are atrocious. They look like something you would see on an Art Asylum toy, not a $1G replica. The secondary hull to primary hull gap is also quite large, but this doesn't stand out so much because that part is only seen from loking up from underneath.

* Shuttle homing beacon. I will let my pic speak for itself with this one.

* Primary hull paint job. Look at my pic below and you can see how it looks like someone did some rubbing or something on certain parts of the hull. Fortunately this only stands out when the light hits it just right. The gris lines are also very inconsistent, but this really doesn't bother me for some reason.

* Secondary hull copper band. I don't know what they were trying to do here, but it looks like mine was painted with the copper, then someone said "That doesn't look right" and tried to paint over it with the hull color.

* Impulse engine piece. This whole area is a mess. Mine was painted poorly, with hull part on the engine, and engine paint on the hull.

Also mine has nicks along the edge of the primary hull. Because of this I am going to return it for a replacement. This is kind of scary though as I don't know what I am going to get back.
I see people saying things like "I hope the quality on mine is better". From the other pictures I have seen I would say don't count on it. I think you might get one that has better lines drawn, but that's about it. The above defects I have listed seem to be universal, sadly to say.

I don't know. I was so excited to see the Enterprise, especially after seeing the gorgeous job the Chinamen did on the Millenium Falcon. With the Enterprise though I just feel disappointed. Kind of the way I feel whenever I lok at my MR phaser. One one hand they designed a stunning replica, but then dropped the ball on the details.
Are these defects enough to make me want to pass on this replica? Nope. But I expected more from a thousand dollar replica. Especially from a company who's business is making museum quality replicas.

I'd love to see some pics from other members as they receive their ships.

NACELLE ENDS

PYLON GAPS

DORSAL GAP

HOMING BEACON

PRIMARY HULL PAINT

COPPER BAND

IMPULSE ENGINE

EDGE NICKS

 

[CessnaDriver]

Well another death by 1000 cuts.

AJCollecting is going to be making good money on ebay I would say.

 

[pielock373]

JLinNY

I could live with everything but the chips on the primary hull, that would make it go back in the box for me. Nice looking ship but for those chips.

Steve

 

[Mola Rob]

Something this expensive should not be stunning as long as you are 2 or 3 feet away and it should not feel shaky and have gaps and chips. We shouldn't have to buy a shoddy product out of fear that there will never be another like this. This is getting ridiculous.

 

[Commander Max]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jedi Dade @ Feb 7 2007, 09:46 AM) [snapback]1413834[/snapback]</div>

To be fair I think its a bit harsh to say that this is a company totally focused on the bottom line over all else... I had an issue with my very first purchase with them - they bent over backwards to correct it... and shipped me a replacement on their nickle without much provocation... You can say that their Chinese QA stinks without much of an argument but they do seem to be making significant efforts to "get it right". I do understand the frustration at having an imperfect peice for the money being spent - but as long as they are attempting to correct the issue, bashing them about not taking care of their customers seems premature... When the product is sub-par and they tell you to take a hike - then start the bashing...and the legal action... Until then its a customer service/satisfaction nightmare for them, but certainly not time for trashing the company.

If your order is messed up do what I did which is call them and stay on the line until the problem is corrected... I think it took me all of about 15 minutes to clear up my issues...

Peace,
Jedi Dade
[/b]

It's not really all that harsh. This is how most company's are run today. It's part of staying in business.
Many years ago you would almost never hear of things like this happening with MR.
Why are things different?
Quite simple, the original leadership is no longer in charge. Corgi owns the pink slip, MR goes where Corgi says.
Due to cash flow reasons MR sold to Corgi, a much larger corporation with it's own corporate culture and rules.
The reason for my bashing, MR was known for producing low volume high dollar, quality products.
As one of their customers I would only only expect the best. Shelling out $1200 for a model I expect a certain level of quality. These guys are prop builders, some of their customers are prop builders. If they are not prop builders they should know defects when they see them. If you buy a new car wouldn't you expect things to be in order. You wouldn't accept it, if the molding was hanging off and the running lights didn't work.
In reality it's the shop in China that is ripping off MR. MR didn't do the quality control necessary before the product went to the customer. This is why I bash, they know better, and they did it anyway.

