Wonderfest 2012

[TAY666]

Eventually I will make a sub-forum specifically for 2012.
But for now, I just want to throw some ideas out there.
And hopefully so will some other people.

First of all, if it happens again next year, I want to change things up a little. That way things seem fresh and new.
No idea how much display space we will have (or even if we will have some for sure yet)
But I think I would like to spread the boxes out more.
Instead of piling them up like the last couple years. Run them in a straight line down the middle. In order by kit number.

I would love to put together the complete set as built, but not painted this time around. Just something to keep in mind for those who get a hold of new kits during the year.

And to supplement that, I would love to see smaller combined displays. Either painted, or unpainted.
By that I mean something like the Tar Pit, with the sabertooth on the rhino.
Or the cromagnon man spearing the sabertooth.
Or possibly fending off an allosaurus.
A dire wolf attacking a cave bear.

Just little combinations that would highlight some of the fun you can have with the set.
Make it more about the kits themselves.

So, let's hear what the rest of you think.

[pbbass3313]

Thinking more and more about "domesticating" my two dire wolves (enroute) in the cave against the Cave Bear, with the Cromagnon Man & Women (using a double cave layout).

Still working on my "migration" scene with the original Mammoth & Alchemy's Mammoth head (both), plus the Platybelodon, and the two versions of Alchemy's glyptodonts (possibly with the orinithocherius overhead), which is about the only "work in progress" I can claim right now.

I've also spend the day looking for "props" to help with an underwater scene for the Elasmosaurus/ Brontosaurus/ Kronosaurus/ Dunkleosteus & (future?) Ichthyosaurus. It appears that Safari/ Carnegie offers some medusa, trilobytes, etc. that are about in scale. Also noticed that, new for this year, they have an offerring of "prehistoric" plant life that might be worthy of incorporating.

Any creative ideas or sources you might have?

As far as "smaller", well I'm still at the other end of the spectrum trying to incorporate it all-in-one without it looking like a train wreck.......and telling the wife the living room furniture has to go (like I'll win THAT one)!

[prescenes2]

I know that next year I won't be there. the only way it'll happen for me is if there was a miracle performed. I would still like to contribute as much as I can though. I can see it only getting bigger and better. Originals and unpainted would be definitely a sight to behold. A large layout including everything add on would be awesome to say the least. More sketches would be cool too. The list can go on and on.....

[prescenes2]

* BUMP *

4 months to go!

[TAY666]

Haven't heard anything yet.

I figured I would drop Dave a line sometime early February if I haven't heard anything by then.

[prescenes2]

Well??

[TAY666]

No display this year.
Gonna give it a break for a year, then do some planning for the 2013 show.

[prescenes2]

Sorry to hear that but good for me 'cause I might make it next year! ;D

Everybody start collecting unpainted build ups for next years display. That would be cool!

[TAY666]

That was kind of what I was thinking.
As well, as displaying them individually instead of all crammed together as per the layout (especially the 71's)

[TAY666]

Also, on the bright side, I think I am going to put my sailback and tiger in the contest this year.
I painted the sailback for last year's display. And redid the bad for the tiger as well.
Depending on how many other entries I have, they still might make the trip and be on a table for people to enjoy.

I hope I have some got reserves of cash, as Alchemy is on the dealers list this year.

[monstermodelreview]

I know I've been out of the loop lately, it's kind of a bummer not to have the PS table this year but lets plan something big and cool for 2013. Thanks for keeping the PS world alive. I really need to get working on the Dire Wolf and Struthy.

[TAY666]

Yeah, that is what Dave said. Take a year off after doing it 2 years straight.
Give it a break and come back with something cool again.
Said he wants to discuss some ideas at the show. Not sure how much time he will actually have for that though, as he is usually busy.

[TAY666]

So, anyone else besides me going this year?

