Thomas Models, a company known for its excellent line of Trek-type resin kits, model conversion kits, and accessories, is working on a model of our favorite ship. After working up a plan for “114 resin parts, 4 clear resin, 4 clear vac form, 185 photo-etched brass parts, plug n’ play animated drive lighting, and color decals in glorious 1/87 HO scale,” plans were later scaled back to 1/120 scale to make casting easier and the price more reasonable.
The final size will be 20-1/4″ x 12-1/4″ x 6″ and will include decals, rotating engine pods, and inner detail via photo-etching. An LED drive circuit will make the engine appear to spin, and an animated lighting circuit will provide the firefly effect.
This is a fan-made project so don’t expect a firm release date, but the modeler says he hopes to have it ready by the end of the year. The price won’t be set until a better idea of costs and included parts/features, but $200 would probably be a low estimate (add another $100 if the electronics/lighting modules come through). Don’t take that as a firm price, this is all still very preliminary.
More info and ongoing discussion can be found at the Thomas Models Insider Forums, and be sure to check back here for updates.
Edited to add: At the FX convention this weekend I talked to some people at booths piled high with Trek models and kits, and I asked about Thomas Models. Reaction was fairly uniform: great work, but announcements usually come long before the reality. “Expect to wait,” I was told. This is obviously hearsay but I thought I’d pass it along as even the modeler said it would be at least a year before we’d see anything.
Will it include the shuttles, because they don’t seem to appear on the diagram? Will they be seperate builds that integrate properly?
There are shuttles in the diagram.
The model is no longer planned as 1/87 scale (which would’ve seen it clock in at around 26 1/4″ in length.
Presently, it’s in the neighborhood of 1/114 scale.
David – so you’re right – I see them now; they’re very small 😉
Wow… that looks… really difficult, lol.
I still want it though!!! =D
Gonna have it!!!
Have been looking for something like this for ages!!
Cant wait to see more of this project!
Tahnk Goodness! I love the Star Trek models, and have been hoping for sometine now that they would come out with this ship. I don’t know who I Love more, the characters or our ‘little’ Firefly transport!
I’m interested in hearing additional information on this project as it progresses. I’d been looking for a model although $200 is pretty steep for some of us. But I understand the great amount of custom work and love for the art that must go into it. Thanks, keep me posted
I just love it when someone put this much work in something not Star Wars or Trek! I will have to have one, definetly! $300 is not out of line if it has all the features (lighting-sound-phot-etch-size). Can not wait!!!
Already have a spot pick out for it in my Den room, it’ll be hard to wait for the release of it but will give me time to build a case for it first, that is after we find out for sure the size it’ll be. as for price from what I hear of the detail and with the lights and all $300.00 is cheap!
I only hope I find out it’s out for sale before there gone!
I have one of the serenity ornimantes I got at dragoncon this year..but would love to have this one just as well…shiny all…lol cheers Gerry/Crew Chief
Are there any plans for making the models of the Alliance ships from the movie?
I am so disappointed. I’ve waited 3 years for a model kit of Serenity. I should really just give up.
NEAT!!!!! Can’t wait!!
When?? It is now May 2008! When are you going to put this out???
I don’t know when it will come out but for the time being I made a paper version I found online. Its pretty simple to make and at nearly 3′ long it has plenty of room for detail and what not. I got the link to it on this site so browse. Also there is another that ive heard great things about but aint tried yet. It’s at http://www.chihuahuadepapel.com/index.htm
If anyone tries it or finds another one, please, say something.
Will they be accepting pre-orders?
Hi Guys…
Someone gave up waiting on Thomas to put one out.
Check this out.
http://www.starshipmodeler.net/talk/viewtopic.php?t=73277
Now over four years waiting.
This thing isn’t coming, is it. 🙁
I think they must have given up and I couldn’t get the star ship modeler link to work, either. Got anything else??