Michelle
I think you have some facts wrong.
I havn't been working with Tomenosuke form the start. But for the runs I do have, your number just doesn't add up.
And yes, Tomenosuke has released several runs, all in limited numbers. But also factor in that most of these was in some way different form each other, moreso than just my artwork on the boxes.
The finished versions was colored differently. And som years ago the blaster was retooled to be more accurate.
Therefore it isn't just a mass produced item.
Sir, I love the grphics work you did for Tomenosuke's boxes. i think you added a value to Tomenosuke's Blaster. Sincerly, Works of art are works of art, CHAPEAU!
Michelle
- - - Updated - - -
I can appreciate most everything you are saying, but to call the Tomenosuke blaster a "toy" seems a bit of a stretch and doesn't do the actual product any justice. Not quite sure it qualifies as mass-produced either.
I am pleased you agree with me for some of my point of views. This will be a loong post, but understand...seems I am a cat in a big arena. A toy is a toy and Tomenosuke made a good toy blaster, he did something better than Mattel, Sideshow or factory enterteinment. Probably if master replicas never stopped the business, today, I would not be here to talk about a toy!?! Now I'm not explaining my point of view but the facts. Japan is: "The cradle of toy guns"I mean Airsoft or caps guns. Then there are blank firing (for a strange act after WWII the japan could not make blank firing gun) , However, blank firing guns are made almost in steel, so the blank firings can't be called toys, but replica fire arms. Tomenosuke didn't make a replica fire arms either an airsoft replica or a caps firing gun.I understand that a lot of people payied a lot of bucks for a tomenosuke blaster and they would like all people say it is a work of art, "an highly technological hand made props". Someone, lucky collectors, bought a blaster pro kit for few dollars, this said eethan; I was unlucky! I payeid mine $690 plus shipping plus tax for a total of $920.So, in the most of cases, be a owner of a tomenosuke blaster (kit or build up) is an investment, well done, I don't say Tomenosuke Blaster is crap, it is the best toy blaster ever made...for now.I like show to my friends the Tomenosuke's blaster near my Sidkit Blaster. I think that all people here know the words: "Die-cast". The metal parts of a tomenosuke are die-cast.What does it mean? You sure bought a model car, metal model car, the scale may vary, 1/43, 1/24, 1/25, 1/18 they are all made by zama or zamak the name of the inventor of the alloy. Zama is used to made a lot of things ;we use it every day. You probably unkorked a beer with a zama's made bottle opener, and how many times you opened a door with zama's knob handle?But the zama is used, overall, to made toys, for mass production. The upper barrel of the tomenosuke' gun is made of zama die-cast process. also the trigger, hammer and so on......Also the injection plastic machine is used to made plastic toy parts too....and what say about electronics, I received my kit with a well done printed circuit board to light up the five red leds located on the ammo clip, but the side view with two green leds has not wiring, this would includes a guy that do that. At the end... there are a lot of talented (with minor visibility) workshops, in japan, that made a great replica toy guns. One of this toy gun customizer is
www.mule.co.jp they made a fantastic charter arms buldog, with plastic, metal parts and wood grips, really an exact replica, it is a caps firing gun, I bought it times ago, I spent $200 if they will make a blaster would cost about $600-$700, built and with firing caps too.But the surprise is that mule buldog is made in the same way the tomenosuke blaster buldog parts are conceived, the same cilynder with round washer at the end, an the steel metal blockage on the main barell......but....Tomenosuke didn't make caps firing bullets. Why? he could made it, believe he could easily make it. As I wrote on precedent post, he tought to sell hundreds of Blaster instanctly and the most them shipped out of japan, so a caps gun firing could be a problem for other countries, better something declared as a toy. If you think I am wrong, show me another popular japanese toy gun maker that sold an accurated gun replica that can't shot bb's or firing caps. I am not pratical of rpf but I will try to include images. About the credits, I worked for a lot companies, in europe, they all asked me to make prototypes. My contracts every time report:" You agree that we will do what we want with your model". So, you are making a crusade for Tomenosuke. The solution is very easy. Ask Tomenosuke scan his contract and show it on the forum, if in the contract is wrote clearely the studios promise the credits, I will stay in front of you for lapidation.
Michelle