Glad to see Alchemy back on the dealers list.
Just corresponded with Mike and he is supposed to cast me up a box-art mammoth conversion set so I can grab it at the show.
Can't wait to see his new pieces in person. (both the PS stuff, and his new B-movie kits that look so cool)

[scooke123]

I'm going to be there - the Wife and I will be rolling in sometime early Friday evening. Not a lot of cash to spend this year - will have to spend wisely!!! I'm sure there will be tons of stuff I'll see that I want, usually happens that way when I don't have as much to spend! See ya there!
Steve

[TAY666]

I hear you. I usually only have a couple hundred in spending money.
That can go real quick in the dealers room.

This year I hope to have twice that amount. Which means there will either still be a ton of stuff I want that I can't afford. Or I won't find much I'm interested in buying.
By that, I mean nothing that I am willing to pay the asking price for. There are a few pieces I have looked at for years now. But am still not willing to pay what the dealer wants. There is one figure in particular I would love to get for around $75. But the dealer won't go any lower than $95. And it just isn't worth that much to me.
Same for some of the styrene kits. Would love to grab some at the show, but most are more expensive there, than if I bought them on ebay and paid the shipping.
Hope someone has the Pegasus kits at a good price. I want both the Dragonslayer and the Relic kits.

[acroray]

May 12, 2012 12:35:57 GMT -5 TAY666 said:

Same for some of the styrene kits. Would love to grab some at the show, but most are more expensive there, than if I bought them on ebay and paid the shipping.

That's what has surprised me most about shows in the last couple of years. I used to try to pick things up at shows, to save on postage. But now everything seems to be at absolute maximum SRP. That plus entry fees and travel makes it ultimately cheaper to shop online. You'd think dealers would want to drop prices to move more product. Instead it's the same stuff show after show, at the same prices no one wants to pay. Maybe doing shows is a tax writeoff for many dealers? I dunno. The business model just confuses me anymore.

[TAY666]

I can understand some of it.
They have to pay for their table, they have to pay for a hotel room, and they have the costs of getting the kits there (and back). So there are some costs they try to cover above what they pay for the kits.
I don't know about other shows, but with WF being mainly a garage kit show, styrene seems cheap by comparison. So many dealers still move a good quantity of kits.
There are inexpensive kits to be found, but not usually what I am looking for. They are usually on tables with other stuff. The guys who only deal in styrene kits seem to be the highest priced. And sadly, guys like Culttvman don't bring many styrene kits along. He brings his resin stuff, and specialty stuff. Bigger margins, and faster moving.
And I can understand tables like Moebius charging full MSRP as he doesn't want to undercut the dealers that buy from him.

[TAY666]

Back from WF.

My PS-related haul includes.
Allosaurus base resin copy.
The most recent Revell issue of the flying reptile. I didn't have one that was sealed.
The spinosaurus conversion set, and the box-art mammoth set from Mike at Alchemy.

Got to spend some time hanging out at Mike's table chatting with him, and checking things out.
He had the sauropod assembled on the table. Wait until you see the pics of that monster.
It is huge!
I know I have seen pictures, but seeing it in person all built up was just . . . wow!
He said I probably got the last of that mammoth set. There haven't been a lot of pulls from the mold, but it hasn't aged well.

Got to chat with the guys from Mega Hobby / Atlantis models.
Really nice guys. Said the Rex reissue was pretty much a success. They still have a few left, but considering the price point on the kit, it sold through pretty good.
Mentioned the sabertooth again. Said the molds do still exist, but they need some work to be usable. No firm commitment on if they will actually do it, and if so, when that might be.

Also of interest. They asked me if I thought a styrene reissue of the allo base would sell.
I said a lot would depend on price point. There have already been pretty affordable resin copies on the market. They were talking about a price around $7-8. I told them they could probably sell those all day at that price. Especially if it included the nameplate. They didn't know that the reissues didn't include the nameplate.

Hope to have some pics up here tonight, or tomorrow.

[TAY666]

Ok, here is all the stuff I bought



And here are a couple shots of Mikes table.






Oh, I forgot to mention. Mike says, next will be the base for the sauropod.

[yarriwarrior]

Cool!!!!!! And I'm really digging that frilled lizard kit. Is that styrene? I have a small resin version from JRC.