Now as far as my problem goes, I was on the phone with MR for 10 minuets. Changing my address, the operator told me she updated the order information. Even with this, it was still sent to the wrong address.
Plus in my e-mail notification I was never told who the shipper was. So the number they gave me was no good. Luckily the only way I knew who shipper was, was being a member of this board.
So if I have little confidence in MR operators.

 

[Howard]

I think it's high time someone from MR posted in this thread regarding the many quality issues.
And by that, I don't mean the standard 'Very sorry, you can always send it back for a replacement / refund,' I mean to tell us what's going on over in China to address these many issues, and to put our minds at rest that these glaring quality errors are not repeated on further SS replicas, regardless of cost.

Anyone?

 

[Johda]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Howard @ Feb 7 2007, 01:45 PM) [snapback]1413907[/snapback]</div>

I think it's high time someone from MR posted in this thread regarding the many quality issues.
And by that, I don't mean the standard 'Very sorry, you can always send it back for a replacement / refund,' I mean to tell us what's going on over in China to address these many issues, and to put our minds at rest that these glaring quality errors are not repeated on further SS replicas, regardless of cost.

Anyone?
[/b]

Ive not seen close up pix that did not disappoint me in a big way. Wife told me to order this and i didnt cause i felt guilty for spending that much $. im so glad i let guilt rule my $ spending.

 

[JLinNY]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pielock373 @ Feb 7 2007, 06:22 PM) [snapback]1413889[/snapback]</div>

JLinNY

I could live with everything but the chips on the primary hull, that would make it go back in the box for me. Nice looking ship but for those chips.

Steve
[/b]

That's pretty much how I am looking at it Steve. Those edge nicks are what bother me the most. Well, all the defects do bother me, but I can live with most of them because I don't have a choice. It's sad that you have to "settle" for something you paid $1300 for.

It is an absolutely gorgeous ship . . . from a certain distance.

 

[Commander Max]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Howard @ Feb 7 2007, 11:45 AM) [snapback]1413907[/snapback]</div>

I think it's high time someone from MR posted in this thread regarding the many quality issues.
And by that, I don't mean the standard 'Very sorry, you can always send it back for a replacement / refund,' I mean to tell us what's going on over in China to address these many issues, and to put our minds at rest that these glaring quality errors are not repeated on further SS replicas, regardless of cost.

Anyone?
[/b]

You would think all customer shipments would be suspended. With problems like this.
I guess they passed the problem to corporate.

Corgi's most likely response-
"What's the problem? It looks good to us."

 

[CessnaDriver]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JLinNY @ Feb 7 2007, 11:00 AM) [snapback]1413916[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pielock373 @ Feb 7 2007, 06:22 PM) [snapback]1413889[/snapback]

JLinNY

I could live with everything but the chips on the primary hull, that would make it go back in the box for me. Nice looking ship but for those chips.

Steve
[/b]

That's pretty much how I am looking at it Steve. Those edge nicks are what bother me the most. Well, all the defects do bother me, but I can live with most of them because I don't have a choice. It's sad that you have to "settle" for something you paid $1300 for.

It is an absolutely gorgeous ship . . . from a certain distance.
[/b][/quote]


That is the thing, we all can accept some defects, but the more there are, the more likely there will be the one that you just can't accept.

 

[Roger Ramjet]

I am still on hold with my ship...Going on 3 weeks now since I shipped it back and no word about the replacement. I am wondering if they have enough on hand to replace all the ones that are going back, to be honest, it is getting to the point where I am regretting ordering this, it should not be this much of a hassle once the monies are paid and you are basically at their mercy.

I am hoping MR/Corgi/Whomever can salvage this run, but believe me it will make me think twice again before I click the pay button on another MR Product.

 

[JLinNY]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Howard @ Feb 7 2007, 06:45 PM) [snapback]1413907[/snapback]</div>

I think it's high time someone from MR posted in this thread regarding the many quality issues.
And by that, I don't mean the standard 'Very sorry, you can always send it back for a replacement / refund,' I mean to tell us what's going on over in China to address these many issues, and to put our minds at rest that these glaring quality errors are not repeated on further SS replicas, regardless of cost.

Anyone?
[/b]

Well, Barry did reply to complaints aways back. Something about buying handmade sports cars with problems.

I don't think you are going to hear much from MR on this, aside from the standard "We feel that for the money this is an excellent replica of the Enterprise", or some such reply. And look at the helmet fiasco. Even after all they went through, people were still getting chipped helmets. I don't expect anything to see any changes with how this replica is constructed.

