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  Takara and Kaiyodo 'StarTales' miniatures

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Author Topic:   Takara and Kaiyodo 'StarTales' miniatures
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45602
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-05-2003 04:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Apollo Maniacs website reports that Japanese toy manufacturer Takara and model maker Kaiyodo will retail a new set of historical space-themed finished models under the title "The Royal Museum of Science: StarTales."

This new series, which goes on sale in Japan on August 18, will be initially introduced with eight mini-models (each packaged with a stick of gum):

In addition, the Japanese bi-weekly magazine "Mono" included with their August 16 issue an exclusive Apollo model:

OPOS
Member

Posts: 200
From: Inverness, FL
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 08-18-2003 05:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OPOS   Click Here to Email OPOS     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just got the Gemini 7 mini model, very nice. I will have to work on getting the others now.

There is a great deal of info that comes in the package, but all in Japanese! Best was a drawing of JFK giving a speech, no idea what he was saying, but I asked my son to read it and he just said "We choose to go to the moon...."!

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45602
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-18-2003 10:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In addition the nine listed above, there is also a secret 10th in the series. Its the Saturn V with Mobile Launch Platform (different from the launching Saturn V).

Incidentally, for those curious about the scale of these models -- they are very, very small! Despite their amazing attention to detail, the models are often less than an inch long.

Looking forward to Series 2!

Henk Boshuijer
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Posts: 455
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007

posted 07-24-2007 11:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Henk Boshuijer   Click Here to Email Henk Boshuijer     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just bought a very small model of a space shuttle with crawler. It is only 7 cm. high but the detail and colors are very good.

I bought it during my trip to Japan. The model is produced by Kaiyodo and comes together with a book called "the Royal Museum of Science."

Editor's note: Threads merged.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45602
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-24-2007 11:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Kaiyodo together with Takara has produced a full line of mini-space models that are all very nicely detailed (especially for their very small size).

There were two series of models marked under the "StarTales" brand (the first set of which are now available in the U.S. as World Space Museum, with the second set soon to follow).

press4meco
Member

Posts: 49
From: Renton, WA, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 07-30-2007 08:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for press4meco   Click Here to Email press4meco     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
So does this mean there's a new set of these coming out soon? I haven't heard or seen anything of new models.

ApolloManiacs
Member

Posts: 29
From: Tokyo, Japan
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 08-01-2007 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ApolloManiacs   Click Here to Email ApolloManiacs     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, the third series of StarTales were planned few years ago, but not realized. Then only one model of them is now released with "Exhibition Catalog."

press4meco
Member

Posts: 49
From: Renton, WA, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 08-04-2007 03:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for press4meco   Click Here to Email press4meco     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That space shuttle model is spectacular. I guess here's hoping that World Space Museum follows up and comes through with the another edition. The number of possible shuttle related models is probably good for at least two editions.

tetrox
Member

Posts: 142
From: London England
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 08-26-2012 08:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for tetrox   Click Here to Email tetrox     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Recently I have purchased a number of Takara miniature pre-painted space historical models in blister packs which are quite fun.

I wondered if anyone knows why is there a black marble inside each of the packs?

Is there any significant use for it or is it just a quirky addition to build up a collection of marbles. Many thanks.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 45602
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-26-2012 08:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Takara models are packaged blind; you can't tell what model you are buying until you buy it and open the box.

The marble, as as I understand it, is to balance out the weight of each box, so you can't tell which model is inside simply by the differences in mass.

tetrox
Member

Posts: 142
From: London England
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 08-27-2012 12:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tetrox   Click Here to Email tetrox     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Robert, that makes perfect sense.

I purchased the packs as visible items but now you mention it have seen Takara models being sold in packaging where the contents are unidentifiable, a sort of model collectors version of card collecting.

It must certainly add to the weight when producing and distributing them by the thousands though.

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