GIGANTICS

[artdecovampire]

I had some Airfix releases of Gigantics way back when Airfix did a deal with ERTL/AMT in the late seventies. For nostalgia reasons, and what better reasons are there, I have picked up a tarantula and a scorpion on E -bay. I am looking for a mantis when I am in funds, and I believe there's a giant wasp out there somewhere. Has anybody got any information to share, tips or pictures of build-ups before I start any of them?

[becdecorbin]

in the 90s, Scorpion, Tarantula and Mantis were re-released in the U.S. by AMT/Ertl--Wasp was not. The Scorpion is an interesting kit; it comes with a cradle to set the body level while the various sets of legs are set into place. The kits still include parts of miniature cities in plastic and pasteboard and a selection of tiny human figures. Stay tuned for a picture of the scorpion.

[TAY666]

Here is a look at my daughter's kit from 14 years ago.
www.tylisaari.com/models/britny/scorpion.htm

I've got 2 sets of the 3 reissued kits that I keep meaning to get around to.
They come with partial buildings, cardboard backdrops and base. as well as mini figures and smashed vehicles.
The Wasp was never reissued due to damage to the mold for the wings. Which makes it pretty expensive to purchase when it does turn up.

Also keep meaning to pick up the resin bases that Cult has a available.
www.culttvmanshop.com/Gigantics-Base-Set-from-Red-Planet_p_1670.html

[artdecovampire]

Hey I do look back with a smile to when my daughter was younger and would happily sit down and make a kit! Now its all netball, sulking and wearing dark clothes. She made an Airfix Steg, T Rex and a Triceratops. I like the resin bases. I remember the cardboard ones being a bit of a disappointment and my dad knocked up a little stage set from wood and filler to put the scenery on instead. There's an auction for these kits by Fundimension (?) on e-bay at the moment which includes the wasp. They are clearly meant to reflect the old monster movies like Black Scorpion, Deadly Mantis and Tarantula! They seem quite accurate and I think the sculptor may have made them as part of a nature series and some executive probably said..."No kid wants to buy a bug! Lets make them in to monster. that way more fun!" And of course they were dead right!

[TAY666]

I was lucky. I grabbed mine a long time ago.
When the prices were dirt cheap, and so was shipping.

Twice I scored all 3 for under $10 shipped.

[artdecovampire]

Here are the two Gigantics I recently bid for on E bay. Very reasonably priced. Boxes would indicate they are recent re-issues. Pretty cool though when you look inside, crushed cars and running people. The scorpion could be used in a PS mock up with a Silurian theme I suppose. But I like the 1950s monster movie thing just nice.

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[artdecovampire]

For anyone that's not seen inside you get a kit, complete with a construction stand to help get the legs fixed correctly, a very nicely drawn set of instructions and a card pop up diorama. This augments the injection molded buildings inside. I suspect anyone that does very small gauge Locomotives or any diroams will be able to replace this bit bit with a more 3D background using railway ballast, plasti-struct etc.

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[becdecorbin]

I was going for a translucent effect (clear yellow over white) but it didn't work out. This one's slated for the degreaser bath. I can't fault the kit for construction and detail; the scorpion builds up all right.

[artdecovampire]

It reminds me of the big mutant scorpions in 'Damnation Alley'. I remember watching that movie when I was a kid and thought they were pretty revolting. There are also some nasty looking Scorps in teh original version of Clash of the titans.

[artdecovampire]

Just scored a Mantis on E bay for only 99 pence! Mint in box and sealed.

[TAY666]

cool

[prescenes2]

These were cool kits. I remember building, painting and using them as foes for my Aurora Godzilla. Built a small diorama when I was a kid with webbing and all. Godzilla was being attacked by all three: Spider, scorpion and Mantis! Never did own the Wasp...Dang!

As far as the PS theme goes with these, i found that the Spider from the Monster Customizing Kits works best for the Mesothelae or Giant Spider.

Seen here in the Customized Jungle Swamp (Back left corner)


Or, attacking the Cro-magnon Woman...

[artdecovampire]

Nice shots of the spider, I like that swamp build up. Just how I imagined it would be with a proper full sized base. Always thought the little pool looked a bit ornamental. Had the idea of making a fake swamp using a converted pull to go scorpion about 4 inches long and a similar sized tarantula and an unwanted base from a Spiked dino. A sort of Carboniferous scene. I also quite like the idea of a giant Gila monster kit. I think I have seen a couple of versions on line. I've scored two 99 pence mantis kits now. Bid on two just in case and ended up with both. E bay never ceases to amaze me. A fortune for junk and pennies for quality stuff. I think I'll start my Gigantics models with the spare Mantis.

[becdecorbin]

Giant Wasp. What all the buzz is about.

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[artdecovampire]

Very droll! Nice one though, like the fair ground background. Any idea what scale they are supposed to be? I was thinking about expanding the bases with some extra vehicles etc. I've read they are I/76 or similar. The figures look smaller than that to me.

[artdecovampire]

Just scored a half built tarantula kit for playing with. I think I'll make a start on this as soon as my two Lindberg projects are out of the way.

[prescenes2]

I just remembered that way back when, I was going to converge the Cro Magnon Man's torso onto the Tarantula and call him "Mantula". Hmmmmm......Thinking about it now, I might still do that!

[psgreat]

Mantula.... hahahahahahahahaha.... Excellent! Probably go cool with the Monster Scenes with the Victim caught in a web...

[artdecovampire]

In that case, how about the Neanderthal mated up with a mammoth and we can call him Manmoth. A kind of big centaur that never forgets.

[mynameisbrent]

If I had bothered to scroll down a bit, I would have seen this thread, which would have answered my question. My bad.