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Post by desslock on May 14, 2011 13:21:05 GMT -5
Pretty big news, which wasn't posted here yet. I'm sure Trevor will come back from Wonderfest with more news, but here's a link to the announcement: www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showpost.php?p=3773810&postcount=1Interesting choices of kits: - Neanderthal Man - ad says "all new" so presumably not just a recreation of the old Aurora mold. - Neanderthal Woman - obviously all new. Primeval Plastics also has one in the works - more the merrier as far as I'm concerned, but I hop that doesn't burn PP. - Spinosaurus - again PP was considering a T-rex conversion, but maybe that won't happen now. The Spinosaurus would have to be truly massive to be to scale, so this would definitely be a cool kit. - Dilophosaurus - Hard to be as excited about this one, especially if it copies the butchered depiction of the creature from Jurassic Park, which was about as accurate as the Cro-Magnon woman's 2-headed snake. - Insect Nest - The diorama kits by Aurora may not be as popular as the others (although that makes them more pricy now) but they're my favorites, so I'm really happy to see another one -- and there were a lot of really cool prehistoric insects. I'd love to see an aquatic diorama-type kit, which included many of the creatures that appear in the Aurora "time line" sheets that appeared in the original kits -- most of the other creatures in the timeline had kits, so Aurora may have been planning to incorporate them as some point (even just as basically timelost "easter eggs" like the dragonfly in the Sailed Reptile). Love to see a kit with giant sea scorpions, etc. |
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Post by drytoad1 on May 14, 2011 14:47:26 GMT -5
Well, this news just about made my day! Thanks!!!  |
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Post by timster on May 15, 2011 22:07:35 GMT -5
Hope it comes to pass.
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Post by TAY666 on May 16, 2011 18:23:18 GMT -5
I saw this announcement the day before I left for WF.
Honestly, I still don't know what to think about it.
While I really like the idea of new kits in styrene. I am reserving judgment until I see some actual sculpts and see what they look like.
And I will contain my excitement until there are some firm release dates.
Sorry to be so cynical, but I have gotten my hopes up for stuff before and never seen them come to fruition. So I will save my enthusiasm for when things are a bit more clear.
Not that I have anything against Dencomm's intentions. Just I have been-there-done-that too many times.
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Post by prescenes2 on May 17, 2011 10:06:03 GMT -5
Neanderthal Woman we still plan to do. I talked with Dennis and he believes that we and he are going to be doing something totally different from each other. So, I agree, the more the merrier! Alchemy Works had the Spino "conversion" in mind but Mike has decided not to proceed with it since Dencomm is supposedly releasing the Spino in styrene. Dilophosaurus I'll give it a chance. I don't think he'll take this in the JP direction. I may be wrong but if he think "70's", there was no JP back then so no comparison. Insect Nest ? interesting! Not sure what to think about that. Interesting to see what his thought process on that one is. Looks like he's trying to connect the MS and PS kits. Something Aurora was going to do. "....and more"? I think he might try to release some originals too. The Stegosaurus in styrene would be the grail kit for me (IF it was the Bill Lemon sculpt!)
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Post by pbbass3313 on May 18, 2011 14:06:06 GMT -5
Can't make WF, so an update on Dencomm's "proposal" from one of you guys would be great! Also Steve's Dire Wolf and Mike's Sauropod. Has anyone considered expanding in the plateosaur or other herbivore therapod arena?
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Post by TAY666 on May 18, 2011 16:45:45 GMT -5
Dencomm wasn't at WF. So you know as much as I do.
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Post by desslock on May 28, 2011 23:36:16 GMT -5
>The Stegosaurus in styrene would be the grail kit for me (IF it was the Bill Lemon sculpt!) Does the Bill Lemon sculpt still exist? Yeah, that would definitely be the holy grail kit then. >Insect Nest? interesting! Not sure what to think about that. Interesting to see what his thought process on that one is. Looks like he's trying to connect the MS and PS kits. Something Aurora was going to do. Seems like an homage to the Spider Pit in King Kong to me. |
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Post by desslock on May 28, 2011 23:38:49 GMT -5
Sorry to be so cynical, but I have gotten my hopes up for stuff before and never seen them come to fruition. So I will save my enthusiasm for when things are a bit more clear. Not that I have anything against Dencomm's intentions. Just I have been-there-done-that too many times. That's a depressingly grounded attitude, heh. I guess I've only been following modeling again for a short while, so I was more optimistic, but you've lowered my expectations. Have there been other styrene proposed additions that haven't panned out? Swamp reissue, I guess. Would definitely be curious about others. |
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Post by TAY666 on May 29, 2011 12:06:02 GMT -5
Not specifically for the PS line, but there have been a lot in the overall figure modeling community.