 

[yodasan]

Has anyone talked with Barry more recently?

 

[CessnaDriver]

There are threads over at the MR forum for keeping it and sending it back, rating the model. etc.

I would encourage everyone with a ship in hand to go there and state wether your keeping it or returning in the appropriate thread. That is the best way I think to provide feedback. At least MR has a forum to opendly discuss these issues publically, so that is to their credit.
Hopefully behind the scenes it will make a difference.

 

[JLinNY]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CessnaDriver @ Feb 7 2007, 07:04 PM) [snapback]1413922[/snapback]</div>

That is the thing, we all can accept some defects, but the more there are, the more likely there will be the one that you just can't accept.
[/b]

I can definitely over look a few tiny things, but some of these things are just eyesores. My 07 Corvette has a few little dirt specks here and there in the paint. I don't like it, but it is such a small thing on such a fantastic car that I can over look it. Now if the doors had huge gaps, exterior paint body paint was on the body trim and stuff like that it would be a whole different story.

 

[Mola Rob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CessnaDriver @ Feb 7 2007, 02:10 PM) [snapback]1413931[/snapback]</div>

There are threads over at the MR forum for keeping it and sending it back, rating the model. etc.

I would encourage everyone with a ship in hand to go there and state wether your keeping it or returning in the appropriate thread. That is the best way I think to provide feedback. At least MR has a forum to opendly discuss these issues publically, so that is to their credit.
Hopefully behind the scenes it will make a difference.
[/b]

The problem is MR is just as quiet on their own forums as they are here. There has been no communication on what is being done about this except the usual BS. Time to cancel my order and look for alternatives.

 

[CessnaDriver]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The Watchman @ Feb 7 2007, 11:19 AM) [snapback]1413941[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CessnaDriver @ Feb 7 2007, 02:10 PM) [snapback]1413931[/snapback]

There are threads over at the MR forum for keeping it and sending it back, rating the model. etc.

I would encourage everyone with a ship in hand to go there and state wether your keeping it or returning in the appropriate thread. That is the best way I think to provide feedback. At least MR has a forum to opendly discuss these issues publically, so that is to their credit.
Hopefully behind the scenes it will make a difference.
[/b]

The problem is MR is just as quiet on their own forums as they are here. There has been no communication on what is being down about this except the usual BS. Time to cancel my order and look for alternatives.
[/b][/quote]


I would suggest buying a return on ebay and having it reworked by a master modeller.
That is my worst case scenario plan. I am not there yet though. Hope it does not come to that.

I hope MR at least feeds back this info to Hong Kong. I can see it taking a few batches to make a difference and certainly would understand why they would not publically admit it.

 

[rad1701]

GAHHH. More bad pics. Mine is sitting at home right now waiting for me to get there to open her up. I got the LE. We'll see if that makes any difference.

P.S. Just a question - do people think these are fully assembled and then painted? Or do the paint each of the main sections (engines, primary, secondary, etc.) and then assemble them? I would think if they paint and then assemble you are definitely going to have some problems you can't fix or fill in later.

 

[JLinNY]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rad1701 @ Feb 7 2007, 07:50 PM) [snapback]1413963[/snapback]</div>

GAHHH. More bad pics. Mine is sitting at home right now waiting for me to get there to open her up. I got the LE. We'll see if that makes any difference.

P.S. Just a question - do people think these are fully assembled and then painted? Or do the paint each of the main sections (engines, primary, secondary, etc.) and then assemble them? I would think if they paint and then assemble you are definitely going to have some problems you can't fix or fill in later.
[/b]

They are definitely assembled and painted in sections. If they had done it the other way they could have filled those pylon gaps before painting.

No one should even have to consider filling gaps in a 1G+ replica.

 

[Refit1701]

Are we missing the point that this is a replica of a studio model, not of the "actual" USS Enterprise? I'm sure the studio model was not perfect. Not that I am excusing major things like seam splits (mine has a small one) and such.

I don't have any pics in front of me but did the studio model have perfectly joined and filled seams around the warp pylons? If not, it could be said they replicated the original. Were the penciled lines totally consistent on the original?

I've chosen to keep mine. I'm sure I probably should have sent it back. But with no assurance of what a replacement will look like or when I may get it, I feel like a "bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".

Again, I'm not glossing over severe defects and MR should make good on their promise. But are we going to nitpick this to death?