Shortly after I got back into the hobby, the whole LAPCO thing started, then eventually imploded.
Then there was their rebirth, that some still got sucked into.
Then there were things at PL that could have been, but never were.
And lots of stuff in the GK community over the years. Way to many to even think about naming.
The Swamp thing really wasn't that surprising.
I was actually pretty shocked when Frank floated the idea of the Swamp reissue.
And not all that surprised when there wasn't enough interest to follow through on the idea.
We are a niche segment of a niche category of a niche hobby.
I don't see there ever being enough demand to support new tooling for new kits.
(I mean, if Moebius couldn't do well with the Monster Scenes, how could they ever turn a profit on Prehistoric Scenes?)
The only reason Revell pops out the kits every 10 years or so, is because they already own the molds. There is no tooling cost involved. Because from what I heard, they weren't big sellers this last time around.
So, if Dencomm can pull it off, great!
But if it all kind of falls by the way-side, then I won't be too devastated by it.
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Post by centurylake68 on Jul 9, 2011 18:52:31 GMT -5
So the idea is a seamless extention of the original line, yes? That means moving forward with the same understanding of design and "play value" that the original creators had.
Brightly colored injection molded styrene parts that mimic the style of Bill Lemon, and which snap satisfyingly together, colors designed in such a way that, should the builder choose not to paint the finished piece, still provide a pleasing "pop art" aesthetic? It would be great to see a return to that sort of design philosophy.
Just as critical is that other Aurora PS signature, moving parts; mucho articulation for the model so that the finished piece moves - comes to life, actually does something, and increases its play value - and isn't just another static piece of plastic - the dino equivalent of a "frozen Charlotte" that sits on a shelf, waiting to be dusted.
These features were hallmarks of the real PS line, which, along with the vivid and highly theatrical box art, made the line fun and brought magic to it, elevating it far beyond the dinosaur models of competitors.
And, anatomically speaking, would any proposed additions look like they belong in the universe of PS? Or would they be "Jurassic Park style", i.e. tails and butts shoved improbably high in the air, heads tipping to the ground, posed as if audtioning for the part of a Roadrunner? 'cuz that would suck.
Anyone can make pieces that are supposed to "go" with the original line. To understand the original, and to work solely within that context, without truncating it or attempting to give it a "now" feel, only that would be worth the money that I would undoubtedly have to shell out.
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Post by desslock on Jul 11, 2011 1:54:23 GMT -5
Has Dencomm released any more information aside from the original annoucement?
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Post by prescenes2 on Jul 11, 2011 22:46:29 GMT -5
Bill lemon and Ray Meyers are no longer a part of the PS series as well as the designers and such. As we saw with Dencomms Bunny and Kitty, They are going in a little different direction with the MS. Same I feel is going to happen with the PS. Not to say it's a bad thing but still, a bit different. We ALL love to have the original creaters still around and producing these kits left and right but gotta wake up to reality...it ain't going to happen...Unfortunately! Dencomm will do their best intention to mimic the originals but also add a bit of their own flare to the mix. When we at Primeval Plastics try to imitate the series, I'm sure we're off the mark at times and who knows, maybe by a long shot but I think we do what we do very well getting as close to them as possible. We, along with other GK companies, are NOT affiliated with the PS name or trademark. Just doing our part to keep the series alive and going. "Play Value"? Maybe! I'm not going to jump the gun until I see what they got first. And at this point, We probably won't see a hint of anything until Fall. Dennis is very elusive!  |
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Post by prescenes2 on Jul 11, 2011 22:52:13 GMT -5
>The Stegosaurus in styrene would be the grail kit for me (IF it was the Bill Lemon sculpt!) Does the Bill Lemon sculpt still exist? Yeah, that would definitely be the holy grail kit then. I don't think it does. Would be nice if it did. What I was refering to is we have a lot of talented artists/sculptors that could easily duplicate the sculpt to the "T"! There are a lot of pics of the sculpt in a wide variety of shots and angles. Even CLOSE UPS!!!!! |
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Post by centurylake68 on Jul 19, 2011 0:11:58 GMT -5
Re: "As we saw with Dencomms Bunny and Kitty, They are going in a little different direction with the MS.""Not to say it's a bad thing..."
Well, okay, nobody's going to put a gun to your head to make you say it.
That's why I didn't buy them. No fun. Especially in light of the original rabbit's great "box art" and wisecracking "instruction sheet" personas. Despite the split personality inherent in the two different interpretations, the Lemon sculpt managed to work for both of them.
These are toys we're talking about. They are. We put them together, we make little scenes with them. There's nothing adult or sophisticated about them. Toys. New ones are supposed to be fun. Like the originals.
It's a given that the original creators of the kits are no longer around, but if there is a reality to wake up to, it's this: if one is going to lay claim to continuing a given line, then new material should certainly LOOK and FEEL as if the original creators are still around and on the job. "Continuance", the act of continuing, means just that. The job now is to create, to the best of one's abilities, within the parameters which were established by the original masters of the craft. That means copying style, which is different than "making it my own", and applying that skill to new material which is relevant to the original body of work.
Dencomm's "Bride of Dracula" looked, from box art to finished sculpt to choice of parts color, like it belongs to the original MS line, no question. If it had been presented as a lost piece of the original group, I would have had no reason not to believe it. So it can be done.
And if it can be done once with MS, it can (and should) be done again just as effectively, and just as expertly, for PS (and all further MS offerings).
Even if it misses the mark, there is a distinct difference between a finished product that has been given every effort to seamlessly integrate, and one where "personal flair" has been given reign.
If a person or group wants their piece to fit within a set of previously established visual boundaries, then those boundaries must be observed and respected. Bill Lemon may not have done the sculpt, but that's no reason not to comply with his previously established design sensibility. After all, it is that work which brings us to a discussion we are still having - four decades after the fact.
Sure, people can go in a "different direction", add their own flair, give it a different flavor, different mood, etc., but these things are better reserved for new, unrelated lines that aren't called PS or MS.
The time for free interpretation is with one's own original material.
People are free to choose to ignore the differences, or accept them, and buy a product, just as they are free not to do so.
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Post by desslock on Jul 19, 2011 1:54:54 GMT -5
Yeah, they have to have the same look & feel or they're just piggybacking on the name.
Frankly, if you look at the Tamiya dinosaur series (the dioramas) - those have a lot in common with the Aurora series: consistent scale (among models in the kits), interlocking bases, diorama elements, nameplates -- clearly they were emulating aspects of the Aurora series, although they went for a smaller scale (and fit in a sarupod as a result!) and a more realistic, modeling approach. I think they're great kits, and wish that series continued as well, but they're not Prehistoric Scenes.
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Post by RetroArt on Jul 19, 2011 7:56:07 GMT -5
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Post by TAY666 on Jul 19, 2011 20:13:19 GMT -5
Dencomm's "Bride of Dracula" looked, from box art to finished sculpt to choice of parts color, like it belongs to the original MS line, no question. If it had been presented as a lost piece of the original group, I would have had no reason not to believe it. So it can be done. Are you talking about the one that Molemento Pete did years ago? With the boxart done by Parts Pit Mike. That Dencomm had nothing at all to do with at the time. |
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Post by prescenes2 on Jul 27, 2011 23:45:06 GMT -5
Dencomm announced; "Out of the Past. Out of Control. Prehistoric Scene... Unbound" With that tag line, I would venture to guess CenturyLake68 will NOT be purchasing any of these kits in the near future!
I will hold judgement until I see the finished product.
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Post by desslock on Jul 28, 2011 12:42:01 GMT -5
Dencomm announced; " Out of the Past. Out of Control. Prehistoric Scene... Unbound" With that tag line, I would venture to guess CenturyLake68 will NOT be purchasing any of these kits in the near future! I will hold judgement until I see the finished product. Maybe I'm overly optimistic, but I dismiss that tagline as bad marketing rather than implying a radical departure from what we've seen before. But like you said, we'll hopefully be able to judge for ourselves at some point. Can you tell me more about Dennis of Dencomm, since everyone seems to know him? Is he associated with one of the large remaining hobby/modelling stores? The Megahobby guys own Atlantis, right? The industry has become very small. By the way, I really love your painting, Steve. Definitely inspiring. |
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? interesting! Not sure what to think about that. Interesting to see what his thought process on that one is. Looks like he's trying to connect the MS and PS kits. Something Aurora was going to do.
